Taking Over (Off Topic!) XD

Taking Over Chapter One
I gazed down at the lake, staring into the murky waters. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a splash of water in the distance. I squinted to try to see it better.

"I see you," I heard a man's voice echo from all around like surround sound speakers. My eyes darted nervously around and I tried not to scream. I whipped around and looked behind me. Fear was building up inside me and I had to fight the urge to run away.

"Uh..." I swallowed backing up. A shadow flew across the coffee colored bark of the trees in front of me. I heard a twig snap. A gust of wind blew fall leaves into my ginger hair.

"I'm getting closer to you," The man's voice echoed again. Fear shot through me. I closed my eyes and barely was able to breathe. My heart pounding in my chest, I began running ducking under branches of trees, and pushing aside leaves. I was shaking madly as I heard footsteps coming from behind me. I wanted to turn around and look, but was too afraid. I noticed a blurry shape in the clearing I was sprinting towards. The figure was beginning to come into focus. I wanted to scream yet I didn't want to draw attention to myself. I let out a muffled shriek, as I almost crashed into the shape, which I now knew was a man. Skidding to a halt, I tripped, almost falling.
"Who-who are you?" I managed.

The man stretched his arms toward me as if unable to move his legs "You're coming with me. Join us, Hazel."

I attempted to turn but was frozen with dread. He grabbed my wrist with a grip of steel. I tried to take a gasp of breath but then everything went black.

My eyes popped open as I bolted upright in bed. My mom had her hand on my wrist.

"Hazel are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost," my mom sounded concerned.

I realized my palms were sweating and sweat had also beaded above my brow. "I'm okay..."

"Are you having nightmares honey?" Mom wondered. I paused to think. It wasn't worth her knowing she'd just worry.

"No, everything is fine."

"Okay. So, what do you want for breakfast?" she questioned.

"Uh..whatever.." I shrugged. “You can choose.”

"Alright, get dressed and I'll make go and make waffles," Mom said.

"Right, okay," I responded, nodding.
As soon as Mom left I slowly I sat up and yawned. I stretched then stood and stumbled over to my closet. The obvious thing for me to do was pick the first thing that caught my eye. It was a sparkly green shirt with brown outlines of butterflies. My favorite shirt! No, The Shirt. I chose some ripped up jeans too. After tossing the outfit on I cheerfully climbed down the stairs. I could smell the waffles. When I sat down I picked up my fork and impaled my waffle. There was the ringing of our cordless phone.
"Hello?" my mom answered, after snatching the phone off the hook. While I chewed my waffles I heard a muffled voice on the other end. It was way to quiet to make out.
"Who is it?" I wondered aloud, my mom holding up her index finger to silence me.
"Jesse! Why are you calling! You know I’ll never-" Mom walked into the other room so I couldn't hear what she was saying. Odd, usually my mom would stay in the room and talk. Not like I’m an eavesdropper. No biggie though. And who’s this Jesse person?... I swallowed my waffles and slipped off my seat. Then I walked to the counter and got a stick of sugarless gum; I did not feel like brushing my teeth today. Mom walked back into the room as I slid my backpack on. I unzipped the front pocket and pulled out a scrunchie. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, then zipped up my bag.
“C’mon, Mom. Let's go!" I said gripping the handle of the garage door. I opened the door and stepped out then ran to our red convertible, Mom following behind me. My mom opened the car door and we both plopped down into the seats. Mom put the keys in the ignition and turned them while I turned on the radio.
"Oh I love this song!" I smiled.
"I think it's ok," Mom replied while the car purred and we backed out of the driveway.
"No way! Tears of Blood is an amazing band! All their songs are great!" I declared, my mom grinning. We drove down the road approaching Northern Hopes High School, also known as NHHS around here. My mother pulled up to the front of the school and let me out.
"See ya later honey," she sounded worried again.
I was puzzled but I still feigned happiness. "Okay!"
I walked through the school doors. This was one of the best private schools around here. My best buds, Kaley Shygunnan and Louisianna Kernkettle, ran up to me and hooked arms.
"Five minutes until eight. Come on! We ought to hurry! Move your butt into that classroom!" Louisianna said gleefully, her brown pigtails bouncing up and down on her shoulders. We walked down the hall quickly then slipped into our classroom. I was in eleventh grade. In a few weeks, I’d turn 16! Yep, my birthday is September 26! Kayley opened her locker and threw her backpack in while Louisia unzipped hers. We had lockers in the classroom of our PRIVATE school! Aren’t we lucky ducks? I’d heard at other schools near us they didn’t get lockers in their classrooms. I’d never been to a private school or anything until I started going here in middle school. Yeah, it’s called NHHS but they have a part for middle school students! I had no idea what other schools were like. Oh well. I opened my bag and took out my math homework then put my backpack in my locker and closed the door. Louisianna placed her homework on the table where we turn it in everyday and I walked up to her and did the same. I walked over to my desk and sat down. I sit next to Joshua Smith and Elizabeth Swiftwing. Wow, surrounded by S’s, I totally feel like a loser since my name is Hazel Bluestone. Haha! I gotcha! Nah, I’m fine with it. In fact most of my classmates have last names that start with S. Wait? Why am I rambling on and on? Let’s get to the point!

