The Obdurate Avidity
Chapter 29

 

                                                  By TurtleBoy

 

 

          My fingers seemed to bend and mangle themselves with impossible flexibility as the flesh on my hands grew raw and bloody.  The urge I was experiencing, it was overwhelming my better judgment as my heart rattled in a hollow pit of grief.  I began to panic, every poor on my body felt of sweat but clogged of adrenaline, I couldn’t change now… But this didn’t feel like I was changing, this was something different, something that felt to be worse.  My intestines seemed to tangle and collide in a friction similar to burning as it fought against itself; wrapping in knots around my stomach, the strong - luring scents of something that I could not place but never the less yearned for without reason.  My nostrils flared and twitched causing my eyes to water, I thought in a moment’s turmoil that this could only lead to madness; my eyes twitching from side to side at an erratic pace, I could feel them bulge to their limits, nearly evacuating the sockets which held within. I attempted to calm myself before something happened, something unexplainable, before I could even brew a proper chance at friendship with Kevin; I had to do something.

 
“Adrian?  Are you alright?”  I heard Kevin ask in frantic worry.


“Uh…” James said in fear, “Maybe we should umm… leave him alone for a minute.” James suggested, attempting to get me some privacy.

 
“We can’t just leave him here like that!  What’s wrong with him? What’s wrong with you?  Why the hell would you just leave him like that?”  Kevin shrieked in concern jumping to his feet on the rock which he had been sitting on.  Pacing from side to side with his hands braced to his head in rushed thought.

 
“He’ll be fine, I swear… Shoot…” James appeared to have lost his train of thought, he couldn’t think with everything that was happening, couldn’t help me, it seemed like Kevin was not going anywhere.

 
            I tried to move, made the attempt to make it away from the crowded area; but it was no use.  My situation was crippling, the pain shot across my body like I’d been struck by lighting; bolt after bolt one after the other, in a simultaneous yet unending attack to my insides.  James leapt to my side from the rock where he had been observing from a safe distance, now wrapping his caring arms around my shoulders and resting his cheek into my shoulder, his scent was instantly consuming my mind, instantly filling me with our love and reminding me of the crucial importance that he has become to me, that he had known about everything that has happened and remained by my side; I did not deserve him, his love or affection.  He was better and deserved just that.

 
“It’s okay Adrian, just breath.” His voice was so calm, so comforting, “That’s it, breath.”  Pulling back to reality, slowly, NO!  The guilt was still there, what had I done?  I feel like I had betrayed him somehow and I was no longer worthy of his love, my body was punishing me for the impure thoughts that I had allowed myself with out any regard to this beautiful soul now cradling me without any concern for his own safety.  I had crossed a line, I had led myself freely to a dark corner, where I had chosen to sully our relationship and taint the trust that held us, once, so strongly together; I allowed this evil to consume me, and now I should pay for it.  I should not accept this unknown forgiveness; but I did, because I was greedy and I wanted it all.  I let his love soak into me and I used it for my own unworthy needs.


“I think he’s coming out of it.”  I heard from Kevin, to no one in particular.

 
“He’ll be fine… don’t worry, it doesn’t happen much.”  James lied, and I could tell it was showing like an infected rash that had spread across his face.

 
            The pain began to ease, and the thudding of my heart gradually slowed.  The pink sky once again turned blue as my bloodied fingertips were now beginning to heal….  Aww shit… again.

 
“Holy Christ!” I heard Kevin scream, “Look!”  I couldn’t see, but I feared he was pointing at the cuts and blood on my fingers and palms.

 
“Kevin…  I uh…”  James started, but couldn’t think of anything believable to say.

 
“Shit!  Did that just happen?  Look!  It did!  It’s still happening!  Holy crap!  What the hell… what the hell… who are you?”  He paused to catch his breath, “What are YOU!”  I couldn’t tell if he was scared or excited, it was probably a mixture of both.

