A.R. Dawn's Blog, page 2

Shadow's Turning- Part 10

His car turned out to be a gleaming black SUV, parked in a detached garage in the back.I got into the passenger seat and buckled myself in.The ride to my apartment was quiet.  I didn’t know about him, but I needed to get horizontal in the worst way.I doubted I would be able to sleep at night.We parked in the not so well lit basement and I led Birch to the elevator, pressing my floor.And because the universe has a mean sense of humor, the elevator opened up to Mrs. Hendrix.Birch took in her small, frail form dressed in a lavender sweat suit and her fluffy white hair.  Even her smile broadcasted nice old lady.I saw him dismiss her as a threat.Little did he know.“Sara!  Two nights in a row.  Must be careful now, a young lady’s reputation isn’t easily fixed.”“Good morning Mrs. Hendrix,” I said with a stiff smile, trying to edge around her walker.“I waited for you to come help me with my trash, but I suppose you had more important things to do,” she said, eyeing Birch with the glittering eyes.  “I’ll wait for you to come over tonight.”I mumbled something non-committal and almost ran down the hall to my door.She muttered something about rude young people as she got on the elevator.“Make a habit of running away from old ladies?” Birch asked in an amused voice.“Don’t let her disguise fool you,” I muttered, my face heating from a blush.He’d just faced one of those…things…voluntarily and survived.And here I was running away from a confrontation with a senior citizen.With a silent sigh, I opened the door and went in, throwing my keys on the table in the entryway.“Make yourself at home,” I said, going into my bedroom.I pulled out some yoga pants and a t-shirt, wanting comfort.  I was going to take my time in the shower.  If Birch was annoyed, well, it was his choice to come with me in the first place.I turned the water on to scalding and hopped in.Twenty minutes later, I almost felt human.Wiping the foggy mirror, I looked at my face.I had the beginnings of shadows under my eyes, the dark green dulled from lack of sleep.  With my brown hair slicked back, the signs of fatigue were even more apparent on my face.I also had bruises all over my body from throwing myself against the door.Maybe I shouldn’t have looked in the mirror.I ran a comb through my hair and dressed.  Opening the door to my bedroom, I padded barefoot to the living room.Birch was seated on the couch with his head tilted back and his eyes closed.“Hey- can I catch some sleep before we go back?” I asked, nudging his jean-clad leg with my foot.He opened one eye to look at me.“Few hours,” he said and closed his eye again.Ok, good enough.I went back inside and collapsed on the bed.
Chapter 5
“Sara.”I grumbled and turned away from the annoying voice that kept calling my name.“Sara, we need to get going.”I curled up tighter.That’s when the covers were ripped off.“Hey!”I sat up, glaring at Birch.“Get up.  We have to get back.  Unless you want me to duct tape you to one of your chairs before the sun sets.”That got me up.Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I stumbled out of bed and grabbed a tote bag, shoving in some toiletries and a change of clothes, just in case.Just as we were about to leave the apartment, my phone rang.“Hello?”“Give it to Birch.”Geez, no hello or anything.  I handed it to Birch.“It’s Lieson.”“Yeah?” he answered.He listened intently.His jaw clenched as his eyes narrowed.Obviously not good news.“Ok.”He turned the phone off.“What?” I asked.“Who did you tell about what happened?” he asked in a voice that was too controlled.“Uh, just you guys.  And Mindy.  Why?”“The police just showed up at our place.”

