People are always told the fairy tales were the witches are bad and the prince gets the girl, but us witches, we’re actually pretty good. We don’t have long noses or warts. We don’t want to be the fairest of them all. I will admit there are some of us that have chosen the bad side, but most of us are the people running around trying to save the world without anyone knowing about it. We also stop demons from hurting, killing, eating, turning you into one of them. Being a witch is pretty hard at times, but you really don’t have a choice. Like me. I was destined, just like my mother and her mother before her. I didn’t want to kill demons and fight monsters, or make choices that could cost people their lives. So I guess you should know my name if you are going to be following my story. My name is Ray Knight, I’m a witch, and this is my story.
My 8th grade teacher was once a kindergarten teacher before she was transferred to Tiger Middle school in California where she treats us like we’re four again. Many of us wanted to report her, but she has a dark side and so we are stuck in the age of eating glue and smelling like dirt. It’s not like the other people in my class are complaining because they can’t even act smart to save their lives. The class room is like any other in my school. It has windows covering the one wall and shelves under them and on one side are closets that served as lockers because the school didn’t trust us with actual lockers. While in class I normally sat in the back corner of the room in order to attract the least attention, with my dark hair covering my face and my nose in a book.
“Ray, could you tell me how an earthquake can occur?” My teacher inquired probably so I could humiliate myself by saying ‘I don’t know’.
Without lifting me head I said. “When the pressure between two tectonic plates becomes too great and they shift then an earthquake occurs.” I could feel the class watching me as I spoke.
“Good, now lift your head up darling so I know that you understand.” I put my book marker in and looked up. The teacher smiled. I saw from across the room Katie was looking at me. Her bleached blonde hair was braided over her shoulder. She mouths the word ‘Nerd’. I rolled my eyes. Katie lived in a world of clichés. She was top dog, so she thought she had every right.
I looked out the window at the sunny March morning. The small playground was to the left of the field were a PE class was taking place. I hated PE in the mornings. Afterwards you smell the rest of the day. Our work was passed out and I was done in minutes. I asked to go to the bathroom so I wouldn’t have to look endure the giggles of the Katie and her brainwashed friends. I know what you’re thinking, I should just move up a grade if I’m that smart, but that would just be asking for more people to tease me. On my way to the bathroom I saw a girl that had dyed black hair with red streaks, her name was Emma. She was like me, a book worm, and kind of a loner. We don’t talk much but I know that she likes to keep to herself. We nodded a hello and I was on my way. As she pasted I got this strange feeling, like a shiver that went down to my bones. I looked back at Emma as she strolled down the hall. Something just didn’t seem right. I tugged my black jacket closer to me and push the bathroom door open. That was strange. I thought to myself.
I didn’t need to go to the bathroom I was just there to kill time. I looked into the mirror. My pale skin was whiter because of the tile that surrounded me. My light blue eyes were under my bangs bringing the only light color to my makeup less face. I wore a black shirt that had a band logo on it with my favorite black jacket, my dark blue jeans that had a hole on one of the knees, along with my combat boots. I usually wore things like this to school. I splashed water onto my face. After that feeling I had in the hall my nerves were on edge. I wiped my face with my shirt sense there weren’t any paper towels, only those stupid blow dryers. I was about to head back to class despite how reluctant I was. I paused when the loud speaker cracked above me. “Code blue, code blue.” Wait code blue? That lock down code was only used once and that was when someone was murdered just down the block.
Not going to lie I was a little scared, I mean I hope no one was hurt. I practically hurled myself into a bathroom stall and locked it. I sat on the toilet and brought my knees to my chest. I hope it was just a precaution. Maybe someone was kidnapped. Too many people have gone missing the police don’t know what to do. It was all anyone could talk about on the news. I heard a few teachers whisper about it when they thought no one was listening. The number had reached over a hundred.
My thoughts where interrupted when someone came into the bathroom. “You stay outside I’ll check the stalls.” The male voice didn’t sound like an administrator. I held my breath as I closed my eyes. Was the code blue because there was a shooter? My brain kept thinking of bad scenarios and then worse scenarios. My heart began to pick up speed at the possibility that I was going to be caught by whoever these people were.
