"Josie?"
"Josie."
A strong hand kept tapping her cheeks.
She rubbed her eyes and sat up, squinting at the figure crouched to her level.
It took a while before she recognized Mr. Reed and towering over them was Maggie.
"Thank God! She's awake." He said to Maggie.
"Oh, Josie." Maggie rushed to her side. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. What happened?" Josie frowned, looking around. She realized they were still in the restroom but outside the toilet.
"Maggie said she heard you scream. Do you need to see the school nurse?" Mr. Reed asked.
"I'm fine, really. There's nothing to worry about."
"Okay then. I'll leave you now." He patted her shoulder and stood up, taking one glance at Josie and nodding at Maggie before leaving.
Maggie helped Josie up, and they walked out of the restroom. School hours were just ending and students crowded the hallway.
"What happened in there?" Maggie asked.
"Nothing." Josie shrugged.
"You were saying something in there, Josie. Right before Mr. Reed came."
"I was?" she frowned. "What was I saying?"
"You kept saying 'half-moon, clock ticks down, the monster, though concealed, draws nearer'."
It made no sense to Josie. She frowned.
"I have to go," was what she said before she left Maggie standing there.
Things were getting worse, and she knew that. But she couldn't tell her parents. They wouldn't do much anyway, she thought, aside from sending her to therapy again.
* * * *
Weeks passed and Josie feigned being brand new to her parents so well, they didn't have a doubt.
It was a Saturday morning, and she felt the warmth of the sun on her face, which shone through her window. The curtains swayed side to side in the gentle breeze. She snappily opened her eyes, and both ends of her lips crooked out a smile.
After what seemed like an eternity, the day had finally come—November 1st—her sixteenth birthday.
She thought she'd finally become a young lady who was moving on to the next phase of life. Squealing in delight, she swung her feet off the bed, and, in a sitting position, she glanced at her face in a small mirror of a purple compact she pulled from underneath her pillow. Maggie had given it to her the week before. "You need to look your best always." She said.
She also gave her a lipstick and lots of hair pins.
Initially, Josie rejected the mirror as her father's warning against mirrors now made her detest looking at her reflection for no reason. But the makeover Maggie did on her face while they were alone in the music room changed her mind.
Since her father didn't tell her why she should avoid mirrors, so she thought it shouldn't be that bad.
Rounding up from her room, she pushed her door open and walked down the hallway until she stood in front of the stair railing. As she descended, the lower part of her gown rustled around her.
She caught sight of her parents, who were standing below, their faces glowing with pride. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she couldn't help but smile as she saw the tears welling up in her mother's eyes.
"It's my baby's sweet sixteenth birthday." Gwen smiled widely. "Happy birthday, honey." She sang as Josie neared them.
"Isn't my princess looking stunning?" Malcolm adored her and took her hand in his.
"Happy birthday, Daddy's little girl," Mason teased.
Malcolm led her to the dining room. Gwen hovered above her chocolate cake that sat on the table, lighting the candles on the cake top. She exclaimed, "Make a wish!"
Josie reached for the table. She looked around; her gaze falling on her father, who was sitting at the head of the table, a half-smile on his face as he watched them. She looked down at her dress, which was a bright blue. The fabric swished around her legs as she took another step forward. Mason and Kira had just walked in.
The sweet aroma of chocolate wafting from the cake filled her nose, and she felt her mouth water in anticipation of the first bite.
Drawing a long breath, she closed her eyes, trying to calm the fluttering in her stomach. She already knew her wish; it was something that seemed not so relevant, but she'd like things to change around there even just a little.
After a thoughtful moment, she said. "I wish Mason and Kira would learn to love dad."
Mason's head jerked up upon hearing the words. "We don't resent dad, Josie!" He frowned.
"You don't love him either," Josie's eyes moved between her siblings. "Both of you."
Mason tried to speak, but Kira weaved her fingers through his. She looked into his eyes and said nothing, and Mason sighed in agreement. Josie often wondered how they both exchange words without actually speaking.
