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<channel>
<title>BeWitch</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441</link>
<description><![CDATA[Magic is in the air...



Every year since her eighth birthday Emmaline Nicols has wished for the same thing and days before she turns sixteen her wish finally comes true. Her childhood best friend, James Blackwell, reappears after being kidnapped by his estranged father so many years ago.



Her joy of his homecoming is short lived when his dark secret follows him to town sending supernatural complications flying at both of them from all directions.]]></description>
<language>en-us</language>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:10:59 -0400</pubDate>
<item>
<title>Chapter 1 : 1</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/1/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:07:54 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


She looked out the window anxiously as the car crept forward in line to drop kids off for the first day of school at Whitman Post Elementary. She couldn't wait to tell Jamey all about the wipeout on her bike last night as she tried to get up enough speed to jump over a ramp that she had put together from stuff she found in the garage. 



As her Mom's SUV inched closer to the circular drive her baby sister Lissie began to fuss in the car seat next to her.



&quot;Honey,&quot; She looked up to see her mom's eyes looking at her in the rearview mirror. &quot;Can you find Lissie's pacifier for me?&quot;



She looked around and car seat and found the ladybug pacifier that had fallen under the babies blanket. She put the pacifier back into Lissie's tiny mouth and watched as she settled right down and went back to sleep.



&quot;Thanks sweetie.&quot; Her mom said. They were almost to the circle and she could see Jamey standing there waiting for her as she quickly unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her backpack. &quot;What do you want for your birthday dinner tonight?&quot; her Mother asked again through the rearview mirror.



&quot;Um...&quot; She thought about it for a minute. &quot;Macaroni and cheese and ice cream!&quot; Her favorite foods in the whole world.



&quot;I should have known.&quot; Her mom laughed as she stopped the SUV so she could get out. Emma flung the door open and stood on the door rail so she could see over the door.



&quot;Jamey!&quot; She called out to her best friend. His smile grew when he saw her. She jumped out of the big SUV and spun around waving goodbye to her mother.



&quot;Have a good day!&quot; Her mom called to her.



&quot;Bye, Mom!&quot; She called back as she slammed the car door shut and ran over to him.



&quot;Hi, Emmaline!&quot; he said as he held out a small box toward her but she was busy peeling the band-aid off her elbow to show him the scrap. 



&quot;Check it out, I fell off my bike last night- skidded a whole foot. It bleed a lot.&rdquo; She was so proud of her bike stunt and Jamey smiled at her approvingly. 



&quot;Did you cry?&quot;



&ldquo;Absolutely not.&rdquo; She replied wrinkling brow and looking around to see who might have heard. Jamey smiled at her but said nothing as he continued holding out her birthday present. She took it from him and turned it in her hands as she examined the Peanuts comics that it was wrapped in. He knew that Snoopy was her favorite.



&ldquo;Well, maybe I cried a little.&rdquo; She quickly blurted out, she could never lie to him. Jamey laughed and pushed her to distract her from their ritual morning race to the swing set. She gave him the little head start then took off after him. Emma knew she could catch up to him in no time, she was faster. But as she began to chase after him an ugly pain gripped her stomach. A man stepped out from behind one of the large evergreen trees as Jamey ran past. 



&ldquo;Jamey!&rdquo; Emma yelled a warning to him but he kept running. He looked over his shoulder at her with a big smile as the man put one hand over Jamey&rsquo;s face and with the other arm swept him up off the ground. Jamey tried to scream and kick but the man was too big.



&ldquo;Jamey!&rdquo; She screamed again not believing what was happening right in front of her eyes. &ldquo;Someone help! Jamey!&rdquo; She could hear teachers and parents coming up behind her but it was to late. The man had Jamey in the rusty old red pickup truck and was already driving away. &ldquo;Jamey!&rdquo; Tears streamed down her face as she yelled his name over and over again. 



Arms wrapped around her and held back as she tried to chase after the pickup. She fought and twisted as Principal Newman kept her from running out into the street. She heard adults calling for someone to call the police and to get all the children inside but it was to late for her best friend. Jamey was gone.


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 2 : 2</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/2/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:11:10 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


&ldquo;Jamey.&rdquo; Emma woke with a start all tangled up in her sheets and dripping with sweat. She had dreamt about that day over and over but the memory always came more frequently around this time of the year. In a couple of days it will be her birthday again. Not a day she likes to celebrate anymore, now it&rsquo;s just a day marking another year that Jamey has been missing. 



Emma brought her hand up and fingered the present that Jamey had given her that day. She always wore it to keep his memory alive. That day, eight years ago, after her mother had picked her up and brought her home, she sat on the window seat in her room and opened the small box. She was so careful opening it, she didn&rsquo;t want to rip the paper because she wanted to save all of it. She still had the wrapped box sitting on top of her jewelry box. Inside the package had been a buffalo nickel Jamey had drilled a hole through and put on a chain for her. She got out of bed and walked over to that same window seat, looked out into the dark night and asked it the same question she always asked it. &ldquo;Jamey where are you?&rdquo; She wished on her star for him like she always did. That somewhere he was safe and happy and that someday he would come back to her. &quot;Please come home.&quot;



A shooting star streaked across the velvety black sky as she wished. Hope rose in her stomach that this time the stars would hear her wish. She sat on the window seat for the rest of the night. She didn't want to close her eyes again. She knew if she did she would dream of him. Nightmares of the past mixed with good dreams of them being reunited. Either way they always left her with an ache in her stomach and tears flowing down her face. 



