Chapter Three

Samara

I gasped for breath, sweat streaming down my face from my hairline to my neck. I clutched tightly to my thin blanket, trying to balance myself, and just as I felt a sort of equilibrium come over me, my head pounded like I had been assaulted.

Slowly, I released the ironclad grip on my bedspread as I reached up to delicately touch my head—groaning all the while. Even this gentle act proved painful. The visions never failed to have this effect on me. And I could never determine which I felt were worse—the ones when I was awake, or the ones when I was deep in slumber.

My mouth felt dry, but when I attempted to move to retrieve the glass of water I had placed on my nightstand, my body protested, and I began to see little black dots in front of my eyes—warning me of a fainting spell if I didn’t stop. I looked at the glass of water, desperate for a sip.

Good thing this isn’t my first time. I thought contemptuously. I reached out my free hand

and watched as the glass of water lifted itself off the nightstand and carried its way over to me. When it was just in reach, I snatched it and carefully put it to my lips, relieving my thirst.

“That’s better.” I smiled, my head pounding at ease for a moment.

I turned my gaze towards my window. The teal sheer curtains just barely let streams of light into the room. The sky was still dark, and I could see nothing but trees waving in the distance. The sun’s not quite up yet. I frowned, thinking it was much too early to be up, but since the chance of slipping back into a vision were greater than the possibility of a restful nap, I swung my legs over my bed, steadying myself before getting ready for the day. 

*****

I went about my morning as usual, tidying up my quaint little home. It never took terribly long because my cottage was entirely one room with only a small bathroom next to the fireplace.

I placed my many pillows along the wall and folded my blanket on my bed. Before I walked away from it, I smiled at the blanket, proud of my handiwork. I worked hard patching the various unwanted blankets of the citizens of Curio. All so I could have something to wrap myself with at night.

I let the thought pass as I started a fire. Carefully, I placed the logs I kept on either side of the fireplace into the proper position. Once the logs were just as I liked them, I took in a deep breath, and closed my eyes. I could feel the heat inside me flare out for a moment, but then center and flow down my arm into my hand. When I opened my eyes, a healthy green flame was flickering in the palm of my hand. After a moment, the green changed color and turned into a typical orange-yellow flame just as I threw it into the fireplace.

I scampered over to the sink, turning on the faucet as I reached up for my kettle on the shelf above. Before I could do any searching, I needed to have my morning tea. Swiftly, I set up the pot, and then laid out on the giant fluffy pillows that acted as my couch across from the fireplace.

I stared up at my ceiling, thinking about that tortured man from my vision.

I wonder if their tormenting you now. What secrets do you hold that could possibly be so valuable? How am I going to find you? I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment. Well, there is that thin man that served him soup. I know I’ve seen him. If I can find him, then I can save the man in chains.

My tea screamed at me that it was ready. So, I opened my eyes, prepared to face whatever was ahead me.

*****

I closed the door to my cottage, not bothering to lock it. I lived on the outskirts of Curio, near the woods. No one ever ventured out this far, and even if they did, I had nothing of value.

As I walked down my little pathway that led to town, I noticed a flower wilting—it was much too early for it to be dying. I frowned and walked over to it. All its brothers and sisters around it was standing tall, but this one was struggling.

“Come now, little one.” I giggled, gently lifting its blue petals away from the ground. “I know you still have some fight left.” When I removed my hand, the flower stood upright, and even taller than the others around it. “There you go.” I smiled, moving forward on the path to town.

It wasn’t a long walk, but I didn’t make it often. I’ve never really been a part of Curio. I don’t know a single soul in town. I don’t have any friends to visit, or any to visit me. I never went to school, and I don’t have money to waste in the shops. For the most part, I was capable of acquiring the items I needed (mostly) through the Farmers’ Markets that were hosted every other week. And while I didn’t have currency, I was self-sufficient. The vendors don’t seem to mind trading as a form of payment, and I’ve built myself quite a garden of fruits and vegetables over the years. I am quite adept at growing things.

I had just reached the halfway point into town when suddenly I couldn’t see.

“Oh no…” I whispered, my hands shaking as I managed to find a nearby tree to lean against.

When my vision returned, I was no longer on the path, but back in the prison of the man in chains. He still hung there, still angry, his back bleeding from the jagged red wall behind him. Clearly, someone had banged his body back and forth as a way of being persuasive, but judging by his tense shoulders, he was still not talking.

“Oh my god…” I reached out my hand as if my touch could soothe his pain, but it just went through him. “How much longer can you hold out?”

I heard footsteps approaching and turned my head to see who was coming our way. But I saw no one.

“—ss?”

Who’s talking?

I searched again but still, not a soul.

“—iss. Miss!” A small hand touched my shoulder, and the vision was broken. My breathing became ragged and I leaned harder against the tree to steady myself.

“Are you ok?” a little girl asked me.

I looked down to see the hand that touched me. The child was alone, and the concern she presented was genuine.

I stood away from the tree, smiling kindly at the girl. “Yes, thank you. I just got a little dizzy for a moment.”

The girl shrugged as if my explanation was all she needed to be on her way. “Oh, ok.” She grinned. “I have to get back to my family now. They’ll freak if they find out I took a walk this far out of town. Bye!”

“Bye,” I gave a short wave to this curly-haired girl, holding back laughter as I did.

I wonder if all children are like that now—cheery and helpful. I shook my head, knowing from experience, that was a false hope. 

*****

I’d been searching Curio for hours now with no luck. I checked around the schools, and all over the neighborhoods. I scoped out the park and field, thinking he might be a sports fan, but nowhere could this man be found. Still, I was persistent. I walked along the cobblestone sidewalk of downtown as I peeked into the cute storefronts, looking for a skinny man with a long face.

I was just about ready to give up for the day, but the smell of French fries attracted me into the local pub, The Black Lotus. It’s been so long since the last time I had any fries. My mouth was salivating at the thought. Well, maybe just one.

I walked through the black doorway, and into the dark and dank bar. The pub was filled with people at tables and booths, cheering and clinking their glasses. The low light made it a little difficult to see, but not so much so that I couldn’t spot at least five men looking at me like they were hungry wolves. I tried not to show my discomfort as I found the only seat left at the bar.

Crowded places made me uneasy. Even when I attend the Farmers’ Market, I always make sure that I am one of the first people there. Being here, surrounded by drunkards and other… excitable people, made me want to shrink back to my cottage. And it doesn’t help that people always found it difficult to be near me. I think it’s because, somewhere deep within themselves, they can sense I am more than human. But right now, surrounded by inebriation, no one seemed to care about that.

I sat in the swivel chair, waiting for the bartender to make her way over to me when I spotted the man next to me snacking on my coveted fries, and slurping down his third beer. When I looked at the man, I instantly recognized his sunken cheeks, and noodle arms from my vision.

I composed myself quickly, not wanting to frighten the man away. Then, I took a deep breath, preparing for what I was about to do. Before I could give it a second thought, I reached over and removed a fry from his plate.

He seemed ready to protest, but when he got a look at my face, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Would you like some company?” I asked, placing the fry between my lips.