Vision of Serpents Read online

  Then I realized he was reaching behind my seat to pull out an umbrella.

  “Hold on,” he said. “I’ll come around to get you.”

  I shook my head. “You don’t have to.”

  “Don’t be stupid,” he said, and got out.

  I watched him run around the truck to the passenger side, where he opened the door and helped me out. He took my book bag in one hand and held the umbrella in the other. The rain and wind picked up and I had to keep my body pressed against his as we walked to avoid getting drenched.

  We arrived at the front door and he handed me my bag.

  “You stay dry,” Dante said with a wink. “I’ll see you on Monday.” He stepped back and waited for me to go inside.

  I thanked him, and turned to open the door when the sky roared again. This time, the thunder was followed by a hiss that chilled my bones. I spun around and looked. The Shadow Creatures were near. I scanned the street, but I didn’t see them.

  “Something wrong, darling?” Dante asked.

  I took a step away from him. “What did you say?”

  “I asked if something was wrong,” he answered.

  “You called me darling,” I said. “Why?”

  Dante shrugged. “I don’t know. I call a lot of ladies darling.”

  I heard the hiss again, but it wasn’t coming from anywhere near us.

  “I don’t like that,” I said. “Please don’t call me that again.”

  “All right,” Dante said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you with it. It’s just a word.”

  “I don’t like it,” I repeated. “Someone used to call me that. Someone I don’t want to ever see again.”

  “Oh,” Dante said, understanding. “An ex-boyfriend?”

  “No,” I said. “But he wanted to be. He didn’t take it well when I rejected him.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dante said. “I didn’t know. I won’t call you that again.”

  I had to fight myself to keep from trembling. Dante hadn’t done anything wrong. I know he didn’t mean anything by calling me darling. I don’t know if I even would have noticed it if not for the sounds of the Shadow Creatures, which he couldn’t hear. Not that I was about to explain to him that I was hearing the hiss of non-corporeal entities. Or that these shadows had urged an old man named Jasper to project himself as a teenage ghost and then possess people to try and kill me.

  “No,” I said. “I’m sorry. Just a bad memory. Thank you for driving me home. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  I was hoping for a flash. Something to reassure me that he really was just a nice guy who drove me home and wasn’t looking to kill me.

  So I leaned in and gave him a quick, platonic, kiss on his cheek.

  And I got my flash.

  Lying on his back, he looked exhausted, almost drained. I was looking down at him, touching his face very tenderly. As I stared at him, he softly whispered, “I love you.”

  That was all I got before the door opened behind me.

  “What’s going on?” Zach asked.

  “Nothing,” I answered, too quickly.

  Zach stepped out and looked Dante up and down.

  “Who’s he?” Zach asked, indicating Dante with a thumb.

  “Zach, this is Dante,” I said. “From school. He drove me home since it was raining.”

  “Hello,” Dante said.

  Zach considered Dante before giving him a nod back. “S’up.”

  “C’mon, Zach,” I said, as I rolled my eyes. “Let’s get inside. Dante, thank you again for driving me home. Your sister has my number. Have her text me when you get home so I know you’re all right.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Dante said with a wink. “Have a nice evening.”

  I stepped inside with Zach and then looked out the window to see Dante get to his truck and pull out of the driveway. I turned around to see Zach watching me with his arms crossed.

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “S’up.”

  “What happened to Payne? Where’s Dad? What’s for dinner? When are we eating?”

  With a sigh, I answered all of Zach’s questions.

  “So Dad is chasing a bunch of chickens across the road?” Zach asked with a grin. “Hope he remembers to ask them why.”

  He scampered off. I went to order dinner and decided I had a hankering for pizza with chicken on top.

  An hour later, Uncle Mark came home. It had just stopped raining, but he was soaked to the bone and smelled like raw chicken. Feathers were matted to his uniform and hat. He kicked off his muddy boots, and tossed them toward the door. When he took the hat off, a few stray feathers floated out.

