Awaken (12 page)

Instead of going out to the road, they made their way through the trees separating the two camps.

“Where are we going?” asked Sebastien.

“You’ll see,” answered Meghan, as they came into the deserted looking site. “It’s around here, somewhere.” Meghan felt the air for the wagon. Colin followed her lead.

“Have you gone crazy? There’s nothing here!” Sebastien grimaced.

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“It’s very close, I think.”

Why could they not find it? Had Jae moved? Worse, had he left and not told them?

“What do we do now?” asked Meghan.

“Maybe he can hear us, if we yell.”

“I don’t think we can look any crazier,” she mumbled.

“Jae, where are you?” they called out in unison.

Sebastien took a few steps back, not wanting to be so close to two people yelling into nothing.

“Why are you guys yelling for Jae? The camp is empty.

They all pulled out a few nights ago.”

The twins did not answer. The Gypsy wagon, which was indeed right in front of them, materialized. The ornate wooden door flew open and Jae popped into the entrance, smiling.

“We hope this is all right, Jae,” said Meghan, biting her lip and pointing to Sebastien. Who in turn gaped at the wagon and Jae. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.

Meghan pulled him up the stairs, coaxing him inside.

“I had a feeling I might see you again, Sebastien.

Welcome to my home away from home,” said Jae, alleviating the twins’ worries.

Sebastien walked in with the same awe on his face that the twins had shown when they first entered the wagon.

Colin explained their absence, anxious that Jae might be angry they had not visited.

“We got caught for being out the other night. Uncle Arnon had us working our butts off! Sorry we couldn’t get over here sooner.”

“I guessed as much,” said Jae. “I was watching you from my window. It was quite entertaining, actually, watching the two of you working.”

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“Glad we could be of assistance,” said Meghan crossly.

She turned to Sebastien, still stunned.

“I am not even sure where to start. Obviously, you remember, Jae.”

“Yes, of course, how… are you?” Sebastien asked awkwardly.

The twins sat him down at the long table close to the stone fireplace and tried to retell the tale of first, following the Gypsies into the woods, encountering the Sctratchers, and then escaping via the aid of the Magicante.

Throughout the retelling, all Sebastien mustered out were exclamations of, “No way” and “For real,” to “I know I’m sitting here, but I don’t believe it!”

They finished with explaining the reason they had snuck out and been grounded, and how Jae came to be accidentally left behind, and could not rejoin his caravan for nearly a month. Once their tale was complete, they allowed Sebastien the first word, once he was ready to speak.

“Okay, if I have this correct, magic is real, and Jae is stuck here and being hunted by some kind of flying monster that I hope never to encounter?”

“I think you’re getting the picture,” Meghan replied, patting him on the back.

“I am not stuck here permanently, though. When the second moon rises, the door can reopen. I would bet my life my dad will come for me,” Jae said knowingly.

Sebastien nodded that he understood, although his face said otherwise.

“Our job is to make sure he gets there on time, and in one piece,” said Colin.

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Jae showed Sebastien around the rest of the wagon and even though the twins had seen it before, it was still captivating. They made themselves comfortable around the fireplace in Jae’s room.

“Are you managing okay over here?” asked Colin.

“To be honest, I am bored out of my mind. Definitely ready for an excursion outside the wagon.”

“Is it safe for you to leave the wagon, with the Scratchers still out there?” asked Meghan.

“I do not think we will see them until it is time for the door to reopen, but if they do show up, I am rested and ready to fight!” he said with vigor.

“We need a story then,” suggested Sebastien. “A reason that you are at the camp, without parents being around.”

“Colin and I tried to come up with one over the last few days, but we got nothing!” Meghan told them.

“Every time we thought we had a story that would work there were always holes. Like someone is bound to recognize you as being from the caravan,” Colin added.

“I think I have the perfect solution, then,” announced Jae. “Its something I have been working on over the last few days, in between watching you guys working,” he laughed. Meghan, Colin and Sebastien listened intently to Jae’s idea.

“You see, I know a magical spell that can alter my appearance. Not a lot, but maybe just enough to make anyone question that they recognize me.”

