Book One: Revelations - Chapter 2

In the morning the sky was dark and the rain was sheeting down my window creating an opaque curtain distorting the shapes outside my window.

"Happy freaking birthday to me!" I sighed to myself. Today was my eighteenth birthday. I am legally an adult, the only positive aspect about today. Today looks as bad as I feel. My stomach was nauseated and my nerves were on edge. I felt worse than I normally did on my birthday.

I hated my birthday. It always reminded me of how much I have lost. I've never known my mother but my father was my world. As far as I know, I have no aunts, uncles or cousins other than my Uncle Laurence and I don't really consider him family. Family is supposed to care about you. Other than Jessica, I am completely alone in this world. She would be the only one who would notice if I disappeared and never returned. Disappearing is one of those dark fantasies I toss around in the back of my mind far too often. Who doesn't imagine disappearing and starting a new life where rules no longer applied to you? You could be and do whatever you dreamed of doing. But eventually my uncle would find out that I ran away and he would send Mr. Thompson to hunt me down. No doubt about it, Mr. Thompson would bring me back in record time. He was impossible to hide from.

I watched myself in the mirror as I finished brushing my hair and put on my best fake plastic smile. I liked to consider myself a good actress. Jessica knew me better than anyone and she never noticed when I was wearing my fake plastic smile. At least she never acknowledged it.

I hurried and put on my horrid uniform with disgust. I can't believe they still make teenage girls where knee-high socks with plaid pleated skirts. Didn't knee-high socks go out of style in the 1970s'? When I graduate, I swear I will never wear anything plaid or pleated again in my life.

On the way down to the dining hall, Jessica caught up to me. "Happy Birthday Sarah! Oh my god, I can't believe you're eighteen. Aren't you so excited?" she squealed. Her strawberry blond curls were bouncing around her face and jumped with excitement. She loved any excuse for a party.

"Yeah Jess, it's great to be legal!" I agreed with a subtle lack of enthusiasm. I put on my plastic smile and tried to ignore the butterflies I was beginning to feel.

"So what do you think your uncle will send you for your birthday this year? It's got to be better than the desk set, the encyclopedia set, the old globe...." Jess started laughing uncontrollably.

My uncle's gifts were always good at making me cringe and my friends laugh. "Well at least he does remember." I told Jess with a grim look on my face which just made her laugh even more! I really didn't know why he even bothered to send me birthday gifts. He doesn't give a damn about hurting my feelings; the only conclusion is the presents are a show for the people around him.

Jess put her arm around me as we walked, "Come on let's get some breakfast. I promise your friends will at least give you something you actually like for your birthday". I gave her a big smile and put my arm around her.

As we walked through the court-yard I felt even more unnerved. The hair on the back of my neck was standing up as I felt something or someone watching me. I looked around to find whatever it was that was bothering me, but nothing was there. Something was wrong and everything in me told me something was about to happen. I shook my head and tried to focus on Jessica.

"How was your date with Jeremy last night?" I asked as we started into the dining hall.

"I'll tell you more tonight, but he was super sweet." She whispered with a sly smile.

"Um, that's what you say when you're talking about a puppy." I whispered back.

Jess giggled and whispered, "Later."

During breakfast, all of my friends wished me happy birthday. Lots of jokes were made about my uncle's poor gifting abilities. Everyone was excited about the party Jessica had planned for this evening. She was breaking a few rules so we were trying to keep the plans quiet from eaves droppers at nearby tables. Jessica was good at breaking the rules and loved it more than she should. She was sneaking in a little alcohol for the occasion! She had flirted her way into convincing some college guy to buy her some champagne and a variety of other alcohol. I swear she could get a guy to do anything. She was beautiful and she knew it. Men melted when they were around her.

I tried to give my best light-hearted laugh and giggles to blend in with everyone. It took extra focus today to keep track of the conversation. My stomach was still in a knot and a cold chill kept running through me. I was relieved when it was time to head to our first morning class. I don't think I could sit there for much longer. I was feeling claustrophobic and needed the cool rain on my face.

