Revelations (The Revelations Series Book 1) Read online

  “Just in time,” her mom said as she set their plates on the table.

  Jenna hurried over and sat down. She picked up her fork and scooped a fork full of eggs into her mouth.

  “How are you feeling today?” her mom asked sitting down at the table with her.

  Jenna swallowed her eggs before answering. “Pretty good,” she said as she picked up her glass and took a sip of orange juice.

  “Good, I was thinking that since we didn’t get to celebrate your birthday last week we could go to the big outdoor flea market. It came to town today.”

  Jenna’s eyes widened in excitement. “Great idea!” Jenna couldn’t believe her luck that the flea market had come to town today of all days. She loved the possibility of finding treasures that no one else wanted.

  “Do you want to invite Carly?” her mom asked, then took a sip of her own juice.

  Jenna wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I’d rather spend my day with you.”

  Erin set her cup down on the small round oak table. “Is everything okay with you two?”

  Jenna nodded. “Yes, it’s just that she hates flea markets and we love them. So instead of listening to her asking if we are ready to leave all day I’d rather spend it alone with you. It’s better that way.”

  Erin stood up and carried her cup to the sink. “Fine with me,” she said as she washed her cup and set it in the strainer. “Besides, it’s been way too long since we’ve spent any quality time together. But, before we go, I have something for you.”

  Her mom opened the pantry and took out a small, flower-covered bag that had been hidden by a box of pasta. She then walked back over to the table and handed it to Jenna. “Happy Birthday, sweetie.”

  Jenna’s face lit up as she grabbed the bag, anxious to see what her mother had gotten her. She had to admit her mom had great taste when it came to gifts. She quickly pulled out the tissue paper and tossed it aside to reveal a medium sized book covered in soft pink fabric and embroidered with her name on the front cover in silver stitching.

  “It’s a journal,” her mom explained. “You’re getting older now and things are going to change for you soon. I thought this would help you keep things in perspective.”

  “Thanks, Mom, I love it!” Jenna ran her fingers over her name. This was a perfect gift for her to remember her senior year.

  “When do you want to go?” she asked, happy to be getting out for the day.

  “We can leave as soon as you’re ready. The sooner we get there the better chance we have of finding interesting things.”

  “Let me just get my shoes, then we can go.” Jenna hurried down the hall to her room and grabbed her sneakers out of the closet, then joined her mom who was waiting in the Jeep. She was so excited about the flea market that when they pulled out of the driveway she didn’t even notice the shadowy figure step out of the shadows of the big oak tree across the street. It watched them as they drove away, then crossed the street and headed for the back door of the house.

  JENNA and her mom pulled into the dusty parking lot where the flea market was being held. The field that was usually used as a picnic area for the local community was now full of multi-colored tents that housed the vendors’ tables.

  “Wow, this is a big one!” Jenna said as they parked the Jeep. A gentle breeze drifted past carrying the subtle aroma of fried foods from the food trucks that were set up at the end of the first row of tents. There were at least a hundred people there already from their own town as well as outsiders. “I’m glad we came alone. We may be here all day.” Jenna pulled her hair up into a ponytail allowing the warm sun to caress her neck.

  “Then I guess we better get started.” Erin walked around the front of the Jeep towards her daughter. “How about we start on this side and make our way around to each booth. Then if we’re hungry we’ll eat and make our way down that side until we get back here.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Jenna looped her arm through her mom’s and they headed toward the first booth. Jenna cringed as she noticed a group of girls from her school. She tried to duck into a tent to avoid them but wasn’t quick enough.

  “Hey Jenna, what are you doing here?” one of the girls called to her.

  “Yeah, didn’t you see the no geeks allowed sign,” another girl mocked.

  Jenna sighed and put her head down willing herself to ignore the girls’ comments as she slipped into the tent with her mom. She couldn’t wait to graduate so she didn’t have to deal with them anymore.

  “Is everything okay?” her mom asked as she noticed the other girls.

