 
Midnight Witchcraft

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Published by Britany Elizabeth

Copyright 2020 Britany Elizabeth

This story contains mentions of self-harm and abuse, gruesome and violent scenes, and scenes of suicide/suicidal thoughts. Be safe and careful.

To the pains of the past that created someone new

One

Breathe

She was lost in a blur of bright white. There was a faint voice and a quiet ringing sound in her ears. The ringing kept getting louder, louder until it was the only thing she could hear, louder until spots of red jumped in her white vision and it felt like her head was about to pop.

A nudge on her shoulder made it all go away in an instant. She blinked, the red spots gone, but wavy lines were now dancing in her sight.

"You okay, Ame?"

Amelia Allan glanced at the tired looking woman behind the steering wheel. Her auburn hair was coming loose from the too tight bun that held it, hanging in her face. Her hands were bone white as they gripped the steering wheel.

Amelia's aunt glanced back at her with bloodshot green eyes. "Yeah," Amelia answered, her voice soft and fragile, sounding about to crack. "I'm okay."

"Just keep breathing," Lydia Allan said, turning her gaze back to the endless road ahead of them. The reminder was still amusing to Amelia; it was bitterly amusing that she had to be reminded to breathe, of all things.

Amelia didn't realize when it was happening. She would become faintly aware of it happening when she felt the tightness in her chest, but she was always so lost in the emptiness when it was happening that she wouldn't think anything of it. And then auntie Lydia would be yelling: "breathe, Amelia, breathe! You're not breathing!"

Amelia would then gulp in the air, lighting fire in her chest, and have to spend about five minutes trying to catch her breath.

It didn't happen often, but it still happened. Aunt Lydia was so scared it would happen when Amelia was sleeping.

It'll stop, people told her. She's just grieving.

Except it hadn't stopped.

Exhaling softly, Amelia tilted her head, looking at the rear-view mirror. The road was empty behind them. She couldn't remember if there had been another car during this now five hour drive.

Her curly, reddish brown hair got caught in the wind, obscuring her face until she pushed it away, behind her ear.

"Almost there," Lydia said.

Amelia watched the road. At both their sides were fields of grass, mostly nothingness, sometimes cows or horses grazing in the distance. It was the lonely road that led to the town of Mooncrest. It was where aunt Lydia, and Amelia's mom, Sylvia, were born and grew up. Amelia had never been there; they'd moved before she was born. Now, after what happened, aunt Lydia wanted to go back there. She thought it would help her heal.

I think it'll help you, too, Ame, she'd said. It's such a pretty place.

Amelia figured her aunt was probably just nostalgic. She just wanted her sister back, wanted their childhood back. Amelia thought it'd probably make Lydia feel worse to go back to the place with her most cherished memories, this time without her sister by her side, nothing but a memory. But maybe she was wrong. She hoped she was wrong.

The slight thought of her mom made her face appear in Amelia's mind: pale, bulging eyes losing their color and shifting around like they were searching for something, the noises she made as she frantically tried to breathe.

Amelia trembled. She wondered if she'd ever stop thinking about it.

The sign pushed the image from her mind. A tall, wide sign with a background of pinks, purples, and reds, and a huge moon in the clouds among the stars.

Welcome to Mooncrest!

The sign was actually pretty, Amelia thought.

They passed a bridge over water, and then drove down a gray street of cobblestone. Amelia stared out the window at the scenery. The ground was covered in crisp, red autumn leaves, and there was a park where a couple kids were chasing each other.

When the car stopped, Amelia looked at aunt Lydia. "Here?" she asked, confused. "Why are we stopping right here?"

"Wouldn't it be better to walk and look around at things?" Lydia smiled, small and tired.

Amelia shrugged, pulling off her seatbelt. "I guess so."

They got out of the car, and Amelia stuck her hands into the pockets of her gray hoodie. She followed Lydia, who was glancing around; it was the first time Amelia had seen her really smile in what felt like forever. It warmed Amelia's heart, and a faint smile came to her lips, too—also for the first time in what felt like forever.

Maybe coming here wasn't a bad idea.

There was a cafe called Cream & Sugar, a restaurant called Bao's, and a pizza place called Louie's across from them.

"It's all different," Lydia said quietly, walking slower and looking around.

"What was there before?" Amelia asked, clenching her hands deeper into her pockets. They were freezing.

"That was Elisa's bakery," she pointed at the cafe. "And that was a burger grill," her pointed finger moved to Bao's. She folded her hands in front of her, looking at Amelia with that warm smile. "How about we go there?" she nodded her head in the direction of Louie's. "You deserve your favorite after all this."

They went to Louie's and took a seat by the window. Amelia got a large slice of pepperoni pizza, and a soda. Lydia got spaghetti, her sister's favorite. Maybe it was her favorite, too. Amelia didn't know.

All was quiet while they ate, staring out the window. Amelia wondered if there were a million memories flooding through her aunt's mind right now. She wondered if they made Lydia sad, or if remembering them made her happy at all. Every thought Amelia had about her mom just made her sad. Hopefully Lydia was different.

They made their way back to the car after dinner. It was getting dark, and there was a chill in the air now. Amelia watched the park as she walked toward the car; there were still kids there, but older ones, probably her age. It was a few girls, and they were all sitting in a circle in the grass. It looked like they were all holding hands. One of them giggled, and another one said something that made the others giggle. Amelia's eyes shifted up to the sky, at the full moon that had made its appearance. When her eyes fell back to the girls, one of them was looking right at her.

Like, right at her, freezing Amelia in place for a second. A pale girl with blonde hair, dressed in black, looking almost like a ghost.

God, don't do that.

Amelia looked away awkwardly.

She got into the car, exhaling. Lydia sighed. "We'll stay at the hotel for the night, and meet with Angela tomorrow."

Angela was apparently Lydia's old best friend. She'd been friends with Amelia's mom, too, back when they were kids. They'd be staying with Angela and her mom until they got their own place. Lydia already had a list of apartments and jobs, so Amelia hoped they'd find one soon. Old friend or not, she'd feel awkward as hell living with this lady and her mother.

And to make it even more awkward, Angela had lived in the same house all her life, and that was right next door to Lydia and Sylvia's childhood home. Amelia glanced at her aunt, wondering how she'd feel to see that house again.

They got a room at Moonview hotel. Lydia was snoring mere seconds after her head touched the pillow. Amelia lay there listening, staring up at the ceiling. She thought about the travel, about leaving the place she'd known as home all her life. She thought about now, being in this strange place she knew nothing about, with an aunt who was so fragile these past days she might break at any moment.

Amelia thought about how she'd be able to help her. She thought about what her mom might say.

She thought about her mom, and hot tears filled her eyes. Her ears and cheeks burned, and her breath hitched. She closed her eyes tight and put her hands over her mouth.

Everything was changing. Everything was different. She'd just got up one day and her life had shattered. She didn't know where she was going, what she was doing, what would happen next. It was different and nothing was familiar.

And she was so scared.

Turning to her side, held back grief spilled out of her in quiet sobs.

Sometimes she broke, too.

Two

Eerie

Amelia opened her heavy eyes to the morning sunlight, and to an unfamiliar place. White walls decorated with portraits of water and bridges and moonlit nights, and a sky blue carpet. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was, and then yesterday came flooding back to her.

She closed her eyes again, breathing deep. She wanted to go back to bed.

She heard a door open and close, and then Lydia asked quietly, "are you up, Ame?"

Amelia wondered for a few seconds if she should pretend to be asleep; then maybe she'd be able to fall back to sleep. But she answered tiredly, "yeah."

She listened to the footsteps on the thick carpet, and heard her aunt set something down on the bedside table. "I got coffee."

Amelia opened her eyes, and Lydia chuckled. "Knew that'd get you up. There's donuts, too."

"You're the best," Amelia mumbled.

"I know, Ame."

Amelia pushed herself up on her elbow, and blinked her blurry eyes. She eyed the crinkled brown bag on the bedside table, and sat up with a deep sigh. She took the bag and set it on her lap, looking at the inside. Two vanilla donuts. Her favorite. She took the coffee from the table and sipped carefully; it was hot, with just a little milk and sugar, just how she liked it.

She looked at Lydia, who was standing at the other end of the room, staring out the window and sipping her coffee. She looked relaxed, a way that Amelia hadn't seen her in a long time. It felt like it'd been a long time, anyway.

"Are we going to Angela's first thing?" Amelia asked before taking another sip of coffee.

"Yep, as soon as you're ready," Lydia answered, glancing back to smile. "Take your time, though." She turned her head back to the window. "It's nice to just look at everything like this."

Amelia watched her for a few seconds. Lydia just stared out the window as she sipped her coffee, looking content, and even at peace.

Amelia turned her attention to the bag on her lap. She opened it and ate the donuts, and then crumpled the bag in her hands and tossed it into the little trash can. Her bag was still sitting at the end of the bed. She pulled it toward her and took out fresh clothes and her toothbrush, and went into the bathroom. She quickly dressed in dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt, pulling her dark gray hoodie on, too.

She stared into the mirror, into her own tired green eyes. Her face was especially pale today, her lips colorless. The look came when she felt short on breath like this. She inhaled deeply through her nose, then exhaled through her mouth, her breath trembling slightly. Her face blurred as her vision unfocused, staring blankly past herself.

A thump on the wall from the other room made her give a little jump of surprise. She closed her eyes, hand on her forehead. A headache was coming on. Those always came when she had trouble breathing, too.

She ran her hands through her hair; reddish curls that reached a little past her chin. She pulled it back and tied it into a ponytail, few strands too short to be held back. With a little sigh, she left the bathroom. Lydia was still standing by the window. She hadn't moved, still standing with her hands around her coffee.

"Okay," Amelia said slowly, stuffing her clothes into the bag, "I'm ready." She zipped it, still watching Lydia. Her aunt didn't say anything, and she wondered if Lydia had heard her. Then Lydia turned around, giving Amelia an obviously forced smile. She picked up her bag and took one last look around the room, and then Amelia followed her out.

It was a misty morning, a chill in the air. Amelia shivered as she walked to the car. She got in, tossing her bag to the backseat.

Lydia got in, releasing a breath. Amelia side-eyed her, and noticed she was shaking a little. Was it from the cold, or because she was about to see her old house again?

Amelia stared out the window as they drove, watching the buildings and people pass by. There was fog drifting in the distance. "It won't be a long ride," Lydia mumbled.

"That's good," Amelia said. She buried her hands deeper into her pockets, teeth chattering lightly. It was cold, but Amelia knew it was anxiety she was shivering with.

They passed some shops, and now drove down a block of apartment buildings. A couple of kids were walking together with their backpacks, on their way to school. Besides them, there weren't any other cars driving down the street. Amelia found that eerie.

They kept driving straight, and finally a few other cars on the street were a sign of life, along with people coming out of their houses. The car slowed as they reached the end of the street, where there was a dead end; the road coming to an end, turning into a tall hill. It looked like woods up there.

Amelia looked at the row of houses. They were a little far apart from each other, each with a gate or fence surrounding them, and pretty big front yards. "Which one is Angela's?" she asked.

"This one here," Lydia pointed, "at the very end."

The last house, the one right next to the hill, stood tall and white with a black roof, surrounded by bare trees. A black gate went around it, left open and creaking in the breeze. Amelia almost laughed aloud.

"Of course it's the one that looks like a murder house."

"You watch too many movies, Ame," Lydia said, but there was laughter in her voice.

"And that one..." Amelia's voice trailed off as she eyed the house next door to Angela's. It looked almost identical; a white house with a tall black iron fence. The fence was even taller than the one around Angela's house, and the top of the fence stuck up with sharp tips.

"Yes," Lydia answered. "It looks very nice."

