Cristal - Novella by Anne-Rae Vasquez

“What was that,
guys?”
    Kerim’s eyes seemed to be shooting
accusations into hers while she was trying to process what Harry
had told them.
    “You were very calm during the whole thing,”
he said to her raising one eyebrow.
    She stared back, not one to be easily
intimidated. She could hear Gabriel moving around behind her.
    “She didn’t seem calm to me,” Gabriel
said.
    Kerim tilted his head towards him.
    “Gabriel, you had your eyes closed the whole
time.”
    She felt her body relax for a moment.
    “Well, not the whole time,” Gabriel replied.
“Okay, most of it.”
    Kerim’s eyes met hers causing her body to
tense up again.
    “Before you answer, Cristal,” Kerim said, “I
want to know, can we trust him?”
    He pointed at Gabriel.
    “Hey! Wait a minute!” Gabriel cried out.
    She shoved her chair back, releasing Kerim’s
death grip on the chair, forcing him to stand up. She looked from
Gabriel to Kerim. Question is, can I trust either of
them?
    “If you really want to know…” she said
drawing out the words like maple syrup dripping out of a
bottle.
    She could see Gabriel pleading with his eyes
for her to continue. Oh, no, here we go.
    “This isn’t the first time this happened to
me.”
    Gabriel leaned back on the desk, his mouth
open in astonishment.
    “What do you mean?”
    Kerim moved towards her, kneeling down on
one knee. He placed his right hand on the armrest. His steel grey
eyes searched hers. It felt like he was digging into her mind for
answers.
    “Do you want to know what I saw, Cristal?”
Kerim asked in a low voice.
    Her arms felt as if they were paralyzed, her
legs stiff.
    Kerim continued, “ You started the
earthquake and the bright light, right?” he asked in a hypnotic
tone.
    Cristal clenched her fists and struggled to get up. Why can’t I move?
    Summoning all her strength and will power, she
managed to push Kerim away. She stood up, causing him to stumble
backwards onto the desk. This time she leaned in towards him,
planting her fists on her hips.
    “Is this an interrogation, Kerim?” she
hissed.
    She could feel her emotions getting out of
control.
    “I was watching you and there was a beam of
light coming out from your chest to the ceiling and it bounced back
to the ground. It was like the light was coming through you.”
    Kerim took a step forward, approaching her
with caution.
    What is he talking about?
    Her hands fell to her side. Even though
every cell in her body wanted to escape from the mindless
inquisition, she forced herself to stay put. It was impossible for
her to tear her gaze away from him. If he leaned any closer, their
noses would have touched.
    “I don’t know anything about that,” she
admitted, not knowing what else to say.
    “When the room was shaking, you were
motionless. Your eyes were empty. But I could see things above your
head.”
    Gabriel threw him a look.
    “What things?”
    “I don’t know how to explain it,” Kerim
continued. “It was like watching a movie from an old projector onto
the white screen. Except the screen was the light that was coming
out from inside you.”
    She blinked in astonishment. That’s
impossible. Does he think I’m going to believe this BS? I have to
get out of here.
    “Cristal, did you feel or see any of that?”
Gabriel asked. “Are you okay?”
    “No, I’m not okay. I don’t have to stay here
and take this crap.”
    She leaped up, bumping Gabriel to the side
as she grabbed her laptop and her backpack and headed to the
door.
    She hurried down the hallway with Kerim and
Gabriel tailing her. When she reached the living room, Kerim
grabbed her by the shoulder with Gabriel blocking her path.
    “Cristal, you can’t leave now. We need to
talk about this,” Kerim said.
    Who the hell does he think he is?
    “No, we don’t. I need to go and find Harry.
Let me go.”
    She pushed his hand off of her.
    “Harry?” Gabriel asked.
    She noted the sound of concern in his
voice.
    “No, I agree with Kerim. We need