Scars of the Earth (2 page)

‘Scars are left when a spirit cannot move on from a singular event.’

This little curly haired girl may have lived to seventy. Or she could still be alive today, just a shell of a human being walking and talking. But her spirit never left this moment, this room, this hell. Amanda pushed away the painful thoughts before they overcame her.

“Well I wouldn’t call myself an angel, but I do know magic and I am here to help you.” She gently placed her hand on the girl’s shoulder making the child flinch away reflexively. “Your name, do you remember your name?” She asked.

Some don’t. She thought.

“Kaedin, my name is Kaedin.” The little girl whispered.

Kaedin? Her name means spirit. Amanda thought.

“Wow that is a beautiful name. My name is Amanda.” She held out her hand in a greeting before dropping it quickly, remembering that the girl couldn’t see it, and therefore couldn’t shake it.

Amanda looked around the room. It was easier to counsel when you knew the year. She couldn’t tell much by the furniture. Or the rags thrown on the little girl, but she noticed a paper lying on the table.

It’s dated ten years ago. She would be about my age, if she’s still alive. She thought.

She was about to go through her academy check list, although she knew this would be anything but routine. She didn’t know how counseling would be different with the leach demon clinging to the scar so strongly.

Can it hurt us? She wondered. Then she thought of what would happen to this sweet spirit if she did nothing. That’s what Kaedin would be, nothing. The demon couldn’t possibly do more harm than that. So she decided to follow normal procedure.

“So Kaedin, tell me how to help you.” The child’s face once devoid of color, brightened a little.

“Can you really help me?” She cried. “Are you even real, or did I make you up? No one never ever helped me.” Tears pooled up and began to fall freely from her sightless eyes. “No one never helped me cause no one never loved me.” Her little hands brought the pillow back up to her face to absorb the salty tears. Amanda choked back tears of her own, wanting to be strong for the weakening spirit.

“I’m so sorry for what you have gone through. You should never think that. You are pretty easy to love you know.” Amanda said soothingly as she gently took the pillow away and lifted up the broken girl’s chin.

“Look Kaedin, I can do anything you ask me to do.” She said. Amanda held out her hand and closed her eyes calling on light. When she opened them a bright ball of light danced in her hand. Lightning and rainbows, bright and flickering, every form of light now warmed her hand. She gently placed the ball into the girl’s small palm, letting her soak up its unique warmth.

“And I will be here with you. No one can hurt you as long as I’m here.” She assured her.

“If I fight he hurts me, he will hurt you too. I’m scared Amanda. You should leave before you can’t. Once he took me I never could leave.” Kaedin said, letting the ball of light fade.

Abducted? Amanda thought. Too many times scenes like these weren’t abductions, but the child’s own family.

“He took you?” She asked. Kaedin nodded her head then wiped her eyes. “Well you weren’t his to take, let’s go tell him so.” Her little hands covered her face, and she shook her head furiously.

“You are special, and pretty, and strong. Let me hear you say that.” Amanda said. Kaedin obediently uncovered her tear streaked face.

“I’m special, and pretty, and I am strong.” She repeated doubtfully.

“People love me.” Amanda prompted. When Kaedin didn’t repeat the words, Amanda looked over at her and cleared her throat. This made the child attempt a smile, though her face didn’t seem use to the action.

“People love me.” Kaedin repeated. Amanda reached over and squeezed her small hand.

“I love you.” Amanda said with meaning. Healers instantly loved the spirits they were meant to help unconditionally, making it even more terrible when you failed them, which she did often.

“I love you.” Kaedin quickly said, making Amanda smile.

“No you don’t have to repeat anymore.” She said.

“I wasn’t repeating, I just love you. Ever since you walked through that wall, I have felt safe. Like maybe he can’t hurt me anymore. I never felt that way before.” The child said looking up to her, though she couldn’t see.

“Are you okay to stand up?” Amanda asked. Kaedin jutted out her chin as if it were a rude question.

“Of course I can stand up.” She squirmed off the bed quickly and stood next to her. “Now what?” She asked.

“You tell me. You’re the boss here. What is it that you want to do?” Amanda asked. Kaedin thought for a moment.