There was a little longing in her voice. Amelia swallowed.

They took their bags and got out of the car. Lydia led the way, texting on her phone. Amelia trailed behind her, looking around. Across the street, an old lady was looking out her window. When she saw Amelia look at her, she disappeared behind a white curtain.

Creepy old nosy lady. Nice.

They walked through the old creaky gate, walking the path that led to the house, leaves crunching under their feet. The house looked so old and unkempt.

Amelia looked to the right, at the house next door. Lydia's old house looked a little better cared for. Amelia wondered how much different it looked since her aunt and mom lived in it. She gave a little jump of surprise when she realized she was looking right at someone, and they were staring right back at her. A little blonde girl was in the backyard of the house next door, swaying slowly on a swing that hung from the thick branch of a tree, a backpack on the ground next to her.

Amelia looked away, her skin prickling. There it was already: first horror movie moment.

The front door opened right when she and Lydia were walking up the stone steps. In the doorway stood a pudgy woman with brown hair held in a tight bun, few wrinkles lining her smiling face. "Lydie," she called, her arms outstretched.

Lydia went into her embrace. They laughed, holding each other, and Amelia stopped awkwardly at her aunt's side.

"Look at you!" said the woman Amelia safely assumed was Angela. She looked Lydia up and down, laughing softly. Her attention then turned to Amelia when she noticed her. Her face fell, lips slightly parted in apparent surprise. "Oh, wow," she said softly.

"Sylvia's daughter," Lydia put a hand on Amelia's tense shoulder. "My niece, Amelia."

"She looks just like her," Angela said, softly still, and touched a loose strand of Amelia's hair. Amelia wanted to pull back; she hated being touched. But she'd deal with it for now.

"It's nice to meet you," Amelia said.

Another smile graced Angela's lips. "It's nice to meet you, too, Amelia. I'm Angela Blake. I was friends with your mom and aunt."

"I heard the stories," Amelia said, lightly nudging her aunt with her elbow.

Angela laughed. "I hope she didn't tell you too much." She stepped aside and gestured them forward, "come on in. It's cold out here."

Amelia followed after Lydia, looking around as she took the first step inside. There was a staircase directly in front of her, nine carpeted steps of soft white leading to an upstairs. To the right side was a small dining room with a shiny oak wood table and chairs. And to the left was a small living room with a black couch and armchairs.

Amelia took a few more steps inside, and Angela closed the front door. "Want anything?" Angela's eyes shifted from Lydia to Amelia. "Tea, coffee?"

"More coffee never hurts," Amelia said. Lydia sighed, patting her on the shoulder with a tired smile. Angela gestured to the dining room, and they followed.

Angela pulled out two chairs, and Amelia sat next to Lydia. Angela went into another room at the end, which Amelia could see was the kitchen. When she came back, she set cups of black coffee in front of them. Angela sat at Lydia's other side, the end of the small rectangular table. Amelia looked around. The floor was hardwood, clean and shiny. The white walls were mostly bare, few decorations hanging on them. One was a little painted teacup with steam rising from it, another of a little plate with the writing Happy Kitchen on it. Amelia's mom used to have stupid little things like that in their kitchen. She'd loved collecting knick-knacks.

Amelia's mind wandered while Lydia and Angela talked. She heard bits of their conversation; Angela's mother was currently out. She worked at some little book shop in town.

"She's sixty five now," Amelia heard Angela saying. "She's had some problems, so I moved back here last year."

Amelia stared at the wall. She was suddenly feeling a little short on breath, uncomfortable. "Is it okay if I look around?" she asked. She wanted to be alone for a second, needed to feel calm.

"Of course you can," Angela paused what she was saying, smiling. "Have a look around the house. There's a nice yard, too."

She went right back to talking to Lydia. Amelia stood, her aunt's hand brushing softly against hers as she glanced at Amelia.

Amelia walked away, to the living room, which wasn't far enough. Her eyes darted around, not really taking much in. It was a small room. She didn't want to go to the kitchen yet, that wasn't far enough. She eyed the upstairs for a second, and then started up. The stairs were carpeted and quiet as she walked.

At the top, Amelia stared down a hallway. There were two doors at each side, across from each other, and another door further down, to the right side. There was an open door straight ahead that led into a bathroom.

Amelia walked slowly down the carpeted hallway. She took quick glances into the first two doors; they were both similar looking bedrooms. She kept going, stopping in front of the next door. Pulling it open, she peered inside. A long staircase that led up to another staircase turning to the right side.

An attic?

Something made Amelia shudder, and she closed the door. She passed the bathroom, and made a left turn. Two more doors. One was wide open, revealing another bedroom. Amelia figured the other was a bedroom, too, so she didn't bother to open it. She wondered which one she'd be staying in.

She started back toward the staircase, tensing as she passed the attic door. The irrational and childish fear was a little amusing.

But at least it was feeling something.

Back downstairs, she passed through the dining room. Angela and Lydia were talking and laughing about something. Through the dining room led to the kitchen. All the usual stuff sat upon the countertop—coffee maker, toaster, tea kettle, and other little things. The floor was white tile, and the walls bare. Amelia went to the backdoor and pulled it open, stepping out into the yard.

There was a little garden, though everything was dead now. A little table and chairs, and a birdhouse on a tall tree. Little chimes were hanging by the back door, and played a gentle tune in the wind.

Amelia folded her arms across her chest and walked. It was foggy and cold, and the chimes made it even more eerie. She glanced around. The trees were almost bare of their leaves; they created a blanket of red and brown in the grass, crunching under every step. A chill ran down Amelia's spine, but it wasn't from the cold. She had the odd sensation that she was being watched.

Turning her head, she saw that she was. A girl next door was standing in her yard, watching her. She waved, making goosebumps rise on Amelia's flesh. It looked like the same blonde girl as before, but Amelia wasn't sure if she was. Amelia slowly waved back. The girl kept watching her, and it looked like she tilted her head a little to the side.

Amelia scoffed under her breath, feeling a little creeped out. She went back to the house, going back inside, hoping she wouldn't come across the weirdo neighbors that lived in her aunt's old house too often.

Three

Connection

Amelia sat at the table in the dining room that night. Angela's mom, Debra, had come home an hour ago. She was a plump gray haired woman that looked just like Angela, but older. Lydia introduced Amelia to her, and the old woman had cupped Amelia's face in her hands and laughed, telling her how much like her mother she looked.

Sylvia's eyes! Sylvia's hair! Sylvia's smile!

Each piece of her mother Amelia imagined as she listed those things were horrifying: her mother's eyes getting dim and gray as they shifted around, pleading, what was left of her hair matted on her head and stuck to the pillow in damp clumps, her lips pale and trembling and peeling as a weird croak escaped them.

Amelia had forced a smile and thanked her for letting her and her aunt stay here for a while. Now, she sat quietly while the three of them talked and set the table. Salad, soup, and baked chicken. At least it was good.

Amelia was glad no one talked much to her while they ate. She already felt awkward and anxious, and she wasn't a good talker to people she didn't know.

There came the sound of multiple phone chimes, and Debra rolled her eyes at her daughter. "Turn that thing off during dinner," she waved a hand at Angela.

"I know," Angela sighed, glancing at the screen of her phone. "It's Lana. She's wondering who the two of them are," she nodded in Lydia and Amelia's direction before setting her phone down.

"Nosy people," Debra muttered with a shake of her head.

"Who?" Lydia asked.

"Lana Miller, from your old house next door," Angela said before eating a spoonful of soup. "Says her daughter mentioned seeing a young girl in our yard," she went on.

All heads turned to Amelia. "Oh," Amelia said softly, turning the spoon around her bowl. "Yeah, I saw someone when I was out there."

"They've got two girls," Debra nodded. "One's eighteen. Your age, isn't it?"

"Nineteen," Amelia corrected.

"Oh," Lydia smiled, nudging Amelia softly with her elbow. "Maybe a friend?"

Amelia shrugged again. She would like that, but at the same time, she felt like she had no energy to put into a relationship. She didn't feel like talking, or going out. She wanted another person to share with, to do things with, but she felt like she couldn't do any of that. Sometimes she didn't want to feel alone, but most of the time, she was more content to be alone. Alone and loneliness were different things, and sometimes Amelia did feel lonely, but still preferred to be alone most of the time. She couldn't really make sense of it.

Two daughters, Amelia thought, and shivered at the image of the creepy blonde girl who had been staring at her.

Yeah, no thanks.

After dinner, Amelia was shown to the room she'd be staying in. It was the one at the very end of the hall upstairs, one of the rooms to the left side in that little hall. Her aunt would be staying in the one next to it.

When she was left alone, Amelia set her bag next to the bed. The room was medium sized, the bed in the center, the white sheets giving a fresh, clean, orange-y scent. There wasn't anything else in this room besides the bed. The open closet was completely empty except for three hangers.

With a soft sigh, Amelia went to the window to close the curtain. She stopped to stare outside, able to see the backyard. Her eyes shifted to the yard next door, and she was surprised to see someone was out there.

It was her. Long blonde hair blowing in the night wind, the girl she'd seen earlier was standing out there, looking up at the sky, at the crescent moon shining bright.

Amelia found herself staring at the girl. The girl knelt in the grass, still looking up at the sky. She stayed like that for what felt like a long time. Then she stood, and turned around, looking to be holding stuff in her arms. Amelia's heart jumped when the girl looked right up at her window, almost like she knew Amelia was there. They seemed to be staring at each other, and Amelia found herself frozen, trying to tell herself to turn away, but her body wouldn't listen. And then the girl waved at her. Amelia slowly raised an arm and waved back despite the goosebumps rising on her skin.

So fucking weird.

She released a breath, and then pulled the curtains closed, slowly backing away from the window. She let out a sound between a scoff and a chuckle, folding her arms across her chest as she shuddered. "Christ," she muttered, shaking her head. She was astonished by how creeped out she was.

She pulled a pair of gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt out of her bag, changed, and got into bed, not wanting to think anymore. But even as she drifted to sleep in the darkness, she could still see that girl; somewhere far away, looking at her. Sometimes she was close, but her face was too blurry to make out. Amelia wanted her to go away, wanted to get away from her, but it felt like the girl was keeping her there. And then the girl held Amelia's hand. Amelia's was so cold, and the girl's was so warm. But Amelia wanted her to let go. She pulled away.

Voices pulled Amelia out of sleep. She opened her eyes to darkness, and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. It was six in the morning.

Set put the phone down and covered her face with her hands. Angela and Debra were talking downstairs. She heard Lydia's voice in the mix, too.

She sighed, lowered her hands, and stared up at the ceiling. She wasn't sure how long she lay there for. She heard the front door open and close a few times, and then all was dead silent down there.

She turned to her side and closed her eyes, attempting to fall asleep again.

But her brain wouldn't allow it. It moved too fast, recalling the drive, the town, random things Lydia talked about, her mom's face, Angela, her mom's last words, the girl in the yard last night, her dream about the girl.

"Dammit," Amelia sighed tiredly, pushing herself up on a shaky arm. She sat there for a minute, rubbing the back of her head as her eyes shifted around the room. Pulling the blanket off, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood. She stretched, a bone in her arm giving a loud crack. She pulled a pair of jeans and a black sweater out of her bag and got dressed.

Downstairs, she saw that a pot of coffee had been made, and there was enough left for one cup. The first cabinet she opened was the one with the mugs, and she took a green one, filling it. She added a little milk, and stared out the window as she stirred. All looked quiet out there.

Sipping her coffee, Amelia looked around the kitchen from where she stood. Her chest fell in a sigh.

She went out into the backyard, a cool breeze making her shiver. She sat at the little table under a tree, the coffee mug warming her palms.

