Merelda

June scowled at her blurry reflection in one of the local gas station’s grimy, floor-to-ceiling windows. She thought, does Bernerd ever clean this building? She placed an index finger on the forehead of her fuzzy reflection and, frowning at the cold grit on the glass, she focused. A maternal face appeared to her. Black curls framed a visage aged by hard-work and enduring compassion. Mahogany colored eyes smiled at her with genuine joy. Rest in peace, Merelda, and thank you. A bittersweet ache touched June’s heart.

She conjured her will, as Merelda had once instructed, and shaped it like a bird taking flight. Energy rushed to the surface of her skin and arced through her hand to the window. She programmed the energy and released her will. The spell’s vibrant, sapphire light swept across the surface of that singular window, disintegrating the caked-on residue.

June dropped her hand, watching her fingerprint sizzle and vanish to reveal behind her an empty parking lot with a single fluorescent, orange streetlight struggling against the dark. She focused on her own teary-eyed reflection. What are you still crying for? She looked up, trying to clear her eyes, lest the tears meet up with her mascara and they make a run for it.

She returned her gaze to the glass. Her hair cascaded down like waves of chocolate to the shoulders of her cream-colored, elegant sweater. Her rosy leather belt snugged down her tucked sweater and caramel, pleated work-slacks. She only noticed her foot tapping an anxious rhythm when she inspected her rosy loafers.

June retrieved her phone from her back pocket. I should text him. Say something like he's gonna have to pay some late fees! A text from Cole arrived with a ding.

“Almost there sorry sorry”

Her screen flickered and fuzzed. Stupid phone.  Maybe Cole will be able to fix it. He probably feels bad. And late fees?! What does that even mean? I really do wanna kiss him, don’t I? Her cheeks warmed. I barely know the guy! That’s not true. We’ve texted for weeks.  A distant roar swelled, like a titanic, mechanical beast screaming defiance.

That’s him isn’t it?  A memory of a picture Cole shared on his profile tumbled into her mind’s eye. Cole reclined his striking, athletic figure against the side of a silver muscle car. He’s clearly proud of it. He's probably speeding right now. Showing off and trying to get here faster. The raucous engine grew louder, echoing. June suppressed her nervous foot tapping and looked out to the road. The night sky glimmered. Stars proliferated overhead, more revealed themselves as the distant sunset drew the edge of its violet cloak behind it. Moths and gnats careened like planets orbiting around the orange radiance of the street lamp, visible only due to the light they blocked.

The roar became a snarl before a silver streak resolved itself into a muscle car from around the trees obstructing June’s view. It slowed, as if cautious, unwilling to startle its prey on its approach. That’s him! I think. June struggled to pierce the glare on the windshield and the shadows beyond with her vision. The car turned into the parking lot and rumbled to a stop in the space directly in front of her. On the hood, a painted, charging bull glared at her through vermillion eyes. It’s like it wants to kill me. The engine growled. A raging bull that sees only red.

The latch popped and the driver-side door opened. Cole swung out onto one foot, the other still in the car. The sherbet-orange light behind him cast him as a silhouette. The gas station’s lights behind June diminished enough of the cowl of darkness for her to make out his chiseled face. “Hey June.” His eyes glinted in the subtle light and his face peeled in half, baring fangs. June shuddered. He looks like a predator. A brick of unease formed in her stomach. She squinted and the threatening visage transformed into a swoon-worthy, toothy smile. “Don’t be afraid. It’s me! Cole!” He said as he leaned over his door and into the light, eyebrows raised.

Oh no. This is so embarrassing. Why did I freak out like that? Her face felt like a furnace and she dipped her head. She said, “I’m so sorry. You were just a shadow with shiny teeth at first.”

“My nickname in grade school was Shadow.”

“It was?”

“No...” He straightened and heaved a defeated sigh, “It was Coleslaw.”

June snorted. Gross. Don’t snort, you weirdo. She winced.

“What an adorable snort!”

**********************************************************************

The bull of a vehicle charged onward, roaring, headlights incinerating the gloom. Lamps lining the streets spilled dancing shadows across the dashboard. The smell of leather and lemons hit June’s nose with each breath after a laugh.

He’s even funnier in person. Cole focused on driving, but laughed with her. I hope he’s thinking similar thoughts about me.

Cole said, “Oh hey, you said something about your phone screen being wonky?”

“Yes! Yeah, it flickers. So annoying.”

“Hand it over, I’ll take a crack at it.” He extended his hand while maintaining watch on the deserted street.

He wants to fix it while speeding like a maniac? June dug her phone from her back pocket and hesitated. “You sure you can cast your spell and keep control of this monster?”

“I cast a spell on you while driving, didn’t I?”

“Ohoho, okay Mister Smooth-Talker!” June placed the phone in his hand as if sliding chips onto the betting table. “Let’s see what you got, hot shot. You break it, you buy it."

Cole scoffed at her. “How dare you imply that the Almighty Cole could ever mess up?”

“Less talky, more fixy, Coleslaw!”

Coleslaw winced. He sucked in a hefty breath. Don’t you dare break my phone! Coleslaw exhaled and a tremor rippled through his arm. Sapphire energy crackled from his fingertips into the device. Something popped and smoke fizzled out of the speakers. That did not sound good.