I jumped at the sound of the loud bang, as the first stall next to the door was kicked open. Fear washed over me I couldn’t move and I now had to pee. What’s going to happen if they find me? My mind rush with ideas, maybe I should fight them? But nothing seemed to work out. It seemed like time slowed as my mind came up with the most impossible idea ever. Climb under the stall to the one he looks in before he kicks in the door of this one? It seemed crazy, but it could work. My mind was screaming. I had to time this right. I counted the stalls in my head. He already kicked in two. There is one before my stall. I was shocked at the sound of the stall to left to me being kicked in. Taking silent deep breaths I got on all fours and saw black shoes move towards the stall I was occupying now. I slid as fast as I could to the one next to me. Thank god the force of the kick made the door shut on its own. I sat on the seat hugging my knees. Please don’t look again! The last stall made a louder bang then the others.
“No one’s in here!” He sounded frustrated. Another man spoke this time. “Maybe they had better luck in the class rooms.” Someone else said. The door click shut behind them as they left. I sighed with relief. I sat there just to make sure they wouldn’t come back, also to gather myself. I slowly opened the stall door and looked into the mirror in front of me. My blue eyes where wide with fear. Did that just really happen? I thought my brain would explode from the speed my mind was racing. They came into the bathroom and checked if anyone was in here and then, wait. He said ‘they might have better luck in the classrooms.’ Who or what are they looking for? I got up and rushed to the door, then stopped short. What if they are still there, and then find me? What will they do with me? Slowly I pushed the door and check the hall. All clear, but something was wrong, all the doors where wide open. The lock down is still going. I ran down the hall, the sound of my shoes echoed around me.
I reached my class room and like all the others the door was opened. I stepped inside, checking the interior of the room. I stopped short as I looked at the empty classroom. Everyone was gone. Taking a step I heard a crunch from all the paper that littered the floor. I rushed over to the phone on the teacher’s desk, and I called 9-1-1 as fast as I could. When I got through a man picked up. “Hello, you have called 9-1-1. What is your emergency?”
“Yes, I-I’m in Tiger Middle School and all m-my class is…..gone, we were having a lock down and I was in the bathroom and was hiding in one of the stalls when...when this man came and he was checking the stalls and I managed to not get caught. I think more classes are the same I don’t know.” I couldn’t breathe. I sat down on my teacher’s chair.
“Ok stay calm I have notified the police and they are coming to get you.” The man sounded worry, and it was just making my scared even more. I nodded even though he couldn’t see it, it help… a little
The rest I must say was a blur. The cops came and got me. I was walked outside with all the reporters and the crowd gathered around the school after someone took my statement. How did they get here so fast? There were tons of flashes, and people trying to get in my face, but all the sound was drown out. I was put into a car and was left to wait. One of the police got into the driver’s seat. It was the officer that was standing beside the one that took my statement. During the interview he kept looking at me with pity. I might be scared, but I didn’t want someone to look down on me.
“Ray,” He looked at me with sad eyes. I met his gaze with a blank stare. “Are you alright?” I felt his hand on my shoulder. I couldn’t answer him. If I did I might have screamed. I wasn’t okay I was terrified. I wanted to know who these people and why kidnapped my school. It all seemed impossible, like when a magician makes a person disappear. I was waiting for the trapdoor to be reviled. The officer bought me lunch, and asked if I wanted to go home. When I finally was able to talk it just a whisper, but I told him I wanted to go to the park. I needed some fresh air. I didn’t want to go home. Gram would be home and she would maybe hug me, but I doubt that. If anything she would murder me. Gram was my only family and she insisted we kept a low profile, but what happened at my school meant my face was going to be plastered all over the news.
When I finally got home I waited at the door for about ten minutes. What am I going to tell her? She’s going to flip. I’ll never go to any school ever. I was surprised I wasn’t homeschooled as is. I made up my mind not to tell her and try to act that it never happened. Gram was old, it’s not like she knows how the TV works. I grabbed the key from my pocket and open the door. The first thing that hit me was the smell. It smell like the worst thing ever times a hundred…and then another hundred.
“Gram?” I called as I tried not to gag. I walked up the stairs and went to the living room to open the widows. “Gram, are you home?” There was a bang in the kitchen with my nerves on edge I ran to the kitchen. My grandma was picking up a pan that she had dropped.
