Original Stories Fan Fiction / Horror Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction ❯ Invoke ❯ Uninvited ( Chapter 1 )

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If for one moment I could take back a single second in any moment of time, it would be during the years of the Salem Witch Trials where my greatest grandmother remained. It was during that time, where hangings and the supposed possessions and nightly ghouls that my grandmother did study in the art of Witch Craft. Witch craft was about as believable as me breathing under water—very much impossible. Being in relation to the woman was not a favorite part of my life, but tolerable nevertheless. Although, that's not the biggest screwed up part of my uninteresting and tedious life; it was just that woman made my life go on a rollercoaster ride—you know the feeling. The part where your anticipating so many wonderful things to happen as you get up to the very top, and when you look down it's not as great as you thought it was, then finally the breaks let go, your positioned in mid-air, predicting your downfall, and WHAM! It all hits you at once. Sure, the relief you feel when you get to the bottom, but everything else you left at the top. Point being, that it wasn't regrettable, not at all. Perhaps, going back and taking that single moment away would have made everything else just empty, but it would have saved me the aching, the waiting. It would have saved me a lot of things, but there's not a single moment I regret, despite the roller coaster ride. But, I don't want to start off in the middle of the entire drama, let's go to the beginning, to the part of my uninteresting life, to the point where it changed everything forever.

 

“`I have hardly stepped off my farm this sevenmonth.'” His eyes were hardly brooding, and he was hardly a man.

 

I looked at him with agile, wide eyes. Trying to permit myself as much feigned innocence I could possibly muster from myself. “`I have a sense for heat, John, and yours has drawn me to my window, and I have seen you looking up, burning in your loneliness. Do you tell me you've never looked up at my window?'” I inched closer to the boy in front of me, watching his face blank and then lighten up with remembrance.

 

“`I may have looked up.'”

 

My eyes shut slightly, smiling softly, “`And you must. You are no wintry man. I know you, John. I know you.'” I let the tears slide from my eyes, “`I cannot sleep for dreamin'; I cannot dream but I wake and walk about the house as thought I'd find you comin' through some door.'” My hands shot out towards the boy in front of me my hands gripping tightly to his shirt. I allowed my head to lean up on his shoulder, or what I could reach of his shoulder, and wept into his jacket. His hands grabbed my shoulders and pushed me away gently, I looked up at him, watched his eyes hold no emotion. Unlike the script, he was holding a completely different position.

 

“`Child—'”

 

“`How do you call me child!'” I growled at him.

 

“`Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby.'”

 

“`Aye, we did.'”

 

“`Aye, but we did not.'”

 

I smiled bitterly, watching his face slowly contort into the one he was supposed to have, “`Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be—'”

 

“`You'll speak nothin' of Elizabeth!'” His voice was beginning to become flat again.

 

I looked at him pleadingly, gripping tighter to his jacket, “`She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her! Let her turn you like a—'” His strong hands shook my gently, but I let my head follow his shaking back and forth to give it a dramatic effect, as if he was doing it much harder then what he was posing.

 

“`Do you look for a whippin'?'”

 

I let the tears form in my eyes again, “`I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!'” The boy turned away from me, pulling his jacket out from his fingertips and began walking. I stumbled after him, chasing him. “`John, pity me, pity me!'”

 

“Okay, wrap it up you two! No more sniveling on the floor Lei, dear. You two have put quite the battle. Matt, I need to tell you though; you need to work on your facial expressions. I understand that your girlfriend's on your mind, but this is class time, so show some relative skills in your art, I know you have it.” Our teacher, Mrs. Crane, approached the stage, “And Lei, try not to over dramatize your head bobbing, I know it's difficult, but keep it at a minimum.”

 

I smiled, removing myself off from the boy, Matt, “Yes ma'am, I got it.”