Shadow's Turning- Part 9

Lost in my single-minded effort to get out, I heard the sound of another pair of feet on the stairs, but I didn’t really register it.“Saa-raa,” someone said in a sing-song voice, the deep sound almost vibrating through the door.  “I’ll be back for you,” it continued in that sickly sweet voice.  The hair on the back of my neck prickled in response.  “But you had better be alone next time.”  The door shuddered as something heavy hit it.  “Or I might be a little…upset.”A roar that I felt deep in the pit of my stomach, in my bones, filled the house.  I stepped back as I felt something inside me snap.The roar cut off abruptly.My breathing was loud in the quiet, my body trembling and covered in sweat, strands of my hair sticking to my face.I sank down on the bed as my knees gave way, curling my aching body into a ball.Fixing my eyes on the clock as it ticked away the seconds to sunrise, I kept a tight grip on my knees, feeling as if I was literally holding myself together.I braced for something else to happen, twitching at every perceived sound.  Each creak and groan of the house settling nibbled at already frayed nerves.The night became endless, each minute seeming like an hour, each hour a day.I was drifting in a state between waking and sleeping when I heard the sliding of the lock.Jerked back into reality, I sat up, not knowing what I would find when the door opened.It opened smoothly, a tall figure appearing.Birch.His eyes were bloodshot, the shadow of a beard now full-on heavy stubble.  The black boots he had on his feet had something dark splashed on them and I quickly looked away.He had a shallow scratch across one cheekbone, but looked fine otherwise.Which was pretty fucking miraculous by any stretch.“Did you…do it?” I asked weakly.He gave me an unreadable look.“No.  Wounded it.”My shoulders slumped, the hope I’d been harboring as I stared at the time dying.  I didn’t want to become that mindless animal again.“I doubt it’ll be back tomorrow night.  You’ll have a day’s reprieve at least,” he added, correctly reading my slumped posture.He turned around and made his way back to the stairs.  Only then did I notice he was walking with a pronounced limp.Getting up slowly, I followed him, wishing for a shower.And maybe a new life.The basement didn’t look any worse for wear, except for some dark stains on the carpet that hadn’t been there before.Maybe cream hadn’t been the best choice.Lieson was in the kitchen eating, dressed in dark jeans and a black t-shirt now.  A bandage covered something on his forearm and a darkening bruise covered one side of his jaw.  But he looked fine otherwise.Who were these guys?  Superman’s cousins?“Hungry?” Lieson asked, pushing a plate filled with scrambled eggs and toast toward me.“Yeah.  Thanks.”Sitting down at the bar, I picked up the fork and started eating, feeling almost starved now that I could smell food.Birch set down a tall glass of orange juice in front of me and I mumbled a thank you before gulping down half the glass in one go.I didn’t look up until the plate was empty, feeling more steady now that I had something in my belly.I really needed a shower and some clean clothes.  And the comfort of my apartment.“I need to go home and clean up,” I said, my back turned to the men as I put my dishes in the sink.I felt them go still behind me.“I’ll go with you,” Birch said.My hands clenched on the counter.  I carefully relaxed them before replying.“I’m not running away.  I have no desire to be alone when the sun sets.  I’ll be back.”“I’ll come anyway,” Birch said firmly.“Fine,” I bit out, knowing this wasn’t a battle I was going to win.“We’ll take my car,” he said, unfazed by my tone.At least I wouldn’t be walking.
If you enjoyed this, be sure to +1 it :). -A.R.

Shadow's Turning- Part 8

Night had fallen according to the clock.The eerie silence was starting to wear on me.  I couldn’t even hear them walking around above me anymore.Had something happened?  Were they just waiting?Maybe I should check…Standing up, I walked over to the door and removed the bar before unlocking it.  Reaching for the doorknob, I tried to turn it.Locked.I began pacing back and forth in front of the door.  Maybe if I got the hinges off…I turned toward the room, looking for something that would help me do it.I didn’t see anything on my first scan and immediately abandoned the idea.  It would take too long anyway.I needed to get out there right now.I pressed myself up against the door, the cool smoothness of it against my front in an unbroken line.I jerked as I heard a crash from somewhere upstairs, followed by a quick series of thuds.The sound of something scraping against the floor above rippled through me.  The room shuddered and the lights flickered off and on as something was smashed.Heavy footsteps sounded above me.I closed my eyes and listened as they moved away.The shrill creak of a door opening tore through the air.  An odd clicking and what sounded like the wind sighing through the trees underscored the quiet above.My already fast heartbeat increased until it felt like it was bruising my chest.The groaning of the stairs as weight shifted onto them reached me.  The slow methodical steps continued, louder now.Clearer.If I could have melted through the door and come out the other side, I would have.The footsteps stopped right outside the door.  A charged silence fell.All I could here was the pounding of my heart in my ears.My breathing became labored as I screwed my eyes shut harder, tears starting to leak out.  The door was shaking and I couldn’t figure out why until I realized it was me.I was shaking.I let out a harsh sob and began throwing my body at the door.  I felt oddly detached from myself, as if I stood back, watching myself lose control.Maybe restraints would have been a good idea.The coppery red tasted of blood coated my tongue and I realized I must have bitten the inside of my lip.  The sting of it was lost in the frenzy to get out, to get to what I needed.This thin piece of wood could not hold me.I wouldn’t let it.

