I've been having way too much fun writing this story! Also thinking of publishing...opinions, anyone?
Enjoy! :)
PREVIOUSLY:
..."Don't worry. My boys are experts in the field of healing. They should have him up and back to normal by morning. Now you come along with me and I'll get you something to drink. You look like you could use a nice mug of hot chocolate."
I hesitated, not wanting to leave Eriq. Cocoa did sound welcoming, though. Hope started to walk away, and I followed. Be safe, Eriq, I thought.
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The next morning, I sat up and stretched, yawning. My eyelids drooped, still heavy from sleep. It took me a moment to realize where I was as I took in my surroundings. It was a cozy place. Across from me a hastily-made bed sat. A colorful rug decorated the wood floors. Somehow I felt like I was home again.
As I looked around, I reviewed what had happened last night. I had been so exhausted that I had fallen asleep in the chair that Hope had brought me. So she had led me to the women's cabins and had given me a change of clothes.
I looked down and realized with dismay that I had fallen asleep before changing. Thankfully, there was a bathroom, so I showered and dressed. Feeling refreshed after that, I walked outside. The early-morning sun filtered through the trees as I set off down a well-worn trail. I had to find Eriq.
A group of teens came down the path, laughing and talking. Among them was the girl from earlier, only she looked different. Her biker's apparel and dark makeup was replaced with bright clothing and a cheerful smile. When she caught my eye, she stopped.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up later," she said, striding over to me. Her eyes sparkled. "Hey! Glad to see Hope got you comfortable. Are you hungry?"
"Um, yeah. I didn't catch your name earlier. I'm Shae."
"Jakki. Can I show you around?"
"I'd like to see Eriq first, if you don't mind."
"Sure. He's been waiting for you. Follow me."
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I half-expected to see Eriq pale and disheveled. But as we approached, he stood surrounded by children. One laughed as she sat on his shoulders. He flashed me a smile as we drew near.
"Eriq?"
He set the girl down and strode over as the children ran off, giggling.
"Hey, Aphria! I see you've met Jakki."
I stared, baffled. "How did you heal so quickly? You're... When Jakki saw you, she... Well, I thought something horrid had happened to you!"
"I'm not the only one who has the healing touch around here," Eriq said with a grin.
"Many of us have that gift," Jakki chimed in. "Currently, we have over sixty youth in training."
"Jakki's one-of-a-kind," Eriq said proudly, making Jakki blush. "She has the gift of vision. Not only can she get glimpses of the future, but she can also share images with others, through telepathy. There are very few in the world that have this talent."
I suddenly remembered the visions I had seen yesterday. What if Jakki were/was the one who sent them to me? This whole situation was bewildering and seemed unnatural, yet something at the back of my mind was nagging me, as though I was missing a big piece to my puzzle. I WAS missing something--my memory. A big part of my childhood I couldn't remember. All that remained was a black gap in my mind, until my teen years.
I strained to grasp a memory, anything that I could. Nothing. Not even a sliver of a glance at my past. Nowhere in my mind could I recall this place. Then why did it feel so much like home?
My thoughts were broken by Jakki’s question. “So what is your gift, Shae?”
I could feel my cheeks flush as I stumbled over a response. “I…uhhh...I don’t...have one.”
Jakki laughed, which made me blush even more. “Of course you do! Each person that sets foot into the Sanctuary has a gift. There is a special sort of energetic connection that draws an individual to this place. How else would you have entered?”
“By...Chance?”
“No person enters this place by chance. There is always a purpose, or something within them, that draws them to it, like an internal magnet.”
My vision suddenly blurred as a vivid scene flashed into my mind.
The young girl followed the urging within her, anxiously searching for a way home. Two scary-looking men got out of a vehicle in front of her. Her eyes widened as she wildly searched for an escape. A brick building was her only option, so she frantically started to climb. Suddenly, a large hand seized her ankle. She shrieked and kicked with all her might, but he was too strong for her. He pulled her down as her nails scraped the wall, clinging to the last opportunity of escape. But it was too late. Within moments he had her enveloped in his burly arms. A cloth was shoved over her mouth and nose and she held her breath. She knew what it was, and she wasn’t going to go without a fight. Finally, she gave in and gasped, holding her breath again. But it didn’t last long. Within moments she had to breathe, and before she could fight it, she slipped into unconsciousness.
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To be continued...mwahaha! ;)
-Jemison Stripes
