The Counterpart E-Book

C.S. Luis

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Project X has made his mark on the physical world in a battle to save Claudia from the Shadow Man. He must possess her and he's willing to pull out all the stops to make it happen. She belongs with him in his world; she just has to say goodbye to every human connection she has made.

Claudia Belle has become a distraction when John Slater can't afford a single misstep. With definitive proof that Project X is hanging around Milton, Dr. Nicholson will accept nothing less than perfection. And he intends to personally oversee results.

With The Company's men wandering around searching for sure evidence of Claudia's existence, she's in more danger than ever before. There's no longer room for secrets in Milton, but will the truth set her free, or leave her caged like a lab rat?

Leseprobe

THE COUNTERPART

THE MINDBENDER SERIES BOOK 3

C. S. LUIS

Copyright (C) 2021 C.S. Luis

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Edited by Megan Gaudino

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.

CONTENTS

1. The Party

2. Foreigner

3. Unexpected Visitor

4. The Man in White

5. Rude Awakening

6. What I Want

7. My Girl

8. Lost Relative

9. The Unexpected Wrinkle

10. Uncle Dearest

11. Uncle Christopher Vega

12. Reality

13. Delusional

14. Liar, Liar

15. Guardian

16. Dinner With New Friends

17. The One You Seek

18. The Night To Remember

19. A Strange Day

20. The Good Day

21. Revealed

22. The Doorway

23. Safe

24. Our Moment

25. Dinner With Dear Old Dad

Next in the Series

About the Author

1

THE PARTY

ALEX

Saturday night.

Claudia was nowhere to be found as I drove up and down the street. Looking up towards Claudia’s bedroom, I got out of the car and walked up to the house but stopped.

Could she still be there? No. She wasn’t. I could sense that.

The night before, I recalled watching John go to Claudia’s window and meet with her. Could she be with him? She wouldn’t have forgotten the party unless John Slater had come for her first. Claudia was smitten with the new, hot guy in school.

She was supposed to wait for me to pick her up. That was the plan. We were to meet on the street at this time, and then, head to the party.

Walking back to the car, I got in, and sat there for a few minutes. If Claudia isn’t here, where was she? With John Slater, no doubt. She had good reason, he had the face of an angel and the body of a football player. That made me fidget, stirring a glimmer of desire I missed.

Yet, I feared the worst. Quinn could have delivered with his threats. Not knowing where to go, I headed to the party.

When I arrived, the street was already crowded with vehicles. Cars lined the side of the street, packing the road. Some vehicles double-parked behind one another on the driveway of the house.

The driveway was wide and extended far into the back so there was plenty of room for vehicles to pile up. It was amazing what people would do to find parking when they wanted to.

The music was muffled, but I could hear it from down the street. It was a surprise the neighbors hadn’t called the cops. Yet. But it was only a matter of time.

The party was in full swing. Some kids were coming out of the gathering drunk, while others carried out friends. Kids I knew from school were standing outside with drinks and cigarettes in their hands.

Walking towards the entrance of the house, I clutched the pouch in my hands. The crystals clashed against one another as I held it close.

The music was louder now as I walked inside. Screaming teens moved along with the beat of the music hitting the walls of the large home. A crowd of sweaty teenage faces, half-baked and all drunk, mashed against each other, moving in a wave of distorted bodies whose arms and heads connected briefly into something scary and alien. The music seemed to grow louder and overbearing, as I moved and pushed along the screaming crowd.

There was a mess of bottles and trash, stains, and spilled drinks everywhere I looked. I felt sorry for the person who had to clean up the mess and happy it wasn’t my house. The house belonged to a girl named Jennifer Scotts, and her parents were out of town on some stupid European cruise or something.

Boy, they are going to get a surprise when they return.

I made my way to the back of the house. A few kids I knew waved at me, and a boy from English, Jason Thompson, came over to talk, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying over the noise. I barely made out a few screamed sentences.

“Where have you been for three days, man?” he asked. He looked drunk and out of his mind already, like most everyone in the house.

I regretted coming. It seemed like there was a slim chance that Claudia was even here. I wanted to tell her the truth and give her something that would protect her before it was too late.

“Why aren’t you drinking?” Jason asked me over the loud music.