 
“Kevin, its okay…” I heard James say, trying to think of what to say, “He’s… uh…”

 
“I’m epileptic.” I stammered out, still winded.

 
            Kevin looked blankly for a moment, trying to think his way through what was just said versus what had just happened, “Epileptic?  Uh… no way… but what about…” He pointed at the red stains on my hands and smeared across the rock beside me.

 
“I don’t know,” I shrugged, trying to look as bewildered as Kevin did, “It must have been something on the rock.”

 
“What?!  But… I saw your hands, I know I did… they were bleeding!  I saw the cuts!”  He stared at me frantically, eyes moving in all directions, restless and unconvinced.

 
“Kevin, we’re sorry… we should have told you,” Said James, “It’s just, well, it’s not something that usually comes up in a conversation.”  James slid himself off the rock, to the muddy surface below, “I know it looks weird, but…”

 
“But what?  I don’t know what you guys are trying to hide, but I know what I saw.  You don’t just imagine those things… not like that!”  Kevin’s shouting caused the all the kids to freeze all at once and turn their heads in stillness, like they had slowly been turned to stone.

 
“Just calm down,” James tried to explain once more, “We told you things are, well… weird here.”

 
“That’s a bit too weird for me..  I’m sorry, but we gotta go.  Come on guys!  We’re heading back to the Motel!” Announced Kevin, rolling off of the rock and grabbing his shirt, he marched himself and his family towards the fence bordering the field before the side road.

 
“Kev…”  James seemed to give up in mid sentence.  He just sat down next to me and watched them leave, glancing behind us to where Austin was now standing alone in the tall grass, he was smiling.  Silently standing by him self, not moving, it didn’t even look like he was breathing, or even there.  The long strands of grass and shrub seemed to sway in the wind, undisturbed by his presence.  Smiling at me, glaring at nothing.

 
            Not knowing what else to do, after washing my hands off in the creek, we made our way to the ice cream shop and said hello to Mr. Ronald, the owner.  We introduced Austin to the nice middle aged man, who was so charmed with the young boys presence, not to mention Austin’s astounding ‘I’m so awesomely cute’ role, Mr. Ronald gave Austin a free ice cream of his choice.  James got a chocolate dip, and I: a swirl with a chocolate flake on top.  James ate his cone in silence, watching his brother skipping and singing in front of us as we made our way back home.


            That evening the parents had planned for a barbeque, Dad and Mr. McDowell were drinking beer and cooking steak’s over the charcoal barbeque.  Mom and Mrs. McDowell were sipping Pina Colada’s while giggling around the fire pit outside of James’ house.  Austin was playing with his large yellow building trucks against the side of the house next to the side door.  James and I were drinking coke and munching on potato chips from opposite our mothers to the fire.

 
            Everything seemed fine; everything was even going well, until the weirdness of the unexpected happened.  Over on the mud covered street, where all the tractors had been mucking about all day, two black shiny cars with heavily tinted windows pulled up and parked.  Almost in sequence two men wearing black suits and hats stepped out, walked to the rear doors, paused for a moment then opened them in remarkable unity.  All of our attentions were focused on this odd display of obedience, all that we could see from either of the cabins interior was black and shadowed, it was then the glare of a polished black shoe got out of the first car and stepped off to the side while straightening his blue, pin-striped coat with an absurd obsession that struck me as more than anal.  The next foot was concealed in that of a white runner, followed by a tall, friendly looking man.  His hair was receding gently and cut very short, military short.  He looked to be near forty and was wearing old… well experienced, looking clothes, a faded black t-shirt and a pair of white baggy shorts that hung just above his knees.  Not quite what I was expecting to emerge from a vehicle such as that, putting on a pair of cheap looking shades, he looked toward us and waved with a huge smile that consumed his pale face.

 
“Aha!  Mr. Peters is here.”  I heard Mom say with interest in her voice.

 
“Hey Ken!”  Greeted Mr. McDowell then waved back.

