Nightshade

Chapter one

I was racing through the forest as fast as I could, my breath was getting heavier and heavier by the second. I told my self not to look behind-but of course I did. I turned my head thinking that they had given up, but no they hadn’t. Wham! I fell to the floor. I looked at my sprained ankle then to the broken log that I had just fallen over.  I cursed to myself silently and told my self to pull it together. Slowly I pulled my self up holding the trees and glanced behind me, for the second time. But as I learned before, NEVER turn back never even look back, just keep moving as close to forward as you can get. My heart stopped and I could feel the pain in my chest as I looked into their eyes. I felt like I was paralyzed. It took all the strength I had to pull my mind away from their eyes.  Then it was black I had no idea were I was. I wanted to call out something anything but I had nothing to say. I took a step closer to whatever was waiting for me in the darkness. The blackness started to swirl and changed colors till all that was left was-“Honey your going to be late again”. Ugh mom. I sat straight up in bed, staring at the wall, sweating. Gosh Bitty get a hold of your self. Ever since I visited grandma in Florida and fell in that weird pond I’ve been having all these exotic dreams. I pulled on a tank top and a sweat shirt along with jeans, then headed down stairs. I went to the cupboard and grabbed a heath bar. “Bye mom” I yelled “Have fun at work” . She was totally dazed out in front of her computer.  Finally she said bye, and I opened the door and left. The air was amazing. It was the most calmest thing I’ve ever felt. The wind swished by me, the sent of warm spring blossoms filling the air. A couple of blocks toward school I decided to take my shoes off. The hot cement was nice. It felt like my feet were on fire but I didn’t mind. Ouch! I squealed. Something went in my foot! I yelled again, gaping at the blood dripping from my foot. I fell to the ground and grabbed my foot seizing it by the  heel. Then patted the blood that was coming out and soon whatever was in my foot was out to. There was a needle on the ground, must have been the thing I stepped on because it was covered in my blood. I picked it up and dust began to float around it. Wait was it a needle, no it was a blue needle. Wait it’s a rock, oh my gosh the same rock that I was trying to get when I fell into the pond at my grandmas. Was this really the same exact rock that I saw in the pond? Has this been causing my nightmares?  My best friends Tara and  Jami came running over. “Hey what’s wrong chica”? Tara said. Tara’s one of the prettiest girls you ever saw. She has long wavy blond hair and hazel eyes. I swear almost every guy wants to date her. But me… well lets just say I’m not the most popular girl. I have brown hair- with the slightest tint of red, that’s medium length, and blue eyes. Jami began to worry, I could see the strain in here face. Jami has short super straight brown hair with dark brown eyes. Short as in up to her chin but that look completely works on her face. Jami’s very athletic too, she plays field hockey, soccer, roller skating, and volley ball. While Tara only plays soccer and volleyball. We all became friends in volleyball try outs on our first day and we all were so bad we got in trouble for hitting people in the heads with the volleyball. Ever since then we’ve been the best of friends.
“Hey” I said back to both of then. “I’m all right, I just had something in my foot”
“Walking bare foot again. Huh?” Jami said with a little chuckle.
“ha-ha guess so” I answered back.
I quickly grabbed the rock and stuffed it in my pocket. We walked to school, talking about sports and guys.
“Hey I think Justin’s single again” Tara exclaimed with a big grin. Showing her straight white teeth.
“Yea”? I said “think I should go for it”?
“totally because if you don’t I will” Jami said.
“What about the other girl he was just dating wasn’t she in tenth grade”? I asked.
“Well yea but your like way way way way better then any tenth grader.” Tara said, she always knows how to make a person laugh and right now she was nudging me, so I couldn’t keep it in.
“Very funny, but isn’t she the girl whose dated William and Kyle.
“Don’t remind us” They both said at the same time. William and Kyle were both good looking.  Tara had a crush on William and Jami had a crush on Kyle.
I burst out laughing just to stop the moment of awkwardness and they all joined in. Ah the sweet sound of laughter. It was nice to hear that after the long nightmare I had. We all arrived at school. We went to a private school called “Cross and Swords”. And yes, we had to wear uniforms. First class history.  Jami was in history class with me but not Tara, she had chemistry with William. Of course they’re lab partners that’s how Tara came to like him. They flirt so much that if he doesn’t ask her out soon I’m gonna nock him upside the head. History is thee most boringest subject.  Our teachers name is Mr. Vanstragen He has a very monotone voice and when I say very I mean like VERY. He wears a wedding ring but everyone thinks he lives alone.  I don’t know why but that’s what I heard. Williams in our history class but not Justin because he’s in ninth grade and I‘m in eighth. History seemed to go by as slow as a turtle crosses the road.  The whole day went by slowly like that, and I didn’t see Justin at all. Sometimes I wondered if he was sick or ditched school with a girl. When school was finally over I went straight to my room and took the rock out of my pocket. It was warm and now that I think of it so was the pond that I fell in. They were both really warm. That was odd I think I just saw through the rock. Whoa the rock disappeared into my hand. What? I was shaking my hand like crazy and trying to see if it had fallen, but I just saw it, hadn’t I? It went in my hand. I stood there motionless not knowing what to do next . I needed to be calm maybe I just needed some more sleep or a nice shower. Yea, a shower will do.  When I stepped in the shower I could feel the warm water, but my hair wasn’t getting wet. It was still dry and same with my body I was all dry but I could feel the water. Now I started to really freak out, I was going crazy turning the water on then off then on again. I shut my eyes really tight imagined myself soaking wet from head to toe. Then the next I thing I knew I was wet.  How did I do that I asked myself over and over. Did that seriously just happen?

