Darkness Within the Light

Chapter 7: Burst of Light

Going to Vanishing Hill was a mistake. All Shadow provided me with were vague answers that only made one thing clear—no one leaves Eldritch.

But then how did my mother end up in Seattle?

Was the Fellowship the reason why my family was torn apart? Did they threaten my mother and force her to return? If so, why am I here? I wasn't born or raised here so I have no obligation to follow this outrageous rule established by a council of bullies.

My mind was drowning in questions, and I was nowhere near reaching the surface of answers.

During breakfast I sat in silence as I picked at my food with my fork. I felt my mother's eyes watching me as I kept my vision glued to my plate. I wasn't in the mood for an argument. I wanted answers that I knew she wouldn't provide so I remained obediently quiet.

But my mother wasn't having that today.

“Today are softball tryouts, right?" she asked as she turned a page in the newspaper. I curled my fist under my chin as I simply nodded.

“How exciting," Aunt Verna chimed in as she clasped her delicate hands together.

“Trying out for catcher again?" Mom pressed her lips together pretending to be interested.

“No. I've always been a pitcher, mom," I grumbled as I rolled my eyes. I've been playing this sport my entire life and she still has no idea what position I played. Dad would know.

“Oh, you know I get all of that confused dear," she waved it off as she took a sip of her coffee.

“You wouldn't be confused if you actually watched me play or actually taken the time to learn the sport," I growled as I threw my fork onto my plate. “Why do you care anyways? I thought softball wasn't lady-like?"

“Well, I like seeing you getting involved and settling into your new school. If it's through a ghastly sport like baseball, then so be it."

“Softball, mother. Baseball is for boys."

“If you say so, Katie Anne," she smacked her lips as she continued reading an article.

I scoffed and said, “I'm going to school."

“Good luck!" Aunt Verna cheered as I gathered my books and escaped out the front door.

****

I dug my hands into my sweatshirt pockets as I walked down the hallway. I buried my head into the hood of my jacket as I kept my eyes planted on the pink and green tile. All this color gave me a headache and I wanted to shield my eyes as much as possible. Also, I wanted to remain hidden from Rachel and Hannah.

I didn't want to deal with their pep and merriment. Hopefully, they were over me by now since I was no longer new and exciting.

Oh boy, was I wrong.

“Hey, Katie! Hey!" Rachel jumped up and down in front of my locker as she waved her hands excessively to get my attention. I politely smiled as my insides screamed for help.

“Tryouts are today! How exciting! I will be there to cheer you and Hannah on! I can't wait!" she shrieked as she waved her pink and green pom poms in my face. She was annoyingly supportive.

“I see that." My eyes scanned Rachel's outfit. She was dressed in her cheerleading attire. The skirt was pink with green flyaway strips and the top was pink and cut off right above her belly button showing off her perfectly sculptured abdomen. It had EH sewn on the front in glittered green.

“Hey!" Hannah raced towards her locker as she flashed me a genuine smile. “Are you ready to kill it today?"

“Yeah," I nodded, “I'm nervous."

“You're ranked the top ten best high school pitchers in the country. You got this!" Hannah patted my shoulder before she shoved her gym bag into her locker.

“Maybe," I shrugged, “I just feel a little off today."

“Anything I can do to help?" Hannah questioned.

I shook my head, “I need to call my dad. I need one of his famous pep talks." I lightly smiled as I rubbed my shoulders trying to comfort myself.

“Call him right before tryouts start so he can get you amped and ready to go," Hannah flashed her perfectly white teeth as she slammed her locker closed.

“I will."

I went through my morning classes in a haze. My brain was crammed with the mysteries of Eldritch and my nerves bounced around my chest from the anticipation of tryouts.

How good are the other girls?

Who is the Fellowship?

What if I don't make the team?

Why can't anyone leave this town?

My mind was a scrambled mess and these questions haunted me as I toyed with my food at lunch.

“You need to eat, Katie. You need your energy and strength." Rachel insisted like a mother trying to encourage her child to eat their vegetables.

I didn't have much of an appetite. I was only hungry for answers. “Who is the Fellowship?" My mental question must have escaped my lips because the entire table glared at me with wide eyes as if I had summoned a ghost.

Rocky cleared his throat as all the color left Rachel's face. “We don't talk about them," he said.

“Why not? Who are they?" I was getting sick and tired of these ambiguous answers.

“They are like the senate of Eldritch. They establish town laws and listen to any concerns that the people may have," Hannah explained as she sipped her slushy.

