CHAPTER 1

    A turbulent breeze blew open the curtains in seventeen-year-old Catherine Danvers’ room. She’d left it open the night before when she snuck back into her room. She was still asleep in her bed wearing the smoky clothes she’d worn to the party the night before.

    The tree outside her room was full of chirping birds. Her breathing quickened as she put her head under the pillow to silence the shrieking chaos from the tree. After a minute, she gave up, put the pillow aside, and opened her eyes.

    The room was spinning ever so slightly. She’d drunk a few beers along with a little blue pill at the party. A daily habit she’d recently developed. As she sat up, the room started to spin faster. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. She sat quietly for a minute as warmth ignited deep within her. She could feel the soothing fire spreading throughout her body. She felt a warm tingling sensation reach her palms and then extend to each of her fingers. She opened her eyes and looked at her hands; they were vibrant with life. She smiled as she surveyed the room – all was steady now. She’d recently learned how to wash away the deleterious effects of the drugs that she occasionally took.

        A few minutes later, she showered and was dressed in her favorite washed out jeans and black tank top. As she walked down the hall, she noticed that her mother’s door was ajar.

    “Mother?”

    No answer. She pushed the door open a little wider and saw that the bed was disheveled. She stepped inside, walked to the far side of the room, and looked around the corner. She was alone in there. She took a deep breath and let it out all at once. She shook her head and quickly pulled the comforter over the pillows. Less than a minute later, the bed was neat and orderly.

    She went downstairs and started towards the kitchen.