 
“Hey boys, and ladies,” Mr. Peters stopped in his track and bowed respectfully in the direction of the mothers while still smiling, raised back up and looked towards the vehicles, “Come on kids!” he yelled in a stern voice, then stepped off to the side.

 
            I heard Austin scream with delight, as he struggled to his feet and run towards the car.  Several children ran out from both vehicles at once.  It seemed like a blur of color, like time had sped up, they ran so fast, just as if they were old time friends that hadn’t seen each other in years.  Kevin was the last to exit the rear vehicle.  He looked towards the sun and shielded his eyes, glancing towards his father then at the two thugs holding the doors open for them and without so much as blinking, started to walk towards us.  No smile, no form of evident expression, coldly, reluctantly.

 
“Hey James, hi Adrian.”  He said with a sudden grin, throwing me off guard.  I had thought this to be a bit more awkward.  I guess in a sense, it was more than awkward; I had just prepared myself for silence and more lies.

 
            The two men were still holding the doors open and Mr. Peters was still staring into the front car, gesturing with his hand towards someone still sitting in the shadows of the car.  It was like déjà-vu, except not; all at once.  Kevin stood right in front of us, but there he climbed out of the car once more.  I mean… I knew it wasn’t him, the hair was darker than his, but the likeness was astounding, unreal.

 
            Kevin must have noticed the expression which had stained our faces; he looked back at the car and then back at us with a squinted smirk, “That’s Caleb, my twin brother.”


            James looked to me, as I to him; back towards Kevin, then to this new boy named Caleb.  Why had Kevin left this, seemingly important detail, out of his intro’s?  I mean, he even told us about his mother who had died.  The resemblance became even more surprising as Caleb slowly walked towards us along the side of his father.  His hair was almost black, or maybe it just looked that way because of his ghost pale skin, yea, even whiter than Kevin’s.  “Guess we all have our little secrets.”  Kevin smiled at us while casually pulling up a chair beside me.

 
“Twin?”  Asked James, still trying to express how he felt.

 
“Yea, he’s… uh… shy.”  Replied Kevin with a shrug.

 
“Why didn’t you tell us you had a twin?”  I asked, trying to whisper.

 
“I guess it slipped my mind.  He’s always so quiet; even I forget he’s there from time to time.  You know what it’s like, details… you know?”  His smug smile wasn’t so cute at this time.  I felt bad for what had happened earlier, of course I did, who wants to lie?  But what was I supposed to do?  Tell him I was a werewolf or that I had super human abilities?  No way, it was too soon for him to be able to accept something like that.

 
            Caleb approached us quietly without so much as a nod; he was offered a chair by my mom and sat down next to James by the fire.  He stared blankly into the flames, like his mind hadn’t yet made it with him on this outing and he was waiting for it to catch up.  A small creepy smile crossed the side of his cheek, his pale face plumping to the side as his smirk grew.  His eyes were such a light shade of green they appeared to be almost transparent.  The dark black strands of his hair, clashing with the rest of him, fell above his eyes tickling his eyebrow as he lifted his thin pale arm to rub his forehead to relieve the itch, he turned to James and I with a slightly larger smile, almost like it was straining him to do so, and offered his hand to James, “Hi, I’m Caleb.”  His voice was smooth and soft, so soft we had to strain our ears in order to hear him.

 
“Hey, I’m James, this is Adrian.”  James introduced, trying to be careful and polite, he offered his hand and shook the boy’s frail looking fingers as if they were made from glass.

 
“hm,” he started in a giggle, “I know.”


“Oh… how?” I asked in a soft but curious tone.

 
“Caleb!” hissed Kevin under his breath.  Caleb looked worried, almost frightened, he removed his hand from James’ touch and shrank into his chair.

 
“Kevin told me.”  He replied, then returning to that same blank stare into the flickering flames.

 
“You got to excuse my brother; he’s got a few… problems.”  Kevin made a stupid face and stuck his tongue out to the side of his half opened mouth, waving the fingers of his right hand in repetitive circles on the side of his head.

