Jinxed

Jinxed

  Book 1

  Jinxed

  Copyright © 2013 by M.M. Gavillet

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of the book may be used or reproduced in any manner without the written permission from the author. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidences are the product of the author’s imagination, any resemblance to real events, locations, persons living or dead, are purely a coincidence.

  Front and back cover designed by M.M. Gavillet

  Watch for new releases and excerpts of M.M. Gavillet’s novels on her blog!

  mmgavillet.blogspot.com

  For my family.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, I have to thank my village people and my family—I adore you all! And a really big thanks to Kathy—for trying to save me in a sea of words and thanks to the lovely Keri! I wouldn’t be able to do this without any of you!

  Chapter One

  The rain that fell from the grey sky, suddenly shifted to ice as the temperature drastically dropped. And now, snow fell taking its place in large puffy flakes. It covered the crusty coating of ice that clung to the light posts and cars parked beside them. The sidewalk that I walked down hasn’t been cleared yet as the rain-ice-snow combination came suddenly to Pleasantville Illinois.

  There weren’t too many people out in the frigid air. Light from the apartment windows hovering over me, showered the street below in a yellowish glow. The ice crunched under my shoes, one had a hole in it that conveniently formed just as it started to rain. As a result, my wet sock was now turning to ice as I headed into the Salvation Army’s soup kitchen.

  The warm air greeted me like a mother’s hug. Everything was bright and clean and more importantly—warm.

  “Eliza, glad you’re here!” Rosie’s brown eyes surrounded in too much make-up, lit up like the overly decorated Christmas tree that sat in the corner of the large dining room. “You can help me do the dishes.” She smiled showing all of her white teeth.

  “But first, can I get a new pair of shoes and socks?” I asked trying to give Rosie my sad eyes.

  “Sure, come on.” She motioned for me to come behind the counter as she took off her hairnet.

  The dining room was empty and still smelled of bleach from Rosie cleaning off the tables that had festive plastic covers on them for Christmas. Just the lights from the tree illuminated the large room as I took off my worn out shoes and threw them in the trash.

  “You’re a lucky girl,” Rosie said pulling out a box with various shoes piled inside. “This just came in today, and you get first pick.” She smiled pushing the box towards me.

  I quickly sat the box down and emptied it. There were shiny patent leather flats, slightly used sneakers with vents on the sides, and a pair of leather boot. I pulled them out and slipped on the knee-high black boots with straps that went around the ankle. I stood in them and wiggled my toes—perfect.

  “Hey, look at these.” Rosie pulled a pair of hot pink platform shoes. “Maybe I can wear these to church on Sunday.” She dangled the pointed heeled shoes in the air. “Might give me a little height.” She chuckled.

  I laughed at Rosie as she put the shoes back and looked down at them with her hands on her large hips. “Really, I mean look at them,” she said pointing to the box. “Most of these shoes aren’t even sensible for the folks here.” She pulled out another pair of glittering high heeled shoes. “Maybe the prostitutes would like them, but most that patronize this place, need practical shoes like the ones you have on.” She pointed to the leather boots.

  I looked at the party shoes Rosie dropped to the floor wishing for a split second that I could wear those shoes one day—just like Cinderella.

  “That’s why I picked them,” I replied with my eyes still on the high heels.

  “Sensible girl…you just need a new direction to go in, and that direction right now is that way.” She pointed back towards the kitchen. “Come on Cinderella,” Rosie put the heels back into the box with a smile, “let’s go…I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  “What is it?” I asked excitedly.

  “Now you’re going to have to wait until dishes are done…don’t want you to forget about them.”

  I didn’t mind helping Rosie with any work that needed done. I’ve known her for about a year now, and she has secretly let me eat, get new clothes, sleep and shower here undetected by anyone else—I just come when she’s working. Rosie’s different than most people. She doesn’t ask me about where I came from, where I’ve been or anything about my life. It’s perfect for me because I’ve run away from home. My father I never knew and my mother preferred drugs instead of raising me. I haven’t talked to her in five years.

  I’ve lived on the street for a year now, and so far, no regrets—with help from Rosie. I keep low and out of sight. I don’t go out at night and I will never do tricks for money. I made a promise to myself when I made the openness of Pleasantville my home—after a year had gone by, I would have to find something because I can’t make the slick streets my permanent home.

  With soap suds up to my elbows, I looked at Rosie as she hummed and wiped down the large stainless steel cooler.

  “Baby oil has so many uses,” she said as she stepped back and gazed at the shiny metal doors like it was a priceless painting. “There aren’t many things that can be used on a baby and used to shine these old cooler doors.”