  “How are the chickens?” I asked.

  He just stared at me.

  “Okay,” I said, “never mind. You go take a shower. I’ll warm up a few slices of pizza.”

  Uncle Mark sloshed upstairs.

  As I put the plate into the oven, Simon came into the room. He had barely spoken through dinner. It was starting to worry me.

  “What’s the matter, Simon?” I asked.

  He shrugged.

  “Simon,” I said. “Talk to me. Something’s on your mind.”

  He sat at the table and sighed.

  “Skyler hasn’t been in school all week, and she hasn’t returned my phone calls. I know she has a lot going on, but I wish she’d let me help.”

  “Help how?” I asked. “What is it you could do?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Something. Anything. I just want to be there for her.”

  I walked over to Simon and gave him a hug. “Sweetie, right now she needs her space. All you can do is let her know you’re around if she needs you. It’s up to her to turn to you. If you force it, you’re doing it for yourself.”

  Simon nodded.

  “I wish Eric hadn’t done it,” he said. “Why did he?”

  “I don’t know if I can answer that,” I said. “Eric just got himself to a point where he thought this would be better. I bet if he could see what’s happened since, how much he’s hurt his family, he’d wish he could take it back. But he can’t.”

  “Yeah,” Simon said. He seemed to be struggling with something more. “Is it bad that I’m mad at him? I mean, he’s dead; I should be sad. I liked him. He was funny and all, but . . . ”

  “But,” I said, “Skyler wouldn’t be hurting so bad if he hadn’t done something so stupid.”

  Simon looked up at me and nodded.

  “I’m angry at him too,” I said. “So’s Payne, and so is Skyler, I’m sure. That’s normal. It’s okay. Eventually, you’ll have to find a way to forgive Eric. That won’t be easy, because he’s not around to do anything to earn your forgiveness. You need to for yourself, and the first part of that process is admitting you’re angry with him.”

  “Can I ask you a question?” he said. “Were you . . . you know . . . mad at your parents? I mean, I know it’s not the same thing. They didn’t have a choice. But . . . ”

  “Yes. It wasn’t the same, but I still was very angry with them.”

  “How long did it take for you to forgive them?”

  “I’m still working on it,” I answered. “It’s a process. It gets a little better each day.”

  This time, Simon hugged me.

  Uncle Mark came into the kitchen, which meant Simon pulled away and went upstairs.

  “How much of that did you hear?” I asked as I took the pizza out of the oven.

  “Just the end,” he said as he sat down to eat. “Thank you.”

  He picked up a slice of pizza, saw the chicken on it and laughed.

  “No problem,” I said. “Let me get you a drink.”

  I went to the fridge and got out a bottle of soda, grabbed a glass from the cabinet, and started to cross the kitchen to give it to my uncle.

  Halfway there, I came to a sudden stop. I must have screamed, because Uncle Mark was by my side in a second. The glass in my hand had fallen to t
he floor and shattered.

  “Bristol,” he said. “What is it?”

  “Hunter,” I said, barely able to breathe. “Car crash. She’s hurt bad. Out in that deserted area past the Mall.”

  As we rushed to the scene of the crash, Uncle Mark used the radio to get help to Hunter right away. I called Payne from the car. I could hear the panic in his voice. Hunter was like a sister to him.

  I called Varick next, and heard the same desperate fear. We all arrived on the scene at the same time, just as they were loading Hunter into an ambulance. Varick and Payne rode with her, while Uncle Mark and I led the way in his squad car, lights flashing and sirens wailing the entire time.

  As we entered the hospital, Varick stayed with Hunter as they took her into the emergency room. Payne wanted to go with his grandfather, but wasn’t allowed.

  Eventually, an orderly directed us into a large conference room, looking apologetic as he spoke. “We think you’ll be more comfortable waiting in here.”

  I looked around. It was a large room with chairs and a TV in the corner attached to the wall. There was also a conference table with a phone that looked to have speaker capability. The room was neat and sparse. Even in here, the air was filled with that same ultra clean scent.