    “Catherine!” shouted her mother, Dorothy.
    A surprised Catherine turned to see her mother standing in the middle of the room flanked on either side by two burly men.
    “What’s going on?” said Catherine as she looked at the two men and then back at Dorothy.
Catherine saw small wisps of dark smoke slowly intertwine with the multicolored auric smoke that she usually saw around her mother. Thinner streaks of the dark smoke seemed to wrap tightly around the arms and legs of the two men.
    “You’ve got to get control of yourself. Those drugs you’re taking are messing with your mind,” said Dorothy.
    Catherine took a menacing step towards Dorothy.
    “We’ve talked about this before! I have everything under control now.”
Dorothy gasped as she stepped back.
    “Catherine, stop! These men are here to take you to the hospital.”
    Dorothy nodded to the men.
    Catherine widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked from her mother to the two men and then defiantly back at her mother.
    “You’re not going to put me into that nuthouse,” Catherine snarled.
    Catherine raised her hands, palms facing towards the men.
    “Stay away from me,” Catherine shouted.
    She recoiled her arms and sharply extended them towards the men. The men went flying, smashing hard into the wall behind. A horrified Dorothy looked at the men and then back at Catherine. Dorothy, her eyes narrowed took a step towards her daughter.
    “It’s for your own good,” Dorothy shouted. “You’re in too much pain, and I can’t take this anymore. I miss them too.”
Catherine looked down at the two men as they moved clumsily on the floor trying to sit up. Beside them, she saw ghosts materializing. She saw brilliant streams of light slowly flow from the ghostly apparitions into the men as if healing them. Suddenly a dark shadow caught her attention above her mother’s head. She looked up at the still growing ominous darkness. Piercing yellow eyes surrounded by gray oozing smoke stared at Catherine. She shut her eyes, shook her head and slowly opened them. The menacing eyes were gone. Her gaze fell slowly from the darkness and met a horrified Dorothy staring back at her.
“You need help,” pleaded Dorothy.
Catherine saw the darkness spreading wildly around her mother as the other colors usually around her faded away.
“It’s that damned priest that told you to do this. Isn’t it?”
Dorothy stepped back incredulously.
“Don’t speak of Father Mahoney in that manner. He’s been nothing but supportive.”
“If Edward was here-,” Catherine started.
“Your brother’s death was not your fault.”
“My fault?” Catherine, several feet away, extended her tightly clenched hand towards her mother. She slowly raised her hand. “You’ve got to be kidding me! It’s your damn fault that he’s dead, not mine!”
Dorothy grasped at her throat to pull the invisible fingers that were gripping at her as she started to rise off the floor. She gasped for air as she struggled, her legs kicking the stale air below her.
A gray smoke coalesced into the shape of a twelve-year-old boy below Dorothy’s dangling feet. Catherine looked down at the now solid form. It was her brother, Edward.
“Let me in, Catherine!” shouted Edward.
Catherine, eyes wide with horror screamed, “Leave me alone!”
The room filled with heaviness as Edward shouted, “Let her go!
The room shook as powerful shockwaves blasted in all directions from Edward’s thunderous bellow. Catherine fell back as the invisible force knocked her over leaving contrails of dense wisps of dark smoke. Dorothy fell to the floor stunned gasping for air, choking and coughing.
Edward stood over his mother and then looked up at Catherine. “You’ve hurt our mother.”
Catherine looked up at Edward as he faded into nothingness.
She looked at her mother lying crumpled on the floor still gasping for air.
“What have I done?” Catherine asked as she broke down crying, nestling her head into her hands.
The two men stood and looked from Dorothy to Catherine in disbelief. One of them helped Dorothy get to her feet. The other man took a step towards Catherine.
“I don’t understand what just happened. But I can see that you didn’t mean to hurt your mother.”
Catherine looked up in horror as the disheveled man stood several feet from her.
The man took a step closer to Catherine as he extended his hand towards her. “I don’t want to hurt you. We are here to help you.”
Catherine stood abruptly.
The man jerked back in fear, his breathing shallow.
A shaken Catherine looked at her mother and then back at the man.
He squinted his eyes and clenched his teeth, expecting the worse and said, “Will you come with me to the hospital?”
“Yeah, I’ll go,” she said surrendering.
It didn’t take long before Catherine was admitted to St. John’s Hospital. The day nurse, followed by Catherine and Dorothy walked down the hallway towards the visitor’s lounge. The nurse stopped just outside of the lounge.
The nurse pointed into the room. “Catherine, this is where you can visit with your mother during visiting hours starting at 3:00 pm.”
Catherine looked into the lounge. A few feet away, she saw an attractive young man talking with an older woman.
Dorothy took a step towards Catherine and said, “I’ll come by every day. I promise.”
Catherine looked sternly at the Nurse. “I won’t be taking visitors.”
Dorothy half smiled and then looked down. That morning she’d felt that she was doing the right thing when she called the doctor to have Catherine admitted, but now she was having doubts.
“I guess I should get going,” Dorothy said dejectedly.
Dorothy leaned forward to hug Catherine. Catherine turned away. Her arms crossed, she looked into the lounge. She saw the young man turn towards her. He looked up abruptly and smiled at her. She smiled slightly and turned back to see her mother shuffling towards the exit door. She could hear her mother whimpering.
The nurse turned to leave, shaking her head and grimaced, “Well, that went well! If you have any questions, just stop by the nurse’s station.”
“Thank you. I’ll hang out here for a little while before I head back to my room – if that’s okay.”
“Not a problem. Just remember to stay away from the exit doors. There are more than a few burly security guards there,” said the nurse as she walked away.
Catherine looked back into the lounge at the young man. He looked up and winked at her. Catherine smiled. She saw the woman stand to leave. The woman turned and glared at Catherine and then leaned over and kissed the young man on the cheek.  Catherine’s eyes widened as she noticed wisps of black smoke flowing behind the woman. Catherine became alarmed when the woman began to walk towards her.
“Excuse me. You’re in the way,” said the woman condescendingly.
Catherine hadn’t realized that she was standing in the doorway, blocking the woman.
“I’m sorry,” said Catherine as she impudently stepped out of the way.
Catherine watched as the woman walked down the hallway to the exit door. She saw dark shadows draped down the back of the woman as if it was an extravagant cloak flowing smoothly behind the woman. Catherine narrowed her brows and then turned back towards the lounge. She saw the young man still seated at the same table staring at her. She walked up and stood across from him in the same spot where the older woman had been standing.
“What the hell are you looking at?” she asked.
“A beautiful woman.”
“Oh brother! Now I’ve heard everything.”
The man stood, extending his hand.
“My name is Gregory Prescott.”
She reached for his hand and lightly shook it. “I’m Catherine Danvers. Who was that woman that was visiting with you? She’s dressed a bit fancy for this part of town.”
Catherine sat down across from him. He stood for a second longer ogling her and then sat down.
“That was my mother – Mrs. Prescott. She helped me get out of some trouble. She thinks I’m addicted to drugs,” he chuckled.
“I like getting high when I need to escape my pathetic life,” she offered.
“You don’t look like a drug addict.”
“I’m not! I dabble every now and then,” said Catherine. “Although, things got a little out of hand today. I tried to choke my mother.”
“Wow! That’s heavy.”
“She’ll get over it.”
“My mother threatened to disown me if I didn’t get my act together,” he chuckled. “That’s why I’m here.”
Catherine looked at the far corner of the lounge and saw wisps of light gray smoke forming into multitudes of ghosts just above two people that were having an animated discussion.
“Damn it! They’re always around,” said Catherine.
Gregory followed Catherine’s gaze. He saw two people chatting. One of them was crying. Gregory reached for Catherine’s hand.
    “I know someplace we can go for a little bit of privacy – if you get my drift,” Gregory smiled.
    Catherine turned abruptly back to Gregory as she stood.
    “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Catherine snarled. “I have to get settled in.”
    “Can’t blame me for trying. Huh?” Gregory chuckled.
    “Yeah, whatever,” she said as she started for the door. “See you later.”
    Gregory watched Catherine walk slowly out the door. He thought for sure that he’d seen a spark of interest from her. He’d never been wrong about a woman before.