  She put the bottle of baby oil in the cabinet and glanced over at me. “About done?” She glanced in the sink with raised eyebrows.

  “Only one more left. It had lasagna in it and I think it was burned.” Rosie rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  “New cook—thinks they know everything and I guess they do if it involves burning dinner.” She scooted me out of the way and started scrubbing the large pan like she was battling with it.

  Soap and water splashed to the floor as she rinsed the gleaming pan. “There all done— like nothing ever burned in it like it was cooked in Hell.”

  Rosie smiled turning off the light. “Staying tonight?” she asked.

  I’ve stayed here about every night since I met Rosie and she still asks me each time.

  “Yeah,” I said thinking a warm bed sounded like a slice of Heaven.

  “Oh, I almost forgot about the surprise.” Rosie raised her eyebrows. “There’s a position in the kitchen open and I was wondering if you’d be interested.”

  “You mean a job?” I asked.

  “Well, yeah, that’s what I would call it,” Rosie said as we walked down the hallway to the room I always took. “But…I’d have to know a little information, you know, social security number, your full name…”

  I drew in a deep breath as I felt my insides turn to pins and needles. Rosie, I knew could easily read what I was thinking.

  “Well, I’ll let you think about it and you can let me know in the morning,” she said with a smile.

  I knew this was the end of my stay at the Salvation Army. There’s no way I can give her any information, and I had no idea what my social security number was, or if I even had one.

  “Thanks Rosie…thanks for everything.” She nodded her head and I closed the door pressing my back to it and wondering where my bed was going to be tomorrow night.

  I left just as the sun was nothing but a sliver of orange in the horizon. I did leave a two page note expressing how much I appreciated everything Rosie had done for me. I’m going to miss her.

  I made my way to the mall, where it was warm and also, full of opportunities. Not only was I good at shoplifting, I was also good at picking pockets and unsupervised purses. I carried with me a large tote bag.

  None of the stores were open yet,
so I sat on one of the benches and watched all of the walkers make their laps like competing race cars. I pulled out one of the six bagels that I took from the Salvation Army kitchen. I ate it as I glanced at some of the stores and window shopped for the next two hours.

  Designer jeans are a hot item along with purses right now, and with my large tote bag, I think jeans would be easier to pack. I knew it was morally wrong, but I was desperate, and knew I should’ve stayed with Rosie. It was simple—I wanted to live unnoticed, undetected and invisible at least until I was eighteen.

  “We’ve got a sale going on right now,” a pleasant voice said behind me.

  I swung around to see a blonde girl smiling back at me with perfect make-up and what looked like the whole jewelry section the store had around her neck. She unlocked the front gate pushing back the folding mesh covers.

  “I’ve got to go back in and unlock the glass slider and I’ll be right with you.” She stepped around the corner and quickly appeared to unlock the glass door.

  “Sorry about the door, but the gate doesn’t open from the inside, and now we have to use the other lock to get it open.” She pushed the doors open with a whooshing sound as the lights popped on.

  “Come on in.” She smiled. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “No…thanks though, I’m just looking.” I felt uncomfortable knowing what I was about to do was wrong, but I had to survive.

  “Well, let me know if you do, and my name is Ivy.” Her sparkling green eyes glistened back at me.

  I nodded my head and thought out my battle plan. I did have enough money to buy one pair of jeans. And enough room in my tote for at least three or maybe four pairs if I rolled them up enough. My only problem was removing the anti-stealing plastic tag that would set off a buzzer, and make shoplifting impossible for me. Fortunate for me, I knew how to remove them.

  I tried to look believable, and took only a couple pairs of jeans then had Ivy go and get me a different size. After several trips to the racks, and then back to the dressing room, I hoped to confuse the perky store clerk and manage to slip in a few pairs after I pried apart the plastic anti-stealing tags, careful not to disturb the ink in it, and then, they were mine.

  To my surprise, I fit six tightly rolled pairs of jeans in the tote, and hung one pair that I planned on purchasing over my arm. Also to my benefit, the store became busy due to the sale and to put the cherry on top, Ivy informed me that the other store clerk called in sick and she’d be the only clerk available.

  I walked up to the counter with my legitimate purchase and unfolded the money I had in my pocket.

  “Oh, I love this style,” said flipping the jeans over and folding them up as she told another customer she’d be with them.

  “Yeah, they fit really great.” I smiled back at her trying to appear normal and I didn’t have about two hundred dollars of merchandise in my tote bag.