In no time the sun was rising over the backyard and the morning fog danced and swirled across the still surface of the pond. When she was little she was convinced that the swirls and movements were fairies ending their night of frolicking, the sun making them invisible once again. They would dance their way across the pond on their way back to their homes in the hills behind her house. 


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 3 : 3</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/3/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


Emma got up from her perch next to the window as the sunlight chased away the last of the mist. Today was the last day of her summer internship at the animal hospital. She showered and changed into her light purple scrubs before she tip toed downstairs to the kitchen for some breakfast. She was half way done with her bowl of lucky charms when her father walked in the back door.



&quot;Dad?&quot; She questioned him as she half choked on a spoonful of cereal. &quot;Are you just getting home?&quot;



&quot;Morning sweetie.&quot; He smiled, but he looked incredibly tired. But not disheveled, he never looked disheveled no matter how worn down he was, he was the mayor of this small town and there for he said he's not allowed to be. &quot;Drama at the Police Department. You want a ride to work before I get a nap?&quot;



&quot;If you wouldn't mind.&quot; Emma gulped the last two spoon fulls of her breakfast and put her dishes in the sink. &quot;Can't be late on my last day now can I?&quot;



Her father was quieter that usual on the short trip to the clinic, something big obviously weighing on his mind. She jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped in front of the building but he called her back.



&quot;When you get done today come right home. There's something I want to talk to you about.&quot; He said.



&quot;What about?&quot; Something in his voice worried her.



&quot;Don't worry, it's nothing bad.&quot; He tried to give her a reassuring smile but she wasn't buying it. &quot;It can wait until later though. Have a good day.&quot;



He had pulled away and left her standing there bewildered, her head spinning with all the possibilities. She had to force herself to go inside and open up. 


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 4 : 4</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/4/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:46:37 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


Emma envied Frodo, one of the office cats that was purring softly as he slept on one of the window ledges, soaking up the morning sunlight. She softly stroked the felines back as he slept. Animals always had a calming effect on her and she on them. Most bad dreams, but not all of them, could be cured with a snuggle with Gidget, her family's yellow lab. 



As she caressed the cats silken fur a tingling sensation on the back of her neck made her look outside. The early morning fog had cleared in most places but wispy tendrils still swirled around the bases of the trees in the forest preserve across the street. 



Standing in the grey, hazy mist was a boy about her age, maybe a little older, with dark shaggy hair. He was to far away to see clearly but he was staring right back at her. Her heart instantly made the leap to Jamey. 



With a sudden wave of sadness her head over ruled her heart telling her no, that it couldn't be. She knew he wasn't real. Like so many visions before, he was just a phantom, her head showing her her heart's silent wish. She watched as the boy took a step back, then turned and walked back into the forest preserve where he was once again swallowed by shadows and mist. The ringing phone brought her back to the here and now.



&quot;Good morning, Hononegah Animal Clinic.&quot; She tried to sound as cheerful as possible.



&quot;Emma? Is that you dear?&quot; The unmistakable sound of Mrs. Jennings ancient voice came floating through the phone.



&quot;Yes Mrs. Jennings. How is Peanut doing today?&quot; She couldn't help but roll her eyes as she opened the appointment book to pencil in the most neurotic, obsessive compulsive miniature poodle she had ever seen. Dogs definitely take after their owners.



&quot;Oh, she's been so depressed ever since the beagle next door moved away. She hardly eats and she won't play with her favorite ball...&quot; The old woman continued to rattle on about her depressed Peanut as the bells over the door jingled and Dr. Knight came in and held the door open for the first appointment of the day who was twenty minutes early. Emma smiled and wave as she tried to concentrate on Mrs. Jennings, penciling her in right before closing, but the conversation going on in front of her stole her attention.



&quot;... can you imagine, still alive after so long? I surely thought he was dead.&quot; Mrs. Berkley was telling the doctor. Emma didn't know why but her breath caught in her throat.



&quot;Nancy down at the diner said it's been eight years, almost to the day.&quot; Dr. Knight replied.



&quot;And to just come waltzing back out of the blue.&quot; Mrs. Berkley added, shaking her head in amazement. 



It couldn't be, she thought as she let her breath out in a gasp and dropped the phone to the counter. Everyone turned to look at her.



&quot;Emma, are you ok?&quot; Dr. Knight asked. She knew she was probably white as a ghost but she didn't care.



&quot;Who?&quot; Emma asked in a choked whisper. Mrs. Berkley looked to the doctor and then back to her.



&quot;James Blackwell.&quot; she said. Emma felt her eyes widen in shock but it was like she didn't have any control of her body or reactions. &quot;He came home last night.&quot;



He came home... last night... and he's alive. The instant her brain processed that astounding information she pushed past the doctor and Mrs. Berkley and her two massive dogs and ran out the front door of the clinic and out into traffic stopping just feet from where her vision of the boy had just stood but there was no sign of him.



Screeching tires made her look up in time to see a village squad car come to a squealing stop just inches from her. Her cousin Matt's shocked face stared out at her from behind the wheel before it turned to anger as he got out of the car. He was actually quite intimidating all decked out in cop gear.



&quot;Emmaline Nichols!&quot; He said as he slammed his door shut behind him. &quot;What the hell are you doing? I could have killed you!&quot; She looked back over her shoulder still wondering if it could have really been him standing there. &quot;Emma. What are you doing?&quot; Matt asked again. It took her a moment but she made her voice work.



&quot;Is it true?&quot;



&quot;Is what tru-&quot; He stopped short as she saw the realization flash across his face. He nodded slowly before he spoke. &quot;Yes, he's home.&quot; As soon as the words were out of his mouth the light all dimmed into blackness.


