Lost ☆ Spirits
~Ripley~ M. Dennison
Chapter 1
When he turned back around a sharp bark came form a nearby house, then soon all the neighborhood dogs were barking wildly. The boy stopped a little curiously and quietly told them to shush, that they were being silly. They didn't stop.
The boy was puzzled by the dogs sudden behavior.
He had been living in that same part of his home town of Avalon, New Jersey for over six years and has been walking home from the bus stop for the last two. The dogs had never barked at him before.
He pondered it a while longer, watching the late October winds blow in the trees. After a minute or so he forgot the dogs and watched leaves stood on end and danced, swirling in the breeze. Chanting softly a few lines under his breath the boy followed the wind with his finger as he walked to a gravel drive. Finally at his destination he looked over his shoulder one last time as he hopped up the few steps to his door and entering his house.
Inside he dropped his school bag in his bedroom floor, glancing around as he did so, mentally checking to see if anything looked out of place. Deciding nothing was wrong he went further down the hall to the living room around the corner. Seeing nobody sitting on the couches or in the recliner watching TV, he guessed they were in the kitchen.
Hearing voices and the combined noise of clunking and splashing he made his way past the living room to the large kitchen.
"Mikhael is that you?"
A small blonde woman called from over her shoulder, her arms sunk to the elbows in soap suds, her hands moving systematically to scrub and rinse the dishes she was washing.
Mikhael pulled out a chair from the dining table and sat down next to his little sister., Yeah, I'm home." He told her, then snagged a glance at his sister plate before grabbing a piece of toast. Ignoring her mutinous glare he got up and walked over to the stove. "Is there any food left." he asked mildly, looking at the partially empty pots.
"Just some Ramon noodles the kids didn't finish eating." His step mom told him. "Cool." he grabbed a bowl from the cabinet letting the door slap shut. "Is Dad coming home soon."
"Yes, and don't be slamming the cabinets like that." He heard her scold him dimly as he filled his bowl. He wonder briefly if any one else would want some. Smirking he glanced over his shoulder at his sister, putting the toast in his mouth, he purposefully upended the pan into his bowl.
Noting the growling in his stomach he found a single spoon in the silverware drawer. "Man, where's all the silverware at?" he mumbled shutting the drawer and reached over the counter to the dish drainer.
"I just washed those!" his step mom reprimanded him.
"Don't worry. I'll wash 'em." he told her through a mouthful of stolen toast. Once he turned his back on her he rolled his eyes. He never left his dishes unwashed and he really wished she'd realize it. 'Fat chance.' he thought bitterly.
Deciding to eat in his room, he turned to leave the kitchen. "Missed." he hissed under his breath as his sister stuck her sneaker shod foot in his way, failing at getting her revenge.
Careful to step around her, he tilted his head back and took a noisy bite of his toast before he went through the door. Now he was in a better mood and he was glad. His day really stank before he came home, then the mysterious barking. He wondered what that was about. Shrugging dismissively he let himself into his room, making sure the door was shut if not locked.
Mikhael couldn't wait till he turned 16, because then his parents would finally let him have a lock on his door. Then his pesky siblings -and nosy step mothers- he added, wouldn't be able to bug him or get into his stuff or borrow things without asking.
Not that he minded people borrowing his stuff and going into his room without permission but he couldn't honestly say there was absolutely nothing in his room to hide. ~In a perfect world~ he thought bitterly.
Laying on his stomach atop his twin sized bed stirring his noodles, he made a mental list of the crap he hid from his parents. Smiling he toed off his Keds and pushed them off the bed. under which a very R rated magazine was hid. Plus a few heavy metal magazine's his step mother would probably kill him for if slash when she ever finds out about them. ~And she'd probably burn those.~ he said to himself after a glance at his small three shelved book case, where three Wiccan and Pagan books were masked with false covers. At least his other blasphemes collection was camouflaged as an assortment of things on display.
No one would assume that the table in the corner was full of objects that made up his alter. Maybe someone who knew what to look for would see the pattern of the huge Pillar candle in the center and how the perfect conch shell, bowl of rocks, dragon censor, and small red candle were in the positions of West, North, East, and South. Perhaps they would even notice the two identical white candles on the left and right side of the desk symbolized the two forms of the Deity. On the far left and far right, sat a long handled snuffer and an Ivory handled dagger, completing the symmetrical display. Making the perfect blend for a teenage boys sacred alter.