Looking up at the sun filtering down through the trees, feeling the chilly breeze and listening to the sound of the wind, Amelia felt warm. For the first time in a long time, she realized that she felt content. Everything in her mind was so grim and ugly these days, a fog so thick and suffocating. It was nice to sit here and look at something that wasn't. Somehow, looking up at the sky helped her not to think.

She didn't know how long she stared at it for, just that a voice pulled her out of that welcoming nothingness with a start.

"Hey."

Amelia's hands tightened around the coffee mug as some splashed over the rim at the little jump she gave. Her head turned fast in the direction of the voice, and she was staring at a girl. The first things Amelia noticed about her were her two long blonde braids and her lacy black skirt and long stockings. Her very first thought was cute, followed by the realization that this was the weirdo that had been staring at her last night in the yard next door, who had invaded her dreams. Her hands clutched the hot mug tighter, and she faintly felt the burn.

"Are you family of Debra and Angela?" the girl asked, hands folded in front of her.

She stood and smiled like some kind of angel on earth, in a way that almost made Amelia laugh.

"No," Amelia responded behind the coffee mug, eyes wandering around the yard, because she felt too awkward to look at her.

What is even happening?

"I'm Ashley Miller," she said. "We've been Debra's neighbors all my life. I was surprised to see you." She smiled again with a quiet chuckle. "I mean, surprised to see someone my age. I'm eighteen."

"Nineteen," Amelia mumbled into the mug before taking a sip of coffee.

The girl, Ashley, sat down in the other chair. Amelia swallowed so hard it hurt her chest.

Oh my God, why?

"How are you acquainted with Debra and Angela?" her voice was a little high and bright as she pushed one of her braids over her shoulder.

Amelia coughed lightly, the swallow aching in her throat and chest. Ashley sat there waiting patiently for an answer, hands folded on her lap with that pretty-somehow-creepy smile.

"My aunt is a childhood friend of Angela," Amelia said, and cleared her throat. She tapped her index finger on the mug, staring down at the milky swirl in her coffee. "My aunt's going through something, so we're living here for a while."

"I see."

Silence.

Sweet, awkward silence. Amelia took another drink of coffee just for something to do. She barely wanted it anymore because this stupid situation was making her stomach hurt.

"Sorry if I scared you last night," Ashley said suddenly.

Amelia almost choked when laughter bubbled in her throat. It hurt her chest again. "'S'okay," she could hardly get the word out. Her cheeks were hot, and she knew they were getting red, and she was about to look like an even weirder dumbass than usual.

And she did, because she chuckled. Before that made it too weird, she said, "you did."

It made her laugh a little harder, and she held her fingers to her lips to hide the grin. The way Ashley was staring at her like she was something from another world only made it worse. She was about to screw it all and just let the burst of laughter come out.

But then Ashley stunned her in confused amusement when she started laughing. It was a high, pretty sound; a little screechy. "I'm sorry," she said through it.

Amelia snorted, and Ashley laughed harder, covering her mouth with her hands.

"I didn't mean to be a creep," Ashley said, muffled behind her hands, eyes still bright with laughter. "I was just so curious about you. You gave me a feeling."

"I gave you a feeling?" Amelia repeated, her voice going a pitch higher as she almost laughed again.

"Yup," Ashley nodded, hands on her lap, noticeably clutching her skirt a little.

"What kind of feeling?" Amelia asked curiously with a tilt of her head, bringing the coffee mug to her lips.

"I'm not sure how to explain it," she shrugged. "I just felt a connection to you."

Amelia swallowed the coffee, looking at Ashley, who was looking very intently at her, not sure what to say to that; or what to think of it.

"I knew you were watching me from the window," Ashley said softly, almost looking mesmerized. "I felt you."

Amelia was a little stunned, a little shudder running down her spine. And then Ashley whispered so quietly it was hard to understand, but Amelia swore she said, "I think I wished for you."

Amelia didn't have a chance to say anything, at least, when a little girl that looked like a mini version of Ashley called from the yard next door.

"Ash!" the little version called, sounding impatient. "We're going now!"

Ashley stood. "I have to go, but can we talk again sometime?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," Amelia shrugged a shoulder.

Ashley smiled, starting away. "I'll stop by again soon!"

Amelia watched her walk away, a little dumbfounded. She and the kid went back into the house.

What a weird, random thing. Amelia didn't really know what to think; it had happened pretty fast. She wasn't sure what to make of Ashley, but she seemed nice. Mostly. The last bit had been creepy.

How the hell did she feel me? Did she seriously say she wished for me?

A little, tiny thing lit up in the back of Amelia's mind that felt like some kind of a warning sign.

Wonder what that's about.

Four

Moonlight

Amelia was quiet again during dinner. She didn't want to be rude to the people that were letting her and Lydia stay in their house, but she didn't know how to talk or act around them. She answered when they asked her how her day was, and that was that.

After dinner, she went up to her room. Now, she lay on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Thinking. Lydia had been a little quiet herself during dinner. Was she okay?

Her mom's face intruded the thought.

That girl with the blonde braids had been funny. A little weird, too.

She wondered if Lydia would want to go around town with her. Maybe she should ask.

Her mother's frantic eyes appeared in her mind.

"Gotta stop," she breathed, sitting up. She hated when she couldn't focus on one thing, when her thoughts got frantic and intrusive. She pulled her bag toward her and dug through it, hoping she'd kept a book or something from her mom's collection. She knew she hadn't. She'd let Lydia put it all into storage.

Amelia sighed shakily, about to give up the search for something, anything, that could help. Then the silver caught her eye. She pulled out the hand-held video game system. It was old. She hadn't played it in years, but back when she had, she'd practically lived on it. The charger lay at the bottom, along with a few games.

She thought about trying it out, pressing the buttons. One stuck a little, but maybe it was fine. She gave a little jump when she heard her name being called downstairs.

"Amelia!"

"Shit," she mumbled anxiously. She set the game down and went downstairs, tangling her fingers in front of her and trying to think of what it could be. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong. Or maybe she was remembering wrong, and she had.

She turned to the kitchen and stopped, surprised to see the blonde girl, Ashley, standing with Lydia and Angela, smiling.

"Looks like you have a friend here to see you!" Lydia announced with a grin. Angela's smile was forced, Amelia could tell. She looked at Amelia and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"I hope this is okay," Ashley said, smoothing out her lacy black skirt.

"Uh, yeah," Amelia shrugged, rubbing a hand up and down her arm. "It's cool."

"I'm so glad," she smiled. "I was wondering if I could show you around town a little?"

Amelia tried to rack her brain for an appropriate way to say please god no.

I don't feel like it. It's getting late. I'm tired.

Tired. Perfect.

If only she could get the stupid word out of her mouth.

"Oh, that's so nice of you!" Lydia beamed at Ashley.

Goddammit.

"You would like that, wouldn't you, Ame?" Lydia was still smiling.

"Yeah," Amelia said in defeat, hoping she didn't sound as disappointed as she felt.

"Thanks!" Ashley smiled. At least she was happy, and that made Amelia feel a little better. "We won't be very long," Ashley looked at Lydia.

"Take your time and have fun," Lydia said. "It's still early."

Still smiling, Ashley walked to the door. Amelia followed, slipping her shoes on and following her outside.

Ashley led the way, walking quickly. It didn't look like she was walking fast, arms folded behind her back as she hummed; but Amelia couldn't seem to catch up to her without doing a stupid little jog, which she didn't want to do. Maybe she was slower than usual, feeling too drained to be out here right now.

She realized how dark it was out here at the moment. It was an autumn evening, the sun was already down. The streetlamps were a dull gold, lighting the street and nowhere else. The light that shone on the grass was cast by the foggy crescent moon above, which Amelia lost herself in looking at, and ended up tripping over one of her own feet. She stumbled forward a little, but didn't fall.

She noticed that Ashley had stopped walking, and was watching her, waiting.

Shit, I hope she didn't see that.

Her cheeks got hot with embarrassment. If Ashley had just seen her make an ass of herself, she didn't say anything about it.

When Amelia caught up, Ashley started walking again, at a slower pace this time. "The moon is pretty, isn't it?" she asked.

"Oh," Amelia glanced up at the sky. "Yeah. It is."

They fell into silence. Amelia felt awkward, but couldn't think of anything to say. Her thoughts were racing and she couldn't focus, just wanting to be back in her room, playing her game, and not thinking.

They reached the end of the block of houses, turning right, toward the shops. They walked the dim, empty sidewalk.

"Have you been anywhere around here yet?" Ashley asked.

"Pizza place," Amelia answered. "Besides the hotel."

"There's not much to see in Mooncrest. It's cute, though," she gestured to the shops around them.

They kept walking, passing the pizza place she and Lydia had eaten at. Amelia realized they were going toward the park. Her heart gave a little jolt to see that there were people there; she could see their shadowy figures.

By the time they reached the entrance, Amelia's heart was pounding.

And she needed to breathe.

She hadn't realized she'd been holding it. She didn't want Ashley and the people in the park to see her struggle. She fought not to panic.

She stopped walking, and Ashley didn't notice. She inhaled through her nose, and then exhaled, long and shaky, through her mouth. She eyed the little sign. Crescent Park.

She cleared her throat and started walking again, taking steady breaths. She stuck her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, shivering. She stopped next to Ashley, who was talking to the people in the park. Amelia looked around at them.

Two were sitting in the grass, and the other standing with her hands in the pockets of her hoodie. They were all girls that looked to be her and Ashley's age.

"This is her," Ashley gestured at Amelia. She looked at Amelia, smiling softly, "and these are my friends!"

Amelia looked at them. The one with her hands in the pockets of her dark blue hoodie took a few steps towards them. She had a short afro of curls and dark black skin, and she was short and chubby. "Hey," she eyed Amelia, dark brown eyes looking wary. "I'm Melody. Melody Martin."

"Hi," Amelia's voice was a hoarse little whisper, and she wasn't sure if Melody heard. "I-I'm Amelia Allan," she stuttered.

The girls sitting in the grass stood, coming toward them. Ashley pointed her finger at one of them. "That's Julie Lane," she introduced.

Julie's long, dark brown hair was straight and long, obscuring her face a little, reaching a little above her elbows. Julie nodded, wiping her hands on her pink jeans before she pulled the sleeves of her long, thick white sweater over her hands. She was obviously a shy one.

"Uh," Amelia whispered, still feeling short on breath. "Hi," she said a little louder, but barely.

Ashley moved her hand to point at the last girl. "And Rina Hayashi."

Rina blinked, running a hand through her short, choppy black hair. She nodded a little, her light brown eyes watching Amelia and alight with curiosity. Amelia nodded back, Rina's black hoodie catching her eye; the print on the front was of a skeleton body that Amelia thought was pretty cool.

"So, uh... How many days have you been in town?" Melody asked, not looking directly at Amelia as she spoke.

She was nervous. It immediately made Amelia feel more comfortable because she was nervous, too.

"Two days," Amelia answered.

Melody scoffed a little, her eyes shifting to Ashley. "Not even settled in and got Ash dragging you around? Can relate."

Amelia raised her eyebrows, a little smile twitching to her lips.

I think I like you.

Ashley gave an over-dramatic little sigh. "So, uh," Amelia averted the many-eyed gaze of the girls. "You all hang out here at night or something?"

She glanced around, the streetlamps dim, the moonlight shining down upon them.

"Yep," said Ashley, doing a slow little twirl in a circle as she looked up at the moon. "This is usually where the magic happens."

Amelia looked at her. "The magic?"

"Magic," Ashley repeated the word. "Here," she started, smiling, "we cast spells and tell stories under the moon. We're witches."

Five

Witches

Amelia could only stare at Ashley, dumbfounded. Her eyes shifted to Melody at her snort.