“Ray!” She turned he face was wrinkled but less than people her age. Her face had the expression of surprise, which surprised me considering that the only expression I’d seen her make was one of absolute disappointment.
“I thought you would be at school, it’s only one fifteen?” I didn’t know who to explain this to her without saying the truth. I meant I could tell her I was suspended, but then I would be grounded till I was her age. After my mom died when I was two, my father had a bad time cooping, so he left without me. Do I hate him for that? Yes I do. My grandma took me in, rather reluctantly I must say. I was grateful though she sometimes ranted that I was the most ungrateful child on the face of the earth. Neither Gram nor I worked, but we somehow always had money. I never questioned it till a few years ago, but Gram practically never leaves the house so investigating was impossible.
I looked at her and smiled a little. “Yeah, well some…stuff happen, and I was let out early.” Could I really not lie about this?
Gram frowned. “You weren’t in a fight where you?” She rushed over and grabbed my chin to look to see the damage. “No,” I grabbed her hand and removed it from my chin. I decided that with something this big I should tell the truth. Lord, help me.
“It was well…It might be all over the news from all the people outside.” I walked over to the living room and turned on the TV, trying to find the closest news station. My face was plaster all over the screen.
I sat on the couch and watched the news anchor talk. “Today at Tiger Middle school there was an attack. Leading to the kidnapping of hundreds of students and teachers, the only survivor was an 8th grade girl. Ray Knight.” It went to a clip of me being rushed into a police car. I looked terrified. I was surprised about how calm I am now. I hit the mute button.
Gram sat next to me on the couch. Her faced softened and covered her face with her hands. “Honey, how could this happen? I can’t believe…you are so brave…thank goodness you fine.” She finally straightened and gave me a hug. “Your mother, would have been so worried, but she always said you where destined for great things.” Gram always told me that, but when she said it she sounded as if it were a bad thing. This wasn’t the response I thought I would get from her. Gram got up and I could see something change in her eyes.
“Go to your room and get some rest, I’ll start dinner soon.” She didn’t look at me, just walked back to the kitchen. I got up and walked into my room, and locked the room. Why was this happening, everyone was acting strange. What happened to my strict Grandmother that would have flipped out and thrown things around the house? I could hear Gram walking around, and then I heard her start dialing on the house phone. Who is she calling? She barely goes out of the house. I slowly unlock my door and grab the phone in the hall. I know I shouldn’t do this, not to my Grams anyway, but curiosity killed the cat, right? I put the phone to my ear, it was still ringing.
“Hello?” It was a man’s voice that answered.
“Why isn’t she with all the others?” Gram sounded annoyed, and different.
“My men said they checked every inch of that school and they never saw her, not once.” The man spoke with no emotion.
“Well, I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to take care of the brat anymore. When I saw her, I was tempted to kill her.” Grandma was going to kill me? What was going on? I sat on my desk chair not able to support myself anymore.
“Why don’t you just take her? She’s trust you.”
“The Mistress wanted her to be taken with the others so then the council WOULDN’T KNOW SHE WAS THERE!” I could hear her screaming from my room.
Beads of sweat started to form on my forehead. Grandma never ever talked like that to anyone. “Well the dig is coming close to its end, and our army is almost complete.” The man said with a brutal voice.
“I would be a lot happier if Ray was not here, they will come after her.” She sounded so angry. I would never forget this conversation. Was I going crazy? What if this isn’t happening?
“How many men have we lost at the dig?” She was changing the subject.
“About 92 and that’s it, we’re getting more here to make up for the lost time.”
“I was told that you don’t get any more workers, which is what the mistress said to you when you reported you didn’t find it?” Who is the Mistress? What are they searching for?
“I was told those orders were canceled.” There was a new voice this one was female, and amused at the way they were fighting. “If you two keep fighting, I’ll have to report this to the Mistress.” She sounded like she was the one who had to keep them in check or things would get out of hand.
Together they said “No!”
“Great, now the Mistress has just sent word that she wants you to blow your cover as the girls’ grandmother and take her to the base. I would like you, Than, to get on with finding that STONE!" It was silent and the phone buzzed as the call ended. I guess curiosity defiantly killed this cat.
