Stray Chapter 1: Back in time

Stray
Chapter 1: Back in time
Vivian
Why we were standing here was a mystery to me. I was drenched; the rain was pounding on the metal roof making it seem louder than it really was. I heard through the rain my sister asking for directions. “Excuse me…” She started asking a young businessman. Like all the others he stopped and stared, her white hair in a small ponytail, blind in her left eye, right eye violet, translucent looking skin and feather soft. “Do you know where Stone Grace is?” she asked.

The businessman shook his head before answering, “Go down past Glass Rose road and there on the right is a train station. Take you straight to it.” He said.

Annabelle thanked him and hopped back to me. “Did you hear him?” She asked jumping around in circles. I sighed; I knew I shouldn’t have left her there with that two-pound bag of candy. Annabelle was an exuberant person, when our pack found her we took her in naturally. No one in our group understood Annabelle like I did, so I took her in.

“Yes, yes I heard him! Bell calm down.” I snapped she stood still. I sighed and hit my forehead; she could be hard to handle sometimes. “Sorry, look I’m just ready to get back to Rory and Felix.” I sighed and stared out into the pouring rain.

“You think there still alive?” Bell asked turning her gaze back to the young businessman.

I shrugged, “I don’t know. I can only hope so.” I whispered. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah… I guess.” She responded. I led the way with Annabelle close by my side; Bell was almost always where I was. “Vivian, what if we don’t find Rory of Felix?”

“Then we don’t find them I guess.” I stated looking away. ‘We’ll find them… we have to.’ I thought as we stepped out into the sheeting rain. I was tired and hungry, and I was wondering if and when Rory or Felix would have the decency to call. It had been over two weeks I was getting worried… I would call them tonight!

“Viv?” Bell’s voice broke through my concentration. “You ok? You look, well you look hurt…” She started her eyes searching my hollow ones for answers.

“I was going to call Rory and Felix some time tonight.” I answered walking down Glass Rose. Bell looked mad for a minute but then her expression softened and she abruptly turned her gaze away. Many emotions flickered across her face, anger, sadness, and anxiety. “Something wrong?”

“Rory and Felix are fine!” She growled through gritted teeth.
“Oh, how-”

“I just know ok?!” She barked. I didn’t say anything more; Bell had never acted like that with me. We were at the station now, I bought our train tickets and we quickly boarded, after the tickets were checked the train started off.

“Bell?” I started.

“What?!” She asked grumpily.

“Never mind.” I started playing with my blue phone wondering if I should just call them now.

“You want to know how I know their alive don’t you?” Bell questioned. I nodded not trusting my voice; she shrugged and stared out the window. “Felix says that when I lost my sight in my left eye, I was able to see people’s auras… their life essence. The brighter it is the more essence they have since we’ve been with Rory and Felix for so long, some of their essence has rubbed off on us. And vice versa.” Bell concluded.

“Oh, that’s interesting.” I said surprised. Bell just shrugged and continued to look out of the window. I opened the phone and dialed Felix’s cell number. As luck would have it I got his stupid voicemail! “Call me when you get this! It’s been two weeks, call us!” I growled.

“Their essence is so weak.” Bell murmured.

“What?” I asked now worried. Bell just shook her head, sometimes I honestly wondered why I decided to take Annabelle in. She was stubborn, but she was also kind, Annabelle was a strange girl able to do wonderful things. “Annabelle…” It was the first time I had ever called her by her first name and not by her nickname.

“Yeah?” She asked still staring out of the window.

“What’s going on?” I demanded.

“Their essence… it’s duller… weaker and I don’t know why!” She answered frustrated.

“So they could be…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Dead? Yes they could be.” She responded, turning her gaze toward me. “The wolves… do you hear them?” She asked. The train was silently moving across the tracks in the distance I could her the mourning howl of wolves.

“Do you believe in werewolves?” I asked fiddling with my phone. I heard her snicker turn into a full-blown laugh. It took her five tries before she could stop laughing and actually talk.

“Are you kidding me?!” Before I could answer she continued on. “No! There mythical creatures, that’s all they’ll ever be!” She giggled.

“If they were, you would be one of them…” I stopped, why had I just said that? Bell turned away back to look out of the window. I reached out and placed my hand her shoulder, “We’ll find them.” I whispered.

“Oh joy!” Bell stated sarcastically. “No I don’t like them, I never have. Once I help you find them I’m going off on my own.”

“But why?” I questioned. She didn’t say anything else, the haze took over and I didn’t say anything more. I looked around the train cabin, the seats we were on had red velvet covers and the floor was cherry wood. The wall color was an off orange-red; all in all it was very bland.

I heard the sharp in take of breath from Bell but the loud speaker distracted me. “First stop is Stone Grace. Passengers please be ready.” The person making the announcement sounded utterly bored. When the train stopped Bell was still in her haze, but that didn’t stop her from getting up and gliding out of the cabin and train.

When Bell was in her haze her eyes went milky and her blind eye got darker. I didn’t say anything; I had learned the hard way not to mess with Bell in her haze.

“Viv?” Bell asked her eyes widened and she reached out to me. “Vivian!” She was frantic now.