  “Yes,” Jenna replied, determined not to let her classmates ruin her day. “Don’t worry about it. I can handle it.”

  Jenna had always felt different from other kids and tried to avoid them. Sure she had a few close friends, like Carly, but that was it. The popular kids often teased her and made her the butt of their jokes. She did what she could to avoid them but, in a small town like the one she lived in, it was nearly impossible.

  Today though, she refused to let them get to her. Today was about having a good time with her mom and she wasn’t going to let some stuck up snobs get in the way of that. She peeked back over her shoulder to see the girls still laughing, but this time at someone else’s expense. I hope karma gets them, she thought.

  Suddenly, one of them tripped over the ropes that held the tents down and the others, trying to avoid her, tripped and fell to the ground beside her. Jenna bit her lip to keep from laughing as she watched them try to act as if nothing had happened.

  As the girls faded from her view, Jenna turned her attention to what was in the tent. With a quick glance around, she saw nothing but handmade cat figurines made from tiny scraps of different colored yarn that was tied in the middle to form a round ball. The person who had made them had inserted toothpicks into the middle for the legs. Jenna and her mom giggled and walked away.

  “Nothing there,” Erin said, “unless you’d like one of those fuzzy things on your dresser?”

  Jenna scrunched her nose and shook her head. “No thanks. It would freak me out knowing it was staring at me all night.”

  Erin laughed as they entered the next multi-colored tent to see old trinkets that ranged from silver necklaces to gold bracelets. Some were old and tarnished, others looked brand new. Hand painted plants hung from a rope that was tied along the side of the tent, and old figurines sat on the tables with the jewelry.

  A wide grin appeared on both Jenna’s and her mom’s faces. This was exactly the tent they both loved. Not wanting to miss anything, they slowly made their way around, pausing at each new table to look at its selection. Jenna frowned. There were some nice trinkets, but nothing she would wear. She was about to leave when a silver bracelet caught her eye.

  “Excuse me,” Jenna said to a slender woman with short curly ebony hair, as she stepped around her to get a closer look at the bracelet.

  “Look at this, Mom,” Jenna said, holding up a silver bracelet that was made of tiny silver hearts linked together. The sun hit the bracelet at just the right angle making it shine.

  “That’s beautiful,” her mom said stepping up beside her to see the bracelet up close. “Would you like it?”

  “Can I?” A wide grin appeared on Jenna’s face. She couldn’t believe she had found something this beautiful at a flea market. It looked as though it could be sold in some kind of fancy jewelry store.

  “Sure, that’s what we’re here for.” Her mom turned toward an old lady with thinning grey hair sitting in a rocking chair behind the table. “How much for the bracelet?” she asked.

  “It’s fifteen dollars.” The old women pushed herself up out of the chair, pulling her loose shawl close around her skinny body as she hobbled over to the table.

  Erin handed the lady the money and smiled as she helped Jenna with the latch on the bracelet so she could wear it.

  “Thanks, Mom.” Jenna said smiling.

  “Consider it another birthday presen
t, sweetie. Now that we’ve found one treasure, let’s see what other wonders we can find.”

  Jenna looped her arm through her mom’s as they headed toward a tent that had different colored flowers painted all over the top.

  They looked through that one and a couple more tents, each containing odd figurines or old TV and movie memorabilia that neither, Jenna nor her mother were interested in. Finally under a tent with a dark blue top and colored lights wrapped around the poles Jenna saw something that piqued her interest so she headed toward it.

  “Go ahead. I have to use the ladies room,” her mom told her. “Wait right here for me when you’re done.” Her mother headed in the opposite direction toward the small makeshift building that held the rest rooms.

  Jenna walked into the tent and glanced around at the old tarnished jewelry before heading to the table that held the necklaces.

  “Jasmine, is that you?” she heard someone ask, and then felt a hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned around to see a middle-aged man wearing a black suit with short brown hair and vivid green eyes.

