Dark Explorations--Chapter 1

 My name is Jenna Silas. I'm twenty-three and stand at four-foot-nine. What do you think of the word 'paranormal?' You probably think of ghosts and demons and, maybe, even the various movies that have the word in the title. There are even shows on the paranormal. Let me tell you something, I didn't believe in such things. The idea of ghosts and demons were nothing but fantasy to me. However, that all changed. So if you're a believer in the paranormal, have I got a story for you.

November 2013

I didn't realize it at the time but my first brush with the paranormal came in the fifth grade. I was still going to school in Portland, Texas at the time. I don't remember if it was in the middle of the year or late second semester. It doesn't matter anyway. I was in gym class and standing in line, getting ready to go to lunch, when I'm blasted with cold air. However, at that age--age eleven--I didn't understand what that was. Although, I do remember thinking that it could have been a ghost. No one in line ever noticed that blast of cold air. I tried to understand what happened but there was no explanation for it and, again, no one else seemed to notice. Just like all of the other kids, I just shrugged it off and went on my way. It would take me nearly fifteen years before I realized what hit me in the face."You know, Gem, in the fifth grade I was blasted in the face with cold air."

"Yep. That's paranormal."

Gem is my best friend in the world. We met in 2012 on a writing website but we've been tight friends since then. I consider her to be not only my best friend but also my mentor. I can tell her almost anything and she'll have some kind of answer for me. I love her a lot! So when she asked me if something was following me, I was baffled. I live in a small town and everyone knows everyone...or, at least, everyone has their nose in a place that it doesn't belong. Using this logic, I probably would have been warned by someone if I was being followed.

"I don't think so. Why do you ask?"

My answer is not given to me until a couple of weeks later.

=================

"I'll miss grandma, but it was my time to move out."

Someone at work had brought up that there was an open apartment. At first, I didn't jump on it because of my grandmother but the second time, I did jump on it. I'm allergic to cats and my grandma's cat was shedding like crazy. So I packed up and moved out. I made it a point to visit her as much as I could. My schedule, right now, is pretty light so I can still visit her. I've been in my apartment for two months and it has been pretty darn peaceful. It's still pretty empty since I'm trying to save up for some furniture, but I'm happy. The only complaint that I have at the moment is that it's pretty cold despite having the heater up on high.

Per my usual ritual, I get on Facebook to see if my best friend, Gem, is on and she is. She's in Massachusetts and I'm in Minnesota. Despite the distance, we are pretty darn close. I've always had trouble maintaining friendships so Gem had turned out to be a blessing and even more so when we start to get into a very unusual, and very familiar, conversation.

"Is there something following you?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"I'm seeing something dark following you."

Dark? What the heck is she talking about? She continues to tell me about a dark, shadowy figure following me everywhere. Being unfamiliar with the paranormal world, I have no idea where she's going with this, although I do believe in psychic abilities. Then she tells me about a vision that she's having. She says that she can see me sitting at a table and there's a dark shadow hovering over me. Then, in a change of vision, she tells me of a little girl with curly hair sobbing in bed. In the bedroom, that same dark shadow is in with the little girl and taunting the poor child.

"I hear this woman telling you to shut up and that you're just having a nightmare."

I can't believe I'm even hearing this. I'm incredulous but I continue to listen to Gem spout off all of this junk about having a family curse. I'm at a loss. I keep telling her that the little girl couldn't have been me because my hair had been straight as a little girl. I continue to deny everything that I hear. Why would I be haunted by a ghost?

"Are you sure?" Gem asks.

"It can't be me."

However, the more Gem talks the less sure that I am. Growing up, my mother was hardly ever around. She'd drop me off at her parents house and she would always tell me that she's going to work. I had no idea that she was really sneaking off to go party and drink. My friend tells me that I had been calling for my mother before my mother finally said to shut the fuck up and that she didn't want me. I was a mistake. Gem says that she can hear the shadow creature tell my past self that there was no one who loved me or cared for me.

"Well, if you say so, Gem..."

I'm no longer sure of what the truth is. None of what I had heard sounded familiar to my present self...well, maybe except the part that no one loved or cared for me. That part, I have to admit, is something I have heard as a teenager. However, I still can't believe everything that my friend says. My dad and stepmom have taught me to be careful of those who claim to be psychic and that they would be more than happy to fleece me. Even though, I never met Gem in real life, I can say without a doubt that she isn't that type of a person.

No matter how crazy she might sound.