Just Checking Up! Part Fifteen: Into the woods!

Silks:

Pulling up to a horror movie coded cabin in the woods, Sally Sue’s stern motherly look did little to shut down Rip’s and mine hesitation. Endless pine trees spread as far as the eye could see, spirits of all kinds poking their heads out from around the trunks. Grimacing at the sight, the sensations of it all were growing stale. A strange energy blasted me from the truck, a dull smoky gray claiming the land. Matching what stood before, someone dragged me here. Wondering who, a forlorn sorrow bit the air. Fussing with my scarlet sweater dress, my cast felt clunky. A quiet fear lingered in my numb expression, my left brow twitching with earned annoyance. Bad luck hunted me down, her skills knowing no bounds.

“How about letting me go or that not an option today?” I called out bitterly, fresh sarcasm boiling away on the tip of my tongue at the lack of a response. “No, no! Why would you? Look, can’t we wait until I take a damn nap? No, not going to fly either. Of course not. Saving you is the sole option. Schedule’s clear, so let’s get this fucking over with.” Scanning the forest, a dark cloud rumbled over the cabin. Limping over to the cabin, my palm massaged the soft wool stretching over my bigger bump. Pushing open the door, the creak gave rise to a massive migraine. Gone was the gray, a deep scarlet smoke swirling all about the corners of the room. Mismatched furniture reminded me of a comfy but dark place, my own childhood racing back to haunt me. Weakness opened doors on this side, a single tear staining my cheek. Try to keep your damn composure at bay, you freaking idiot. Shadowy hands curled around my ankle, thumps sending chills up my spine. What fresh Hell was heading my way? Kicking them away, a scurry into the shadows hid me real enough. Blood soaked hooves came into view, navy muscular legs bulged in a Victorian style suit. Following the immense form, a goat demon with golden eyes and horns snapped its head around. Clawed hands scratched at the back of his head, a quick assessment estimated him to have a solid three feet over me. Cursing under my breath, the smoke darkened to a deep navy. Someone else had entered the chat, a new level of dread bubbling in my gut. How was this a person an expert if she couldn’t keep this dimension in check? Unless nothing could bust through, which could spell trouble for me. Ruffling fabric and billowing sleeves had me spinning on my heels, an elegant lady hovering next to me to block my presence. Her braided bun spoke of elegance, twinkling eyes taking in my most likely scandalous outfit. Fussing with her full ivory skirt and a couple of wrinkled bows, her attention returned to the pest at hand.

“How dare you enter such sacred land?” She chastised him bravely, her gloved hands hitting her hips with bravado. “Killing our guard dog was a rotten thing to do. How could you?” Befuddlement twisted my features, her form blocking mine in an obvious manner. Not to criticize her but her actions could be a spot more discreet. Snapping her fingers, silver spikes pierced the monster in the heart. Crumbling to ash, a gloved finger lifted up my chin. Examining me closely, her full lips curled into a mischievous grin. Contemplating whether to trust her, my expression had to show it.

“So the crazy one that I am supposed to guide dropped into my lap. Howdy! I am Elizabeth Smath, or you can call me Liz! You modern kids are crazy cats.” She chirped cheerfully, her palms clasping together. “Flames rage strongly inside of you. I am going to need you to stoke that fire and fight alongside me to find your body! That is the only way out. Once we get there, you need to claim me as your spirit guide. Cool?” Swallowing the dish she had presented, something had felt peculiar. Spinning me around, her palm fell flush with my bump. Did she have to freaking touch me?

“Such a powerful child! No wonder everyone is coming at you!” She continued before I could lose it on her, another palm hitting the top of my head. “Keep your cool down here. Such negative emotions are a damn beacon.” Shooting her a death glare, such advice wasn’t necessary. Peeling her hands off of me, hurt dimmed her eyes. Realizing that she protected me with ease, a drab place like this hell wasn’t worth suffering in.

“Fine, but don’t patronize me!” I snapped hotly, her features brightening visibly. “Help me find the way out of this hellhole. Maybe keep the touching down to a minimum. Can we do that?” Asking the request a bit snidely, her palm rubbing the top of my head had her panicking in front of me. Shutting it down with a wave of my hands, pure bliss shimmered in her eyes. Fuck it, let her shower me with whatever this type of affection was. Summoning a ball of flames, shadows danced across the wall.

“Apologies for my temper. If you attach yourself to me, expect trauma with every footfall.” I warned her fairly, her grip on my head tightening. Refraining from reprimanding her, loneliness plagued her aura. Wondering if we should follow the center of the chaos, someone’s voice should be close by. Parting my lips to speak, a line of masked demons in tattered leather jackets blocked our way. Cursing while sobbing bitterly, nothing about was going to be easy. When would it ever be, damn it! Soaking in the cracked marble wolf masks, a quiet fear showed underneath her determined grin.