“Well I always wanted to scream just as loud as I could, and not stop until I just am too tired to keep on screaming.” Kaedin said in a rush.

“Okay let’s do it together.” Amanda said drawing in a breath.

“No! No, no. Frank will hear, and he will come get us.” The spirit said frightfully.

Amanda closed her eyes and searched the scar. She could feel Frank. He was strong, because Kaedin’s memories of him were so powerful. But she was stronger than the mirage that was him. He wouldn’t be able to overpower her. Amanda was so much stronger now, compared to when her first Scar had taken her. Of course she was barely more than a baby then.

I passed out every time and left them all…still trapped. She thought.

This was different, there was no other choice. She had to gather all of her powers. This spirit didn’t have the time that the others had. She concentrated harder and could feel the physical presence of the Demon hiding in shadows throughout the house. She opened her eyes and noticed that her silence had frightened Kaedin.

“It’s all right, I’m stronger than Frank. Remember, I have magic.” Amanda said.

“You will stop him from hurting me, right?” Kaedin asked grabbing hold of her hand.

“Right, Frank is not stronger than the love I have for you.” Amanda told her.

Kaedin felt her love and knew that Amanda wasn’t just saying the words. So she took in a deep gulp of air and started screaming at the top of her lungs, holding nothing back. Immediately Frank was at the other side of the door.

“You stop that! Stop it or I’ll get the bat again!” He shouted, he was strong but she kept him out of the room easily enough. Kaedin paused for a moment at his threat and Amanda squeezed her hand in encouragement. Kaedin smiled at her and started shouting words that she had given her.

“I AM SPECIAL! I AM STRONG!” She screamed. Amanda could already see the change.

She’s not the only one changing. She thought, sensing the Leach Demon growing angry. He wasn’t quite ready to leave. Amanda took comfort in the fact that Kaedin didn’t need much. She was such a resilient spirit all she needed was to have someone that wanted to help her. Someone that believed her, that believed in her. And she now had it. Frank beat at the door with more ferocity, and Amanda squirmed. It was getting harder and harder for her to hold him back.

“PEOPLE LOVE ME!” Kaedin cried. With every shout, Amanda could feel Kaedin getting stronger. Soon the little spirit would be free. Amanda sensed the dark energy pulling, before she saw it and drew up her strength. She knew that she would need it.

Find someone else to feed off of scum bag. She thought.

All of the shadows left their hiding places. Creeping out of the corners, seeping up out of the floor boards, even Amanda and Kaedin’s own shadows abandoned them; turning to tar and bonding into a mass of darkness. The small room was unnaturally bright. All of the shadows were gone from their natural spaces and standing in a heaving blob before them. At that moment Amanda was glad for Kaedin’s blindness.

“I WASN’T YOURS TO TAKE!” The small girl shouted.

The darkness moved in a rush, squeezing under the shabby door and into Frank. The demon had found a place to gather strength. Still holding Kaedin’s hand, Amanda dropped to her knees unable to remain standing. She searched inside herself looking for more power. She shut off everything in her body that was expending energy and focused it on to the door. Her ears didn’t hear, her eyes didn’t see, even her racing heart beat slowed. Everything she had in her small frame held the beast back. If Kaedin felt frightened, it would be nearly impossible to free her. It beat at the door with more fervor than Frank had.

It’s stronger than me. She thought.

A sound ripped out like the call of thunder as the door disintegrated into a shower of splinters. Kaedin began screaming, not in power, but in fear. Amanda lay beside her blind and deaf to the scene around them. Franks body, bulging and discolored by the demon within, began its disjointed journey across the room.

“Amanda wake up! Amanda please, use your magic.” Kaedin pleaded.

The power of the demon was too great for her and it took all she had just to keep consciousness. She could feel the darkness pressing down on her urging her to return to where she belonged. The temptation was usually too much for her. The sweet promises of the dark made it so easy to give herself over to unconsciousness, without even realizing she had.

No, not this time! Kaedin can’t possibly wait any longer. Who knows when this Scar will find another Healer? The demon has so much of her life already. I have to be strong. She thought.

