The Cloud Gift

“Becky’s gone,” Reid whispered— “just got the news. Thought you’d like to hear it from me first.”

Chelsea hadn’t even noticed Reid come up behind her as she sat looking out over the rambling cliffs. It was the last sacred place in town, the only place not yet touched by the evils of their world—which— up until now had been like every other normal city by the sea.

“What’s that?” Reid asked, joining Chelsea on the smooth rocks. The salty breeze whipped around them, making their troubles seem so distant.

Chelsea turned the perfectly formed seashell in her hand, surprised by how it’d gotten all the way up the cliff side.

“Magic?” Reid mused, aimlessly running a stick through the silt-filled sand— “or maybe it’s a small reminder of all the good in our lives.”

He smiled, a hint of sarcasm dripping from his lips.

“Doubt it,” Chelsea replied, her mind clearly somewhere else. “

I hate to say it but do you think Becky’s dead? I’m sure Emily and Jennifer are, they must be by now…it’s been months.”

“I don’t know,” Reid began, “it’s too much of a coincidence. First Lila, then Lauren and Toby—of course their parents think it was just a car accident but I don’t think so. Too many strange similarities. I mean they never found Emily or Jennifer and now Becky is missing?” Who’s next, you? Me?”

Chelsea shrugged. Most of their friends were gone. It should’ve been the happiest time in their young lives, and instead of celebrating their pending graduation—the remaining few were helping set up memorials all over town. Bright Purple and Green ribbons hugged every spare tree and lamppost in sight, while nearby at the arching metal gates of Willow-Creek High—hordes of largely deflated balloons wept, hovering over the sidewalks like a bad omen; piles of stuffed animals and fields of faux-flowers baked in the sun right next to the faded missing persons posters for two of the three girls.

In the meantime, Chelsea and Reid sat quietly in the middle of every broadcasted vigil, Every. Single. One.

It didn’t help the vigils were being held in the exact spot where Lauren and Toby’s accident happened. Maple-leaf bend—a place where Emily, Jennifer and now Becky’s parents would make their gut-wrenching pleas for the public’s help—but would it save them? Would it keep Chelsea and Reid safe?

Lightening ripped across the voluminous sky. It was bad luck to talk about Maple-leaf bend, not to mention thinking about it.

“Maybe we’re cursed,” Chelsea continued. “Wonder what they’ll put on my missing person’s poster.”

“Don’t joke about that Chelsea. Everything will be okay we just need to stick together. I’m more upset that you rode your bike right past the accident site—what if it’s not an accident? What if we know who did this?”

Reid stopped himself, they both knew the rumors.

“So, you’re thinking it too. Only locals know the history.” Chelsea started, “the State Police practically blew me off when I tried to talk about it. Said I was stirring up false leads and creating havoc. Let’s not forget Lauren and Toby were killed in their car. We really need to be more careful…that means you too…”

Chelsea turned to face the woods behind them—you know, just in case.

“Well, I’m pretty sure we’d be dead by now if it was them…” Reid’s hesitation didn’t comfort Chelsea.

“Yeah, maybe…or maybe they are waiting for us to get comfortable.”

“Comfortable?”

A pang of dread welled in Chelsea’s stomach as fellow classmate and friend Dillon Cade Roberts appeared, stepping out from between a fan of palm-fronds. With him was his latest fling—Chelsea’s childhood friend Alana Grimsbane, a pretty, petite brunette well known for her fiery Sanguine-hued eyes —but today the bleached turquoise sky dulled their sparkle making her appear more tired than usual. It truly was the beginning of the most unfortunate events.

“The Ceremony of Remembrance was held this morning after lunch. We missed you there Chelsea; Gwen and Chloe took your place. They held a nice little prayer afterwards, you would’ve been proud.”

Chelsea stammered, jumping to her feet— “I was busy. Tired, overslept. You know how it is—finals, college, letters, papers; there’s a Sorting Festival at the end of the month so I have a lot to prepare for…”

“Yeah, well—you better get a move on. We can’t be out past sun-down,” Alana quipped, checking her watch— “and with the time change and all this mess about murders and a killer being out there…we can’t be too careful.”

“I agree, might have to take our own advice,” Dillon added, draping himself around Alana’s shoulders—his kiss none-too-tender— “we came up here for some alone time but I see you both beat us to it…”

Reid smiled. Low blanketing mists were rolling in amidst the bubbling rain-clouds while thick air pooled around them like the swallowing tides of a storm.

Something was amiss.

“Yeah, maybe we should get a move on…we’ll be right behind you,” Reid assured, also placing a protective arm around Chelsea.

“Can’t be too safe,” Dillon teased, giving a playful wink as he followed Alana back into the woods.

“They looked serious,” Reid muttered.

“Yeah, closer than usual I’d say. Something is off…you don’t think they feasted, do you?”

“No, there’s a ban, remember?”

“I know but that’s never stopped anyone before…”

“Well like Dillon said, the murders have changed things.”

“I guess…” Chelsea hesitated, giving a slight smile as she looked off into the darkening woods. A shiver forming in her cold bones as she felt the familiar twinge of transformative-conjuring bursting through her veins.

“Maybe that’s why the murders are happening in the first place…”

The hair stood attentively on the backs of their necks. A primal, instinctive response.

“This all started after the Magistrate placed the ban, think about it…who benefits? The punishment is a fine or worse, banishment. That wouldn't be much for someone who already knows their way around the woods, the portals, the water...could be anyone, literally anyone at any time, any place.”

Reid’s grip tightened— “good thing we know how to take care of ourselves.”

The pupils of his enchanting, brown eyes had a ring of silver peeping through. He was uncommonly handsome; tall, athletic in build and overall irregular. Coils of wavy hair framed his sullen, bony face.

Reid and Chelsea were the only few in town who were direct descendants of Werelin’s—half-breed shape-shifters, magic hunters with razor sharp interior teeth and scalloped claws.

Chelsea was quite ordinary looking despite being so abnormal. Her long, brunette hair was half as long as she was short. She watched guardedly over the cliff-side for hours, allowing the salt to drift her protective eyes over the city. The murders had taken a drastic toll over her body.

“You’re looking sickly, drained…” Reid said, a worried tone in his voice. “Stay behind me no matter what happens next…” he warned but it was too late, Chelsea knew they’d gone too far.