Shadow's Turning- Part 7

All I could do was gape at them for a few seconds, the sheer idiocy of the idea short-circuiting my brain.“Kill it?!  Are you insane?!” I said as controlled as I could be.“No, we’re not,” Lieson said, a condescending look on his face that I had the urge to slap off.Or maybe punch off.“Don’t worry, you’ll be out of the way, behind a charmed door,” Birch added, giving Lieson a warning look.“Or, you could go back to your place and wait for nightfall,” Lieson said irritably.“Let me get this straight.  You want me to be bait for you?  That’s what this is about?  Do you think killing one of these things is even going to make dent?!”  If I got a little shrill there in the end, it was justified.“No, we want you to be bait for you.  Or have you forgotten about the part where you have to be locked up after sunset?” Lieson shot back.“And what happens if you don’t succeed?  The chances of you dying instead of it are pretty damn high.  I’ll be stuck in a locked room with no way out!”“You won’t be stuck.  Someone will check in on us tomorrow,” Birch said.“This is insane,” I whispered to myself, raking my fingers through my hair.  There was no reasoning with them.And they weren’t going to let me leave.  Although, if everything they said was true, leaving wasn’t a good idea either.“Look at the world around you, princess.  What about it seems sane to you?” Lieson said in a tired voice.“We’re taking all the risk here.  If we’re wrong or we’ve misjudged, we’ll pay the consequences.  If we’re right, you won’t have to worry about what you’ll do when the sun sets,” Birch said in a reasonable voice.I licked my lips, absorbing what he said and looking for any other issues that could crop up.  That I was even considering this told me how desperate my situation was.And that I at least half-way believed them.It wasn’t like I had a better explanation.“You get one night.  Then I’m gone.  I’ll figure something else out,” I finally forced out.The tension in the room decreased as I capitulated.I hoped it was the right move.
Birch ordered some pizza and we ate as we waited for the day to pass.There wasn’t a lot of talking, all of us subdued as we watched the clock.One of them was always with me, not trusting me not to bolt if I was given the chance I guess.  They weren’t completely wrong- the thought had crossed my mind.  The only thing keeping me there was that I was more afraid of leaving and dealing with this on my own than staying.As the sun began to dip, Birch took me down to the basement.It was actually clean and finished, with cream colored walls and carpeting.  Half of the space was walled off with an open door in the center.Leaning in to flip the light switch, he gestured me inside.A small bed took up one side, and an overstuffed armchair with a small coffee table and a television were arranged at the other end of the room.  Another door was cracked open and I could just make out the sink, so it must have been the bathroom.“The inside isn’t charmed, so don’t worry about touching the walls or anything.  This whole room is protected on the outside.  There’s snacks and water in the fridge there,” he said, pointing to a small fridge I hadn’t noticed in the corner.  “I’m locking you in from the outside.  You can lock yourself in from the inside too and bar the door.”  He looked around the room.  “Don’t try to get out if you hear something- you won’t be able to.”With that comforting thought, he closed the door.  I heard the deadbolts slide into place, and then his footsteps as he climbed the stairs out of the basement.Moving to the door, I turned the deadbolt and levered the bar into place, not really feeling much safer.Then I sank down onto the bed, staring at the wall.Now all I could do was wait.

Shadow's Turning- Part 6

Chapter 4
I sat down on one of the armchairs in a daze.Birch and Lieson hesitated before moving to sit on the couch I’d just vacated.“What do you mean?” I asked through lips that had gone numb.“Sometimes, one of them…puts a little of itself in a person.  Not a lot, just enough that you’re slightly vulnerable to charms.  At least, that’s what the evidence points to.  When the sun sets, the one that altered you can sense where that piece is.  And if it can get close enough, it becomes a magnet for the missing part of itself.”  Birch stopped and looked over at Lieson.“You wouldn’t be able to stop it.  The attraction is too strong.  And as soon as you open the door, you compromise the building’s security.  Easy pickings,” Lieson finished.I heard what they were saying, but from a distance.  I felt an odd sense of detachment as I carefully examined the words.“If that’s true, why haven’t we been taken over yet?  Just do this to enough people and we don’t stand a chance.”  A spark of hope lit in my chest.Maybe they were wrong about this.“We think they can’t use just anyone.  There’s something different about the ones they choose.  We just haven’t been able to figure out what yet,” Birch said, frustration clear in his voice.  “It also doesn’t seem to be a universal skill.  Of the cases we’ve seen, it’s never been one of the weaker ones pulling a person out.  When you take that into account, plus the fact that very few people get caught out after dark…the numbers just aren’t in their favor.”“You’re a statistical improbability,” Lieson said, a pitying look on his face.A statistical improbability.Fancy way of saying I had shit luck.“Alright.  If what you say is true, how can you help?  Why do you want me to stay here?”“Well, we’ll have to restrain you so you can’t follow the call after the sun sets,” Birch said.Restrain me?  Better and better.“Restrain me how?” I asked warily.“We have a room specially outfitted.  I guess restrain is the wrong word to use- we’ll just lock you in until the sun rises.”“Ok, say you lock me in this room-”Aka prison.“- for the night.  Do I have to be locked in every night for the rest of my life?”I saw the chance for a normal life receding in the distance.They hesitated and shared another meaningful glance.  That was starting to get really irritating.Lieson finally answered me.“If the one you encountered comes tonight, we might be able to break the connection.”“Might be able to break the connection.  You don’t know?  And how can you even break something like this?”“We kill it,” Birch said, a slight, humorless smile on his face.