  I paid her and she gave me my change with a smile and a have a good day. I left with sweat trickling down my back. Nothing was a done deal until I was out of the store and safely away.

  It was nearly noon, and the store was getting busier with people on their lunch breaks. I weaved my way through the racks wanting to leave as quickly as possible without looking like I was running away.

  The store seemed longer leaving than it did when I first came in and just for good measure, I peeked over my shoulder. No one was looking at me, no pointing fingers and everything looked like a normal clothing store.

  Suddenly, I bumped into something. Immediately, I latched onto my precious tote and looked up to see two dark eyes glaring at me surrounded in a fur hat.

  “Excuse me,” I said pushing past the tall woman.

  “Watch where you’re going,” she said in a huffy voice. She rolled her eyes at me, bent down and reached for her cell phone she dropped and continued talking on it. “Yes, sorry about that, ran into some idiot not watching where they were going. You were saying…” She brushed past me as I couldn’t help but to notice all of her colorful rings on each of her fingers. They were large stones and looked like they could double as weapons.

  I watched her maneuver through the racks of clothes with her puffy fur coat that some animal had to give up so she could drape herself in it. I felt my stomach churn.

  I observed her as she made her way to the back of the store, her phone glued to her ear. I shook off the enchantment, or whatever it was, and took a step towards the entrance when I realized I had stepped on something. I discreetly removed my foot to see what it was, and staring back at me was a large pin with sparkling stones embedded in it. It looked old, like an antique. I glanced back at the lady I had just run in to. It was more likely hers. There was no tag noting a piece of merchandise belonging to the store, and I had bumped in to her—more likely she dropped it.

  I quickly glanced around to see if anyone had noticed it as well, no one did. I bent down, picked it up, put it in my tote, and exited the store without any alarms going off. The right thing to do would return it to her or at least to the store so whoever lost it might find it again. But I didn’t, and it was wrong, but I felt compelled to do it. And it wasn’t like I pulled it from her disgusting fur coat, and it might not even be hers. I talked myself easily into keeping it—might be worth something since I’m not planning on returning to the Salvation Army. I needed the money.

  I sighed with relief, and then went out of the mall and down the street to the library.

  The library was two levels, and I spent a lot of time here. It was cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and had endless amounts of entertainment. I loved to read—it was my only escape from reality which usually I had to go back to around five when the library closed.

  This time I wouldn’t be reading, but examining my ‘hot’ merchandise. I went into the upper level, and down one of the aisles where no one was at. I pulled the pin out first. I could hardly wait to see my treasure. It was round and very flat with colors swirling like colored sand under its smooth top. It was about the size a half dollar, and very light in my hand. I flipped it over and discovered the back was smooth and bright silver with a curled marking that looked like ‘at’ symbol on a keyboard. There was no pin or hook and nothing that made it look like it was a piece of jewelry.

  I flipped it around in my hand. If it was a piece of jewelry, it was broken, and maybe not worth anything. Maybe it had come off of something instead—a display at the store or was an embellishment on a purse. I studied it again. There was something about it that I was drawn to.

  I stepped closer to the window mesmerized by the swirling colors inside the stones that seemed to move on their own. I became entranced by them as I tilted my hand to make them swirl faster. The more I watched it, the more I became fascinated by it.

  Everything melted around me, and all I cared about was watching the colors when suddenly, the coin became heavy in my hand. I tried to turn my hand over to drop it, but it was glued to my palm. I tried to pry it loose when it began to burn. I needed help, but then I’d be asked what it was and where I got it. I had to get out of here.

  I turned to pick up my tote, when everything spun. I staggered, trying to steady myself, when my vision blurred. I had to at least get to the bathroom and lock myself in until this thing passed.

  Suddenly, my arm that was holding the pin felt like a knife had been shoved through it. Taken by the sudden pain, I fell to my knees letting out a little too loud of a whimper that I hoped no one heard, but I knew the librarian on duty, she had bionic ears and heard everything. I flipped my hand over expecting to see a rash, blisters or even blood, but instead a small circle of swirling colors shifted like storm clouds just under my skin.

  What was happening to me? I knew what was happening to me—I was being punished for stealing it.

  Many thoughts ran through my head from the stolen jeans in my tote to someone finding me sprawled out on the library floor.
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  I tried to push myself up and get out of here, but my legs wouldn’t work and my vision was fading.

  “Miss?” Came a questioning voice.

  I could hardly breathe as my hand burned like it was on fire.

  “Quick!” The voice came again. “Call 911!”

  Flashes of concerned faces, lights and the cold air rushing past my face ran into blurs of fragmented visions. I wasn’t sure if minutes or hours went by. Finally, things began to slow down and I could hear a few voices, buzzers and phones ringing.