  “Why’d they put us in here?” I asked. “It’s just you, me, and Mr. McKnight.”

  I watched as Payne pulled out his phone. “Not for long.”

  He was right. Before long, the waiting room was full. Maggie was the first to arrive with her mom. Instead of her normally colorful outfit, she was dressed in plain gray sweatpants and a matching T-shirt.

  Within a few minutes, Aunt Breanne arrived. She was crying, but immediately went to comfort the rest of us. My grandfather came next with Simon and Zach in tow.

  “Once they heard,” Grandpa explained, “they wanted to come. Wouldn’t shut up about it.”

  He made his way over to the chair and sat down.

  “It was his idea,” Zach protested. “I didn’t even know who was hurt until we were halfway here.”

  Very quickly, there was an influx of McKnights. Chase, Toby and Archer came running in, along with a few parents and younger siblings. Aunt Breanne took them all aside to get them up to speed on what we knew about Hunter’s condition.

  Ian came running in next. He was frantic, and looked like he was going to hyperventilate. I watched as Archer McKnight—of all people—eased Ian into a chair, talked gently to him, and tried to calm him down. Archer looked up at one point, and his eyes met mine. I wanted him to know that I appreciated his being kind to Ian, but he looked away, embarrassed and ashamed.

  Toby, who was the tallest, largest and sweetest of the McKnights, came over towards us to ask what happened. Payne explained. As he did, my cousin Bryan arrived with my Uncle John and Aunt Nora. They brought several empty cups and a giant box of coffee from a nearby place.

  Soon, the place was packed with McKnights and Blackburns of all shapes and sizes. There were adults my uncle’s age. Children from both sides, ranging in age from Zach’s eight to Simon’s thirteen, were being ushered into another waiting room that also had a TV and some games. Maggie and her mom went in there to keep an eye on them.

  I was amazed that Ian wasn’t commenting on the amazing mix of the families, although the turnout shouldn’t have been a surprise. Hunter had met many members of my family since she and I had become friends. They liked her a lot. She was hard not to love.

  After about three hours, Varick McKnight appeared in the waiting room. He looked utterly exhausted, but came right to me first.

  “Her doctors tell me help got to her just in time,” Varick said, looking me directly in the eye. “For that, I am eternally grateful.”

  “How is she?” I asked.

  “Just out of surgery,” Varick answered. “She had severe internal injuries, as well as a head trauma. I am told the next several hours are crucial. We will have to wait and see.”

  “Varick,” Grandpa limped over to us as fast as his bad leg would allow him. “Can you get me in to see her?”

  “Gregory,” Varick put his hand on Grandpa’s shoulder. “My old friend. I don’t know if that would be wise.” He leaned in closely. “You’re not as young as you once were.”

  “You’re no spring chicken either. You just aren’t as well lived. I have more mileage.”

  “Indeed,” Varick said with a smile. “I am very tempted, Gregory, but I know your limits. Still, it means the world to me.”

  I remembered how hard it had been on Grandpa when he had used his ability to save Payne. He still hadn’t fully recovered from that. Healing someone who had been as injured as Payne had been was nearly too much. Plus I think it was getting harder and harder for him to use his ability as he grew older, not that Grandpa would ever admit to that.

  I could also tell that Grandpa didn’t care about that if it meant Hunter would be okay. As much as he always tried to hide it, Grandpa was a sweet man.

  “Stop giving me those doe eyes,” Grandpa snapped at me. “The boys like her, and I just don’t want to listen to them bellyache. You either. You all whine too much already.”

  “Grandpa,” I said, “You’re such a sentimental fool.”

  “Look,” Grandpa said to Varick. “Can you get me in or not?”

  “Dad,” Uncle Mark said. “This could kill you.”

  “I’m too ornery to die,” Grandpa said. “She’s a young girl. She’s sat at our dinner table. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

  I hugged him. I didn’t know what to say. Hunter might die if Grandpa didn’t go in there and help her, but if he did, he could die. They both could.