“Have you seen Claudia?” I asked, screaming into his ear, and ignoring his question.

He leaned forward, and I repeated the same line but added Claudia’s full name.

Who didn’t know that name by now? Students either knew her because her grandfather had been principal, or because she was pretty.

“Claudia Belle? No, I haven’t seen her…but I’ve seen your friends. They’re over there.”

Jason pointed.

A girl’s eyes were focused upon me when I turned to look over. It was only Tina, eyeballing me from the other end of the hallway.

She gave me a smock smile and walked away in the other direction. I left Jason talking to himself and followed Tina.

I turned the corner catching sight of Sean with Tina, they both looked back at me. I ducked away, then cautiously looked around the corner again, but they had gone. My heart was beating violently, and my hands were trembling. What are they up to?

At a distance Sean entered the crowded party and slowly made his way through the mass of people. Where were the others? The crowd was thick, and I could hardly get by the multitude. I lost him when I finally came from out of the mass of dancing people.

Claudia wasn’t there. That was a big relief. Pushing back through the crowd, I headed for the front of the house, where Tina, Ruben, and Sean were blocking the doorway.

“Look who’s here.” Tina was the first to say.

Ruben and Sean smiled.

Puppets …

“Get out of my way.” I demanded.

“You tried to hurt her by sending the other.” Ruben accused.

“You stay away from her.”

“And now you must pay for that.” Sean added ignoring me.

“Where is she? What have you done to her?” I yelled.

“She is safe. Safe from your wicked hands and the hands of the other you sent to hurt her.” Tina angrily said.

“Other?”

Quinn?

Why hadn’t I heard him before? Then I realized they were the interference I sensed.

With a waved of my hand, Tina stumbled back against Sean knocking them into each other, giving me time to escape.

I ran out of the house towards the car in tears; dropping the keys as I collapsed.

He has Claudia. He has her. Am I too late to save her? Have I failed my son and now, my granddaughter?

Why can't I remember everything?

But I remembered enough.

A wind blew through the night. Quinn? Quinn was calling for me.

Looking around, I swore I wasn’t alone. I wanted to return for Claudia, but I couldn’t, she would be with him.

My hand curled around the crystal dangling on my wrist. I must stop him.

Gathering my strength, I rose, only to find the proxies waiting for me.

Backing away instead, I climbed into the car, their images disappeared from view as I sped away. The blue color on the crystal faded.

“Claudia?”

She was alright, I could sense it. Quinn had failed.

“Quinn?”

He was hurt but had fled. He was the other the three spoke of. He had tried to hurt Claudia. But it was the other truth that I feared. He was here.

“Quentin? No … it can’t be. You’re—” But I didn’t want to say it.

Quinn warned me.

I slammed on the brakes. Sitting in the car, I looked straight ahead at the empty road and the row of houses on each side of the street. They were pretty houses, white houses, some with picket fences and beautiful yards. This was suburbia, the pie slice of America. This was modern-day life, and yet, I never knew it until now.

“I have to protect her. You will not have her.”

I slammed my foot on the gas and sped off into the night.

My feelings guided me right to the doors of Milton High. The car came to a sudden stop at the side of the street, a good distance from the parking lot. There was a hole in the pavement. I grabbed at my phone and spotted Claudia at the entrance of the school. Quinn was nowhere to be seen.

“Quinn …”

He had tried to attack Claudia. Quentin had come to stop him. I meant to race over, but I knew there was no way to do anything if Quentin was there. I would be no match for him. He vanished so quickly with Claudia before I could even release my breath.

Have I failed?

I didn’t want to believe it …

2

FOREIGNER

CLAUDIA

Saturday night. A few hours earlier…

I sat in my room. The party was tonight, and I didn’t know what to do. I had already promised John I was going with him. At least, he expected me to be there. After our moments together yesterday, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

A text came from him and I nearly leaped out of the bed to read it.

John: We still on for tonight Miss Belle? 😉😏❤️

I fidget with my shirt collar, biting at my lip. My heart was racing.

Me: Yes!

John: Pick you up? ❓

I immediately texted back. My friend Alex is picking me up. Can I meet you there?

