“Okay. I’m ready.”
Around us, the wind picked up and the sky turned gray. My hair began to blow to one side and the swing sets began to rustle as the wind grew stronger.
Gianna’s smile widened. She closed her hand, causing the image of my father to fade. Then she held out her other hand to me, beckoning me to take hold of it. Hesitantly, I took it. Then she closed her eyes and and began to mumble things that sounded like gibberish.
Before I knew it my surroundings disappeared and blackness enveloped me. Allison was gone and so was Gianna. All I could see was a golden light erupting from pure darkness.
Fear immediately struck through me. I hated it when I was alone, especially in the dark. This felt like when I was trying to establish a connection with Christopher, except this was much more frightening. I could imagine that I wouldn’t be able to mind link Christopher like this.
“Sofia?” I murmured, fear slipping in my voice.
Nothing. Just an endless silence. I was truly alone.
I looked around the dark void for anything except the erupting golden light. But there was only darkness.
I swallowed down the lump that had formed in my throat and took cautious steps towards the light. It was scary, really. The dark seemed more comforting than it.
I stopped right in front of the light, mere inches away from touching it. Should I reach out to grasp it? Usually at this point Sofia would want me to turn back and I would go against her idea. But right now, I felt small. I wanted to cower into the endless darkness.
But you need to touch it to find out the truth, I thought.
I slowly reached out, letting my hand and arm be engulfed by the bright light.
The golden light was cool as water. I at least expected it to be warm or hot.
Then, out of no where, the light began to grow brighter. At first it was as bright as a star, then it was as bright as the sun.
I tried to pull my hand away, but it was stuck. It felt like something was holding me down, like super glue.
Immediately panic surged through my body. What was I going to do? The light kept getting brighter and brighter while I was stuck in place. I felt like it was going to incinerate me.
“Christopher!” I screamed for help as I continued to pull. I knew he wouldn’t be able to save me from this though.
I pulled once more, but the opposite of what I wished to happen occurred. The light started to suck me in.
“No!” I screeched. “Let go! Gianna, help me!”
No answer as I was being pulled in. By this point my legs were being devoured by the light as was both my arms. But I wouldn’t give up. I kept struggling, but it was no use. When I realized I wouldn’t be getting out of this one, I leaned my head back, to peer into the forever darkness as a tear raced down my cheek.
“Christopher,” I whispered. “Help.”
A moment later I was completely covered by the glowing light. It swirled around me, making it look as if I was under the stars. But then, it began to fade into a scene. Trees began to surround me as well as small buildings and a fenceline.
I recognized this place. It was my home, my pack.
Around me kids were playing. A girl ran around, picking every flower she saw, a boy sat in the grass, sketching pictures, and two boys were wrestling.
The boy who seemed to be winning the wrestling match had brown bushy hair and green eyes, where the other boy who seemed to be losing had short brown hair and hazel eyes.
“Yay! Yay!” The bushy haired boy shouted with glee while getting off of the other boy. “I win! Now I get to have the yo-yo.”
The other boy stood and brushed off his shirt which was covered in dirt. “I was going easy on you Hanky. If I showed you my real strength, you would fear me.”
The boy named Hanky laughed. “Yeah right! I’m the son of the Beta!”
Son of the Beta? Than that must mean-
“Hanky!”
I turned to where the voice had came from. Standing there was a tall man with a small beard and brown hair. He had brown eyes and some power that seemed to radiate off of him.
Tears welled up in my eyes at the sight of him. That was my dad, before he had died.
“Yeah daddy?” Hanky called.
Daddy, so Hanky was Hank, my older brother.
Dad smiled. “Your mother is back with the baby. Would you like to meet your new sister?”
Hanky’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Yes!” He shouted as he began to run to his dad.
Hanky was coming right at me. I would’ve said, “watch out,” or “be careful,” but the little boy went right through my body and stopped at the side of our father.
They couldn’t see me. They couldn’t touch me. I was a ghost to them.
