“Melody...” I hear a voice. “Am I dead?” The voice chuckles. “No, not yet anyway. Pretty damn close though.” My eyes flutter open. I'm in a strangely familiar room. I cant see anything but the two of us. “Drena!” Her eyes narrow slightly. “Since when are you so loud? I thought I trained you better than that.” She says gruffly.
“Sorry...” She sighs and sits down beside me. “It doesn't really matter, I didn't come here to lecture you...” I toss my long black hair over my shoulder and look at her. “And why are we here, Drena?” She rolls her eyes. “What's my level, Melody?” I look at her funny. “Level Thirteen, of course... What does that have to do with-”
“What about my ability, Melody, the reason I am the feared Level Thirteen?”
“W-Well I don't know...”
“And not many people do. I prefer things this way..”
“I've noticed” I mumble.
“But,”she says this loudly to get my attention. “I feel It's time for you to know.”
I stare at her, my mouth gaping.
“You look really stupid like that. Like a demented fish.” She says humorlessly.
I narrow my eyes at her.
“Do you want to know or not?”
I nod. “Yes, sorry.”
“I have the ability to go back in time.”
“My eyes widen. “Like jump through time? Whenever you want?”
“I cant go forward in time...wherever I go, I'm stuck there. So, no, not whenever I want.”
“O-oh.” I pause. “Drena, why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think it's about time I took you back to fix your mess.”
I gasp. “Take me back? Now?”
“Yes, now. I think you've learned your lesson.”
“You've been planning this? Since when?”
“Since Drake died in the park. You don't really think I'd have let Kris go otherwise, did you? Plus, I'd never let Drake die like that. That was just too wimpy a way to go.”
“Why didn't you just send us back then?”
“Because you wouldn't have learned anything. You'd still be the same immature little girl you were before.”
I ponder over this. “I see...And I'm more prepared for combat as well.....”
“So you get it?”
“Sort of.”
“We need to go soon....You're about to die.”
“Then lets go now!” I start to panic.
“First things first, Melody. Rules.”
“Right, Rules. Ok. What Rules?”
“First and most obvious, You can't tell anyone without my permission.”
“Yes, That was obvious.” I tap my feet, then stop when I receive a dirty look from Drena. “Sorry.”
“Now this one is more of a precaution than a rule but you must treat it like one.”
“mhm.”
“You must be careful what you think in Drake's presence. Remember, He can still hear you.”
“And you'll do the same?”
“He can't hear Level Thirteens.”
“Why not?”
She shrugs. “No one knows.”
“That's...interesting.” 'Lucky'
“You're going to be in pain. Your body of this time will merge with the one of that time.”
I don't know what to say to that so I decide to move on. “Any others?” I say after clearing my throat.
“None that I can think of at the moment. You already know to obey my every command without question.”
'I hate training with Drena, but most of all, I hate training without Drena.' I stare at the moving targets with caution, waiting for an opening. Drena watches at the sidelines observing my every move. 'She says it's an evaluation but I think it's her inner vulture nature showing, staring me down, waiting for me to give up or die. whichever comes first. She's supposed to be a teacher, but where are her other students? Why am I the only one who's ever here?' "Melody, down." She states. "Huh? Why the hell should I-" I'm smacked in the face by a two by four. "OH MY GOD! Why didn't you tell me?!!" I scream at her.
Her eyes narrow. "I did tell you, stupid. You were too stupid to listen." She states monotonously and turns her back. "Rule Number two: Follow my orders without question." With that, she walks up the dirt path to her house. I scream out as loud as I can in frustration. "Well, what's Rule number ONE?!!!" She turns her head slowly and yells, "RULE NUMBER ONE! STOP COMPLAINING AND SHUT THE ******** UP!" She slams the door.
I grimace at the memory. “Correct”
“In that case,” She stands and offers me her hand. “Are you ready?” I nod and take her hand. The second I do, Our surroundings disappear and we're standing (more like Drena's standing. I'm still sitting how I was before) in the clearing I just fought in. I grope at my chest looking for a hole that wasn't there. I'm in my old pajamas. 'Pink. That figures.'