 

She winked in my direction, “C'mon everyone, circle around here.” Once the crew to our play gathered around, she fixed her square framed glasses, and played with her long black chained necklace. Her floral pattern outfit was not fitting to her looks, with her stacked up, messy red hair, and pale skin. “It's been a great day. Um, right. Who's staying after school for rehearsal today?” Several people raised up their hand, including Matt, the jock football star. Amazing what kind of people are on that football field these days. “Excellent dears, now everyone else, go ahead and pack up your stuff. When the bell rings, do as you please.” She began speaking to the people staying behind with her, while the rest of us picked up our bags from our theater chairs.

 

“Hey, sweetheart!” Friendly arms embraced me, “You got some mad skills on that stage!”

 

I smiled, “Oh gee, thanks. You're no different Mary Warren.”

 

“I still don't like that girl. All she does is cry, cry, cry, and then turns the blame on poor Mr. Proctor. How was I able to pull off Mary Warren? Damn, I'm pretty sure I'm less of a water fountain than she is.” She sighed sadly, but a smile crept onto her lips again. Good ol' Blyth, she never failed to amaze me. “So sweetheart, what you planning to do once those wicked bells ring?” Here pale green eyes flashed with mischief, and her hands went up to move her dark blue bangs from her face. Her deep red lips pressed together with eagerness. Oh dear, what had she planned today?

 

I shrugged, watching the growing crowd at the exit of the theater, “You know me; just probably hang out about the house. Not much happens tonight in Sal, right?” Sal, a nickname I picked up for Salem. It was the Salem, the exact same one that held those witch trials. Of course, I have yet to experience what the natives to this land supposedly do experience. I had just moved up to Salem about a month ago. Enough time for me to get cozy with the people around me. Especially Blyth, she was no stranger, she was like my sister long torn away. In all actuality, it was sort of like that. Though, it had been awhile since we've last met, but we had been in school together before, our mothers had—interestingly enough—kept contact with one another after we had moved to Tampa, and then up to Salem. It had been a total coincidence that Blythe and I became friends from our past childhood experience. When I had brought Blythe home it was like my mom was gushing over a cute child just brought in from the hospital.

 

“Awe, darling, you need to learn to live. Come out to a party with me! Things will be chill. I'll introduce you to some hot studs.” She winked at me, and playfully bumped my hip with her own.

 

I laughed, “Thanks, but no thanks. After that last party you took me to, I nearly died of a hangover. Besides, mum wants to spend some quality time tonight.” Blythe rolled her eyes.

 

“Of course, use the mum excuse. I'll let you off this time Miss Lorelei, but after this you're going to stick to me like an amoeba.” The bells rang; that's my cue.

 

“Sure thing Blythe—next time.” I scampered out reaching towards the parking lot where a familiar black Hyundai sat. Ah, sweet Haden, how I enjoy his surprising visits when I need them the most. Haden was my older brother he was continuing to live with us—us referring to my mother and myself— through his twenties, and very much living them now that he was able to drink, legally. His plans of college had been wasted along with himself while he drank, and my mother, who insisted he go off to college now, was losing miserably in that battle. Haden wasn't all bad, of course. He had his moments.

 

I pulled open the door to the car, “What's the occasion, Haden?” I watched as his scruffy afternoon sleep hair, moved as he turned his blonde head in my direction. He had pretty tan skin from his days in the sun when he used to be energetic and enjoyed playing basketball and baseball. His football team was never hidden behind closed doors, as he wore his wrinkled Atlanta jersey today. He had black Nike flip flops on, and jogging pants to boot. Ah, the wonders of a hang over.

 

He smiled wryly, “Aunt Elena.” Awe, fudge crackers...

 

“What's she doing here? And so early?” By this time, Haden was pulling away from the school, and on towards the ride home.

 

He rolled his hazel eyes, “C'mon Lei, you know better then any of us that it's that time of year.”

 

“But isn't Auntie Elena supposed to be telling someone else's fortunes, not ours? Who falls for that, hocus pocus crap?”

 

“Halloween is coming up Lei, and Salem is like, haunting spot with all those witch trials. I'm sure Aunt Elena has some other motives by coming to visit us.”

