The Ascension

Randall Lombardi

The Ascension

First published by Randall Lombardi 2024

Copyright © 2024 by Randall Lombardi

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Randall Lombardi asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

First edition

ISBN: 979-8-9897185-3-5

Editing by Lillian Lippold

Cover art by Marta Obucina

Proofreading by Kate Popa

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

To everyone cheering me on throughout this journey.

Thank you!

Contents

Acknowledgement

1. Tera-Sue

2. Selene

3. Tera-Sue

4. Selene

5. Tera-Sue

6. Selene

7. Tera-Sue

8. Selene

9. Tera-Sue

10. Selene

11. Tera-Sue

12. Selene

13. Tera-Sue

14. Selene

15. Tera-Sue

16. Selene

17. Tera-Sue

18. Selene

19. Tera-Sue

20. Selene

21. Tera-Sue

22. Selene

23. Tera-Sue

24. Selene

Acknowledgement

1

Tera-Sue

The world was spiraling to a slow halt until soft fingers brushed my forearm and brought me back to it.

I snapped my eyes open, sat up straight, and inhaled slowly through my nostrils. I’d been dozing off during English again. This time, my melatonin-laced sermon was dedicated to The Crucible. Thankfully, the teacher was too focused on pushing through their last lecture of the day to notice me on the verge of snoring.

I glanced over to my right to find Ben nestled in his desk. I could still feel the ghost of his touch. He gave me a soft smile and a wink before turning his attention back to the teacher. His jaw tensed and relaxed as he fought to keep his focus on the front of the classroom. After two years of dating, I would still catch him staring at me like it was the first time he’d seen me.

I couldn’t blame him. Whenever I saw him, every butterfly in North Carolina held a conference in my stomach. When I was little, I always said I’d marry a dark and mysterious man. Of course, I’d ended up in love with the human version of a golden retriever, complete with sandy blond hair and soft brown eyes.

I pulled my gaze from Ben and focused back on the front of the classroom just as the teacher announced our exit ticket for the class. The girl in front of me passed me a half sheet of paper.

There was only one question: what drove the townspeople to murder? The only thing I could say for certain was that the answer wasn’t witchcraft.

A pen tapped the left side of my desk in two quick, soft beats. I made a face at my sister, Selene, and then took the pen from her. She glanced down at her paper before fixing her gaze back on the clock.

Selene was my identical twin sister. While we shared the same raven-colored hair and emerald-green eyes, she couldn’t have been any more different from me. When it came to academics, Selene was a genius, easily at the top of our class. I focused more on the social aspects of high school; sports and clubs were where I shined. Thankfully, we always had each other’s back.

I did my best to glance down at Selene’s answer without drawing any attention; she had written a whole paragraph. She was great at doing too much.

I scribbled down one word: hate.

By the time the bell rang, some students had already lined up at the door. Selene packed her bag slowly, and I stood and slung mine over my shoulder the moment I’d passed my paper forward.

I’ve got to get to the field early today, Ben said as he stood. Coach wants me to run the warm-ups and drills.

Okay, I’ll see you when I get out there. I grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He gave the back of my hand a gentle kiss before letting go and leaving the classroom.

Don’t people usually save the PDA for the hall? Selene mocked as she stood from her desk.

I laughed. Selene wasn’t wrong, though. The hallways were always flooded after the last bell with students, some rushing to their buses, others to after-school activities, and others taking up space to be PDA sideshows. We slipped and shoved our way through the masses until we reached our locker.

Are you going home? I asked.

No, I was planning to do some homework in the library. Aunt Jules is staying late anyway, Selene said.

Jules was the school librarian, our aunt, and our legal guardian. Sometimes, she let us stay after school to use the computers and get ahead on our homework before she drove us home. Our uncle Dan refused to let us drive to school. He claimed we should take the bus and help the environment. Jules didn’t care what he said and drove us to school most days, anyway. Uncle Dan was our dad’s brother, and Jules was our mom’s sister. Jules called the shots most of the time. On rare occasions, she let Uncle Dan think he made decisions. Thus, we weren’t allowed to drive his car to school.

She opened the locker and pulled out a couple of books. Do you have practice today?

