Darkside 39

Avery sat in the window seat on the far side of her bedroom. Alistair’s laughter from the backyard made her smile. He was playing in the sprinkler and making sure Bette was getting hit by the water as he ran by her. Addy giggled on the floor as she knocked over a pile of blocks with one of Alistair’s trains. 

“Can I come in?” Tina asked knocking on the door. Avery and Addy looked up and her as she walked in any way. “I got you something.” She handed Avery a box.

“What is it?” Avery started opening it. 

“Its just a book bag but I noticed you didn’t have one. So…” Tina picked Addy up. 

“Wow. It kinda matches my surf board. Where did you find it?” Avery pulled the bag out of the box. 

“Kit told me where you used to hang out so I went down there, and Charlie helped me out. It seems like you guys are really close.” Tina said. 

“Yeah He’s actually a cousin, the shop was kinda my home away from home. Before you know.” Avery unzipped the bag looking through it. 

A set of keys fell out of one of the pockets and onto the floor. 

“Uhh I think these are yours.” Avery handed the keys to Tina. 

“No they’re yours.” Tina grinned. 

“What are you talking about?” Avery could feel the excitement growing in her. 

“Hit the locks and see for yourself.” Tina said. Avery did and a car honked down in the driveway.

“Are you serious?” Avery asked. 

“Yes but there are rules that come with it.” Tina said. Avery jumped up and ran down the stairs and out the front door. Sitting in the driveway was a brand new 4 door surf blue Jeep Wrangler.

“This is so cool.” Avery opened the front door. 

“We thought you could use a car all things considered.” Bette walked up. 

“Sweet.” Avery looked at it with amazement. 

“As long as you follow house rules you can have it.” Bette gave Avery her stern look. “Avery?” 

“Yeah I know follow the rules or no wicked cool Jeep.” Avery said. 

Tina smiled at Bette. It was clear who’s idea the car was and who had just gone along with it. 

*********

“Bette she’ll be fine. It’s not like she’s never been to school before.” Tina said. 

“Let’s hope everything she’s been through has changed her attitude towards her education.” Bette crawled into bed next to Tina. 

“It couldn’t have been that bad.” Tina said. 

“Tee. She’s been expelled from every descent private school on both coasts and some across the Atlantic.” Bette picked up her book. 

“She’ll be fine. We’re both going to school with her in the morning. So we can take all this up with the principle about the past.” Tina said. 

“Its public school in LA they don’t care as long as there are no weapons are involved.” Bette said. 

“That’s not true and you know it.” Tina said. 

“I know. I just wanted her to have all the opportunities I didn’t.” Bette said. 

“You gave her all those opportunities. She knows she blew it at those other schools and if she doesn’t do right this time its off to military school.” Tina said. 

********

 Avery stood on the edge of a cliff. Her marks pulsing on her skin. A dark cloud moved quickly towards her, stopping a couple feet in from her. 

“I won’t let you pass. This is no place for you in this world or any. Return from which you came or be destroyed where you stand.” Avery said.

The dark cloud charged towards her. Avery held out her hand and the cloud stopped. 

“You can not defeat me. Only the chosen one has the power.” The could bellowed in a thunderous voice.

A lighting bolt struck Avery sending her flying over the cliff.

In that instant Avery sat straight up in the bed gasping for air and covered in sweat. She stumbled to the bathroom and threw up. Her marks were pulsing just as the had in the dream. 

“What’s happening to me?” She said to reflection in the mirror.