The Legend of the Firewalker (6 page)

He scanned the room.
I hope she doesn’t expect me to dance with her like last year,
he thought, recalling the torture of having to dance in front of people, and with Lafonda.
I would rather give blood than do that again
.

Ultimately, Nathan decided to stick to the security of the table instead of aimlessly searching through the crowd to look for her. He didn’t want to risk looking silly. He noticed that the majority of the people at the party appeared to be college students and that most of the older people were gat
hered together in little pockets near the entrance to the den or fringes of the party. He caught a glimpse of Roy and LaDonda near the table stacked with gifts and cake. It looked like she was still having a conversation with Jonathan.

Carefully, he continued to look around the room, sto
pping here and there to see if he recognized anyone at the party. He stopped again when he saw the blonde with the green eyes. She was standing in the center of the crowded room, but without her entourage of admirers. The sequins on her strapless black dress glimmered in the light as she occasionally shifted from side to side. She was engaged in a conversation with a young woman dressed in a white, fitted minidress that flared out slightly from her waist. The light fabric lay gently on her luminous dark skin, and her long dark hair lay in silky curls on her shoulders. Nathan thought she was just as beautiful as the blonde.

He gasped. “Lafonda!” he blurted out. He was so loud that a few people turned around. “That’s Lafonda?”

Nathan blinked his eyes and looked intently again at the woman in the white dress, this time expecting to see something different. After blinking and adjusting his eyes several times, he finally shook his head in disbelief.  

I guess everyone deserves to look good on their birthday
, he thought, internalizing for what seemed to him an overnight transformation.

For a second, Lafonda turned in Nathan’s direction. When their eyes met, she smiled a huge grin. “The jig is up: I’ve been spotted,” he said. “I guess I’d better head over there.”

Reluctantly, Nathan navigated through the crowd and towards the center of the room. He had approached Lafonda and the blonde from the side, and for the moment, had gone unnoticed as he stood behind them.  

“So, Amanda,” said Lafonda sympathetically, while tos
sing her long black hair off to one side. “Have you heard from Leah — you know, since the accident?”

“Is that what people are calling it these days?” scoffed Amanda, while running her fingers through her straight blond hair. “All I know is that Steve and I had returned to the dorm room to get my cell phone, and there was Leah in the middle of the room, covered in blood, and threatening to hit people with my lamp!”

“So you haven’t gone to visit her at the hospital or tried to call her?” Lafonda asked, sounding disappointed. “Amanda, she was your roommate.”

Amanda huffed. “After what I saw that day,” she said, “I’m terrified of her.” Her sparkling green eyes appeared to flicker with fire in them. “I mean, even Steve was scared to enter the room, and he’s built like a football player! I’m tel
ling you, Lafonda, she was like a wild woman — Tarzan’s mother gone crazy!” She shrugged. “I guess a couple of girls were playing cards outside the room and heard her screaming. I think they tried to help her.”

“Yes,” said Lafonda, “I was in my room when I heard the screaming and all the commotion out in the hallway.”

Amanda rolled her eyes. “She was going on and on about monsters and about something attacking her.”

“Yes!” agreed Lafonda. “And we were trying to help her, but she was so frantic, so terrified. She wouldn’t let anyone get near her.”

“I guess it was just a matter of time before Leah lost it,” shrugged Amanda.

“What do you mean?” asked Lafonda, appearing co
nfused. 

Amanda frowned and her green eyes gawked at her i
ncredulously. “Everyone noticed how strange she was acting after her roommate Jamie died in the first semester, Lafonda,” sneered Amanda. “And it doesn’t take a genius to know she was having nightmares with all that late-night screaming.” She leaned in. “But honestly, could you blame her mother for having her committed?”

“Amanda, I don’t think Leah’s crazy!” Lafonda snapped in disbelief. “I just wish we could have helped her.”

“Well, the only people that could help her were campus security guards,” Amanda concluded coldly. “It eventually took five security guards to subdue her; thank goodness somebody called the police.”

Lafonda shook her head. “By the way, did you ever find your cell phone?” she asked.