Everyone sat in the room's awkwardness, either fiddling with something or having the light of their phone screen flashing on their faces. Josie glanced at their countenance. She felt guilty for saying something that must have ruined their moods.
Gwen walked briskly towards the kitchen counter. She returned holding a platter of steaks. "Who's craving?"
Mason smiled and brushed his tongue over his lower lips, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Yeah…" Kira rubbed her palms together.
The sound of laughter and chatter that filled the room as they devoured the steak made Gwen smile. She knew the entire family loved a steak treat, and it always put them in a good mood.
"I got you something, Josie." Malcolm said, and rushed out of the room.
Josie bubbled in excitement as she waited impatiently.
He returned with a wrapped box he dropped in front of her.
"What's inside?" She asked, grinning.
"Why don't you find out?" He chuckled.
She curiously tore the wrap sheets, opened the box and longingly stared inside it.
Her hands flew to cover her mouth.
"Dad, you got me a phone!" she exclaimed. "Thank you so much." She smiled brightly, looking from her father to her mother.
She pulled the phone out and waved it, showing it off to her siblings, who gave her a smile and waved theirs too back at her.
The doorbell rang.
It was an usual sound in their home. They looked at each other as they wondered who it was.
"I'll get it." Josie dashed out of the dining room and towards the front door.
As she pulled it open, her jaw dropped. "Maggie?" She took a step outside and shut the door behind her. "I told you my father does not want visitors around." She whispered while glancing at the boy who stood next to Maggie. She immediately recognized him. It was the new boy in their class.
"Bryan and I were supposed to go on a date, but I brought him here instead so I could celebrate your birthday with you. But I suppose we'll have to go. Sorry for bothering."
Did Josie hear Maggie say they were on a 'date'?
She knew Maggie had set out on a mission to become friends with the new boy, but to her, it was too soon for dates.
"No, Maggie." Josie turned to see her father after hearing him behind her.
"Josie's right. I don't like having visitors in my home," he flicked a quick glance towards Bryan. "Especially boys. However, today may be an exception. Come on in."
The two joined in on the steaks and when they finished with it, Kira suggested that the cake be the next course as her mouth has been watering to have a taste.
Gwen wanted to get plates to dish out the cake for everyone when Josie stood up, smoothing the fabric of her gown.
"Mom, allow me," she said. "You all must tire of watching me glide around the room in this beautiful gown."
"Don't forget that I'm the one who taught you how to move with such grace," Maggie teased, earning a playful scowl from Josie.
She entered the kitchen and flung open the kitchen cabinet. Her muscles seized up immediately, her breath caught in her throat, and she glued her eyes to the dagger she saw inside. It was curved in a crescent shape and stained with blood. Trembling hands flew to her mouth as if to hold back a scream, but it was useless as her scream reverberated through the house.
They turned in shock, wondering what had made her yell so loudly. Malcolm was the first to reach her, and she fell into his arms. "It's okay, child. You're safe," he said.
Gwen moved closer with a worried look on her face. "What happened, Josette?"
Josie's eyes darted around the room and she looked back at the drawer, but the dagger wasn't there nor blood stains. The entire place was clean.
She looked into her father's worried eyes.
"It's nothing, really," she said, her voice still shaking. "I was just remembering a nightmare I had the night before. It was really disturbing, and it caught me off guard. I think I need to go outside for a bit to clear my head."
She walked out of the house before anyone could say anything.
The smell of freshly baked scones and strong coffee wafted down Oakridge Street as Josie walked along the curb. The sound of laughter and conversations drifted through the open windows of the shops and houses on the Street.
It was still morning, but the breeze that blew against Josie's face was hot as she hiked past her favorite cafeteria. It had 'Tartan Teacup' written boldly at the entrance, with tiny lights designed in a rectangle around it.
Her eyes met the cafe owner, who smiled widely and swayed his palm in the air from behind the big glass where he sat. She forced a smile and gave him a light wave, then she continued her walk.
As she approached the sea, she closed her eyes and let the wind whip through her hair. The waves rolled in, their rumble audible even over the howling of the wind. Water crashed against the rocky shore with a boom. Josie walked towards the water and sat on a rock.