Josh was a good friend.. sort of, so is Eliza. The teacher walked up to the front of the room. She had red hair, blue eyes, and freckles. And was quite young.
"Alright so today we have our regular classes..." the teacher begun.
"Hey!" Joshua whispered elbowing me in my gut.
"What?" I hissed, slapping his arm.
"Science at ten, Social Studies at ten forty-five" the teacher continued eyeing us warily.
"Uh, I'll tell you at recess. I don’t want Mrs. Gold shouting at us," he leaned back into his seat.
"Ok"
"And finally you'll have music at two," Mrs. Gold ended.
I raised my hand.
"Yes, Hazel?"
"Are we going to be watching Intrusion today?" I asked. Intrusion was a book the class had just finished reading and our teacher said we could watch the movie.
"Yes" she responded. I smiled. Intrusion was basically about a girl who could go into people's dreams, and she got power crazy with it yada yada yada then ended up in jail. I think they wanted to try to teach us that crappy old phrase "With power comes responsibility." but I really don't know.
"Now group one line up to go to art and group two stay to watch the movie," Mrs. Gold said walking over to the TV in the side of the class room while group one walked out the door. I grinned even wider. I was in group two! We had a big class so we had to always be in two groups. Thirty-nine kids. Not counting me, a lot isn’t it? Mrs. G clicked on the tape and I watched from my desk.

When the movie was over Mrs. Martin asked us if we had enjoyed the movie. Most of the kids nodded but still some shook their heads. I thought the it was pretty cool, though. The way she could get in to people's dreams and tell them what to do when they woke up. If I had that power…. Ha! We’d have some fun. Don’t think I’d be evil though, no way.
I walked over to my locker as Mrs. Gold told us to line up for Science. I opened my locker and grabbed my binder. We walked out the door and into the hall.

Most of the school day was a breeze had science, ate lunch, and did art, but it was now time for recess.
"Come on!" Mrs. Gold shouted above the clamor of our voices, as we shoved eachother to get closer to the door. She pushed open the back door to our class room and we ran outside. I was breathing in the autumn air. It was humid, but it smelled fresh. I ran through some crunchy leaves and headed over to the playground. The ground was very green and grassy but it had
leaves scattered here and there in clumps. I ran over to the bench and sat down. We only had recess so we could talk. You know, get out our energy. We used to not have recess at school, but the teachers thought we were fidgeting to much. The younger ones always had it though. Josh dashed over to the bench and seated himself next to me.
"So what were you wanting to tell me earlier?" I asked nervously, looking down. Joshua was kinda cute. With his handsome dirty blonde hair, and brilliant green eyes.
"I wanted to tell you about this weird dream I had last night," he said, staring at my eyes.
"You had an odd dream too?" I asked, looking up and meeting his eyes for a split second before I glanced back down.
"You had one?"
"Yeah," I nodded, looking only at my shoes.
"Would you mind if I told my dream?" Josh
"Feel free,"
"Ok so I was like on the top of a mountain, and this woman said that she was going to kill me me. She chased and almost caught me RIGHT when I woke up. But before I woke, I saw that it was, Kaley." he explained.
"Wow… My dream kind of like that, but it was some man. And I like, didn’t even know him. " I gasped.
"Weird," Joshua's eyes were wide.
"Does it mean something?" I wondered.
"I- I don't know" he replied looking at his lap.
"My mom was talking to some-"
The whistle blew. Aww, recess was over? When was I going to find time to talk to Josh about this? I stood up and started walking back to the classroom. Today Louisianna and Kaley chatted together alone but had kept a close eye on me and Josh. I don't know why though. Maybe I’d talk to mom about how strange Kaley and Louisianna were staring at me today. But wait!