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 5 : 5</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/5/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:49:31 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


&ldquo;I think she&rsquo;s coming to.&rdquo; She could hear Dr. Knight&rsquo;s voice but it still seemed miles away. &ldquo;Emma?&hellip; Emmaline? Can you hear us?&rdquo;



Emma blinked at the sudden reappearance of light and into the faces of the Doctor, Matt, Mrs. Berkley and her Saint Bernard's Sassafras and Snuffleupagus, affectionately known as Sassy and Snuffy. 



&ldquo;Yeah,&rdquo; She said as she pushed Snuffy's face away from hers, his breath was strong enough to wake the dead. &ldquo;What happened?&rdquo;



&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the last thing you remember?&rdquo; Dr. Knight asked.



&ldquo;Um, I penciled Mrs. Jennings and Peanut in at eleven forty-five, sorry.&rdquo; She almost started to laugh at the thought of Peanut coming in for her almost weekly psych visit but the haze in her vision flared for a moment.



Haze and fog. She though. Other memories started to flash forward. Frodo, the mist in the trees, the boy, the squad car&hellip;



&ldquo;Jamey.&rdquo; It was less than a whisper but the name escaped from her lips.



&ldquo;He is home Emma. And he&rsquo;s fine.&rdquo; Matt chimed in from the back of the group. He was never one for emotional situations. His cop persona was his everyday personality. 



It&rsquo;s funny, she thought, I&rsquo;ve heard news I&rsquo;ve been waiting to hear for years and all I can think about is the stick up Matt&rsquo;s butt. When she could think clearly again she sat up.



&ldquo;Can I see him?&rdquo; She asked.



&ldquo;Not for a while yet. He has to be questioned and they have him going to the doctor to be checked out.&rdquo; Matt said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to take most of the day.&rdquo;



&ldquo;But you can sneak me into the police station.&rdquo; She pleaded with him with her eyes. &ldquo;Only for a minute Matt, please. I need to see him with my own eyes.&rdquo;



&ldquo;Only a minute, yeah right. You&rsquo;ll get all chicky and cause a scene.&rdquo; Matt said backing towards the doors. 



&ldquo;Emma, I think the best think for you to do right now is to go home.&rdquo; Dr. Knight said. &ldquo;Go home, try to relax, and Matty boy will tell James that you want to see him soon.&rdquo;



How was she going to sit at home and relax when she didn&rsquo;t know where he had been for the last eight years, who he had been with or what happened to him? 



&ldquo;Come on Emma, I&rsquo;ll take you home.&rdquo; Matt said from the open door. He couldn&rsquo;t wait to get out of the clinic. Emma could tell by the way he had his hand on his gun that Sassy and Snuffy were making him very nervous.



After retrieving her house keys from behind the counter she followed Matt outside. As she was leaving she could hear Mrs. Berkley already on her cell phone spreading the news that she had fainted when she realized that James was back. 



&ldquo;That was her?&rdquo; Mrs. Berkley exclaimed in shock when whoever she was talking to told her that Emma had been the one that was with James at the time of the kidnapping.



&ldquo;Ready?&rdquo; Matt asked as he opened the passenger door for her and she got in. &quot;Small town gossip spreads faster than a brush fire.&quot; He reminded her. 


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 6 : 6</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/6/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:58:50 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


As they pulled out of the clinic parking lot and onto the main street of town she noticed that she was searching every face for James. Which was stupid she realized because he was at the police station or the doctors office, not out walking on the street.



&ldquo;Please Matt.&rdquo; She turned to him and begged again as they passed the police station but Matt ignored her and kept on driving by. She examined every window as they passed by but there was no sign of him. The station wasn&rsquo;t far from her house so she told herself to relax and let Matt drop her off at home. When he left she could walk back to the station in no time. That&rsquo;s part of the beauty of living in a small town.



&ldquo;I know what you&rsquo;re thinking and it&rsquo;s not going to happen.&rdquo; Matt said over the static covered voices on the county&rsquo;s police radio traffic. 



&ldquo;What am I thinking?&rdquo; asked Emma.



&ldquo;That you&rsquo;re going to go down to the station the second I leave.&rdquo; He smiled his big goofy grin over at her. &ldquo;But my assignment for now is to keep an eye on you. Mayor&rsquo;s orders.&rdquo;



&ldquo;Thanks Dad.&rdquo; Emma mumbled under her breath as she shook her head in disbelief. Of course the Mayor in a small town would have been notified immediately when something as big as this happens. Why hadn&rsquo;t he been the one to tell her? She was his oldest daughter and had been traumatized for years because her best friend was snatched away as they played together, on her birthday no less. No she wouldn&rsquo;t want to know about life changing news that would have a huge impact on her life. No, they could discuss it later. &ldquo;Dad could have told me this morning.&rdquo; she told him as her temper started to flare. Matt looked over at her again but this time with a more sympathetic expression on his face. 



&ldquo;I think he just wanted to make sure that it really is James. He didn&rsquo;t want to get your hopes up if it turns out to be some con-artist.&rdquo; He pulled the squad into her driveway and up to the front door. &ldquo;You can understand that right?&rdquo;



&ldquo;Whatever.&rdquo; She said as she climbed out of the squad and ran into the house. She ran right past her Mom and sister in the kitchen and upstairs to her room.


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 7 : 7</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/7/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:10:59 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


&ldquo;Emma.&rdquo; Matt called after her as he followed her inside but she could hear her Mom stop him. 