“Give up the girl so we can dominate her body.” A deep voice ordered boldly, my lack of terror alarming me. Maybe it was being over it, or it was seeing someone else being frightened next to me. Sinking to my knees while cutting my palm, nothing was going to change until this side was cleansed. Allowing ruby to pool in my palm, silver spikes blocked them from getting to us. Thanking her with a gracious smile, something told me that this was going to freaking hurt. Working through the symbols in my head, a clear circle stood out in my head. The tip of my finger danced away, a powerful circle waiting to be activated around me. Slamming my palms onto the closest symbols, drops of darker red plopped onto the top of my hand.

“Take what you need to cleanse this space and shut the portal down!” I chanted loud enough to wake the dead, pun intended. Intense heat coursed through me, salty tears mixed with the blood cascading from the corner of my eyes. A sea of orange flames crackled to life, burns searing to life on my palm upon the symbols glowing brighter. Wincing through the pain, howls pierced the increasing volume of the flames.

“Come on! Work, damn it!” I shouted into the sky, panic setting into my racing mind. “My body is mine alone!” Eerie silence claimed the space, a snowstorm of ash blasting me in the face. Collapsing into a heap, sweet serenity sealed the space into some sort of paradise. Unable to move, a familiar weakness claimed my muscles. Silk ruffled as Liz plopped down next to me with a proud expression, her gloved hands cupping my severely burned palms. Massaging them with pure silver energy, wonder brightened my eyes at the wounds healing into rough scars. Wiping away the fresh ruby on my face with her skirt, no words would leave the tip of my tongue. How could I leave her behind now?

“One shouldn’t overload themselves if they don’t want to end like this.” She chastised me sweetly, her palm grazing my cheek. “Look at what you managed to do. Something feels quite nice down here.” The flames died down to reveal a cozy cabin with happy flames in a crackling fireplace, her arms scooping me up. Placing me on her back, a soft floral scent drifted up my nostrils. Glancing back at me, another snap of her fingers materialized a single silver bell. Presenting it to me, confusion contorted my features once more.

“Ring it every few minutes and the ring back should get louder the closer we get.” She chirped cheerfully, my respect for her growing by the second. “Don’t look at me like that. You pulled off what generations of your family couldn’t do. Rip simply happens to be a natural talent.” Chuckling at her words, a ring did little to boost my mood at how far the echo was. Where the hell did they take my body? Then again, the last thing I remembered was being with Sally Sue in front of the cabin.

“Does getting detached happen quite a bit?” She inquired sincerely, another ring informing us to venture into a strange copy of the kitchen. “Your ancestor couldn’t seem to keep her soul attached to her body for the life of her. Something about always being called into the other side.” Rolling my eyes, a personal hell had presented itself on a silver platter. Scanning the bright yellow kitchen, the green and white linoleum woke up a deep trauma. Shaking it off, the answer could never be here. Pinching my lips into a small grimace, one small thing nagged away in the darkest crevice of my head.

“Maybe I can find a way to stay a-” I began, her abrupt protest throwing me off. Disbelief turned my expression into one of pure annoyance, hurt returning to her eyes. Sitting me down at the worn fifties’ style table, beat up vinyl chairs had me seconds from a damn panic attack. Pacing around in front of me, the ability of her bell proved to be off. Drowning out my parents’ voices while scratching at my neck, a clap in my ear whipped me back into the current situation.

“Clearly your body is somewhere in this room. Maybe your husband can call for you. Unless you feel immense guilt.” She pointed out simply, her kind eyes meeting my wet ones. “Cleansing spaces is your specialty. What a stunning gift.” Ringing my bell once more, the strength of it sang loud and clear. Why the hell was I in the kitchen? A crack appeared, Rip leaning down to examine the horrible kitchen. Spotting me next to Liz, a contract glowed to life next to me. Scanning the words, the jiff of it was a spirit guide contract. A silver quill floated into my palms, a prick of my fingers brightening the letters. Signing it with my blood, Liz’s quill danced away faster than I could see. Silver ribbons twirled with fiery ones, the two of them twisting into a bow around our wrist. Going up in smoke, a bond had been formed. Placing me on her back, a dreamlike float up had me over my body. Kicking me back into it, immense pain jolted my chest upon contact. Sucking in a deep breath, dismay dimmed my eyes at the wounds that had carried over. Ignoring LIz, Rip smothered me in feverish kisses. His words faded in and out, an unfamiliar face coming into view. A thick ivory bob bounced about, the curls becoming my sole focus of attention. Milky eyes bore into my soul, her slender figure looking smaller in a flowing sage blouse and long hippie style skirt. Cold jade brushed against my cheek, several beads speaking of a bracelet. Soaking in her wrinkles, seventy years had been written into her features.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Silks!” The woman chirped excitedly, her eyes meeting Liz’s in a friendly manner. “Forgive me. My name is Madame Esprit Effray. I train those with powerful gifts. Did she actually cleanse down there? I couldn't even manage that, Miss Liz.” Checking my eyes, dried blood disgusted me. Raising my finger, that damn migraine throbbed away with a vengeance. Nausea wracked my stomach, Rip helping me into a decent position over a mop bucket. Unleashing a sea of vomit, morning sickness slapped me in the face. The color drained from my cheeks, a clammy sweat glistening on my brow. Crashing onto my back after a second round, something told me that part of it came from traveling on the other side. Exhaustion weighed down on my eyelids, a deep fear keeping me from succumbing from the comfort of her embrace.