Yeah, but I think it’s going to end early. Rumor has it that Coach has a family thing later today.

I slipped my backpack off and hung it on the designated hook at the back of the locker. Selene was in charge of organizing the locker, and I was in charge of decorating it. The inside of the locker door was sprinkled with photos: one of me and Selene in a photo booth last summer, one of us with Jules and Uncle Dan, two of us and our best friend Ashlyn, and one of Ben and me in front of the Ferris wheel.

Tera, don’t stunt today, Selene said.

Huh?

Stay on the ground. Don’t stunt. I’ve been having a bad feeling that I can’t seem to shake, she said.

I nodded.

When Selene had a feeling, I listened. Selene had feelings before bad things happened—like our dog dying or Uncle Dan getting in a bad car accident—and she’d never been wrong. I always said she was psychic, but she didn’t tell anyone else after she tried to tell Uncle Dan, and he didn’t believe her. It didn’t matter what anyone else believed because I sure as hell always believed her.

Hey, Ashlyn said as she came up beside me. She pulled us both in for a half-hug and then leaned against the wall beside our locker. Her blonde and pink box braids smelled of cotton candy. Are you two making plans for tomorrow without me?

The only plans we have so far for tomorrow are the ones you’re already included in, Selene said.

Well, that’s no fun, Ashlyn said with a sigh. You only turn eighteen once. I mean, you two should be making a bigger deal out of this.

We turn every age once, I said as I pulled my gym bag from the top shelf of the locker. Besides, what else do I need to do? I’m already going to be spending the day with my favorite people.

That was so cheesy. Ashlyn laughed. Are you ready for practice?

I was just telling Selene that I’m not feeling too good. Selene closed our locker.

Does that mean you aren’t coming? she asked with a raised eyebrow.

I’m still going. Just going to take it easy.

Boo. That sucks. I was hoping you’d stunt with me, Ashlyn said.

I looked at Selene and made a face. We couldn’t let Ashlyn stunt, but I knew Selene was not comfortable just telling her the truth about why she couldn’t stunt today. Knowing Ashlyn, she would just do it, anyway. I stared at her, trying to think of something to tell her, but my mind was blank. Selene waved for Ashlyn to come closer and whispered something in her ear. Ashlyn stepped back and grabbed my hands.

We won’t stunt this week, but next week, you’re gonna do it with me, she said.

Uh, yeah, of course, I said as I shot Selene a look. She nodded.

All right, I’ll meet you in the gym, she said before turning to Selene. And I want to see you in the bleachers giving us all of your support.

I’ll be there, Selene said with a smile.

As quickly as she had appeared, Ashlyn was gone.

What did you say to her? I asked.

I told her that your stomach is really bothering you and that you’ve been on the toilet all day, she said with a giggle.

Wonderful, I said as I rolled my eyes.

Ashlyn was sitting on the gym’s indoor bleachers when I finished changing, texting a storm. Given her expression, something intense was going on. Coach always told us to dress comfortably for practice, so for me, that meant sweatpants and a tank top. Ashlyn’s definition of comfortable was a crop top and leggings. Her high ponytail swayed back and forth as her narrowed eyes traced side-to-side across her phone screen. With a forceful push of her thumb, the swish of a text sending sounded. Then, she walked over to me with a huff.

How are you feeling? she asked.

I’m okay, just a little uncomfortable, I lied. How are you?

I’m fine, she said. Douchebag is not answering my texts, but other than that, fine.

What was his name again? Jared, Jack, Josh, or something? I asked in a mocking tone.

Not funny, she said with a smirk.

Why are you wasting your time with that douche? You can do so much better.

I know I can, but not all of us can find ‘the one’ the first time around. He’s just entertainment for now. I mean, once we graduate, I won’t remember his name. She pushed the door to the field open. Speaking of devils, how is your boo?

Ben is fine. He left early so he could run practice. I held down my vomit at her use of the word boo.

I’m sure he’ll text you later all apologetic like, ‘Hey, baby, sorry I couldn’t walk with you to practice today. I just wanted to tell you how fine you are,’ she said as she deepened her voice to mimic him.