I look up a Drena. She looks distressed. “Whats with you?” I ask cocking an eyebrow. She rolls her eyes and mutters. “What's with you?” Only then do I notice the absence of the familiar dark blue aura that normally surrounds her. 'I'm blind!' “Dre-” A tear run down each side of my face. I touch my cheek in confusion. When I bring my hand back, it's got a streak of red on it, a red I recognize immediately. I gasp in realization. 'It's beginning.'
My eyes dart between my hand and Drena. All of a sudden, A searing pain flares up in my eyes, one that has me screaming at the top of my lungs. I curl up into myself as the high pitched sound fills the air. Drena places her hand on my back, I assume to be in an attempt to comfort me, as my muscles ripple and grow in an unnatural and painful way. When the pain recedes, I collapse onto my side panting heavily. “When...are...we?”I gasp out, my chest heaving. “Seven months and two weeks in the past. October sixth to be exact.” She says quietly. I can tell that seeing me like this is bothering her, so I decide to take this like a student of a thirteen should, with discipline and control.
I stand to my feet and keep my face neutral. “I broke up with Drake two weeks ago...” I blink multiple times to clear my vision. She nods. “You've acquired a lot of new muscle. You should exercise it.” She muses. I grin, “Maybe we should spar a bit.” She adds. We smile at each other. She knows how much I like to spar. She nods again. “Yes, that seems good.” I step back a few paces and await her move. “Agreed.”
She comes at me, going for a punch. I block with my left and swing with my right. She grabs my arm and tosses me away. I land on my feet desperately trying to gain traction on the dew-soaked grass. I sprint toward her and swing my leg for a kick to the stomach. She grabs my ankle and slings me into the grass. I land on my back and I slide a few more feet before coming to a stop. I'll probably have a bruise later. That's ok, because, now I have a plan.
I run to her and swing at her with my left hand. She catches my fist in her right. 'Just as I planned.' I take this as an opportunity to get in close. My leg snakes around hers and knocks her off balance. I place my right hand to her collarbone driving her into the ground with an audible thud. I smirk.
She gasps as she hits the ground. “Good. But not good enough.” My eyes widen as she quickly and mercilessly kicks me off of her. I stagger backwards a few paces; She hurries to her feet. I shake my head to clear my mind before throwing yet another punch. She dodges to the side, grabs and pulls my wrist, effectively knocking me off balance. 'Uh oh.'
She knees me in the stomach and brings her elbow down on my back. I struggle to hold back a gasp of pain but unfortunately for me, I fail. My body has my muscle and strengthened organs but lacks the self control and discipline I worked so hard to attain. 'I'll have to work on that.' I grumble bitterly in my mind. All of that work gone to waste. I twist my leg around hers and dead leg her. As she falls she brings her other leg up to kick me in the chest.
I take a moment to catch my breath. “Shall we continue?” I offer my hand to her. She stands on her own and clears her throat. She shakes her head and murmurs. “No, it's half past eleven; You should be getting home. She reaches into her cargo pocket and tosses me a pocket knife. “It's not much..” she starts. “It's all I'll need.” I say with a smirk because she knows it's true. She turns away with a chuckle. “Until tomorrow then.” She says with slight humor in her voice. “Good night, Drena.” I return, walking in the opposite direction.
~*~
I walk down the familiar street that is the entrance my subdivision. 'It looks so weird.' I never noticed how much it had changed. 'The Smiths haven't painted their house green yet. Oh! And there's Becka's mailbox!' It took her so long to carve it. It looks like it's covered in flowers, each painted a different color. 'The poor artist will be crushed when a car kills it in a month.'
As I continue my walk down memory lane, I sense something strange. I close my eyes and center myself then focus on my ability. I open my eyes and open my knife looking around, searching for anything sinister. I find it at my 11 o' clock. I throw my knife at it, hitting dead on. It is pinned to a tree. As I look closer, I see that it is a bat. I remove the blade and hold the bat by its wings swaying it back and forth like it was flying. “Why did you let yourself get possessed like that, Mr. Bat?” I place the unfortunate creature onto the ground and turn around with every intention of going back the way I came. I freeze.
