A Time to Die (Elemental Rage Book 2) (2 page)

She hobbled around
like everything was fine, greeting the folks in town with a smile while she
picked up a few things.  Then she drove out to the lonely house in the gully
near the woods where the creek burbled and the breezes played, where any
Elemental would feel right at home.

Fire and Earth had
finally awakened in the last two girls.  All four girls carried their element. 
It was time for a Spirit Walk.  Bertha didn’t know if she was up for it.  She
really should have suggested it before the end of summer.

The house was
quiet.  The girls wouldn’t be home for at least another hour, three for Jade. 
At least Raven had decided not to do volleyball this year.  Raven took the bus
home with Claire and Mindy. She would drive the girls in Amy’s car from the end
of the gravel driveway to the house, saving Bertha the trip.

Bertha spent those
hours on the bed. She meant to start dinner, but the pain was so sharp, she
thought she’d take just a few minutes to lie down.  Suddenly the girls were
shrieking.

No that wasn’t
right, they were just calling in regular voices, but she was oh-so-sensitive to
noise right now. She pushed herself upright, and grabbed her cane.

“Did you girls
have fun at school?” Bertha felt forced and fake.  At her age, she should be
able to say anything she wanted. She really didn’t care how school went. She
just wanted to sit quietly and be left alone.

Raven shrugged,
“It was fine.”  She passed quickly through the house and shut the door to the
room she shared with Jade.  Bertha wouldn’t see her again until dinner in a few
hours and even then she’d be lucky if Raven said more than three words.

Claire answered
Bertha’s question about fun a little more directly, “No. I have to make up an
experiment of my own with a provable hypothesis.  I’m pretty sure scientists
have already studied anything I could come up with.

“I’m sure you’ll
think of something original,” Aunt Bertha said, feeling like a fraud.  Last
year, she would have been actively helping Claire think of something.  She just
didn’t feel like it now. She hurt. She wanted to be left alone.

Claire took Mindy
to the room
they
shared to help her change.

Aunt Bertha inched
her way to the kitchen and wondered when crossing the house had turned into a
marathon. Meatloaf tonight.  No way would she let a little pain keep her from
taking care of her girls.

A fleeting thought
crossed her mind, and Bertha wondered who would care for them when she was
gone.

Chapter 2

~~ Raven ~~

Finally!  Friday
night!

Little cloth bags
of garlic and sage had been hung on every window in the Gray house.  Raven
considered her options.  Sneaking through the window would have been the best
option if she were in the room alone, but Jade shared a bedroom, and her sister
would raise a stink if she tried that.

With a sigh, Raven
put a foot down on the carpet.  She had some hope of escape. Volleyball tired
Jade out, so she led a fairly dull existence outside of school.  Jade ate, did
homework—it was Friday night which said a few things about Jade—played on the
internet and then went to sleep. Her back was turned and she was snoring when
Raven shut the door behind her.

Raven grabbed the plastic
bag stuffed with clothes and her high heels from under the bed. She just had to
get out the door, down the hall, and down the driveway without any of the other
five people in the house figuring out that she was gone.

When the door
creaked, Raven was sure someone was going to catch her.

As she ran down
the driveway under a full moon, Raven laughed. She felt so alive. 

Shelly’s car was a
beat up silver Saturn four-door with 95,348 miles on it.  Raven hopped into the
passenger seat, “It’s a little too easy.  Mom would have been sitting in the
arm chair reading.”

Raven wished she
could unthink those thoughts.  It somehow felt traitorous to even suggest that
it was better now that her Mom was gone, kidnapped, apparently willingly from
what her letter suggested.  Raven wondered if she even cared that her daughters
had nearly been murdered while she was gone. Then the thought was gone, and she
was a normal kid sneaking out of the house.

Shelly liked
driving fast. They were swerving around corners doing eighty. As if she wasn’t
taking both of their lives in her hands, Shelly spoke conversationally, “Yeah.
The worst was that party you missed last year.  Seriously. I was sitting at the
top of your driveway when you texted me.”

Raven hurriedly
changed from her t-shirt and girl boxers to a deep green silk blouse that
worked wonders for her eyes followed by a short mini skirt.  She tore her
nylons trying to put them on, “Should I wear the tear or go without?”

“Without.” Shelly
said without hesitation. “Hey, don’t go anywhere alone with Tony in that
skirt.”

“Tony?” Raven
didn’t recognize the name from her class.

“College senior. 
He’s got a thing for high school girls.  Your skirt is easy access, and he’s
all about that.” Shelly rolled down the window, enjoying the night air.

“Shelly, what are
you not telling me?  That’s a really vague warning.” Raven was a blunt type of
individual and generally wanted things spelled out.

“Look, no one’s
exactly accused him of rape, but everyone gets blitzed at these things and
stuff happens.  I’m just giving you a heads up.”  She pointed with her thumb to
the back, “Want to get this party started a little early?”