Shadow's Turning- Part 5

I don’t know what I’d expected the inside to look like- maybe an office like the signs on the other buildings suggested.Instead, it was a comfortable living room and bar area, running heavily toward leather and dark wood.  The only light was from some dim sconces placed around the room.  After the bright light of the sun outside, the dim interior was a welcome relief to my smarting eyes.I turned toward Birch, rubbing my hands nervously on my jeans.“Have a seat,” he said, gesturing toward the plush couch.I perched on the end of it, not wanting to sink in too far.  He opted to lean against the bar, his arms folded across his chest as he considered me.When I didn’t start talking right away, he cocked his head, a thoughtful expression on his face.“Why did Mindy send you here?” he asked finally.I eyed the distance to the front door.  I would have to pass directly in front of him to reach it if things went south.I jerked my gaze back to him as he moved to sit down on the armchair across from me.  Leaning back, he clasped his hands behind his head.“Better?” he asked without a hint of humor.I had a clear shot to the door now.I nodded.  But when I opened my mouth to tell him why I was here, nothing came out.“If Mindy sent you here, I know it’s something bad,” he said quietly.I searched his eyes and found only a mild curiosity in them.  For some reason, that relaxed me enough to talk.“I didn’t make it inside in time last night,” I said carefully.He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, but didn’t say anything.“And now…something is definitely wrong,” I squeezed out.A long minute passed before he heaved a sigh and sat up, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his thighs.  His hair shadowed his eyes as he stared down.He looked up as if something had caught his attention and his eyes focused somewhere above my left shoulder.Alarm sent a shot of adrenaline racing through me.I twisted in my seat to look behind me.And stared up at another man’s strong, chiseled face, his eyes so blue I couldn’t mistake their color even in this light.  His blond hair was cut close on the sides, almost shaved, the top left a little longer, the hint of curl probably explaining why he kept it so short.“Who are you?” I asked warily, shooting to my feet and taking a step toward the bar so I could keep them both in sight.Birch slowly got to his feet.  Once he was standing, I realized the blond guy was a couple of inches taller, with the same muscular build, though his was a little sleeker.  He was also dressed less casually, in a nicely fitted pair of gray slacks and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.“James, this is…”Birch trailed off as he realized I hadn’t given him my name.“Sara Evans,” I filled in automatically.  Then I cursed myself for not coming up with a fake name.“And this is James Lieson.  My business partner.”“Nice to meet you, Ms. Evans,” Lieson said after a slight pause, his gaze going to Birch, a question in his eyes.“She got caught out last night,” Birch said.“Ah,” James said, his eyes sharpening on me.  “Well, then.  Ms. Evans, we must insist that you stay here with us, at least for the night.”I took another step back and he took one smoothly to the side, blocking the way to the door.“It’s for your own protection,” Birch said soothingly, taking a step toward me.  “Calm down.  We can explain.”“Then do it.  Quickly,” I said, moving until my back touched the cool counter.“Alright.  Let me ask you this.  Do you honestly think you’re the only one who has ever been caught outside after sunset and returned?”I opened my mouth to respond, but then shut it.“The vast majority of people who don’t make curfew never come back.  That part is true.  But there’s a small percentage that does.  Most of them are fine.  Well, physically at least.  PTSD isn’t uncommon.”“Wait,” I interrupted.  “I think I would have heard of this.”If it hadn’t happened to me, I would never have believed it.  As it was, I was struggling.“Do you think those people want to advertise it?  Mostly, they want to forget it ever happened.  And it’s better if everyone else doesn’t know who they are,” Lieson replied.I had a flashback to Mindy’s reaction.“Then there’s that sliver of people who come back different.  Altered.  There have only been a couple of confirmed cases, and a few more suspected ones.  One thing we know for sure- it’s not a good idea to have you staying in a building with other people.  Not until after we can…assess the situation,” Birch said, his face serious.Knowing I wouldn’t like the answer, I asked anyway.“Why?”Lieson and Birch exchanged a glance.“They might not survive.”