Chapter two

I woke up the next morning and remembered the shower. After being dry for a while then finally getting wet I hurried up and got out of the shower. I was scared to death for night to come, meaning that I would have to go to sleep. But surprisingly I had no dreams, non, nada, zilch.  That was the first night in a long time since I got a peaceful sleep. I got up to brush my teeth. When I was done brushing my teeth I grabbed my cup and reached to turn on the water. When water just started pouring out of the sink. I never even touched the faucet though, and the water just started running. What is going on. First, I fall in a pond trying to grab a blue rock, then I find blue rock on the ground, blue rock disappears in my hand, then this?! Ok its fine, everything’s fine. I’ve always loved the water. After all I was born in July, I am a water sign. Whenever I was around water I always felt like it was calling out to me, wanting me to come to in. To feel the refreshing feel as it runs over my skin. But I could never control it. I glanced at the time, when I was in the middle of deep thought. Oh crap I’m late. I ran out of the house and all the way to school, making it just in time as the bell rang.  Everyone’s nerves were high. I could feel their energies vibrating with joy. It was the last day of school today and then summer break starts. No wonder everyone’s so impatient for school to end. The day went by as quick as lightning and when it was over I ran home and called Tara. She answered after the first ring. “I’m so excited” She squealed, “Were still going up to Joe’s beach today right”?
“Defiantly, wouldn’t miss it for the world” I answered back.
“Good, hurry up and get you fat but over here” she replied “Oh and make sure to wear a bikini I heard that Justin and his friends are gonna be their”.
“Oh that means that Williams probably going to be there to” I exclaimed.
“Yep, and Kyle, I can’t believe that Jami can’t come” She said.
“Why not” I asked.
“Because her parents are making her visit her grandparents, who  live like an hour away” she groaned.
“Great” I said “Oh well we can still have fun with out her, be there in a sec let me just slip into this new bathing suit I got the other day with Jami” I said.
“Oh, is it a bikini” She questioned.
“Maybe” I said “You‘ll see soon”
“Okay bye then” She said. And hung up the phone. I got into my new bathing suit, Its skimpy,  light blue and has little silver crescent moons lining the cloth around my hips and around the ends of my bikini top. Then I pulled over my white, long sleeved, see through cover up and headed out the door. I road my bike bare foot to the beach and caught Tara talking with a group of guys surrounding her. I immediately saw Kyle, Justin, William and Roger. When Tara saw me she grinned and waved me over. I quickly leaned my bike on a tree and jogged over to her. When I was finally standing next to her. I caught Justin’s eye’s. He gave me a devilish smile and said “Hey Bitty”.
“Hey what are you guys doing here” I said.
“Thought it’d be a nice place to hang for the last day of school” said William, never taking his eyes off of Tara. Then he winked at her, Tara smiled and got red in the cheeks. I glanced at Justin and saw him checking me out. His eyes roamed down to my silver crescent moons then bad up to my face. My stomach got tight as he smiled at me. “Nice bathing suit” he said through provoking eyes.
“You like it” I said and took off my cover up, “Where did you guys put your stuff, I need some place to put my cover up”.
“Oh over here” he said and led me to a blanket laid out on the sand.
“Biddy” Tara called “William and I are going to go for a walk down the beach, We’ll be back in a little”
“Ok” I called back. Kyle and Roger left to talk to some other girls while Tara and William left to walk along the beach (Kyle and William are in eighth grade, while Roger and Justin are in ninth).
“Follow me Bitty, I want to show you someplace cool I found” Justin said.
I ran to catch up to him, even though its hard to run in the sand. And when I got next to his side he reached out and grabbed my hand tight in his. My heart went up to my throat and my breathing stopped.  He looked over at me and smiled, I smiled back completely drunk with compassion. He took me to this place where the water washed up against all these piles of large rocks. Still holding my hand we hopped down onto a big flat rock that stayed dry from the water. “Wow its beautiful here” I exclaimed.
“Yes it sure it” he replied “I’ve got the best seat in the house”
I turned to him and saw him staring at me longingly. With the hand that wasn’t holding mine he reached out and took a strand of my hair and twirled it in his fingers. Then he leaned in and whispered “Your eyes are like the ocean, Biddy”.
Then he stopped twirling my hair, put his hand on the side of my face and kissed me. It was an open mouth kiss and I could feel his appeal towards me, I could almost taste it. And I was attracted to him to, it was like we belonged like this forever. The kiss ended and we both pulled away. He gently stroked my cheek then kissed my forehead. The first thing he said was “Will you go out with me Biddy”.