I cried for the dull life I was leading that was falling into pieces, rapidly. I suddenly turned into the girl of no emotions into an emotional wreck. I had to think of something fast or I was going to be in real trouble. From the conversation I listen in to, my grandmother might not even be my grandmother. Some weird part of me took over and told me that needed to run away. I mean it made sense if you thought about it. But some part of me told me that I couldn’t run forever. Dinner was hard. I mean if you knew something you weren’t supposed to know you don’t go telling them, right? I went to bed at around 11:00 at night and put my alarm on. Most people wouldn’t because school was canceled considering that almost everyone that attending had vanished. All I knew was that tomorrow I was going to make a run for it. Something big was happening. The phone call cleared that right up. I thought that I would never be able to sleep. Grams was going to ‘blow her cover’, but when and how?
My dream was confusing and strange all I could hear was a boy and a girls voice alone with mine. There was a battle going on with...swords? Everything was fuzzy, and then it was clear and focused. There was a girl in a long sleeved shirt that was black which matched her hair and she had camouflage pants. She was fighting with bent daggers that looked like protractors. I only got a glimpse of her eyes, but they were a jade green. Then there was a guy with sandy hair, a slight tan, grey eyes like a storm that you could get lost in and it was hard to look away from him. His face seemed hard and focused on his foe in front of him. Under his left eye was a scar it traveled to his ear. He had a sword that was made of bronze, and the hilt had wings for the sword guard. He was fighting with Katie, but this time her blonde hair was in a messy braid over her shoulder and the big difference was the long claws extending from her fingers. In the distance I could see a group of people, one stood taller than all of them. I could only make out their form the rest was hidden in shadow.
I woke up before my alarm and started packing the things I would need. My mind still wandered to my dream, but I had to push it aside it wasn’t as important as running away. I put on a plain grey shirt, my favorite jacket, with jeans and running shoes. I took my clothes (of course), combat boots, some books, snacks I stuffed in my room, all the money I had saved which was roughly about $2,300 (I was given an allowance, but I rarely used an of it.) With all my other things I grabbed my mother’s picture and stuffed it in and muttered “I know I shouldn’t leave, but it’s what I have to do.” All my family was gone, and even though I shouldn’t leave Grams I felt like it was against my will. I rushed to the bathroom and started to grab tooth paste, tooth brush, hair brush, and some other things. After that, I made a list of things I might need on the way, when I looked to see that the toilet had three spiders swimming in the water. Disgusted, I flushed them down when it made a clogged noised like something wanted to go up instead of down. Suddenly more and more spiders burst from the toilet and I was losing space in my small bathroom.
A scream escaped my mouth as I tried to find the door knob but I was stricken by fear, it was hard to control my breathing let alone move. I was up against the door and then I saw the spiders were sticking and melting together. As I clawed for the stupid knob one large spider had crawled onto the sink and jumped on my leg and bit. Another scream came out. The pain was excruciating. I banged my leg against the vanity squashing it. Putting one hand on my bleeding leg and the other searching for the door, you may have thought that the handle had disappeared because it took my years to find it. There! I found an old fashion curvy door knob and I turned it, I fell backwards onto the floor. In a hurry, I grabbed my bag on my bed and ran. I looked behind me to see the spiders. They crawled on everything, making my room appeared completely black. I limped down the hall till I reached the stairs were then I practically tumbled. I heard a loud bang and saw that they were coming from down stairs as well. How the hell did they get in? I was surrounded and outnumbered, with an injured leg. My leg stung and my vision was coming in and out of focus.
Someone was screaming, for a split second I thought that was me, until I looked up to see my Grams being eaten by spiders. There was nothing I could do. "Grandma!”
Horror spread through my body and I felt hopeless. I could feel the threat of tears sting in my eyes. Not a good time to start crying. I thought to myself. I stepped back until I was pushing up against the wall next to the door. I was still looking at the place my grandma once stood only to see the blue morning sky, and the hole only got bigger. They were eating the house and soon me along with it. There would be nothing left and I could see the back yard before my eyes. The spiders at my feet began to close in. There is no way I’m ever going to get out of this. My knees were about to give out from the pain that was now spreading all over my leg, but I felt heat on my cheeks and turned my head to see that the door was now on the floor with flames covering it, I looked up to see that someone was standing there.