Shadow's Turning- Part 4

Chapter 3
I kept my arms close to my sides as I walked the few blocks to the address Mindy had given me, making sure to walk toward the outside of the flow of traffic, near the road.And away from any stray charms.The park was in the middle of the city, shaded with the synthetic leaves attached to the facsimiles of trees that were installed there.  Real trees would not only be too pricey, but would have to be guarded continuously.Which would pretty much defeat the point of having a public park.At least the grass was real.I looked down at the card to verify the number.It was a discrete brick front building on a narrow plot of land, the real estate here so expensive I knew even that much cost a pretty penny.The buildings on either side were just far enough away to be in line with building regulations.  One was a lawyer’s office, the other a dentist’s.This one was not so clearly marked.Or marked at all.  The only reason I knew it was the right place was because it fell between the numbers on the buildings on either side.Stepping out of the crowd, I opened the waist-high gate and climbed the short steps up to the heavy metal door.  When I couldn’t find a doorbell, I finally settled for giving the smooth metal surface a few firm knocks.I waited, not hearing anything from inside.I pulled off my sunglasses as I looked around the small landing trying to figure out what was niggling at the back of my mind.  Something was just a little off…The door swung open, cutting off my train of thought.I took an involuntary step back.Physically, he wasn’t overly tall, around six feet.  Though all of it was hard with muscle from what I could see.  His biceps strained the sleeves of the olive green t-shirt that stretched over his broad shoulders.  Black jeans outlined the taught muscle of his long legs and my eyes stopped at his feet, which were startlingly bare against the dark wood of the floor, the smooth brown skin in mellow contrast to it.I looked back up to the baleful glare that had first made me step back, the light brown eyes tinged with a hint of red piercing under the dark slashes of his eyebrows.The dark shadow of a beard framed a full mouth and his nose was strong with the slightest hook to it.  It gave his face a smoldering sensuality that I’m sure turned heads.With his darker coloring, I would have expected his hair to be black, but it was a silky brown a couple of shades lighter than his eyebrows and eyelashes and a few shades darker than his skin.  It was long enough to fall over his high forehead and brush his eyes.He ran his hand impatiently through his hair, shoving it back and giving me a flash of a dark tattoo peeking out from the bottom of his sleeve.“Yes?  Do you want something?” he said brusquely, his eyes moving behind me to scan the street.“I’m looking for a Simon Birch?” I asked hesitantly, suddenly unsure whether Mindy had been trying to be helpful at all.Those unnerving coppery eyes shot back to me as he took a closer look, eyes quickly scanning me.He raised a brow.“Mindy gave me your address.  She said you might be able to help me,” I said, taking another step back.  “But I think she might have made a mistake.  I’m sorry to have bothered you.”I flashed him an insincere smile and turned to step down.A large hand clamped down on my shoulder.“Wait.  Come in.”I turned back to him and he let go, no longer giving me that glare, though he still didn’t exactly look welcoming.  The doorway behind him led into a dark interior the light didn’t quite penetrate.I wasn’t reassured, but I had nowhere else to turn.He followed me in, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body along my back.Closing the door, he shut out the bright light of day.  I twitched a little at the snick of the lock sliding into place.