Oh god, is that what you think he sounds like? I asked, laughing.

That’s what all men sound like when they’re trying to seduce you, she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

We reached the field laughing as we always did. The team was already stretching in a circle by the time we arrived. On a normal day, Coach would have been waiting to jump down our throats for being late, but we got lucky, and she wasn’t. Ashlyn and I stepped into the circle and followed the girl leading the warmups.

Other teams practiced on the field with us: football, women’s lacrosse, and men’s soccer.

Bingo, I thought. I could see Ben towering over the others as he ran through drills. The butterflies in my stomach danced as I watched him. He caught me looking and flashed me a quick, bright smile. I smiled at him and nodded back.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen! Let’s get to it! Coach’s raspy voice snapped my attention back to our practice. Get in formation. I want some new volunteers to fly today. Let’s see some hands.

Ashlyn and I looked at each other. A couple of freshman girls volunteered, eager to get the practice in. Part of me wanted to tell them not to. Another part of me hoped that Selene had been wrong. Her feelings could be wrong, couldn’t they? We all fell into our positions for one of our simpler routines.

Coach counted as we went. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. One, two, three, four, one, two, three. We grew closer to the part of the routine where the flyers went up. I fought to keep my focus on what I was doing, but I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.

The flyers went up. Then, as if on cue, someone sneezed. I whirled my head around to see one of the flyers coming back down as the back spot began to have a sneezing fit.

The girl hit the ground. I could have sworn I heard a crack.

Coach was beside the girl instantly, one hand raised to tell everyone else to freeze. Everyone, give her some space. Ashlyn, run to the nurse’s office. Tell them to come quick.

Ashlyn nodded before sprinting back toward the school. The rest of the team just stood around, watching the scene unfold. Coach talked to the injured girl. She tried to get information out of her about where the pain was. The girl was beet red and heaving as she spoke. The back spot was hysterical, like she was the one who fell. The other teams on the field seemed to notice the commotion and started to walk over.

I looked to the bleachers to see Selene standing at the bottom. Her expression was unreadable. We locked eyes briefly before her attention was drawn to Ashlyn and the nurse coming onto the field.

The nurse had a bag with him. He knelt beside the girl and started to speak to her. I read his lips. The girl’s arm was broken. Coach talked to the other coaches on the field when the nurse entered their huddle. Ashlyn made her way over to me.

Thank god for your weak bowels, she said. That could have been one of us.

Yeah, thank god. I couldn’t keep myself from looking back toward the bleachers. Jules was there, talking to Selene. Selene is psychic, I thought.

All right, folks, we’re going to have to cancel the rest of practices today, one of the other coaches announced. Please head back to the locker rooms and go home.

No one complained. No one said much of anything as we left the field. The only sounds that filled the air were the crunching of turf beneath shoes and the sobs of a girl in pain. I waved goodbye to Ashlyn as I went toward the bleachers.

Are you all right? Jules asked.

Yeah, I’m fine.

Are you ready to go home? she asked. I’ll drive you.

I have to change and get my backpack out of my locker.

Okay, we’ll meet you in the car. Take care of your business, she said.

Thank you, Aunt Jules, I said before heading back into the school.

I pushed my gym bag back on the top shelf of the locker and unhooked my backpack. I had everything I needed for the weekend. I took all the books out of my backpack and put them into the locker. I didn’t plan on doing any schoolwork. I zipped up the almost empty bag and put it on. I looked in the mirror at the back of the locker and pulled my headband off.

Just as I was about to close the door, I caught a glimpse of someone behind me in the mirror. I whipped around to see Ben standing behind me with a goofy smile.

Scare you? he chuckled.

Yes, creeper.

Sorry, I wanted to make sure I saw you before you left. He pulled me in for a hug.

He was warm and smelt of spice and burning wood. I let myself relax in his arms. We stayed there for a few moments.

I have to go; Jules and Selene are waiting for me.

Okay, he said. I didn’t pull away. I just hugged him tighter. He laughed. I’ll see you tomorrow, right?

Yeah, we’re supposed to go to lunch with Selene and Ashlyn at the cafe, I said, still not lifting my head from his chest.

