Carly pulls her arm away. She frowns as she glances down at it. "I don't know. I just have this need to move."
"To the mountains, right?" Carly's eyes widen in recognition at my words. They're blue and stormy looking tonight.
"Yes." She shakes her head. "This is insane. I've always lived here. Do you think I'm crazy?"
"No." Because I want to go too.
Ruby announces, "Food." A big plate heaped with tortilla chips, meat, and veggies thumps before us. "Need another drink?"
Carly snitches a black olive and says, "Yes, please."
A sudden thought occurs to me, and I grab Carly's wrist. "Ruby, what do you see here?"
Ruby leans close and flips her glasses down off her head onto her nose. "Nothing, should I?"
Carly yanks her hand away and says, "Nope, Sierra's just trying to make a point. Don't mind us."
She glares at me until Ruby walks away and says, "We're the only ones that can see it."
“I think it’s a gift.”
“Stuff like that doesn’t happen to me.”
I bite into salty beef and pepper jack cheese. Her words make me sad and wish I could make her see how awesome she is. I speak over a mouthful of food. “Something already did.”
I lose Carly for a moment as she traces the tribal swirls of her paw print. She takes a big swig of her drink and empties her glass. "Ruby, I need another, please."
She's freaked out. I sigh. "You can get as drunk as you want, but it's not going to change what's happened. We've been chosen, Carly." I glance into the mirror behind the bar and notice it’s too dark to see myself.
5
Chapter 5
Carly
The need to pee is greater than the desire to keep my head absolutely still, and I stumble without light to the bathroom. Those tequila martinis didn't solve my problem, although I had fun. I'm not sure how many I drank, but a vague recollection of flirting with some guy and then telling him I was into bears plays in my head. Oh, sweet Jesus. I cringe in embarrassment. While I'm sure he didn't believe me, I hope I never see him again.
Water rushes too loudly down the toilet when I flush. The last thing I remember is Sierra helping me out of my clothes and telling me there was a bowl by my bed in case I needed to puke. Right now I wish I had as my stomach churns.
Thankful for my nightlight, I search the medicine cabinet for ibuprofen. I pinch the cap open and drop four tablets into my hand. I shove them in my mouth, and the gel coating sticks to my tongue. I guzzle metallic-flavored water out of the tap to swallow them down.
My mouth tastes like the bottom of a birdcage, and I guess I didn't brush my teeth. Opening the toothpaste tube sends the scent of mint to my nose, and my stomach revolts. I drop to my knees with a clunk that should hurt but I'm more concerned about the contents of my stomach rushing out. So much for medicating my headache.
The tile floor is cool under my bare legs when I stretch them out to lean against the wall. While my stomach is quivering, I think I'm done vomiting. Sure I need water if I'm going to make it through the night, I stand to walk to the kitchen, although the urge to crawl is tempting.
The light of the refrigerator temporarily blinds me when I reach in for the filtered water pitcher. Liquid gurgles into a glass as I pour, and I sip cautiously. The cold, clean taste soothes my parched throat. As much as I want to guzzle it down, I know better and shuffle to my couch with the cup.
I gently lay my head down on a throw pillow and close my eyes, willing my headache to subside. It doesn't take long to doze off.
A mountain stream trickles, and it sounds like thunder. A woodpecker hammers against a tree as if someone turned up the volume. Leaves rustle under my feet. The acrid musk of something attracts me. I know it's a disgusting smell, but like the odor of gasoline, I'm strangely drawn to it. It gets stronger as I approach a rock the size of a shed. My heart beats against my chest. The aroma overpowers me. What I want is behind the boulder, but I'm afraid to find it. I stop abruptly, and something bumps into me. Something big. Ice flows through my veins as I imagine long, sharp teeth, and I turn toward it.
I bolt upright on the couch, panting. The gentle breeze of the ceiling fan chills my damp skin. My head is throbbing with pain. Sipping water, I wonder if I can stomach a little food to buffer some aspirin.
I go to the kitchen for crackers and notice my phone is lit up on the counter with a text. Sierra messaged me moments ago. Another comes in.
"I'm cming w/u"
I scroll down to read the previous text.
"FML, dreamt about fking a bear"