 
“HEY!”  Caleb yelled, causing EVERYONE, to stop and stare at us, Kevin just grinned and stopped his ‘crazy’ gestures.

 
“Sorry,” Kevin’s face went serious again, almost compassionate, “It’s a touchy subject I guess.  Anyway, no hard feelings about earlier, I mean… I’m sure you guys will tell me what’s up… when you’re ready of course.” This side of Kevin wasn’t like what we had originally made him out to be; he seemed cruel and unmerciful towards his brother, just like a bully, I didn’t like it.

 
“So… you guys want a drink or something?”  James asked, apparently trying to change the subject.

 
“Yea.”  Accepted Kevin, “Whatcha got?”

 
“Ummm, coke, root beer, cream soda, orange… uh… water.”

 
“Cream soda, please.”  Kevin decided and looked towards his brother, “Caleb?  You want anything?”  He asked in a friendly tone.

 
“Uh, yea…. Just coke please.”  He smiled at James, almost looking relieved.

 
“Cool, no prob. I’ll go set up the coolers and bring’em on out.”  Announced James.

 
“You need a hand?” I offered, throwing my hands to the ends of my knees and leaning forward while looking up at him.

 
“Oh, yea.. I might yea, thanks.”  James, with a smile waited for me, “We’ll be right back.” He smiled and began tip toeing around Austin’s toys and the scattered kids.

 
            Arriving in the kitchen was a like sudden freedom.  This entire charade just seemed off, like we were sitting between two sworn enemies.  I seriously felt like we were referee’s back there.  James went directly to the fridge and pulled out the scattered cases of soda and carefully dropping them on the floor.  I ran to the freezer and yanked out several bags of ice, turning to find the coolers I bumped into James, who was standing directly behind me.

 
“Waoh!” I panicked; followed by a relieved smile once figuring out the entity behind me.

 
            James said nothing, his eyes said it all.  He leaned into me wrapping his arms around my shoulders.  Feeling his hands slide up my back and down to my waist, he tilted his head to the side in a sudden urge, kissing me long and hard; it felt like we weren’t ever going to see each other again, like we were saying good-bye forever.  His passion, his need: it was heartbreaking and reassuring at the same time.  My heart didn’t skip, it fluttered.  I almost forgot to breathe while his hands caressed up my spine, neck than rested over my ears urging me not to move.  His scent filled me, his actions excited me; grabbing his waist, I slid my hands over his plump, inviting backside, squeezing with desire and delight he sighed into my mouth as a drop of moisture fell to my cheek and rolled down my neck.

 
            Breaking our hold, I gently backed my head away from his locked lips and stared with concern into his shining blue eyes filled with moisture and tainted red with irritation, “What’s wrong?”  I asked feeling like I had just swallowed a brick, and sounding like it too.

 
“I don’t know…”  Another tear fell down his face, “I just feel weird… those two scare me, I… don’t know who to trust… if any of them.”  I had to agree with James feelings, it did seem like those two shouldn’t be near each other, like two magnets repelling one another.

 
“You feel it too… It’s weird, why didn’t Kevin say anything about Caleb?”

 
“I don’t know, maybe for the same reason we didn’t tell Kevin about you and your… you know.”  His words seemed to comfort himself more than they did me.  He leaned in again, resting the side of his head on my chest, breathing in deeply against my neck.


            I closed my eyes, gently kissing the top of his head taking in the very essence of my desire, a chill of sudden alarm pinched at me, urging me to open my eyes.  “Uh.. Hi, umm Josh?”  A boy about nine stood near the kitchen’s entrance, looking shocked and intrusive.  His eyes expressed guilt, but his stillness expressed interest; James, lifting his head and turning around cautiously stared at the boy staring back at us.

 
“Hey, uh… You ummm need something?”  Asked James.

 
“Umm…” Said the boy awkwardly, “Yea, uhmmm a drink.. Kevin said you could get me one.”  He seemed to clam up as he backed towards the door.