"You gotta be so dramatic?" Melody rolled her eyes.

Rina rolled her eyes, too. "Of course she does," she said, and the two grinned at each other.

Amelia was tense. Her eyes shifted around at each of them, stopping on Ashley again. "What do you mean?"

"What I said," was Ashley's response.

Amelia said slowly, "so... you all do witchcraft out here," she paused, and then added even more slowly, "like... curses and ouija boards and that stuff?" Amelia didn't know anything about witchcraft besides what she saw in movies. But that stuff wasn't real.

"It's not really like that," Ashley said, and then added quietly, "but we do do that stuff, too... I mean, we do it to try it. For like, fun."

Amelia let out a low chuckle, taking a step back. "Did you bring me out here to mess with me or something?" she eyed Ashley accusingly. She was trying to keep calm, because it was probably meant as an innocent joke Ashley and her friends were in on. But it was still annoying, because she just wanted to go home.

Melody sighed loudly in annoyance, sticking her hands back into her pockets. "I know, I know," she said, "it sounds like some crazy ass bullshit. She threw it in my face the first day we met, too," she cast a quick narrow-eyed look at Ashley before looking at Amelia again. "We just hang out here, do some healing magic, and tell stories and stuff," one of her shoulders fell, and she tilted her head a little.

Amelia exhaled softly. "Okay..." she looked at Ashley, who was dusting off her lacy skirt. "So, why'd you bring me out here?"

Ashley's head shot up. "To meet my friends!" She still sounded so enthusiastic, so careless. Amelia could only stare at her, brows raised.

"It is nice to meet you," said one of the girls. Amelia looked at her. That one was Julie, if she remembered the name right. Her brain was already forgetting things. Julie had her hands held in front of her, fingers laced and squeezed tightly together. Her lips were downturned and eyes careful as she gazed at Amelia.

Amelia relaxed. Seeing this girl was so nervous made her feel bad. "Yeah," she said. "It's nice to meet you, too."

Julie cocked her head and looked away, blinking.

"So, how long are you here for?" Melody pushed her hands deeper into her pockets.

"Don't know," Amelia answered. "It's kinda up to my aunt. But we're looking for an apartment, so for a while I guess..."

Amelia's heart jumped when Ashley suddenly linked their arms together, squeezing a little tight. Amelia looked at her, startled, but Ashley only smiled. "You can hang with us then," she said, with a little giggle to add. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"Uh, no," Amelia said before she could think about it. "I don't think so."

"We'll show you around!" Ashley leaned into her, and Amelia stumbled a step. "Okay then, let's get you back home now, it's getting late."

With a grip on Amelia's wrist, Ashley walked, pulling Amelia along with her. Amelia looked back at the others, watching them. Rina had a crooked smirk, Julie was still frowning, and Melody looked sympathetic as she slowly shook her head side to side.

Amelia couldn't think of a word to say on the way back. Ashley had slid her hand down to Amelia's hand, and now they walked hand in hand, side by side. Ashley hummed a little tune in the darkness.

Ashley let go of Amelia when they stopped in front of Angela's house. "See you tomorrow, okay?" Ashley waved. "I'll stop by!"

She practically skipped away, and Amelia tried to call after her: "when?"

But the word wouldn't come out.

Amelia walked to the house, watching Ashley's figure in the darkness, her blonde head like a light. Ashley went into her house, and Amelia walked into Angela's.

Lydia and Angela were still sitting in the dining room. Their heads turned in her direction so fast she was surprised that their necks didn't snap.

"How did it go?" Lydia looked scary cheerful. But it was nice to see her that way, finally. Happy.

"It was cool," Amelia closed and locked the door behind her. "We're gonna hang out again tomorrow."

"That's so nice, Ame!" Lydia smiled, and it looked honest, not forced. It made Amelia smile too.

Amelia caught Angela's gaze right before the woman looked away: a frown. Amelia wouldn't question it.

As her aunt and Angela fell back into conversation, Amelia went upstairs to her room. She closed the door and sighed, leaning the back of her head against it and staring up at the ceiling. A chilly breeze made her shiver. She went to the window to close it, looking at the house next door as she did.

She didn't know what to make of Ashley Miller, or her friends.

Witches.

The thought made her snort a little laugh. Tomorrow should be amusing, at least, and so she would look forward to being amused by them.

Six

Amethyst

When Amelia first opened her eyes to the morning light, everything was okay. It took a few seconds until the dream she'd woken from popped back into her head. She'd been shopping with her mom, what used to be a normal, everyday thing. But then she wasn't shopping anymore. She was standing at her mom's bedside, her legs trembling, heavy sobs shaking her body and hurting her chest. She was holding her mom's hand and watching her die.

A little cry forced itself out as Amelia's throat felt tight.

"Fuck," she breathed, closing her eyes tight against the hot tears, and burying her face into the pillow.

But in the darkness, the scene, the memory, was still fresh and vivid. Her mom's pale, wrinkled skin, her green eyes turning gray and shifting in every direction, her lips trembling and that weird moaning croak coming out of her.

Amelia clenched her own hair, her hands squeezing tight fists around it. The burn in her chest told her she wasn't breathing, but it was weirdly comforting. The pain kinda felt good. The thought of just suffocating into the pillow felt good.

But imagine if aunt Lydia found her like that.

Amelia sat up, inhaling with a rasp. She sat there, body trembling slightly, clutching the soft white sheets beneath her as she caught her breath.

Good fucking morning.

Wiping the tears from her heavy eyes, Amelia grabbed her phone from the bedside table. Nine-forty seven in the morning. She set it back down and sat there a moment longer. The house was dead silent again. Everyone must be gone already.

Good, because she didn't want to see anyone. Well, she didn't want anyone to see this.

She got out of bed and pulled her usual pair of jeans from the bag, and a long sleeved black shirt. She took a shower, tied her hair back into a low ponytail, then got dressed and went downstairs for coffee.

The silent house was calming as Amelia sat alone in the kitchen, mug in hand, a chilly yet soothing breeze flowing in through the open window. She watched the white curtain flutter, heard the chimes playing a tune in the distance.

Her phone vibrated with a text from Lydia.

Good morning! Job hunting today, I will see you later!

Amelia texted back: good luck!

Amelia looked at the window again, and was warm with content, not thinking, lost in the calm silence. She thought about looking for a job, too. She'd never had one before. She'd been in the middle of applying to places last year, but then her mom got sick, and she dropped school and everything to take care of her.

And now she kinda had no idea what to do. She didn't have any big dreams besides being comfortable, safe, and happy, but you didn't get paid for that. So the fact that she'd never be able to afford school now didn't bother her much. She figured she'd end up going from shitty job to shitty job wherever she went.

The joys of surviving.

The ring of the doorbell pulled her out of her thoughts and made her jump. "Shit," she breathed, a bit of coffee spilling over the rim of her mug and onto her fingers. She put the mug on the table with an exasperated sigh, and went to the sink to rinse her hands.

The bell rang again. Amelia closed her eyes, feeling one of them twitch. She dried her hands with a towel on the way to the front door, anxious about dealing with Angela and Debra's visitor. What was she supposed to say?

She pulled the door open to see Ashley's smiling face.

Amelia's mood dropped.

"Hey," Ashley waved a hand. "I'm sorry I'm pretty early. Just wanted to get out of the house for a bit." Her smile turned from happy to apologetic, her eyes shifting in the direction of her house.

Her mom's old house.

"Everything okay?" Amelia asked, tossing the hand towel over her shoulder.

"We're preparing for a cousin of mine to come over. She'll be staying with us for a while." Ashley ran her fingers through her long blonde hair, hanging in soft waves down her shoulders.

Judging by her expression and tone of voice, Ashley didn't much like this cousin she spoke of.

"You're not cool with it?" Amelia asked.

"It doesn't matter how I feel," there was a surprising edge of bitterness in Ashley's voice. "But no, I'm not really."

Amelia bit down on her bottom lip, watching Ashley, staring at her house next door.

"Uh, come in," Amelia stepped aside. Ashley's head turned in her direction, her smile returning.

"Thank you," she came inside. She looked more casual today, wearing dark blue jeans and a black short sleeved off the shoulder top. She kicked off her red ankle boots and went into the kitchen. Amelia followed.

"Want coffee?" Amelia offered.

"I don't like coffee," Ashley took a seat at the table.

Amelia opened the fridge. "Apple juice? Orange juice? Cranberry juice?" her eyes shifted around in search of more juices to list, but Ashley answered with a smile.

"Orange."

Amelia poured a glass of orange juice and set it in front of her. She grabbed her coffee mug and took her seat back at the table.

Silence. Amelia sipped the coffee and watched Ashley, staring out the window with her juice in hand. She took a little sip.

"So, what's the cousin deal?" Amelia leaned back in her chair.

Ashley looked at her juice. "Her name's Helena. She's a year older than me. Her parents are going out of town for a family thing. Guess someone on her father's side is ill. She doesn't want to go, so they're bringing her here. She'll be with us for a week, maybe two."

Ashley took another sip of her juice, then set the near empty glass on the table. "I don't want to say that I hate her," Ashley looked a little disturbed at herself. "But I might," her voice fell to a whisper.

"How come?" Amelia wasn't sure if she should be asking, but she didn't know what else to say.

"She's been mean to me since we were kids. I know that sounds so childish and stupid, but the things she used to say... stuck with me. Like, she'd always make fun of me when I ate, and called me fat. It embarrassed me when I was a kid, so I'd stop eating when she said it. Through all these years, her voice stuck in my head. Like, it stayed. A few years ago I had a... an eating problem," she finished, wincing a little.

"Jesus," Amelia whispered, a little horrified.

Ashley cleared her throat. "And she'd call me ugly, so I've always been self conscious about that, too. She'd comment on parts of my body until I hated them, and I started..." her voice trailed off, and Amelia was a little relieved when she didn't finish.

"Maybe it really is stupid and childish..." Ashley lightly tapped a finger on her glass of orange juice.

"It's not," Amelia said. "Words do stuff to us. They stay with us. They hurt us. Sometimes they even kill us."

Ashley was looking at her now, her lips slightly parted, brows furrowed. "So it's not childish to be uncomfortable," Amelia went on. "Your cousin hurt you. And being around her again, I hope you'll be okay."

"I will," Ashley said softly. "My friends will be with me," a smile beamed on her face, and Amelia thought it was pretty cute.

"And maybe you will be, too!" Ashley leaned forward enthusiastically, and Amelia was taken aback.

"Yeah. Sure," Amelia rubbed the back of her neck.

Ashley chuckled, then drained the rest of her juice. They sat in silence until Amelia finished her coffee. She set down the mug, swallowing.

"I like you," said Ashley suddenly. "You're so chill. Just like Rina."

"Oh," Amelia wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Uh, thanks."

Ashley beamed. One of her legs bounced up and down. She seemed to be a little hyper. Amelia took her coffee mug and the juice glass and stood, going to the sink to wash them. When she was done, she turned to Ashley.

"So, what are we doing today?"

"We're all gonna meet up at the park," Ashley looked at her phone. "Wanna get going now?"

"Sure."

They left the kitchen and slipped their shoes on, leaving the house. Amelia noticed Ashley watching her house as they walked past. She thought about mentioning to Ashley that it was her mom's childhood home, but she didn't. It felt too weird.

Ashley led Amelia to the same spot in the park as last night. The other three were there already; Julie and Melody were sitting on the swings, swaying slowly, and Rina was sitting under a tree by herself.

Ashley went to Julie and Melody, and began talking to them animatedly. Amelia stood there awkwardly, glancing around. There were a few people walking around near the streets in the distance, and a few cars driving past.