Shadow's Turning- Part 3

***Sorry for the delay- was busier than expected.  Got diverted writing paranormal erotic shorts under the pseudonym Dawn Wilder, in case anyone's interested in checking those out.  Hopefully, I can stay on track this time :).***
I woke up a few hours later, feeling only slightly better.Forcing myself off the bed, I staggered into the bathroom to take a shower.  Feeling somewhat more revived, I squeezed myself into the only clean pair of jeans I had left.  They felt like they were strangling the blood flow to my lower half, which was why I only wore them when nothing else was left.I pulled on a t-shirt and shoved my feet into sneakers, grabbing my keys and pushing some cash into one of the pockets.Locking the door behind me, I walked over to the elevator.  I heard a door shut in the hall as I waited, and then the sound of shuffling feet.Mrs. Hendrix turned the corner, using her walker for support.“Hello, Sara.  Where were you last night?”Mrs. Hendrix was a world-class busy body, though she tried to hide it under a sweet old lady façade.  She certainly looked the part.  Her pretty dark skin was only lightly lined, her snowy white hair always perfectly set in the curled cap that was so popular after a certain age.  She liked to dress in velour jogging suits tending toward pastel colors.Today’s was a pale yellow.“Out,” I said with a strained smile, urging the elevator to hurry up.  I wish I’d taken the stairs.She squinted at me suspiciously before smiling at me sweetly.  The smile didn’t match the greedy look in her eyes.  She probably smelled some gossip she could impart to her equally nosy group of friends.The ding of the elevator’s arrival was a welcome distraction, though now I had to be stuck in an enclosed space with her.I held the doors open as she slowly inched in next to me.  They closed smoothly behind her.“Would you mind taking my trash out tonight, dear?”I was tempted to say no because it was probably just another opportunity for her to pump me for some information, but…“Sure,” I said resignedly.Luckily, her daughter was waiting in the lobby so I was able to escape her presence.  I swallowed the urge to ask her why she never took out her mother’s garbage.I had more important things to worry about at the moment.I entered the bright light of the day, squinting.  Was the sun brighter?  I fumbled for the sunglasses I habitually slipped into the collar of my shirt.  Better.  At least my eyes didn’t want to water anymore.The same streets that had seemed so ominous by the fading light of day were welcoming and busy.  Everyone was focused on what they had to get done before sundown, but fear wasn’t really a big issue.We’d become somewhat desensitized to it.I didn’t know anything different, though my grandparents’ generation grew up in a time when the biggest threat they feared in the dark was a mugging.Then things changed.It happened gradually.  Nobody really knew why.Missing persons reports began increasing.  At first, the change was subtle, so people thought maybe there was a new serial killer on the loose.  Police warned citizens to keep their doors and windows locked.  To avoid going out at night alone.But the numbers kept climbing.  And the problem wasn’t localized.  Reports of a spike in unsolved missing person cases started coming in from around the world.And then people started seeing things.Eyes in the shadows.  People vanishing in full view of others.  Panic set in.The police and the military tried to fight back, but whole squadrons would go missing in one night.  Roughly half of the human population was wiped out in a matter of months before it was decided we needed to move to defense.The streets became deserted at night.  Whatever they were, they were nocturnal.That’s when people started going missing from their homes.Every form of religious symbol was used to try to protect ourselves.  None of them worked.Until some did.Homemade symbols created by a small segment of the population seemed to actually work.  There was a hereditary aspect to it, judging by the fact that it tended to run in families.  And those few soon figured out that it wasn’t the type of symbol that mattered, just that the intent was there during its creation.And the wooden ones seemed to work best.Charms became a booming business.Everyone had them.  Some of the extremely wealthy even had entire houses armored with massive charms.  The price of quality wood sky-rocketed.I looked up to see I’d crossed over into the Charm District.It didn’t seem like much from the outside, the little red awning and crowded windows not exactly high-class.  But Mindy was one of the best.  She would probably be able to move into the higher-end area a couple of blocks down in another year or so.At which point I probably wouldn’t be able to afford her anymore.The little bell tinkled merrily as I let the door swing shut behind me.The interior was dimly lit and crowded, every available shelf and wall covered in merchandize.  The pleasant scent of freshly carved and sanded wood saturated the air.