I walked slowly to my first-class and enjoyed the silence the rain always created. No birds chirping, no people lingering and talking, nothing other than the soothing sound of the rain itself. The light misty rain soothed my clammy skin as I looked at the windows surrounding the courtyard. I knew someone was watching me.

My first morning class was my favorite. It was music class. During my exile I had discovered that I could sing. I had several blue ribbons and trophies from music competitions that I had entered. For me, singing is my escape. I put my whole mind and body into the lyrics of the songs and escape into another world. I compare my escape into music to how an actor would escape into their roles. Singing was my passion, but it would never be my career. I didn't mind singing in front of close friends or to complete strangers, but for me singing was a private thing.

I was a few minutes early to class so I drifted over to the piano and sat down. Without even thinking about it, I started humming an old lullaby my father used to sing to me when I was a young girl. I started playing with the keys on the keyboard trying to find the right keys to match the tune of the song.

Come fly away. Come fly away with me.
With Eagles wings and childhood dreams we'll fly as one.
I'll give you flight and share my world when we join as one.
Take my hand, I'll take your lead.

I was lost in concentration trying to remember the words when I heard, "What a beautiful melody Sarah, what is that you're playing?" I startled and jumped to my feet with my hand to my heart trying to slow my breath. "Oh I'm sorry Sarah, I didn't mean to startle you", said Ms. O'Keefe. Ms. O'Keefe was the youngest professor at our school. She had long red hair that she always wore up and she was very fair-skinned. She was one of my favorite professors. She was extremely patient with us when we learned new material, but she knew how to push us to be our best. Most professors strive to help students be their best, but very few know how to accomplish that. Ms. O'Keefe was that rare professor who knew how to capture her student's attention.

"Oh, that's okay Ms. O'Keefe. I didn't hear anyone come in. I guess I was a little lost in thought". I quickly went over and grabbed today's sheet music and went to my spot on the risers. Why was I so jumpy today?

As I waited for class to start I watched as an unfamiliar student walked into the room and gave Ms. O'Keefe a small pink colored note. As Ms. O'Keefe read the note her eyes met mine. I recognized the note as being one from the headmaster's office.

"Sarah, will you come here please." called Ms. O'Keefe. As I approached her, that uneasy feeling I had earlier had my stomach twisted again. Normally only kids who are in trouble get summoned to the head masters office. I'm a good kid who never gets into trouble and keeps her grades up. I always avoided trouble. Like any teenager, I'm not perfect but I'm not a trouble maker either. There is no way, after all these years that anyone has found out about my secret excursions into town.

"Sarah, you need to gather your belongings and head to the Headmasters office." She said looking me squarely in the eyes. She was looking at me like I must have been causing mischief and needed a scolding.

I sighed and dragged my feet slowly to the headmaster's office. I knew I didn't do anything to get into trouble so that left only one option. Without anyone telling me, I knew my world was being ripped apart again. Leaving my life in tiny jagged pieces that no matter how hard you try they will never fit together again. My emotions were erratic and my heart was already torn from my chest. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my friends. I was supposed to have the rest of this year to prepare myself for this. I felt myself that I want to cry but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I fought back the tears and turned my pain to anger.

When I entered the office, the secretary looked at me with pity and said "you may go in Dear". I stood facing the door and took a very deep breath. The look in her eyes confirmed what my instincts already told me. I straightened my spine, pushed back my shoulders, lifted my chin, and slowly walked through the door.

When I entered the headmaster's office, Erik Thompson, was standing next to the windows with his hands clasped in front of him. I knew I was being watched. Mr. Thompson was my chaperone, escort, protector and driver when I was at home. He started working for my uncle five years ago when he was twenty. I often questioned but never asked what he did for my uncle when I was not at home.

