35: People...No, Ghosts

The rest of the day I expect Caleb to walk through the door. The anticipation drives me crazy. I’m so deep into thought about what I’m going to say to him that I don’t catch the chill that moves through the air until it’s on top of me, freezing me to the point of feeling frostbitten.

“Jezmin.” I say between chattering.

“The wrong dead will walk” It’s a little disturbing to see her transparent, ghosty self compared to the solid version of her in the dream realm. It takes me a second to collect to myself from her sneaking up on me that I have to repeat each word she spoke in my head.

“What? What dead will walk where?”

“The wrong dead will walk.” She repeats before she disappears.

“Why the hell are you so cryptic?” I mumble into the shop.

“Who’s being cryptic?” Monty asks as she rounds a corner.

“Jezmin, which is usual.” I reply back and Monty nods in agreeance. My eyes flutter to the clock. “Done already?”

“No, but I need a break.” She goes to wipe her forehead with the back of her hand. “So exhausted.”

“Lame more like it.” I tease. “I’ll do it. I could use something to settle my thoughts.”

“Go for it.” She pushes the box of crystals in my direction. She doesn’t pry on what thoughts I need to push aside, she doesn’t tease me about being a weirdo who cleans to calm down, no, she just hands it over with a smile on her face.

For a fraction of a second I regret offering, but once I find my groove it all goes by quickly. She didn’t do much. She only packed up half the product and didn’t even wipe down all the shelves. So caught up in my work, I don’t notice the sun going down and the city streets getting dark.

It isn’t until Monty hollers into the shop, done and switches the lights off that I jump to my feet, which I do regret. My joints are stiff and sore, and it takes a great deal of strength to move without feeling the pain.

Monty’s smile is still on her face when I approach her. “Did you finish?”

“No.” There’s a silence between us. “...but I’ll finish it tomorrow or the day after that or the day after that.”

We walk out together, side by side. Monty bellows, “see ya later,” as she heads off in the opposite direction.

My back is to her, but I give a wave in the air. My stomach gives a growl not even a block later. I had been so hellbent and occupied on those crystals that I didn’t eat lunch other than chugging some caffeine. Digging my phone out from the depths of my oversized purse, I tap a few buttons and order something for pickup from none other than Lola’s Diner.

The rest of the night goes by with no surprises. I make it home with no stalking predators. I finish eating with no unexpected, but clearly needed visits from Gabriel and Caleb. My chest tightens thinking about it. Am I getting blown off by Gabriel? Immediate guilt attacks me. And Caleb, he’s probably intentionally keeping his distance, because he wants me to be the one to start the initial conversation.

A ping sounds from my phone and I frantically go to pick it up. A text...from Avalos.

*I’m going to be calling on your help for Avery’s party*

Shit. Avery’s party. I completely forgot. And it happens to be the same weekend that the gala is. Double shit. Maybe I can use it as an excuse to get out of the gala.
I play it cool and don’t let Avalos know of my forgetfulness, even though I swear he told me to just show up. It’s been maybe fifteen seconds without me replying before another ping sounds.

*You do remember? Right?

Of course. Who do you take me for? Don’t expect much though.*

He’s quick to reply. *Youre going to flake out on me arent you?* and four more follow quickly after. *just for that I’m giving you more responsibility. you can bring birthday girl to the party. prepare to spend the whole day with her. I might even have her sleep over on Friday.*

I read each text, which gets more and more consuming. As I think about a reply another ping sounds.

*I’ll let you more later

‘sarcastic’ thanx*

An assortment of emojis come back. Some are teasing, some are flat out mocking me and last is one solo heart.

I sigh in defeat. There’s no arguing with Avalos, so I just suck it up and think of the positive side of things. I’ll have my hands so full with Avery that I won’t have time to think or deal with my boy issues. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll put her to work while she’s here as I could force her to help me prepare for the gala.

My races with Gabriel and Caleb and the gala and now Avery. Not to mention there’s this nagging feeling that makes me feel anxious, no doubt tied to all the unfinished stuff waiting for me at work. Thankfully sleep comes early, but so do the nightmares.