&ldquo;Give her some space.&rdquo; She heard her Mom say. So obviously she knew too. With everyone keeping a secret of this magnitude from her she felt no guilt at all when she slammed her bedroom door shut and went straight for the window. 



This would be easier if she had the cover of darkness to help disguise her but she was going for it anyway. She slipped out the window and onto a giant maple tree that grew next to the house. She had mastered climbing the tree when she was little. She had it so memorized now that she could climb it blindfolded. 



As she dropped to the ground she saw Lissie&rsquo;s head appear in the back window and a little hand come up and wave. Emma waved back at her and skirted around the house ducking below windows and she sprinted into the woods behind the house. 



Once she was in the cover of the trees she let herself relax. These woods were a sanctuary for her when it happened. A place where she could be alone and lost in her thoughts but in the safety of her own backyard. There were so many special places tucked in the six acres of land but today she went to her fortress. Some big pines had fallen over during a wind storm years ago making a natural shelter. It was a place where nothing could touch her and place where nothing like kidnappings ever happen. She sat under the massive embracing arms of the old trees and stared up into the canopy of leaves above her. Her mind was going in so many different directions that she couldn&rsquo;t follow any of the thoughts that went racing by. She didn&rsquo;t know if she should laugh or cry.


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 8 : 8</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/8/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:13:28 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


&ldquo;I thought I might find you out here.&rdquo; Ryan&rsquo;s familiar voice called to her from a small clearing several yards away.



&ldquo;You shouldn&rsquo;t be out here. You're going to make your leg worse.&rdquo; She called back to him without even looking. He had blown out his knee in an ATV accident a little over two months ago. He was still on crutches with his knee immobilized. Tramping through the woods is not good for him.



&ldquo;Your Mom called me.&rdquo; He said hobbling towards her.



&ldquo;So they&rsquo;ve told everyone but me.&rdquo; 



&ldquo;Are you really going to make me walk over there?&quot; Ryan said as he swung his weight on the crutches. &quot;Come on, let&rsquo;s go get some ice cream.&rdquo; 



&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not allowed anywhere near the police station. How am I going to go the Dairy Haus right across the street.&rdquo;



&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s going to know? Your Mom thinks you're pouting out here and I have my brother&rsquo;s car keys.&rdquo; He jingled the car keys from an out stretched finger. &ldquo;You did pass your driver&rsquo;s test didn&rsquo;t you?&rdquo; 



&ldquo;As a matter of fact I did.&rdquo; She stood up and ran over to him. It was only two months ago but who&rsquo;s counting. &ldquo;I think ice cream is the perfect antidote for my current ailment. Shall we.&rdquo;



&ldquo;So, how are you doing with the news?&rdquo; He asked as they walked down the well worn trail from her house to his. It was just on the other side of the hills and trees from her house. Ryan had found her out there crying the day after the kidnapping and had sat with her all day. He had tried to cheer her up by making up jokes and impersonating their teachers. But most of the day they just sat quietly and listened to the world go on around them. Ryan could never replace her Jamey but he has been one of her best friends ever since. 



&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know. Numb I guess. Like it&rsquo;s not real until I actually see that it is him and that he is ok.&rdquo;



&ldquo;That makes sense.&rdquo; Ryan reassured her. Emma felt pangs of guilt as he stumbled over a fallen tree. It&rsquo;s her fault that he&rsquo;s out here but he&rsquo;s a big macho jock and will never admit that he&rsquo;s in pain or having trouble.



As they got to the tree line where their small wilderness met suburbia he stopped and looked at her. 



&ldquo;Emma, you&rsquo;re my friend so I&rsquo;ll help you go see him but promise me that you&rsquo;ll be careful.&rdquo;



&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t get us caught I promise-&rdquo;



&ldquo;No, promise me you&rsquo;ll be careful around him. He&rsquo;s not the same eight year old you knew. We don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s happened to him or what he&rsquo;s done.&rdquo;



&ldquo;But somewhere inside he still is the Jamey I knew. That&rsquo;s the person I want to find and get to know again.&rdquo; Emma put a hand reassuringly on his arm. &ldquo;But I promise I will be careful. And after all, I know you&rsquo;re here for me right? Bum leg and all.&rdquo;



&quot;You know it.&quot; Ryan said as he smiled back at her. 


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 9 : 9</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/9/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:51:31 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


When they got to the Dairy Haus it was brimming with people and news crews with video cameras. Like her, everyone was there trying to catch a glimpse of James. She felt sorry for him being in the center of this circus atmosphere. Emma felt a twinge of guilt in her stomach mixed with excitement and fear and another dozen emotions that she couldn't name but were all fighting for space inside her as she stared across the street at the village hall.



&quot;You want me to get you a cone?&quot; Ryan asked from besides her. She had forgotten he was there.



&quot;Um, yeah. Thanks, Ryan.&quot; She smiled at him but her attention went quickly back across the street before she looked around at all the people again. 



They won't take him in or out of the building in front of all these people. She thought to herself. So, my best bet would be to go around back. She looked for Ryan in the crowd but he was still in line at the Dairy Haus and looked as though he would be there for a while. Emma casually walked across the street until she came to a row of bushes that separated the village hall from the old two story house that sat next door. She ducked down behind the bushes and crawled along the base of them towards the back of the house. Mrs. Jenning lived in the house and Emma knew that she wouldn't be upset with her if she caught her sneaking around her backyard.



She tried to see through the bushes and into the buildings windows but mini blinds and miscellaneous office furniture obscured most of the room. But from what she could see she could tell that James wasn't in there right now.



