Magic Novel (No official title yet) by R. Brownell (book club suggestions .txt) 📕

It was so quiet that I could hear the sound of all of our hearts beating. Not a single person sitting in the circle next to me made one peep. Even the cricket that had chirped our entire walk to this spot was quiet.

The candles on the small round table in between us were all flickering in the slight breeze. I shut my eyes again and kept focused on the task. Ever since my parents had died in the plane crash three years ago, I had been trying to contact them, but always came up with nothing. I had asked for them more than twenty minutes ago, and could tell my friends were getting impatient.

“Thank you everyone for trying again, you can open your eyes now,” I spoke and re-opened my eyes. I watched as they each did the same. Amber locked her brown eyes with mine and whispered, “Sorry.” Jason and Tyler adjusted in their spots.

“My ass is numb,” Tyler, moaned rubbing his behind.

“I apologize for my terrible attempts at these things. I guess maybe we should give up.” They all had the, are you kidding me, look on their faces.

“After three years and I don’t know over two-hundred séance’s, you really want to just give up?” another voice spoke, I looked beside me it was Sarah. She tossed her perfect blonde hair behind her shoulder and placed her arm around me.

“Kora, Don’t give up just yet. We will get this eventually. Maybe we should pack it up, school starts tomorrow. Getting up at the butt crack of dawn really sucks.”

There had to be something I was missing, but they were right eventually I would get it. I figured with just a little more research that I would get there. Jason started to blow out the candles. Amber held out the flashlight so that we could see what we were doing. I folded up the small table and handed it to Tyler since it was his, and then placed the candles in a blue velvet bag. I shoved them into my dark green messenger bag, and placed it over my shoulders. Amber shone the flashlight around the area to make sure we had not forgotten anything.

“Everyone set to go?” I questioned kicking some dead leaves with my foot.

“I sure am,” Sarah mumbled as she stretched to yawn.
The five of us trudged back down the hill, and out from the comfort of the big tree. The hill we were on was steep enough where we had to run down it. On the way down, we had to dodge all the random headstones sporadically placed throughout the graveyard.

You could tell fall was approaching; I even had to pull my gray sweatshirt sleeves down over my hands to keep warm. I stopped when we reached the gate. Amber shut the flashlight off, because we no longer needed it with the streetlights over head.

“You guys can go ahead, I’ll be fine.” I leaned up against the black metal gate. They were all hesitant, not wanting to leave me, the youngest out of all of us.

“Don’t give me that look, just go.” I knew they did not like it, but did not argue, they knew I would only yell right back.

I watched as the four of them walk down Park Drive away from the graveyard.I rummaged through my messenger bag and pulled out my pink Zune and ear-buds, which I placed in my ears right away. I reached back in to grab a granola bar that I had been craving. As I grabbed the bar, I felt a sharp prick on my finger. I pulled out my hand. I then watched as a splash of blood land right on the graveyard grounds. I lifted my pointer finger, and sucked off the blood. I must have cut it on the notebook I had in my bag. The binding had come loose, and the piece hanging off was sharp. It only took one lick to stop the bleeding, so I went back to grabbing the granola bar and closed up my bag. I switched on my Zune and started to walk towards home. My house was not far, only a few blocks over on West Hollow Road.

As I made the right onto Woods Road, I could sense something was off. I could not tell if someone was following me, or if I was just being paranoid because I told my friends I would be all right. I flipped up the hood over my shoulder length brown hair and picked up my pace.

Across the street, the Fire Department had their lights on, that gave me reassurance. The street darkened as I got to Curve Road, The road curved around a bend, and trees lined both sides of the road. I hated that this road barely had any lights; the trees covered most of them. At that moment, I wished that I had the flashlight Amber had grabbed. My skin began to feel prickly, and I could feel goose bumps forming on my arms. I wanted to stop and look back, but if I stopped whatever or whoever was, following me would be sure to catch up. For once, I felt relieved to see the street sign for West Hollow Road, and the Hollow mall to my right. A few cars passed by filling my body with warmth knowing I was almost home. When my house came into view, I noticed all of the lights were off, but my Sisters silver Toyota sat in the driveway. Against the old dirty green-sided house was my wooden ladder ready for me to climb. I never used the door on my late night adventures to the cemetery, because I just knew my sister would hear me.

I could have sworn through my noise canceling headphones I heard heavy footsteps behind me. In addition, the sound of heavy breathing, and it seemed very close. I reached the light wooden fence that guarded our property, and picked up the pace again. I fiddled with the gate in the front, and rushed right to the east side of the house, where the ladder was. Once on the ladder I almost tripped several times, and when I heard my gate open, I knew that someone really had been following me. I pulled out the piece of wood that I leave in my window, and practically dove into my bedroom. I slammed the window hard enough to wake up my sister.

“You do know it’s a school night,” a soft voice spoke before I had the chance to turn the lights on. I could have sworn at that moment my heart had jumped straight out of my chest. It was not my heart, it was my Zune, and it pulled the ear-buds out of my ear. The lights flickered on. Standing on the other side of the room by the door was my sister. She looked tired and ready for bed, in her pink polka dot short and tank pajama set.

“You scared the shit out of me,” I placed my hand over my heart.

“Watch your mouth young lady.” She spoke as if she were mom.

“What are you doing in my room?” I practically yelled at the top of my lungs.

“I was waiting for you to come home.” She crossed her arms, and glared at me through her green eyes.

“And I’m home,” I dropped my bag down next to my desk.

“Look, I know I’m not mom but you still have to listen to me, I am your guardian.” She spoke with authority. I was just about to go off on her, when there was a tapping noise at my window. Both of us jumped, and I turned back towards it. The ladder was banging against the window, and it sounded like someone was climbing.

“Please tell me one of your friends followed you home,” she looked worried. I bit my lip in fear and shook my head. Someone really had followed me home. I took in a deep breath and walked over to the window, all I had to do was push the ladder down. I started walking towards it when a hand slapped against the window, it caused us both to scream.

“I’ll call 911,” she shouted.

I took a close look at the hand on the window; it had slid down causing a weird looking streak across it. I stepped closer afraid of what I would find. Deep down I had a feeling it was not human. I heard my sister yelling at me in the background, but I ignored her. I took in a deep breath, and just as I was about to breath out a ghoulish face appeared at the window. This creature was not human, its skin was a puke green/brown color; and it barely had hair; and its eyes were crossed. I heard her scream behind me, but I ignored her plea. I was another inch closer to the window. The thing was stupid enough not to know how to open the window. It just banged against it. I got closer and the thing got quieter. The next few moments were like a movie where everything is in slow motion, and my sister screaming sounded like a gargled baritone voice.
I took in a deep breath and looked at the thing; it stopped trying to get in the window. I stood directly in front of the window. The creature stood up straight and stopped what it was doing. My brain was yelling at me to tell the creature what to do.
“Go home,” I whispered quietly to it. The thing tilted its head to the left and looked at me.
“Go home,” I whispered again, this time more intense.

It finally listened; it reminded me of telling a little kid he could not have a cookie. The thing gave me one last stare and then headed back down the ladder. I watched it waddle away jumping over the gate, and down the street.

“Oh-my god, you’re a-,” her voice cut off and when I turned to her, her mouth hung open.

Publication Date: 09-29-2011

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