Mom acting weird earlier ... acting scared! I don't want to worry her more. The teacher opened the door to our classroom and my class and I poured back into the room. Perhaps ... I could just call Kaley and Louisianna and ask them if something was wrong, but they wouldn't understand.. We walked inside and the teacher told us to pack up our stuff for the carpool. I walked to my locker and Josh quickly glanced at me, with an icy cold gaze, then his eyes darted away as fast as they'd come. I opened the locker door and picked up my backpack. Kaley was staring at me curiously. When I sat down I took my math book out of my desk and my spelling book them dumped them into my backpack.
"Carpool is starting" I heard a voice on the loudspeaker. After I got home I could phone Joshua and talk to him more about this. I mean, I could use my cell phone but I didn't like using it in the car, cause Mom could hear my conversations.

"149" the voice called my car number and I picked up my backpack and walked out the door. I stepped quickly on the carpeted ground then walked down a ramp and opened the front door. I walked out, sprinted to my car, opened the door, and threw in my backpack. I slid in and buckled my seatbelt.
"Ready to go?" My mom asked quietly. I could tell she was still nervous.
"Yeah."
She stepped on the gas peddle and we lurched forward then crawled slowly and smoothly out of the school parking lot. Once we were out of the lot we spedup a little on the main road. I looked out the window at the other cars and trees.
"How was your day?" Mom blurted.

"Fine" I responded. I could see my house getting closer and closer. Man, I was glad we lived so close to the school. No more awkwardness! My mom slowed to go up the driveway

then parked the car. I opened my door and snatched my pack off the seat. Then I walked to the front door as my mom got out. I grabbed the door knob and turned it then walked inside. Mom came in behind me.
"Lock your door Hazel… and your windows," my Mom called to me as I walked up the spiral staircase taking my phone out of my pocket. I punched in Josh's number. It rang twice before Josh answered.
"Hazel?"
"Yea, it's me" I replied.
"I just got a call .... from someone" he said "Well it rang and it said unknown name and unknown number so I answered it" he continued.
"Then?"
"I heard-" Josh was in the middle of a sentence when my phone disconected and our power went out. Then my phone rang and I looked at it. It said unknown name and unknown number. I answered it.
"Hello?" I murmured, feeling a chill creep up my spine, sending tingles through my whole body. There was loud raspy breathing on the other end then all of the sudden I heard a bloodcurdling scream. It was my mom! I heard a loud buzzing noise in my ears and got really light headed. Oh no, I'd felt this feeling before .. I was gonna faint. Why? I don’t know. I was about to scream when everything went disappeared and suddenly I was floating.
There were three doors around me, a door pink and flowery that reminded me of Kaley, a blue door that reminded me of Josh, and a beige door that reminded me of my mom. I wanted my mom more then anything now so I opened the door. Then .. BAM! I was in my kitchen and my mom was standing there, blood trickling from her lip. A shadow loomed abover her.
"Have her join us!" The shadow hissed. "Give me her now! Give me, Hazel!" Then everything faded......
My head snapped up and I blinked my eyes open. The power had come back on, my phone was still in my hand, and my mom was leaning over me.
"Mom why... what... uhhh? What was that scream?" I murmured.
"It's okay Hazel. You just fainted… There was no scream." She lied.
"No, I know what I heard," I said looking at the phone in my hand, slowly sitting up "The phone rang... and I answered it."
"And?" my mom urged.
"Well, there was loud breathing...." I trailed off. Mom's eyes got wide but she said nothing. I could sense that she was nervous.
"I think it's okay now honey" Mom reassured me "Oh! I forgot I have to go to a meeting, I trust you can handle yourself alone, but right now I have to get ready," she stood and began walking towards the door.
"Mom! Wait!.... Josh said he got a call, too. Except he said he just heard the breathing" I said quickly.
My mother turned to look at me. She looked afraid and I thought I heard her mutter, “I knew it,”
Mom rushed out the door.

