Chapter 9
"So what happens in the xylem of a plant?" My mom spoke.
"Hmm," I turned to her.
With a sigh she said. "You haven't been listening have you?"
I shook my head, as she closed my biology book.
"If you don't step it up Lucia," She grumbled.
"Mom," I huffed.
She stared at me her eyes growing angry. "There is no man in your mirror! There is no voice talking to you! You cannot shove people into walls and stairs without knowing!!"
I felt a lump form in my throat. "Mom..."
"No, Lucia!"
"Mom..."
"...Lucia, stop!!"
Slowly I stood up from my seat and walked towards the front door grabbing my backpack on the way.
"Where do you think you're going?" My mother huffed from the living room.
I rolled my eyes. "Well clearly you don't want me around right now." And with that I closed the door behind me. Each step I took caused my heart to race. There was something in me that wanted to me to run.
"So run..." A voice shattered in my head.
My breath stopped short as I felt my hair sting.
"Run!"
With shock I did. My feet hit the pavement hard, as the air around me began to whiz against my ears. It felt good to run. The blood in my heart pumped faster than ever. I was losing myself. My mind was slowly beginning to blur and before I knew it I was nearing downtown. I was dodging bodies, and leaping over fire hydrants, parked bikes and cement blocks.
"Nice feeling isn't it." Lucifer laughed through me.
My feet stopped mid track almost causing me to trip.
"Please stop..." I whispered as I snuck off to an empty phone booth.
Slowly I lifted the receiver and placed it by my ear. I faked dialling a number as he began to speak.
"Why, obviously you're starting to see what you can do, yes?"
"Yah and your point, is?"
A huff came from his voice. "Lucia, you can stay with me."
"What?"
"You are mine, and you belong here."
"Oh yes, because it will definitely go well when my mom finds out I killed myself to go to hell!"
He grumbled.
"Look just please stop alright?"
Silence
"Please leave me alone!"
Suddenly a small cough came from behind me. "You know you have to insert coins to talk to someone right?"
Quickly I turned around to find Jesse smiling as he tried to contain a laugh.
"What?" I scuffed.
Pointing to the screen of the pay phone he said. "You need coins."
"I-I uh..." Stammering I gazed at the words Please insert coins as I returned the receiver.
"So uh you have quiet the arm." He laughed. I stared at him as he raised his shirt exposing his abdomen covered in gauze.
"Oh..."
"That's okay, it didn't hurt, that bad. Plus I know it was my fault, being in your business like that. "
"Well you didn't have a right, you know?"
He nodded. "I know...I'm sorry."
"What do you want?"
"Nothing," He shrugged. "I was just heading home and I saw you're little mishap with the phone."
I stared in silence.
"Well hey, I bought coffee, and you slammed me against concrete stairs. So let's just say you owe me big time. "
My eyes turned to a glare as he placed his hands up.
"No harm intended." He said.
~*~
I sat closest to the window across from Jesse.
"So, that book..." He said.
"What about it?" I grumbled.
"Nothing..."
I cupped my hands around the mug as he stared at the window behind me. No he wanted to know why I was reading it. Of course he did. But could I tell him? Would he believe me?
"What school do you go to?" He asked after taking a sip from his mug.
I shrugged. "I'm homeschooled."
As he nodded I leaned over the table.
"Do you think I'm crazy?" I whispered.
He laughed.
"Well...?"
"No, I think you're just a little, um, different."
I shook my head. "Okay look, there's this...person."
His eyebrow arched.
"And he uh-"
"What are you doing?!!" Lucifer's voice shot through my ears.
I pressed my lips together.
"Lucia?" Jesse questioned.
I shook my head. "Sorry I have to go..." I mumbled to Jesse.
Quickly I placed the mug on the middle of the table and took ten dollars out from my bag.
"Wait..." Jesse called after me as he took the bill and handed it to the cashier. "...Lucia!"
But as always I was already gone. Every time, I always found myself running from him. I didn't want anyone to know. No that was a lie. I wanted someone to know. But who would I tell? Obviously my mother didn't get it. And apparently Jesse wasn't allowed to know.
"Mom!" I called out as I entered the house.
Nothing
"Mom..."
Silence
"MOM!"
"You're mother isn't here..." A voice called from beside me.
I knew there wasn't anyone there. I knew it was Lucifer speaking.
"Where is she?" I quivered "Where is she?! Where's is my mom! I want her back!"
A crowd laughed simultaneously in an eerie way. "Well then you'll have to come get her."