  “Probably drugs of some sort…” a voice said suddenly.

  “Found her on the library floor convulsing…more likely an overdose—shame,” said another voice. “Still waiting on blood results.”

  “Do they know who she is?”

  “No. She had no I.D.—nothing.” The voice sighed. “Police will be coming soon.” The word ran through me like it was on fire, and I wanted nothing more than to hop off the bed and run towards the door. I was caught now.

  “Is the doctor coming soon?”

  “It’ll be awhile—car accident with multiple injuries combined with short staff means if you’re not bleeding and breathing—you wait.”

  “I’m calling him again.”

  Footsteps left and all I could hear were the distant voices and phones ringing. I forced my eyes open and confirmed what I thought—I was in the emergency room—they probably found my tote.

  I felt weak, but much better. I immediately looked at my hand that had gauze wrapped around it and thankfully, I was still in my clothes. And to top it off, my tote was sitting on the floor.

  I sat up looking out the glass window at the nurses at their station. They didn’t notice me. Lots of people were rushing in and out which made it all the easier for me to leave.

  I swung my legs over, jumped off the gurney, grabbed my coat and tote and left like I was never there.

  I knew I couldn’t go to the library again for a while so I decided to go into a local diner that was about seven blocks away. I curled my coat around me trying to keep the cold wind from touching my already shaking body. I didn’t know what happened and wasn’t sure if I really wanted to.

  The sun was sinking fast and I quickened my pace. I turned the corner and headed into an older part of Pleasantville that had refurbished buildings some converted into apartments with locally ran businesses underneath. Old pole lights graced the street and even the smell of baking bread drifted through the cool air.

  My boots made clicking sounds on the salted sidewalk that was nearly deserted. I was only a couple of blocks away when suddenly my palm began to burn as if I held it over an open flame.

  I didn’t want to, but I had to stop and frantically pulled off the gauze to see a kaleidoscope of colors swirling back at me just under my skin. It was like Christmas lights flickered under my skin and then suddenly, the lights formed a thin line and curled around like an earthworm.

  I began to panic dropping my tote to the ground. Then, just like a snake, the delicate ribbon of lights began to travel up my arm. I took my jacket off watching the flickering lights in horror. It then stopped just below my shoulder and made an intricate design of looping lines in a perfectly round circle. The colors faded and turned black—just like I’d gotten a tattoo.

  I stared at it and then glanced around at the empty street just as snow trickled gracefully from the sky.

  I was hallucinating, I thought to myself. I must be sick with a fever or something because what just happened, wasn’t possible. I put my coat back on, grabbed my tote, and decided that I should go back and see Rosie. She’s the only one that can help me.

  I turned around and kept repeating in my head that what just happened, didn’t. I had gotten cold and as a result, sick.

  I quickened my pace because the Salvation Army was several blocks away. I past a few people on the now snow covered sidewalk, and tried to avoid making eye contact. I turned the corner that led to the busier business district and nearly ran into a large man.

  “Excuse me, sorry,” I said quickly as I bumped his shoulders causing him to drop his coffee.

  “Oh!” he said catching the cup with his lightning-fast hands. “Ah, caught it,” he tip his cup to me and smiled. “No harm done.” His voice was normal sounding, but his eyes were as white as the snow that surrounded us.

  I gasped standing there watching him walk down the sidewalk whistling until he disappeared in a curtain of falling snow. I felt my forehead as my stomach churned with bile. I leaned against the wall, tightly closed my eyes, and then quickly opened them looking down at my feet. I then turned around with my back to the brick wall as I watched a woman get into her car. I gazed at her trying to see her eyes and thankful when I could see they were dark as she gave me an uneasy look.

  Just then, a couple walked by holding cups of coffee. They were laughing and holding hands, and also had normal eyes. I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath of relief, and then continued on.

  I saw no more people with white eyes, and hoped it was just a figment of my imagination or a result of an empty stomach. I felt my insides ease when I caught sight of the entrance to the Salvation Army.

  I went up to the door and pulled on the silver handle brightly polished by wear. It made a thump and stopped— it was locked. I rattled it hoping Rosie would hear it, and then looked in. A security light was on, and I knew Rosie had to be there, so I knocked. And I knocked again. No one came, and then I saw a note taped to the door. It was crooked and had scribbled handwriting as if the person was in a hurry. It stated that they had to close due to an emergency and someone would come as soon as they could. Strange, I thought looking through the glass door, and then up at the indigo sky—night was here.