"That was... unsettling." I grumbled. Suddenly my phone started vibrating in my hand. I looked at it. Joshua was calling, so of course, I answered.
"What was that all about?" he sounded upset at me.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hang up, but the power went out and the phone shut off. Then a man called and I heard loud breathing and-"
"THAT’S EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENED TO ME! Except…" he interupted.
"It was a woman?" I guessed.
"Exactly, oh my Mom headed off for a meeting, so I’m stuck home alone." he said. It must've been why we were friends. Our parents were so much alike. They both went to meetings and they were both divorced. Then all of the sudden I heard a voice.
"Hang on! I think I hear something.. I'm going to put the phone down, be right back!" I whispered. Ignoring Joshua’s muffled protests, I left the phone on my bed, and crept down the hall. I was sure my mom had left already but I guess I was wrong because I saw her in her room.
"Never, Jesse! Never will, she be yours!" Mom hissed into her cell, "you can't take her! Iwon't let you!"
I wondered who the her that she was talking about was so I leaned in around her door to hear better. She was lying on her bed jabbering "I'm sorry, but I can't let you use her power"
I backed away from the door and crept into my own room. Power? What power? They surely weren’t talking about me! Creepy! As if "powers" were real! I picked up the phone again.
"Josh, I'm a little disturbed…. I know I'm gonna sound wimpy or something, but I heard my mom talking about powers," I did air quotes when I said powers.
"Powers? Hmm. I say you slowly and carefully try to get her to tell you about whatever it was she was talking about," Josh said.
"Yea... you're right. I'm gonna ask her right now! And I'll be stubborn about it too," I spoke firmly, hanging up then walking to the door of my mom's room. Mom sighed so I assumed she was off the phone. I opened the door and walked in.
"Mom," her back was facing me.
"Hazel! Oh! Eh, you suprised me" she said, whirling around to face me.
"I heard you on the phone."
"With Jill? We were just talking about the clothes I need to wear to the meeting..." she trailed off, but I knew she wasn’t telling the truth.
I looked at my watch that I always wore. "Well, you're late for the meeting. And Mom, I heard you mention something about powers"
"Powers! Powers? No such thing!" Mom didn't look me in the eye while she spoke these words.
"You can't hide it from me, Mom. I’m fifteen! Stop trying to sugar coat everything. Explain"
She pursed her lips. "Err… Come sit"
"K ...." I situated myself on her bed.
"Y-You aren't normal"
"Gee thanks I feel a whole lot better about myself now" I said sarcasticly.
"No, I mean I was talking on the phone about you.... It's a long story. You also kinda have magic abilities."
"Mom, what did you hit your head on TODAY? There is no such thing as magic!"
"Listen to me first sweetie!"
"Fine" I grumbled.
"When you were born. A group of men, the DarkHearts, came. They said they wanted you to come with them. So they could train you when you got older. They said you could go into people's dreams. And you know control them when they woke up. I refused to hand you over and they said they'd be back… There was a war. Your father and I aren’t really divorced…"
“What?” I gasped, feeling tears well up in my eyes.
“He’s dead.”
"So they're coming back now?" I sucked it up, I’d hardly known him.
"Yes" she nodded "but don't worry even though I dont have magic any-"
"Wait... you had magic! And how do you expect me to believe this?" I cut her off.
"Please Hazel" my mom begged "Trust me. I will keep you protected and school should be safe too."
"What the hell, Mom? I’m not insane!" I hopped off her bed and rolled my eyes quickly walking out of her room. Man she was off her rocker! Talk about crazy! I would have to tell Joshua everything later but I had to call my besties first. I didn’t believe Dad was dead. Not possible. I took my phone from where I left it and dialed up Louisianna. Josh had hung up, so I might as well. The phone rang once. It rang twice. Then it rang a few more times, and I only reached her voicemail. Then I called Kaley. It rang once.
"Hazel?" Kaley answered.
"Hey, Kaley!"
"Why weren’t you with me and Louisianna at recess? And I've been trying to call you but you didn't answer!" she sounded grouchy.
"Hazel! Dinner! Eat before I leave!" My mom called from downstairs.
"Not hungry!" I shouted back.
"Then brush your teeth and go to bed" she ordered.
"Ugh, Kaley. My mom says I gotta go. I'll explain everything at school tomorrow. I promise." I hung up. The scurried into the bathroom and applied my tooth paste to my toothbrush then brushed my teeth. I needed shiny whites not yellows and greys. After brushing for a minute I walked back to my room and slipped on a pair of shorts and a T - Shirt for the night.