 

I snorted, “Humph, if only that were the case.” My similar hazel eyes averted out the car window. It's not like I hated my Aunt or anything of the sort, it was just merely that she had a constant nagging to her when I was around. Every year it was the same, when she read my future, or whatever it was she did, she would always say beware of the cradling storm above my head, the winds of the North are blowing in, and my actions will effect the way things will happen, blah, blah, blah. It was a continuous cycle, and I dread it every October. It was still early October, which was why I was so surprised. Usually, her yearly visits were caused by my upcoming birthday in October, which was far down the road from now. Maybe Haden was right, maybe it was because she had other motives, other then deciding to read our future's for us. One could only hope.

 

The car traveled quietly on the winding road, but slowed as we approached another turn. It entered into a cul-de-sac, and at the very end of the cul-de-sac, was my house. For awhile, before my dad left town, the lawn had been kept free of weeds, but now, there were spots in the grass that were beginning to become infected with these obscenely little infestations. Yet, the weeds weren't what drew my attention like it had always done. Instead, what drew my attention was the Toyota Avalon in our drive way. It was a rental car, and I knew, no matter how hard I wished it to be otherwise, that my Auntie Elena was here and that Haden hadn't been playing any joke. This was the very first, and possibly the only time that I would ever wish Haden to be joking with me.

 

Our car slowed, and pulled up towards our drive way, jerking forward just as he placed the gears into park, and shut the car down. I stayed motionless until he opened the door. I made my numb joints move as I got out of the car and followed after Haden. Flipping his keys up in the air and catching them again, he opened the front door only for us to here my mother lecturing.

 

“I just don't understand why you're here every year. What do you think my daughter is?”

 

I heard a frustrated sigh, “C'mon Pam, you know I love her.”

 

“But that's not the only reason you come over here for!” My mother snapped, “I thought last year you learned your lesson. A little call before you come barging in on my house doesn't hurt anybody!”

 

Haden and I glanced at each other. Before long, there was a sinister smile planted on his face, “Me-ow!” He chuckled turning away, throwing his car keys on the side table. “Hey mom! Guess who followed me home?”

 

“Haden!” I cried, following behind him and throwing playful punches on his back. I wanted to make the atmosphere as light as possible for the two women sitting down at the kitchen table. My mother stared at Haden and me, her fingertips just touching her lips. “Hello Mom, Aunt Elena.” I curtsied, spreading out what I could of my shirt.

 

My aunt stared at me, her eyes going blank. I couldn't tell what she was thinking as she stared at me. It had been over a year since she last saw me, and had talked to me, what could be going through her mind? Slowly, I let my hands drop towards my side, and I stared just as blankly back, watching her eyes go from familiarity to the unsure. It was as if she was trying to comprehend something. Moments froze in the time everyone stared. Haden had also been oddly quiet. I felt as if I was in a big bubble, and I was in the circus' lime light. It made me sick.

 

“Hah, hey, enough of this quiet stuff, yeah? How `bout we have some dinner. We can go out and eat somewhere. I mean, it's not very often we see you Aunt Elena. How about it Mom, do you want to go out and eat too?” I could hug the big bear for his witty outbreaks when needed most.

 

“I think that sounds like a great idea, don't you think Mom?” I saw Auntie Elena shifting her gaze from me to my mom. She wasn't going to say anything, especially after the scolding she just got from her sister.

 

My mother sighed while staring at the two of us, her matching blonde hair of my brother's hung by her jaw. “Only if Elena wants to stay,” she turned her steely gaze off of us and towards Auntie Elena. “Well?”

 

“That would be absolutely wonderful Pam! It would be absolutely wonderful!” She was grinning to herself and placed her hands together, enfolding them, as if to say thank you to the two of us.