Amelia's eyes stopped on Rina, sitting alone under the tree and picking at the grass beneath her. She lifted her head and locked eyes with Amelia for a second. She lifted an arm and gave a little wave. Amelia waved back. Rina looked down again, and Amelia glanced at the others. Ashley and Julie were laughing at something, and Melody was smiling, too. Rina looked like an outcast from the little group, Amelia thought.

Amelia started toward Rina. She was feeling awkward, and the others looked pretty close, and she figured that's why she was going toward Rina right now. She looked a little lonely, too.

Something in the grass caught Amelia's eye and made her stop. She squinted, staring at something that was sparkling purple. Curious, she knelt and picked it up. It looked like a rock, but one side of it was sparkling purple. Amelia lost herself in it for a moment, turning it around in her hand, finding it beautiful. She caressed her thumb along the sparkling pieces, and kept walking.

When Amelia was close, Rina looked at her. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hi," Amelia sat in the grass next to her.

"What was your name again?" Rina asked. "Emilie?"

"Amelia."

Rina nodded. She brushed her hair back with her hand. Amelia watched her, and before her bangs covered it again, noticed a deep pink scar on Rina's right brow. It was deep and looked a little dented, like she'd been hit by something.

Over and over again.

Amelia swallowed, looking down at the purple rock in her hand.

"Hey, you found my amethyst."

Amelia looked at Rina again, who was gazing at her curiously. "What's that?"

Rina pointed at the purple rock. "It's an amethyst. I was charging it out here last night. I guess I forgot about it."

"Charging it?" Amelia questioned.

"In the moonlight," Rina looked up at the sky, though there was no moon right now. Just the sun hiding behind gray clouds. "Leaving crystals in the moonlight gives them energy."

"Is that the, uh, witchcraft stuff you guys are into?" Amelia asked.

Rina nodded, looking at her. "Yup."

"Cool," Amelia mumbled. "Here," she held it out to Rina, but she shook her head.

"Amethysts help with anxiety and calming your nerves. You could probably use one. So you can keep it. I have another one."

Amelia was amused. "How'd you know about my crippling anxiety?"

That made Rina smile. She leaned a little closer to Amelia. "Those vibes you give off," she answered.

"Vibes?" Amelia smiled a little, caressing the lumpy rock with her thumb.

Rina looked at her for a moment, eyes wandering up and down before locking onto Amelia's eyes. "That's why we do it," she said. "Do spells and rituals together." She turned her head to look at her friends, "because it's worth it for even a tiny peace of mind."

Amelia stared at her, then looked at Ashley and the others. Rina looked at her again. "Maybe keeping that with you can give you a tiny peace of mind, too."

Amelia looked at the amethyst, then at Rina again. "Try it," Rina encouraged. "Tell me if it helps."

Amelia shrugged a shoulder. "Okay. Sure. Thank you."

"Hey!" Ashley called, waving at them from across the park. "Come over here!"

Rina stood and walked toward her friends. Amelia watched her, thinking about what she'd said. She looked at the amethyst in her hand. Her palm felt kinda warm. So did her chest.

She stood, stuck it into her pocket, and walked toward the others.

Yeah, she'd love a tiny peace of mind.

Seven

Weirdos

As Amelia made her way across the park to the four friends, she kept thinking about what Rina said. The four of them did witchcraft, or whatever-the-fuck, because it soothed their minds. She thought about Ashley and the terrible things her cousin had said to her, and suddenly her heart hurt for her.

It's worth it for even a tiny piece of mind.

Did Ashley do this witch stuff because she was hurting? And it probably wasn't all about her cousin, if this was a regular thing they all did just to have peace of mind.

Did all of them do it because they were hurting?

Amelia's palm was starting to sweat as she squeezed the amethyst in her pocket. She pulled her hand out and wiped her palm on her jeans. It still felt warm.

"Are you hungry, Amelia?" Ashley asked when Amelia was close to them. "We were gonna get food."

"Yeah," Amelia realized she was hungry, her stomach rumbling.

"What do you like?" Melody was swaying on the swing, looking at her. She had the hood of her orange hoodie up, a few of her curls slipping out.

"Pizza's my favorite thing," Amelia answered. "But I could go for anything."

"Same," Melody agreed, swing creaking while she swayed. "What about the rest of ya?"

"I kind of want fries," Julie said, running a hand through her long hair.

They looked at Rina, who was chewing on one of her short black fingernails. "Burgers," she wiped her fingers on her jeans. "Let's get burgers."

"Do you like burgers?" Ashley smiled at Amelia.

"Yup."

Rina spun around and started walking. They followed behind her, out of the park and down a street. Crescent Rd. Amelia rolled her eyes. This town felt like a storybook.

Restaurants lined this street, and Amelia recognized it. All the way down this street would be the hotel, and all the way at the other end was the pizza place.

The street was a little slim and narrow. On the other side of the street, Amelia noticed two guys watching them. One of them called out, "leading your band of weirdos, Hayashi?"

Rina pulled one of her hands from the pocket of her hoodie to show him her middle finger. He and his friend laughed.

"Noah Mason," Ashley said, watching him with a hint of disgust in her narrowed eyes and curled lip.

"Typical shitstain," commented Melody.

"He and Rina despise each other," Julie added.

Amelia watched him. A skinny guy with curly dark blond hair and a smug expression.

"He's gross," Ashley looked away from him.

"Looks like it," Amelia commented.

Still with that smug, asshole looking smile, the guy did a little jog toward them. Amelia noticed Rina's shoulders tense, and she looked away from him.

"Ooh, got a new girl?" he fell into step among them, grinning at Amelia. "What's your name?"

Amelia was hesitant for a moment, watching him while she walked. "Amelia."

"How long have you been here for?" he continued to question.

"Uh, a day."

"And these freaks got to you already?" his eyes widened, lips spreading to a wider grin. "Do you know about them?"

Amelia didn't know what to say, but she didn't have to say anything when Rina spoke first. "Go fuck off somewhere, would you?" she didn't look at the Noah guy as she said it, sounding monotone and careless. Amelia could only see the back of her, but noticed her shoulders looked a little tense, and her right hand was clenched, short nails digging into her palm. She definitely didn't feel as careless around this guy as she tried to seem. She was scared.

Noah looked at her, a little glint in his eyes, and even though he made no actual move, for some reason Amelia expected him to reach out for her, to grab her or something. And maybe Melody expected the same thing, 'cause she did a little jog to catch up at Rina's side, getting between her and Noah, and glaring fiercely.

"Do it, or I'll make you fuck off."

Amelia's skin tingled as goosebumps rose. Melody looked and sounded so threatening that it was scary. Noah scoffed and rolled his eyes, her threat working as he trailed away from them. "Careful around those bitches, Amelia!" he called with a glance back. "They're freaks!"

"Just ignore him," Ashley said carelessly, and then went on to talk to Julie like nothing had happened. But Amelia was a little shaken. It felt like whatever had just happened could have easily turned to violence, and it left Amelia wondering if that had happened before between them and that Noah guy.

They crossed the street and Rina pushed open the glass door to a place called Patty's Patio. Amelia glanced around once she stepped in, taking in the scent of a grill. Dark brown hardwood floor, and matching tables and chairs. There were benches to the right side, against the windows. It was pretty lively here, all the tables at the left side of the restaurant occupied.

Everyone told Julie what they wanted, and she ordered. As Julie ordered herself fries and a strawberry milkshake, a guy stood from his table.

"Miss Lane," he smiled.

Amelia thought she saw Julie wince, but if she did, it was quick to be replaced by a friendly smile.

A forced smile. Amelia could read those well.

"Out with your friends?" the guy smiled at her. He was tall, and looked like he was somewhere in his fifties. His blond head was balding, and his short blond facial hair graying. A pair of golden circle shaped glasses hung a little down his long nose, and his gray eyes squinted at them. He was dressed in a kind of nauseating pea colored suit.

"Yes," Julie pushed her hair behind her ear. She took a little step back, and her shoulders seemed to tense when he put a hand on one of them.

"You will be at the library tomorrow, yes?"

"I will," she answered.

He patted her on her shoulder. "See you tomorrow, then. I will leave you and your friends be. Enjoy your meal."

"Goodbye," she said, and he started away. Amelia watched him go, and he held the door open for a woman standing outside. Amelia was surprised when she realized it was Angela.

"Amelia?" Angela looked just as surprised.

"Oh, hey," Amelia said, and went to her.

Angela smiled. "Are you having a nice time?"

"Yeah," Amelia replied, glancing back at the others. They were grabbing their trays of food. "Ashley introduced me to her friends."

When Amelia looked back at Angela, the smile was gone. "I see," she was watching them. "Amelia..." she started, and then looked at her, lowering her voice, "be careful."

Amelia stared at her, confused. Angela said even quieter, "I've always wondered about Ashley Miller. She seems sweet most of the time, but... she can be a little odd. And together with those girls, well..." she chuckled a little.

"What do you mean?" Amelia asked.

"They're a little weird," she shrugged her shoulders. "Just be careful around them. I think they like to get into mischief."

Before Amelia could say anything else, Angela smiled and waved. "I'll see you at home later."

"Okay."

Angela ordered herself something to go, and Amelia started toward the bench where the others were sitting. What Angela said made her wonder. And not only her, but that Noah guy's warning. He was an obvious asshole, but he and Angela seemed to share the same opinion on Ashley and her friends.

Guess I've fallen in with a group of weirdos.

Eight

Magic

Amelia was sitting at a bench against the window, next to Ashley, the other three sitting across from them. Angela's words had stayed with Amelia for the past hour. She glanced at each of the girls occasionally. Ashley and Julie were talking about a book they were reading at the same time, Melody was drinking her chocolate milkshake and staring out the window, and Rina's attention was on her food. When Rina was finished eating, her expression was a bored one. Then she caught Amelia staring at her.

Amelia looked down, sipping the rest of her orange soda and feeling awkward.

"Seen Helena yet?" Melody set down her empty milkshake glass.

Ashley's head snapped up to look at her. "Not yet," she replied quietly. "I've been avoiding it. She's at my house now."

"Will you be okay?" Julie's voice was full of concern as she looked at Ashley.

Ashley twirled the end of her hair around her finger in an anxious manner, biting down on her bottom lip. "We can come over," Julie offered.

"I'd like that," Ashley perked up. She looked at Amelia, "do you want to come over, too?"

"Uh, yeah," Amelia shrugged lightly, not knowing what else to say. "Sure."

No, no, no. Amelia screamed it in her head. She didn't want to see her mom's old house. She opened her mouth to say wait, nevermind, I have something planned, but then Ashley broke out in a grin. Amelia could only smile back as panic fluttered on the inside.

Julie and Ashley were the only two that were still eating. Melody kept staring out the window and Rina stared absently at nothing in particular, fiddling with a choker around her neck; a pointed black stone hanging from a black cord.

Amelia tensed when Rina's eyes found hers again. Amelia looked down, and in an attempt to make the awkwardness go away, asked, "uh, what's that one called?"

"Black onyx," she answered, looking as awkward as Amelia felt.

Amelia cocked her head in a little half nod. Rina did the same as if responding to Amelia's nod, looking down at her empty plate.

"What do you like to do, Amelia?" Julie looked at her curiously, dabbing her pale pink lips softly with a napkin.

"Oh, uh," Amelia tried to think, her own hobbies a stupid thing to have to think about. She used to like reading, and playing video games, but these days she'd lost interest. Those things made her think, and her mind felt so tired. "Watching stuff, I guess. Shows and movies."

Watching things was easy. She could lose herself in something, and never feel exhausted. But that sounded stupid, so she added, "I like video games, too."

"Which ones?" both Melody and Rina asked at the exact same time. Rina snorted, smirking at Melody.

