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THE GIFT
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She was sitting on the floor of her bedroom, playing with her dolls when she heard a knock at the door. Some deep unknown part of her, told her that whom ever it was on the other side of it wasn't of this world. But it was such a whisper of a thought and absurd that it was only fleeting, then gone. She was only six after all. Her little voice rose and uttered the words "Come in", cheerfully. Her red braided pig-tails dropped over her shoulder as she turned to see who would open it. The knob turned and in stepped another little girl. Her hair was pale blonde, light and wispy, it reminded Chayse of cotton after you've taken your fingers and spread it apart. The little girl offered a warm smile and asked in a sweet voice "Can I play with you?". Chayse was practically giddy to have someone else to play with for once, she scoot her little body over and offered a place for the new girl to sit. The girl's name was Lilah and she had explained that her mother was a friend of Chayse's mother and she was here to keep her company while her mother took care of things.
Chayse's mother was rarely home. She worked at night and slept during the days. When Chayse spoke of her playtime with Lilah, her mother put it off as being an imaginary friend. That is, until she told her the name of Lilah's mother, Trina. Chayse's mother had gasped with wide eyes, momentarily it looked as if she would beat her senseless, but then she only crumbled and cried. Trina had been her mother's best friend and she had died that past Saturday... the same day that Chayse had met Lilah. Later, Lilah explained that she herself had not lived for very long on this plain of existence and she was leaving to go be with her mother on the other side now.
Lilah visited once in awhile, but whatever comfort and knowledge she was supposed to pass on had already been given. Through Chayse, her mother had learned of faith. That her best friend was not actually gone forever, that she would again meet up with her.
Things like this happened all through out Chayse's life. Constant messages and warnings to be relayed to loved ones. Chayse didn't mind, especially as she got older and really understood her gift and what it meant to people to receive these messages. 
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THE HERE AND NOW
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Though the world beyond her door was mass chaos, she sat in silence and peace in her meditation, centered within a circle of protective candles. The apartment was otherwise dark. A smooth stone was rubbed between her thumb and forefingers as her lips moved in a silent chant. Her eyes shot open and she stared at the cross hanging from its silver chain tacked to the wall a few feet away from her. She swallowed hard and nodded, though noone was with her in the room. Understood. She knew the wishes of her contacts would not go ignored. Though she was human after all, and therefore not immune to becoming frightened at the thought of having to go out there. Into the nightmare that the world had become around her.
She had been able to speak with the souls from the Afterlife since she was a child. She remembered having a friend Lilah who would come over to play with her quite frequently, but she began to realize that noone else could see Lilah. She was the first one she remembers having contact with. But it went on through the years. Some were brief visits with just messages or warnings to be relayed to loved ones. Other times the spirit seemed to just enjoy the fact that they had someone so enabled to communicate with them, that they would stick around for awhile. As her abilities had been honed, she learned to close-out the ones who wanted to be tricksters or burden her. And now in her 23rd year, she had three spirits that stuck by her most of the time, helping and guiding her through anything she asked of. They told her that she was among their inner circle on the Other Side, and before she had been born to this life, she had chosen them to watch over her through the tough trials and tribulations she had set for herself. Though of course what those trials were, were now lost to her, as to any other human once they are born into this world. And her three guides were careful about not revealing too much, in order to not hold her back from the journey she had marked for herself. Apparently the war that was going on outside, was a rather large experience she was to take part in. For her guides: William, Janeen and Sara were telling her it was time to come out of her dark shell and go forth to aide in the war. Though she was just one person, she could make a difference. She could help.
She blew out the candles and placed two of them into her backpack, along with a box of long grill matches. She took her sacrificial dagger, which was actually just for a collecting hobby, and strapped that to her thigh. Her long dark skirts fell loosely over it, concealing it fine. Some healing leaves and herbs were added, as well as some dry foods and things that could possibly aide with some of the people who had already went into battle.. some of them never being in the military. Many of them were just working class people who suddenly found themselves being turned into warriors. She was just a young witch, with a bag tossed over her shoulder going out the door to a whole new world. 
Contact Chayse by E-mail.
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