Gemma’s note clearly stated where I was to go, and how there would be an amazing surprise once I got there. Since it’s my birthday, I can only assume it must be some kind of off-the-grid surprise party, but one never knows with Gemma. She’s good with two things—trouble and secrets.
Chuckling quietly, I walk for what feels like an eternity, eventually coming to a fork in the path. I glance back and forth,at first contemplating the two choices before recalling Gemma’s note, specifically instructing me to go to the left.
With a nod, I take off in that direction, doing my best to ignore the fact that the forest appears to be closing in on me. And the light is almost gone.
I was always under the impression that without light, there can be no shadows, which makes the many shadows around me all the more ominous. I walk between them, around them, through them, and I can’t shake the feeling they’re watching me, following me. That they know.
Rolling my eyes, I laugh lightly and shake my head at my overactive imagination. As if shadows would know me, never mind follow me.
Distracted by my own ridiculous thoughts, I come up short as I almost run head-on into a shiny gold orb in the middle of the path. Slightly startled, I cock my head, squinting as I examine the obstruction between my sister and me.
Peculiar as it is, I still have a mission to locate my sister before the end of my birthday, and I won’t be thwarted by some weird art display in the middle of nowhere.
Sighing, I move to walk around it, but it only takes me a few steps before I realize I’m making no progress. Once again, I stop and turn to face it, my eyes widening at the sight of my reflection on the shimmering surface.
A quiet gasp falls from my lips, my hand raising slowly, fingers outstretched, reaching, reaching.
“Vivian Jones!”
I startle, yanking my hand back as if I’ve been caught doing something forbidden. My heart races in my chest, nervousness churning through my veins as Gemma appears beside me, like she materialized from the shadows that surround me.
She rests her arm across my shoulders, pulling me tightly into her side, and my nervousness explodes into sweat-induced anxiety.
Frowning, I watch the reflection of us in the gold orb, watching the iridescence shimmer. Gemma smiles broadly, and I catch myself staring at her teeth, typically so perfect, straight, and white. I whirl on her, blinking in confusion as her smile falters, but those straight white teeth still wink back at me.
“Are you alright, Viv?” Gemma asks breathlessly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I frown, watching her closely, confused because her reflection doesn’t match what I see right in front of my face. With a shrug, I respond, “What is this thing?”
Gemma shakes her. “Some kind of art installation.”
“Seems odd to put it way out here.”
“I think the location is part of the art,” she answers, once again moving close to me. She turns us both to face the orb, her arm pulling me close. “Look how cute we look.”
I glance at our reflection again, grateful for her closed-lip grin. We do look cute, and I find my smile soon matches hers as she reaches into her back pocket. “This will make an amazing birthday picture.”
She drops her arm from around me, moving behind to get our reflection clearly in the frame more easily. We plaster those same cute smiles on our faces, and she takes a few in quick succession before shoving the phone back in her pocket.
Her arms wrap around me, her face resting on my shoulder, and I relax against her, my hands patting her arms affectionately. Gemma has never been the most loving sister, so when she’s offering any type of physicality, you'd best take it.
She gives me a final squeeze, but then one of her hands moves up, her arm looping in front of my shoulder until she’s gripping my hair viciously. “What are you doing?”
“Shut up,sister.” The scorn in the last word sends a chill up my spine, and I frown, suddenly confused and scared at the quick change in her demeanor.
Tightening her hold on me, she shoves me forward, kicking at my ankles when I attempt to plant my feet. I reach back in an attempt to hit her, but miss, her hand in my hair twisting as she drives her knee into the back of my thigh, moving us sharply.
Her free hand moves to my wrist, and she lifts my hand, using me like I’m her own life-sized marionette. I jerk away, but it only takes her a few moments to snag my wrist again, her hold on me punishing, agonizing.
Realizing I’m out of options, I relax in her hold, allowing her to extend my hand. My fingers reach, and the gold orb brightens, as if it senses my closeness.
Gemma laughs from behind me, her excitement palpable, so I reach with more direction, willing that gold orb to allow me to touch it. It shimmers a few times, then shifts toward my reach, closer and closer and closer until the heat of it warms my fingertips.
But then Gemma grunts with effort, her hand in my hair yanking me backward as she leaps forward, both hands extended, landing palms down directly on the gold surface.
The gold vibrates, her cackle reverberating through the forest as she appears to sink within it. She doesn’t attempt to escape, instead seeming to push herself forward, forcing her body into the gold that no longer appears at all solid. It’s turned to liquid, suspended in the air, a shiny metallic entity all on its own.
Screaming, I fall backward, scooting along the forest floor with my hands behind me and my feet scrambling. Gemma continues to disappear, and the only noise coming from her is exhilaration and triumph.
