Careful What You Wish For!

Ava unfolded, and folded the brochure again, and again. Welcome to Celtic Asylum! The curly lettering read. Ava crumpled the brochure, and tossed it at the trash can. It hit off the side, and plopped to the ground defiantly. She sighed, and leaned back on the metal bench. She stared at the white walls, and ticking clock. She balled up her hands in fists, and dug her nails into her dark skin. She abruptly stood up, as a nurse walked into the room.

“How is she?” Was the first thing Ava asked. The nurse sighed, and rubbed her hands together. “She is not very well. She starts to scream when our doctors ask if she wants anything.” Ava sighed. Her sister had been driven insane after her parents died in a car crash.

“Can I see her?” The nurse looked hesitant, then shrugged. “Sure, but try not to make eye contact.” Ava got up slowly, and grabbed the balled-up brochure. As she walked down the long white hallways, she glanced into other rooms. She saw a man staring at the clock that was in every single room, muttering to himself, while making furious hand gestures. As she glanced into one room, she almost fainted. She swears she saw herself in a white bed, screaming, while hiding her face in her hands. Ava shuddered, as she walked into the last room, of the hallway.

She saw her sister muttering to herself. “Annabelle,” The nurse gently whispers. Annabelle whipped her head to face Ava, then started to twitch. She then collapsed on the bed snoring. “I’ll give you to some time on your one,” Whispered the nurse. Ava nodded, then sat down on the edge of the bed. She heard a pattering of footsteps, the turned around.

She saw the most peculiar thing she had ever seen in her life. It was a fox with three tails. Its fur was crystals, and it had extremely long ears. It stared at her with huge, clear unblinking eyes. At that moment her sister woke up.

“Y-you!” She gasped at the creature, almost sounding normal. The creature blinked, then Annabelle fell asleep once more. “W-what are you?” Ava stammered.

“I am Unum Tenebris. I can make any wish come true.” Ava stared at it in awe, then grabbed the balled-up brochure, as if to use it as a weapon. Ava then sighed, and lowered her hand. Her conscience perked up. Ava remembered what she learned in school. Careful what you wish for.

“Can you make my parents alive, and help my sister.” Unum Tenebris almost smiled. “Yes,” it said. Its voice was like water over rocks, and it whisked its crystal tail. Ava felt the weirdest sensation, then everything went dark.

Ava blinked heavily twice, and opened her eyes wide. She was in a park, the flowers curling up the bench. Celtic Park. Four hours before her parents died, Ava remembered. She shivered.

This must be a wacky dream. I must have fallen asleep in the waiting room! Unum Tenebris was at her feet. “Careful,” It said. “We don’t have much.” Ava nodded slowly.

Unum Tenebris glared at her. “What are you waiting for! Go fix your faults!” My faults?! Ava ran to the direction of her house. Her long legs creating a smooth stride. She stopped abruptly as she reached the red brick house, that called home. She tip-toed up the stairs, and looked inside. She saw herself sitting on the window ledge, reading out loud to her sister. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Her sisters favorite. She looked behind herself, and saw her parents drinking tea, and watching the news. She felt someone grasp her hand. “I know who you are, and I know what you’re doing.” She turned to see an old woman. Her wrinkly hands were clasped onto Ava’s hand.

“Come my dear.” Ava glanced around, then shrugged, and followed the women. As she closed the door behind her the women started to talk. “That creature, is bad.” Ava looked out the window, and saw Unum Tenebris sitting on the wooden bench in the park, with the flowers curling up its side.

“Listen I don’t know who you are, but I have to go…” The lady laughed, “Unum Tenebris is tricking you.” She then jabbed a finger at her chest, “I am you.” She said jabbing her finger at Ava.

“And unless you stop listening to Unum Tenebris, this is going to keep repeating itself. Unum Tenebris, stands for “dark one” in Latin.” Ava blinked at her, confused. “I never took Latin.” The lady smiled at her.

“You will in college.” Ava glanced at her watch. “This is probably all just a dream, and I really have to go!” The lady stared at her in fear.

“Don’t listen to Unum Tenebris!” She grabbed her arm. Ava pulled free, and ran out the door. She saw herself skip out of her house, to the park. Ava pulled open the heavy door, and walked inside. “Ava! Didn’t you just leave? Wait, did you change?” Her father squinted at her.

“Um Dad, can we just stay home today, and have a family bonding night? We don’t need to go to Gramma’s.” He laughed. “Sorry hon, but not today.” He ruffled her hair. Ava couldn’t take it.

“Dad you have to listen! I’m from the future, and you’re going to die in a car crash!” He dad blinked at her.

 “Honey... did you watch too much TV today?” Ava threw up her arms in frustration. “No!!!” Her dad took a deep breath. “I want you to go to bed. Get some rest.” Ava glanced at the clock. She only had one hour before her time ran up. She darted upstairs into her sister room. Annabelle was laying on her bed, staring at the celling.

“Annabelle, I know you aren’t going to believe me, but I’m from the future, and this creature called Unum Tenebris brought me here. You’re going to go crazy after Mom and Dad die in a car crash. Please believe me.” Ava glanced at her sister, who hadn’t answered or moved.

“Annabelle?” She crept across the bed. Her sister was staring at the celling blank-eyed. Her eyes stayed clear for a second longer, then she woke up. “I just had the weirdest dream.”

Ava woke up in a white room with a ticking clock on the wall. She sat up on a white bed. Wait…what!!!! She a file on the desk next to her bed. She picked it up.

Ava Monsoon. Gone insane after parent’s death. Sister is also in Celtic Asylum. Ava shivered. This couldn’t be happening. That meant her parents were still dead, and she hadn’t fixed anything. She read the file further more. Parents dropped her off on the way to a relative’s house. Claimed she said she was from the future. Oh no. Ava saw Unum Tenebris staring at her through the window, almost smirking. His unblinking clear eyes penetrating into her dark coco eyes. She screamed at it. A nurse walked in.

“Hello Ava! Is there anything I can do for you?” Ava screamed, and buried her hands in her face. She then looked up, and she could she herself looking horrified right at her, from across the hall. This couldn’t be happening. It was what the old lady said, history repeated itself over, and over again. A voice like the breeze over leaves whispered to her. Careful what you wish for.