“You can do that?” Meghan, Colin, and Sebastien asked all in unison.

“Yes,” he answered smugly. “At least I can now,” he then added. “It is kind of hard to explain. You see, it takes a lot of magical energy to keep up any sort of spell, and 105

even more for a transformation spell, but during the last few days of being alone, my energy is surging. I have never felt so strong. Like I could pull off any spell I wanted to!” His eyes filled with excitement.

“Let’s see it then,” demanded Meghan. “If this works, none of us will be stuck inside anymore!” Colin and Sebastien nodded their agreement.

Jae clapped his hands and winked.

“Watch this,” he said. He turned his face away from his audience and waved his hand, saying something they could not understand. When Jae turned back around his hair was no longer long, dark and stringy, but shorter, auburn and spiky. His eyes changed from brown to green, and a few freckles ran over his pale-skinned face.

“Wow! Magic can never get old in my book,” said Colin.

The others agreed, amazed at the change.

“My dad would be so angry if he saw me doing this,” Jae admitted. “I’ve been practicing all kinds of looks he’d never approve of.”

The twins and Sebastien laughed as Jae spent the next thirty minutes trying out different styles and colors, until finally settling on the original, auburn spiky hair.

“It is definitely different enough that no one would be able to place you, Jae,” insisted Meghan, wishing she could change her appearance as easily.

“I think I have come up with a good story as to why your parents are not around,” Sebastien told the group.

“We can say your parents work in town during the day, and if you are with us at night, they have been working hard all day and have already crashed for the night.” The three waited for Jae to make the call.

“I think it’s just brilliant enough to work!” 106

Sebastien shook his head as the foursome departed the wagon.

“This is a lot to take in,” he admitted.

“You had better hope you don’t have an encounter with those Scratchers,” said Colin. “They will make an instant believer out of anyone.”

“That is certainly the truth!” agreed Jae. “Let’s not think about it now, though.”

“You’re right!” yelled Meghan, spinning around in circles. “We are all free. Let’s have some fun!” She took off running. The others laughed and followed.

Later that night, as the twins crawled into bed, Uncle Arnon walked in their room.

“Your big thirteen is practically here,” he sighed. “I hate to be so blatant, but are there any particular gifts that you have in mind? I am plum out of ideas.”

The twins laughed, as this happened each year.

“At least you know you are a terrible shopper,” joked Meghan.

“Terrible indeed!” he agreed.

“Besides, you already bought me my gift,” reminded Meghan, tapping her nose.

“This is a special year, though,” Arnon said. “You only turn thirteen once.”

The twins connected their minds.

“I think we should answer the same as we always do,” said Colin.

“Yeah. I know he doesn’t have a lot of extra money to spend, thirteenth birthday or not,” Meghan said, somewhat dreamily. Colin caught on to her thoughts on 107

wearing clothes that were actually black, not faded black.

Their thoughts then disconnected.

“I will leave it up to you, Uncle Arnon,” Colin said.

“There really isn’t anything in particular I would like.” Meghan nodded her head in agreement. Arnon eyed them suspiciously.

Being paid for handyman jobs in trinkets, casseroles and cobblers made it hard to afford the daily essentials, never mind splurges like birthday parties.

“I think I am mostly happy that once we hit the big one-three, we get the extra hour on curfew,” added Colin.

Arnon patted his shoulder.

“Could I ask for more in two youngsters?” he muttered.

“Goodnight, you two. Sleep tight.” He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Mere minutes later the twins were out cold. Having not been able to visit with Jae over the last few days had interrupted their sleep in the previous nights.

The days leading up to their birthday party were much the same; lounging by the lake, wandering around the campground or into town, and overfilling themselves on ice cream and whoopee pies. Uncle Arnon met Jae with great success. He was thrilled they had another friend to invite to the birthday party.

The day before the big birthday, Sebastien told the twins he had to go into town with his parents. Jae decided to tag along. The twins had a sneaking suspicion they were shopping for birthday gifts. Uncle Arnon was out making a last minute camp call; someone’s shower had gone berserk.