  “See?” Grandpa said. “This one’s blubbering already, and nothing’s happened yet.”

  Before I could cry, I felt Payne come up behind me. He put his arms around me and I felt centered. I believed that everything would be okay.

  “Bristol?”

  I turned and saw Scarlett and Dante walking into the room. Scarlett was the one who’d called my name.

  “We heard what happened,” she continued. “Is she okay?”

  “We don’t know yet,” I said.

  “Is there anything we can do?” Dante asked.

  “No,” I said. “But let me introduce you to my grandfather and my uncle.” I turned to my family. “Scarlett and Dante’s dad is one of the counselors Mr. McKnight brought in. We met at school today.”

  Scarlett waved at my family.

  Then I heard Payne clear his throat from behind me.

  “Oh,” I said. “I’m sorry, Payne, this is Dante, Scarlett’s brother. Dante, this is Payne McKnight. He’s . . . my, um . . . ”

  I tried. I really did. But I couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “I’m her um,” Payne finished for me.

  Payne reached out and offered his hand to Dante. For a brief moment, I got the feeling that Dante was sizing Payne up, but he just shook Payne’s hand with a smile.

  I felt the world shift.

  I was in my driveway, holding a notebook in my hands. It was late on a fall afternoon. There were piles of dried, dead leaves in front of most homes. Payne was standing out on the street. He looked absolutely miserable. Hunter was with him. Aside from the remnants of bruises from her accident, she looked okay. She looked scared and worried, but physically fine.

  “Bristol,” Hunter said. “Let us come in.”

  I hesitated. It was like I didn’t know what to do. Why not? Why wouldn’t I let her and Payne come in? Why did they even feel the need to ask?

  Then I saw it. Dante was behind me, much like the way Payne had been standing behind me in the hospital. Not quite as close. But he was there, with his hand on my shoulders. I could see him supporting me.

  I glanced back in his direction—for strength? Reassurance? I wasn’t sure.

  I turned back to Payne and Hunter, and I shook my head.

  “No. I need you both to go away
.” I said that very slowly. “I don’t want to see either of you. I don’t want you anywhere near me. Whatever you do, don’t follow me.”

  Payne’s heart looked like it was breaking, but he didn’t argue. He didn’t tell me he loved me, but I could still see the emotion in his eyes. He didn’t say anything at all.

  He just watched me walk away, with Dante.

  When the vision faded, I felt like I was going to faint. It was too much to handle. But at least the vision had told me one thing I needed to know.

  “Hunter’s going to be okay,” I said to everyone. I made eye contact with Grandpa first. Then Varick. I wanted to make sure they understood what I was trying to tell them. “I just feel it. Hunter’s going to be fine.”

  It took a moment for my words to sink in, but I finally saw understanding wash over their faces, followed by relief.

  Payne pulled me into a corner of the room. “Bristol, are you saying what I think you’re saying? You saw her?”

  I nodded.

  “Thank you,” Payne said and hugged me. I could feel the fear drain out of him. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost her.”

  “I know,” I said as I hugged him back. “I know.”

  He pulled back for a second to look me straight in the eyes. “I thank God every day that you came into my life. I couldn’t live without you, either.”

  Then he hugged me again. I started to cry.

  - four -

  Date Night

  Journal of Bristol Blackburn

  Despite my vision, Hunter still hasn’t regained consciousness. However, the doctors are confident she’ll pull through. She’s still in intensive care and they won’t let anyone in to visit except Varick.

  Payne’s been very upset. He and Hunter were always close, plus it reminds him of his mother’s fatal car accident. The same accident would have killed Payne too, if not for his ability to heal. So this brings up some old, dark feelings for him.

  I feel like I’ve barely seen Payne over the last few days. He’s been working with Bryan after school. Thankfully, he’s off tonight, so he’s picking me up to go out.