River Crossing

CHAPTER 1: GOODBYES

She’d had heard enough and left the dinner table without another word. Thinking they just needed time like always, he had just dropped a bomb on them, and this was the first time they had to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Coming out to her parents with a new look and a new name wasn’t the plan, but it was too late now. She sat in her room and waited while there was a feeling scratching at her heart. What if they didn’t listen this time, and what if they put her out? She moved to her desk, opening her laptop to see if she had gotten any hits on her search for a new place to live that took emancipated teenagers. Secretly, she had emancipated herself from her parents and changed her name. In her heart, River knew they weren’t safe people, so she needed to plan the next phase of her escape. She decided to see if they had changed their minds and crept down the stairs, pausing at the top where her little brother was making the shh motion with his hands.

“Barbie, I’m not doing this shit. Trans?! I don’t have time for this nonsense; he’s going to Camp Rebirth in the morning, and you will say nothing. We will get him in the car and take him ourselves. This is the only way to save him.” That was enough for her; she kissed her little brother goodbye and went to pack her things. She had hoped they would surprise her, but they didn’t. She would unpack the disappointment later, but now she needed a crossroads spell. There was no way she was going back to that place. They tried to burn the gay out of her and make her a boy, but to no avail.

Back to her previous research. She had been studying Latin for a while and knew that there was a way to summon demons and the old gods with just words, but she wanted to do this right. She found a spell that required things she already had in her room. She wondered whether she could cast the spell in her room or if she needed to be out in the open at a crossroads to be successful when she heard the secret knock of her little brother, Georgi. Upon opening the door, she finds a note, a bundle of food, and her brother quickly closing his door. She didn’t immediately read the note, but mouthed “I love you” to the closed door.

She rushed back to her desk. The site she found said she had to be at a crossroad and put her petition in the center, but the street was paved. She decided on a spell that only required a candle and intentions. She knew her ancestors didn’t have fancy things when doing spell work. She found a scented candle in her closet and opened a circle. She wanted to communicate with whoever or whatever was on the other side that could help her. She only had one chance since they were trying to send her off in the morning. Hearing a knock on her door, she was glad she hadn’t lit the candle, slid everything under her bed, and opened the door. “I’m sorry about that, Gregori. You have to understand that your father is old-fashioned.” She held up a hand at her dead name.

“I sincerely do not give a care. And my name is River. Do you need anything else?” She closed the door, not waiting for an answer. Her mother was trying to play in her face, but she didn’t have time, so she locked the door and continued her summoning. The circle was open, and she lit the candle and read the Latin incantation she found, and then spoke her petition, and nothing happened. She was sad, snuffed out the candle, and cleaned her space for the last time. If she didn’t get an answer in the next 10 minutes, she would just leave on her own, regardless of who was there, and she needed to pack a bag. Her book bag was all she was taking, so she needed to minimize what she took. Picking what to bring was impossible, but she didn’t have time to be miserable about losing everything. Another knock on the door and an unsuccessful turn of the knob. She went to the door, knowing it was her father. “Yes?”

“Oh, we lockin’ doors now? Pack a bag, we’re going camping this weekend, so be ready at 6, and don’t argue, Greg, because I don’t have time.” This man thought he was slick. River had been trying to get him to take a weekend camping trip all summer, but now she wanted to use that to get him into that car; how transparent.

“ok, you need anything else? Night.” She shut the door and waited for his footsteps to retreat before locking the door again. Her mind was made up, and she finished packing, and it was surprisingly a small amount of things, but of course included her baby brother’s package and letter. She had no more energy, so she lay down for a good final cry. She needed to get the tears out because big girls don’t cry. Heaving and hyperventilating, she was suddenly immobile, only able to move her eyes.

Looking around, she saw a shadow move and heard the candle crack, but she couldn’t verify what she thought was a person. She tried to refocus her eyes and scan, but could only see an outline. She decided to speak directly to it just in case it was someone answering her blanket call. “I can see you. Im not scared, well not of you, Im scared of that camp they wanna send me to.” Slowly, she could move again, so she sat up on the edge of her bed facing the occupied corner. “Can you help me? Will you help me? Or do I have to run to the streets? I will if I have to, but I’m not going back to that fucking camp.”

“I’m here to help,” said a deep rumbling voice, “but first, how did you summon me?” She was confused but pulled out her ritual and showed the shadow what she did. “Simple. I like.” He stepped out from the shadows, and she could see him. He wasn’t scary at all, just massive. She jumped up to embrace him, and he froze.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I just. I mean, sorry. Who are you, and can we go?”

“Rush rush rush, I get it, so let’s go, and we shall talk on the way.” He motioned for her to step through a flaming doorway that appeared behind him. She knew if she stepped out through that door, she couldn’t come back. She would be leaving Georgi alone with them. Life would be uncertain, but it wasn’t at all certain currently, so she slid on her shoes and ran through the door.