“So, why is there a law that no one is allowed to leave Eldritch?" I replied as Rachel began to choke on her drink.

“Don't question the laws. The Fellowship makes these rules for our protection." Rocky glared at me as his jaw muscles tightened.

“I used to live outside of Eldritch. There is nothing out there that we would need protection from," I rebelled trying to strike a nerve or some sort of revealing reaction out of anyone at our lunch table.

“Drop it, Katie! Things are just done a certain way here! Leave it at that before you get us summoned to court!" Rachel snapped as she threw down her napkin with trembling hands.

“Court?"

“You can be fined with sedition if you question their motives or laws. Now, please, shut up about it. You're causing my sister to go into a frenzy." Rocky scorned me with his eyes as he rubbed Rachel's back trying to sooth her. She looked like she was about to hyperventilate as she gazed off into the distance with fear radiating from her eyes. She was whispering something as she rocked herself in the booth.

“.... they are everywhere… sharp teeth… fire hair… watching us…"

“What is she saying?" I asked intrigued, as I reached for Rachel's hand but with lightning speed, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me over the table towards her.

That sweet peppy girl that annoyed the hell out of me was gone. Her eyes glowed a dark red as she dug her fingernails into my skin. My wrist started to burn as adrenaline and fear began to ignite throughout my body.

“Rachel let me go." She wouldn't budge. Her grasp tightened and my bones began to ache. Panic grew into a lump in my throat as I shouted, “I said let me go!" At that moment, a white light exploded from my body causing Rachel to released me as she flew into the booth. I stared at my wrist and then back at her with complete shock.

I didn't understand what had just happened.

I was trembling as the entire lunchroom glared at me.

“We have to get you out of here," a familiar raspy voice echoed in my ear as he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him.

“Where do you think you are taking her, Shadow? She just attacked my sister!" Rocky shouted as he cradled Rachel in his arms.

“She attacked Katie first. It was self-defense. I saw the whole thing and so did Asher. Right?"

“That's right," Asher replied as he stood as a barricade between me and Rocky.

“No one would believe the monastic Dark brothers. You guys are slime and a disgrace to this town. I am going to report her!" Rocky leaped to his feet after he gently released his sister. “The use of powers is forbidden on school grounds!" Rocky yelled as his eyes filled with a yellow glow and a serpent's tongue hissed from behind his lips. His skin began to transform into green and slimy scales, and fangs extended from his gums.

What the h*ll? Is he turning into a… snake?

I fell into Shadow's cold chest as I whispered, “Use of powers? What is he talking about? I don't have powers. I didn't know anyone had powers." I was in the next stage of my shock as the terrified rambling exploded from my mouth.

“Look who's talking," Asher snarled at Rocky as he extended his palms and black vines grew from his fingertips. “Shadow get her out of here. I got this punk." He flashed a sinister smile as Rocky hissed at him.

“Let's go." Shadow demanded as he dragged me out of the lunchroom.

Shadow rushed me out of the school and hurried me into his car. He put it in drive and then sped away from the parking lot. My hands were shuddering uncontrollably, and a sharp pain throbbed in my temples. My heart pounded so loudly that I thought it was going to explode from my chest. My wrist was singed from Rachel's grasp, and I noticed green veins crawling up my arm. I began to panic.

“What is this? What's happening to me?!" I leaned back in my seat as if I were trying to run away from my own arm.

“It's venom," his eyes widened. “Serpents have tiny hairs—like daggers—on their fingertips filled with poison. Sh*t. I have to get you to my mother quickly." He stomped on the gas as the car accelerated.

“Rachel poisoned me. Oh my God!" My heart began to pound within my eardrums as my vision began to blur.

“Katie, you need to calm down. The faster your heart rate is the faster the venom will spread. It thrives off fear and panic," Shadow explained as he innocently massaged my shoulder. “Deep breaths."

“I can't," I choked, “I can't breathe."

“Katie, stay awake…" His voice was muffled as if I were submerged underwater. Blackness began to take over my eyesight. “Sh*t," he exhaled as I felt the car come to an immediate halt.

I saw flashed images of my car door opening and Shadow kneeling beside me. “We won't make it to my house. I have to suck out the venom."

I helplessly nodded as my eyelids became heavy. I was falling into a deep trance, but I could have sworn I saw black fangs extend from Shadow's lips as he brought my wrist to his mouth. I flinched as a sharp pressure stung my wound and then, I blacked out.