  She rubbed her arms as a cold chill ran through her. “I’m sorry,” she said politely taking a step backwards. “but I’m not Jasmine. You have the wrong girl.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” the man said as he looked her over. “It’s just that you look so much like my daughter Jasmine. She has the same long, brown hair and high cheekbones as you. You even dress like she does. My goodness, you could be her twin.”

  Jenna smiled at the man who was studying her with a certain intensity, and then turned her attention back to the table.

  “You know,” he said stepping up beside her, “I think this one would look perfect on you. I know my Jasmine would have loved it.”

  The man held up a shiny crystal angel pendant. “It’s pretty,” she said trying to humor him. She glanced uneasily over her shoulder hoping to see her mom on her way back.

  “Here, let me buy it for you,” the man reached in his pocket and pulled out a twenty to pay the young lady behind the table who was keeping a close eye on them.

  The lady looked at the pendant the man was holding and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t take your money,” she said. “That’s not one of my pieces.”

  “It must be an old piece you forgot about,” the man told the lady. “It was right here on the table. Here, I insist you take it.” The man held out the money for her to take.

  The women shrugged and accepted the money. Jenna looked at the pendant and she herself couldn’t remember seeing it there either.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that,” Jenna said as the man handed her the pendant.

  “I insist, besides it would make me happy to give someone who looks so much like my darling Jasmine a gift she would have loved.”

  A whisper of unease teased her senses as Jenna reluctantly took the pendant. “Thank you,” she said.

  “You’re welcome,” the man responded as he glanced at his watch. “Wow, it’s getting late. I have to get back to the office.” The man placed his hand on Jenna’s shoulders. “Thanks for being so kind. Have a good day.”

  Jenna watched as the man stepped out of the tent and strolled over to what looked like a black Chevy Suburban. As he approached it, a younger man appeared and opened the door for him. As soon as the man was safely inside the younger man turned toward Jenna. The smile that appeared on his face made Jenna nervous and she couldn’t help but touch the pendant and wonder if she had done the right thing by accepting it.

  “Did you find anything?” her mother asked, suddenly appearing beside her.

  Jenna jumped and dropped the pendant. “Mom, you scared me!” she exclaimed as she bent down to pick up the piece of jewelry.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

  “It’s okay. It’s just the man that just left kind of freaked me out. He said I looked like his daughter Jasmine.”

  “Listen, Jenna, we shou…” Her mother stopped in mid-sentence, her eyes widening in alarm when she spotted the pendant that Jenna was dusting off. “Where did you get that?”

  “The man insisted on buying it for me. I told him I couldn’t accept it but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Jenna handed the pendant to her mom.

  “Where is this man?” her mother asked stepping out from under the tent and franticly scanning the area.

  “He went that way.” Jenna pointed towards the cars. “But he’s already gone.”

  “It’s time to go.” Her mom grabbed her hand and practically dragged her out of the tent and toward the car.

  “Mom, wait,” she yelled as she yanked her hand out of her mother’s firm grasp. A jolt of panic ripped through her. “What’s wrong?”

  Erin stopped in mid stride and turned around to look at her. “I’m not feeling very well anymore. Can we have this discussion at home please?” She turned away without waiting for an answer, her eyes darting around the crowd.

  Jenna didn’t argue. Something in her mom’s tone told Jenna to do what she was told. So she just followed her to the Jeep and climbed in. “Did I do something wrong?” she asked as her mom started the engine. “I tried to tell the man, no.”

  Her mom turned in her seat to face her. “I know, and I’m sorry if I scared you. Let’s just go home and relax,” she said, her voice soft but still alarming. “I forgot I have a few phone calls to make for work. We can hit Carly’s Diner on the way home and get take out. Your choice of anything you want.”

  Jenna stayed silent, afraid that anything she might say would upset her mom more. When they got to the diner, her mom insisted Jenna go inside with her to get the food even after she said she wanted to wait in the car. It was as if her mom was afraid to let her out of her sight. Jenna could tell something was bothering her mother because she remained quiet and was still gripping the pendant tightly when they got home.