    The following day, Catherine felt a bit more clear-headed. It was nearing 3:00 pm, and she wanted to tell her mother the fantastic news that her doctor had prescribed a new medication that was going to help her. She knew her mother would welcome that news.
    She rushed to the lounge and stopped at the doorway. She saw Gregory chatting with his mother at the same table they’d been at the day before. Catherine stepped back in horror as she saw wisps of black smoke reach from Mrs. Prescott towards Gregory. The darkness gently caressed his face as they talked. His eyes were half closed as the smoky tentacles darkened around his face.
    Catherine gasped loudly. The black smoke suddenly retreated as Mrs. Prescott, eyes narrowed, turned abruptly to Catherine. Catherine moved uncomfortably back as Mrs. Prescott’s piercing yellow eyes probed her. When Mrs. Prescott blinked, her eyes returned to normal. She turned back to Gregory and patted his cheek as she stood.
    Mrs. Prescott walked towards the door, where Catherine was standing. She felt a tinge of electricity zap at her arm as Mrs. Prescott brushed passed her.
    Catherine stood transfixed as Mrs. Prescott walked slow and deliberately down the hallway and out the door while one of the guards held the door open for her. Catherine looked back at Gregory and saw that he was rubbing his eyes. She could see wisps of darkness dripping from his face. Panicked, she rushed to the chair next to his.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, I’m just a little tired.”
    She could see the darkness pulsating across his face and down his arms. She shook her head, her face full of concern.
    “Give me your hands.”
    Gregory looked up crooked at her. “Why?”
    “Damn it! Just give me your hands.”
    Gregory grimaced as he reluctantly offered her his hands.
    She took a deep breath and closed her hands tightly around his.
    “Now close your eyes.”
    “This is weird,” said Gregory as he looked around squirming in his seat. He grimaced as he looked at her and then closed his eyes.
    Catherine looked at her hands and saw a brightness grow subtly. It washed across from her hands onto his hands and then up his arms. She looked up at his face and saw a lone tear escape from his right eye as he squirmed in his seat. She saw the shadows that had been dancing across his face suddenly lighten and then dissipate into nothingness.
    Gregory abruptly opened his eyes and smiled broadly, “What in the hell did you do to me?”
    “Nothing. It’s just something I do. No big deal!”
    “You certainly have some gift! I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
    “It’s more of a curse.”
    Gregory laughed. “Whatever it is. Thank you. I feel fantastic!”
    Catherine half-smiled and looked around the lounge. She saw patients visiting with people from the outside.
    “I guess my mother isn’t coming today.”
    “I heard you tell the nurse yesterday that you weren’t taking visitors.”
    Catherine cocked her head at Gregory. “You heard me?”
    Gregory chuckled. “I think everybody heard you, even my mother.”
    “I was flying pretty high yesterday.”
    “Thanks to you, I’m flying pretty high right now,” he said grinning ear to ear.
    “Yeah? That’s good.”
    “I wish that I was going to be here a little longer. It would have given us time to get to know each other a bit better.”
    Catherine furrowed her brows. “Are you leaving already?”
    “Yeah. I get out tomorrow. My mother suddenly needs me back home in Los Angeles.” He rolled his eyes. “And don’t ask me why. Yesterday she was telling me that I’ll be in here for at least two more weeks and today she wants to yank me out right away. I convinced her to leave me here until tomorrow.”
    “Why would you want to stay in this place another day?”
    Gregory looked down and then up at Catherine. “Well, to be honest. I was hoping to get a chance to talk with you. I wanted to apologize for acting so damn forward yesterday.”
    Catherine blushed. When she had held his hands, she had felt his emotions intensely. It was a side effect of this ability of hers, to feel an intensely arousing connection through her touch. She felt vulnerable.
    “Don’t worry about it. You seem like a nice person,” she said as she felt a wave of passion wash over her. “Why don’t we go somewhere else for a little bit of privacy?”
    Gregory started to smile. “Really?”