Cole said, “That’s not good.”

“Oh. My. God.”

Cole hissed through a grimace.

“You broke it, didn’t you?” He’s messing with me again, right?

“Yes, but--“

“Coleslaw!”

“I can fix it!”

“You saying that is what got us here, Coleslaw!” June laughed.

“I know. I’m sorry. When we park, I’ll be able to focus.” I kinda forgot. This short date is just him driving me to work tonight. I've been practically obsessing over him. June took her phone back and noticed the lonely road and dark clearings that they hurtled down. “It's cool, Coleslaw, really. I have --” Recognition invaded her, derailing her train of thought. A familiar dilapidated sign raced past. This is the wrong way. I know this route. It goes out to basically nowhere. June recalled the gleaming, predator's rictus Cole showed her from the darkness. No. This is not right. Unease slithered through her intestines. I have to get out.

"You have what?"

"Sorry, lost my train of thought."

"You okay?"

"I think I might be sick. Sorry, you should probably take me home." I can't call the cops, he broke my phone! Unless-- June's attention snapped to the smartwatch hugging her wrist, hidden beneath her cream-colored sleeve.

"We're almost there. Tough it out so you can tell your supervisor in person." Where is he taking me? What does he want? He wouldn't do something now, right? I'm expected at work. I'm never absent without calling in.

"I think I'm gonna puke."

"Not in the car!" Cole swerved, but righted the steering wheel. He reached behind his seat and handed her a plastic bag.

"Pull over!" June screamed, swatting the bag out of his hand. Why? Why me? Fear induced adrenaline crashed into her heart. Calm down. Panicking means death. Breathe and think. Cole accelerated, a placid expression tempered his previously concerned face.

"What gave me away?" Cole droned. "Did I come off as fake?" He stared ahead, the raging bull rocketing forward, the blaring engine and wind conspiring to drown out all sound. I need to distract him.

"No." Real clever.

"What then? Breaking your phone? You already know that spells can be reversed?" Reversed? Merelda's lilting voice broke through her heightened state. "Juniper".  The cacophony abated. June felt phantom tears on her cheeks and thick sobs catch in her throat. "Little berry," Merelda crooned from the depths of a potent memory. "It's okay. Don't let anyone push you 'round. You're so smart and strong." June distantly felt Merelda's firm, yet tender hands stroke her hair. "If you can't believe in yourself, let my belief in you be enough. My love for you transcends space and time, Juniper. My little June is stronger than the Moon." June felt Merelda wrap her in an embrace. "Breathe, child. When you get stuck. Breathe and think."

June gasped, righteous fury blazed through her being. No one will push me. I will crush you. I have to distract this clown.

"Where are you taking me?" June said, blinking tears from her eyes. She gently reeled her sleeve up and glanced at her smartwatch. The symbol for 'Connected' persisted. He only broke the screen.

"Doesn't matter."

June muted and tossed her phone into the back seat. "You broke it. You've got me, Cole."

"Good."

June surreptitiously tapped a sequence on her smartwatch's volume buttons and swiped to activate the emergency call.

"What are you doing?" Cole side-eyed her.

June lurched forward, stretching, and caressed the windshield with a finger. She syphoned in air despite the constricting seatbelt, summoned the programming Merelda encouraged her to memorize, and reversed it. She exhaled, sapphire lightning struck the windshield.  Millions of particles of debris materialized, adhering to the glass. The forward window became an opaque wall.

Cole swore and cranked his emergency brake. June braced her self against the sudden shift in force, disengaged her seatbelt, unlocked and flung open the door before catapulting herself out and into the field. Her loafers slipped off. Dry grass met her feet and rocks dug in, ripping curses and cries of pain from her vocal cords. She sprinted, hard. The grumbling engine fading behind her.

Heavy footfalls pounded in pursuit. Cole! He gained on her. He left his car running? He tackled her to the earth, slamming the air from her lungs. The impact filled her mouth with dirt. June strained for air. Breathe!

Cole entangled a hand in June's mussed hair, pressing her face into the grit. He flipped her over by the shoulder. A predatory rictus distorted his face. "Breathe and think, June!" A ragged breath filled her lungs before Cole's vice of a hand clamped onto her throat. June thrashed and clawed. "My little June is stronger than the Moon." She felt pressure build in her head, her eyes bulged. She gripped Cole's arm and touched her other hand to Cole's nose. She reversed her spell's program and exhaled the last of her breath. Sapphire lightning clapped and a host of dirt erupted from the ground and collided with the entirety of Cole's head. He cried out, releasing June's neck.

Oxygen returned to June's ailing lungs. She rallied all her might into the wind-up for a donkey kick, thrust out and hammered her foot into Cole's groin. A strangled yelp broke from his lips as he recoiled into a fetal ball. June wheezed and clambered to shaky legs. She lumbered forward a step. With a surge of will she leaned into a sprint, slid over the hood, and climbed into the muscle car. Without closing the doors, she peeled the raging bull out into a U-Turn and floored the pedal. The beast wailed, leaping back into the night.

June focused on her reflection in the windshield. Dirt and blood ran in rivulets from cuts in her forehead. Her hair messed like a crashing, chocolate wave. Her hazel eyes alight with determination. Red and blue pinpricks flashed in distance along the solitary road. I love you too, Merelda.