*A clearing in a vast forest draws my attention. Shadows of a small gathering of people can be seen lingering around a large fire. Their soft voices and laughter draw me in, a sense of comfort and safety overtake me. I stumble on uprooted vines leaving me breathless and tired by time I get close enough to make out any details. But before I can take in the scene in front of me all eyes turn in my direction. Some are curious, some are leering, but all have a gleam of evil.

My body stiffens as a pair of hands come from out of nowhere. The mystery person pushes me forward, kind words of ‘join us’ on her lips. But for some reason I don’t want to join them anymore. Their joyous laughter and the sense of tranquility must be a spell, a lure. And I fell right into it.

I push back on her hand trying to retreat, but she’s stronger than she looks and keeps my feet progressing forward. “Don’t be scared,” she coos. I’m forced closer to the fire and it’s there that I see Tessa, gagged and bound, on her knees, tear stained cheeks.

My head whips around looking each and every one of the witches in the eye. None of them look familiar, but I feel that I should know them, fear them.

“Another sacrifice for the cause?” One of them asks.

“No. This will witness and will be the first sacrifice of the new beginning.” One of them speaks up.

It’s a struggle as I try to fight off several hands that try to subdue me. It’s one against four and I’m overpowered. They push me down and bind my limbs in a similar fashion to Tessa. A slick sweat breaks out over my skin and strands of my hair stick to my face. I try to shake them loose and it’s as my head is facing the sky, trying to dislodge those pesky pieces of hair, is when I see it.

A pyre. Witch burning at the stake pyre.

A burst of fear wakes me up as I immediately think that the stake is for me and I desperately try to break free, but it’s no use. I try to mutter small incantations, but nothing works. One of the evil hags laughs at my feeble attempt of trying to save myself.

Louder screams erupt into the air next to me. Tessa. Two of the largest of the witches have her by the elbows and are dragging her to the edge of the clearing. To the pyre. My heart plummeting, shriveling up and dying into something rotten in my chest cavity. Tessa’s fight disappears as soon as the ropes secure to the stake. She’s tired and weak. Her desperation and will to make it out of this is nonexistent.

How long had she been fighting? If this is Tessa’s end what is mine?

The answer to that is long and still unknown. It’s that unknown that has my legs numb and my hands shaking. There’s no out muscling four people even if they look skinny and tiny.

One steps forward, the leader of the cult and lights a thick stick, almost a small tree branch. Before she sets the twigs aflame at the base of Tessa’s pyre, she yells into the air, “for the cause.”

The tinder quickly ignites. It’s as if time stands still as we all wait for the screams. It doesn’t take long for Tessa’s screams of agony to burrow deep into my bones. She looks to me, flashing me a smile that I’ll never forget. A smile of the devil would be proud of. clearing she’s enjoying my the agony that fills the air.

She goes back to her coven that is circling the bonfire. They start chanting and tossing things into the flames. As the chant goes on a murky dizziness comes over me. I’m unable to make out what they’re doing, what they’re summoning, but I jolt to attention when a loud crack of lightning booms throughout the forest.

They all turn to me. “Now it’s your turn.” One of them says. I’m unsure which, because they seem far away.

I twist and turn trying to escape an inescapable situation, but I’m rooted in place, stuck to the ground. As if I wasn’t terrified enough a thick fog rolls in. It moves with a sweeping, swirling motion as if something or someone is hidden within it.

Soon everything is engulfed including me. I can hear the faint shock from the witches clearly confused one what’s happening. This isn’t supposed to happen. Something went very, very wrong.

Soon surprised yelps of fear or maybe even pain break the deathly quietness. Surrounded and blinded by the cloudy white shroud, I squint desperately trying to see something. Once I do start to make out something hidden in the fog, blending in, I regret it. People...no, ghosts fill the fog, are the fog.

A face jumps in front of me and I cringe in fear. “Hazel.” the ghosts says. “Hazel.”

I open my eyes to the familiar voice. “Jezmin?”

“The dead will walk. The dead will conquer.”

Before I can question her a pair of ice cold hands wraps around my body squeezing me to the point of suffocation. My lungs burn dying for oxygen, but I’m unable to overpower them. I let a scream out with the last bit of air I have left in me.*

I jolt up in bed ice cold with the feel of phantom limbs still tightening around me.