“When you’re going
eighty?” Raven joked. A bit of a flush crept into her cheeks when she realized
that her thoughts were completely Jade.  When did she worry about rules and
such?  And when did she worry about creepy guys at parties?  If Shelly had told
her the same thing last year, she would have shrugged it off.

She pulled a pair
of wine coolers out of the bag. Raven felt guilty when she handed one to
Shelly, “Don’t get us killed.”

“Whoa, when did
you turn into a DARE campaign?” Shelly at least braked before guzzling the
bottle.  Raven recognized a show when she saw one.  Shelly was trying to look
cool.  Raven wondered when it stopped working.  She’d have tried to match
swallow for swallow in the past.

 Laughing, Raven
opened a bottle of her own, “This summer.”

Air hated
alcohol.  She said,
Don’t Raven, I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.

It was true.  Alcohol
kept the Elements at bay.  Raven didn’t know why, only that the best Elementals
in the world were also teetotalers.  At least that was what Aunt Bertha told
her when she suddenly decided to cram sixteen years of lessons into one month. 
Raven’s mother didn’t want the girls doing anything at all with the Elements.

I need some
alone time.

Raven hurt Air’s
feelings.  She could tell by the little chuff and change of pressure inside the
car.

If Shelly noticed
Raven’s distraction, she didn’t say anything.  She was too busy chatting about
the party and who was going to be there.  “Ignore Trish.  She’ll drop in for an
hour, act like she runs the place, change the music a few times and then
leave.  She’s got big bazookas and she’s a college girl, too, so the guys let
her do whatever.”

Raven took another
sip.  The taste of the alcohol had a sharp tang to it.  Were she completely
honest, she didn’t actually think it tasted that great.  She liked the idea
that she was getting away with something more than anything.  The chill of the
bottle cooled the side of her knee where she held it.  Raven was thinking more
than she’d thought before during these sneak outs. 

Three years ago
when Shelly was held back a grade, she had replaced Jade in a way.  Instead of
following Jade’s path, studying, playing sports, working, Raven followed
Shelly.  Speeding through the dark, Raven realized that she didn’t want to
follow anyone.  She wanted to figure things out for herself.

Still, it was good
to have friends.

Raven stopped drinking,
pretending to take a sip when Shelly glanced over.  The whole situation was
dumb.  They could kill themselves or someone else.  They could get busted.
Imagine Aunt Bertha bailing her out. Raven wanted to be brave and say, “Hey,
let’s head home.”

But she wasn’t
brave.  She wasn’t strong.  She wasn’t any of those tough-girl things she
pretended to be.  At heart, she was a coward, running away from memories that
haunted her, from responsibilities she felt too small to manage. Now that she
knew she was a coward, Raven didn’t enjoy the game of escaping responsibility
as much.

Still, Shelly
chattered on and on and on.  Raven nodded and sipped.  Air at least seemed less
upset now that she knew Raven wasn’t going on her usual bender. It was the
longest ride of Raven’s life.

They found parking
a block away from the party house.  Music was thumping from huge speakers and
like tiny flocks, people were walking toward the house in small groups.  Shelly
leaned on Raven, “Fashionably late. I know how to party.”

It was one of
Shelly’s talents—Raven had to agree.

They climbed the
stairs and met a group of overfriendly people who were hopping to the music. In
the corner a group of guys were having a drinking contest and shouting loudly. 
Raven and Shelly wove their way deeper into the house.  In the kitchen, Shelly
poured a pair of vodka’s into shot glasses.  Shelly pulled a couple of guys out
of the dance, “Hey, I’ve got a few bags of hard stuff in the car. Want to help
me carry it in?”

Shelly winked at
Raven before leading the way.  She probably raided her mom’s liquor.  Her mom
was such a lush she’d hardly notice it was gone, but complain bitterly at the
rising cost of alcohol and taxes and how it was enough to break a person.

Raven floated
along, pretending to dance and forcing a smile.  Six months ago she’d be here
smashed, laughing and loving every minute of it.  Not today.  Today, she felt
disjointed, uncomfortable…out of place.

Air surrounded
her, comforted her.  Air knew somehow that Raven had changed, that Raven needed
her support. For that Raven was grateful.

Shelly returned,
enthralled in the boys and already half-drunk anyway.  Raven drifted to the
edges, finally settling on a corner table where she could sit and mostly avoid
the crush.  Watching Shelly dance made Raven a little nostalgic for the times
when she was a free spirit. Raven, the girl with a life like Teflon, untouched
by any of the bad.

One of the guys
whispered to Shelly, hugging her too close while they danced.  Shelly nodded
and wove her way to Raven.  Leaning in close, she practically shouted, “They’ve
got some good stuff upstairs.  Come on.”

Tugged along in
Shelly’s wake, Raven followed her past couples making out at the bottom of the
stairs and past the fellow passed out on the sofa whose face was getting
sprayed with a can of string cheese while a pair of guys laughed uproariously.
Shelly fell once on the stairs barely grabbing the rail in time while she
roared with laughter. 

