Eve Pov - Atmospheric Shift

August 28, 2018

An atmospheric shift caused me to stir from my slumber. It wasn't the first time one interrupted my sleep, but this one was different. This one caused an uneasy feeling to settle within. I stilled my body as I hesitantly opened my eyes. I was unsure what caused the shift, but I didn't want to make any quick moves if the culprit was near. My eyes adjusted quickly as they observed the darkness that engulfed my room; it was darker than usual. The window that rests atop my bed usually lets a spec of light seep in through the night, but tonight there was none. Concerning, but I doubt that has anything to do with the shift that's still lingering. Questions started to form as I lay there, unsure of what to do, the uneasiness building as the atmosphere grew darker. Something was happening, and I couldn't be the only one who felt it.

Movement sounded from downstairs. The person was quiet, barely making noise, except for the whispers of wind they caused. They moved through the house, disappearing and reappearing. What were they looking for? It didn't sound like they were going for our television or game console, so what could it be? Suddenly the whispers ceased, and the person appeared outside my door.

Shit, I quickly relaxed my body and closed my eyes. My best option was to pretend to be asleep until they left; maybe it would reveal something about what they were searching for. The soft click of my door echoed through the room a second later.

Silence engulfed the room after the door closed. The person's steps were barely audible; they definitely weren't human. It wasn't till they got close that I recognized who it was; Mom.

Her lavender scent wrapped around me, though it was faint. No wonder I couldn't identify her, but that concerned me. The lavender grew stronger as she leaned over. Resting a soft hand on my arm, she began to shake me. Attempting to pull me from the slumber that was for show. I stirred eventually, moving slightly to show I was coming around, not that I needed to.

As my gaze fell on her, the uneasiness came back. Something was off, no longer having to do with the atmospheric shift. Her body graced the edge of my bed as she removed her hand from my arm. Yet, she never glanced at me; her gaze settled on the world beyond my window. She didn't utter a word, and her body went still like a statue. If a human looked at her now, they would think she was dead.

She was worried about something, and that worried me just the same. I wanted to voice my concerns, but the silence that covered the room didn't allow it. It pooled around us, almost daring us to say anything. Daring us to break that unspoken rule and slip into the darkness as punishment.

Time seemed to tick by slowly as we sat there, but it was less than a few minutes. My sisters were awake and active as they rummaged through the house. Mom probably woke them up before coming to my room. Maybe she said something to them about the situation. I just had to wait for them to walk through my door, then I could ask.

I didn't wait long; my sisters graced us with their presence minutes later. Each informed mom that their task was done and everything was ready. They were answering my questions, and I hadn't said anything yet. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know what they were referring to. The soft purr of the car outside told me that much. I just needed to understand why.

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Why did we have to leave?

Mom left moments ago, yet I stayed rooted to my bed. My sisters were going through my things, packing whatever they saw fit. Honestly, they should've asked first. They could be packing stuff I didn't want or needed. Yet I wasn't saying anything; maybe I had already accepted it. Or was I playing ignorant? My questions wouldn't get answered at this rate.

"What's going on?" I already knew, but I wanted them to tell me. I needed to hear it out loud. Sadly, all I received was silence.

"Why are we leaving? What caused the shift?"

Again I was met with silence, and that pissed me off. They weren't even trying to listen, and I know damn well they heard me. But they continued to pack, talking amongst themselves as Cassidy laid clothes out for me. If they had time to talk to themselves, they had time to answer me.

My alarm clock flew, narrowly missing Natalia's head as it smashed into the wall behind her. I don't even remember picking it up, but it captured their attention. My sister's stared back at me, each expression different but all with the same meaning. What the hell was wrong with me?

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Cassidy snapped. Told you.

"Well, would you look at that? I finally got your attention." I sneered. "Now, one of you better start talking."

"You could've just asked without throwing the damn clock. It almost took my head off!" Natalia hissed, pointing to the small dent in the wall and clock pieces that littered the floor.

"Oh please, it'll take more than a clock to kill you, and that dent was already there." This stalling game was irritating me. I could feel my temper starting to boil over again.

"Aside from having to leave, we don't know what's going on, Eve. Mom just woke us and told us to pack some clothes and whatever we deemed necessary." Kayleigh sighed, setting down the bag she had been packing.

I stared at her for a minute, she could be lying just to end the conversation, but I knew both mom and Kayleigh. Since Kayleigh was the oldest, mom always relied on her to keep us safe. Constantly told her about the problems she faced and her burden. Deep down, I knew Kayleigh was right, but I was being stubborn, and it was apparent.

"Mom will tell us when she's ready. We just have to trust her." Natalia added.

"Mom'll be ready to leave soon. We need to finish getting you ready."

My shoulders were hunched in defeat as I listened to Cassidy's words. Somehow I'm always the one holding everyone back. Now was not the time to dive into my feelings, but I couldn't help it. The stares from my sisters weren't helping either, they meant no harm, but their eyes made me sink deeper.

A sad sigh escaped my lips as I threw the soft blanket off me. My protection from the chill and darkness decreases as I swing my legs over the side of the bed. The chilly air immediately attacks my skin as my feet kiss the floor, though I don't feel it. "I guess I should get dressed then."

My sisters resume their tasks as I grab the clothes Cassidy laid out. Nothing spectacular, just something comfortable for a road trip. The reality of this was starting to sink in, and I wasn't enjoying it. I was wary of Oregon and what Portland could do for me. But I grew to love the nature of this place, even going as far as to call it my home. Now things were changing, and I was leaving the one place I felt comfortable in, though the people around thought differently. Portland was helping me find myself, and I didn't want to leave.

Mom came for us when it was time to go. She slid my door open without uttering a word and looked at us. It was a relatively simple look, but it held meaning. Carrying my belongings, my sisters sped quickly out of the room. However, my feet were rooted to the floor. I took a final look around, glancing at all the things that made my room feel special. I was sad I couldn't take everything with me, but I was grateful for the stuff they did pack. I just hoped the place we were going would still allow me to find myself. A heavy sigh escaped me as I entered the stage of acceptance. It wasn't fun, but I had to move on and trust mom in her decisions. She's never led us astray, and she wouldn't start now. Saying a final goodbye, I closed my door, the soft click seeming to ring louder than usual, and headed to the car where my family was waiting.