Chapter Three

Keeping her mind away from todays earlier events, Denise got out of the shower and towel dried her hair. Between her and her brother they had to be to school at different times and since it was still early she figured she could get the rest of her necessities out of the way before waking him. Having one bathroom tended to cause some conflict.

Throwing her clothes on, she gathered together the items she pulled out earlier to complete her ensemble. Mousse, hair spray, hair ties, and.... Lifting the towel she noticed the one, and, most important thing for completion was missing.... the brush.

"Ugh." She thought.

Waking up early she had more time than normal for getting ready, hell she could even sit down and eat a bowl of cereal at her own leisurely pace. That didn't stop her from grumbling as she flew through the drawers looking for the small item. When she couldnt find it anywhere in the bathroom her impatience grew.

"Come on, think." She said aloud, as though the comfort of the words would make the item magically appear out of thin air. Thinking back she was the last person to use it. She placed it on the edge of the sink before heading off to bed. The other kids don't tend to use the brush as often as Denise.

Brianna rarely brushed her hair so that ruled her out as the culprit. John and JC's hair was short and...

"Ugh..." She thought again.

Suddenly as if to comfort her she thought of the male voice...

"Let go..."

"Not helping." She thought.

Closing her eyes she braced her hands on the sink and as though it had never left she heard the male once again...

"You have all the time in the world..."

At that moment she could feel an eagerness transpire inside her. It felt like a growing intensity almost a longing. Embarrassed, she tried to look away from the mirror but found herself immobilized. It was as though she were no longer in control of her movements. She was completely fascinated as the scenery in her mere bathroom changed around her.

The walls disappeared and expanded. She could no longer see her reflection as the bathroom mirror faded. Instead a breakfast nook was in front of her with her hands moving furiously over the counter.

She couldnt see in any general direction to make out her surroundings. All she could do is focus on the task at hand even though her mind was not yet clear as to what she was doing. Whatever it is, this Denise did it with a grace and skill she was unaware she possessed.

Even though this had nothing to do with her current ability she did not try to escape the events or will herself back to her own era. Instead she paid close attention feeling that maybe some new talent was being revealed to her. At least that was one thing she could have confidence in... she knew she was not losing her mind. Maybe this is what the mystery man was talking about.

As she immersed herself in the scenario she realized words had been spoken she hadn't made out.

"So much for paying close attention." She thought.

She did realize she was pouring some drinks. With no control over her hands, she placed the bottle of alcohol down and picked up the two half full glasses and she turned around. She was in the connecting living room to a small well-kept house.

The adjoining area was bigger than her own and the decorations were all of Japanese descent. From pictures of concubines and nightingales decorating the walls, to zabuton pillows covering the love seat and sofa everything was perfectly arranged.

"Maybe this woman is Japanese."

Although she had no clue and could only guess. Even if she could see her face theres no telling that she would recognize the woman. She was probably a complete stranger. However there was one face she did recognize as the woman's eyes met his gaze. Little John, her brother, stood about ten feet away from her.

"OK, this is getting even weirder."

Even though he was taller, Lil John was only 4'8 hence his nickname. The man in front of her looked to be about 6'5. He was dressed in an all-black suit with a red tie and a fedora to compliment his attire. Even under the fedora, Denise could see the cold hard gaze of her brother staring back at her. Every line and feature on his face matched her Lil Jonn who at this moment in time was snuggled up, and listening to the sounds of his music on his cell phone.

Confused she watched herself as she went to hand Johnny the drink. Though his blue eyes seemed cold and distant they still radiated a sparkle. She also watched the fluidity of his movements as his look changed from a cold harnessed smile, to a confused look as though he was looking through the woman who stood before him and peering into Denises shocked hazel eyes. She was almost positive thats what she witnessed.

"Something wrong?" She stated, but not of her own free will as the woman had noticed the same change in his demeanor. In that instant Johnny's wide-eyed expression changed yet again from the confused look to pure anger. he came at her quickly knocking the drinks from her hands.

Denise felt the woman's heart jump in her throat as if it were her own. Before she could turn to run in the opposite direction, the taller Little Johns fist came flying at her at an accelerated speed knocking her against the wall and back into her own reality. She felt the hit as if it had been her face receiving the blow but she didn't get the pain that accompanied it.

Standing up, palms sweaty and shaking, it didn't stop her from checking the area of the blow. No swelling, no broken nose and she was sure an impact like that surely would've done some damage, just not to her. Staring at the small cavity she could see her nose was perfectly intact. She felt bad for the woman who had received the blunt force. She knew she was not so lucky.