“Just a minute!”I wandered over to take a closer look at a charm carved into the shape of what appeared to be a teddy bear.  I caught myself right before I was about to touch that deceptively soft looking belly.“Sara!  How are you?  Looking for anything in particular?”Mindy was maybe five feet tall and a hundred pounds soaking wet.  She was an interesting mix of Asian and Nordic ancestry, her hair gleaming white blonde and a distinct Japanese slant to her eyes.  She also had more energy than any one person should.Just watching her flit around was exhausting.“Hey, Mindy.  I was actually wondering if I could talk to you in the back,” I asked, looking around nervously.  The store looked empty, but I couldn’t see the whole interior at a glance.  There were dozens of nooks and crannies people could hide in.“In the back?”  Mindy hesitated, her usually animated face going still as she gave me a long look.I could see her weighing the possibilities.  I’d never asked for a private meeting before, and I knew I hadn’t disguised my nervousness well.The fact that I looked like I’d pulled an all-nighter didn’t help either.“Follow me.”She turned and led me to the back store room/office space.  She dragged a heavy doorstop away so that she could shut the door behind us.Gesturing to the beat up chair across from the dented metal desk, she settled into the patched up leather swivel chair on the other side.  Leaning forward, she folded her arms on the dull surface, giving me an expectant look.“Do you have any charms nearby?” I asked.She raised an eyebrow, but leaned down to pulled open one of the desk drawers with a grating squeal.  Rummaging around, she sat back up with a small sunburst pendant hanging from a chain.  Setting it down with a light clinking sound, she pushed it over to me.I took a fortifying breath, feeling her curious gaze focused on me.  Reaching out, I settled my hand palm-down directly on top of the charm.At first, nothing happened.  I almost breathed a sigh of relief.  Maybe it had been a freak occurrence…Flash.The charm lit up under my hand, bright white light shining out between my fingers.With a startled yelp, I yanked my hand back, waving it around in an attempt to cool it off.  Turning it around, I saw that I now had a little sunburst burn mark next to the star in my palm.“What the fuck!?”Mindy leaped up from her chair, sending it rolling back to crash into a filing cabinet with a rattling bang.  She backed up into the corner, her hands held up in front of her.Awkward.I held my hands up too, and leaned back in the chair.“I’m not going to hurt you.  Look, I just need help.  Obviously, I have a…problem.”When I did nothing else, she slowly lowered her hands, but didn’t sit back down.“What…how did it…happen?” she asked shakily.“I didn’t make curfew last night.”She stared at me dumbly.“You…were outside…after sunset.”  She seemed to be weighing the words as they were leaving her mouth.  Like even she couldn’t believe what she was saying.I nodded.“You should be dead.”I nodded again.“Do you remember what happened?”I had thought about it hard, but could only summon a vague memory of footsteps.She read the denial on my face.She reached up to rub her forehead with one of her hands, the other arm folded across her stomach.“I don’t know anything about this.  You should turn yourself in.  Maybe they could learn something from you.  Maybe help you.”She lowered her hand and gave me an assessing look that made me feel slightly uncomfortable.  The authorities were a last resort for me.  Once I went to them, I could kiss my life goodbye.Nobody would fault them for taking me into custody.Indefinitely.“But I do know someone who might know a little more.”She stepped closer to the desk with obvious reluctance.  Flipping open a notepad, she scribbled something on the page before ripping it out and setting it on the desk.Retreating back to the corner, she watched expectantly.I slid the paper toward me on the desk, moving slowly so as not to spook her.  She’d written a name and an address.Simon Birch.The address was a few blocks from here, near the park.“Tell him I sent you.”I nodded.  Standing up, I shoved the scrap of paper into my pocket.  Mindy made no move to come any closer, her wary eyes locked on me.I didn’t want to do this, but I needed some assurance she wouldn’t run out and report me as soon as I left.Hell, this Birch guy could be a trap.“It would be…unfortunate…if I came to the attention of the police when the only person who knows about this is you.  It would be even more unfortunate if they found out about some unregistered property.”It was an educated guess.  It cost money to register trees, not to mention the property tax that applied to them.  Mindy was always well stocked with charms and pieces of wood, when many others who set up shop at around the same time as her were struggling.Having a cache of unregistered, untaxed trees would explain the difference.A quick flash of anger lit her face, confirming my suspicions.  I waited for her to nod stiffly before I turned to leave.This bridge was definitely burned.  I’d basically doused it in gasoline and lit a match.