So many things that would scream out that he was definitely not a Christian alter boy, just seemed to fly past his parents. Even though they had already pegged him as abnormal and suspected him of being anti-Christ, they were oblivious. He hoped they stayed that way.
Of course he never entirely dismissed their beliefs in the White Christ, he just decided it's not his path to take. Naturally at 15 he was a rebellious teenager, but something sincere called to him from the Pagan arts. After doing a research paper on all forms of religion in 6th grade, it was the only belief he related himself to.
Sighing through a wave of steam from his Ramen he flicked his eyes over the random symbols of protection and balance that hung on his walls as posters, necklaces, and stones. His eyes lingered on a sun sign dangling off the edge of his grandmothers old fashioned mirror and downed the rest of his noodles before getting up and stepping in front of his reflection.
His sister might call him conceited, he just liked looking into mirrors. A critical expression evaluated what he saw. His longish slightly blond hair was blown around form the wind and pushed behind his ears, in which an odd combination of earrings were present. A single hoop sat on his left ear and two studs stood out on his right. but his choice in earrings was nothing compared to the row of necklaces that adorned his black clad chest. A short stringed Hematite crescent moon, an amethyst rock pendant, a silver chain, and hanging low underneath all the others, a small quarter sized five pointed star with a red faux jewel in the center hung form his neck. His black tank was a good fit and matched the baggy cargo pants that were being held up by a queer belt with silver buds on it and a buckle - two and a half inches long that looked like a dark metallic inside out egg tray.
Despite the Gothic look nobody had ever accused him of not being stylish - except his parents and siblings, but they didn't matter.
"Speaking of siblings." He muttered. He glanced behind his shoulder and listened for any body near his door. Not hearing anything he turned back to his reflection. Taking a meditative breath he stared directly into his own gold dusted chlorine coloured eyes. Once his mind was clear and his purpose, he started a slow simple incantation. "One two three, Change for me.." Keeping his mind set he continued his chant. "One two three, Let me see. One two three, green to blue, Change for me."
After repeating it several times his eyes got lighter and changed slowly to forget-me-not blue, the colour he was going for. Smiling at the affect he closed the spell.
"As I will it, so mote it be."
He liked how the colour commented his curls. "Hell yeah!" No one could accuse him of being ugly either. Even being a bit of a loner didn't stop him form being a little conceited. And he loved the fact that he had all the looks in the family.
Turning away from the mirror he walked over to the door and picked up his book bag. He ruffled through it for a while before he found his physical science paper that he was supposed to finish. Smiling wryly he tossed everything including his paper on the bed. He'd do it later.
Just to do something productive he picked up his empty bowl and took it to the kitchen to wash. He saw his little sister in the living room her own school work spread out before her. Not wanting to miss his chance he looked around for his step mother. When he didn't see her he entered the room and walked behind the couch his sister was sitting on.
"So Rebecca, what did you learn in school today?"
"Obviously more than you did Blondie!" she retorted, she shook her reddish died hair out of her eyes ignoring him and keeping her concentration on her math books.
Simply shrugging he took a glance at her work. The numbers jumbled on the page made him want to look away; he decided no to bug her further if she was trying to do that kind of brainwork.
"Dang-. Never mind, have a nice brain-ache." he told her, walking back the way he came. as he turned toward the kitchen he distinctly heard her snort in return.
He strongly disliked numbers, but they were highly useful if not demanded to know in the current time and age. He was having trouble as it was as a freshman in high school and his little sister was learning new math that wasn't yet taught to him.
He made a grim face and turned on the kitchen sink to wash his bowl and fork.
As if on cue his step mother walked into the kitchen with a basket full of laundry. "I want you to gather up your dirty clothes so you can wash them when this load is done. I want to get all the laundry done this weekend."
"Okay." he replied turning off the water. "Do you know if dad got paid?"
"He gets paid on Fridays so yeah, I'm pretty sure he did." she told him while stuffing clothes into the washer. "Okay." automatically he responded in an unemotional voice. Not needing a confrontation he forced his mind to his school day as he walked to his bedroom.
