The Chronicles of the Caltamere Twins: The Prophecy

The Scars of the Past Part I

“You know, we should go out sometimes. You, me, Alvin and Rick,” Joan announced all of a sudden as we arrived at Redville High. My hand froze from the handle when I heard Rick’s name. Hearing his name makes my chest burst like a firework out of control. I tried to hide my compulsion and I could feel Joan’s teasing grin at the side mirror. I rolled my eyes and set my car to park. I gave Joan a look that tells her you-really-know-how-to-make-me-blush and get out of the car.

“C’mon, we’ll be late for class,” I said. Joan set a soft giggle and surely knew how to lift my mood to start the day.

“Jen,” she called. “C’mon, your birthday’s coming. Say, throw a party at your house.”

“Party at my house?” I snorted. “Want my mom to chop my head off? Not a chance, maybe a dinner at Roasting Rods. That would do.”

“Geez, you’re mom the party pooper.”

“Hey, that’s my mom you’re insulting.”

“C’mon Jenny! It’s your eighteenth birthday! You have to have some fun for your birthday! Eighteen is like the year of freedom, you know what I mean? You have to celebrate at least that!”

“Look, I can’t,” I said as we climbed the steps up to the blue coloured two-way door of the main entrance. Before us were another set of stairs leading to the hall of lockers and other offices.

“Okay, alright, no harm done there,” she said surrendering. “I’m just saying we should have fun at your birthday this year.”

“Oh yeah? Well, good luck with that,” I said ending the conversation.Whenever my birthday comes up, I can’t help but be reminded of what happened the day before it. I’ve committed something I will carry till the earth claims me.

We start our way by looking for the Registrar Office to get our schedule for the year. Old lady Mrs Thompson’s behind the counter queued by several people I practically know of by face. After about a few minutes but seems like hours, it was our turn to get our schedule. Mrs. Thompson is as old as she looks. Her skin, by the looks of it, seems papyrus and fragile but nevertheless, her stature still seemed too strong for an elder.

Without looking up, she handed my schedule along with Joan’s. Mrs Thompson knew we’re together so she, gratefully, readied ours in advance. I snatched our schedules and nodded at her. She didn’t seem to notice my gesture and best to leave it at that. The line’s getting longer.

I heaved a sigh as I gathered my thoughts about what Joan had said earlier. Fun on my birthday, that's a thought. That was the day when all of my happiness ended, that when I thought I could protect the one person I ought to protect was gone, I felt useless. Three years ago, I condemned my life worthless until I met this drenched girl in the rain. She brought me back to reality that I just have to face my grief and carry on.

That was how I felt three years ago until now.

October 27, 2012, Jenny’s house

“Mom’s not home so just stay here and I’ll get some change of clothes. You’ll get sick if you stay in those a minute longer,” I said and went upstairs to get some clothes. This girl feels familiar. My gut tells me she’s someone important. I just couldn’t think how.

I set my way downstairs with the clothes in my hand when suddenly, just as I was closing in to the last landing, the room felt eerily quiet and looming. Add the thunder and rain outside, the mood inside just grew darker. I know we’re not alone.

“Joan?” I called out but she didn’t respond. I set the clothes down. I need my free hand in case I need to fight. I walked slowly and quietly to the living room where Joan was at.

“Joan?” I called again but this time, I heard a muffled response from the living room. Someone is here, and he’s not alone. I put my guard up and slowly crept towards the living room. Along the way, I took my wooden broadsword from the corner of the stairs.

“Joan?” I called again and still have a muffled sound as a response.

At the corner, I stopped, back pressed on the wall. I took a peep and saw a bonnet guy holding Joan around the neck. He was pointing a knife at her. I gripped my sword taking out my frustration. Leather jacket guy was just across from him. He was holding a baseball bat in his right hand, the other on his knee. I felt a creepy satisfaction crawl into me. He deserves it.

The group is missing someone. Where’s the Mid-twenties Guy? Just by wondering where he was, I felt a cold metal tube pressed against my head. I heard a click immediately. A gun, pathetic. Mid-twenties Guy went for my wooden sword but I’m quick. I swung my elbow and pinned the gun towards the wall. The gun fell and I kicked it away. I gave a hard punch at his solar plexus. He doubled over and I gave him a blow on the small at his neck. He dropped down. Knocked out.

“Hey, you!” one of the guys called me. I picked up my broadsword and went to them. Both of them with their weapons on the ready, the bonnet guy was fidgeting uneasy. I bet he never did this before and he never had any clue how to play this. The guy in the leather jacket looked pained but he stands with his bat pointing at me.

“You,” he said in gritted teeth. “You’re gonna pay, you little piece of--,”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I know. You might want to let the girl go now. It’ll get a little dirty if you don’t,” I was surprised at how calm and terrifying my voice was. The two of them were shocked. The leather jacket guy stepped back a little and found him sweating. He didn’t expect that a mere fifteen year old girl would have this kind of conversation without any fear lingering.

I used this moment to step forward slowly. They backed off a bit. Again, that creepy feeling of satisfaction that they fear me crept over me.

“S-stop!” bonnet guy whimpered. “D-don’t come any closer or I-I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Drew a hole in that girl’s neck?” I challenged him. “C’mon, do it. Bet you can’t.” I couldn’t recognize my voice. I walked closer and looked at their eyes, waiting for them to make a move, I could sense their veins pumping fear to their system. I wanted them to taste what it feels like to be in pain. I gripped my wooden sword and was supposed to attack when two deafening blows erupted from behind me. Sudden pain from my right hip and left shoulder surprised me. I winced at the pain that the bullets inflicted. Joan set out a muffled cry. Bonnet guy struggled to keep her in check until she stopped and just cried.

Pain from punches, kicks and blade wounds I can tolerate but from bullets, I never had. I fight off the urge to scream. I bit the sides of my cheeks and turned to look at who shot me. Mid-twenties, he was aiming his gun at me but he was still dizzy from the blow I gave him. He was still wincing.

“You took a lot of fun from us tonight,” he said as he walked towards me. “And I want to take yours.” He aimed for my other leg but couldn’t pull the trigger. Beyond the house, the sound of sirens erupted. The three boys started to panic.

“s**t! It’s the police!” the leather jacket guy announced. “Fred, what the hell we’re gonna do?!”

“Hell!” shouted- I guess his name is Fred. He put down the knife and let Joan go. “I’m getting out of here.” He ran for the door and disappeared.

“C’mon LJ!” leather jacket guys dropped the bat and scrammed limping.

I turned to look at LJ still aiming his gun at me. His face showed that he’s choosing from running and from shooting me. He let out a frustrating groan and made for the door. I heard several footsteps run after them. The police saw them then. I looked at Joan reassuring that things are okay but then a nauseating sensation crept to my body. I felt sticky wet fluid on my leg and shirt. I smelled blood and rust then the piercing pain came.

I let go of my sword and fell to the floor on my back. My sight is going fuzzy. I’m about to pass out when I’ve felt a hand pressing against my bullet wounds. It was Joan.

“Hold on, Jenny,” she said calmly. It seems she knows what to do, like she was trained on this matter. Then a white figure emerged and flashed a little light to my eyes. Then several footsteps entered the room. A guy in a blue suit put a mask on me and I was breathing. The next thing I knew, I was being lifted up. I was going in and out of consciousness as they carried me towards the ambulance.