Mr. Thompson looked very solemn with a stony expression on his face. The stony face with a clenched jaw and narrowed emotionless eyes was his usual expression. It was a look he had perfected. He never showed emotion and never bent the rules. He took his protection job very seriously. Erik Thompson a was very large man and seemed like a giant next to my tiny frame. I estimated he was six feet six inches tall and he had broad shoulders and a broad chest. He looked like an NFL linebacker. He had black wavy hair, piercing dark blue eyes and a square jaw line. He had a strong square chin and a small dimple in the middle of it. He always looked very intimidating when he had his emotionless stone face going. I always imagined he would throw me over his shoulder and drag me where ever he thought I needed to go if I ever disobeyed his instructions. Compared to him, I weighed nothing and he could probably toss me around like a rag doll.

Mr. Thompson watched me enter the room then nodded at me, "Miss. Townsend".

I nodded back and responded in kind "Mr. Thompson". I knew this was as much conversation as I would get from Erik Thompson. He had always been a man of few words. I quickly glanced over at Headmaster Robins looking for an explanation.

Headmaster Robins looked very uncomfortable and kept darting his eyes between Mr. Thompson and myself. For being a Headmaster, Mr. Robins, did not like confrontation and he did not like delivering bad news. He is a kindhearted man and treated all the girls at our school like his daughters. I was sad for him. He shouldn't be the one to deliver this message.

When it appeared that Mr. Thompson was leaving the speaking to Headmaster Robins, he cleared his throat and started speaking. "Sarah, your uncle has decided it is time for you to go home." My eyes flared at Mr. Thompson as I locked my own jaw. His expression remained unchanged and his eyes were cold. I was furious. Why was I mad when I knew this was coming? Because I needed to be mad. If I didn't let my temper flare then I would cry and I did not want to cry. As I guessed my bastard of an uncle ordered it! Was this a sick game to try to hurt me more than he already has? Did he realize he only had one more year left to torment me? That thought socked me hard in the gut. I was feeling sick to my stomach and I was on the verge of losing my composure.

Headmaster Robins continued. "Um, I'm sorry Sarah that you will be leaving us so suddenly and unexpectedly. It has been a pleasure having you at our school".

I tried to keep my heartache, fear and anger from my tone. "When do I need to leave?" I asked Mr. Thompson in a dead monotone voice.

"Immediately" responded Mr. Thompson. How could he be so matter-of-fact about this? He has to know this is emotionally difficult for me. But there he stood treating this situation like it was any other business dealings, like I was just a job not a human being. Is this how he keeps his distance so he can sleep at night?

"But, my friends were...." I was going to explain about Jess's big birthday celebration she had planned for me. She had ordered my favorite cake from a local bakery. Jess was going to be devastated.

"There is not enough time to say goodbye. Our plane leaves in less than an hour." Mr. Thompson interrupted.

Headmaster Robins added, "Sarah, I will explain to your friends what has happened. We will take care of your things and have them shipped to you. I'm sorry your departure is so abrupt". His icy glare at Mr. Thompson spoke volumes. Even a blind person would pick up the condemnation in his tone.

"Yes, sir. Please tell Jessica I had no time to say goodbye." I knew there was no way to argue for more time with Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson's orders from my uncle were always followed to the letter. There were never any exceptions.

I wanted out of this confined space and I wanted this nightmare to be over. I turned to Mr. Thompson and said, "I'm ready" as emotionless as I could but I knew my eyes were betraying me. Mr. Thompson started for the door and I slowly followed. I glanced back over my shoulder at Headmaster Robins when I walked out of the room.

Once we were outside, I asked Mr. Thompson, "Why today? Why couldn't it wait until the end of the school year?" My throat was thick with the tears that I was fighting back.

He did not speak as we walked through the campus towards the school parking lot. As I glanced back at the school, tears streamed down my cheeks. I was overwhelmed with sadness when I looked one last time at the old gray stone buildings with red roofs. Eleven years of memories were flashing through my mind and I was devastated. I would never walk through the halls, or play in the fountain on a warm spring day. I would never have our pajama girl's movie night in the dorm's central living area and most importantly I would never see Jessica again. I was being torn away from my only remaining family. The only person I could find refuge with when I hit the lowest of lows.

When we came to the limo, he held the door open for me and glanced down at my tear streaked face. His jaw unclenched and his stone facade softened. "You know this is not my decision" he said softly. I dropped my face from his and closed my eyes while my heart broke.

