Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(16)

A sly smile came to one side of his lips. “Come with me – introduce me to your other boyfriend.”

Fury was the only thing coursing though me as I charged forward and pushed him back with every ounce of strength I had, screaming “You evil bastard!” over and over again as I pushed him again and again.

I felt someone grab my arms and pull them behind me, then hold me tight against them. I looked up to see Aden holding me back. “Let me go - I’m gonna KILL him!”

“Charlie – Charlie – stop!” Aden yelled over and over again. When I wouldn’t listen, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

“That’s right – take her away,” Winston said smugly.

Aden whipped around and punched him square in the jaw; the power of the blow sent him to the floor. Aden then put his foot on his chest to hold him there. “Don’t – you – dare get up!”

With me still on his shoulder, he reached for the controllers to the gaming unit and pulled them loose. “Game time is over. You better hope she isn’t still mad at you when she see’s Draven because if she is – you’re a dead man.”

“Let me down!” I yelled as I kicked my legs

Aden’s strong arm held my legs still as he turned and took me to the kitchen. Once there, he let me fall. I tried to charge around him, but he blocked the door. “Let it go, Charlie.”

“Who the hell does he think he is?!”

Aden’s eyes looked over my head as he sighed. I turned around to see Nana at the counter, making plates of food while the girl – I guess her name was Monroe – sat at the bar. Her hair was jet black and straight, and most of it was in her face. Her nose ring was black now, and so was her lipstick. Her expression was placid…she almost didn’t look real.

“Where’s Draven?” I asked as I looked at Nana.

“Not here, thank God,” Aden mumbled behind me.

As I turned to glare at him, he raised his arms defensively. “I’m just saying…that would have gone down worse otherwise.”

“Worse?! It’s not over – I’m gonna kill that kid. Seriously, was he not spanked as a kid or something?!”

At that moment, I heard a slight laugh and turned to see the girl looking at me with an amused look on her face. Not a sarcastic look; more like a ‘I was thinking the same thing’ look.

Nana was staring at her with wonder as if she had just said something remarkable. I looked behind me to Aden, who had the same expression.

As I turned and began to walk to the counter, I let out a deep breath. I looked over the girl. Everything on her was black: her tights, her skirt, her top, her lace gloves – everything; entirely too Goth if you ask me. “I liked the purple nose ring better,” I said as I pulled out a stool.

It looked like she tried to smile before she looked down and let her hair fall around her face. I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at Nana. I couldn’t figure out why she was smiling at me and this girl.

“I made you something to eat,” Nana said as she pushed a plate over to me.

“Where’s Draven? What time is it?”

“Past dinner. Draven is playing,” Nana said as she pushed the plate closer to me.

“Look, I love you – but I have too much anger and adrenaline running through me to eat right now.”

“That’s why you need to eat; so you can calm down. Do you want me to feed you – or can you do this yourself?” Nana asked firmly.

I bit my bottom lip as I looked down at the plate. “I’m not a child anymore. I’m mad, and I want answers.” I tensed, prepared for an argument – at the very least, a scolding. I had never once been so rude to Nana, and she didn’t deserve it - but I couldn’t help it; I was mad.

All at once, I felt a warm sensation on my shoulders, then a calm eased through my body. I looked behind me to see Draven’s mom, glowing in all her wonder standing behind me. I smiled slightly and nodded. I felt shocked stares on me and looked to my side to see Monroe staring at me and Draven’s mom with eyes wide and mouth slightly open. If it were possible, her skin became paler.

I looked back at Dravnen’s mom. “I think she needs you as much as I do,” I said, nodding to Monroe. The ghostly image reached for the girl’s arm. You could tell she wanted to run, but fear had paralyzed her. Once she felt the calming energy of her touch, Monroe relaxed her shoulders as if she were finally finding a wanted comfort.

I shook my head slightly and reached for the sandwich on my plate. As I took a bite, I looked at Nana to tell her sorry, but she wasn’t looking at me; she was staring at Draven’s mom as if she were taking in some kind of direction. Nana nodded once. “Next time…show up sooner,” she said quietly.

Draven’s mom let us go, then glided across the room. As she passed Aden, she let her hand run across his jaw. As she vanished at his side, his entire body relaxed.

“Sorry,” I mumbled between bites. I figured the faster I ate, the faster I’d get answers.

“What’d she say?” Aden asked as he came to the counter.

Nana didn’t say a word; she just stared at him. It was clear she was showing him – that he was ‘seeing’ her. Aden didn’t seem thrilled with what he saw.

“Why don’t you show me - or is that a secret? Can someone tell me where Draven is? Or at least give me a phone so I can call him?”