Amelia tapped a finger to her empty soda glass, anxiety knotting her stomach. She tried to think of the games she had, that she used to play. "Mostly into magical sword fighting stuff," she shrugged. "I only ever had the little hand-held stuff when it came to game consoles."

Rina leaned closer toward Amelia from across the table, brown eyes full of interest. "Same. I love those games. And scary ones."

"I like those too," Melody said. "I kinda play everything."

"I haven't tried anything new in a couple years," Amelia tangled her fingers together on her lap. "Can't keep up with all that new stuff."

"Yeah, takes me forever to save when a new game comes out," Rina leaned back in her seat. "But I keep up with all the faves." She looked at Amelia like she was studying her. "I can lend you a few games."

"Oh," Amelia looked at her in surprise. "If that's cool with you. Thanks."

Rina nodded. Amelia caught the look Ashley was giving Rina, a narrowed side-eye.

Wonder what that's about.

When everyone was finished, they cleaned up their table and left the restaurant.

Amelia walked in the middle, Julie and Melody leading the way. Rina was off to the side by herself, hands in the pockets of her skeleton hoodie. Amelia caught herself staring again. Then she was distracted at the touch, and turned her head to Ashley, who linked their arms together. Ashley was smiling. "What are you thinking about?"

"Uh," Amelia breathed, not knowing what to say, because what was she thinking about? Nothing? That was a stupid answer."Just about seeing your place," it was a lie, and she wasn't sure why. "It looks big."

"It's decent, I suppose," Ashley shrugged. She smiled then, her arm tightening around Amelia's. "I'm excited to have you over."

Amelia raised her brows, smiling slightly. She didn't ask why; they'd only just met, how exciting could Amelia be to her? She wondered how Ashley would react if she mentioned it being her mom and aunt's old house.

They made it to the white house with the tall, black iron fence surrounding it. Amelia looked up at the sharp pointed fence, and exhaled shakily. "That's where you're living, huh?" Melody nodded to Angela's house next door.

"Yeah," Amelia answered.

The heavy iron fence creaked when Rina pushed it open. She walked slower then, Julie and Melody passing her by, and then Amelia and Ashley. Amelia glanced back at Rina, her hands in her pockets as she stared at the house. She was a hard one to read, her expression blank.

The little path to the house was decorated with yellow flower pots on each side, but all of them were empty now. Ashley let go of Amelia to race up the three wide steps. She pulled a key out of her jeans pocket and unlocked the front door, entering first. Amelia followed Julie and Melody inside, and looked back at Rina, closing the door behind her as her chest fell in a soft sigh.

Same.

They stood in a little entrance room, a staircase to the right leading upstairs, and a living room directly ahead, while the kitchen was to the left side.

Amelia thought she'd feel something standing in a place filled with Lydia's memories, but she didn't.

God, she didn't want to tell Lydia she'd stepped foot in here.

"Is that your new friend, Ashley?" called a woman standing in the living room. She was tall and thin, strands of white-blond hair hanging loose from her bun. She fluffed a pillow and set it on the long red couch.

"This is Amelia," Ashley introduced with a gesture toward Amelia. "Amelia Allan."

The woman came toward them, a kind smile on her thin face, dusting her hands on the white apron she was wearing.

"Hi Amelia," she said. "I'm Ashley's mom, Lana."

"Nice to meet you," Amelia said.

"Hi, girls," Lana gave a bigger smile to Julie and Melody. "I'm baking a cake, so you all should stay for dinner and dessert. It's a strawberry cake, a little something special for Ashley's cousin that will be staying with us."

"That sounds nice," Julie said. "I would love to stay."

Melody gave a half nod.

"Hi, Rina," Lana said on her way to the kitchen, not really looking at her. Rina mumbled a hi, but it was quiet and probably unheard.

"Come on," Ashley kicked off her boots and started upstairs. The others did the same, Rina moving a little slower than the others.

"I like your black onyx, by the way," Amelia commented, setting her shoes by the door. She wanted to say something to her, but wasn't sure where to start. She could've cringed at herself, because the comment felt stupid.

"Thanks," Rina looked at her. She played with the zipper on her hoodie, looking at the upstairs. She sighed softly again, looking like she had to force herself to go up. Amelia followed, wondering if she should ask her if she was okay. They'd only met like an hour ago, and she didn't want to be invasive.

At the top of the stairs was a long hallway with doors lining each side. Julie and Melody were inside one of them, talking about something, and Ashley was standing in the doorway of the one next to it. She stepped aside to let someone pass her, a taller blonde girl. Her straight white-blond hair reached almost all the way to her waist, and she was wearing light blue jeans and a white t-shirt. She was whispering something to Ashley, who giggled and shoved her away.

A man walked past them and came out of the room. He had brown hair, though he'd lost most of it, the middle of his head shiny and bald. "Almost done, Helena," he sighed, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Just gotta finish putting the bed together."

"Thanks!" the taller blonde girl grinned. So she was the cousin.

"Oh, dad, that's Amelia," Ashley introduced by waving a hand in Amelia's direction.

"Oh, hello," he greeted Amelia.

"Hi," she said.

"You're staying with Angela and Debra?" he asked.

"Yeah. Me and my aunt."

He nodded. "Nice to meet you. Ashley's friends are always welcome. My name is Gerald."

She nodded again, and Rina stepped aside so he could go down the stairs. Then she turned down the hallway, going into a door at the end that was a bathroom.

"This is my room," Ashley pointed to the room Julie and Melody were in. Amelia followed her inside.

The hardwood floor was mostly covered by a black carpet with white flowery designs. The bed was against the wall, white sheets and thick black blankets messily upon it. Next to the bed was a white cabinet filled with books and jewelry, and a matching white vanity across from it at the other end of the room. The vanity was littered with make-up products. Next to that was a desk where a computer sat. The frilly black curtains were open to let the sunlight shine in.

"Didn't you break up with that Japanese girl?" Helena leaned a shoulder against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest. "Why is she here?"

Break up? That would explain Rina's awkwardness.

Ashley sighed, falling backward onto her bed. "Because she's still my friend."

"She's creepy and weird," Helena said. "And desperately, desperately needs to get laid." She grinned, "bet that's why you broke up."

Ashley sat up so fast it almost made Amelia dizzy. "Shut up, Hel," she warned, lips pressed in a thin line and eyes wide.

"I told you it wasn't a real relationship, remember?" Helena leaned forward, talking a little louder. "Romance comes with everything. Real, true love comes with everything."

"You're an idiot," Ashley's bottom lip curled.

"And wrong," Melody added.

Helena rolled her eyes. "Whatever. If she wants a girlfriend she has to get over her sex-is-icky problem."

Ashley opened her mouth, looking infuriated, but Julie spoke first. "It's not a problem," she said, frowning.

"It's a thing," Melody said.

"Or maybe she should try a dude," Helena shrugged a shoulder. "And come to her senses about the no-sex lesbian thing."

"Get out," Ashley demanded, standing, hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Helena gave a high pitched giggle, turning out of the room and laughing her way down the stairs.

Ashley plopped back onto her bed with a heavy sigh, clutching the blanket beneath her.

"Yeah, good luck living with that," Melody said.

"I'm moving in with you," Ashley fell back again, covering her face with her hands.

Amelia was left feeling a little shocked, and in complete understanding of how Ashley felt about her cousin.

When Rina came back, her expression was blank and unreadable, but Amelia figured she had to have heard the conversation. Helena had said it all loud enough.

"Hey," Ashley sat up, grinning, "let's have a sleepover."

"Can't," Melody said, looking at her phone.

"Please?" Ashley went to her and put her hands on her shoulders. "Help me survive the first night with Hel. Please."

Melody sighed and rolled her eyes, pushing her curls back with her hand. "God, fine."

Ashley giggled, patting her shoulder. "Jules? Rina?" She looked from one to the other.

"I'll see if my mom is okay with it," Julie started texting on her phone.

"Please, Ri," Ashley pleaded at Rina's silence.

"Whatever," Rina shrugged.

Ashley clapped her hands together. "Amelia?"

"Uh," Amelia tried to think of an excuse, but she didn't have one, and Ashley repeated another "please!"

"I guess I'll text my aunt about it..." Amelia rubbed the back of her neck.

"Good!" Ashley got off her bed and went to her vanity.

Amelia let out a soft sigh. She didn't want to do this. She didn't know them, or this house, and it was weird. It was the same case at Angela's house, but at least she had privacy there.

Ashley hummed and went to a black shelf hanging on the wall near the open closet door. There was a pentagram symbol on a black cloth that hung above it, and the shelf was filled with books, candles, and black and white stones.

"We can show you some magic!" Ashley said with a giggle. "Hey," she looked at the books closely, "my curses book is missing."

"Probably put it somewhere else last time we did magic here," Melody said, still looking at her phone.

"Curses?" Amelia questioned.

"Don't worry, we've never done those!" Ashley grinned. "I just found the book and thought it was cool." She looked at her shelf again, pulling books out and pushing them back in. "Seriously, where is it?"

"Are you all going to do magic?"

The voice made Amelia turn around. A little girl stood in the doorway, looking into the room curiously. She wore a white shirt and jeans, and her long blonde hair almost reached down to her waist. She looked like a smaller version of Ashley and Helena. Amelia thought of the little girl she'd seen on the swing when she first came here. She looked a lot less creepy now, though.

"Hey, Carrie," Rina said.

"Hi," Julie waved at the little girl with a smile.

"No, Carrie," Ashley said, not looking at her.

"But you're going to," the little girl, Carrie, said. "I heard you. I've been reading, I want to try, too."

Ashley spun around, going to the door. "Leave us alone, okay?"

"But I want to watch," she persisted.

"Go play a game or something," Ashley closed the door, blocking out Carrie's whiny huff.

Ashley looked at Amelia, lips curved upward slightly. "But we are," she said softly.

"Huh?" Amelia stared at her.

"We're going to show you," she said, taking one of Amelia's hands in hers. "We're going to do magic."

"Okay," Amelia said slowly.

Ashley leaned closer, her smile getting wider. "Tonight, at midnight, we're gonna cast spells and tell stories."

Nine

Sleepover

Amelia kept thinking about it, amused, as she texted Lydia and asked if she was cool with Amelia hanging out next door. She responded with an enthusiastic: of course! Have fun! That Amelia wondered if she actually meant.

She felt a pang of disappointment, hoping Lydia would say something that would give her an excuse to leave. She hardly wanted to be here, let alone sleep here. She didn't know Ashley or her friends, was uncomfortable around that cousin, and awkward around her parents. Besides that, she kept thinking about the fact that her mom once lived here. Why would she want to sleep here?

Why was she not capable of saying no?

With a soft sigh, she put her hands into the pockets of her hoodie. She felt something lumpy and hard, and remembered the amethyst. She ran her thumb across it, then squeezed it in the palm of her hand. It was oddly soothing somehow.

Rina looked kinda how Amelia felt. She was sitting cross-legged at the end of the bed, chin resting in the palm of her hand, looking a little miserable. Ashley was sitting at her desk, showing Melody something on her computer; it looked like a video game. Julie was talking on her phone in a quiet tone, looking at Ashley's shelf.

Amelia worked up the courage to sit on the edge of the bed, a little away from Rina.

"Having fun?" Rina asked without looking at her, turning a ring around her finger. It was a thin black ring, around the middle finger of her right hand.

"No," Amelia answered quietly and honestly.

Rina snorted, and it made Amelia chuckle.

"Me neither," Rina commented, rubbing one of her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Amelia asked.

Rina shrugged a shoulder, pushing her hair behind her ear, but it fell back in front of her face anyway. The sides of her hair were a little longer than the back, reaching to her chin. "Things have gotten kinda awkward for me here."

Amelia figured she was talking about her break-up with Ashley, but she wasn't going to ask about that.