  And just like winter nights, the coldness came with the darkness. I knew of only one other area I could go, and that was the old abandoned railroad station. It was again several blocks away, and with my toes numb, I pushed myself trying to mentally warm my body with thoughts of the fires people would have burning there. Most of them were harmless bums, runaways, but I knew it wasn’t safe. It was Pleasantville’s dark side, and I had no choice but to spend the night there.

  With the darkness came the wind. I cinched my coat tighter trying to keep the wind’s fingers from touching me when I thought I heard a whisper. I stopped, and looked at the deserted street. Snow fell like tiny sprites spiraling from the black sky and into my long hair. I looked around and saw no one, so I pressed on, walking faster.

  “Eliza,” a whisper said my name.

  I hesitated, gazing in all directions at the empty street, and the snow that began to collect on everything it could. My breath exploded in puffs of steam in front of me. I continued on, pushing away the fact that I clearly heard my name.

  “We see you…” the voice laughed followed by two other distinct voices.

  I stopped, and looked in all directions when suddenly, two strong arms closed in around me, pulling me backwards off my feet. The safety of the streetlights faded, and I couldn’t scream as something curled over my mouth.

  I tried to push and twist my way free, but whatever had me, tightened its hold.

  “Ah, a fighter. I like fighters,” said a rough male voice.

  I was thrown to the ground, and when I tried to get up, something latched around wrists that had tiny thorns pricking my skin. I screamed and screamed again as my voice echoed back at me.

  “And a screamer too…delicious,” said another voice to my side.

  “Stop it both of you,” said a deep voice looming over me.

  I looked up at the darkened figure that appeared to be at least seven feet tall. He had a hat on and wore a long coat that curled around his legs. His feet were on either side of me as he gazed at me with his shadowed face.

  “Why are you chasing us?” He asked.

  “Chasing?” I barely replied. “I wasn’t chasing you…please…please let me go.”
I pleaded.

  The dark figured stared at me as the other two voice’s suggested eating me or sending me to oblivion. I didn’t know what that meant as I struggled to free myself.

  “NO!” The looming figure finally said, stopping the other two voice’s squabbling. He bent closer, and I still couldn’t see his face. “I’m going to use this one as a memo to the rest to not interfere with me.”

  The other two voices cheered on by repeating “memo” over and over again until the black silhouette told them to shut-up.

  “Please…” I begged again as the man stood and whisked off his coat revealing his true identity.

  I screamed in horror at what I thought was a man, but was more like an enlarged insect with black eyes and many legs, like a millipedes, unfolded from its torso. Its mouth was merely a slit, and two holes above that was its nose, at least I could only guess.

  I screamed over and over as the two voices joyfully explained that I’ve been sealed, and there was no escape.

  The creature knelt down again as its many legs pulled at my clothing until it grazed my bare skin.

  “Mmmm, sweet…” It said between my screams of trying to plead with it.

  In one quick movement it tore off my jacket and shirt exposing my bare skin.

  “She’s human, Angus! She’s human!” Both voices gleefully sang. “Not one of them watchers!”

  “Don’t use my name! Idiots!” His voice boomed.

  “It won’t matter…she’ll be dead soon, and also, she’ll take us right to it.” The other two replied with what sounded like clapping of hands.

  The creature bent closer dropping something hot on my skin that burned like scalding water. I screamed out followed by an ear shattering crash. It sounded like a car accident with crunching metal and exploding glass.

  The millipede creature jumped off of me followed by the scampering of feet. I pushed myself up as a light, followed by another, flashed before my eyes like an out-of-control photographer with their camera.

  Clashing metal mixed with the static sound of crackling electricity, flickered like bolts of lightning. My body was numb, and my legs were shaking. I tried to get away and escape the battle, or whatever it was that surrounded me. But, my body wouldn’t allow it no matter how many times I pushed and groaned my way up. I eventually exhausted myself, and gave in.

  I could feel the cold cement under my hot skin as my chest began to hurt with each breath I took. Suddenly, a face hovered over me. It was a girl with long black hair as slick as the newly asphalted alleyway they just put in. Her blue eyes gazed down at me and then, someone touched her on the shoulder gently pushing her back.

  I realized the noise and flashing lights had stopped. Everything was silent, everything was still, and all I could hear was the slow beating of my heart. I opened and shut my eyes, each time taking longer to open them.

  Through my blinking, another face filled my vision, and this time two white eyes, like marbles, surrounded by white hair mixed with strands of silver, gazed back at me. I would’ve screamed, but my body was numb and gave into the darkness it demanded.