 
“No… Josh?  Um it’s alright, we can get you a drink.”  I tried to smile and somehow act like nothing had happened, or at least like it was no big deal, “what did you want?”

 
“Orange, please.”  Josh smiled, and creped forward towards the table; gripping one of the wooden chairs backs and sheepishly looking up at me with widened eyes and a blushing face.

 
“So… You having fun out there?”  I asked casually, smiling at him while crouching down and ripping open the box that contained the orange soda.

 
“Yea,” He smiled, looking comfortable, “Austin’s cool, I love his trucks they’re awesome.”  His smile grew, transforming from forced and awkward to genuine and lively.  He was a cute kid, slightly ruffled blond hair with a natural light brown hiding in the shadows of its lifted and scattered hair, against the root.  His eyes were a sparkling blue almost like a reflection of the sky in restless waters.  His skin, still lighter than most, was lightly tanned to a healthy glow and his clothes were stained with soil and grass at the knees of his light denim jeans a few sizes to large, which were loose against his legs and folded to an almost pleated affect by his black leather belt wish held his tucked in white and red striped shirt loosely in place.

 
“Yea, those are awesome huh.”  James smiled, starting to feel comfortable, “Those used to be mine when I was younger… and my Dad’s before that.”

 
“Really?”  Josh asked with a smile, “Like antiques?  Wow!  We better be careful with those!”  Josh grinned with his entire face, yet managed to look serious at the same time.  I passed him his drink, after opening it for him, and he ran off with out another word.

 
“Holy Crap!”  James gasped in relief, “That was close!”

 
“Hehe, yea, he seems like a cool kid though.  We should be fine.”  I assured us both while tracing my fingers lightly down James left arm towards his awaiting hand, “Let’s get this stuff out there.”  I smiled at him and turned towards the ice that was still on the floor.


“Oh yea.. Sorry, I just needed a moment back there.”  James said to me almost sounding guilty.

 
“Hey!”  A devious smirk found the corner of my cheek, “You can have a moment like that, ANY time you want.”  I giggled at him in truth and bent down to dump the ice into a cooler.

 
            Feeling the cool air escaping the ice as I released it from its plastic confines, against my face and neck sending goose-bumps which retreated in comfort behind my neck; drooping in half of the contents from each box in either of the coolers.  James closed the white lid of the first cooler and bent to lift it, stopping to smile at me in amusement.  I couldn’t help but smile back, it was always the little moments that stayed in mind; gave you warm memories for times of need.  His expression was always that of promise and comfort, and always left me wanting, just a little bit more.

 
            We arrived, one after the other to an echoing laughter which originated by the three men huddled around the barbeque as the clanked their drinks together and watched Mr. McDowell flip our future dinner.  Austin had led all the kids by the ditch with a huge mess of toys and an excitement of amusement from all the pretending kids.  The mothers were giggling cackling louder than the snaps of the burning logs and Kevin sat quietly as did Caleb, both staring into the growing flames.

 
            James carefully set his cooler near some empty chairs opposite where the brothers were sitting, as I placed mine in between them.  Fishing out the drinks they had requested, I smiled and passed them their drinks.  “Thanks.”  Smiled Caleb, reaching for the can and snuggling back down into his seat.

 
“Yea, thanks.” Agreed Kevin who was also smiling, “Wow, these are freezing! Awesome.”

 
            With a smile I turned and sat back down in my chair.  Looking at Caleb and than Kevin, one at a time, “Wow is right, you two are almost identical.”  I pointed out bluntly.

 
            James smirked awkwardly at me and fished us out another drink, “That’s why they call them ‘identical twins’ goof ball.”  His smirk grew as he spun around and sat beside me.

 
“Yea, but there are a couple differences.  It’s not too hard to tell them apart.”  I pointed out, instantly feeling bad for talking like that about them as if they weren’t present.