Maybe they already took him home. That's a good thing. She told herself as she tried to ease the disappointment that washed over her. 



As she stood up to go back over to the Dairy Haus one of the police departments SUV's pulled into the driveway behind the building. Emma quickly ducked behind a large oak tree and prayed that no one saw her. 



The windows of the SUV were tinted so dark it was impossible to see inside. She studied them for any sign of who might be inside as it came to a stop in front of the back door into the building and all four doors opened. The police chief and Blake's Dad, Sergeant Allen, exited from the passenger side doors and surveyed the back parking lot acting like they were the secret service agents protecting the president. Emma ducked down again behind the bushes so that they wouldn't spot her purple work scrubs. She wished she had changed into something with a little less obvious before coming out here to spy but she hadn't thought of it at the time. 



After a moment they gave the all clear. Emma was shocked when a tall, muscular man exited the vehicle. She knew that James wouldn't still be the eight year old boy she remembered but she hadn't expected him to look so different and yet strangely the same. He was dressed in jeans and a white v neck t-shirt, very James Dean like and his dark, wavy hair fell just to his eyes. As he looked around and pushed the hair away she could see those eyes. The moment she saw them she was certain it was James even if everyone else was skeptical. Her heart was beating so hard and fast she was sure that everyone in town could hear it. She tried to hold her breath to keep from making any noise. 



She watched as Sergeant Allen opened and held the door for the rest of the group but James hesitated. For a moment, that seemed like an forever and a day, he just stood there staring at the pavement. When he looked up again he looked right at her and their eyes locked. 


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 10 : 10</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/10/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:21:30 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


Emma's held breath slowly seeped out as she stared right back at him. She could feel her cheeks start to blush and a smile spread across her face as she raised her hand to wave at him. Memories of her jumping out of her parents car and running up to him at school or on the playground or at his house burst into her memory. It was like the world stopped around them. Like some kind of magic that was preserving that moment in space and time. As the spell began to break she wanted to run to him now but the police chief stepped in front of him breaking off their eye contact. He put his hand on James' shoulder and led him inside.



&quot;You're supposed to be at home.&quot; Emma jumped at the sound of her father's voice next to her. He was dressed, looking completely together unlike this morning, in a dark grey suit with a dark blue shirt and tie, his arms crossed across his chest. Emma looked impatiently back into the parking lot but James was gone. 



&quot;But I'm here. Can I go inside and see him Dad, please?&quot; She begged her father but he was unfazed by her pouty lip and sad puppy dog eyes. 



&quot;If you haven't noticed he has a lot going on right now and his Grandparents are chomping at the bit to get him out of there and home.&quot; Emma tried to break in and tell him that she would only stay for a minute, unless James wanted her to stay with him. She wouldn't interfere with any of the police work but he put up his hand to stop her before she could get any words out. &quot;Give his Grandparents a chance to spend some time with him. I've already talked to Bob, he knows how much you want to see James, so we'll take you over after breakfast tomorrow.&quot;



&quot;Tomorrow?&quot; Emma gasped. &quot;That's an eternity away! He's a hundred feet from me right now and you're making me wait until tomorrow!&quot; she exclaimed.



&quot;Give him some space Emmaline. He needs it right now.&quot; She could tell by the set of his shoulders and eyebrows that he wasn't going to budge on his decision. Emma started walking back across the street to where Ryan was waiting awkwardly on his crutches while trying to balance two melting ice cream cones for them.



&quot;Good afternoon, Sir.&quot; Ryan said over her shoulder which meant that her father was following her, probably just to make sure that she wasn't going to try to turn around and rush the police department doors.



&quot;Ryan, how's the knee?&quot; Her dad asked as he came up and patted Ryan on the shoulder.



&quot;They tell me it's still in there.&quot; Ryan commented as he lifted up his leg that was encased in a black cast.



&quot;Good, you'll be back on the field in no time.&quot; Her father had kind of adopted Ryan as a surrogate son. Ryan's father was in the military and not around much so he had spent a lot of time at her house over the years and the two had grown close. &quot;Do me a favor and take this one home and keep her there. No more secret missions to break into village hall.&quot; 



&quot;Yes, Sir.&quot; Ryan agreed.



&quot;Dad-&quot; Emma tried to plead with him again but it was no use. &quot;Will you at least tell him I said hi?&quot;



&quot;I'll do that. Now go home. We'll talk later.&quot; He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. &quot;Tell Mom I'll be home as soon as I can.&quot; Then he waved and went back across the street before disappearing inside.


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 11 : 11</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/11/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:00:08 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


&quot;Can you take this? It's dripping down my hand.&quot; Emma looked over at Ryan as he licked the melting chocolate off his wrist and took one of the cones for him.



&quot;Hey there hop-a-long.&quot; Blake's unmistakable voice said behind her.



&quot;Come on Rye, let's go.&quot; She reached over and took his cone from him so he would be able to use his crutches to get back over to the car.



&quot;Get bent Blake.&quot; Ryan said back, his face set hard. The two had been friends until last year when Ryan shot beyond him as the better athlete. Things were strained then but when the ATV accident happened and Ryan ended up on the bench Blake became the star player on the team and he turned into a complete asshole.



When she turned around she saw that Blake was right behind her. She had to take a step back just to be able to look up at him. His blonde hair was cut short for football season and his dark gray eyes were sending daggers at Ryan. She stepped in between them to make sure that there were no punches thrown. 



&quot;What do you want Blake?&quot; she asked making sure that her tone was as hostile as possible.



