The Orb [short story] (slight editing)

Aiden's POV

Jack looks so proud, it makes me sick. He's the most humble guy I know...or knew at least and for some reason he's standing here with the most arrogant look on his face. It makes my blood boil.

"What happened to you, Jack," Haze asks with tears welling up in her pretty blue-grey eyes. I can't bear seeing her like this and my heart drops.

Wow, my feelings have grown alre-

No. No, I don't like her and this is not a good time to think about this. Literally, any other time would be better right now.

"What happened to me?" He asks, casting a glance at the book thats fallen at my feet. Only that I finally realized The Orb was right. It wants the world to be equal. It wants all people to have the same chance. Same riches. Same family. No one would be left behind. This would end world hunger. This will end climate change, poverty, inequality. Don't you want that?" Jack smiles, no, sneers. I get mad when he says that to her. He knows how much of an activist Hazel is, she stands up for this type of stuff. It's not fair for him to play with her about it.

"Yes...yes, of course I want that. But not this way, Jack, or can I even call you that anymore? I know you're still in there. Come on, you have to fight it Jack. Fight it, please." Hazel says as she takes a step closer forgetting the danger if he touches her. My heart races as she does and my eyes snap to him in case he tries something. Wait, I can see it. His eyes. They're the only thing giving it away. He's trapped, and he can't get out.

"Ah ah ah. Not so fast, Hazel." He says as he snaps.

"What did you do to me? Why can't I move?" She yells.

My lord, she's attractive when she's mad.

WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP? THIS IS NOT THE TIME!

I shove my thoughts back down but notice what she's talking about. He's frozen us. I'm in full panic mode. I try to move, but I can't and I look over at my sister and see she's trying to move too.

A devilish grin is plastered on his face. "Oh please. Will you just calm down a bit? I froze you because someone forgot that if I touch you, I'll burn you or in the case of you two, force you to join me. I want to take my time with you three...play with my food if you will. Hmm... I am a bit lonely, though." He looks at Natalie and my pulse soars. Not her, please, not her.

"You wouldn't dare, Jack," I say. If looks could kill, I'm sure he'd be long gone.

"Ahh. You see, that's where you're wrong," he explains and turns back to Natalie. "I would like a partner."

"No. Jack, no," Natalie says through gritted teeth and tears. He takes a step towards her and then another. I try to scream and so does Hazel, but it seems like he thought about that because our mouths are closed tight. 

"Please, Jack," Natalie whispers. Jack is inches away from her face; he looks down at her and smiles. The world started to blur and my eyes stung. I'm about to lose my sister. I've already lost my best friend.

"Come on," he spits. "Look me in the eye, Natalie. See that I've changed...make it real."

She turns her head as far away from him as possible. "N-no, no. You're not Jack. I don't know who you are but you aren't him." The last words became only a whisper.

"Let's get some things straight. First, I am Jack. I've just adopted some new...principles," He says as he seems to stand up a little straighter, look down at her a little more. "Second of all, I told you to look at me." As he says that last sentence he forcefully grabs Natalie's chin and moves it in his direction. She let's out a gasp and whimper at the touch. 

"I look forward to working with you, Natalie," Jack says. It's visible that she's struggling and she's showing signs of resistance. Yes, Nat. Fight it. But to my dismay, she grins at him and her eyes glow a haunting bloody red.

No...

"I look forward to working with you too, Jack." Before Hazel or I know it, they disappear and we can move again.

"No!" Haze screams angrily as she tries to catch up to them, to no avail. "Come out you COWARDS!" She picks up a stick by the forgotten book and throws it towards the woods. I begin to realize the extent of what I just witnessed.

My sister...my Natalie... Gone.

I grow weak and fall to my hands and knees. 

I lost her, lost my sister. 

I stare at the ground to focus on something so that I don't completely collapse in front of Hazel, I don't want her to see me like this.

She needed me and I was helpless to save her.

I get ahold of myself enough to sit up on my knees but I cover my face in grief. Distantly I hear Hazel picking up more branches and rocks from the ground and hurdling them in the same direction. She angrily mumbles things as tears threaten to fall from her eyes and she continues to yell and throw until she's so tired she can't complete a full sentence without taking a breath. She stops and stands in place for what feels like forever. I'm grateful as it leaves me some time to regroup myself in the silence.

I stand up finally and she turns to me at the noise. I take in a breath, it felt like I forgot to breathe the whole time. I look down at her and into those eyes, which are now red and puffy. She hugs me suddenly and puts her head on my shoulder as we both stand in the midday sun. My body shakes in an inconsistent rhythm and my heart drops a little more with each quiet sniff I hear. I know she hates showing negative feelings, but and she tries to stop which only makes her cry more. My heart breaks more times than I thought was possible. All of this came so soon it was like I was attacked by emotions.

Will I ever see Jack or Natalie again? Will they ever become free from this spell or will they be forced into supernatural slavery for the rest of their lives?

We sit under the tree in silence. After about 30 minutes, we feel well enough and we stand up.

"Thank you," She whispers and wipes away tears. I do the same.

I look at her and smile that might not reach my eyes, "I'm always here for you, you know."

"I know."

We head back to the house in silence. She and I both try to form a plan in our heads knowing that we're going to need it.