It was admittedly better day than others. If not the best. He hadn't done anything to get into trouble and trouble hadn't found him. He managed to get to all his classes on time and even received only a few pass fail grades on his half semester progress report. Even the incident after fifth period with the jocks hadn't been that bad. They didn't make a big scene and only mocked him and jeered, of course the only reason they had done that was because he had dropped his books in the hall way to French class. Its what he gets for daydreaming over stupid crushes. He had a good reason to dislike jocks and he believed they only disliked him because he didn't do the kinds of things they did. He normally stayed out of the public places including the cafeteria where they were comfortable and, by some kind of jock rule, where they were supposed to congregate.
All of it was absurd to him. He didn't even know why there was even a such thing as a 'Status quo' or 'cliques'. For all he cared they could be running around the school naked and he still wouldn't glance their way. Well maybe one glance.
Mikhael picked up his science paper once he was back in his room. Looking at the periodic table of elements in his science text book he had the paper finished within thirty minutes.
Momentarily forgetting the jocks and his science homework, Mikhael jumped out of his sitting position when he heard a loud vehicle pull into the gravel drive. Hoping it was his dad he glanced at his clock. Seeing it was five twenty he went outside to check.
The red ford driver side door slammed shut and a burly, tall man with light brown hair walked up to find Mikhael standing against one of the porch railing waiting for him.
"What."
"Nothing." Mikhael shrugged. "I was just wondering if you got the payment for the work I did last weekend."
"Right." The man huffed, shuffling his feet on the porch steps. "Just give me a sec." he said after looking up at Mikhael's raised eyebrows. Mumbling under his breath he pulled 2 twenties out of his wallet and placed them into the slender out stretched hand.
"Thanks dad." Mikhael smiled gratefully, transferring the money to his back pocket. He straightened up and followed his dad into the house. "I think my friend is coming over later is that okay?"
"Yeah. 'S long as you guys keep it down." his dad called over his shoulder and continued through the house. Mikhael stopped at his room and deposited his money into his wallet. His friends Brian and Eric were coming over soon and he doubted his parents would really care, but just to be sure he went to call them from the living room.
The phone rang twice before Erik picked up the other end. "A'lo?", came the response.
"Hey it's Mikhael, you guys coming over or what?" he heard his own voice echo in his ear. "Uh- yeah. Brian's just finishing his homework then we're headed to your place." Eric's somber voice replied.
"Okay. See ya soon."
Mikhael sat down the phone and looked around wandering what he could do till they got there. Eric and Brian were twins and lived with there parents across town. It would take them about twenty minutes to get to his house under normal circumstances. Smiling knowingly he thought of the extra time it would take them to get here if Brian was doing homework. Brian wasn't what you would call super genius, but he got by.
Nothing better to do and everyone in the house was off doing their own thing, he went back to his room to read a chapter or two from his favourite romance novel.
***** ♥ *****
An hour later Erik sauntered first into Mikhael's room, Brian right behind him. Mikhael finished chapter two of his book and was in the middle of chapter three by the time the twins had gotten there.
Only once had his mother come in and told him to get his laundry done. As soon as she had left he went back to his book, but know the twins were here and he didn't want to have to hear her gripe at him.
He glanced behind him at Erik's ginger covered head and the dyed black of Brian's from inside his closet door.
"Hang on, I've got to do some laundry." He told them and bent down to pick up a shirt from the closet floor then stuffed it into the waiting basket. It was already full but its broken bottom would just have to hold a bit more. Stuffing a few more articles of clothing into his extremely abused clothes basket he hauled it out the door, telling his friends to entertain themselves. They knew how. He knew they would have the video games out and started before he returned.
Sure enough when he reached his door for what seemed like the fiftieth time that night, he heard the distinct male sounds of brotherly combat issuing form within. He shook his head and noted that they were at least nice enough to have gotten out a spare controller for him. Even it it wasn't currently plugged in.
"Were you two planning on letting me kick your butts?"
"Nah, we wanted to let you play housemaid just-" Brian retorted quickly then leaned to the left hard trying to blow up his brother, "Just a while longer!" he finished , turning to Mikhael and snickering. Erik turned to goad him as well and so his avatar could regenerate. "And who said you could kick our butts? As I recall. It was you begging mercy when we had you pinned the last time we played."