John:

Ok, but text me if she’s a no show …. I have no problem swinging by and picking you up. 😉. See you there 😊 😘

Me: Ok ❤️ ☺

The called to Alex, just kept going to voicemail. After the third time, I left a message. I always had the option of calling John, so I didn’t sweat it. I would have just called him to begin with if I hadn’t already made plans with Alex.

Michael had already said I wasn’t going to the party. And to top it off, Michael had come to some crazy arrangement for me to work in Joseph’s office after school every day. How is that any better? I hadn’t mentioned anything about it to John. I was pretty sure he would soon find out.

Either way, none of this was going to stop me. I got dressed. There came a knock at my bedroom door, just as I was finishing up.

“Claudia?”

It was Michael and I didn’t want to open the door. He would find out that I was dressed and ready to make my escape.

He knocked again.

“Yes?” I said with a sigh.

“Can I come in?”

“No,” I firmly answered.

“Claudia, please. Is this about the party? I’m doing this for you. I don’t want you to get hurt. Can you just come down and have dinner? Let’s talk about it.”

“I have nothing to say to you right now. You made it quite clear I’m not going, so there isn’t much to discuss, is there?”

He didn’t have anything to counter with, but that didn’t stop him from trying to get me to come out.

“Claudia, will you at least come down and have dinner?”

“I’m not hungry. I’m going to bed.”

He went quiet, but it didn’t last long.

“I’m sorry about the party.”

He stood there for a moment, and then, he finally gave up and left. The lights in the hallway went out and the door of his bedroom close. Immediately, I raced quietly to the bedroom window, looking over the side of the house and onto the street.

What luck to have the giant oak near my window, I thought.

Never had I imagined I would need it. Climbing out, I sat on the ledge, then carefully moved out onto the branches, and down the side of the tree until my feet were touching the grassy lawn below.

Well, that was easier than I thought it would be.

Glancing back up at the window, I raced across the street. Before I had time to get nervous, headlights flashed in my direction. A Mustang pulled up alongside me and I was relieved she hadn’t forgotten.

Alex leaned over from the driver's side pushing open the door.

“Get in,” she said.

I climbed in and we sped away.

“Thanks for picking me up. Where have you been all this time?”

She sat quietly, which was strange for her. She was usually talkative and responsive. She glanced over and smiled.

“Did you hear me?” I asked. “I’ve been looking for you. I thought something bad happened.”

“I’ve been around,” she answered coldly.

My nose wrinkled. “I honestly didn’t think you would show up today. Are you okay?”

“Who are you? Why does she care so much for you?” she asked suddenly.

Confused, I stared at her. “Who do you mean? Alex, you’re acting weird …okay, well, weirder than normal. What’s going on?”

The car accelerated.

“Alex, you need to slow down. Alex. Alex?”

Her eyes flashed at me. In them, I saw a glimmer of purple.

“I’d like to get out now. Alex, please stop the car.” When Alex didn’t respond or made an attempt to slow down, I screamed, “Stop the car!”

“I see it now, a source,” a voice that was not Alex’s answered instead.

“What are you talking about? You’re making no sense.”

“I thought you were but a dream, a myth conjured by those searching for a connection outside our world.” She laughed.

“What do you mean? Alex? You’re scaring me.”

“Once I drain every ounce of energy from your body, I will give what’s left, to it…and be rid of both of you.”

This was obviously not Alex, but that left me wondering what exactly was it?

“Alex? Alex, wake up! Alex?”

She slammed her foot onto the gas pedal and the car took off. My body rocked on the seat of the car crashing against the side of the door.

“Stop!” I screamed before I realized she’d spun the car around into the entrance of Milton High’s parking lot. The car came to a sudden halt.

I reached for the handle of the car door as I glanced back. Her eyes were glowing, and her face began to take the shape of someone else’s beneath her own.

The car door popped open, and I fell out onto the pavement, dragging myself to my feet. The driver’s door exploded off the hinges and out leaped a figure. It landed on top of the car with a thunderous roar. It was a young man, with dark hair and purple eyes that reminded me of Quentin’s. He was dressed in a black scaly leather uniform with a red patch on the side of his arm.

“It’s because of you she refuses to come home,” he said with a growl. “You’re the only thing that stands between us.”

Who was he talking about?