Confused she looked around the room. Everything was as it had been and no trace of the womans life remained. As quickly as the events had emerged there end was just as abrupt. Pale, shaky, and as her heart started to slow she could feel the lump in her throat grow for the woman whom she just encountered. Forgetting about her minor problem she headed back down the hall and into Johnny's room, where inadvertently the brush laid at the end of his bed.

"Weird."

She picked it up, and headed to the top of the bed where the boy slept soundly. She could hear Johns soft snoring and the cell phone next to his face playing the soft music he uses to lull himself to sleep. Johnny has never bothered to set his alarm he knew Denise would be his wake-up call. Puzzled by the recent episode she watched her brother, looking for any signs that he may be in the area she just came from.

The boy laid on his back facing his phone as if he could still make out the music even in his deep state of slumber. As if in answering the question, and just as she reached across her brothers chest to turn off his music, Johnnys hand suddenly jerked up intercepting her movements. Startled she tried to wrench free but his grip overpowered her own.

John was the not average fourteen year old boy, he was smaller than most boys his age. With his dirty brown hair and big baby blue eyes, most people often mistook him for younger even though his facial features developed normally. To Denise, overlooking his size, his face gave away his age. One thing she could guarantee was because he was so small he didn't have a reserved amount of strength and the strength he now possessed was not his own. Johnny has never shown any signs of violence and he wasnt stronger than her. But with his vice like grip, he was hurting her hand and no matter how she twisted it, she could not pry herself free. Squeezing tightly he turned his face towards her, which sent the hairs standing straight up on the back of her neck.

"Where are you?" He asked, in a menacing tone that shook her back into the reality she was knocked out of. With his eyes still closed she watched her brothers fragile face quickly become the reflection of rage emanating from the obviously older him.

Panic quickly rose in her stomach and she felt as though she were going to throw up. She couldnt help but think if she didn't wake her brother soon he would be lost to her forever. Her heart was beating so fast she could feel it drumming in her ears.

Unable to hold her foundation of strength together any longer she began shaking Johnny violently with her free hand, she could no longer control the panic in her voice. "John, get up!!"

With a few more violent shakes John opened his eyes in bewilderment as though he didn't even feel the ferociousness of his sisters hand. As the inner fury quickly subsided he released his grip and yawned.

"Time to get up already?"

Denise was confused, she knew something was happening she just wasn't sure exactly what it was yet. This time it was happening with both of them, she was at a loss for words. Part of her wanted to sit there and explain it all and another part of her wanted to jump up, choke Johnny, and ask for an explanation.

Feeling as though moving would only cause more awkwardness in the moment she sat and watched her brother cautiously as he turned off his cell phone music, pondered with the small screen, and got out of bed.

Grabbing a black shirt he pulled it over his head and looked over at her puzzled. Finally breaking the silence he spoke, not in any menacing tone in just the normal John voice. "What?"

At first she didn't know how to respond perplexed by the routine that any other day she would find to be normal. Realizing she was staring she popped out with the quickest response she could think of.

"Are you going to take a shower?"

"No I took one last night, why? Are you actually offering for me to take one before you? Thats a first." Smiling and oblivious to her noticeably startled demeanor he continued. "So since we established that I dont need one could you give me some privacy or are you gonna be a creeper and watch me dress."

Gripping the brush tightly in the hand that Johnny just released, she turned from him and headed out the door. If he was acting he had her completely fooled. How could that be, how could he not have any idea what just happened?

"Alright let me know if you need the bathroom I have to finish getting ready."

"Another first." He exclaimed in the same playful banter he awoke with. She closed the door.

Making her way back to the bathroom she felt as though she had just stepped off the bus into the Twilight Zone and at any minute she was going to hear Rod Sterlings voice start a small narrative to her life and how she got to this point and destination. It made her feel uneasy. Now questioning her own actions she continued the steps to get ready for school. This would have to be addressed but not yet. She would have to bring it up to him later, after school, and she could always trust that if Johnny knew anything he would tell her. This was not going to be a problem, she was going to handle it the way she handles all of life's mysteries, calm, cool, and collective. If thats one thing having a gift has taught her, it was to have a certain amount of patience.

When Denise first started waking her mind to the ability she possessed she wasn't necessarily in complete control and the only way she learned was being calm. Now with her ability of the cold, she could freeze water at her own leisure without the mishaps she grew up with. Calm, cool, and collective it pays off everytime. Keeping her mind busy she thought to the woman who received the blow, Denise knew she was either badly injured or more than likely dead. She had the feeling that this was just the start and somehow her brother was a key.

If Johnny was waking to a gift she was sure his ability was far superior to her own. As she finished her morning routine John was already at the table with a bowl of cereal listening to whatever music hadn't played the night before. Glancing at the time it read 7:10 a.m., everything on schedule.