The Prophecy

me farther into the woods. He threw me to the ground, knocking the wind out of me. I gasped as pain shot through my lungs only to have my breathing inhibited again as he settled his massive weight against me, pinning me to the ground. I looked up through the tears streaming down my face. Shock coursed through my body as his face came into focus. I knew him.

“Jason! What the hell do you think you're doing? Get the fuck off of me!” I sobbed, shoving uselessly against his chest.

He grinned as he smoothed the hair away from my face. “Don't be like that, baby. You know I've wanted you for years now.”

“You're with Becca!” This was beyond disgusting.

“Like that really matters,” he laughed at me. “Come on, you know you want me.” I finally worked my arm free and slapped him with all the strength I could muster. His head snapped back, a look of surprise crossed his face. Spitting a small amount of blood from his mouth, he turned back toward me and got so close to my face that his nose touched mine. “That was a fucking mistake, bitch.”

He slammed his mouth down onto mine, swallowing my screams. Taking both of my hands in his, he stretched them above my head and held them with one hand while his other hand reached down and fumbled with the clasp of my jeans. I thought my heart would pound out of my chest. Freeing my mouth from his, I started pleading with him to let me go, to stop.

“What the fuck is this shit!” Came an outraged voice. I sobbed in relief as he stumbled off of me. I curled in on myself, and looked up into the eyes of my savior.

“You fucking slut! I knew you always wanted him!” Becca shrieked, rage shining through her glazed eyes.

“Wha— Becca! He attacked me!” I reached out to her, sobbing. I didn't understand.

She looked from me to Jason. “Yeah right. You've always been jealous of me! You think I don't know that you want what I have?” Scoffing, she went to move away.

“Becca! Are you serious? I don't want anything of yours and I sure as hell don't want to be anything like you!”

She spun around and my head whipped back at the force of her slap. “You're fucking dead, do you understand me? I will destroy you.” With that icy threat, Becca left with Jason, leaving me to sob alone in the woods.

I shook myself from the memory as I came back to the present. “Star, what was the final break?” James asked again. I glanced over at him and tried to hold the tears at bay. I blinked rapidly and returned my gaze back to the ceiling.

“She thought I wanted what she had. We had a fight, and she vowed to destroy me.”

“You mean destroy you physically?”

A bitter laugh escaped as I looked at James. “No, not physically. Socially. It's the only thing that mattered to her.”

He stared down at his desk, tapping out a rhythm with his fingers as he contemplated my words. “Did it work?”

“What? Her destroying me?” I gestured around, bitterness coating my words. “I'm here, aren't I? What do you think the answer to that question is?”

He leaned forward and rested his arms on the desk. I felt a surge of guilt roll through me like a wave as he remained silent.

I sat up and shifted in my seat, feeling uncomfortable within my own skin.

“I’m sorry.” I fluttered my hands, as if the action would clear my thoughts. It was useless. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out.”

“Yes, you did. I understand that, to you, this,” He gestured around him, encompassing the whole town, “would be considered social suicide. Just like your perceived thoughts about our sessions. You’ve judged this town and its inhabitants based on preconceived notions, so you won’t give it a chance.”

My pride rose up, demanding that I defend myself, deny his accusations. He just waved my words off and continued.

“Star, I understand” That silenced me. “Believe it or not, I have traveled. I’ve been to big cities and I know how vastly different it is compared to a small town like this. The change would be difficult for anyone to adjust to. Add why you had to move here into the mix, and I don’t blame you for feeling the way you do.”

“You don’t?” A surprised frown crossed my face. I expected him to droll on and on about how great it was here, about the need for me to start fresh. Basically a repeat of what my parents have lectured to me about. I wasn’t expecting his acceptance.

“No, I don’t blame you. It’s perfectly understandable. But,” Here it is. “Regardless of how or why you came to be here, the truth of the matter is that you are here. Whether you enjoy it or not depends on you. The situation may suck, but no one has the ability to make your life here miserable except for yourself.”

I let his words sink in, thinking back on how I reacted to the people that live here. How negative I've been about everything and everyone. Wrapping my hair around my hand, I jumped when I felt a hand touch my shoulder, causing me to pull my hair. I grimaced at the stinging sensation in my scalp and looked up at James.

“Just think it over, okay?”

I nodded and rose to my feet. “I will.” I surprised myself by the honesty behind my words. I smiled slightly and waved to him as he moved to sit behind his desk. “See you next time.”

“I’ll be here.”

Chapter Eleven

The week flew by faster than I expected. I looked forward to having the weekend off and finally be able to relax, but I still had a full work day ahead of me along with the last therapy session of the week. I wasn't looking forward to either of them. Work, because of having to deal with Rose. Therapy because of having to deal with myself.

James had shed light on parts of me that I never knew existed, or rather, that I refused to see. I quickly came to realize that I didn’t like who I was becoming, but didn’t know how to stop it.

Brandon greeted me with a cup of coffee as I walked into The Nook. I sent a grin his way as I breathed in the caffeine laden aroma. “What's the terror up to today?”

“Oh, the usual. Breathing fire and eating babies.”

I rolled my eyes at him and lightly slapped him on the arm. “I'm serious. What type of torture can I expect out of her today?”

“Honestly, I don't know. She's been pretty quiet today, so I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing.” He crossed his arms over his chest as he turned back to me. Damn he was built.

“So I guess we'll just have to play it by ear today, eh?”

“I swear, if you push your tits farther across that counter they're just going to pop out and blind all of us.”

“Speak of the devil.” I said happily. Brandon gave me a thumbs up and turned back to his work. I turned to face Rose and was stunned to see the circles under her eyes. I looked closely and noticed that they were slightly red and puffy too, which was weird. I thought evil never cried.

I sauntered over to her, my sweetest smile in place. “I didn't know you were into checking women out. If I would have known that I would have found you a girlfriend by now.”

“It's not my fault I can get people into bed, unlike you, Ms. Virgin.”

“And it's not my fault I actually respect myself.” I spouted back, becoming flushed with anger.

“Now, now, girls, there's plenty of me to go around.” Brandon gestured to himself while wiggling his