"How long have you all been friends?" she asked instead.

"Like a year, I think. At least for me." She played with the zipper on her hoodie, rubbing her other hand on her faded black jeans. "Ash pulled me into the group last year. I work at a tea shop they always come into. It all played out just how it's happening to you," she looked at Amelia with her little smirk.

"It's nice, but..." Amelia paused, looking at the others.

"Overwhelming?" Rina finished.

"Yeah."

Rina nodded. Amelia felt a lot more comfortable with someone else understanding how this felt.

Amelia absently listened to Julie, Ashley, and Melody's voices, then turned her attention to the closed door. She thought she heard shuffling. As she looked at the door, she got a weird, creeping sensation that someone was on the other side. It was like Rina could read her mind when she said softly, "Carrie."

Amelia looked at her. "Huh?"

"Ash's little sister," she said, quietly still. "She wants to hang out with us, but Ash pushes her away. I noticed she listens to us, and probably watches us from the keyhole."

"Oh," Amelia looked away from the door, feeling awkward.

"I get little siblings can be annoying, but I feel bad for her," Rina shrugged. "She's just lonely."

"How old is she?" Amelia asked.

"Eleven."

Poor kid.

"Do you have any siblings?" Rina asked.

"No," Amelia replied. "You?"

"A brother," she shrugged. "A big brother. But he moved away a few years ago."

"Hey, Ri," with a smile, Julie sat down next to Rina. She took something from the pocket of her white sweater. It was a small pin of a head of a black cat with yellow eyes drawn in a cutesy art style. It had a little smile, and a crescent moon on its forehead.

"You did it!" Rina took it from her, grinning as she looked closely at it.

"That's cute," Amelia commented.

"It's Ri's art," said Julie with a smile. "I work at a little art store called Pin It, and we can make stickers and pins and key-chains and stuff like this out of just about anything."

"That's really cool," Amelia scooted a little closer to Rina, looking at the pin. "You're an artist, then?"

"Yeah, I like doing digital art," Rina stuck the pin onto her hoodie.

"Send me some others," Julie nodded. "I'll have lots of things made for you."

"Thanks," Rina said softly, putting an arm around Julie's shoulder and leaning closer for a quick hug. "This means a lot to me. I'll cherish it."

Julie beamed, grinning at her. "I will make your art into everything. It will be everywhere."

Rina chuckled.

Amelia eyed the door when she heard shuffling again. Then she heard creak after creak, getting louder. The door opened, and Ashley's mom, Lana, looked in at them. "Should I set the dining table for all of you?"

"Everyone is sleeping over," Ashley announced without looking away from the computer screen.

Lana raised her eyebrows. "Here in your room?"

"We always do," Ashley's tone had a trace of annoyance.

"All right," Lana straightened. "Supper is ready. All of you can come down now."

She turned away, leaving the door open, and went back downstairs, calling, "Carrie, supper."

There were footsteps, and the smaller girl trailed down the stairs after her mom.

Ashley followed with what was almost a cheery little skip, and Melody and Julie followed after her. Rina sighed, standing slowly.

"I really don't wanna," Amelia stood. It was going to be beyond awkward eating at a table full of people she didn't know.

Rina chuckled. "They're gonna ask your life fucking story."

"Oh God."

Rina's lips twitched in a slight smirk before she walked away. Amelia followed her downstairs to the dining room.

Everyone had already taken a chair at the long dining table. "Here, Amelia!" Ashley patted the chair next to hers. Amelia sat next to her, and Rina took the chair across from them, next to Julie.

A large bowl of pasta was passed around the table, and everyone added to their plate. Amelia plopped some onto her plate, wincing at the messy splatter that left droplets of sauce on the white tablecloth that she could've done a fuckton more carefully.

She raised her gaze to a little snort, seeing Rina was covering her face with her arm, elbow leaned on the table, and turning her fork around her noodles, shoulders shaking as she tried to hold the laughter in. Amelia pressed her lips together in a desperate struggle not to laugh too, setting the bowl down and clearing her throat.

"So, Amelia, who are Debra and Angela to you?" Lana started the conversation.

Amelia looked at Rina, hiding her knowing smirk behind her hand as she spun her fork around her pasta.

Amelia twirled her own fork around her pasta. "They're my aunt's friends. She knew Angela when they were kids."

"Is it only you and your aunt?" Lana asked.

"Yeah."

"Do you have other family members? Your parents?"

Jesus Christ.

"My mom died a few months ago," Amelia's cheeks burned at the silence that followed.

"I am very sorry to hear that," Lana said gently. Amelia's eyes shifted to her left hand that was on the table when she felt the touch; Ashley had put her own hand upon it. Amelia didn't look at her, but she could picture her frowning face.

"What happened?" Lana questioned, nonchalant.

Holy fuck, lady.

Rina had been right. "Lung cancer," Amelia stared at the pasta on her plate, wanting to get out of here. This wasn't just uncomfortable, it was humiliating.

"How are you liking it here?" Julie asked suddenly. "You and your aunt?"

"I-It's fine," Amelia stuttered a little, startled at the change in conversation. "We're okay."

"We should explore the forest," Rina said, chin resting in the palm of her hand. "It's pretty."

"We got a cool arcade, too," Melody added. "Since you said you like games."

"Yes," Rina perked up. "Dude, I killed your scores," she grinned at Melody.

"Fuck you you did," Melody sounded offended despite returning the grin.

Lana cleared her throat, probably at the language, and Julie giggled, tapping Melody on the shoulder.

"Shit, sorry," Melody apologized, looking at Lana, and when Rina snorted with laughter, Melody added another, "I mean, sorry."

Ashley and Julie giggled, and so did Carrie, and Lana sighed, shaking her head slowly. "They're just having fun," Ashley's dad, Gerald, said, smiling at his wife.

Amelia watched them, realizing they'd steered the conversation away from her personal life. She definitely liked them more for it.

"How is your singing practice going, Helena?" Lana changed the subject, to Amelia's relief. She just wanted to be left alone, and unnoticed.

"Amazing," Helena replied eagerly. "I've been suggested to enter a contest."

"That's wonderful!" Lana smiled.

"You sing so pretty," said Carrie with a mouth full of pasta. "I wanna sing like you."

"I can teach you!" Helena told her.

"Really?" Carrie leaned a little across the table. "Please! I wanna learn!"

Helena smiled brightly, and then put a hand on her chest and closed her eyes, her voice coming out in a high, soft tune as she sang.

Amelia didn't know anything about singing, but thought she was pretty good. Her voice was soft and fragile, and the slow romantic song she sang fit perfectly.

Amelia turned her head to a little grumble. Ashley was looking ahead, away from her cousin, her gray eyes intense and lips pressed together.

When Helena was done, Lana, Carrie, and Gerald clapped. Julie added in, and Melody did too, for a second. Rina just kept eating her pasta and Ashley still looked livid.

Helena grinned, adjusting herself in her chair.

"So beautiful," Carrie sat back in her chair and continued eating.

"So, Ash, how's Max doing?" Helena asked before putting a fork full of pasta into her mouth, eyeing her cousin.

"Fine," Ashley looked tense and stiff, shoulders high.

"Are you and him a thing yet?" Helena teased.

"No," Ashley's pale cheeks flushed. "We're friends."

"He likes you," Helena went on. "He's so nice. You should try something with him. Have a real relationship, it's so nice."

"Yes," Lana agreed. "He's a nice boy."

Amelia looked at Rina, elbow still on the table and the side of her head in her palm. She stared down at her food. Amelia felt so sorry for her at that moment. She noticed Julie scoot closer to her, eyes filled with sympathy.

Next to Amelia, Ashley breathed sharply. But she said nothing. "What about you?" Carrie asked playfully, leaning closer to Helena. "You were talking about a boy last time!"

"Oh, Timothy," Helena shrugged. "We went out a few times, but we're not together anymore. Buuuut," she grinned, "I met Steven."

Carrie giggled, brushing one of her hands through Helena's long hair. "Tell me about him!"

"Yes," Lana smiled, "What is he like?"

Helena started to describe the looks of the Steven guy, and Amelia caught Rina's eye roll, which almost made her laugh. She sat there quietly, anxious for this to be over.

After the awkward hell that was dinner, Amelia followed the others upstairs to Ashley's room again. She was the last to go in, closing the door behind her.

"God," Ashley huffed, falling backwards onto her bed, "I hate my family."

"Let's light some candles and relax," Julie suggested. She brushed her hand against Rina's, and then it slid up to Rina's shoulder in a gentle rub. "Can I?"

"Sure," Ashley said, staring up at the ceiling.

Julie went to the shelf, where she lit matches. She went around lighting all the candles.

"Are we doing the thing?" Melody played with a crystal from Ashley's shelf, tossing it up and catching it when it landed.

"Yup," Ashley sat up. "Midnight. With Amelia."

Amelia swallowed. "Your, uh, witch stuff?"

"Yes. You'll love it." She smiled, and Amelia forced a smile back.

At night, Amelia went next door to get a change of clothes to sleep in, and her toothbrush. Lydia was ecstatic, going on about how happy she was that Amelia found friends. Amelia noticed Angela's smile; it was forced, a little nervous. Amelia wondered if she'd tell Lydia that Amelia's new friends were weirdos.

Back in Ashley's room, Amelia sat listening to them all talk. She didn't understand any of it, was left out of their inside jokes and ended up losing herself in her own thoughts until Ashley pulled her out of them.

"Hey, it's almost midnight."

Amelia blinked, looking at her. Her long blonde braid hung over her shoulder, and her eyes were wide with excitement as she smiled. She got up, going to her shelf. Julie and Melody collected the candles.

"Over here, Amelia," Ashley waved, setting stones down on the floor.

Amelia got off the bed and sat down on the floor next to her. Rina sat at her other side, running a hand through her short hair to brush it back.

Amelia watched Melody and Julie set the candles in the middle of them, near the stones and the symbols Ashley had set on the floor. Most of the crystals were clear. Amelia didn't know what the symbols were, except for the pentagram.

Julie turned off the light, darkening the room except for the candles and moonlight. Julie and Melody sat down too, and the five of them were in a circle.

Amelia realized she wasn't breathing. She took in a slow, steady breath, eyes shifting around in the darkness. She took another breath, her chest a little tight.

This was stupid, and she just wanted it to be over.

It was stupid and fake. Whatever they were about to do, that's all it was.

That's what she kept telling herself, even though the creeping anxiety was making her feel otherwise.

Ten

Midnight

Amelia could hear the tremble of her next breath. Her cheeks got hot with embarrassment.

"You okay?" the whisper was so quiet that Amelia barely heard it. She would have thought she just imagined it, until Rina nudged her arm very slightly.

"Uh, yeah," Amelia whispered back, but her shaky voice gave away the lie.

"It's weird with five," Melody commented. "Hope it doesn't mess anything up."

"I'm sure it won't," Julie wiped her hands on her lap, then held them out. Rina took one, and Melody the other one. Amelia noticed Rina's other hand held out to hers. Quickly wiping her palm on her pants, Amelia took it. Rina's hand was cold and clammy, but for some reason, Amelia felt warm when she held it.

Ashley took Amelia's other hand, giving a tight squeeze. "Okay," Ashley breathed deeply. "Relax, Amelia."

"'Kay," one of Amelia's shoulders fell in a shrug. She stared at the flickering flames of the candles. They were kinda soothing to watch.

"Just breathe," she heard Ashley say.

Right, Amelia thought with bitter amusement. But she did it. She drew a deep breath, then exhaled, glad for an excuse to keep trying to catch her breath.

All she could see was the orange flicker. She didn't think anything, didn't feel anything. She just watched the fire dance, her chest warm. She closed her eyes, still able to see the flames.