  Her mom hurried her into the house as soon as they got out of the Jeep. Confused, Jenna watched as she latched the locks on the door, closed all the curtains in the living room and began to pace back and forth.

  “How did they find us?” she heard her mother mumble as she shook her head in disbelief.

  “Mom, you’re scaring me!” Jenna exclaimed.

  Her mom stopped suddenly and turned to face her. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. But don’t worry. We’ll be safe as long as we stay in the house. I have a few things to do.” Jenna’s mom put her hands on her shoulders. “Promise me you won’t leave until I’m finished.”

  A knot formed in the pit of Jenna’s stomach as her mom’s fingers gripped her tight. “I don’t understand, what’s going on?”

  “Jenna, please, you have to trust me. I can’t tell you what’s going on, not yet.” Deep lines of worry appeared between her eyes. “Just promise me you’ll stay in the house.” Her mom handed her the bag of food then hugged her tight. “Promise me, Jenna,” she pleaded.

  “I promise,” Jenna whispered reluctantly. She knew she wasn’t going to convince her mom to tell her anything at that moment, not while she was so frazzled.

  “Didn’t you get anything?” Jenna asked as her mom turned and headed for the kitchen.

  “No, I’m not hungry. I have a few things to take care of, I’ll be back when I finish and we can watch a movie or something.”

  Jenna shook her head and plopped down on the couch. She grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned the TV on, flicking through the channels until she found one she liked. She settled back into the cushions, opened her bag of food, grabbed a couple of French fries and stuffed them in her mouth. She smiled, great as always, she thought. She finished her meal, and waited for her mom. It wasn’t long before she fell into an uneasy sleep.

  She dreamt of the two boys again. But this time she chose to go with the dark haired one. She couldn’t resist the pull of excitement that called to her. As she turned to walk his way, she glanced over her shoulder, an uneasiness growing in her stomach. Was she doing the right thing? She started to turn back when a
cold sensation woke her.

  “Darn it!” she exclaimed as she saw that she spilled soda on her pants and onto the sofa. She quickly grabbed the napkins out of the bag and wiped up the spill as fast as she could. Her mom wouldn’t be happy if it stained. Seeing that she had gotten the soda off without any sign that she had ever spilled it, she threw the wrappers and cup into the bag and made her way into the kitchen. As she reached the garbage pail, she suddenly remembered what had happened that day and started to feel guilty about accepting the pendant.

  She glanced at the clock and saw it was already nine-o’clock in the evening. Had she really slept that long? She must have been more tired than she thought.

  She needed to talk to her mom about what had happened and why she was so upset. Jenna hurried down the hall towards her mother’s room. As she got close, she could hear her mom talking to someone and it sounded important. Jenna couldn’t help but be curious. She stopped right before her door, got close to the wall and crept as close as she could so she could hear the conversation.

  “What should I do?” she heard her mom say. “He must know who she really is. He gave her a pendant with an angel on it. Just like the one you described to me. It can’t be a coincidence.”

  Jenna’s heart skipped a beat. What does she mean by ‘who she really is?’ Does she mean me? Are we on the run from someone? No, that can’t be it. Mom had said ‘who she is’. If they were on the run, she would had said ‘we’ not ‘she’.

  This couldn’t be good. Her mind was racing. She needed to think before she confronted her about what she had just overheard. So she moved to the other side of the hall and made her way to her room. She slowly opened her door and closed it softly behind her so her mom wouldn’t hear.

  It wasn’t long before she heard a knock on her door. Not knowing what her mother was keeping from her she was in no mood to talk so she rolled over on her side and faced the window. She heard her door creep open and then close after a few moments. Her mom must have assumed she was asleep. When the door clicked shut, she rolled back over onto her back and started to replay everything that had happened at the flea market up until her mother’s phone conversation. After a few hours and a lot of unanswered questions, she fell into yet another uneasy sleep that was not only plagued by memories of that day but by the boys on the beach.