    Early the next morning, Catherine rushed down the hallway and slowed a few feet away from the door to the visitor’s lounge. She knew that Gregory would be waiting for her inside. He’d told her so the night before. As she got closer to the door, her heart sank when she saw through the glass door that it was dark inside. Usually, the light from that room spilled out through the door onto the floor just outside. Instead, she saw the light spilling softly into the room from the hallway. As she opened the door, she saw Gregory sitting at the table halfway in. She smiled at him as she rushed over and sat next to him.
    “Oh, my goodness. I thought that I missed you. Why on earth are you sitting in the dark?”
    “It’s not that dark. The light switch is over there if you want more light in here,” said Gregory.
    “That’s okay. The darkness feels a little cozy.”
    Catherine looked around the room and then back at Gregory.
    “Anyhow, I wanted to talk with you before you left.”
    “I know.” Gregory smiled warmly.
    Catherine started a smile.
    “Last night was special.”
    “For me too,” he said as he leaned in closer to her and handed her a business card. “Come visit me in California. Here’s my phone number.”
    Catherine took the card and looked at the back. It had a phone number scribbled on it. Her smile faded.
    “Is this really your private phone number?”
    “Yeah! It is.”
    Gregory leaned over and kissed her.

Two months later Catherine sat alone on the couch smiling as she held the piece of paper that Gregory had given her and dialed the number. She was almost giggling as the phone rang. After the third ring, Gregory answered.
“Gregory, I have some fantastic news! I’m pregnant!”
“You should get an abortion.”
Catherine’s smile faded. “What? But it’s yours.”
“How do I know that?” he condescended. “For all I know, you could have messed around with who knows who.”
    “It’s yours,” she demanded. “I don’t want an abortion.”
    “Look, I’m just getting started here. I don’t need this now,” he growled. “Now go get yourself that abortion and leave me alone.”
    “I thought that you wanted me to go to California.”
    Catherine heard a loud click followed by dead silence.
    She burst into tears as she held the phone painfully to her ear.
    Dorothy rushed towards Catherine.
    “Catherine, I heard everything. I’m here for you. Calm down. We’re going to see the doctor right now.”
Soon Catherine and Dorothy sat across from the gynecologist. Catherine was fidgeting in her seat as the doctor spoke.
    “You’re not that far along,” said the doctor. “Maybe a month.”
Catherine leaned forward and narrowed her eyes.
    “I was raped.”
Dorothy shot a stern look at her daughter.
    “Catherine! That’s not true!”
The doctor cleared his throat.
    “It’s not too late to abort the-”
“Okay, let’s do it!” said Catherine indignantly.

    Dorothy jumped from her seat and faced Catherine squarely. “Absolutely not! To destroy life is forbidden by our religion.”
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