 

My mother's bottom lip twitched; the urge to smile becoming harder to hide. “Before we go, I want Haden to get dressed. That's just unacceptable attire for where we're going.” Haden laughed, and waved his hand as he turned out from the kitchen and went upstairs to change. Meanwhile, I had been standing awkwardly under Auntie Elena's gaze again. “Excuse me while I go apply some more make-up.” My mother stated as she exited out from the kitchen as well, only to leave the two of us very much alone. There was no possible word that could describe how gravely I wanted to vanish under my Aunt's sweltering stare. From my position in the door way, I switched to my other foot, and even in that instance did I see my Aunt's stare dart in that direction. I felt self-conscious with that cognizant stare of hers. In a way, it had me irritated and I attempted to stare back at her. My jaw locked and so did my eyes, and there was a show down in that kitchen of mine. Our eyes locked, and together, every breath, every twitch of a movement, and shift of the eyes did we stare one another down until one of us gave way. In this case, it was square. Neither of us had given in, it was merely because we heard the footsteps of my mother's heels coming down the hallway.

 

Aunt Elena sat down quietly and shifted her body in the direction of the hallway while I leaned against the frame of the entrance to the kitchen. To be completely honest, the whole thing had my hands shaking. Why this had ended up happening had me very confused. Obviously her visit was very strange considering it wasn't even near my birthday. I figured before that something was going on, but that was a mere guess. But, now I was absolutely sure there was something about to happen. I could feel it in my stomach. It was just unnatural how my Aunt had been acting.

 

“Well now, are we ready to go?” My mother asked while looking at herself in the compact mirror she had taken out from her purse. She had freshly placed make-up on, and her hair had been made into a tight bun, that revealed her dark, blue eyes and her high cheekbones.

 

“Yes ma'am,” Auntie Elena stood up and gave me a quick look, “I believe we are.”

 

“Well that's great!” Haden called coming down the hallway with his light blue jeans, and a black button-up. “I'm hungry as hell, let's get a move on!”

 

My mother looked disapprovingly at my brother's apparel but said nothing. She probably thought better of it due to my brother's wild temper given from my dad's genes. It was a rather awkward silence as we moved our way outside and towards my mother's SUV. It was also a very thorny situation I had when I was placed in the back with Aunt Elena who volunteered to sit in the back with me. Oh, doesn't someone just love me?

 

Though, this awkward state didn't keep Haden from talking. He babbled on about the dinner we would soon feast on at River Rock Restaurant. Yet, I tried; with success might I add, to ignore my brother's ongoing prattle. Instead, I muttered the lines of The Crucible to myself. I could feel Aunt Elena's eyes bore a hole into my back, but I kept my elbow on the car's window sill, and my head leaning up against my hand while I craned it towards the outside of the car.

 

I heard Aunt Elena shift in her seat; I could picture her black eyes never leaving my figure. “So, tell me Lorelei, why is it you never told me you were in your school play? I would very much love to see it, that is, since I'll be in town until then.” My eyes went wide, and my heart thumped in my chest to that of a drum that was going at a fast tempo.

 

My play isn't until next week. My breath whooshed out from me and I mechanically turned towards Aunt Elena. “I only got to see you today. There wasn't much of a chance.” Of course, I didn't think to see how Aunt Elena found out about my play; I was far too much in shock to find that she would be staying that long. How could this happen?

 

She smiled mysteriously and sat still for a moment looking out the windshield towards the front. “May I come see you?”

 

“I don't particularly like people coming to watch me.”

 

From my mother's review mirror, I could see her eyes become sharp. Mom may have disliked the fact that Aunt Elena came over without a lick of notice, but she did want me to be polite, that was no different to a strange stalker. I wanted to glare back at her, but she would never let it go. I was let off the hook though, because our car pulled in towards the restaurant.

 

My mother cleared her throat, “Are we all ready?”

 

“Actually,” my Aunt paused looking at me, to my mother, “I'd like to speak to Lorelei for a moment.” Damn...

 

 

A/N: I never planned to post this story up, EVER. But due to lack of inspiration for the bloody thing, I thought it would help slightly with my block. Unfortunately, I've no idea how far this story will go, and I doubt that anybody would be rather interested in it. So if you do happen to stumble upon this...God awful thing, I would appreciate your critique. Chapter two will hopefully be up soon. R&R