&quot;I wanted to talk to you actually. You got a minute?&quot; he asked turning his attention to her. Great, she thought.



&quot;Dude, she's done with you. Get over it.&quot; Ryan said behind her. Blake's face got redder and she realized that she needed to diffuse the situation quickly. 



&quot;Ryan, I can handle him. I'll meet you at the car in a minute.&quot; She told him over her shoulder.



&quot;Are you sure?&quot; he asked.



&quot;Yeah, I'll be right there.&quot; She waited for a moment as he left them standing there, obviously not happy.



&quot;Talk.&quot; She ordered Blake.



&quot;I'm sorry about that. There's just something about him that pushes my buttons.&quot; He stepped in closer and put a hand on her arm. The move was a familiar one. They had dated for a few months before Ryan got hurt and his attitude changed. &quot;I promise I'll try to keep my cool around Ryan from now on.&quot;



&quot;Good, is that it?&quot; She really hoped that it was but she knew she wasn't that lucky.



&quot;No, I want us to try to work things out.&quot; He stepped in even closer, so close that she was having trouble trying to keep the ice cream cones from getting squished. &quot;Please, Emma.&quot;



&quot;No.&quot; The answer was an easy one. She would never date anyone with his new attitude.



&quot;Why not?&quot; And there was that attitude flaring up now.



&quot;You just tried to pick a fight with Ryan!&quot;



&quot;I was just joking with him.&quot; he claimed. 



&quot;I'm not an idiot Blake. My answer is still no.&quot; She told him firmly. She felt an eerie sensation of being watched and started looking around for the source. She looked over at Ryan who was leaning against the car waiting for her, he was watching them but he wasn't the one making the prickling sensation on the back of her neck. She looked around at the other patrons at the ice cream shop and searched the windows of village hall but she couldn't identify it. &quot;Blake, I need to get home.&quot; She turned and started to walk over to Ryan. The sticky ice cream was running down her hands now.



&quot;Emma wait.&quot; Blake grabbed her arm stopping her in her tracks. &quot;Come on, give me another chance.&quot;



&quot;Let go of my arm.&quot; Emma said between her clenched teeth. With so many conflicting emotions raging through her about so many different things now was not the time to be messing with her. 



&quot;What are you doing here anyway? Did you come to check out little boy lost?&quot; He still had hold of her arm. &quot;You know, he's gonna have a long line of ladies waiting to get at him.&quot;



His whole mind-set was making her hot with anger. She could feel it sizzling under her skin. For a second she was sure that he could feel it too when he pulled his hand away. She turned to look him in his face. He wore a mask of smug victory that she really wanted to pull off of him. She looked down at the two ice cream cones in her hands and decided that she really wasn't hungry. 



&quot;Go to hell.&quot; She said sweetly as she smashed the cones, ice cream first, into his chest. &quot;Goodbye Blake.&quot; She left him standing there frozen in shock.


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 12 : 12</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/12/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:59:34 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


Ryan hobbled around the car and got into the driver&rsquo;s seat as soon as she turned around and started marching towards the car. Thankfully he knew her well and knew that she would want to make a very swift exit. He was laughing as she got into the car and he navigated out of the packed parking lot.



&ldquo;Think he got the hint?&rdquo; He asked, he was barely able to get the words out he was laughing so hard.



&ldquo;You would&rsquo;ve thought that he would have gotten the hint when I broke up with him and pushed him in the river.&rdquo; Emma huffed.



&ldquo;He likes the chase Em. He&rsquo;s not going to stop.&rdquo;



&ldquo;If he knows what&rsquo;s good for him he will. And besides he has a short attention span. School starts soon, a new crop of freshman girls will arrive and he&rsquo;ll start stalking them.&rdquo; Ryan looked over and raised an eyebrow at her.



&ldquo;Not stalk, stalk.&rdquo; she rolled her eyes. &ldquo;Stalk, like start asking them out. Finding someone new. Oh, shut up, you know what I mean.&rdquo;



&ldquo;Yeah, I know.&rdquo; He said as he pulled into her driveway.



While he got out of the car and slowly made his way upstairs to her room Emma ran ahead and changed out of her scrubs and into shorts and a tank top. 



&ldquo;Come on in.&rdquo; She called when there was a knock on the door. Ryan unlatched the door knob and used a crutch to push the door open before swinging himself inside and flopping down on the bed.



&ldquo;These things are going to kill me.&rdquo; He stated pathetically as he flung the crutches to the floor.



&ldquo;You&rsquo;re supposed to be an athletic young man. Nothing should bring you down so easily.&rdquo; Emma told him as she picked up the crutches from where they fell and propped them up against the wall.



&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not that. They&rsquo;re just so slow.&rdquo; He whined.



&ldquo;It could be worse, you could be in a wheel chair.&rdquo; Emma said as she fell back onto the bed next to him.



&ldquo;Yeah.&rdquo; He was quiet for a moment as they both stared up at the ceiling. &ldquo;So&hellip; did you see him?&rdquo;



&ldquo;Yeah.&rdquo; She answered quietly. 



&ldquo;And&hellip; what did he look like?&rdquo; He asked. She pictured James standing there staring back at her. His easy smile and familiar eyes. When she didn&rsquo;t answer immediately he continued. &ldquo;Did you get to talk to him? Come on, tell me.&rdquo;



&ldquo;No, my Dad caught me just as James was going from the car into the building. I only saw him for a few seconds but it&rsquo;s definitely him.&rdquo; When Ryan grew quiet Emma propped herself up on one elbow so she could see his face. &quot;What's wrong?&quot;



&quot;Nothing.&quot; he said but she knew he was lying by the tell tale way he was biting his lower lip.