I staggered onto the steps of the school entrance. He rushed towards me, and I put my arms out in defense when suddenly, a thunderous roar came between us.

I looked up to see Quentin had come to block him. They were locked in a gripping fight.

Quentin tossed the other man back with a powerful blow, knocking him to the ground at a distance. He leaped into the sky and came down over him stomping his form into the pavement so hard a sinkhole formed, dragging cars into it.

I cowered back unto the entrance of Milton. The two figures emerged out of the ground and flew up into the sky to continue the fight.

One of the figures knocked into the other, who stopped and began to fall, crashing onto the roof of a car in the parking lot.

He didn’t move. The other figure glided down making me cowered, until I realized it was Quentin. He came and kneeled before me. I reached a hand toward him, he gripped my hand so tightly and wouldn’t let go. An electrical current connected us briefly. He released my hand.

Quentin seemed to regain his strength and rose. The other figure came dashing at him from behind, but Quentin spun around grabbing ahold of his throat and squeezed it tightly.

“Why are you here? Why do you dare hurt my Pet-tricia?” He snarled.

The figure gasped. “She is …the one … we must give her up … deliver her … let it end with her …” The words seemed to squeeze through his pale lips.

“You’re weak, and a fool to challenge me. I will never give her up to anyone.” Quentin drove his fist into the other figure’s chest.

“I will take from you what you intended on taking from her, your life force.”

Frightened, I huddled back into the corner, he found my eyes and eased, pulling his fist from the figure’s chest. He drew the figure close, and a cloud of energy seemed to drain from his lips and fill Quentin’s mouth. With that, Quentin tossed the weakened figure to the ground.

The figure dissolved into the air and was gone. I dropped to the floor, losing consciousness.

When I awoke, seagulls were singing and floating over my head. Sitting up, I realized there was white sand gathered at my fingertips. Far ahead of me the blue ocean was filled with mermaids. They waved and made their presence known, emerging from the water as I rose to my feet to greet them.

All around me, there were a vast greenery that span of palm trees and mountain terrain, alive with the sound of beasts and colorful birds flying overhead.

“Do you like them?” a voice asked from behind.

Glancing back, Quentin was gazing and smiling over at me.

“They’re a new breed.” He took a few steps towards me. “I made them in your honor, my pet.”

We both looked up at the sky. It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. It can always be like this here. His voice mentally said to me.

“You like it here?” Quentin asked. “You know you never have to leave if you don’t want to.”

My face dropped, finding his eyes paralyzing. “Quentin …” My lip quivered as he stared over spellbound. My cheeks were burning, my heart racing as I glanced back onto the skies to avoid his gaze, and spotted a group of witches flying high in the clouds in the distance.

But when he neared, something drew me into his arms. He held me tightly as I looked right at him.

“Why do I feel this way when I’m around you? I can’t describe it, but it’s as if I can’t be away from you. I can’t resist you …” What power was he using to be with me?

Claudia? a voice asked inside my head.

“John?” My lips quivered.

Something awakened me, and I blinked falling from the daze. It momentarily broke the spell, and I was able to pull away from Quentin.

Where are you, Claudia? John’s voice faded, and I couldn’t find him.

“John?”

“He means nothing to you.” Quentin stroked back a portion of my long hair. “We are meant to be together you and I.” I didn’t understand. “He means nothing. He’s a mere intrusion, a disruption …”

I was under his spell again, dancing in his presence in an intoxication I couldn’t shake. His words were not making sense to me in this haze. How is he doing this to me? What kind of power does he have over me? I must have appeared like John when he was with me.

Quentin held me to him, watching the witches above us, I followed his eyes.

“What happened? Why am I here? Who was that in the parking lot?” I asked about the figure that had tried to harm me.

Quentin held my cheek turning my attention towards him and stared deep into my eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then said, “You don’t have to worry about him, my pet. He will not harm you. As long as I’m here to protect you no one will harm you.”

After a moment noticing my nervousness, he added, “You fear it.” I didn’t understand. He pulled away slightly. “You must not fear the darkness. I know he lurks waiting for his chance to possess you. I can only protect you from here. Out there, it becomes far more of a challenge, but with our connection, we can fight it.”

"Who, or what, is it?" I asked.