I got into the back of the limo while I wiped the tears with the sleeve of my sweater. I didn't say another word. I never looked at Mr. Thompson or the limo's driver while we drove to the airport. I kept my eyes focused out the window and tried to control my tears and the pain. I recoiled into the old cold place I often retreated to when I returned home. I put my wall back up between me and the outside world and went numb inside.

When we loaded onto the private plane, I went to the furthest corner of the plane and curled up in my seat. I wanted to be alone to mourn the loss of my friends. I wanted no false reassuring sentiments from anyone, not that I expected that from Mr. Thompson. I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapped my arms around them and laid my cheek on my knees as the plane started to move towards the runway.

As I watched out the window I let the last part of my heart die as the plane left the ground. I slammed the last wall that kept people out into place and closed my eyes. How do I start over again? Jessica is the person who kept me grounded and reminded me of a life outside the pain. What did I have now? Nothing. I had nothing. I started to hum my father's lullaby to sooth the ach that was taking over. The lullaby always would bring me a feeling of calm, warmth and fight the heartache. I felt eyes watching me. I slowly opened my eyes and out of the corner of my eye, I caught Mr. Thompson watching me. It was his job to watch over me, but right now when I wanted to be alone it upset me knowing I had an audience. I scowled and didn't care if he knew I didn't like his obvious monitoring of me.

"I'm not going try to jump out of the plane or anything stupid. There are better ways of disappearing." I mumbled mostly to myself, but I'm sure he heard me when I noticed a small frown hit his face. I leaned against the window and closed my eyes to pretend I didn't have an audience. I continued softly singing the lullaby focusing on remembering the words.

Come fly away.
Come fly away with me.
With Eagles wings and childhood dreams we'll fly as one.
I'll give you flight and share my world when we join as one.
Take my hand, I'll take your lead.....

Soon I started dreaming of my father, his laughter, his smile and the love he always showed me. Words that I had long forgotten for my lullaby started drifting to me as I slept. "....With fire and truth, let my heart burn with your will..." Then the world went dark again.

When I woke, I noticed a blanket was over me. I glanced over at Mr. Thompson who was still watching me. "Thank you." I said quietly. I wished he would leave me alone so I wouldn't have to acknowledge him.

"Are you hungry Miss. Townsend?" asked Mr. Thompson.

"No thank you. I don't feel like eating." I turned back to the window and noticed I was shivering even with my blanket on. That odd burning feeling was back and it was beginning to be uncomfortable. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat trying to find a position that lessened the stomach ache and burning.

"You should drink something." Mr. Thompson said as he handed me some water.

I wish he wasn't being nice to me so I could be mad at him. I wanted to be mad at him for taking me away though I knew it wasn't his decision. He was doing his job. I felt like a damn package. He went and picked up a package and now he was delivering it back to its owner. Dammit, I hate it when he's nice. "Thank you." I said as I took the water from him. He just nodded at me but his eyes were more than watching me, they were studying me. I wasn't used to him paying so much attention to me and it was making me uncomfortable. Our normal conversations were of me asking him to take me into town for something. Mr. Thompson was around when Uncle Laurence was away. Neither of them spoke to me or paid any attention to me when I was home. They spent their time in the study and left me alone.

I laid my head back onto my seat and felt utterly exhausted. I tried keeping my eyes open, but I finely gave in and closed my eyes again. As I drifted towards sleep, I started seeing bright blinding flashes while my body jerked. What the hell is wrong with me? Images of random shapes, faces and objects were within the flashes but they were relentless. My head was pounding and my body wrenched and burned as it was caught in the throe of the nightmare. "Wake Up" I screamed to myself. I tried over and over to pull myself out of the dream. This dream terrified me, not because of the images, but because I had no control over my body. Oh God, please wake me up. I started panicking when I couldn't breathe. Am I going to die from a dream? Slowly I sank into a deep dark unconsciousness.

