The Darkside

The Tortuous Road

"Get off me, you monster!" Melissa yelled, pushing the demon away.

Brian quickly teleported us back home; we were glad to be back.

"I don't know about you, but I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," I said, walking to the kitchen to find Charlie and Jared there.

"What are you doing here?"

Jared and Charlie hugged me the second they saw me. I guessed they were worried about all of us.

"Where were you? We have been worried sick. I called you, and when you didn't answer, we came by and found an empty house. Melissa didn't pick up either," Jared said.

"Sorry, guys, we were imprisoned by monsters in another world."

I then explained what had happened, and Jared said, "God, your lives are complicated."

"I want part of your horse," Melissa said as she walked in, followed soon by Anastasia and the rest.

"Anna, it's you..." Charlie said, "I'm sorry I was a jerk before. Could you forgive me?"

"It's alright, I don't hold grudges anymore," she replied, smiling.

"Thank you... Can we start over?"

"I'm sorry, Charlie. I have nothing against you anymore, but I think it's best we leave the past where it belongs and move forward with our lives. Besides, you didn't want to date me the moment you found out I am a witch; how different would it be now?"

"Alright," Charlie replied before walking away.

"Wait for me," Jared said.

"No, you stay. I need to be alone."

Jared sat down and turned to Anastasia. "Look, I know you two have a terrible history, but he does love you, Anastasia. He hasn't forgiven himself for how things turned out between you two, and he talks about you all the time," he said, He has tried dating to get over you, but it hasn't worked. I even caught him asleep with your photo on his mobile screen. Maybe you should put your pride aside and give him a chance."

"I'm going to sleep. Good night, everyone," Anastasia said, walking away.

"Give her some time, she'll come around," Arya said.

"Alright. Well, I best get going. Good night, everyone."

"I better get back home, too. Everyone must be worried sick," Aunt Cassie said.

"I think it's better if you stay the night here, Aunt Cassie. You must be exhausted, too," Melissa replied.

"It's alright, Melissa, I can manage. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Why don't I drop you home?" Brian said, teleporting with her.

Lying in bed later that night, I couldn't help but wonder: would I ever have a normal life?

I have always loved my powers, and even more that I could help people with them; but how much would I have to keep sacrificing for it? My grandmother and mother, both died young. How much more evil would any of us have to face before we, too, meet that fate? After all that we've been through recently, especially with everything that went down in that shadow world, I was beginning to question the purpose of bearing this burdensome gift. My eyes were heavy and I was about to sleep when I heard Melissa calling out to me and the others.

We rushed to her room to find her in a corner of a room, holding herself as she trembled with fear.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Orlando..."

"But he should be gone. We destroyed the link between you two," Arya said.

"If you're going to say that maybe I imagined it, then save it. What I saw was no hallucination or dream."

I then called out to Brian and asked him to check Melissa.

"Let me see," he said touching Melissa's forehead; "Oh, no... this is bad..."