They also had a feeling this was a ploy, after they caught 108

him arm in arm with Kanda Macawi, hightailing it out of the campground. They fully suspected that he had joined up with Jae, Sebastien, and his parents, in birthday shopping.

Colin, eager to learn more about his new book, leaned against a granite rock near the trailer and flipped through the pages of the Magicante.

As the hours passed, Meghan, bored, lazily turned the pages of a magazine, looking at new hairstyles and clothes.

Speaking of clothes, this sweater is killing me. She took it off, feeling overheated.

“You feeling okay?” Colin asked, seeing her wipe sweat from her forehead.

“Fine. Just a little hot out here.”

Colin did not think it was hot at all.

Meghan’s thoughts strayed to how cool it would be if she could change her appearance, like Jae. She then wondered what she would change if she had the choice.

She had always thought about cutting her hair shorter, but had never dared. She grimaced at her chest, thinking, something there would be nice, too.

“Eeeeewww,” shouted Colin. “I didn’t need to hear that!” Meghan’s temper grew fiery at once.

“Then why were you listening?” she slammed down her magazine. “You shouldn’t butt in if you don’t want to hear!” She knew she had let her guard down, and would have done the same to him. She stomped off angrily, storming down the camp road, too easily allowing her fury to escape.

Colin threw the book down, leaning back. Her temper gets worse by the day! He forgot to block the thought and felt his sister’s mind go blank as she put up her own block, 109

but not before hearing her scream profanities, meant for him.

The sun popped out from behind a cloud, pouring comforting rays of heat across his face. His eyes closed and he started to doze, forgetting about his sister. A short while later, cloud cover blocked the sun, stealing his sleeping potion. A strong breeze made him shiver and he opened his eyes. The breeze continued to pick up.

Colin jumped up, alarmed, when his book flew up into the air and then fell, landing with a thud. It opened itself and the pages began to flip back and forth. The leaves began to shimmer and glow, and then, detached themselves from the pages. They formed a whirling tornado, which sped down the camp road. The cranky voice spoke, with concerned sternness.

“Find your sister, Colin, and do so with haste! She cannot face what is coming alone!”

“What do you mean?” he yelled at the book, his heart pumping heavily. “How am I supposed to find her, she’s blocking me. I don’t know where she went!” The book said nothing else and slammed shut.

Colin grabbed it off the ground and ran after the tornado, hoping it would lead to Meghan.

“I hope it’s not the Scratchers!” he then thought. He listened, but the skies were quiet. “I’m sure I would hear them. But what else could be happening?” His panic heightened as he followed the tornado, which veered off into the woods. Surprisingly, it destroyed nothing in its path; plants and trees miraculously bent out of the tornado’s way, allowing Colin to pass through, before standing erect once again.

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He opened up his mind, searching for Meghan. At first, he could only sense that she was close by, and then like a flooding river, her thoughts poured into his mind. It was a mixture of panic, fear and confusion. She was fighting something, but he could not make out what.

“If its Scratchers, we are so screwed!” he shouted to no one. “I cannot fight those things.”

His short legs darted easily through the pathway cleared by the leaf tornado. He could sense that she was somewhere just ahead. Then, a clear picture entered his head of Meghan, doubled over in pain, kneeling underneath a twisted oak tree.

“Meghan! Hold on I’m coming!” he yelled, hoping she could hear him. The pain she was feeling intensified and Colin nearly fell over as the same feeling filled his own mind. He blocked her for fear that he would not be able to continue standing if he did not.

Seconds later, he skidded to a stop and dropped the Magicante onto the ground. The twisted oak towered in front of him. The pages of the book began flipping back and forth, as previously, and the leaves once again affixed themselves back to their pages.

Colin found Meghan on the ground beneath the oak.

“Get it off me!” she screamed. “Get it off!” her arms flailed as if she were trying to bat away a horde of stinging insects. Colin leaned down and tried to pick her up, only to instantly let go when she shrieked in anguish.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” he begged her. However, the only reply was another horrifying scream, followed by incoherent thoughts in which Colin believed he heard the words ‘please let me die.’