Ineffable Plan

“Come on,” Emmanuel said as he stood up. He grabbed the book and shut it. “We’ve got to get back.”

I stayed seated. “Well, aren’t you going to let me see what’s inside? I mean, surely you didn’t bring me here to just look at its cover and open it.”

He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the chair. “You can read it in the car.”

“Oh.”

We were on our way to the front desk, but were intercepted by West.

“Is it her?” He asked eagerly.

Emmanuel answered with a nod and a bright smile.

“We’ll be taking this,” he said waving the book in front of West, who just agreed happily.

“Let’s go.” Emmy said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.

“Wait! Aren’t you going to check that out?” I asked grabbing the library book he seemed to be stealing and pushing it towards West.

“No, dear. Don’t worry. It’s yours,” West said waving his hands in front of him, like I was offering him poison.

“Okay.”

We sat quietly in the car for the first fifteen minutes of the ride. Emmanuel was staring at the road in front of us with a silly smile plastered on his face. I just sat staring blankly at the book in my lap.

“Are you going to try to read it?” Emmanuel finally spoke.

“I just remembered it’s not in English.”

He frowned. “You can. You’re just not trying hard enough or maybe you’re trying too much. I don’t know. You just need to figure out how. If you could open that book then you can read it.”

He turned to face me and smiled. “I can’t believe Aaron found you.” His smile grew wider.

Now it was my turn to frown. “Keep your eyes on the road. I’d like to make it back alive.” He laughed slightly but turned back to the road.

I decided to give the book another try. I still couldn’t decipher the lettering on the cover. Maybe the inside will be easier.

“Good idea,” Emmanuel mumbled.

“What?”

He smiled slightly to himself. “Nothing.”

I just rolled my eyes. I went to push the little button on the clasp but hesitated after I remember what happened the last time; the burning around my neck and on my chest.

“Just do it,” Emmanuel said his voice laced with anxiety.

I sighed heavily. Just suck it up. I quickly pressed the button and immediately I felt the heat around my neck.

“Ouch!” hissed as I brought my hands up to my neck. Emmy’s eyes flicked to me for a moment and then back on the road. I turned to the first page and there were more of the cryptic writings on the page. Why did I expect something else? I skimmed through the pages, stopping on those with pictures on it. They were simple drawings but I couldn’t really make sense of them.

“Vampires?” I whispered softly as the truth dawned on me. This was some kind of book about vampires. I had stopped on a picture with a guy whose face was nestled into some girl’s neck. It was about the eighth picture I’d seen with a similar image.

I laughed. “We came out her for a book on vampires?”

Emmanuel just nodded.

“Why?”

“Can you read it yet? It’s important that you figure out how to.”

“Why don’t you just tell me what it says?” I asked. “Or can you not read it?”

“Oh, I can read it. But there are something’s you need to figure out on your own and the sooner you do, the better it’ll be.”

“I’m getting the feeling you’re hiding something from me,” I said sarcastically.

Emmy just laughed.

I spent the next ten minutes trying to make sense of the writings on the page in front of me. Frustrated, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back on the seat. Suddenly a loud noise broke the silence in the car, causing me to jump slightly and sit straight up.

“It’s just my cell phone,” Emmanuel smiled. “It’s on the dashboard. See who it is, will ya?”

I grabbed the cell phone and looked at the ID screen. “It’s Aaron.”

“Answer it, then.”

“Hello.”

-Justine?-

“Yes. It’s me.”

-Where’s Manny?-

“He’s driving.”

-Oh. Um…ask him if I was right?-

“Right about what?”

-Just ask him, please, Justine.

I turned to face Emmanuel. “Aaron wants to know if he was right.”

“Well, tell him yes. You were there.”

“What are you talking…?” I cut myself off and decided to ignore it. “Manny said you were right,” I said into the phone.

-I knew it.-

I could hear the smile in his voice.

-So you know now? You read the book.-

I frowned. “No. I couldn’t read it and I don’t need you telling me to try harder!”

-Oh. That’s okay. Are you two on your way home?-

“Yes,” I mumbled.

-Then I’ll see you in a little bit, ok?-

“Ok.” I went to hang up but heard Aaron’s voice.

-Jus, are you okay? You don’t sound so well.-

“Suddenly I don’t feel so well,” I said quietly. “My stomach’s beginning to bother me.”

There was silence for a moment.

-Justine. You’re not having one of those feelings are you?-

Suddenly my mind was racing. How did he know about that?

-Justine. If you are it’s important that you tell me, okay? I know all about it. I know everything. So please just tell me.-

I felt tears begin to slide in torrents down my cheeks and I felt the car swerve. Emmanuel had pulled over and was now staring at me.

“I think your brothers might be in trouble,” I whispered quietly.