She had sat there for a while when a voice came behind her.
"Josie, is it?"
She threw a look over her shoulders, and her eyes caught Bryan. She almost felt her heart burn.
Nodding slightly, she took her eyes off him and continued to stare at the large water.
He sat on the same large rock she was on. "I'm Bryan," he introduced himself.
"I know." She turned to face him. "You're the new student in class. We have chemistry together."
Bryan nodded. "Yeah, and mathematics, and biology and—"
"That's enough." She laughed heartily.
He laughed too.
"Happy birthday." He said, his gaze fixed in front of him.
"Are you talking to me or the ocean?" Josie teased.
"Of course, you know it's you I'm talking to." Bryan laughed, but his ecstatic expression faded almost immediately, as if he had received horrible news.
"What's wrong?" Josie asked.
"I'm just curious to know what happened back in the kitchen. I'm sure you wouldn't yell for no reason." He said. "You don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to, but I promise you can trust me."
She sighed. The conundrums spun harder in her mind. Why, she thought, of all things, should she hallucinate a knife stained with blood?
"I saw something in the cabinet." She revealed. "It was a strange, gory knife, but it was gone when you all arrived." She looked at him, and he stared at her without saying a word. "Why did I even bother saying it?" She chuckled awkwardly. "I sound like a lunatic."
"I believe you." Bryan slowly nodded.
Josie thought he said it to make her feel better, but she saw the authenticity in his eyes—he truly believed her.
"Make a wish," He said.
"No," she replied shortly.
"Yes." He nodded.
After a sigh of resignation, she said, "Okay... My only wish right now is that I don't spend the rest of my day feeling terrible."
"I shall grant your wish, my lady, if you'd let me." Bryan leapt from the ledge and stumbled into the water, wetting his trouser nearly above his ankle. He extended his both arms to her. "I want to take you somewhere."
She'd admit he was a gentleman.
"But shouldn't you be with Maggie?" She asked and spread her arms. "You're supposed to be on a date with her, right?"
"I think she'll survive a couple of hours without me. She actually sent me to speak with you; to know what was wrong."
He firmly grabbed her waist and lifted her off the rock, carrying her against himself to dry land. Her body brushed over his as he let her down. He feared she would hear the pounding of his heart. Even as his hands trembled, he still held onto her small waist.
Josie placed her hand on his chest and she realized his heart was beating as fast as her own. He leaned his face closer to her, but the wind blew her hair over her face. It was enough to snap her out of the fantasy they were both drowning in. She pulled back and tucked her hair behind her ear. Bryan cleared his throat, awkwardly searching the ground with his eyes.
"Shall we go?" He asked.
She nodded quickly, and it was now her turn to search the ground.
They've been walking for nearly thirty minutes and were now strolling through dense woods behind Bellatrix street, a little north from Josie's—Oakridge street.
"Aren't we there yet? My legs are hurting." She complained.
"Do you want me to carry you, then?" Bryan asked.
"No! I've got legs."
Bryan laughed. "Obviously."
They arrived at a very large tree with a long trunk. A small wooden house sat firmly on the thick branches which had a Jacob's ladder hanging from it. Bryan beckoned for Josie to climb on. She paused for a bit before beginning, and he trailed behind her.
As she climbed into the treehouse, her jaw dropped at the pulchritude. It was bigger than she had viewed from the outside.
Sweet scents of flowers filled the tree house, their petals shining with the dew from the morning mist. Two small stools stood by the corner, and the tiny bed had soft pillows and a duvet spread across. There was a window that looked out to more treetops and faraway hills. But there was something she couldn't miss—the sketches on the wooden wall. One was the drawing of a half-moon he had done expertly. Next to it was a clock sitting in a shadow so dark one wouldn't be able to tell what it rested on and lastly an even darker shading of a silhouette, so dark it was hard to know if it was a man or woman.
This matched so well with what Maggie had told her she kept repeating in the bathroom at school. 'half-moon, clock ticks down, the monster, though concealed, draws nearer'.
A chill ran down her spine as she felt Bryan's hot breath at the back of her neck.