****

When I woke again, I was lying on a black leather seat in the back of darkened limo. I tried to sit up, but everything started spinning when I attempted it. I felt absolutely horrible. A chill ran down my spine and I shivered as I remembered my dream.

"You should lie back down." I looked into the other seat across from me and saw Mr. Thompson. He was still closely watching me. He seemed different. He almost looked stressed or concerned. I must look like hell!

"How much further?" I croaked trying to not look back at the intensity of his eyes.

"We are still 30 minutes away".

I took a few deep breaths to try to calm my nerves and gazed out the window into the dark clear night. The moon was bright and full. As I watched the line of large old Maple trees pass us by, I knew I would be home soon.

I sat up and scooted closer to the window as the car turned down our drive. I felt my whole body relax as soon as I saw our house. "Home" I whispered. With as much pain as my uncle inflicted on me, I still felt at peace when I was home. My house is a large old Tudor style house that hasn't changed too much over the years. We have a newer modern kitchen and each of the four bedrooms on the second floor have their own bathrooms. The mile long driveway splits into a Y at the front of the house. The left fork takes you to the red brick circular drive in the front of the house. The center of the circle is a flower garden with a large urn filled with more plants. There are two large bay windows on each side of the front door and two smaller bay windows on the second floor directly above the others. The straight part of the driveway continues to the back of the house where the detached garage, gym, pool and kitchen entrance are. We pulled to the back of the house and the car parked in the courtyard by the kitchen. But before the door opened, I doubled over in the worst pain I had ever felt in my life.

"Oh my God!" I screamed. The intensity of my scream startled me. I lay in a curled up ball on the seat clenching my stomach. I squeezed my eyes closed trying to concentrate on just breathing through the pain. I felt a white-hot fire burning deep inside my stomach that was radiating through the length of my spine. I was in pure agony. When I tried to open my eyes all I saw were bright flashes. Mr. Thompson reached into the car and picked me up into his arms. He cradled me and held me snuggly to his chest. I leaned my head against his shoulder trying to let his calm that was radiating off him wash over me. I looked like a small child in his large arms.

He carried me quickly into the house. "Everything will be ok". He whispered into my ear.

The intensity of the pain was still building. It was shooting through me and started to radiate out through my limbs. I let out another scream as my back arched and my body went rigid from the electric fire burning throughout my body. Tiny little electric pulses pricked and burned along my skin like thousands of fire ants stinging my skin. Tears flooded my eyes and I thought I was going to die. There was no thinking, no logical understanding of what was happening to me. I was just trying to breathe.

Mr. Thompson raced me up to my room and laid me gently on my old white double bed. Our housekeeper, Charlotte, was waiting for us next to my bed. She had my old bed spread turned down and a cold compress in her hand. As soon as I was lying down she gently started stroking my forehead with the compress.

"Everything will be ok soon. Don't you worry none! I'll be here to take good care of you." She assured me.

"Miss. Townsend, You need to drink this. It will help the pain and let you sleep." Mr. Thompson gave me a small cup of liquid to drink.

I looked at the brownish liquid and looked up at him with fear in my eyes. Tears were streaming down my face and my jaw was clenched tight. I was using everything in my power to keep from screaming again. I was hoping he could understand the question on my face, because there was no way I could open my mouth to speak.

He bent down closer to me and relaxed his features. He gave me the warmest look I had ever seen from me. He looked into my eyes and squeezed my hand. "I would give my life to protect you, I will never let harm come to you. Drink the liquid and you will sleep".

His eyes have never looked more sincere. I nodded and took the liquid from his hands. I drank the liquid with one quick shot. Oh that was nasty. My nose wrinkled and my tongue couldn't get the taste off it soon enough. Charlotte handed me a glass of water that I quickly drank.

"There their Baby. Close you eyes and sleep". Charlotte said as she placed the cold compress on my forehead.

Before she could finish the words I felt my eyes start to droop. I felt the room spinning and I knew I was slipping out of consciousness again. I tried to nod my head at her but I didn't know if my movement was big enough for her to notice. I just let the dark curtain close across my eyes and I drifted away.