Excerpt:
The streetlamps illuminated the
black empty sea of asphalt. A quiet calm laced the row of sleepy houses. Alex
reveled in the tranquility. So much noise constantly filling his head, any
semblance of stillness wrapped around his mind like a child's favorite blanket.
In
the center of the glass, a small sphere of light caught his attention. At
first, he thought it was in the yard. Leaning forward and squinting, he
realized it was a reflection coming from directly behind him.
Jumping
up, he spun around. Growing in diameter, it was beginning to spin.
"Hey,
whatcha doin?" Margaret said groggily.
"Stop.
Babe, slowly move to your left and come over here by me."
"Why?
What's going on?"
Margaret
gingerly slid to the left as Alex instructed, and then quickly scurried by his
side. "What do you see?"
"It's
the vortex opening, the gateway to that girl, Ophelia.”
"Alex, please be careful. Remember what
your Gram said. Don't get too close," Margaret pleaded.
"She's
there, it looks like a bedroom."
"What's
she doing?"
"Sitting
on the bed, she's covering her ears."
The
wind whipped around the vortex howling like a wolf speaking to the full moon.
"I
don't hear anything?" Margaret turned to Alex.
"It's
like a high-pitched howl. It's deafening. Wait. It's quieting down. She sees
me."
"What's
she doing now?"
"She's
coming closer."
Alex
leaned closer to the anomaly.
"Alex,
back up." Margaret tugged at his t-shirt.
"Babe.
I gotta do this. Please. Let go of my shirt."
Margaret
reluctantly let the fabric fall from her fingertips.
Alex
inched closer.
"You
are Alex McKenna, right?" Ophelia asked.
The
anxious teen widened her eyes in anticipation.
"Yes.
I've seen Haven. Who is she?"
"She
is my sister."
"I
think she's in trouble," said Alex.
Ophelia
floated off the bed and stood directly in front of the entrance to the living.
"I've
been searching for her for years. She was taken by a man, a Soul Gatherer. I
think she is counting on you to help."
"I think she is, too."
"Can
you?" Ophelia's eyes widened.
"I
can try. Where are you? Is it The Academy of Souls?"
Ophelia’s
chin dropped.
"Yes.
You know about my school?"
"I
do."
"Oh
no."
"What is it?'
"The
gateway. It's closing!" Ophelia shouted.
Alex
heard the desperation in her voice as he helplessly watched the circle shrink.
The wind cried out once again, as it violently thrashed around the outer edges
of the bridge between the dimensions.
"I
have to go." Alex tasted Margaret's lips. "I'll be back soon."
"What
the hell? No. Alex. You can't," Margaret shrieked.
"I
love you," his voice trailed.
Alex
stepped into the center of the storm. The vision of Ophelia rippled, traveling
to the rim of the circle, and splashing into the void. "This shield is my
power to protect against evil, this shield keeps out harm. No dark entities
shall pass through this shield. As I will it, so shall it be."
Sawing
to fill his lungs with air, he pushed forward and landed on the floor of the
dorm room. Gazing up, Ophelia stood in front of him, her mouth wide open.
"Ugh.
My head hurts. Where are we?" a voice echoed.
Alex
winced. His heart punching the walls of his chest. Whipping his head around in
a frenzy, Margaret was lying on the floor beside him.
"No,
no, no, no. What the fuck, il mio amore." Alex scrambled to her side.
Ophelia
moved closer. With her pointer finger, she quickly poked his shoulder and
retracted.
Alex
didn't respond. His focus was Margaret.
"How
could you do this? Why did you do this?" his voice strained.
"I
couldn't let you go without me."
Alex
kissed away the saltiness from her cheeks. With the back of his sleeve, he
gently patted dry her eyes.
"Alex?"
Ophelia murmured.
The
couple turned to the bewildered Ophelia Wetherton.
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