Keeton 1

Ashley Keeton

Mrs. Rutan

Creative Writing

5/22/17

The Mark of the Lost

Why, on this night of all nights, must it begin again?

When I had finally gone back into myself.

A few months ago I had become obsessed with a man who came into the coffee shop I
worked at each Thursday. There was just something about him. Maybe it was the fact
that he had a guitar slung across his back, or how every few seconds he would brush
back the loose strands of his hair; an attempt to keep it out of his face because it was a
little too long on top. Which I loved, and drove me crazy enough that I found myself
constantly glancing over there just so I could glimpse his slim fingers running through
those gorgeous sandy locks.

You see, I have a serious problem of infatuation. Meaning that Ill form an, almost,
unhealthy crush on someone, but itll never work out because of my own incompetence
and awkwardness.

So when I walked out of my apartment at approximately 9:15 P.M. to have an all night
Bachelor marathon with my best friendwhat I consider as fun on my Friday
nightsI was extremely surprised to fnd a man sitting on my front steps, I
couldnt get a good look at his face because it was covered by the hood of
his sweatshirt, but my traitorous heart still quickened its pace and my palms
became clammy in response.

Oh no, I thought to myself, I really dont have time for this.

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Taking a deep breath, I descend the last few steps of my front porch; trying to avoid eye
contact as I go.

Walking as fast as I can without looking like a crazy person, I make it to my car and start
it in record time. When I get to the end of my street, I glance up into my rearview mirror
to try and see if hes still there, and find him gone. Poof. Vanished.

How in the what? is what my thoughts consist of for a few seconds before I brush
them off. Shaking my head at my stupidity. He probably either went inside the complex
or walked away, I think to myself, trying to reason with the utter shock running through
my head, It does take me a minute or so to drive down the road before I turn left.

I make it to my friends house in a matter of minutes, pushing down all thoughts of the
disappearing man and focusing on the drive instead. But when I arrived, all the thoughts
came rushing back in, drowning out any sense of where I was or what I had planned to
do. My face paling as I climbed up my friends front steps, because what I saw caused
the biggest shock I had ever experienced.

The man with the hood sat on the steps right before her door and opened his mouth
with a smirk to say, Hello Eliza.

Should I start or you?

I just waved my hand in response.

Wed been sitting on my friends sunken in couch, one she got from a garage sale ages
ago, for about ten minutes. It had taken him a bit of time to unlock the front door.

As he did, I thought about what happened moments before; when I agreed to

talk with this stranger. Anyone in my situation wouldve backed away slowly
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from the strange man and race away in their car. For some reason I was
stupid enough to let him talk me into staying. I didnt feel scared or
anythingwhich most people would when hearing someone you didnt know
wanted to talk to you alone (a million horror movie scenarios might pop in
your head). In fact, I felt a strange sense of security around him. It was like I
needed to listen to what he was going to say, like it was a life or death
situation. Which I guess it could be since I didnt know if he wanted to kill me
or not. While deciding I just kept thinking what Katerina, my friend, would do,
and how much I wanted her to be here. If it was her in my situation she
wouldve been smart enough to press them in their name and why they
needed to talk so badly. But Im not as smart as her when it comes to
situations I hadnt planned for. Which is why I kept looking towards the front
door, hoping that Kat would walk in with her confdent smile and save me
from talking to this stranger,

I shook my head, calling myself back to the present, dont think about Kat or how
she ditched you for some reason that I cant think of right nowit must be
something important if she cancelled Bachelor night. Just think about how to stop
being so stiff and how youre going to make him answer your questions first. As I
finished my little pep talk, I turned my gaze towards the kitchen where he was bending
over the sink, preparing some tea. For some reason he knew where everything was in
Kats apartment. As if he had been here as many times as I have, which is a lot.

At the sound of footsteps, I turned back around to stare at my clasped hands.

Tea? he asked, and I jerked my head up to nod, probably a bit too quickly. My pep talk
instantly failing to make me more confident.

I had taken my first sip, peppermint filling my senses, when I heard him breathe in. I
turned towards him, expecting to at least learn his name and an explanation, but he
asked instead, How long have you known Kat? his face turning to mine as he finished.
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A million questions flew through my mind, each more demanding than the last, but I
decided to be nice and answer his question, Ten years, maybe even longer than that.

My mind sent me back to the day that I first met her.

