The Orb [short story] (slight editing)

3rd Person POV

"Jack..." Aiden whispers his best friend's name. "Jack!" He snaps his head in the direction of the front door and can see Jack out in the field. He runs towards the door but Hazel is right behind him and pulls him back just in time before he too could make the mistake of falling under the Orb's gaze. Aiden tries to shake her hands off him but she holds fast, squeezing her eyes shut at the strength needed to keep him fast. He begs her, "Please Haze- Hazel PLEASE. I have to go after him. Please... please." She keeps her eyes closed and shakes her head slightly. She squeezes her lips together in concentration and in trying to keep her own emotions at bay while she keeps her hands firmly around his muscular arms. An ache fills her heart knowing there's nothing either of them can do.

"You know I can't let you out there. You know why. There was no getting him out of that and risking it would have put you right in his position with him. I can hardly bare what's happening to Jack, but I can't imagine losing you," Hazel says, the last sentence in a whisper. Aiden struggled less and less and eventually calmed down enough that she could let go. Hazel studies his face, twisted with anguish. His head bowed as he regains composure after the rush of emotions and looks at her without lifting his head all the way. Hazel's breathing catches as his blue eyes meet hers in such a hurt and pleading manner. She stands transfixed until she can mutter out a quiet "I'm sorry" and hopes he doesn't catch the quiver in her voice. Natalie stands in front of her friends and shifts her gaze from her brother to her best friend and back before moving to the window.

Natalie's POV

I need to see what happened to Jack. As I walk to the window, I'm careful to reach my hand out and block the view and slowly move it so it just barely reveals Jack. I gasp as I see him. It's so unreal seeing him like this, seeing him...helpless. He walks slowly and rhythmically toward the Orb. Eventually, I see him stop just before it, his whole body tenses and I can tell there's an inner battle going on, then after a moment he drops to his knees. His head bowed as if in prayer until it jerks up and he looks ahead again and stands up.

I almost begin to hyperventilate. That was real-this is real. Jack is gone, under the spell of whatever the Orb is as plain as day. I can't believe it. It takes Hazel sitting Aiden down and coming over to me to keep me from passing out. I tell them what I saw after I get ahold of myself again.

"We need a plan, and fast," says Hazel as she paces the kitchen.

"What do we know or have that the Orb doesn't? Maybe we can use it against it, or as bait maybe?" I say.

"Oh, the book!" Hazel spins in revelation. Aiden snaps his head towards her and his eyes linger as she goes through her whole thought process out loud. I force back a smile knowing that look. It isn't one of concentration or listening but of study, of admiration of her. I think it's cute. Hazel drones on about how the book gives us so many clues about the orb and is written by this guy who at one point must have been good before he "lost". Since the book has so much information that we could use against this Society the Orb must want it back to keep us from gaining the upper hand. Aiden looks at her intently the entire time, Hazel never noticing until the very end. She glances at him. "And since- uh, since the book...I...I forgot what I was saying." She says sheepishly. She looks away to hide the blush staining the tips of her ears as she lost her train of thought the moment she made eye contact with him before facing his direction again.

"Ok, so then all three of us go out to the field and bring the book as bait. Then either I or Nat will use the book to distract the Orb or Jack while Haze uses her necklace to break the whole curse...thingy," Aiden plans with a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

We all nod in agreement as Aiden grabs the book and we cautiously head out the door.

3rd Person POV

Aiden walks out first but quickly remembers what the book said and looks at the ground when he catches a quick glimpse of a floating, mesmerizing purple orb. He tries to ignore the stab of longing purely from the slightest glance at it. the girls follow suit. They walk, guided by the light of the Orb.

All of a sudden the light disappears and the orb has vanished.

"You can look up now," Jack says as he steps out of a shadow of a nearby tree.

The group slowly looks up, afraid of what they are about to see. The sight before them is both gut-wrenching and scary. Jack is standing with a proud look on his face and evil blood-red eyes. The Society of the Orb has just gained a new follower.