"A thing that uses many forms and goes by many names. There are things out there that hunt us and will come. Some even lurk now."

Unsure of what he meant, I pried into his mind. A darkness that seeks energy was the unspoken answer.

Does he fear it as well?

He glanced over; his purple eyes filled with pain. They glowed with a burning light as if he were recalling a long-lost memory from his past. But nothing was revealed.

“This other that attacked me? What happened to him? Did you—” My lips quivered as I thought about the fate of our strange attacker.

He laughed. “Kill him?” he finished for me.

I nodded with difficulty.

He turned to me when he realized I wanted an answer. “No, I did not kill him. I sent him away,” He smiled, waving a hand towards the sky to symbolize his departure.

“Sent him away? But why did he come after me?” I asked, unable to understand what he meant by that.

Quentin levitated slightly off the ground. Leaning back, he seemed to become arrogantly distracted.

“Jealousy — perhaps? I can’t think of anything else.” He leaned back, but there was nothing to hold him as he floated in the air in front of me. He pulled his arms behind his head.

“But he said I’m the one. The one what? What did he mean by that, deliver me to whom?”

Quentin seemed uninterested by the mention of what he had said. He rose and grabbed my hand, pulling me close.

“The delusional ramblings of a mad man, that is all, my pet, nothing more. Let’s go. Let me take you to the realm of the witches from the East. Let us dance with the witches of the North. They plan a feast. We can dance and drink whatever you wish. Just come away with me,” he said, holding my gaze in a hypnotic grip.

I couldn’t pull away.

He rose higher into the air, staring back and gliding above me. The cold breeze was now hitting my face.

“Come, my pet. I want you near,” he invited.

He lifted me into the air with him.

We began flying through the sky, up so high. We flew alongside a group of beautiful witches. A breeze swept back the long locks of my hair, blowing gently across my face. We were soaring through the clouds with Quentin holding me tightly to him. The witches flying beside us waved at me, and I waved back at them.

Quentin laughed as he dove into the clouds. They followed him, and we spun around. I nearly lost my breath and screamed as he held me firmly against his body. We came back up through the clouds and over the mountainous terrain, where I could see the snowy landscapes, the jungle, and the forest scenery below.

God, it was all so beautiful, and I felt I never wanted to leave. Quentin’s lips pressed against the side of my face, kissing me softly. My eyes closed feeling his tenderness, and when I opened them, he was gazing back.

“It can always be like this. You would have everything you could ever want,” he said. “I want you to stay with me.”

Closing my eyes, I exhaled as we flew fast through the clouds. The witches seemed to have a hard time catching up to us. Quentin’s laughter filled the sky as we came down on a hilltop covered in moss and greenery. Jungles spread beyond the edge behind us. A beautiful waterfall crashed down below.

Mermaids sat on a large boulder in the center of a beautiful pool surrounded by greenery all around. They waved up at us, but Quentin barely acknowledged them. He stood alongside me with his hands on his hips, looking superior over the vast world, his world. He was master here, and he wanted me to know it. I could be his queen. I knew this as he looked at me.

“You can, and you will. Stay.”

He walked past me towards the forest in the distance, and I stood near the edge looking after him. He turned and extended his hand calling me over to his side. He looked so handsome dressed in that leather, black, fitted jumpsuit. Beautiful, short, black strands of hair were pulled back against his ghostly complexion. His eyes glowed in that radiant purple shade. He was beautiful and so perfect. I wanted to never leave his side.

Like a love-sick girl I hurried beside him and took his hand. He pulled me close and stared deeply into my eyes. Golden swirls spread from the center of his pupils. Do I want to be with him? I felt I would do anything he asked. I’d fallen, I was under his spell. I couldn’t explain it, I couldn’t escape it.

We walked into the forest with him holding me beside him. The jungle opened into the end of another cliff, but before us was a bridge. The wood was rotting away. It looked weak, just about ready to collapse as it swung in the breeze. On the other side, a large wall of the cliff was covered in what appeared to be caves. I could see women descending from them. Some took to the skies, while others landed upon the other end where the bridge ended. They looked towards us. Quentin approached the bridge first; he seemed fearless and daring.

“Is it safe?” I whispered, standing but a few steps from the shaking and weakened structure.

