Chapter Five

"What is your name?" Emma begins with an easy question, thankfully.

"Layla Irene Eastwood," I reply with my eyes closed as I feel the brush start to lightly work its way through my wet hair.

"How old are you, Layla?" She is speaking so softly it's very soothing.

"18. At least I think. I was abandoned as an infant and so the authorities just made up a name and birthdate for me."

"What do you do for work? Or are you a student?"

"I am an aspiring writer. I would love to get my work published some day, but until then I work at a small diner just down the road from my apartment."

"Am I pulling too hard on your hair?" She asks as she tugs gently once she reaches the end that is hanging below the  bench.

"No this is very nice. I never had someone brush my hair for me. I now see what the fuss is about," I tell her as I let out a small giggle. It's a strange sound coming from my mouth and feels even weirder resonating in my chest. I was never the giggly type so this is new for me.

"How did you end up in this predicament and dealing with my brothers wrath?" Ok, now that's a hard one. But I did promise her I would try my best. 

And that is how I begin to tell her about reading at the park and both the men. I go into very great detail of what they did to me all the way to my escape and then ending up in the river. I didn't mention the names of Brady and Jace because the last time I did, I thought I was going to lose my life from her brother. During the whole story, Emma kept brushing my hair even though it felt knot free by this point. At the end she paused and sat down on the bench next to me. I opened my eyes to find her crying into her hands. 

"I am so sorry, Layla. I hate that you had to go through this. Did you tell any of this to my brother? Do you know these men? I'm sure once my brother knows who did this to you, he would ensure your safety and take care of them for you!" Emma moves her hands away from her face as she looks at me and wipes her tears away. She now has a look of determination on her face. It's strange how I don't even notice her scars anymore. And it is even stranger how easy it was to open up to her about everything in my life. I never really had a best friend or anybody to confide in. Emma stands up and moves behind me once more and takes my hair in her hands once more. "I'm going to braid your hair for you so it's out of your face. Please continue."

"I tried to tell the man I assume is your brother, but as soon as I said their names he screamed at me and left," I state as I start rubbing the towel absentmindedly with my sweaty hands. My eyes are closed once more, it is definitely easier to talk when my eyes are closed and I can't see the world. I feel Emma's hands working fluidly through my hair as she works her way through lapping section over section of my hair. She must braid alot because she is done in no time.

"What are their names, sweetheart? I promise I won't scream at you. You can tell me anything." She has stopped braiding my hair and secured it with a hair band at the end. The braid reaches mid back.

"Can I ask you a couple questions first?" I ask cautiously as I turn to look at her. She contemplates for a minute while she rolls her lips through her teeth, deep in thought.

"Sure. Just know, I may not be permitted to answer all of your questions right now."

"Ok. What is your brothers name? I feel weird when I am referring to him in my head calling him The Beast," I question quietly as I feel heat build in my cheeks.

"Jaxon. The Beasts name is Jaxon," Emma admits while laughing hysterically. It takes her a second to gain her composure before she asks, "Why do you call him that?" She snickers slightly as she reigns in her laughter.

"Have you scene him? He is jacked! Not to mention his voice could make even the strongest man cry. And his eyes are so strange! You are going to think I am crazy, and maybe I am, but I could have swore I saw his eyes change colors. And then there's the weird dreams I have about running with a black wolf and then that wolf changes into your brother!" I exclaim dramatically.

"WAIT A MINUTE! WAIT! Are you saying you saw his eyes change colors and you are having dreams about a black wolf? Dreams? As in more than one?" She stopped laughing and became very serious very quick. Yup, I am never going to see her or the light of day again. She is going to tell her brother, Jaxon, that I am a crazy person and need put out of my - and everyone else's - misery.

"Yes," I whisper for fear of the repercussions.

"Get dressed, we need to leave. I am going to step out and make a quick call. Hurry!" Emma jumps up and leaves me alone to finish getting ready.

I quickly brush my teeth, put on the clothes which happens to be a pair of flip flops and a pink maxi dress with blue and white floral print on it. It reaches past my feet so I decide to tie a knot in it at the bottom to keep it from dragging on the ground.

I sit on the bench and wait for Emma after putting all of my stuff back into the basket. She returns a few minutes later but she isn't alone. Emma brought a little old lady back with her who looks like she partied too hard in the 1960's. She has long white hair that is seperated into two braids, denim overalls with a latch broke on one side, a dingy white shirt underneath that is covered in old paints and oils, she has big thick glasses on her eyes making them appear 3 times too big for her face. She smells like lavender and flowers and something else that tickels my nose inviting an involuntary sneeze from me. She doesn't smile or speak, just stands there staring at me.

"This is the girl?" She finally croaks out in a raspy voice.

"Yes, Maggie, this is Layla. Can you maybe give her a reading? I need to talk to Alph- I mean Jaxon about something and I would love your expert opinion." Emma seems to be nervous as she fidgets with her hands and bounced the toe of her foot off the ground impatiently. The sound seems to echo in the locker room.

"I'm sorry, did you say a reading? As in - " I begin to ask when Maggie cuts me off.

"Psychic reading. Yes, dear. I am a psychic as most people call me even though there is a bit more to it. I am a seer. If a persons aura, if you will, is strong enough, I can see just about anything. Past, present, future. If their aura is weak, I may only be able to see clips of their life but not necessarily in order and I can't always depict if it is past, present, or future I am seeing. But, I can feel your aura it's radiating around you. Almost as if it is burning me. Not painfully, of course, but it's there. Here, put this in your mouth and chew on it during the entire duration of the seeing. Whatever you do though, do not swallow it. I can not stress this enough. Only chew, no swallow." Maggie hands me a handful of dried leaves with a few white and purple flowers in them that she pulled out of a small bag that was tucked inside the front pocket of her overalls. 

"Ok, here goes nothing," I don't know why I have so much faith in Maggie that she isn't going to poison me. Maybe it is because Emma trusts her, and I think I trust Emma. She hasn't given me a reason not to trust her. I put all the pieces of the concoction into my mouth. I almost spit it out due to the bitter and dry taste but Maggie is quick to cover my mouth and look me in the eye reminding me what she said. Chew, don't swallow. Chew, don't swallow. I repeat to myself until I have gotten the hang of it.

Maggie grabs my right hand with her left, then grabs Emma's left hand with her right, and Emma finishes the circle by grabbing my left hand with her right. I guess it's more of a triangle with just the three of us to fill it. 

I watch as Emma closes her eyes and inhales deeply. Maggie closes her eyes and begins chanting something in a foreign language I don't recognize. Her eyes start to flutter behind her thick glasses and just when I think things can't get any weirder, Maggie's eyes fly open and are completely white. 

She looks straight into my eyes down into the darkest parts of my soul.

And screams.