The demon was upon them, wearing an inhuman smile that stretch Frank’s face into a grizzly mask of terror. He opened his mouth wide and Frank’s skin, stretched too tightly, split open. Tissue dangling, the monster began raining torrents of blood onto the floor. Amanda could feel the delight the creature took in the gruesome scene.

It stepped closer to them becoming larger and more grotesque. Yet still, Kaedin remained kneeling by Amanda’s side. She could sense the little spirits fear, and heard Kaedin’s silent prayer. Amanda’s heart swelled with love as she found both the fear, and the prayer, where for her. The demon paused in its approach, sensing the change in Amanda.

Now it’s afraid. She thought, gaining confidence. She took advantage of the demon’s hesitance and sprang to her feet throwing Kaedin behind her.

“Kaedin don’t be afraid, it can’t hurt you. YOU ARE STRONG!” Kaedin took a step forward, brow knitting together in determination.

“I AM STRONG!” She shouted.

Amanda felt that strength and threw up a protective shield between them and the demon. The dark creature attempted to move forward but was unable to get a step closer to them. It pushed against the invisible obstacle several times, but was unable to weaken the blockade. Frank wilted to the floor, the dark mass leaving him.

It knows that it’s lost. She is free. Amanda thought turning to look at Kaedin.

I’ve never seen a spirit so bright. She thought. Kaedin smiled at her; like it was natural for her to smile, like she smiled all the time. Like she had before she was taken, like she was happy.

“YOU CAN’T HURT ME ANYMORE!” Kaedin screamed out. The room felt light, warm, and the air tasted sweet. Amanda noticed the nightstand begin to shine, and the shimmer spread across the room. She looked up at Kaedin and smiled, knowing this was the time to say goodbye.

Glad I met you kid. She was forming the words when Kaedin’s face dropped back into a veil of pain.

Amanda spun around, but she was too late. The dark mass of shadows was upon her teeth thrashing. Its jagged teeth sunk into her side and she was immediately searing in pain. The demon’s poison rushed through her veins and set them on fire. It shook its head furiously sending black tar splattering across the floor boards. It flung its head powerfully before releasing her. She flew through the air slamming against the far wall. She bounced off the plaster and landed on her face, unable to catch herself.

My arms don’t work! She thought. Through her tears, she could see Kaedin on the floor, eyes closed and rocking herself.

Kaedin you can do this without me, be strong, be brave, move on. Her heart sank when she realized she wasn’t speaking. I can’t speak either! Her inner voice shrieked.

Darkness was taking her; the scene began to dissolve around the edges. Until the only thing left was Kaedin’s tear-soaked face, and then that too was gone. Amanda knew that she was dying. She felt sad for Madgie and Nell. And Cole’s handsome face flashed before her. But her heart’s last prayer was for Kaedin.

Someone free her, don’t let that one fade.

Chapter 2

“I don’t know! I’ve never seen anything like this before.” A very distressed Nell cried out.

“They’re rare and you’re young. Myself being the opposite, I have seen these marks before. I know how she got them. I just don‘t understand…” Madgie paused.

“What? What don’t you understand?” Nell asked.

“I’ve seen them; but they’ve always been on dead bodies. I’ve never seen a living person bear them.”

Never seen a living person bear them? Am I still alive? No, I can’t be. Amanda thought. She found the mere idea ridiculous, having already come to terms with her death and her eternal sentence. She could still feel the Hell fire burning her insides. Scorching all that had once been pink into a charcoal black.

This is right. This is fair. I should be in Hell after all of the spirits I failed. Why did I have to run away? If I had just accepted who I was at the dredging age I would have been properly trained, instead of being a seventeen year old novice. I could have saved her. She thought, choking on emotion as her mind brought up an image. The last image she had witnessed as a living-breathing person, Kaedin holding herself tightly. Her sweet face turned upward wearing the most pained expression she had ever seen.

I didn’t think a person could convey such torment with one look, one expression. She thought.

She kept tracing and retracing the lines of Kaedin’s small face, the creases in her forehead, the tears on her cheeks, and those haunting blue eyes. Amanda’s heart was broken, not because she was burning in Hell, but because she had witnessed a spirit being broken today.

She can’t hold the demon off long now; she is easy prey, as is anyone with no hope. If it hadn’t already been done, I would ask God to damn me. She thought. .