Shadow's Turning- Part 2

Chapter 2
I woke in an alley.The sun was shining on the busy street through the narrow gap between the buildings, but I was lying in shadow, one of my heels in a puddle of some murky fluid.My head was throbbing, my mouth so dry my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.  The rough wall behind me scraped against my palms as I used it to help me get to my feet.My legs felt like they weren’t attached to my body.And I was alive.I waited for the dizziness to pass before forcing myself upright and stepping toward the street.  I made sure to move gingerly, not wanting to make the headache any worse.I stumbled out onto the sidewalk, the glaring sun making me duck my head in self-defense.  Shading my eyes with one hand, I scanned the area.About two blocks from my apartment building.Turning left, I walked as quickly as I could, slipping past droves of people determined to get where they were going without making eye contact.  Rounding the corner, I reached out to steady myself.A searing burst of pain.I pulled my hand back quickly on a sharp intake of breath.I looked over to see what I had burned myself on, and found a window with charms still up from the night before.What…?With a sinking feeling, I brought my hand up to my face.A perfect imprint of a star-shaped charm was seared into my skin.I stared at it dumbly.People began giving me odd looks and a wide berth as I stood there, staring.Get a grip, Sara.Tucking it out of sight, I continued in a half-run, the colors and sounds around me blurring as the burning pain in my hand melded with the pounding in my head and chest.I had flashes of the night before as I reached the bright door, but it opened smoothly into the lobby.  The door itself was supposed to be charmed, but I touched it without thinking.A sharp nip on my hand had me jerking back, but it didn’t hurt nearly as much as the burn.Maybe I should report it to the Super.Luke, you should really get the door checked.  It only hurt me a little, you see.Keeping my head down, I rushed up the stairs instead of using the elevator, not wanting to run into anybody.Reaching my apartment, I slid a hand into my pocket and pulled out my keys with a laugh bordering on hysterical.Couldn’t forget to keep my keys handy when facing certain death.Then again, I hadn’t died, had I?Careful not to touch the strings of little bits and pieces I’d accumulated over the years, I tried to insert the key.  It jumped around, the clicking of metal hitting metal sending a shudder through me.  Using my other hand to help, I tried again.It slid in.I closed my eyes in relief.Shutting the door behind me, I turned the deadbolt with a snick.I looked around the neat little living room and kitchen area in a daze.  My burst of energy drained from me in a rush and suddenly all I could think of was the bed.I dragged myself down the short hallway and collapsed on the rumpled comforter.The original confusion at waking up alive had been replaced with dread.  The charms only worked against...I’d handled them my whole life with no problems.Until now.Something was very wrong.  But my body wasn’t going to let me think about it anymore.  Closing my gritty eyes, I fell into an exhausted sleep.

Shadow's Turning- Part 1

Chapter 1
I ignored the stitch in my side as I forced my legs to move faster.Gulping in air as I turned the corner, I almost lost my footing, but righted myself quickly.The sun was a sliver in the distance and sinking rapidly.Two more blocks.The streets were deserted, everyone barricaded in their homes for the night.  Windows were barred, doors bolted shut.  Charms and religious symbols were strung up with abandon, some windows barely visible underneath the tangle.One block.The other side of the street was already dark, the edge of shadow almost on the sidewalk my feet were pounding.I saw something flicker out of the corner of my eye, buried in the deepest shadow.I refused to look, my already pounding heart threatening to leap out of my chest.There.  The battered brick front of my apartment building.I ran as close to the building next to me as I could, my arms scraping against the rough stone periodically.The shadow of the building opposite was covering half of the sidewalk now.I fell against the glossy red door that meant safety.  Fumbling in my pocket, I took out my keys, my hands shaking as I tried to get my breathing under control.I attempted to insert the key into the lock, but finally had to resort to using two hands to steady it enough to work.Come on.  Come on.It finally slid in, and my eyes shut in relief.Turning the key, I shoved at the door.It didn’t budge.I shoved it harder, than began beating my fists on the door, even though I knew it was no use.I’d missed the curfew.Nobody would let me in.I rested my forehead against the door, my hands flattening against the slick enamel paint.  Tears threatened, my eyes hot with pressure.  Taking a deep breath, I pulled the keys out and dropped them back into my pocket on autopilot.  Turning around, I leaned my back against the door and sank down to the cement.Numbness began to settle in, my hands and feet tingling.I kept my eyes down, the little patch of dingy gray between my legs filling my vision.  My knees were bent, my toes just touching the shadow line.I watched as the line slowly crept up my boots, past my knees and hips.  I felt the cool touch of it across the bottom of my face.Up my cheek bones.  Eyebrows.  Forehead.And then I was engulfed.The world around me stilled, transitioning.  Even the slight breeze was still, as if holding its breath along with me.The sound of footsteps.I shuddered at the sharpness of it, the breaking of silence an almost tangible cracking.  The steady click continued, growing ever louder as it got closer.Click.  Click.  Click.My mouth was dry, my clothes sticking as new sweat slicked my skin, combining with the tacky residue of my desperate run.I was frozen, my nerve failing me.  My eyes wouldn’t budge from the ground.  The rough texture of the concrete blurred in front of my eyes as the ambient like dissipated slowly.The sound cut off abruptly.Something next to me.My breath was a loud rasp in the silence.  I shut my eyes tightly, my hands clenching hard enough for my nails to pierce my palms.A large hand smoothed over my damp hair.