“What happened?” interrupted Nathan, sounding confused and finally making his presence known. “Did this happen on campus?”

“Um, how long have you been standing there?” asked Lafonda, sounding annoyed. “You could have said som
ething — but then again, it’s you.”

“Sorry,” said Nathan, appearing frustrated. “But really, I didn’t mean too. It’s just
— it’s just that …” His mind started to spin now. He wanted to tell Lafonda everything; that there were so many similarities in the story he just heard and the estranged girl he had been dreaming about.
How could this be?
he asked himself.

He had convinced himself so many times before that it was just a dream
, but suddenly there was proof she could be real. Nathan’s palms began to sweat and he felt his face becoming flushed.
And if she’s real, then the unseen assailant would be real too!

“Um, Nathan,” said Lafonda. “It’s just that what?” Su
ddenly, she paused and stared intently into his face. “Um, Nathan, you don’t look so good.”

“He’s fine,” interrupted Amanda, her green eyes spa
rkling brighter. “Isn’t that right, handsome?”

“Uh-huh,” stuttered Nathan.

“Well, that doesn’t happen often,” responded Lafonda with a smirk on her face. “Nathan Urye lost for words.”

“I’m fine,” he answered wearily. His mind continued to spin.
Yeah, I’m fine,
he thought sarcastically.
No big deal. Just that my reality isn’t real and bloody girls and monsters are my new reality.

Lafonda sighed and then stared at him suspiciously. “Amanda, this is Nathan,” she said. “And Nathan, this is Amanda.”

“Well, Lafonda!” said Amanda in a Southern drawl. “Where have you been hiding this handsome man?”

Lafonda took a long look at her and then rolled her eyes. “Nathan also goes to IUCF and just finished his freshmen year,” she sighed. Reluctantly, she turned to look at him. “Nathan’s grandfather is our caretaker, and they both live here on the property.”

“Well,” said Amanda flirtatiously, “I’ve never seen you on campus. How about you treat a lady to a dance?”

“I think
… I need a drink,” stuttered Nathan, sounding a bit bewildered. “Or most likely to sit down.” He tried to force a smile. “And I would love to, but my feet are barely good enough for walking, let alone dancing.”

Amanda’s eyes appeared to flicker with fire in them again. “Oh
— well, we will see,” she said, taking him by the hand. “I love a man with strong hands.”

“Oh, brother,” said Lafonda, underneath her breath.

Amanda turned around and displayed a wide grin. She then happily focused her attention back on Nathan. “Ready?” she asked, gently squeezing his hand. 

Nathan suddenly had a blank look on his face. “Uh
… yes,” he stuttered, still sounding confused. “On second thought, I’m ready. Let’s dance.”

“What?” blurted Lafonda.

“Hey guys, what’s going on?” asked Jim, suddenly joining them. He stood next to Lafonda while snapping his fingers and dancing slightly offbeat to the music. “Let’s dance, babe!”

“You have strong arms,” grinned Amanda, squeezing N
athan’s bicep.

Abruptly, Lafonda grabbed Jim’s hand to stop him from snapping his fingers. “Not right now, babe,” she said, forcing a smile. “How about you go get us some punch?”

“But I’m not thirsty,” whined Jim, sounding disappointed.

Lafonda crossed her arms, frowning at Jim, and Jim lo
wered his head. “Okay,” he said, reluctantly walking away.

“And you,” Lafonda said, grabbing Nathan’s arm, so that Amanda would drop his hand, “if anyone is going to be dancing, it’s the birthday girl.” She leaned in and then took him by the hand. “You owe me the first dance, remember?”

“Uh — Lafonda!” Amanda moaned.

“Uh
— Amanda?” protested Lafonda. “Go find Steve!” 

Triumphantly, Lafonda led Nathan out to the dance floor, and he nonchalantly followed. “Lafonda,” he said slowly. “Um
— what just happened?”

Lafonda looked up towards the ceiling and then quickly rolled her eyes. “I don’t know,” she said. “You tell me.” She relaxed her arm a little, so that he could lead. “One second you wanted to sit down, and then suddenly you wanted to cut a rug with Amanda.”

