In the morning, Kay wakes in a yellow bed, yawning and stretching. There’s discomfort from her back, tight muscles. Oh, no! I gotta get rid of that! I can’t have that!! Not with auditions coming up. She gets out of a fairytale bed. A glittery headboard paired with a sparkly canopy. Dollhouse dressers are set in each corner, high from the floor. A real-life playset.
An almost risen sun showers the lower half of the room while the top half is dark. Kayla’s nightgown flows behind her as a princess’s would. She takes a green smoothie from the fridge—bananas, strawberries, and spinach — and sips it on her way upstairs.
There’s a balcony off her art studio. The city beyond the glass is windy. A perfect fall day. She stretches her legs one by one, using patio furniture as a workout bench. The rigid muscles are concerning; her legs aren’t awake enough to be flexible. So, she performs slow back kicks to activate them. I have to be careful…I can’t push myself too much. The workout session doesn’t last long, all she does is prep her muscles a bit to encourage faster repair time.
Afterwards…she goes to the kitchen for a quick breakfast. Almond milk and Cheerios, not the honey nut kind…that would be too sweet for her health. God forbid I have a sugary breakfast, like every other girl. No…I have1 gram of sugar, toasted oat flavor, unsweetened, whole grain, the health-conscious option. Yippie! Her sarcasm is professional as she hops atop a stool with a wide rimmed bowl and an oversized spoon.
Her eyes go to the empty dining room table….to the 8 chairs…hosting ghosts instead of her parents. While pouring the gold, oval loops, she plays pretend…plays house…with the vacant table. “School was fun…glad you asked. But I wish I could see my boyfriend more. Can I switch to his school? This is dumb…dad…can you fix it?” The clattering oats cease hitting the bowl. Then comes the splash of the milk. “Why can’t I have Fruit Loops?? These taste like cardboard, Mom.” She huffs, and slumps her back, propping her elbows on the pristine island counter.
The place is so clean…so…untouched. No different than a model in a department store. Nothing in the house is lived in…or shows wear and tear. No different than a bomb test home….full of manikin humans, fake harmony.. fake furniture. The ultimate clean.
Kay chews, munching loudly in the graveyard house. The noise is too uncivilized to bounce off the spotless walls and impeccable windows. “We should have pancakes…with loads of syrup! Let the syrup spill all over…!” This excites her more than it should, the idea of being silly with them…enthuses her. “Who cares if we make a mess…it’ll be fun.” Kay laughs rough, knowing this will never come true…knowing that the house will always be…picturesque and unblemished. She goes back to eating, yet her eyes are still on the dining table. “Good talk….it’s nice to catch up.”
Kay’s pager beeps from her gown pocket. The bedazzled device reads: 15.That’s Darius. He’ll be here soon; I need to get ready. She chooses a polka-dot dress. Kay slides into powder blue flats and then hustles into Mom’s room to spray on Chanel perfume. An odd sensation overcomes her. An ominous one. She slowly glances over at the bookshelf. Her blinking slows to a hypnotic speed… her hefty lips part. The shaded room darkens more than it already is. She sets down the bottle, unsure of the sudden draw to the dark literature.
A cryptic hum attracts her like a magnet; her feet move forward with a drag, hesitant yet curious. Her cocoa eyes lock onto a book at the top. The one from 400 B.C. She slides it out. I should get ready for school. Kay returns the magical book to its spot… and backs away. But the peculiar hum returns, this time causing her to swallow hard. I could take a peek. She plucks it back out, scrolling to the first page, which holds bizarre chants:
INITIATION SPELL - Enrus De Cov.
A 13-pointed star illustrates this spell.
WATER SUMMANCE - Aqwav coum.
A parting sea illustrates this spell.
AIR SUMMANCE - Wina coum–
Floating airwaves illustrates this spell.
EARTH SUMMANCE - Grroc Coum.
A cracking cave illustrates this spell.
Hmm… I wonder what would happen if I said one? I doubt any of this is real, the same as the Ouija board. I used one before on Halloween, and nothing happened. These things are all for fun. My mom has them, the same as people who collect action figures or artifacts. It’s just a hobby. The feeling I had before was just curiosity… nothing more. I need to quench it and move on.
Now, which one should I say? Her eyes scan the mantras. It would be nice to have more wind. It’s decided. I’ll say that one. Kay clears her throat. “Wina coum.” She darts to the window, throwing back the thick curtains. Her gaze travels to autumn trees. They’re motionless. Kay waits a few more seconds, hoping a leaf will blow. Nothing occurs.
I knew it. That was silly. These are just joke spells… nothing else. She steps back to the bookcase. But still… why did I expect the trees to move? And why did I buy that Ouija board? I think my mom’s oddness is rubbing off on me. That has to be it. Well… my curiosity is quenched. That’s the end of that…
A thumping comes from the window. The striking force jolts her enough to drop the book. Kay covers her mouth and backs away, eyes wide in panic. The glass behind the curtains vibrate. The noise grows in volume, hurting her eardrums. She winces and covers them.
A whooshing sound convinces her that there’s a tornado outside. The walls shake. Wind sweeps from the vents on the ceiling, whipping her hair all over her face. The strength pushes her back, stinging her eyes. “NOOO! STOP. STOP. STOP!!!”
The whirling goes to a rest…so abruptly. Now there’s complete silence. The walls halt shaking. The vents cease gushing. Kayla’s heart pumps hard. Her sight drops to the spellbook on the floor. The star symbol wakes the dread in her. What in the world?? What just happened??! NO! NO, WAY! NO WAY!!!
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