&quot;Tell me.&quot; she insisted.



&quot;Really, nothing's wrong.&quot;



&quot;You're doing that thing with your lip which means you're lying. Tell me.&quot; she said as she poked him in the ribs. He looked away for a minute while trying to decide if he wanted to tell her or not before looking back at her.



&quot;I'm just wondering what this is going to do to us.&quot;



&quot;What do mean?&quot; Emma was honestly confused.



&quot;James.&quot; he said but she still didn't get his meaning. &quot;He's your first best friend that you've had high up on a pedestal for years. Now that he's back...&quot; he trailed off.



&quot;Now that he's back you think we're going to pick up where we left off and you're going to get knocked out of the picture.&quot; She suddenly saw the situation the way that Ryan must see it. And he was right, all these years she had had James up there. &quot;Ryan, there is no one in the world that knows me like you do. You know all my stories, all my secrets. You've been my partner in crime for years now. You could never be replaced.&quot;


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 13 : 13</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/13/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


Ryan didn&rsquo;t stick around long that afternoon and Emma couldn&rsquo;t blame him. Her mind was elsewhere and she knew it wasn&rsquo;t fair to him but there was nothing she could do about it. Now she was sitting alone in the family room. Her parents were both gone for the evening at different meetings and Lissie was upstairs sleeping. The house seemed almost too quiet so she picked up her cell phone and dialed the phone number again for like the hundredth time. 




&ldquo;Oh, come on.&rdquo; she said to the phone as the busy tone buzzed in her ear. She tossed the phone on to the couch next to her and pouted. Busy, again. It&rsquo;s been busy all night! They must have taken the phone off the hook. 




She could almost picture James and his grandparents sitting around the kitchen table in the old farmhouse catching up and eating his grandma&rsquo;s famous pot roast. She was having trouble though replacing the eight year old with the guy she had seen at the police station today. 




Emma nearly fell off the couch as a blood curdling scream came from upstairs and echoed through out the house. With her heart racing she ran upstairs into her little sister&rsquo;s room. She pushed the bedroom door open spilling light from the hallway across the princess bed. Lissie was sitting back against her headboard wide eyed and clutching her favorite stuffed animal, a manatee named Ari.




&ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong?&rdquo; Emma asked as she flipped on the overhead light and looked frantically around the room. She didn&rsquo;t see anything out of place and the windows were still shut and locked. She went to sit on the edge of Lissie&rsquo;s bed. The little girl hugged Ari closer to her and looked over to the closed window. &ldquo;Did you have a nightmare?&rdquo; Emma asked. Lissie shook her head no sending red ringlets bouncing around her cherub face.




&ldquo;No.&ldquo; she whispered. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re trying to get in.&rdquo;




&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s trying to get in?&rdquo; Emma asked. 




&ldquo;The shadow people.&rdquo; She whispered as she glanced nervously at the window again. Emma followed her gaze and for a split second she could have sworn she saw the shadows right outside the window trying to get inside. But when she blinked and looked again there was nothing there. Emma told herself it was just because there is nothing creepier than a little girl with wide eyes and wild hair whispering about shadow people trying to crawl in the windows.



&ldquo;Nothing is going to get you, Lissie. You&rsquo;re safe here.&rdquo; Emma reassured her with a hug but she could see the doubt her little sister&rsquo;s eyes. &ldquo;All of the doors and windows are locked up tight. I promise we&lsquo;re safe.&rdquo;



&ldquo;Can I have the BB?&rdquo; Lissie asked for the banner blanket, a quilt that had been handed down for generations. According to their great-grandmother the banner blanket had special powers that would protect the family from the darkness. 



&ldquo;Sure, I&rsquo;ll be right back.&rdquo; Emma went out to the hall closet and found the quilt high on a shelf and returned to Lissie&rsquo;s room. &ldquo;Here you go.&rdquo; She said as she unfolded it and laid it out next to her since it was to warm out to cover up with it. Lissie stroked the patchwork of silk pieces and outlined the figures that were embroidered in the center of it.



&ldquo;Will you tell me the story?&rdquo; Lissie asked. Emma hesitated for a moment. She really wanted to get back downstairs so that she could try to call James again but she realized that family always comes first. And the Blackwell&rsquo;s phone was probably still off the hook.



&ldquo;Alright, get comfy.&rdquo; A big smile spread across Lissie&rsquo;s face as she snuggled down into the pillows and tucked Ari in next to her. &ldquo;Ok, ready?&rdquo; The little girl nodded enthusiastically. She loved the story that went along with the quilt. It was a family legend of magic and adventure, fairy princesses and creatures of the night, and of love and loss. Emma laid down next to her and began. 



&ldquo;Once upon a time&hellip;..





&nbsp;


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 14 : 14</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/14/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:22:44 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


Emma awoke from a whirlwind of bizarre dreams. They were all so random and fleeting she hadn't been able to grasp onto any of them. She blamed the fairy tale that she had told Lissie last night, it must have put strange thoughts in her head. Feeling tired and sluggish she forced herself to get up and go downstairs. The summer was coming quickly to an end and she needed to get used to getting up at a normal hour again.



The downstairs smelled wonderful. Scents of hot sausage and pancakes greeted her as she walked into the kitchen where her mother was bustling back and forth between the stove and the island countertop.



&quot;Wow.&quot; Emma said as she took in all of the food. &quot;What's the occasion?&quot;



&quot;Well, school starts in a couple days and your birthday is coming up...&quot; She let that last part trail off and Emma knew what was coming.