The next day I awoke to find a note on the nightstand near my bed. Okay..... No one ever leaves me notes. I yawned and sat up stretching my arms out. Then I picked up the note.
"Hazel" I read aloud "I've had to go to another meeting. So please just get your clothes on, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, and walk to school. Don't be late now!" Oh joy, I get to walk to school. Yay! Yeah right! What was up with all these meetings these days? I groaned. I glanced at the clock on my wall, seven in the morning, I'd have to hurry. The previous night I'd stay'd up pretty late tossing and turning thinking about what had happened. Going down the staircase, I thought of what to have to eat. I went into my kitchen walked in front of the counter looking at our huge white refrigerator. Cereal! I'd have cereal! I walked over to our pantry and turned the handle which suddenly fell off in my hand. I sighed.
"Oops," I mumbled placing it on the counter. I managed to pull the door open. Grabbing my favorite cereal, frosted flakes, I headed back to the counter and poured it out into my hands. No milk, spoon, or bowl for me! Yup, I'd just eat it with my hands. I pigged out, shoving all the cereal in my mouth and carefully picking the few that remained up with my fingers and plopping them in my mouth. I looked at the kitchen's digital clock. To be early, as I always am, I'd have to leave at seven ten and it was already seven o' five. I sped back up the stairs and into the bathroom. Grasping my blue toothbrush in my left hand I picked up the toothpaste tube in my right and flicked the lid off. Then I squeezed the toothpaste onto my teeth and gave a quick scrub with my toothbrush. Finally I dropped everything, pounded down the stairs, and shot out the door making sure to grab my bag from the door knob first. My nostrils flared as I raced down the pale white sidewalk. I was going so fast there was no WAY I would be able to- Uh oh! What was that up ahead. My eyes bugged out as colided with a girl much younger then me, she looked about ten but of course I couldn't tell cause I'd smashed into her. Ouch! She had been carrying books but as we crashed they had fallen to the ground. I rubbed my head.
"I'm really sorry" I grumbled.
"So k" she responded holding out her hand "I'm Riley, and I'm new here, I know I'm in fourth grad and you-"
"Yea, I'm in eleventh grade" I shook her hand swiftly "I'm in a bit of a hurry though, so see ya!" I ran off thundering down the side walk. I glanced behind me once and saw she was picking up her books. Snap! I should of helped her pick up her books. After all I had caused them to fall. Her short red hair glimmered in the sunshine before I turned my head forward again. Yes! The school! Reflief flooded through me. I opened the door to the school and smiled happily knowing I was on time.

Again, like the other day, classes went by quickly. Math was a flash, science was a bit challenging, and etcetera. I could go on forever. But it was recess once more. Time to explain about what happened yesterday to my friends. When the teacher opened the door Kaley, Louisianna, and I raced to our usual swings. I noticed Joshua playing football on the grassy field and could tell he wanted to talk to me, but I was with my girls, and no one could change that.
"So what happened yesterday?" Kaley asked.
"Yeah! What?" Louisianna pressed.
"Well, first I-"
"Wait!" Louisianna cut me off "Who are they?"
"Who?" Kaley wondered.
"Them!" Louisianna pointed behind us to the right impatiently.
Kaley and I both turned around in our swings. Two really pretty kids stood there. One had long curly hair dyed blue and a white ruffly shirt ... or was it a blouse? The other one.... I gasped. It was Riley with a… I squinted. An tenth grader?
"Woah," Kaley whispered. I tapped at Kaley's arm then she turned to look at me. "Yeah?"
"I know the younger one! With the red hair. Her name's Riley"
"Why do they look so shiny?" Louisianna and Kaley said at the same time.
Mrs. Gold seemed to be glaring at the two kids but suddenly she stood up and yelled over at me "Hazel! Riley and Veronica will me escorting you home!"
Kaley furrowed her eyebrows and Louisianna gasped.
"I don't know them! Well ... I know Riley but not that well! I don't ...." I said in shock.
"Well, let's find out who they are! Go!" Kaley pushed me off my swing and I fell to the ground.
"Kaley!" I snapped.
"Sorry! Just please go! Louisianna and I are sure you'll be fine! Nothing can hurt you" I glanced at Veronica and Riley.
"Fine I'll go" I muttered in defeat.
"Good!" Louisianna gave Kaley a high five, as I trudged over to Riley and Veronica.
"Come with us," Veronica said taking one hand out of her black skinny jeans to grasp mine firmly. Riley turned and lead us off the playground into the parking lot where a sleek black limo was parked. My jaw dropped.
Riley breathed a laugh "You get used to it," she opened the door for me while Veronica got in the front. I snapped back into reality.
"Who are you! Where are you taking me! Am I on Gotcha?!" I demanded.
"Hazel, just don't make a fuss!" Riley snapped, the limo's door still open.
"I don't want to go with you!" I whined. Then Riley slapped my face said chanted something I didn’t understand and I felt my grip on reality loosen, as everything dissolved.