Quentin laughed at my words turning toward me. I stood only steps from him but dared not to approach.

“Give me your hand,” he ordered.

It didn’t surprise me how quickly I responded to his request. I nearly raced to his side, taking his hand. He gripped my hand tightly and pulled me close. We began our walk carefully onto the wooden planks, which were missing in some areas.

Why did we not merely fly across when he so easily could. He seemed to answer me almost immediately with a smile. He loved this sort of adventure. He loved testing one’s mortality, perhaps, because he didn’t have any. He hurried me, pulling at my hand as I tried to stay alongside him. I lost my footing, nearly falling through the planks as I dangled from the bridge.

My leg hung through it as I screamed. The witches at the other end were looking on with concern. They flew towards us to help, but Quentin pulled me up to my feet quickly, smiling as he did, as if it were a silly game. I stared at him, frightened. He put a tender hand on my cheek, cupping it. It surprised me how quickly I became lost and calmed by his gesture.

“It’s alright, my pet. Nothing to be frightened of.”

Just like that, we continued as I desperately tried to watch my step, even with Quentin so urgently pulling me to follow him. A few steps more, and we came to the other end. As soon as we stepped up to the other side of the mountain, women were standing before us, dressed in long, glittering, beautiful gowns. Veils covered their lengths of hair, golden jewelry dangled from their slender necks and wrists, and sometimes ankles. They dropped to one knee before Quentin.

They’re so beautiful, I thought, every single one of them. A gorgeous redhead approached Quentin, as he stood looking about in approval at what he saw before him.

The beautiful witch bowed her head politely. “Welcome to our village, Mighty one.” She smiled at me. “We’re so happy you’re here, and delighted you have brought a guest.”

Quentin walked past her, uninterested in her kind words. “My Pet-tricia,” he corrected her. There were a few gasps from the group as he stopped, extending his hand out for me to take.

I immediately rushed forward and took it. He squeezed my hand tightly.

“Do you have things prepared for us? My pet is famished,” Quentin said.

“Of course, Mighty One.” She turned to the women behind her and clapped her hands.

They rushed away and brought forward refreshments and food.

“The festivities will begin,” she announced.

She walked ahead into the shadows of the large wall carved with caves. The group of women parted a path for us to walk through. All of them stared at me with eyes of amazement, some whispered and pointed to my shoes and clothing. I sensed they were in disbelief I was here in the flesh. But who did they think I was?

All I got from them was, that’s Pet-tricia, but who was this Pet-tricia? Why do they think that’s me? Does Quentin not want me to know? Why do I sense disapproval if any of the women even voiced acknowledgment of my identity?

They were curious, following Quentin and me up to a large throne a few yards into the compound. It seemed to be the head witch’s throne, but Quentin seated himself upon it as if it were his own.

I took a seat beside him where a large stone, shaped like a tree stump, was set. The throne was made from animal bones and skulls. Behind the throne, there were bones of a large bird whose wings spread above and around the grand seat.

A group of witches came to stand in front of Quentin, two other witches brought us refreshments. The women standing before us began to dance seductively.

Quentin smiled as his eyes widened, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. I felt jealousy, burning jealousy, as their dance became more erotic.

They started removing veils and layers of their gowns, exposing parts of their thin, slender legs and waists. I glanced over at Quentin and drank deeply from the goblet that had been handed to me. Quentin wasn’t drinking; he was too intoxicated by the women dancing before him. The dancers slowly moved their bodies, inches from him, reaching their delicate fingers out to brush against him.

The fury and jealousy in me grew. I drained the drink, and at once was brought another.

Quentin clapped; the dancers invited him over to join them. My head was spinning as he went to stand among the women while they were dancing around him, touching, caressing, and brushing against him. Quentin gazed over at me. The women moved around him and came slowly towards me.

The cup fell from my hands as everything spun. I felt numb. My legs wouldn’t move. The women helped me to my feet and dragged me towards Quentin, who came closer until…

I stood in front of Quentin. He reached for me. “Awake. Stay,” he whispered. “Stay with me forever. I want you; I want to make you mine.”

He pressed his lips to mine.