 
“Caleb’s older.”  Stated Kevin, “But we’re not completely identical.  It’s weird actually, we both came from the same egg, but our eyes and hair are different colors.  Apart from that, it’s like looking in a mirror.”

 
“Exactly like looking in a mirror.”  Said Caleb unexpectedly, even surprising Kevin.


“Caleb…”  Kevin whispered in an almost fear.

 
“Really?  Uh.. I don’t get it.”  I blurted out in confusion.

 
            Caleb stared with resentment at Kevin, like he was about to deliberately betray him, “We have birth marks, exactly the same.  But on opposite sides.  He’s right handed, I’m left handed.  You get it?”  His tone seemed free and his expression felt looked like he had just liberated himself.


“That’s so awesome.”  James remarked, looking from one brother to the other.


            Kevin seemed to look relieved and he found a need to smile to portray this to us.  It looked just like that guilty smile of relief after a long held back fart that you could just not hold in anymore.  “Well, all seems well.  Guess you guys don’t get freaked so easy.”  Kevin decided, almost to himself.

 
“Why would we?”  I asked in humor.

 
“No reason.. well, most people get all weird after being told that.  It’s stupid really, but they freak over how different we are even though we look the same.”  Kevin explained.

 
“You over react.” Said Caleb, “The only thing people get weird about is when you decide to prove it.  You scare them off like that.”

 
“Do not!  It’s not my fault.”  Kevin seemed to be pouting.  He slouched down in his chair and opened his soda, taking a long sip and gulping in loud drawn out chugs.

 
“We’ve seen worse.”  James replied, smiling at me secretively.

 
“No shit.”  Said Kevin in a mask of false sarcasm.

 
“Kevin…”  Caleb leaned forward and looked at his brother, “Stop trying to force them.  They’ll tell you eventually.”

 
            James looked over to Caleb with surprise, “He told you huh?”

 
“Yea.  We may not seem to be very close, but believe me we are.  We tell each other everything, I hope its okay… I mean, honestly I think the Epilepsy thing is a sham, but it’s cool.. Everyone is allowed their secrets.” Caleb stopped what he was saying to look into his brothers eyes, seemingly speaking to each other with out words, he than continued, “It’s not fair on you guys for us to assume that you would trust us enough to tell us something that’s obviously not just a tiny secret.”

 
            His words were mature, like he was an adult stuck in a thirteen year old body.  Although they were thought out, and very carefully to say the least, as if rehearsed to perfection.  But his eyes spoke for him, he seemed sincere and accepting.  Not like Kevin’s eyes, those are large and luring; almost enchanting, but in the form of a vacuum which only wants to suck you in.  Caleb seemed to contrast this and allow trust to be initiated, his oddly sharp yet cold eyes… they were just.. soothing in nature.  These two were definitely opposites; one being a heated ball of fire, the other being a calm, cool ice.  Or at least that’s how I see it, interesting as hell though.

 
“Dinner is served!”  Mr. McDowell shouted, carrying a heaping plate of steak, burgers and hotdogs with Dad in behind him carrying a tray of chicken.


“Awesome!” Gasped Kevin excitedly, jumping to his feet towards the approaching dinner.

 
“Come on kids!”  Yelled Mr. Peters, who was holding several bags of buns in his hands.

 
            The three men juggled their trays and half empty bottles of beer, making impossible attempts to place the food they had prepared onto the table that Mrs. McDowell had set up previously, near the side door of the house.  Mom came out from the house with plastic plates and cutlery which was loosely dangling in between her fingers while carrying a wide tray of spreads and assorted cheese.

 
“This is going to be wonderful.”  Started James’ Mom, “Look at how happy Austin is, and how relaxed we all are.  Kenneth, you are certainly to be a God in disguise.

 
“No no, Mrs. McDowell, More of a fallen angel banished from the heavens for an eternity.”  Mr. Peters chuckled to himself and nodded his head towards the rapidly approaching children, “If I were a god, truly… I would have made those blessings of mine, pocket sized.”