My dad is in town, he said. I felt myself tense as he said it. Even after two years of dating, I hadn’t met Ben’s dad. Ben always said his dad traveled a lot for work. I sensed that Ben didn’t want me to meet the guy. He avoided the subject. He wants to have dinner with us while he’s here.

Okay, just tell me when.

We stayed quiet for a few more moments. I ached to know what he was thinking. I always did.

You better go before Jules comes in here and kills me, Ben said, breaking the silence.

She would, I said. I gave him one last squeeze before pulling away.

See you tomorrow, he said and kissed me on the forehead.

With one last smile, I locked my locker and headed out to the parking lot.

I opened the back door of Jules’s gray sedan and noticed a small lavender bag on the seat. I picked it up and looked at Jules, who was in the driver’s seat. She looked back at me with a smile.

I know it’s not until tomorrow, but I just couldn’t wait, she said. Happy birthday.

Thank you, I said as I climbed into the car.

You can open them now that you’re together, she said. Selene, in the passenger seat, had a similar bag on her lap.

I pulled the tissue paper out of the bag and reached inside. Something cold and metallic brushed against the pads of my fingers. I grasped it and lifted it from the bag.

A necklace. The metal chain was dark, and the charm was made of a similar metal in the shape of the sun. In the charm’s center was a crystal, a shimmering, translucent gem with accents of orange and green. I could have sworn the flecks of color danced as the necklace dangled in my hand.

You didn’t have to do this, Selene said. She held hers by the chain above her palm: a moon set in front of a different crystal.

It’s the least I could do for you girls, Jules said. I’d give you the world if it’d let me. And I wanted to make sure I gave you these early. That way, you can wear them tomorrow.

I pulled my hair into a high ponytail using a scrunchie I pulled out of my backpack. I fiddled with the clasp on my necklace, unhooked it, and slipped the chain around my neck. The charm sat over my heart, the metal cold against my skin. I swore I could feel something warm stirring inside me as it settled against my skin. Part of me felt giddy. I was starting to get excited about my birthday.

Come on. Let’s get home before I have to hear Dan’s mouth, Jules laughed. She pushed the CD button on the radio and turned the volume up: the throwback 2000s mix we’d made in elementary school.

It was undoubtedly the best throwback mix ever made. The three of us sang our hearts out as we drove home with the windows down.

2

Selene

Istood at the foot of my bed, staring at the two outfits I had laid out. On a normal day, it wouldn’t matter which one I picked. However, it was not just any other day. It was my eighteenth birthday.

Ashlyn was right; this was a milestone in my life that I wouldn’t get back. I would be an adult, at least in some minuscule sense. Aunt Jules said it was supposed to be a full moon too, which meant it was supposed to be a day of high energy. I didn’t always grasp the things Aunt Jules told me about energies. There was a time when she tried to tell me something about vibrations, but I tuned it out. I wasn’t about to go through that talk with Aunt Jules after what I had seen in my health class.

I checked my phone. It was already eleven thirty. I should make sure Tera was up. I left my room and walked across the hall to knock on her door.

When I heard her groaning from inside, I banged louder.

Tera! Get up. We have to go to the cafe soon, I shouted through the door.

We didn’t have to be at the cafe for a few more hours, but it would take Tera at least that long to get ready, maybe even longer, because Ben would be there. I returned to my room and looked down at the two outfits again. Black turtleneck, burgundy skirt, black tights, and boots. That was the outfit I felt most pulled to. That was more than enough to base my decision on.

After I finished getting ready, I looked in the mirror. It was time for the finishing touch. I gingerly clipped on the necklace Aunt Jules had given me the day before. It sat perfectly in the center of my shirt: a crescent moon over a circular crystal. The crystal was green, with stripes and swirls of lighter and darker green throughout it. It was impossible to tell which green was the stone’s true color. It mesmerized me every time I looked at it.

I pulled myself away from my mirror and left my room. I pressed my ear against Tera’s door. I could hear her shuffling through her drawers. I had done my job.

I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. The warm scent of pancakes met me at the bottom of the stairs. The island in the center of the kitchen was stacked with food. Uncle Dan stood in front of the sink, scrubbing some pans. He wore