“I, I don’t remember,” Nathan said, sounding flustered. 

Lafonda glared at Nathan. “You don’t have to play dumb,” she said. She gestured in Amanda’s direction; she was standing with her entourage of admirers again. “Amanda has that effect on men.”

Nathan slightly shrugged and then shook his head. “Who is Steve?” he asked.

“Steve is Amanda’s boyfriend,” she grinned. She tilted her head to look around the room. “And I don’t even think he’s here.”

“Lafonda,” he said, taking a pause, “I apologize if things got weird back there.” He recalled what he had overheard from them earlier. “Things have been a little … strange lately.”

“Yeah, for both of us,” she said, after catching a glimpse of Jim watching them on the dance floor with two drinks in his hand. “You know, Nathan,” she continued, “you’re not that bad of a dancer
— when you’re not thinking about it.”

“Oh,” he responded, sounding surprised. “I didn’t realize moving to this slow of a song is considered dancing.”

She smiled. “Nathan,” she uttered softly, “what happened to us? I mean, to our friendship?” She looked longingly into his eyes. “I almost never saw you at school, and you barely even speak to me now that we’re home.”

Nathan twisted his lip.
Well
, he thought,
you and your friends are rich and I’m not and I feel like an outsider because of it.
He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again.
And to top things off, I keep dreaming about a girl that I believe is being attacked by monsters
. He sighed. “It’s complicated,” he finally responded.

“What’s so complicated about it?” she asked. “Why don’t you just tell me?” Lafonda suddenly appeared a bit flustered. “Is there something that I did wrong?”

He paused for a moment. He could feel the tingling sensation starting to build in his hands. “You wouldn’t understand,” he said.

Lafonda frowned and stopped dancing. “How can I u
nderstand if you won’t tell me?” she protested, crossing her arms. 

Nathan quickly looked down. His hands started to tre
mble now. “Lafonda,” he sighed impatiently. He then softly placed his hands on her shoulders. “Just trust me. This has nothing to do with you.” He paused. “You did nothing wrong.”

“Hey, guys!” interrupted Jim, while holding out the two drinks in his hands.

“Nathan!” said Lafonda suddenly. She had a look of concern on her face. “Your hands — are they shaking?”

Nathan could feel his face turning red and he quickly withdrew his hands from her shoulders. “I think I’d better go,” he stuttered nervously.

“Nonsense,” spouted Jim. He had an ornery look on his face. “You can hold the drinks while I dance with my girlfriend.”

“Jim
— don’t start,” warned Lafonda.

“No!” he said, with a shrug. “You’re obviously now in the mood to dance, so let’s dance.” Lafonda frowned, and in protest Jim shoved the two cups of punch into Nathan’s hands. “Here!”

“Jim,” said Nathan sternly. “Please take these drinks back. I am not in the mood for this.”

“Ha!” blurted Jim, while nodding his head. “No, I think you are more than capable of holding the drinks while we dance.”

“Oh,” sneered Nathan. “And I think you are absolutely incapable of not being a complete jerk!”

“Stop it guys!” exclaimed Lafonda. “I’ll take the drinks.” She reached for the two drinks in Nathan’s hands and glared at Jim. “And Jim, you can dance by yourself.”

“Forget it!” Jim huffed, attempting to bypass her. “I’ll take the drinks.”

Suddenly, Nathan’s hands shook uncontrollably and fruit punch began to spew erratically from the cups. Desperately, he tried to control his hands, but couldn’t. Just as quickly as it had all started, it was over; and both cups were now em
pty.

Nathan’s eyes met Lafonda’s as he slowly realized where all the juice had gone.

“Who’s the jerk now?” said Jim coldly, as he tried to wipe the red juice from his white shirt and black jacket.

Nathan allowed his eyes to follow Lafonda’s gaze as she began wiping her dress. “I’m sorry,” he stuttered. He looked on in horror at the once flowing white dress that was now stained in red and stuck to her body. “I am so sorry.” Several people that were on the dance floor had horrified looks on their faces and some tried not to let on how bad her dress looked by turning away. “I’m just gonna go,” he muttered, turning to cut through the crowd.