The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 10 - THE GRADUATION

*FLASHBACK*

"Natalie!" Garry yelled.
"What?" Natalie came running, downstairs.
"It's your graduation day!!!" he smiled and jumped in excitement.
"Oh!" she sighed.
"You're not happy? You passed with good grades! It was Scott's text." he passed her the phone.
"Yeah, I'm happy." she sighed again.
"What is it, sweetheart?" he put an arm around her.
"Harrington isn't here. It's not the same. I... I miss him." she rested her head on Garry's shoulder.
"I know, sweetie. Don't worry. You're going to meet him soon. In a couple of months, you'll be there." he patted her shoulder.
"It seems far away."
"But, it is!"
"I know. I just..."
"It's okay to feel that way. Now get dressed, we'll be leaving in an hour." he nudged her towards the stairs.

~GRADUATION CEREMONY~

"Hey! Nat!" a boy called.
"Scott!" Natalie walked up to him and hugged him.
"Where's your tail?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"Eddy buddy?"
"Oh, he's... umm... away. With his grams. Won't be here."
"So that's why the long faces!" he laughed and kissed her cheek.
"Let's go!" she smiled.

After the ceremony, Scott and Natalie went to a nearby coffee shop. Her parents left.
"So...?" Scott broke the silence.
"Hmm?"
"What happens now?" he asked.
"Honestly, I don't know that." she sighed.
"That's breaking news. Other than ripping people's heads, what are you doing, now that school is officially over!"
"Not funny. I'm going to college, for sure. I don't want to talk about it." she looked out of the window.
"Hey, I don't know what's bothering you, but whatever it is, I'm sure you'll figure it out!" he placed his hand over hers.
"I hope." she smiled.
"Now, let's get out of here."
"Where to?"
"Just walk with me." he dragged her out of the shop.

They walked for at least half an hour.
"I'm tired, Scott." Natalie groaned.
"Eh, don't give up. We're almost there." Scott winked. There was some rustling of leaves. Natalie turned to look, but there was no one.
"At least tell me, where are we going?" she asked.
"Oh, no!" Scott face-palmed.
"What?" Natalie jumped in alarm.
"Nothing, I just forgot. I had to pick up my mom. Her shift would be over by now. She couldn't make it to the ceremony so she booked a dinner date." he sighed and looked at her apologetically.
"Oh! It's... it's okay!" she sighed as he ran back towards the school, leaving her alone.

Natalie reached home around eight.
"What happened?" Garry asked Natalie as she fell over her face, onto the couch.
"Scott ditched me in the middle of the road." she groaned.
"That bastard cheated..."
"No!!! Left me, 'cuz he had to pick up his mom." she sighed.
"Oh, oh... okay." Garry laughed weakly.
"You should stop seeing him." Caitlyn entered the room. Natalie sat up and looked in her direction.
"What?" she said.
"Stop seeing Scott!" Caitlyn said firmly.
"What the hell?" Natalie stood up.
"Easy!! She means you're going to leave and he can't know about the valley!" Garry stood between them.
"But why? Dad isn't an octave, he knows. Why can't Scott know?" Natalie asked.
"I don't need to answer all your questions! You will stop seeing him and that's it!" Caitlyn said angrily.
"I don't care what you say." Natalie stormed off towards her room.
"You're grounded until we leave for the valley!" Caitlyn said.
"What?" Natalie stopped in her tracks.
"YOU'RE GROUNDED!" Caitlyn replied angrily. Natalie slammed the door hard.

~~~

"We'll be leaving tomorrow. It's a road trip." Garry said. They were preparing to leave for the valley. Natalie wasn't talking at all. She'd leave the moment Caitlyn would enter. It had been weeks now. There was a knock on the door.
"I'll get that!" Caitlyn said. She answered the door. Scott was standing in front of the door.
"Mrs Watson! I'm here to..."
"Leave!" Caitlyn cut him mid-sentence.
"I won't. Let me talk to her. Please." he said.
"No!" she stood strong.
"Scott!" Natalie came running and stopped as she saw Caitlyn.
"Natalie! I..."
"Get in!" Caitlyn said sharply. Scott entered and placed his helmet on the cabinet. He hugged Natalie.
"Come, sit!" Garry said. "Get him water, would you?" he gestured to Natalie. She nodded and left.
"Now leave before I make you!" Caitlyn said. Scott looked up at her in confusion and terror.

"Where'd he go?" Natalie returned with a glass of water.
"He left... abruptly!" Garry said, not meeting her eyes.
"What? You mean she made him?" she shook her head angrily. "Hold on, his helmet is here. WHAT DID YOU DO??" she looked at her mother in complete horror.
"It had to be done!" Caitlyn said.
"You killed him?"
"God, no! I just sent him away. Must've forgotten it here." she looked at the helmet.
"Natalie, this can be dangerous. Please understand. We have your best interests." Garry said.

