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When Roses Grow Black Chapter 36 I quickly dug through my bag searching for the gold necklace I knew should be in there. With out warning I began dumping the contents out on to the floor. I was just about frantic looking for it. As the last objects fell out of the bag, there it was. My golden heart locket. It was 24 kt gold with a star embedded right in the middle of it. I had had it all of my life, and my mother had obtained it long before that. I slowly picked it up as though if I grabbed it too quickly it would disappear. As I held it in the palm of my hand I gasped. It was there; the warmth from the dream was there. It engulfed me and soothed my nerves as I let out a contented sigh. As I relaxed more and got used to the feel of the necklace I slowly became aware of Nick still standing next to me watching. I slowly slipped the necklace on and turned to him smiling. I didn't know what this necklace did or was, but it was helping. Nick looked at me in shock and scratched the back of his head, "What was that???" I looked at Nick and chuckled, "What are you talking about?" "You- you started glowing! An- and you, like, lifted right up off the ground! It started when you picked up the necklace!" he stuttered. My eyes widened in surprise, and a smile formed on my face. "Really?" He nodded his response, and I felt a rush of hyperness flow through me. "Cool." "You found the necklace?" Kevin's voice boomed from behind me causing me to jump. I hadn't heard him enter the bus and I looked at him puzzled when I turned around. "Don't ask," he smirked as I shrugged. Suddenly, the strangest thought occurred in my mind. "Hey! What's the date?" "Why?" Nick asked bewildered. I sighed and rolled my eyes still awaiting my answer. I suppose by my expression he knew he would find out soon enough. "July fourth," he answered as he checked his watch. He froze in his place as he quickly caught on to what I was getting at. Kevin smiled as he watched the realization run through Nick. "Good idea, Rose. We'll watch for the fireworks tonight, and then mark off a tree on which direction the nearest town is in," he swiftly took command as if it were second nature to him. As I thought about that again I realized it was his second nature, if not than his first. I had known him for only a week and one lifetime and I already looked up to him. I found it strangely comforting. He was strangely comforting. Each one of the guys made me feel a different way. Each had a completely different vibe emanating from him. Kevin made me feel comforted as a parent would a child. Nick made me feel beautiful and like I was the most precious thing in the world. AJ made me feel protected. Like my older brother Justin used to. I knew that whenever I was around him I was invincible because I knew my brother sheltered me from everything evil he could in this world. Brian I felt really close to. He felt like a best friend while Howie felt like a best friend too, only more of an adviser. Each of them looked out for me in some way or another, and all made me feel safe. It was strange. As I sat and drifted into my own little world I thought of how I could be affecting their lives. Then I stopped. I hadn't done anything for them, how could I have changed their lives already? How little credit we give ourselves. "What about the cabin? Should we go back and break in? I think we need to look around," I inquired as I practically chased Kevin down the hallway of the bus into the kitchen area. "It's up to you," he stated as he stepped back out of the bus. I groaned and wanted to whine his ear off. Yet, some how I knew it would come down to me saying what to do. I looked up at the sun high over head. It was about noon and I knew there would be plenty of time if we hurried and left now. I followed Kevin out of the bus into the daylight. I looked at the four of them huddled together talking as if nothing had happened. I noticed they were eating sandwiches and felt my stomach grumble. I was actually hungry for the first time in a while. I was about to tell of my decision when I noticed a certain tall blonde was missing. Without looking, I turned around and yelled into the bus," Nick!" "OW! That was my ear, thank you!" Nick whined as he handed me a sandwich. I looked down embarrassed, but smiled slightly when I noticed it was my favorite sandwich: Peanut Butter and Banana. "I'm sorry, and thanks for the sandwich," I said shyly as I was sure my face was crimson. Nick smiled brightly at me as he sat down to join the others, and I felt butterflies form in my tummy and begin to flutter around. I took a deep breath and decided to finally state my request. "Um, I think we should go back to the cabin," I said slowly and barely above my normal volume. Anyone who could hear me would know from my voice that I wasn't very confident. Four sets of eyes looked back at me, and suddenly I found my sandwich very interesting. It actually kinda was. Instead of the banana being sliced like you would have it in cereal, it was sliced the long way. It caused me to wonder who made it. When I looked up they were still looking at me. Doubt and uncertainty shined in AJ's eyes and I prepared for his comments. "Do you think we're crazy?! Yesterday, wait, less than 24 hours ago we were almost killed in this forest, and now you’re asking us to go and do the same thing that caused it?!" AJ was very skeptical of my decision, and I wasn't blaming him. I was the one making the choice and I was skeptical about it. "Being crushed by an imaginary tree doesn't exactly sound like almost being killed, AJ," Howie broke in sensing the on coming fight between us. AJ tossed a quick glare around at his 'brothers', silently telling them to wipe the smiles off their faces. Ever since he had told his story they had been giving him a hard time. "Well it sure felt real enough to me! I don't exactly want to go through it again!" I pinch the bridge of my nose wanting to crawl under a rock. I was never a good leader. If I knew exactly what I wanted to do and how I was going to get I would just become bull headed and go through with it. Unfortunately, I was too self-conscious of myself to do that. "AJ, I was right here in the bus and I was attacked just the same as each of you. Only unlike each of you I was sent another dream along with it. I never told you this because I didn't think it was that important, but I might as well tell you. You were each killed in that cabin. I watched you die there. I felt myself die there. Only we're the lucky ones that got to come back. But no one else. My one question is why? Why us? What are we supposed to do now that we're back again. Everything is for a reason, I think the reason to this lay in that cabin that is some how here after lord knows how many years." The doubt in AJ's eyes was now replaced with a look I had never seen in anyone's eyes before. I still think back and wonder if it's the emotion I have never felt in this lifetime. Perhaps in some other life I've seen it, but certainly not this one. "Do you honestly think there is a reason to everything?" AJ asked as he looked me straight in the eye. His voice held a child-like wonder to it I had only heard from a 5 year old. He sounded so much younger than his years that for a small moment I could have forgot he was 6 years my elder. In that moment he was so innocent and pure as if no evil in the world ever touched him. Perhaps I was just disillusioning myself as I looked at him in disbelief of the look in his chocolate brown eyes, and the tone of his voice. "Yes, I really do," I said as though I was talking to Gerry's 2 year old niece. I was hoping being gentle would be all it would take to persuade him at this point. He smiled and I knew he was back to normal and agreed with me now. I looked at the others," Any one else with any doubts?" When I never received responses I took that as we were going to find the cabin. On this Independence Day we were going to have to learn how to depend on each other in more than one way.Next: Chapter 37 |