Chapter three

I smiled like I had stolen the suns radiance “Yes” I said. He smiled to himself then laid down on the rock, “I’ve always loved to come here, it was my secret place, but I’ve never shown it to anyone until you” He said. I laid down next to him, we were still holding hands. “I love the sound of the water” He went on “Its talks to me, but  I cant make out what its trying to say”. I could. It sounded like the water was tugging at me telling me to let go. To reach out to Justin in ways not possible, to pull him in the water with me and to stay with him forever. I wanted to, but knew that I couldn’t, at least not today. “It says I love you” I told him “It says I have always loved you”. And that’s when he got up and pulled me up to my feet, then he pulled me in for another kiss. My arms were on his chest while his were on my waist. The kiss lasted longer than the last one and when we pulled away the sun was setting. “Justin” I said “I have to go soon”
“I’ll walk you to where the others are” he said and he lead me back up the rocks through the sand and to my cover up. When we were about to go our separate ways he grabbed my hand once more and whispered in my ear “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this“. I got to my bike, I was riding along the cement path with the beach next to me when there was a tug in my gut. I looked out and saw the waves washing against the shore. Hopping off my bike, I dragged it onto the sand then walked down to the water. I pulled my cover up over my head and through it on the ground. I ran into the water until my feet didn’t touch the sand anymore and I was very far out. I wasn’t wet. My hair was still dry. So I went on my back to float and shut my eyes, willing myself to be wet again. I felt the water seep into my veins, felt it call for me. The waves bumped against me like a lullaby. My eyes snapped open and it was dark out. I was laying on the sand with the water washing against me. How long was I in the water for? I got up and ran to my bike not looking back once, hopped on and road home. My mom didn’t notice when I snuck in late, she was at the computer again. That night I dreamed of seeing a shimmering light in my hand. My hand was glowing so bright and then the light dulled and a rock lay in my palm. I could feel the rock, and knew. It was made of water. It just took on the form of a rock. I could feel the rock telling me all the answers to my questions. That I was gifted, that I was made of water just like the rock. I was born from the foam of the sea and the crashing of the tides. And this rock was my ticket to find my way home. I woke up dazed. Made out of water? How could I if I was born from my parents. I walk down the stairs and poured a bowl of cereal. My mom glanced up from her news paper. My father died in a car accident when I was a couple months old, and we rarely talk about him. “Biddy I’m such a scatter brain I left my keys in the office, will you grab them for me” She asked.
“Sure thing mom” I said while putting my bowl in the washer machine. I went into her office and grabbed the keys. My mom kept all her keys on one chain, and I thought of something. I took the key that opens her desk draw and unlocked it. Inside were folders I grabbed out the first folder and looked at its continents. There were adoption papers, and my birth certificate. Name: Bidertha, Last Name: Dragonsmifer Mother: NA ,Father: NA Information: Her adopted parents names are Sally and Fernando Dragonsmifer, her real birth parents are unknown. My mouth dropped open as I gaped at the papers. Adopted? And with no name of my real parents, meaning that they had no information about me. “Honey what’s taking you so long” my mom called as she strode into the office. I held up the files and said “Can you explain this”.