Everything was
funny to a drunk…or at least a happy drunk.  There would be plenty of angry
fighters as well, but the party hadn’t gone that far yet.  Raven wondered if
there was a quiet space upstairs where she could wait it out.  She thought
maybe she should drink a little more, try to fit in the way she used to.

That was all
discounted when she walked into the bedroom. 

Shelly grabbed
Raven’s arm, “We’re going to try something new today.  Go higher and faster
than we’ve ever gone before. It’s a powerful drug.”

The offer of drug
flying didn’t appeal to Raven. She was learning how to be an Elemental, and she
really could fly…even if just a little.

“What is it?”

One of the guys
looked up.

Raven shuddered.

Air whispered in
her ear.
Look at him as he really is.

That was the
problem.  Raven had seen the flash of truth.

It was as if she
could see the man’s soul instead of the man.  He was diseased, his face
half-eaten by something that looked like a burning fungus.  His eyes were
skeleton holes. His head was a skull.  Raven stepped backwards, ready to flee.

And then he was just
a guy.

He answered, “Meth. 
You’ll go and go.”

Raven shrunk back,
“Uh, no thanks.”

Shelly grabbed her
arm, “Raven. Where are you going?”

“I’m sorry,
Shelly.  This isn’t my thing,” Raven wanted to leave the room, but two more
guys had just shown up and were standing in the doorway.  She was trapped
between them and Shelly.

Everyone was
looking at her.

She turned back.

The guy was a
skeleton again. She couldn’t help herself. She said, “You know this stuff will
kill you.  It’s eating you alive.”

They all laughed
at her.

Some girl slurred,
“Where’d ya find the church lady?”

Shelly leaned up
to Raven ear and hissed, “What are you doing?”

It was a question
Raven had been asking herself since she climbed into the car with Shelly. She
said, “I’m sorry, Shell.  I just want to go home.”

“Well, you can’t. 
I’m not done here,” Shelly stumbled forward a little, “So, let me try some of
this.”

Raven tried to
stop her.  She said, “Shelly, you can’t do this stuff. The minute you take it
you’ll want more.  They say its super addicting. You don’t want this.”

Shelly turned
around, patting her friend on the arms, “Fine. I won’t try meth.  But there are
other things here.  I’m sorry, I’m not leaving.  You’re my best friend, but I
don’t want to leave yet, and it’s my car.”

Their friendship
broke a little in that moment.  Raven could feel the fissure.  She nodded. 
Shelly expected a certain set of behaviors from her, and Raven could no longer
comply.  She hugged her friend, “I love you, Shelly, but I have to leave.  I’ll
call Jade.  Promise me you won’t get into any trouble.”

“Promise,” Shelly
hugged her back, but it was an empty promise.  She was already calling for more
drinks and a few pills when Raven made her way down the stairs and outside
where a cool breeze carried away the deep seeds of terror that had been planted
in her heart when she saw the skeleton in the man.

Raven walked a
little way down the street before pulling her phone out of her purse.  It was
two in the morning.  Jade had an out-of-town volleyball game the next day. In a
way Raven dreaded calling her, but she didn’t hesitate. Who else could she
call?

“Hlo,” Jade was
still half-asleep when she answered.

Raven winced as
she said, “Jade?  Can you do me a huge favor?”

She could
practically see her sister sit up and turn on the light, looking at the rumpled
bed where Raven should be sleeping.

“Where are you?”
Jade’s sounded much more awake now…and much more annoyed.

Raven walked to
the cross street, “I’m in Barton, near the college.  Can you come get me?” 

Raven bit her lip
while she waited for Jade’s answer.  She honestly didn’t know what she would do
if Jade said no.  She didn’t want to go back to the party, and the college was
two towns over from Wildwood Springs, which was another twenty minutes from Mom’s
house in the country.

Jade grumbled,
“What address?”

Raven gave Jade
the name of the streets, then said, “They’re actually in sight of the park. 
I’m going to sit at one of the park benches there for a while.”

“I’ll be there as
soon as I can. Keep your phone handy just in case,” Jade hung up. 

Raven crossed the
street and walked to the park.  She felt strange, uneasy.  She had never seen
anyone who actually looked like death before. A small part of her felt guilty,
responsible, as if she should march back into the house and gather up all the
poison the partiers were shoving into their bodies and throw it out. 

Raven sat on the
park bench and waited for Jade. She thought she was alone. 

~~ Jade ~~

Jade woke Aunt
Bertha with the news.  Somehow Bertha looked older since her trip to Denver or maybe
she just looked weaker.  Burying her sister definitely had taken a toll.  Jade
explained, “Raven snuck out for a party.  She’s in Barton. Can I borrow your
car?”

Aunt Bertha stared
vacantly at Jade for a moment as if she couldn’t quite grasp what she was
saying.  Then Bertha said, “Yes, of course. You don’t mind?  I’m feeling a bit
tired myself.”