Another sinister wave of energy surrounds me. 'I am not alone here.' I close my eyes and look again. 'What do I see?' A raccoon at my 6 o' clock, three yards away, An owl is flying overhead. 'There it is.' at my 2 o' clock a figure stands, surrounded by malicious spirits. These spirits, I have seen before. These spirits, I recognize. I look directly at him and say, “I know you're there, Kris.” I fold my arms across my chest, waiting.
I notice another figure in the distance, a young one at the look of it. 'Perhaps a child?' She has two spirits with her.'Apparently she is with him.' I try to covertly zoom in on her, knowing Drena doesn't know she exists. Her hair is long, tied loosely in the back. She has some thin bangs and some of her hair escapes her hair tie and falls upon her shoulders. She is almost 4'2 and stands at ease with her hands behind her back.
I focus on Kris as I hear a twig snap under his feet, and he steps out from behind a tree. I immediately recognize him by his red eyes. They aren't as intense a red but still red nonetheless. Not only did you find my bat but you also noticed me.” He said sporting a cocky grin that chilled me to the bone. “I'm impressed.” I want to roll my eyes but I'd rather not show emotion in front of him. The young girl's pink aura tints orange. 'Jealousy?'
He steps closer to me. “Someone with talents like yours could prove quite useful to me.” He puts a hand to his face contemplating. He doesn't notice me narrow my eyes and square my shoulders. “I'd bet you could be great, with some training of course.” He pauses. “Just to fix a few rough edges.”, He muses. Then I roll my eyes. 'Typical Kris. Arrogant as ever.' He's probably given that same speech a hundred times. 'Let's toy with him a little.' I grin.
“Now, Kris, Why should I even consider joining you?” He smirks. “One on one training with me of course-” The girl's aura screams orange now, practically demanding my attention. He walks up to me. “Plus I've never tried out an Asian girl before. Maybe if you're good enough, I'll let you be a potential girlfriend.” My eye twitches. I never knew how stuck up he was. 'Then again, I've never had a conversation with the b*****d.' 'God that child needs to learn control.' Her aura is pulsating. Kris's smirk broadens as he reaches for my shoulder.
I move quickly. I kick him square in the chest, sending him into a tree. “What makes you think I would ever want anything to do with you?” I start in a monotone while glaring at him intensely. “You are nothing. A parasite. A worm. Be gone. I want nothing to do with a tyrant. Take your little friend with you.”, I spat.
His face twists itself in anger. The girl appears beside him in an instant, her face as livid as his. I see waves of energy erupt from her. My eyes are no longer seeing what I once did. 'An illusionist, No wonder he keeps her around.' “Good ability child, but mine's better.” I smile and let my eyes break the enchantment. Her eyes widen as she feels the energy dissipate. I stare right into her eyes and say, “Be gone. I will not warn you again.” I keep my voice even and full of venom, hoping they wont see past my bluff.
The girl grimaces at me offering Kris her hand. He glares at me silently issuing his threat on my life. He grasps the young child's hand. “I'll let you go this time. Next time, you wont be so lucky.” I scoff at him, “Don't make me laugh.” and they're gone.
'This has been one hell of a day.' I make my way to the street, not paying attention to my surroundings. I just want to go home. I'm so tired. “Melody?” 'What is it now?' I turn around to find Karen, Drake's little sister, behind me. I sigh inwardly. Shes in a short pink skirt an a form-fitting white tank top. “Why are you out so late?” I raise an eyebrow at her. “I could ask you the same thing. It's not safe for a girl to be out this late especially in something like that...” Especially since Kris was just in the woods, is more like it.
“You're a girl too and what about what you're wearing?” I grimace. “You've got me on the girl side but at least I'm wearing pants.” She shrugs. “Look, I won't rat you out if you don't rat me out.” I shrug. “Fine by me but I better not find out about you sneaking out again, something tells me something might happen to you one of these days. She nods as I turn and walk away.
I sneak around the back of my house and dig in the shrubbery. I notice the scent of Basel in the air, before pushing the small basement window open. Dad always leaves it unlatched in case someone looses a key, Mom would kill him if she knew, but for times like these, it's quite convenient.
I sneak up the stairs and down the hall and stop at the door I know is mine. My hand pauses on the knob. So much has changed. Will I even recognize my room? I guess it doesn't matter right now. I turn the knob and walk inside. My room's to dark to make out, so I just collapse onto my bed and let sleep consume me.