~~~

The following day, Natalie walked downstairs she had dark circles under her eyes. She couldn't sleep.
"Ready to hit the road?" Garry said. She nodded.
"Natalie, dear. Please, look at me. I won't be there with you. I need to..." Caitlyn stopped as Natalie flashed her hand in front of her face.
"I... don't want to talk!" she said. It took all the restraint in her.

Around nightfall, Garry pulled over in the parking of a nice hotel. They stayed for the night. Natalie was standing on her balcony when she saw a commotion in the garden. She saw something shining. Three people were fighting, a sword-like sharp object in one's hand. It was her mother. She drove the sword right through the other person's chest. He burst into flames.
"SCOTT!!!!" Natalie screamed as she saw his face before he turned into ashes. Caitlyn turned to look up at her and ran inside. Natalie ran out of her room, and Garry caught her midway. He dragged her into her room where she cried loudly.
"Nat, please. Listen..."

*PRESENT*

Natalie's eyes were moist. She stared at her feet.
"She... killed him." her voice trembled.
"Do you know why?" Aaron asked.
"I don't care! She did it, I saw it!" she said angrily.
"It is important. But first, tell me this, who was the third person?"
"I... I don't know. I was a bit preoccupied."
"Take a guess, who could that be?" he asked. Natalie screwed up her face in concentration.
"Oh, my God! Harrington?" her eyes were wide open.
"God, no!"
"Then who... YOU???" she screamed and stood up.
"Yes, it was me. I was helping your mother. She had sent a scrib to the council and they sent me." Aaron said, looking at her.
"You...!" Natalie charged at him. But Aaron was faster, he spun her around and held her arms behind her back.
"Scott deserved what he got!!" he said, trying to hold her down.
"What?"
"He was there to attack you!" he said. Natalie froze and he let go of her.
"Attack? Me? Why?" she said without turning towards him.
"Don't you see? He entered your life in your senior year... just before you found out the truth. Do you know why he left you on your graduation day?" he walked in front of her.
"His mother..."
"No! When you turned back to look at the bushes, it was me, following you. I was the one that found out about Scott. That's why the council sent me again."
"What was he? Scott?" she asked.
"A shape-shifter!" Aaron answered.
"You've been following me?"
"Yes, ever since Edward returned to the valley. Earlier, he was your protector. Then I was assigned for your protection." he said, concern in his eyes. Natalie was completely shocked.
"But why would I need protection?" she asked frantically.
"Because you're not just any random octave. You're special. Why do you think these dark creatures are after us? For me? No!! They're here for you!! To find you."
"And kill me?"
"I don't know what they want from you. But it has something to do with you!" he said.
"I... I think I'm going to pass out." she swayed in the air and Aaron caught her before she hit the ground.
"I know it's rough, but this is what it is!"
"Why me?" she sighed.
"It's because of your mother." he looked away. "Now, let's get inside. It's getting dark." he took her inside.