Mikhael snorted. "Yeah right, the only reason you two numbskulls pinned me was because my health was crappy after an that dang alien ambush." He aimed a kick at the red head who ducked it. Laughing he joined them on the floor. "Plug me in."
"Whatever- " Erik scoffed.
"-You're closer." Brian finished for his brother, but tossed the controller to Mikhael anyway.
"Fine. We'll see how it is when I beat you both." Mikhael quipped. Sitting down in between them after he hooked up his controller.
"See how you get your butt kicked, we will." Erik said in his best Yoda voice. They all laughed till the sound of sci-fi weaponry got their attention. "So anything happen of worth today?" Brian asked Mikhael. He shook his head, "Na nothing. Though..." he paused to look for cover as the twins avatars double teamed him. "Though what?" Erik grunted trying to dislodge a grenade at a group of aliens that just happened to be near Mikhael's avatar. "Damn-" he muttered, "though, there was a small uh.. tête-à-tête." he guessed that was a good enough word for what happened earlier at the school. "With the sports gods." he told them distractedly.
"Wait-"
"-a sec!" Erik and Brian said together looking at him. Erik quickly paused the game and then looked concernedly at him. "What happened?"
"And why didn't you say anything earlier?" Brian added. He shrugged, "It really wasn't anything big. he looked from one boy to the other then rolled his eyes. "Come on! They only jerked around when I dropped a few of my books going to sixth."
"But I'm in your French class and you didn't say crap about it." Erik reprimanded him.
"Why on this good Earth would you endure that and not tell Erik?" Brian demanded of him.
"Before you start the Spanish Inquisition I'd like to let you know that at the time I was in a good mood and didn't really care." The twins exchanged looks. "What did you do?" they exclaimed.
"I didn't do anything." he told them honestly, but he felt his cheeks flush all the same. "Just something was on my mind at the time."
"Like what?" Again in unison.
"God." Mikhael held his hair out of his eyes and looked down at his controller. Its stone grey colour vividly reminded him of the same grey eyes that put him in such a dreamy mood that day. His blush deepened. "I saw- ." He coughed gently clearing his voice as it came out dry, and knowing his friends would hate the suspense.
"Who?" Brian cried grabbing his shoulder. Looking at it he raised his eyebrow at Brian, who quickly let go looking away sheepishly. "Sorry."
"Okay Mr. touchy get over it. Spill. Who did you see that has you blushing?" Erik put in quickly.
"Don't." Mikhael looked pointedly at them both, "get so freakin' excited. It's not like I saw a celebrity or anything although I did talk to Bently." Erik and Brian rolled their eyes. "That's all?" Erik asked astonished, thinking all that drama for nothing.
Brian held up his hand to silence his brother. "Wait. That can't be all. Who was with Ben?" He asked Mikhael seriously.
Rolling his own eyes, Mikhael tossed his controller down thankful that the games background music was loud. "Will you two ever let me get my words out?"
"No. Who was it." they asked again.
Smirking he said coyly, "We-ell... " he dragged out but could tell it was getting old with the twins so he spat it out quickly. "It was after I was talking to Bent and Adrian walked up!"
Erik released the breath he was holding and let out a low whistle. Brian gapped. "You mean Adrian. As in Adrian Matthews? The Junior? The one you've been- ?" "Ssshhhhh!!" Mikhael panicked and leaned over forcing his hand over the other boys mouth.
Erik and Mikhael both glanced at the bedroom door. Looking directly at Brian, Mikhael inclined his head towards his door and mouthed "Yes." then said out loud. "My house remember!"
Wide eyed Brian nodded and Mik let him go.
Knowing Brian's big mouth couldn't stay shut for long, Erik suggested they go to the park and shoot some hoops. Mikhael avidly agreed. "Fine I'll go ask." In an undertone he added. "You think you can keep him quiet for a few more minutes?"
Erik grinned mischievously. "Oh yeah. I've had lots of practice remember, he's my brother."
"Cool, but nothing major." He said pointedly knowing the red head was a master at Silencing spells. With that he left to go ask his parents.