Looking completely astonished she said “Biddy I’m sorry, when your father passed away I needed something to take my mind off of him, and we had already gone through all the classes. I Loved you very much and when the adoption center asked if I still wanted you I said yes. But it makes no difference your still my child and I still love you.”  I could see her eyes tearing up.
“How come my paper says NA for my parents” I replied.
“The adoption center told me that some people found you washed up by the ocean shore in a basket. So I got to name you Biddy, and we had no information about you.” She said apologetically.
“I love you” I said as tears came to my eyes “no matter what”.
“Oh Biddy I love you to I’m sorry I never told you” She said “Will you be ok wile I go to work”
“Yea” I said and kissed her good bye.

Chapter Four

I was so shocked I didn’t know what to do… Adopted. I would of never thought. I had to see Tara and Jami, Had to tell them that I was adopted. Once my mom left I grabbed my bike and started riding to Tara’s house, from their we’d go to Jami’s house. “Boy its hot” I murmured to myself as I road on the side walk. My hands started tingling and I glanced behind me. Three black shadows slid from my eyes. I blinked and glanced over my shoulder again. Was there something there a minute a go? No, just my imagination. I road faster, trying to chase my fear away with distance. When I new someone was behind me,  I heard the pitter patter of feet hitting the ground. I looked back and saw three blurry shapes and three sets of red eyes. Bam! My bike skidded to a stop and I flew off and tumbled onto the grass. “Biddy!” Tara yelled. Wow perfect landing, I landed right in front of her house.
“Are You ok?” She said. I looked to see if I was still being chased by those…things. But all that was behind me was my bike laying on the ground. 
“Uh yea, must of tripped over a rock” I told her.
“Yea must of, you were riding so fast I didn’t even know it was you will you fell” She said “Why were you going so fast?”
“I had to tell you something but first lets go to Jami’s house” I answered.
“Can you ride” she asked.  I stood up, guess its not entirely like my dream, I didn’t sprain my ankle.
“Yea lets go” I said. She ran and got her bike, then we road to Jami’s house. Once were got there Jami took us in her back patio and poured us lemonade.
“The lemonades actually really good” Jami said, “Not to sweet this time”. I laughed, when we were younger we made a lemonade stand but ended up putting in way to much sugar.
“What did you want to tell us?” Tara questioned.
“Well, I don’t know how to start this off so I’m just going to flat out say it” I said, “I’m adopted”. Both of their mouths dropped open and they stared at me.
Jami was the first to speak “But how, what… when did you find out”
“Today” I told her, “My mom asked me to get her keys that she left in the office and I opened up one of her draws and saw the papers”.
“Wow” said Tara “That’s a shocker”.
“Yea, I know” I managed to get out.
“Jamaica, Dinners ready” Jami’s mom called.
“You guys wanna stay for dinner” Jami asked.
“No I’ve got to get back home, were having steak today” Tara answered with a grin.
“How bout you Biddy” Jami asked.
“Nah I have to go to” I said.
“Ok” Jami answered but if you need anything just call.
“Alright I will” We hugged then left.
That night I saw the eyes, the same eyes as in my dream, and the ones that belonged to the people who were chasing me.  They were blood red and hungry. Hungry for power.
“The girl needs to remember who she is and soon or when we take her power it won’t be at its full extent” one of the shadowy black things said.
“She’s starting to remember” another one slithered in a wiry tone. The leader of the three turned then and proclaimed “We must take her to the cove before any one else discovers that her powers are growing”.  With that he looked strait into my eyes and said, “Yes we will get her powers”. I woke up at two in the morning scared and confused.