I decided to answer then, not because she was frantic but because people were staring. “What? Annabelle what is it?” I cried dramatically.

“Vivian?” She asked coming out of her haze. “Vivian!” Annabelle threw her arms around my waist she hugged me to her. I wanted to ask what was wrong but as quick as she hugged me, she let go and trotted on. I followed swiftly and silently behind, the trees passed slowly along with the dusty trail. “Vivian?” Bell started slowing to match my pace.

“Annabelle I already know how I’m going to die.” I laughed. I stopped short, what was I talking about? Bell’s eyes grew wide as if some untold secret had been revealed. “Um lets go.” I whispered willing my stiff legs to move. Bell reluctantly followed the haze finally took over, and for that I was glad. It wasn’t long until we made it to our house, red bricks made up the house, and cherry wood beams were attached to the roof. The railings were made of cherry wood; the porch of oak, white rocking chairs and a swinging chair greeted us. In the back yard tied to two oak trees was a hammock, the inside walls were an off white the sofas a cream color. “Its good to be home.” I whispered.

“Yeah the only thing missing is Rory and Felix.” Bell said sarcasm dripping.

I sighed and went upstairs; hopefully Rory and Felix were there. I went to their rooms but they weren’t there. “Oh.” I whispered. I went to Felix’s bed and sat down, I grabbed one of his navy blue pillows and cradled it in my lap. The tears were silent, they were hot and salty I couldn’t stop them from coming.

“Viv?” Bell was at my knees her eyes worried. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh its nothing. Don’t worry about it.” I swiped the tears away and shook my head so I could clear it. Bell just shook her head and muttered something about Rory and Felix being stupid morons, I didn’t say anything because I thought we had fought enough for a day.

Bell got up and probably went to her room, my suspicion was confirmed when the springs in the mattress squeaked. I curled up in a ball holding Felix’s pillow, the rain pitter-pattered against the windowpane more heavily now. I dreamed that night Bell was standing in front of me jeans torn at the knees; her black shirt was stained with blood. The moonlight reflected off her snow-white hair and her pale skin looked menacing, she looked like a beautiful angel.

Her eyes were a deep red; her left was no longer milky but a deep crimson. She bared her teeth and hissed her canine teeth were long and sharp. She took a step closer her eyes smoldering mine, “Sister.” She said taking another step closer. I backed up and looked for a weapon or something to protect myself with, Bell continued to advance on me her grin widened. “Viv? Where are you going?” She whispered. I saw her eyes change back to violet she became pleading, “Go! Now!” I ran.

I woke up startled, tears streamed down my cheeks I wiped at them but I stopped when the bed shifted. Felix propped himself up on his elbows, he flicked the beside lamp on and stared at my horror looking expression. “Felix!” I cried. I jumped into his arms and began sobbing into his chest uncontrollably, Felix’s arms wrapped around my shoulder.

“Shh… calm down, its ok sweetheart.” I groped around until I found his other arm; I intertwined my fingers through his. Felix kissed my hair and held me tighter, “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“B… Bell… she t-t-tired to… to… kill me! Bad d-d-dream!” I sobbed clutching Felix’s shirt tighter.

“Calm down, go back to sleep.” He whispered. I smiled and leaned my head against his chest. The next morning I woke to Felix’s arm around my waist. I rolled over and kissed his cheek, he stirred and opened his eyes. “Morning.” He quietly laughed. Felix sat up, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, Felix and I had always been close I had always loved Felix. He was my knight in shining armor, he pulled back so he could pull me into his lap and cradle me.

“Hey Vivian?” Bell started. “I… oh you guys are back. Joy.” Bell said icily.

“Annabelle!” I tried to wriggle out of Felix’s arms but he held me in place. “Felix let me go!” I stated.

“I haven’t seen you in a while, don’t go! Annabelle’ll be fine.” Felix complained nuzzling my neck. I couldn’t so no to Felix, never could now Rory I could say no to only because he never talked much, whenever he did talk he usually gave advice.

“But Bell…” I started waving my hands wildly. Felix pressed his lips to my neck and I forgot all about Bell. From where we were I could hear Bell in the next room stomping around and growling out ever cuss word known to man!

Rory walked in then eyes wide, he looked from me to Felix then back to me. “Please Felix let me go?” Felix dropped his arms and I dashed off to Bell’s room, “What’s wrong?”

“Felix and Rory are here! I’m leaving.” She grumbled. She picked up a black velvet cloak and slipped it on. Bell pushed past me and headed downstairs, I followed after keeping a safe distance behind her. As we stepped out I realized it wasn’t morning after all, it was pitch black except for the silver moon that hung in the sky.

It was like my dream all over again. “Bell please don’t go.” I whispered stretching my hand out as if I could touch her arm. “Don’t go.”
“Rory and Felix don’t like me! They never have, and never will!” With that Bell took off or so I thought. In that instant she charged me, my arm was slashed and blood splattered onto her shirt. Her eyes were blood red, “Sister.” She crooned. I backed up and the familiar grin stretched across her face. She charged me again, I felt pain for an instant, I saw Bell’s eyes change and she took off. I never saw her again, I heard Felix’s tortured cry everything went black I couldn’t feel my body anymore.