The Empath: 5

To catch up, here are the links to the following chapters:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

THE EMPATH:  FIVE

Saturday, February 17, 2007


Fresh out of the shower and ready to face the day, Mary lies to tell herself today will be a good day.  She brushes her long, pale blonde hair, and puts on some makeup to make her brown eyes pop.  She has always liked her brown eyes despite what brown-eyed girls think.

It's true, however, there is always that "grass is always greener complex", such as brunettes wishing they were blonde, and brown-eyed girls wish they had blue eyes.  Mary is content with how she looks though.

She has always had long, straight blonde hair.  Over the years, it's grown lighter.  Perhaps it's an effect of becoming an empath, she doesn't truly know, and would rather not to think about it if possible.  Nonetheless, she does like her hair, even if she does throw it back in clips and ponytails.  Her skin tone is different too, but she's learned to accept this about her.

She has olive-toned skin.  She tries her darnedest to keep out of the sun.  Mary is known to get really dark in the summertime, which is why she uses sunblock.  She even uses it in the winter; the UV rays can get you in the winter as well.

She shrugs it off as she picks up the brush to brush her hair some more.  Mary is trying to think of her Saturday plans.  She has none, or at least that's what she thinks.

There is a noise coming from downstairs.  She finds it odd since her parents and brother went out to the cabin by the lake they own.  Since coming into her empathic powers, her family has been leaving her alone.

Mary's mother, Mallory, once had the power of visions.  Mary is sure her mother still has her powers, but she chooses not to use them unless she has to.  There really is no way to getting rid of your powers all together.

Yes it's true that Mallory fell in love with a mortal, Richard, and together they had two children:  Mary and Toby.  All in all, it still doesn't mean that a person with powers are gone.  It only means they disperse when not used on a regular basis.

Mary has often thought as soon as she can master her empathy, perhaps she will give up her practicing her powers as well.  Only time will tell.

She gives herself a mental shake, and heads slowly and quietly down the stairs.  Mary isn't feeling any emotions around her, and she starts thinking that maybe it was nothing more than just her imagination.  It all turns into a different story when she reaches the stairs enough to see over the banister.

Shocked at what she sees, she continues down the rest of the steps lightly.

"You're so light on the feet," she begins.  "It's times like this I really did wish I could sense you sooner."

Realizing what she just said, she quickly changes the subject.  "How did you get in?"

"Shh," he puts a finger to his lips, indicating for her to be silent.  Jeremiah whispers, "The door was open, and I was able to hear a set of voices."

As she walks closer to him, she can suddenly feel an emotion or two.  She feels anger and jealousy.  Mary suddenly becomes impulsive, and before Jeremiah could grab her to stop her, she's already headed for the stairs to the basement.

"What are you doing here?"  Mary asks.  She can sense the jealousy and anger that is coming from her friend/enemy, Char.  What she can't understand is why is she feeling remorse from Brave.  Perhaps he feels bad about entering her house without permission.

Jeremiah slowly follows behind Mary to make sure she's safe.

"Of course you would be here," Char speaks, looking in the way of Jeremiah.  She has a force shield up of some sort.  Whatever Mary felt, she no longer feels.  And whatever Jeremiah could hear in their heads, he could hear no more from Char.  Brave's thoughts are fuzzy, but he can still hear them.  "You seem to be creeping around a lot lately, haven't you?"

Jeremiah breaks his reverie.  He doesn't want to make it look like he's struggling to hear their thoughts.  He decides to just stand still observe the situation.  Right now, he's observing Char's every move.  Every time he notices she looks away, he takes a step closer to Mary.

Jeremiah's silence only seems to anger Char even more.  "Ain't you got a tongue," she speaks in slang mode.

He notices her anger by reading her face--since he can't read her thoughts; what he doesn't know is how to see into the future.  He figures either way, whether he talks or not, she's going to be annoyed.  He decides to remain silent.

"What are you doing here?"  Mary repeats herself, sounding more emphatic this time around.  She tries to move closer but can't.  "And why can't I move?"

"You're strong," Char begins to speak.  "For a newbie.  But I'm older, and therefore," she pauses for dramatic effect.  She wants to show Mary just how evil she can be.  "I. Am. Stronger," she lets out a maniacal laugh.  It truly wasn't the laugh she was going for, but she figures it fits just as well.

"But I don't understand," Mary talks more softly.  "Why?  What did I do to you?"  She looks over to Brave.  "I thought we were friends.  Why are you doing this?"

Brave doesn't speak, but Jeremiah is hearing bits and pieces into Brave's mind.

I swear, Jeremiah, Brave thinks.  I know you can hear my thoughts.  Char promised me something.  Please believe me.  I would never do anything to hurt Mary.  I care for her, but I can't explain.  You just need to see.  I'm sorry, but I am glad you're here.  Change history.  Rewrite the past.

Jeremiah nods in a way to show Brave he understands, and in a way that doesn't give off any signs to Char, who is doing nothing but staring at Mary.  Jeremiah knows Char is jealous, but he doesn't know why.  She is blocking him.

As Brave was thinking his thoughts to Jeremiah, he was basically stammering to speak to Mary.  He couldn't muster anything but, "Sorry."

You'll have to hold on to Mary to travel with her, Brave adds.  Be well.

Char rolls her eyes.  "Ugh. Save your breath, dear," Char speaks up.  "I told you I was stronger.  And now you're going to see why this is happening.  You're going to know everything!  And just remember, 'The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.'"

Before Mary could say anything more, several things were playing into motion at this point.  Mary could see and feel blackness all around her; she felt a hand on her shoulder; and just before she gets swallowed up completely by the black hole, she could swear she hears Char saying, "This is the deal breaker.  You'll see why soon enough."

And just like that, Mary was gone, and so was Jeremiah.

"You sent him off too?"  Brave asks, pretending he doesn't know anything.

"That wasn't the plan," Char says with disappointment.  "But just as well."

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The Empath, Chapter Five,