Hanky looked at the other boy and smiled. “Bye Paul!”
Paul? I glanced at the other boy, my eyes as wide as the moon. That little boy, Paul, he would be the murderer of my pack. A killer.
I turned back to my father and Hanky, only to see them walking off. I quickly ran to catch up to them.
When I was caught up, I listened to their conversation.
“What does she look like?” Hanky asked excitedly.
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen her yet. All I know is that her name is Diana.”
I froze as they continued walking. I was the baby. I completely forgot that I was born after Hank.
I caught up to them once again just as they were entering our house. I slipped past them and through the door. The next thing I saw brought a smile to my face. My mother in a dress singing to a bundle as she walked around the house.
Dad and Hanky walked past me and straight to mom.
“Mommy!” Hanky shouted with excitement evident in his voice. He ran to mom and began to bounce up and down while reaching for the bundle in her arms. “Let me see! Let me see!”
Mom laughed and crouched. “Okay, okay. But you must be quiet. Her ears are sensitive.”
Hanky nodded ferociously. Then he looked at the bundle in mom’s arms. Wrapped in the bundle was a baby that seemed like it was smiling. But it shocked me. Not because she was smiling, but because of her appearance. She had green eyes and brown hair. How is that even possible? That baby was me, right? Last I check I have blonde hair and blue eyes.
Hanky smiled and stepped back from the baby and mom. Then he put his hand over his heart and bowed his head.
“I, Hanky Jones, solemnly swear that I will protect my little sister, Diana Jones, with my life.”
Dad and mom laughed. “That’s a big promise kid,” dad said. “Are you sure?”
Hanky nodded. “Yes! I swore didn’t I?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Hanky was so nice to me when we were kids, I guess that promise was why.
Dad gently picked up my baby self and cuddled her. “Oh Diana, you’re going to be daddy’s little girl.”
My eyes began to water. I missed him. I missed my dad.
All of a sudden, everything began to fade. Our living room began to disappear as well as my family.
“No,” I shouted. “Don’t take them away again!”
I reached for Hanky, but my hand went straight through him.
No, no, no, no! I can’t lose them again.
I tried to grasp mom’s dress, but again my hand went through. Then I tried to embrace my dad. No luck.
I crumpled to my knees as they faded, letting tears run down my face.
“I love you Diana.”
I looked up at my father. He was still smiling and cuddling my baby self in his arms.
“I will always love you.”
More tears ran down my cheeks. “I love you too dad.”
Everything faded into a different scene.
Instead of being in our house with my family, I was outside, crumpled in the large grass.
“This experience isn’t done yet?” I asked, disbelief in my voice.
I slowly stood and wiped away my tears with the back of my hand. Then I looked around, trying to figure out where I was.
I could tell that I was still in the pack territory because I was in front of my house. But then why did everything fade?
Out of no where, a boy ran out from behind our house, giggling and flailing his arms everywhere while his brown locks bounced and his green eyes showed delight.
“Hanky…” I whispered. “You’re taller.”
Bounding after him was a small girl with brown, wavy hair and green eyes. She was squealing and kept stumbling on her small feet.
“Come back here Hanky!” She squealed with a lisp evident in her voice.
“Come and get me sis!” Hanky giggled.
Is that girl me? It had to be.
Hanky and the girl continued to run around in circles until our front door opened.
“Mom? Dad?” I questioned, though none of them could hear me.
Dad came striding out the house while holding mom’s hand.
“Hanky.” Dad said while smiling. “We have a big job for you.”
Hanky’s face lit up and he ran towards mom and dad until he was right in front of them. Then he saluted.
“Sir yes sir!”
The little girl giggled and ran until she was next Hanky. Then she copied his movements.
“Sir yes sir!” She mimicked.
Dad laughed and picked her up. Then he began to tickle her, causing her to squeal with delight.
“Not you Diana. Hanky’s big job is to watch over you.”
Hanky smiled. “Yay! I can do it!”