I swallowed hard, unable to make sense of the words as I felt his mouth on mine, the delicate fabrics, and soft textures and the warmth of the bed now caressed my form with Quentin looking down over me.

We were no longer dancing but alone pulled away from the dream. Was it a dream? I couldn’t tell. He pulled back as I reached for him.

Claudia! Where are you? Claudia?

John! His voice was calling to me.

My head still spun. I saw his face and then, nothing but haze and double vision.

“He means nothing. Soon he will be nothing but a bad memory. Tell me you want to be mine,” he demanded. “I’ll take you away with me, and we will never be apart. Never again. Tell me.”

Quentin’s face began to spin, until everything went black.

Sitting up, I found myself in my bed at home. Quentin was nowhere. The window was wide open, and the curtains were blowing in the breeze. Rising with a tremble I slowly reached to close the window.

My head was throbbing. I jumped into bed. Had it all been a dream? I wondered this until I noticed dirt stained the white sheets of my bed. I took off my boots and pulled the sheet up to my neck.

“He wants me to stay with him,” I whispered, “Forever?”

A shudder raced up my arm. Why couldn’t I resist him. I couldn’t fight him when he was near. I couldn’t think straight. He had a strange effect on me.

We were in love…once…you’ve just forgotten, Quentin’s voice whisper into my mind.

I tried pushing his voice from my head.

John, I thought.

Claudia? John answered back.

He doesn’t matter, doeshe? Quentin’s voice broke between our connection. I want you, and I know you want me too. Come with me. Be mine. I will give you everything. Just love me, and I will be your servant forever.

“Forever?” I whispered, unable to understand the power and hold he had over me.

Quentin’s face appeared in the dark corner of my bedroom. His eyes stared back, his whole ghostly face smiling beautifully.

Yes, but you must awaken, my Pet-tricia, he said, then hissed and reached out.

I want you to come with me.Come with me. But you must awaken. His face fell back into the darkness, and he was gone.

A buzzing startled me from my sleep. I grabbed for my phone to make it stop. I saw the numerous texts and missed calls. I answered the incoming call as I sat up on the side of my bed.

“Claudia,” John’s voice yelled from the other end of the line. “Are you okay? What happened? Where are you? Are you safe?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“I’m coming over.”

“Don’t,” I said almost immediately.

“What’s wrong?” He sounded concerned.

“Nothing.” I tried to downplay it.

“I don’t believe you. I sense your confusion, what happened? I looked for you at the party. I didn’t see you. I found Alex, your friend. She was acting strange. She fled before I could talk to her. Why weren’t you with her?”

“I’m sorry —Um … John, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I didn’t want to tell him the truth. What could I tell him? I didn’t even understand it myself. “I guess I should have told you everything,” I said.

“What happened?”

“Michael didn’t want me to go to the party,” I revealed. “I was grounded. I didn’t want to tell you. I was embarrassed.”

John seemed to calm down a little.

“Why do I feel like you’re not telling me everything?” He held in a breath and then exhaled deeply. “I thought the worst …I don’t know why. There was confusion coming from you, but there was something else, something different.”

“I’m sorry, John.”

“Don’t be. I’m just happy you’re okay. I can stop by if you need me to. I feel like I should.”

“I don’t think Michael will like that.”

“Right, Michael. I forgot,” he said very nonchalantly. “I want to see you, Claudia.”

I fell silent for a moment, not sure what to say.

“I won’t take no for an answer, Miss Belle. I’ll be there tomorrow to pick you up early,” he said.

“Early?” I asked, surprised.

“I have something I want to ask you and I don’t want Joseph finding out before he has a chance to ruin it for me again. Let’s try for seven or eight?”

“A.M.?”

John laughed. “Yes. Is that okay?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Miss Belle, you still there?” his masculine voice asked.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“If something is scaring you, you would tell me? You trust me, right?”

“Yes,” I said.

John was silent for a moment. I could sense he was concerned, he wanted to be near me. I felt the same and that feeling was enough to make his heart soar.

“Okay. I’ll pick you up tomorrow, early. Goodnight, Claudia.”

“Where are we going?” I blurted out. I didn’t want the conversation to end.

“We don’t have to go anywhere if you don’t want to. I just want to see you and spend some time with you,” he admitted softly.

“Okay. I like that.” I could sense his heart singing.

