Free Awaken by Kristen Day Page A

crisp night air.  Click….creeek….click….
                  A rolling mist had set in and it swirled around the garden in a magical cadence.  The savory fragrances of the flowers invaded my senses and the sound of the ocean rushed in my ears, submerging me in its fury; strengthening me.  Although there were seven other people inside, I felt completely isolated.  The world around me had come alive with energy.  It pulsed in every flower, every leaf, and every blade of grass as I walked along the stone path.  I sensed their acknowledgement of my presence as clearly as if they had spoken it aloud.  The cool mist swirled and settled on my bare skin; initiating me into the ethereal world I had entered.  Click….creeek…click….
                  Now I could tell the sound was coming from along the edge of the gardens, near the side of the house.  I circled back, inching my way to the corner of the house.  Click…creeek….click….   Holding my breath, I leaned forward to get a better view.  Click…creeek….click…   I leaned a little farther…and lost my balance.
                  Sprawled out on the grass, spitting dirt out of my mouth, I looked up into the surprised eyes of Carmen and Ricker.  They were sitting (extremely close, by the way) in an old wooden swing, rocking back and forth.  As it swung backwards again I heard the creeek of the chains and the click of the hook catching a bent chain link at the top.  I scrambled back to my feet and a new wave of embarrassment hit me as I realized my thin shorts had moved much higher during my fall from grace; revealing one very bare cheek.   
                  “Stasia?  What are you doing?”  Carmen asked; guilt and shame written all over her face.
                  “I, um, heard a noise and was trying to figure out what it was.  But I found it.  Along with…ya’ll,”  I spit out clumsily. “So I’ll just…um…yea.  Good night!”  I took off back down the stone path, eager to put as much distance between myself and that awkward encounter as possible.  I finally made it back to the fountain and perched on the side of it in an effort to collect myself.  I could even feel the frenzy I had caused the plants in the garden with my little stunt.  Slowly, the world went back to the calm of several minutes ago and so did my heart beat.  I hopped off the fountain and started down the path towards the house when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.  Probably more terrifying shutting doors and swinging swings, I chuckled at myself, as I turned around to see what it was - and then froze mid-step.
                  She was standing near a rose bush several meters away.  Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she gently reached out to touch one of the blooms.  As her transparent hand went right through it, she closed her eyes and wept softly.  Not daring to chance a breath, I stepped closer.  Her eyes flitted upward; meeting mine.  A coldness washed over me as she turned and walked towards me.  I couldn’t move.  Couldn’t scream.  I just watched in horror as she eyed me curiously and came even closer.  She had deep green eyes that blended with the lush garden of plants surrounding us.  They held a certain warmth; an innocence.  She couldn’t have been more than fifteen or sixteen years old.  Those green eyes searched my own, pleading with me.
                  “Hi,” I whispered, so soft I barely heard it.  She shifted and faded slightly; her body blurring in response.  She stilled and glanced to the right as if she had heard something, giving me an even closer view of her exposed skull, covered with blood and matted blonde hair.  Her eyes flickered back to mine and I immediately noticed the glassy fear that had suddenly consumed her. 
                  “Hurry,” she said in a low, urgent voice right before disappearing.