Mom laughed and dad joined in while placing mini me down.
“Watch her carefully, Hanky. She’s only three.” Mom said.
My brother frowned and crossed his arms. “I can do it! I’m eight! I’m a man!”
“He’s a man! He’s a man!” Baby Diana screamed with joy.
Our parents laughed and intertwined their hands. “If you need anything, we’ll be at the neighbors house, okay?”
Hanky nodded and our parents left, walking hand in hand to the next house over.
I don’t remember mom and dad leaving us alone like this. Why would they even leave their children?
“So what do you wanna do Diana?” Hanky questioned with excitement.
“Well,” she said while twirling her hair between her fingers. “I want to gather!”
Hanky seemed taken aback. “Gather?”
“Yeah!” Diana exclaimed. “I wanna be a gatherer when I grow up!”
I laughed at the silly dream I had when I was little. I can’t believe I wanted to be a gatherer. It did make since though because I was a horrible hunter.
Hanky sighed. “Okay. The first step to being a gatherer is to use your senses to find a plant.”
Mini me nodded and lifted her head towards the sky, as if sniffing the air. Then a moment later she dashed to the back of our house, with Hanky and I in pursuit.
She finally stopped running, allowing us to catch up. Mini me was fast for a three year old.
Baby Diana reached down to the ground and plucked something. Then she turned to Hanky and held out a rainbow colored flower.
“Is this a good plant?”
Hanky eyed the flower carefully, as if it was dangerous. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen a flower like that.”
Instead of placing the flower back onto the ground, baby me studied it. “How do I find out it’s safe?” She asked with a lisp.
“Well the older pack members test it by nibbling the end of the stem, but you’re-“
Before any of us knew it, mini me took a bite of the stem.
“No!” Hanky shouted. “Diana! What are you thinking?”
She said nothing. She just stood there, staring at Hanky. What was I thinking at that moment? That plant could be dangerous.
“S-Hanky,” she stuttered. “I, I don’t feel so good.”
Baby Diana crumpled to the ground, catching both Hanky and I off guard. My brother quickly jumped to her aid and placed her head on his lap.
“What hurts?” He asked frantically.
“M-my tummy, and m-my throat.”
Hanky’s eyes widened. “Don’t worry, I’ll link mommy and daddy.”
Soon his eyes clouded over. Poor Hanky, I must’ve worried him a lot when we were kids.
“Okay,” Hanky said as soon as his eyes returned to their normal color. “They’re on their way.”
“Hanky,” mini me groaned. “I’m sorry.”
My brother shook his head. “Don’t be, it’s not your fault, it’s mine.”
It’s not your fault Hank, why are you blaming yourself? I was the stupid one to eat the plant.
A moment later mom and dad ran to us at inhuman speed. Then my father swooped my baby self into his arms.
“She’s barely breathing,” dad gasped. “We have to take her to the witch.”
Mom nodded and turned to Hank. “It’s okay Hanky, go inside and don’t do anything dangerous.”
Hanky nodded with tears in his eyes and ran inside the back door of our house. Then a second later mom and took off, their speed faster than the speed of a cheetah. I struggled to keep up.
We ran past trees, up and down hills, and across a river until we stopped at the wall of a mountain. On the side of it’s rocky surface, a curtain was draped as well as dream catchers.
“She not breathing!” Mom bellowed.
Dad’s eyes widened at the sight of baby me. She was a lifeless body. A heap of nothing. Just the sight of her made my skin grow cold. Had I died? If I did, how was I still a living, breathing girl who had found her mate?
Mom and dad rushed inside the curtain, me in pursuit. What I saw caught me by surprise.
Past the curtain was a cave that was lighted with candles. It was also decorated with dream catchers, worn out books, a giant cauldron seeping with green smoke, and several plants and insects on a shelf.
“Judy!” Mom called.
A woman with messy hair and large glasses that were cracked popped her head around the corner of the cave.
