The Possessed

The Strange Book

"Francis, could you stop?" Skylar snapped.

"What am I doing?" I replied. Truth be told, I was sitting there, in the school library, with my headphones on. What was bothering her?

"Your headphones aren't plugged in."

I took them off and looked around the painted white room. Everyone was staring at me. Slowly, I turned down my volume and shoved my iPod in my backpack.

" Sorry," I mumbled. I rushed over to the YA section, feeling sick with embarrassment. I looked back and saw Skylar's pale, crooked face staring at me.
I sank into a beanbag, closing my eyes and wishing I had friends. 

"What are YOU doing?" Kirsten said, mocking me.  

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I snorted.

"It looks like you're being lonely, and I can tell you are. Don't lie. But, I can understand why you would. Just look at you!" Someone unsuccessfully muffled a laugh.

"Go away, Kirsten."

"It's not my fault you don't have friends!"

"Don't be such an asshole! It is your fault; if you wouldn't tease me so much I'm sure I would have at least one!"

She laughed. "Don't lie to yourself."

"I'm not, go away!"

"Why should I?"

"You're going to get us both in trouble," I clenched my teeth. "Wouldn't want to ruin that clean reputation of yours, would we?"

"Oh no! Not in 'trouble'! What are we going to do?" She laughed at me even harder. Then she leaned in on my face. "You don't have friends, you aren't pretty, and you're dumb. I don't care if my clean slate gets a few marks. I just want to prove to you what you really are."

"Shut up!" I was crying now. a few people had gathered around us, staring with huge puppy eyes, begging to be entertained. They were laughing.

"Believe her, kid! You're never gonna make it!" Said an older boy.

"You've been pestering Kirsten enough, leave her alone!"

That was it. I ran out of school.

As I walked home, I felt the cool breeze against my arms and legs, wishing I had worn jeans. Tears were splashing down my cheeks. Those practically boiled my face. I kept my head down so none of our neighbors would see me.

 My house was possibly the most plain in the neighborhood. Bricks, wood, small, the usual house. Sighing, I opened the door with a very loud creak. If anyone were sleeping, they weren't now. So I lied on the old, mushy couch and waited. I'm not sure what I waited for, but I definitely waited for a long time.  I need something to do! 

"Hey, Fran! You're home!" Percy said, grinning. He was the only one every happy to see me.

I let out a sputter, trying to bring together words but failing.

"Franny, what's wrong?" He said, noting my puffy eyes.

"Leave me alone, okay?"

 I got up and walked slowly (weighed down by my backpack) to our "Thinking Room". (As Percy called it) There was a chair there that looked identical to our couch. Brown and dank. That was how the walls looked, too. 

Why am I even in here?  It seems as though there is a force pulling me into this room, leader me deeper... No matter how small it is...

I walked towards a certain bookshelf where most of my favorite books were. However, I stumbled over something. I landed on my elbows, giving me a perfect shot of what I fell on.  It was a book, with a cover made of leather. The engravements looked like a strange Chinese symbol. 创造世界

I had never felt anything like it, but somehow it felt familiar. A single star was shining inside me. If I felt this special, there must be something special about it. So I opened up the book, expecting to find some kind of meaningful scripture (the meaning of life, is God real, etc.) but all I found were blank pages. However, I felt a sudden wave of sickness, like I was going to throw up swirl around inside me. I didn't know this, but that's what you feel when a piece of you is being transported.

I woke up the next day with my book in my arms. I was on our couch and had no idea how I got there. My head was heavy, and not like a normal headache heavy. I couldn't lift my head. 

"Percy!" I yelled.

He approached me, looking groggy, with eye bags the size of bricks. "What?" He mumbled.

"I can't lift my goddamn head!"

He put his hands under my head (With a challenge) and pulled as hard as he could.  

Suddenly all the weight lifted off my shoulders. I let out a grunt as I sat up.

Percy looked at his watch, which he always slept in. "Oh, shit- thank you for waking me up! We're going to be late!"

"Ugh!" I moaned.

He ran to his room and grabbed his backpack (Which I could hear) and he got dressed. I did the same. He drove me to school, and I was there. I would rather stay home. I hated my life there. 

As I walked in the library ( where I went every day.) Kirsten saw me and gasped. I wasn't sure if it was a surprised, happy, or angry gasp.

"Look who's here!" She smirked.

"Shut up! I'm done with your bullshit! Take the hint!" 

She let out a laugh. "So you're getting sassy?" She pointed at my book. "What's that leather thing?"

"It's a book. Now go away." I decided if she wasn't going to be calm and nice, I would. Well, sort of. "Kirsten."

"Watcha gonna do with it?"

"Can you at least take the time to say the words?"

"Mmm," She said as if she were thinking about it. "No."

"You bitch."

"Not my fault."

That night, I cried myself to sleep. I still had the book. It was like I couldn't let go of it.