&quot;Mom, no. I don't want a birthday party.&quot; She said flatly as she sat down on one of the stools at the island.



&quot;Why not?&quot; 



&quot;You know why not. I don't want to celebrate-&quot; She was going to say the anniversary of the day her best friend was kidnapped but her mother cut her off.



&quot;But he's back.&quot; she said as waved the spatula with a flourish. For a moment Emma was already to argue but she found herself at a loss for words. It wasn't a dream, he was back and he seemed fine. Excitement and anticipation bubbled up inside her when she realized that she was finally going to be able to see him again, in a matter of hours in fact. Her Mom's voice cut into her thoughts. &quot;How about we compromise?&quot; 



&quot;And how would we do that?&quot; Emma asked. She poured herself a glass of orange juice, ignoring all the breakfast goodies, her appetite lost and replaced with eager butterflies.



&quot;It can be your sweet sixteen...&quot; Emma was poised to object but her mom quickly continued. &quot;And... a welcome back party for James.&quot;



Hmmm... She has me there, Emma thought. Not a lot of good excuses to get out of it since it would be a party for James too. &quot;If I say yes, you won't go overboard will you?&quot;



She watched as her mother's face light up with excitement. She loved parties and holidays, any excuse to celebrate.



&quot;I promise.&quot; She said through a big smile. Emma knew then that this would turn into one monster event but if it made her mom happy she could get through it.



&quot;Okay, plan away.&quot; She said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. Her mom almost squealed with delight and ran around the island to hug her.



&quot;Every girl needs a sweet sixteen. This will be a night you'll never forget.&quot; she almost sang the words she was so excited. &quot;Eat up; it's going to be a busy day!&quot;



&quot;What are you doing sitting out here?&quot; her dad said as he came in for outside carrying the newspaper dressed in shorts and a golf shirt. &quot;Don't you want to go see James?&quot;



&quot;Give me ten minutes!&quot; Emma said as she grabbed a piece of toast and her orange juice and bolted upstairs.



She was back downstairs in ten minutes flat dressed in a simple pale blue sundress and flip flops. Her wild red curls were tamed for the moment, still wet from her world record fast shower.



&quot;Ready.&quot; She said as she raced out the back door to the car and waited for her parents to follow. This was going to be an amazing day.


]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Chapter 15 : 15</title>
<link>http://www.textnovel.com/story/BeWitch/2441/15/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:33:51 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


After an excruciating fifteen minute drive over country roads they finally pulled up to the Blackwell farm. It looked exactly as she had remembered it, except for the two squad cars parked at the entrance to the driveway to keep the media away. It was a typical two story white farm house with black shutters and a wrap around porch straight off a movie set. 



She had so many fabulous memories there. A wave of guilt washed over her when Jamey&rsquo;s grandparents walked out the front door, they must have heard the big SUV rumble down the gravel road. Emma hadn&rsquo;t been able to visit them here after what happened. She should of, if not for her for them. They were like Grandparents to her too after all. But without Jamey there it was too sad.



Every emotion left her as James walked out on to the porch and stood behind them. She had to blink a few times in order to convince herself that she wasn&rsquo;t seeing things. Wow, was he gorgeous.



&ldquo;Is that him?&rdquo; her mother asked from the front seat but Emma was unable to answer, she just nodded and continued to stare until the car came to a stop.



&ldquo;Emma and James, sitting in a tree-&rdquo; Lissie started to sing. The teasing song broke Emma out of her trance. 



&ldquo;Shut up Lissie.&rdquo; Emma said quietly, not wanting to cause a scene. 



&ldquo;Mom, Emma said shut up.&rdquo; Lissie tattled.



&ldquo;Lissianna, please be quiet. This is Emma&rsquo;s day.&rdquo; Mom told her over the back of her seat as the vehicle came to a stop. Everyone got out but Emma. &quot;Are you coming?&quot; her Mom asked as she opened the back door for her. 



Emma just smiled and slowly got out of the car. She hadn&rsquo;t thought she would be this nervous to finally see and talk to him again. And now she couldn't take her eyes off of him as he walked down the porch steps towards her. 



It was like in one of those old black and white movies when lovers see each other again after a long separation. They start out walking slowly towards each other but then they break into a run and leap into each others arms. Emma did just that as she raced to him and threw out her arms. They met at the half way point in a cloud of dust they kicked up from the dry gravel driveway. She jumped into his open arms just like she always imagined she would.



&quot;Jamey.&quot; She said, laughing and crying at the same time, as he wrapped his arms around her, picking her up and swinging her around. 



Click, click, click, click, click. She heard the rapid fire of a camera before she heard the reporter shouting directions.



&quot;Get in there for a tighter shot!&quot; the woman called as they ran towards them. James set her down as they both turned to look at the news crew running out of the cornfield. He took a protective step forward in front of her blocking her view.



&quot;Get out of here.&quot; Her Dad called to them as he moved to block the reporters. She saw Grandpa Bob duck into the house and grab his shotgun and then she looked to James. His eyes were shining with mischief and she knew exactly what he was thinking.



They both turned and started running at the same time into the cornfield on the other side of the yard just like they were eight years old again. Emma couldn't believe the weight that was lifted off her shoulders as she ran through the green cornstalks that soared above her head. She had to stop for a second to take her flip flops off to keep from tripping then she took off again as fast as she could to try to keep up with him. The days of her being the faster one were over. He was so far ahead of her she could only catch glimpses of his white t-shirt through the corn as they raced down to the river bank. 


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