“Gianna? Mia? What are you guys doing here?”
Gianna? I totally forgot my mother’s name! And not only that, but she shared the name of the witch in Christopher’s pack! I’m really stupid.
“Judy, please help us. Our daughter, she’s not breathing.” Mom pleaded.
Judy raised her eyebrows and nodded. Then she stepped from around the corner and made her way to my parents, which gave me a good view of her.
She was in a light, loose sweater and some khakis. And her messy hair was accessorized with pencils. She basically looked like a librarian.
When she reached us, she looked at baby me. Then she placed her hand on my forehead. A frown covered her face.
“I’m sorry, but your daughter… Well, she’s dead.”
My breath hitched and I broke into a cold sweat. I had died. But, how am I alive then?
Mom gasped and crumpled to the ground, tears rolling down her cheeks. She wailed as if her heart was broken. Dad just stood there, cradling my small body as a tear raced down his cheek.
This couldn’t be real. I couldn’t be dead!
I crumpled to the ground and watched as my parents mourned over me.
“There has to be a way!” Dad wailed. “She can’t die.”
Judy looked at my parents with a pained expression. “There is one way to bring her back, but she will be different.”
Dad shot his head up to Judy, hope in his eyes. “I don’t care! I just want my little girl back!”
Judy gave them a look of pity before she nodded. Then she snapped her fingers. A small plant shot from the shelf and floated above her fingers.
“Since she’s dead, she can’t eat this. So one of you must eat it and give her your blood. You will gain a power, and so will she. But she will be…different. Stranger than the rest of your pack.”
Dad and mom nodded simultaneously.
“I’ll eat it,” dad said. “Anything for her.”
Judy nodded and snapped her fingers once again. The plant drifted to dad and stopped right in front of his face. He took a deep breath before biting into it.
“Are you ready?” Judy questioned.
Dad nodded and gave my baby self to the witch.
As Judy held me carefully in her arms, she mumbled some gibberish. Then, all of a sudden, a knife that seemed like it was made during the medieval times appeared in my fathers hand.
“You don’t have to give yourself a large cut, just prick your finger and get the blood to go into her mouth.”
Dad nodded and did just that. He pricked his finger and put it over my mouth just as the blood was about to drip. The drop of blood fell into my baby self’s mouth.
Moments passed and nothing happened, causing my mother to continue her crying. But then, something happened.
My younger self’s hair turned from brown to blonde. The same color I had now.
“Diana,” my mother gasped.
Mini me began to stir in Judy’s arms. Then her eyes opened, showing the same color I had now.
Electric blue.
I had died. And because my father ate that plant and gave me his blood, I was brought back from the dead.
“Mommy? Daddy? Where are we?”
I laughed just as dad began to. Then he took me into his arms as tears fell from his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Mini me asked.
Dad shook his head and held me tighter. “Nothing sweetheart. Nothing.”
The scene began to fade. But I wasn’t upset like last time. I was happy.
“Thanks dad,” I whispered through my grateful smile. “For everything.”
This time instead of seeing another scene from my past, all I saw was the golden light swirling around me.
Open your eyes.
Christopher? Can I mind link him? Does he even know about what I’m doing right now?
Open your eyes.
I nodded and thought only of Christopher. I thought of when he had crashed into me and we found out we were mates. I thought of when he pushed Brent down the stone steps of his parents’ house. I thought of how he even protected me from Alfred. All the things that made me love him.
I love him.
I finally opened my eyes and smiled at what I saw. I was on Christopher’s lap in his living room with Brent, Melanie, Kate, and some other guy. But they didn’t seem important at the time, only Christopher.
“Are you okay Diana?” Christopher asked with concern in his voice.
I ignored the question. “Christopher?”
“Yes?”
I raised my head up to his and gave him a passionate kiss which he quickly responded to. I didn’t care that people were watching us, he was all that mattered to me at the moment.
I pulled away sooner than I wanted to and took a deep breath.
“I love you.”