Storyteller's Universe // Violent Visions
Pen Pals
There’s three slow and gentle knocks on my door, must be Raphael. Only he could make the act of knocking on someone’s door weird.
“Come in.”
The door opens, and as I expected — the skunk enters my tiny wooden room. My stomach sinks as I notice him holding a paper and not looking too happy about it.
“It’s almost two, why are you still in bed?”
We look at each other for a moment in silence, before he anxiously clears his throat.
“I, um… I’m sorry Shae, I know you expected to hear from Kingsley, but Sebby paraphrased her response.”
Raphael offers me the paper, and with more hesitation than I’d like, I grab it.
It’s in Sebastian’s simple but neat handwriting:
Tell Shae that Carla is alive and well and will not stay in hotels from now on.
I’m feeling weak from the sense of relief that goes through me. This has been weighing heavily on my mind for the past two days. What was that vision though? How far into the future did I see with Aubrey’s help?
The thought of Carla being safe after all is making me involuntarily smile, Raphael notices.
“Want to get out of here and breathe some fresh air? The kitchen is always in need of another pair of paws.”
Back to work.
“I’m surprised you want to continue, honestly.”
Aubrey shoots me a worried look, but I shake my head.
“Seeing my friend’s death has let me prevent it.”
We both stop walking when we make it to the same spot as last time — behind one of the hills surrounding the Haven.
“My visions are a minute or two into the future. I want to see farther away.”
“And how far did you see with my help?”
“I don’t know... After two days my friends were still able to act on it.”
“So it could’ve been three days, it could’ve been a year, you didn’t just know it.”
I nod.
“Well. Ready to try again?”
I nod again.
“It’s very likely you’ll see an another awful vision, I just want to make sure you know that.”
I stomp the ground and stand firmer on the grass, as if that will help. The otter claps their hands.
“Five, four, three, two, o—”
Carla is speeding on the highway, the rear-view mirror reflects the telltale blue and red flashes of a police pursuit.
A black Sedan starts overtaking them, Carla shoots a nervous glance at the shotgun seat, where their book lies.
A gunshot, both side windows explode into a shower of glass pebbles. Carla is unharmed, but is startled into swerving, the car loses friction and uncontrollably slides, spins, rolls then slams driver side first into another car.
“—ne… Oh hey, you didn’t pass out.”
“Please do it again.”
“Huh?”
“I saw them die again, in a different way. I need to know when it happens and how to stop it.”
“Alright. Get ready.”
I go to eat lunch under the apple tree, my favorite spot for lunch in Haven. One of the apples drops on my head, it hurts a bit.
It was a vision. I choose not to eat under that apple tree today.