 
            Neither I nor James, nor Caleb and Kevin found that remark at all funny.  I’m not even sure if I completely understood his chosen humor… But it was apparently hysterical enough to make beer spray out of my Dad’s nostrils and for Mrs. McDowell to cackle to a whole new unmapped decibel, I swear my mom is now depth; she even subtly leaned back and plunged her finger in her ear a couple times.

 
            The kids had grabbed their food and were already back near the ditch playing while eating, the men were huddled around the fire telling stupid jokes and smoking nasty smelling cigars.  I could tell my Mom hated this, as she was occasionally waving her hand in the air and scowling towards my Dad, who was oblivious to her distress.

 
            It wasn’t until after dinner had been finished and the clean up was in the works…. Of being worked on, when we noticed Austin, Christine and Josh were no longer with the others near the ditch.  The adults were too oblivious to notice, but it seemed to worry me; there was something odd about Austin, there was no denying that, which is why I felt myself grow to a panic when I couldn’t see them in any direction.  I wasn’t sure if I should say something to Mrs. McDowell or if I should go looking for them myself.  That was when my predicament was answered for me.

 
“AHHH!!!”  Screamed the voice of a young girl.

 
“DAD!!!” Screamed an unfamiliar boy.

 
            Everyone grew silent; their faces went a mixture of white and red.  More screaming, followed by multiple cries.  Mr. Peters jumped to his feet, followed by everyone else.  Running as fast as we could around to the back of the house, nothing was there.  More screaming and I heard Caleb yell “Over there!”  Than everyone ran towards the end of the yard near the trees.  James stood his ground, like he wanted to move but couldn’t.  Caleb stayed by his side, and I found myself urged to follow in behind Kevin who was running in behind my father.

 
            I couldn’t see much, just something on the ground that was green and wet.  A boy’s face who appeared to be Josh lying on the ground in a frantic roll; his face tainted red and smeared with blood and dirt.  Tears streamed down his cheeks an endless flow of clear liquid, which turned pink and obscured with the blood spread across his face.

 
“What!  WHAT HAPPENED!”  Screamed Mr. Peters in horror, dropping to his knees and dragging the crying boys unwilling body towards him and cradling Josh in his lap, “What happened Josh… who did this… What did you do?”  He pleaded.

 
“DAD!”  Yelled Alex, “it wasn’t anyone!”  The boy pointed to the ground at a green, slime covered creature on the ground.  Everyone stared unwillingly, with surfaced dread while their gaze was led to the limp, lifeless body of a toad, “It was that!  It did it!?”

 
“Alex!  Tell the truth!  A fucking frog can’t do something like this to someone’s face!”  Yelled Mr. Peters, as everyone else watched the hysteria in silence.

 
“I’ll… I’ll go get my first aid.”  Blurted Mrs. McDowell and quickly turning toward the house in an unexpected sprint.

 
            I felt useless all this power, all these remarkable abilities and I could be of no use.  Anger rushed through me, fear absorbing it as it reached the depths of my brain.  The poor boys face scratched and bloody, scattered debris and dirt in a filth of pain which reflected through his enviously beautiful eyes, tainted with hurt and confusion.  To my left, no more than ten feet from all this commotion, all this tragedy, stood Austin; smiling tamely in my direction.  His face was cold, so cold it crossed me as a pale blue.  He knew I was looking, but seemed to relish in my knowing, in my certainty of his deceptions.  This was not right, everything was wrong; too many strange things happening.  His smile grew into his left cheek and if only for one moment I could have sworn his auburn-brown eyes appeared to me as a hallow black, it was quick, I nearly missed it; but it was there, I’m sure of it, black as night and deep as the forests reach.

 
            I turned back to see James who was now behind me not more than three feet to the right of Caleb, their curiosity satisfied in horror, my throat dry and coarse it felt like I had swallowed a pine cone, I whispered in a quiet – urgent voice, “What is happening?”


Chapter 30