Inherited Magic Read Online Free PDF Page A

together for
their final period. When Mrs. Caudwell started the class, she looked like many
of the other teachers who had puffy eyes and splotchy faces. It was easy to
forget that teachers were human too, and they had just lost a colleague and
friend.
    “Class, you can consider this
afternoon a free period. Many of you are working on projects for the annual art
show; feel free to continue if you want. If you do not feel like working on
anything, you don’t have to. I don’t mind if you talk among yourselves as long
as you don’t disturb your neighbors,” Mrs. Caudwell said.
    Allison already had two pieces
ready for the art show, and she was confident at least one painting would make
it in. Every year since ninth grade, she’d had at least one piece of art
accepted into the statewide high school art show. Allison was a talented
artist; even those who did not like her could not deny that. Her talent was
something that came naturally, and Art was something she enjoyed. The simple
act of painting on canvas or dragging charcoal across the paper was soothing.
    She took out a sketchpad and walked
to the art supply cabinet to take out some charcoal, thinking this might take
her mind off everything. She did not have anything in particular that she
wanted to draw so she just began making lines and curves without any conscious
plan. Her hands moved with a certain precision and grace whenever she was
drawing or painting. It was not until several minutes later that she realized
what she was drawing. It was the man from her dreams, his odd features. A cold
chill made its way down her spine when she looked into the charcoal eyes she
had created. She had an urge to rip the paper into shreds, but did not. Maybe
if she could put his face onto paper it would be cathartic, help her lose the
images.
    At the end of the day, Allison and
Vinnie began the walk home. It was a walk they were used to making. Ruby did
not get off work until 4:30, and Vinnie’s family never bothered to pick him up
from school. They would rather walk than wait there for Ruby or ride the bus.
They walked down a narrow sidewalk, the air felt too cold for the first week of
October.
    “I always liked Miss Tucker. She
was a good teacher,” Vinnie said.
    “She really was.” 
    “It’s just so sad. I wonder how it
happened.”
    “A group of men forced their way
into her house, killed her and started the fire.”
    Vinnie stopped walking and looked
at Allison. His face was unreadable.
     “What makes you say that?” he
asked.
    “I know it sounds crazy, but I
dreamed about her last night and that is exactly what I dreamed. First, I
dreamed she was praying at an altar, and later I dreamed these men murdered
her. I could see everything.”
    “You dreamed all this last night?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you’re sure it was Miss Tucker
in your dream?”
    “Positive.”
    Vinnie probably thought she was
crazy, but still, she kept talking.
    “I have been having things like
this happen for over a week. I’m not sure if they’re dreams, visions or what.
They’re becoming more frequent and sometimes they give me headaches and
nosebleeds. It even happens when I’m awake, kind of like déjà vu,” Allison
said.
    “Are they always about people you
know?”
    “No. Sometimes it’s weird, like
watching unfamiliar people and events. It feels like I am watching movie clips
completely out of order.”
    “I’m not sure what’s going on, but
you have to know the dream about Miss Tucker is just a coincidence.”
    Allison shook her head. “It feels
like I could have stopped it.”
    “I’m telling you, there’s no way
you could have stopped anything. I’m sure by the time you woke up the fire was
already going. Yes, the timing is odd, but you can’t hold yourself responsible
for a dream.”
    They had reached the home of
Vinnie’s family. Chuck’s car was parked in front. Since he was still home,
Allison guessed that he had called in to work so that he could sleep off