It was in the middle of my third grade year, andbeing the new

girleverybody wanted to be her friend. Since I was a shy little girl, I didnt
want to try and push myself into the group that constantly surrounded her. I
didnt think she would even want to be friends with someone like me. But I
was wrong. That day on the playground she sought me out.
I had staked out my tire swing to spend the day sitting on. Since I didnt have many
friends, I liked to pick a spot to sit and be by myself for the day. It sounds a little sad, but
I was actually really happy to sit there and spend my time drawing.
I heard footsteps coming towards me soon after I had sat down. I glanced up to see the
new girl standing in front of me, her hands on her hips. My eyes met hers and I noticed
wisps of red, curly hair flowing across her face. It distracted me enough that I couldnt
stop watching it, and as I studied her more I thought I saw her skin somewhat glowing. I
leaned forward a bit to see if I was crazy or not, when I noticed her turning her head
and looking down. I followed her gaze to my notebook. Red filled my cheeks and I
became sweaty. I hated having attention on me, and I was terrible at handling it.
Do you wanna play? she asked as she straightened back up.
Umm sure. I answered, not really knowing why she would wanna play with me.
Great. She smiled, and I found myself smiling back. There was just something about
her that made you want to be as happy as her.

Coming out of my daze, I looked to him to see he was staring at me with a bit of shock
in his eyes. I felt my face heat up as I realized Id spoken aloud.

I was about to snap at him, my typical defense for embarrassment, when he mumbled
to himself, I didnt realize shed been here for so long.
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His tone made it seem like shed come to Fort Bragg, California from out of the country,
maybe even from another world. It sent chills down my spine. I just shook my head,
Dont be stupid. She probably just moved here from another state. As I thought to
myself, I realized that I didnt even know where she had come from. Just that she
showed up one day at my elementary school, and lived with her grandparents. It wasnt
until years later that I learned her parents were actually alive, Id assumed they were
dead or in prison or something and I was too polite to push her on it.

So how exactly do you know Kat, and why are you here? I questioned him, probably a
bit too harshly, but he only nodded his understanding from the urgency in my voice. I
just wanted to get to the point of this little meeting.

He sighed, and leaned forward on his knees, I'm her brother, and I need your help. He
looked up at me, and I almost fell out of my chair from seeing those eyes, the same
blue-green as Kats, full of pain and anger. Not at me, but for whatever reason he
needed my help.

What for? I mumbled, too stiff and taken aback to add any confidence or force to my
voice.

I wasn't sure he had even heard me until he responded, Kats gone missing, and you're
the only one that can find her.

The next few hours blurred together as if someone had poured water onto the picture of
my memories and made them all blurry. Now there were only two options for me looking
back on them; either me half remembering or just being completely lost.
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One thing I can remember is staring blankly at this unknown brother who just gave me
some shocking information that, to be honest, Im not sure I even believe. Also, I can
vaguely remember him almost looking uncomfortable from my gaze, as if he thought my
reaction would be anything except silent, shock. A few minutes of staring was all I could
handle before I shot off of the couch, grabbed my purse, and basically ran for my car. I
wasnt sure where I would go or what I planned to do, just that I needed to get out of
that house and away from the stifling view of that man.

It was pretty obvious that my best friend was missing, but for some reason I just
couldnt accept it. Questions with no answers popped in my head as I fumbled with my
keys; If Kat was missing, why hadnt the police shown up?, Well, maybe they didnt
know. Does that mean I should call? I just shook my head. Dont be stupid Eliza. She
probably just went on a last minute vacation. But why didnt she tell me? All my
solutions came to a dead end, and I finally started to consider that Kat might actually be
missing.

I sighed in relief as I finally unlocked the drivers side door, and almost fell back as I saw
Kats brother, or so he said, sitting in the drivers seat. Before I could even react or try to
piece together how in the hell he got there, he snatched the keys right out of my hand,
started the car, and opened the passenger door.

Get in, was all he said, and like the idiot I was, I obeyed.

Silence. Utter silence stretched on for what seemed like forever. It was a comfortable
silence, but I was still bored.

Kats brotherwhom I still didnt know the name ofrefused to give any clue
as to where he was taking me. And I didnt really have the energy to push
him on it. I mean, it is like 3 A.M.
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Were here. His rough voice broke the silence, and my sleepy haze.

I jolted up in my seat at the prospect of learning information that would actually be

useful and answer some of my questions. Maybe just one of them. So, I probably
shouldnt be excited, but I still cant help feeling that way. Again, it probably has
something to do with how tired I am and all the shocking things that have happened in
the last few hours.

Definitely the best night of my year. Not.

You coming? he asks, peering into my open door, the one I hadnt even realized hed
opened.

Uh um, yeah. Im coming. I rushed out, as I tried to get out of the car while running,
and I wouldve fallen flat on my face if it wasnt for a steady hand gripping my elbow. I
looked up to see him holding in a laugh. My brow lowered as I ripped my arm out of his
grip. He didnt seem fazed by this, as he continued walking and I scrambled after him.

Finally walking at a normal pace on my own two feet, I looked around to see
that we were in a cemeteryan abandoned one by the looks of itand
heading towards a building at the top of a hill. I squinted to try and get a
better look, but failed. My tired eyes could distinguish nothing in the early
morning darkness.