“Goodnight.” There was a smile in his voice.

“Goodnight,” I repeated before he hung up.

I dropped to my bed, looking up at the ceiling with my head throbbing and my heart hitting the inside of my ribcage. A vision of John’s beautiful, unnatural green eyes were staring right into me. He was thinking of me and that made me as light as a feather.

Am I falling for him, or have I already fallen? A smile spread over my lips.

He responded we were connecting at that moment. He reached out; I could picture him on his bed staring at the ceiling back at me.

John, I said.

In response, he answered, Miss Belle.

I liked it when he called me by my last name.

Above, another face peered from the ceiling over me, but it was no longer John’s.

“Quentin,” I whispered.

He smiled, extending a hand to me. I turned onto my side, closing my eyes. I wanted John. I loved John.

You can’t leave me. I won’t let you … not this time …

Quentin was in my dreams, and we danced high into the skies, over the clouds like two birds.

He kept repeating, Come with me. I won’t let you go …

3

UNEXPECTED VISITOR

JOHN

It was around 7 A.M. on a Sunday when I slammed my hand over the alarm clock. I leaped from the bed. I was pumped. Today I was going to see Claudia Belle.

After the eventful night searching for her, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The school had been dreadfully quiet, and I knew why, as much as I didn’t want to admit it. I hadn’t come out and said it, even to myself. I wanted to deny it as if that would make it not true, but I could no longer avoid it. The cause of the disturbance was Claudia. She was the source, the power that Dr. Nicholson had often described. The very idea that it was she that I had been after all along frightened and worried me. The source wasn’t a thing or an idea, it was a person, a person I loved.

I did a few sit-ups and a few pushups to keep myself active. Then, I jumped into the shower. The water hit my face. It’s rewarding warmth filled me with a sense of renewed energy. I layered myself with body wash, scrubbing it on my body. I felt refreshed as I rinsed the soap away.

After the shower I brushed my teeth and picked out the best attire for the day with Miss Belle. Along with a little splash of cologne, then came down into the kitchen.

Joseph wasn’t downstairs. It wasn’t like him to still be in bed. I thought about going to his room and informing him where I would be for the rest of the day, but that man didn’t need to know everything that went on in my life. If I told him I was on my way to see Claudia Belle, he would’ve found something to convince me it was a bad idea.

He had already made several attempts to keep me from her.

I grabbed a protein shake from the refrigerator and the keys off the counter, along with my phone, checking it for any messages. There was one from Joseph regarding Dr. Nicholson. It looked urgent but it would have to wait. I wanted to get to Claudia’s house first before something else interfered.

Something always seemed to stop me, and I had promised to be there.

I was out the door almost immediately and into my car. I sped out of the driveway and onto the street. I was at her house within minutes. When pulling to the side of the street, my phone rang.

Before I could say a word, a voice firmly spoke over mine.

“Where are you?” I recognized the voice. It was Dr. Nicholson. My mouth suddenly went dry, and I swallowed the regret in my throat. I didn’t know what to say, but I knew answering incorrectly would cost me. He had caught me off guard because I hadn’t even read the email Joseph had sent me. I had no clue what the nature of his call was about. I sensed it had something to do with the email.

“At the rental,” I answered.

“I see.” His voice was calm, with the slightest tone of arrogance. “Then, I’m assuming you haven’t been briefed on the latest occurrence?” he said very dryly.

I didn’t answer right away and that was assurance enough I had no idea what had taken place.

“Joseph—”

“Joseph is here with me,” he cut me off. “In Milton.”

He’s here? My brow began to sweat.

“I had an understanding that you had already been notified by your guardian, and were en route? Am I to assume that the information was inaccurate?”

“No, sir, I’m en route I had a little problem with the vehicle. I’m headed there now.”

“Don’t keep me waiting.” The phone went dead.

I hurried out of the car and to Claudia’s front door. Before I could even ring the doorbell Claudia pulled open the door.

She had been waiting for me. She looked beautiful. She wore a flowery dress. Strangely, I knew it was something she wouldn’t normally wear. Had she gotten all dolled up for me? I couldn’t help smiling at the very thought.

She blushed but immediately knew something was wrong.

“John, are you okay?”