New Start Part 2
1531 Words
Closing my journal, I toss it in my bag. Looking at the mounds of bags on my floor, I sigh in relief. Today is the day I’m getting out of this hell. Another day in this home is one too many. It’s exasperating fighting my heart on saying these monsters are evil when I love every single one. Salem and Pandora are coming to get me out of here and take me to their house but for good this time. I’m sick of this place and the people in this home. Lucky for me since Salem is a witch, she can just help me make sure no one sees us leave. I don’t want anyone tracking me, this family is awful.
I know these people like the back of my hand. I can see Maura having a rage-induced fit and hiring the best people to track me with help from Autumn and Dillion. Once she knows I’m gone she will, that chill in my bones tells me so. Killian is so influential that the murmur of his name strikes fear in most of the town. Others drop to their knees and would serve him just to feed their families. No doubt I’ll have an army hunting for me once they realize I’m not coming back. I doubt they will look outside of the city to find me; they never once knew I’ve been to Starhaven and it’s so far from Cliffwood. Mira Leigh is done with this damn town.
I’m leaving when I know most of the staff is away and it’s not busy out. Only an hour left. I have a lot of stuff, yet Salem can shrink everything down and toss it in a bag. She began practicing magic early in life, so she was able to learn the spell with ease. Clock ticking drowns out my day as I pace and make sure I have everything I could ever need, leaving no trace of myself. Cutting off Dillion and Autumn was the easiest part. For years they called me a freak and a fake. Between being pushed down the stairs, kicked, punched, and even them messing with my food I finally shut them out and ignored them. They still abuse me, but karma is real and it will come back. Maura and Killian though, that will be the hardest part. They tried to love me, yet one secret can tear the family apart. I know they are lying to me, and to this day, the biggest lie is that I'm theirs. Memories mean nothing to them, just brainwashing and lies.
Finally, I hear Salem at my window tapping. She's so soft to not alert anyone that may be in a nearby room. I slide it open softly as she slips through.
“Finally, you’re here!”
“Yeah quit whining, I had some troubles this morning,” Salem grumbles.
“Geez sorry, I've been ready to go all day, well, all week.”
“I know, sorry I’ve been so busy working to help get money.”
“Don’t worry I can help now.”
Salem goes silent. She doesn’t want me to help her out. Her excuse is that taking help makes her seem weak. Since her parents were taken, she refuses to let me help with Pandora. I understand where she is coming from but Salem needs the extra hands. Pandora is 15 now, her magic is developing rapidly and hard to control. On top of the outbursts and drama she puts her through, Salem works almost every day to make ends meet. I am twenty-two now and Salem is twenty-one, yet she still sees Pandora as a baby.
“Salem I'm-”
“Save it, I know you mean well but I stand where I stand.”
“I know,” I mumble. “Let’s get to work.”
Arranging everything in a circle seems easy, but the space I have to work in along with my stuff is tricky. We work in silence, only hearing our breathing accelerate as we lift and move. I feel terrible that I brought it up, knowing how she felt.
“Salem please you know I just want to help. I love you both more than anything”
“Mira, I know you do, I love you too, I just feel pathetic. Since mom and dad were taken away from us, I want to keep up how they lived. I want Pandora to grow up and be strong like mom."
“She’s not a baby you know. She’s strong just like you. Just her magic needs tuning. Let me help you both so you can help her with her magic. Please.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Meaning most likely no, but I can be hopeful. An hour later, we manage to stuff everything into a circle that Salem can shrink everything down. I scan the room as she starts the spell. I don’t want to miss anything. All drawers checked, bathroom cleared, phone in my pocket, a bag of essentials, and I’m good. Walking back over to Salem, I approach slowly, the spell almost over. I know it by heart since I helped her practice it for a month. I murmur the final sentence in unison with her, keeping my eyes closed as the spell requires. I feel the magic in the room amplify as the spell closes, we open our eyes. The shrinking spell worked, but there was something off.
“Mira, come here. Does this look right?”
“What’s wrong?” I hurry over with my other bag ready. “What happened?” As soon as I stop next to her, my jaw drops to the floor. My stuff was small but even smaller than the tests we ran.
“Um, did you do anything differently?”
“No, I followed everything as before. Did you do something?
“Salem, I’m a human, not a witch. I don’t think I can do anything. said the last sentence with you, but that shouldn’t have made a difference, right?”
“You’re sure you’re not a witch? I know Killian and Maura are liars but would they hide the truth from you if you were?”
“Well I mean witches are banned from the city, why would I be here if I was?”
“Good point, but still, you have no idea about what happened before you got here. We need to research the Corbin line and see what truly happened when they brought you home.” Salem grabs the bag out of my hand. “Let’s get moving so we have time to run to the library.”
“Okay let’s go.”
Once the bag is packed, the invisibility spell in place and everything out the window, we rush down a few streets and get in the car. Pandora has kept up the invisibility spell on her and the car so no one notices her. Salem drives off and we head out of the city limits and drive the hour and a half to Starhaven. I took a parting glance back as Cliffwood floated out of sight. Once we made into the city we stop and take the spell off of us. We have to hurry before the other spell wears off and all my stuff expands back to original size. We aren’t far and I know Pandora is excited to have me be there every day.
“Hey Mir, I thought about what you said. About the help. Would you not mind helping us out?”
“Salem of course not, I have plenty of saved up money from my allowance, and I could get a job with Reah at the shop. She loves us.”
“I feel bad asking but Pandora needs me and I hate working so much. Reah won’t mind you picking up my shifts and the other job sucked anyways. I’ll go put in my leave tonight so I can come back if needed.”
“Give them a week, I’ll help out then take over your spot at Reah’s.”
“You know you’re the best right?”
“I do my best,” I respond, smiling at her.
We had to wake Pandora up and get her into the house. The poor thing passed out on the way back. She used a lot of magic to keep the whole car hidden. Salem cleared out her room and left space for me with another bed so we can share the space. I empty my bag into the middle of the floor and wait for everything to expand. I have about 5 minutes and then we can head to the library.
“Mira!” my name echoes down the hall.
“Salem what’s wrong?” I bolt out and down the hall looking for her,
“Mira, read this.” Salem is white and trembling.
“What is it?” I take the paper and sit down.
The letter reads:
Mira, I hope this finds you well. I hope you’re feeling a bit better being away from that family. I wish I could have stopped the hell you were put through. I’ve felt useless all these years, until now. Knowing you’re away and safely takes the burden off of my chest. I’ve done nothing but worry. Your family would be so proud of you. I hope you find happiness in your freedom and that you can learn who you truly are. Once you do, I’ll be in contact again.
Until then,
-K.A
- Writer