Where are you taking me umm I trail off, hoping this would make him say his
name.

Noah. Its Noah, he responded without turning around, finally telling me his name, and
I smile a bit at my small triumph, Were going to the little church up there.
 Keeton 8

To do what? I questioned.

This time he did turn around, Youll see.

I couldnt help but roll my eyeseven though I should probably be scared

due to his vagueness. Surprises were defnitely not my thing. But there
wasnt much I could do except hike up the hill just behind him. He did have
my car keys.

We reached the top in a matter of minutes, and couldnt help the incredulous look I gave
Noah. He just sighed and kept walking towards the building, but I did catch the corner of
his mouth turning upwards.

SCREECH! The old metal door scraped on the wood floor, the hinges squeaking in
protest. Rust rained down from some of them, my hand swatting away a few pieces that
tried to land on my caramel colored head. I ducked inside after Noah, and blinked my
eyes multiple times to try and gain some sight. I failed, until a scratch sounded and light
was before me. Noah had a lit match in his hand.

Cmon he motioned.

As I followed him through the debris, I somehow was able study his features a bit more.
Something seemed oddly familiar about him, but I couldnt quite put my finger on it. That
was until he ran his fingers through his sandy, blonde hair and boom. It hit me. Omg, I
thought to myself, this was the guy who came to the coffee shop every Thursday. The
one who I couldnt stop staring at each time, and I realized, he had been staring at me
too! I didnt notice it before because of my own blind admiration for him, but now I could
see it. All those times we had made eye contact wasnt because he had just glanced up
from the feel of my burning stare, it was because he was already looking at me;probably
watching me for some reason, maybe to do with wherever the heck he was leading me
now.
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That knocked me back to the present, and my face heated as I saw the truth again. And
again. How did I not see it before? Probably because you were too busy scowling and
complaining, my inner voice told me, and I straightened my face after realizing I was
scowling again.

Eliza? he questioned, leaning down to look into my face.

Yes? I answered, my brows scrunched together because he was giving me a funny

look.

Look. was all he said, and I did, almost gasping in the process.

We both stood before a small dais in the center of the church. On it sat a black
cauldron-like thing with smoke oozing out of it. I took a tentative step forward to gaze
inside, when I was knocked back due to a wall of hard air surrounding the dais. I
wouldve fallen, landing on my back, if it wasnt for Noah standing behind me and
holding me up right.

I shook off his touch and whispered, as if someone might hear, What is that thing.

I turned around and found his tan skin pale, Something that I need your help with.

I raised a brow and he signed, The spell requires a human and a faerie to open the
portal. I figured that Katerina told you about where shes from and what she is, but now I
see that she told you no such thing, his brows furrowed in worry at the crazy look I was
giving him, Im sorry that I dragged you all the way over here, but I dont have any other
options. While saying this he took a step towards me and I took a step back, my heel
hitting the edge of the dais.
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This guy is crazy, I thought to myself as I tried to back away further, no wonder Kat
never mentioned him. I stopped, why did she never mention him or the rest of her
family? Did it have something to do with their mental state? Or is what Noah telling me
about Kat true? And what the heck is a Faerie? Tinkerbell?

I shook my head to try and clear all the questions pushing down on meand
the image of a green fairy with anger issues. I decided to ask one, probably
not the most important one, but it would still give me an answer.

What do you mean by portal?

He seemed to smile in relief, probably because I had stopped looking scared of him and
was more angry now, We need it to get to my home.

How, I asked, are we supposed to get through the barrier surrounding that thing. I
waved my hand to indicate the black thing with oozing smoke.

He smiled further, Like this. he said and grabbed my hand. He interlocked our fingers
and pulled them up to the dais. The barrier disappeared instantaneously and the glow
from the cauldron-thing grew brighter, as if the wall around it had dimmed it and its
power, which I could feel coming off of it.

I began to shake and Noah squeezed my hand. I was too much in shock to push him
away as he pulled me up the three steps it took to stand in front of the hideous thing. I
was completely shaking now.

All I need you to do, is close your eyes, he said calmly and I obliged, hoping that if I
did the strain from standing so close to this powerful thing would go away. It didnt.

Suddenly I felt a burning sensation coming from my left palm, the one that Noah had
just set on the cauldron. I tried to rip my hand away, but I was stuck. Stuck with no relief
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from this pain. I went to scream, when the pain suddenly stopped. I popped my eyes
open in shock and studied my now free hand. No burns in sight. I turned to question
Noah, when I realized that the light was a lot brighter now. Had the sun come up without
me even noticing? But then I looked down at my feet to find grass beneath my tennis
shoes.

Welcome to Alyria, Noah stated with a bland smile on his face.

I whirled around to face himseeing a golden castle high atop a hill just
behind his headand thought to myself, what have I gotten myself into?