Chapter Five

I got up and ran. Fear powering my body. I looked behind me once my feet hit the street and saw those eyes. Black dust swirling around them. Where was I to go? I knew the answer even before I finished asking myself the question. The water. That’s the one place I felt safe. Before logic could stop me. I jumped into the water and sank. I went down as far as I could go. Every time staring at the top of the water. I saw the wavy picture of those things above the water, waiting for me to come out. I reached the sandy bottom of the water and laid down. Usually I would just float back up to the surface but now, there seemed to be a weight keeping me down. I took a deep breath and realized I wasn’t breathing through my mouth. Huh? I felt the side of my neck and felt gills. I was breaking in water through my gills and processing out the oxygen that was in the water, like a fish. The black shadows were still above me, if I wanted to get out of the water anytime soon, I would have to swim away from them first. From the looks of it, it seems like the shadows couldn’t go into the water. I swam deeper into the water, and the water dropped in depth the further I went out. I noticed the water kept dropping in temperature too. The water started to swill around me and the sand went flying. Then the sand started to settle and a shape took place. In the sand was the face of a woman with long hair. Half of her body rose out of the ground giving her only a body from the torso up. “What do you seek girl” the woman asked.
Completly freaked out I stampered, “W-w-who are you, What are you?”
“I am an element” she said.
“What about those shadows that were following me” I said,still confused.
“Thoughts were also elements” she told me, “I am the earth element and so are my kin that I rule over”. She looked behind her and I saw little children playing on the ocean floor, all made out of sand, sea weed and stones. “Thoughts things you call shadows are nightshades, they are made from the element of fire and the shame of ashes. My kin are called Dario. You are also an element, I have herd rumors that the water queen was fading and needed a new element to take over but I had no idea they were true. Until now.”
I stampeded, “Excuse me? Are you saying I’m made of water, will I turn into water”.
“No” The lady told me, "You are barly human but barley an element, yet. When the water queen dies you will take up her fate and rule the water element. If you chose to stay human you will be able to. I presume you have the water crystal?”
“If you mean that stone I found by the pond actually its sort of inside me.” I answered.
“Shut your eyes” She commanded. I did. She laid her sandy hand over mind and produced the rock from inside of me. I gasped for air. I could no longer breath in the water. “With this you will have the power of water to manipulate to your intentions. When you become the queen and gain your full powers you will be an equal match to all the elements and you will be able to fight for yourself. But right now you are vulnerable”. She placed the rock back in my hand and my gills instantly came back. “But I” I try to say.
“My name is Meralvo, queen of the earth element. I will meet you again some day but for now I only have one bit of advise to say. Fire and water don‘t get along. Until you are queen the fire element will do everything in its power to get rid of you. But remember this, a world without water, is a world without humans. Don’t fail or you will fail not only the elements, but the people to”. With that she disappeared. And I was left alone in the water. I rose to the surface and looked around. No nightshades in sight. And soon the sun would be coming up I ran back to my house and snuggled up in my warm bed. I reflected back on what had just happened. Things were just getting stranger. I thought I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again but as soon as my head hit the pillow I fell into a deep sleep.

-Story by Amira