“The barrier is too strong for you to venture into the other side.” Liz assured me while dabbing at my forehead with her sleeve in an attempt to comfort me. “Rip, will you be on standby to pluck her out if such an incident should occur?” Shooting her a thumbs up, sweet slumber stole me away.

Jerking awake, a translucent face adjacent to Rip’s had me jumping into the sitting position. Flashes of the burn scars covering my palms stole away my usual zest, tears welling up in my eyes. Parting my lips to speak several times, Rip crawled up to me in a dark gray suit. Flipping over my hands, nonchalance shut down any fright of his rejection. Pecking my forehead, the twinkling stars in the window stressed me out further. How long have I been out? Sizzling noises woke up an annoying hunger, curiosity forcing me to look into a simple oak kitchen. Bacon, eggs and potatoes were piled onto painted platters, a couple of pieces of bread hitting another one. Must people care so much, a deep seeded fear stirring awake in my heart.

“Sally Sue said that this should help your stomach.” Esprit sang with a spin, soft music playing in the background. “How about next time we pace ourselves to avoid such wounds?” Pointing to my palms with a spatula, silent sorrow stained my cheeks. Not another person trapped into caring for me. Bowing my head in shame, a dejected apology flipped off of my tongue. Rushing over to me, her palms clasped together. Does everyone do that around here?

“Please don’t think of me that way!” She pleaded tiredly, her calloused skin grazing my cheek as she raised my chin. “People caring for you isn’t the end of the world. Hell, you pulled off something impressive. Might I guess it came from the urge to protect Miss Liz?” Silence gave her an answer, warmth heating up my soul. Smiling genuinely in her direction, cold jade tickled my cheek.

“Such a sweetheart. No wonder she respects you. Thank your lucky stars for such a bond. Liz is one of my best soldiers.” She continued in an aunt type of vibe, her hand sliding down to my bump. “How powerful! No wonder everything is coming after you. Have you made the salt dough ornaments for your home?” Nodding my head, a raise of my finger had her resting on her haunches. Pulling out my phone, a few clicks had me on the camera roll. Showing Liz the paint job, gasps escaped her lips at the painted pumpkins upon the descriptions leaving her tongue for Miss Esprit. Marveling over the fine lines, something felt so cozy about her.

“Should I make some for you?” I offered sincerely, tears swimming in her eyes. “An answer has been given. Next time I will bring a collection. Do you mind if I step out on the porch by myself? I promise I won’t leave or anything like that.” Motioning me towards a stewing Sally Sue on the back porch, Rip knew well enough to let me pass. Limping out to her, her gentle smile met my apologetic expression. Sinking down next to her, the wide chair had plenty of room.

“Many apologies for stressing you like always.” I sobbed brokenly, my head hitting her soft ivory sweater. “That is all I ever do with you. Demons in your house, my fault. My soul leaving my body, my fault. Why do you stick around?” Ruffling the top of my head, a familiar warmth washed through me. Lifting my chin up with her finger, pride glittered in her eyes.

“Nothing would ever stop me from helping you out, my dear.” She gushed honestly, her exhausted grin birthing more guilt. “Stop looking guilty. Bringing you here was a risk and it was a good one. A damn good spirit guide is on your side. Espy always bragged about Liz and how she was a free spirit. Did I tell you that I would babysit? Grandmother's time has me glowing with pure bliss. I can’t wait to meet this little one.” Massaging my bump, nothing needed to be said. Such evenings like this were common after she rescued me that fateful day, both of us needing them. The door slid open, Rip and Espy coming out with four plates. Wicker cracked as we sat up, our fingers curling around the edges of the plates. Happy to have the company, Espy and Sally Sue broke into a pleasant conversation. Liz floated out, a cool breeze nipping my cheeks as she plopped down by my feet. Grinning jovially to herself, the correct decision had been made. Shifting my attention to Rip, his loving gaze lingering on mine. My breath hitched, his heart hopefully skipping a beat. Soaking in the normalcy of the moment, a meal like this had been rare as of late. Staring up at the stars, maybe the big guy was listening. Praying to the one above, life had to go a bit better or maybe not. Time would tell.