The soothing flames. There was a warmth in her chest as she watched the flickering in the darkness.

This was nice.

Until she felt something. It was weird, and she didn't really understand it. It felt like someone was there. The others were, obviously, but it felt like someone else, someone besides the five of them. It made her hair stand on end.

She could feel them, somewhere behind her.

"Now," Ashley started, and Amelia snapped out of her little trance, blinking. She hadn't realized how calm she really did feel until she was taken out of it. Calm, despite the feeling of a presence.

Amelia looked back. No one was there, just the shadows and candlelight on the walls. But she felt like she was looking at someone.

"Ask for what you desire," Ashley went on, and Amelia turned her attention back to the girls. Ashley was fixing the crystals she'd set; mostly clear crystals shimmered in their little circle. There were a couple amethysts, which Amelia now recognized, and a few crystals that were pale pink. Ashley let go of their hands and pulled those closer to herself, an almost desperate glint in her eyes.

"What I desire?" Amelia asked quietly.

"Maybe to heal," Rina suggested quietly, looking at the candles and crystals. Her hand was getting sweaty in Amelia's. "For strength to get through the hard parts."

Amelia looked at her, at her shadowed face. "Or for friendships," Rina's eyes shifted in Amelia's direction.

Amelia smiled a little. "Or," Ashley raised her voice a little, "for love."

Amelia looked at her then, seeing her grin in the candlelight. Ashley squeezed Amelia's hand, and Amelia's cheeks got hot. She looked away, swallowing.

The others closed their eyes again. Amelia sighed softly and did the same.

She did desire strength to get through the hard parts. She did desire healing, to not fall apart whenever her mom's face or voice popped into her head. She desired to feel okay.

She just wanted to be okay.

As she thought about this, she realized the girls were whispering. Chanting? She couldn't understand what they were saying, only catching a few words.

Attract. Deepest. Feelings. Desires. Pain.

And then their voices faded into whispers.

And somewhere behind her, Amelia could feel that presence, stronger than before.

Someone let out a long breath. Amelia's hands were released. She wiped them on her jeans.

Was that it?

"Tonight's perfect for a story," Julie smiled, looking enchanting in the candlelight.

"A story?" Amelia questioned.

"Horror stories to scare the shit out of ourselves," Melody said with a scoff.

Amelia became interested then. "I like horror stories."

"I'm really starting to like you," Rina commented, and Amelia looked at her, surprised with a little flutter in her stomach, unable to keep away a smile.

"Who wants to tell one tonight?" Ashley sounded enthusiastic, clapping her hands together softly.

Everyone looked around at each other expectantly. Melody shook her head, "Nah, I told one last time."

"About the alcoholic who drowns to death?" Ashley nodded, looking thoughtful. "I liked that one."

Amelia raised her eyebrows and looked at Melody. Melody shrugged a shoulder, looking careless. Amelia wondered about her. That's only a story you tell if you have some strong feelings about it.

"Ri?" Ashley turned her attention to Rina.

"Uh..." Rina shrugged lightly, "not really in the mood for talking much."

"Are you ever?" Ashley sighed.

"You haven't told one in a while, Ash," Julie commented.

"And you're always in the mood to talk," there was a sarcastic edge to Rina's tone, which made Melody snort.

"Fine," Ashley said. "I've got one, anyway."

There was a short silence in the darkness, then Ashley softly cleared her throat.

"The dancer was enjoying her new room, so wide and open and with a lovely view. She peered out the window, able to see all, smiling at the people outside who seemed so small. Even when she wasn't behind her high window, she saw them all the same.

But behind her fake smile, she had them all fooled. They loved to see her dance, hear her sing, unaware of her other terrible things.

And as she danced in her room, filled with moonlight, she laughed. Her dress was beautiful and flowing, as was her bright hair, and she laughed and laughed, her heart cruel and unfair.

But the dancer lost her footing, and her laugh was cut short as a gasp escaped. She fell hard into her wide window, and screamed in despair as the glass cut her cheeks and got caught in her hair.

And when she landed, her screams stopped, and the pain she felt then was like no other, as she landed atop the iron fence below, her body sliding down with her blood flow.

There she was for all to see: an impaled beauty that made everyone scream."

The story created vivid images in Amelia's head as she stared blankly at the flame of the candles.

"How poetic," Rina said flatly, breaking the silence, and Melody snorted with laughter.

Amelia had pictured Helena the whole time in that story, and knew that was Ashley's intention.

"Thank you," Ashley responded, either not getting Rina's sarcasm or not really caring.

"Good way to let out your feelings," said Melody.

"Well, we all do it that way, don't we?" Julie smiled in the candlelight.

Amelia looked back at the sound of a loud shuffle. She heard a door close from somewhere close in the hallway, and then footsteps on the floor out there.

They all jumped at the sudden loud creak, Julie and Ashley giving little gasps. A dim light flooded into the room from the open door.

"Ash, I'm taking one of your pillows," it was Helena's voice as she strode into the room, tossing pillows around Ashley's bed to find the one she wanted.

"Hey!" Ashley complained.

Helena looked at them, leaning close and squinting in the dark. "What the hell are you guys doing?"

"Get out," Ashley demanded. "You're messing my bed!"

Helena came closer, looking at the candles. "You guys are freaks," she scoffed. "I'm telling Lana and Gerald in the morning you all do weird shit in here."

She strode out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"Too bad your story can't come true, huh?" Melody stretched, then yawned. "I'm gonna sleep."

"Yeah," Ashley's hands were clenched, and she stared at the candles, her eyes glinting in the light of the flames. "Too bad."

Eleven

Hearts

Amelia lay on the floor uncomfortably, atop a thick blanket and pillow that Ashley set down for her, staring at the window at the foggy moon in the sky. She wondered if the others had fallen asleep yet. She heard someone snoring softly, and the bed creaking slightly. Ashley and Julie were sharing the bed, and stopped giggling about whatever they were talking about a few minutes ago.

Amelia sighed softly and closed her eyes, wishing she was in her room in the house next door, alone. These girls were cool, but she didn't really want to do this again.

Amelia began to drift to sleep in the darkness, until a soft voice in her ear made her skin break out in chills.

You're so pretty, Ame.

Amelia's eyes opened, a soft whimper escaping before she put one of her hands over her mouth, her eyes burning with tears and sleep.

She could feel a presence behind her, just like earlier.

Mom?

Amelia's heart began to pound as her skin prickled with icy fear. She imagined her mom reaching out to touch her until she could almost feel it.

Amelia forced herself to look behind her. Her breath trembled, raspy, as her chest rose and fell.

No one. Just the other girls, sleeping.

She released a breath of relief.

And then she turned her head and saw a thin figure crouched in the darkness. They ran away, crouched, limbs way too fucking long and not normal.

"What the fuck," Amelia whispered, horrified, sitting up.

She blinked, but the figure was gone.

She'd imagined it. She'd had hallucinations a few times after her mom died, but hadn't in a few months now. Because she really needed them to start up again now.

Tears burned in her eyes, and she whimpered softly.

The door creaked open, and Rina came in. She and Amelia stared at each other for a moment until Amelia looked down, embarrassed. She lay on her side, facing the door and the others, sniffling and blinking the tears away. She heard Rina's footsteps coming closer.

"Hey," Rina said softly, kneeling next to her. "Are you okay?"

Amelia nodded. "Just having a moment."

"Okay." Rina walked away, and Amelia listened to her shuffling before she came back, setting down a thick blanket and pillow just a little away from Amelia. Then she lay down.

After a moment of staring directly at each other, Rina said, "you can tell me to go away, if you want."

A smile made its way to Amelia's slightly trembling lips. "Stay."

Rina nodded and pulled her blanket up to her chin, curling underneath it. "So..." Amelia said quietly, breaking a short silence. "Does it work for you? When you all do that... magic?"

Rina looked thoughtful, and shrugged one of her shoulders. "Sometimes. I think. It makes me feel a little better to try, anyway."

Amelia could understand that. "This is my mom's old house," she said quietly, finally letting it out.

Rina blinked. "Whoa. Shit, really?"

"Yeah. Her and my aunt's childhood home. I feel weird being here."

"I would, too."

"I just wanna get through the night."

"You will," Rina said.

"I'm gonna try."

"We can keep talking, if you want."

That made Amelia's chest warm. She smiled. "Thanks. Gonna try sleeping, though."

"Okay. Still have that amethyst?"

"Yeah."

"Try putting it under your pillow."

"Why?"

"Maybe it'll help you sleep."

"Oh," Amelia said softly.

Rina closed her eyes. Amelia pulled the amethyst out of the pocket of her hoodie, and put it under her pillow. She was still a little shaken by what she saw a while ago, but knowing Rina was right there made her feel safer.

The next time Amelia opened her eyes, it was the sunlight beaming through the window instead of the moonlight.

"God, fuck," she whispered, every muscle aching and neck so stiff she couldn't move her head. Leaning on her elbow, she rubbed the back of her neck with a soft groan.

"You okay?"

Amelia lifted her head. Rina was still just a little away, elbow leaning on her pillow as she looked at her phone.

Amelia glanced around; the other three weren't around. They must have been up already "I'm never doing this again."

Rina smirked a little. "Yeah. I've been saying that for the past month."

Amelia watched her for a moment, wondering how Rina did deal with it. Amelia had never been in a romantic relationship before, had never wanted one, so she didn't know how it was for someone to hang out with their ex. Seemed a little more than awkward, anyway.

Rina let go of her phone and it dropped onto her pillow. "Can't fucking wait to go home," she sighed.

"Same."

Rina looked at her, and Amelia tried to explain herself nervously, "I mean, you're all cool, it's just... I don't really hang out with people. This was completely new," she looked around the room. "It's kinda tiring. Like, um, mentally."

"Really makes you look forward to being alone, doesn't it?" Rina asked.

"Yes," Amelia said.

"I love those three but it's too exhausting to do stuff like this sometimes," Rina pulled at a loose string from the pillow. "I can feel so lonely sometimes, but when I'm actually with people, I wanna be alone." She shrugged. "I don't really get it."

"Neither do I," Amelia said, "but I totally understand the feeling. I get it too."

She and Rina looked at each other, and Amelia was suddenly feeling more comfortable, understood.

Footsteps creaked on the floor down the hall and stopped in the doorway. Ashley's mom, Lana, looked in at them. "It's time to get up," she said, slightly demanding. "Breakfast has been ready. The other girls are downstairs already."

"Oh, okay," Amelia said, and then Lana turned away, her footsteps creaking down the stairs.

Rina scoffed. "That lady's so fucking annoying most of the time." She pulled the thin, flowery blanket off her, and sat up, cross legged. She sighed and ruffled her hair before combing her fingers through it. It was so short and shiny and soft looking that Amelia kinda wanted to run her fingers through it, too. "I hate eating here," Rina pulled her long sleeves over her hands, obviously not ready to go down there.

"They kinda treat you like shit, don't they?" Amelia felt bad for her.

Rina didn't say anything, but she nodded a little, looking down. She pushed her hair behind her ear, sighing softly before she stood.

"I'll meet you down there," Amelia told her. "Just gonna change."

Rina nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Amelia changed back into her jeans and shirt from yesterday, then tossed the clothes she'd slept in into the little bag she'd brought. Then she took a moment to try and brace herself before going downstairs. She remembered the amethyst under her pillow, and took it out.

She didn't know if she was letting all this get to her head, but she felt oddly soothed as she held it in her hand.

When Amelia felt calm enough, she went downstairs. Everyone was seated in the dining room again. Helena and Carrie were talking loud and laughing about something, and Melody and Julie were immersed in their own conversation, shoulders touching as they whispered and chuckled with each other.

Amelia took the empty chair next to Melody. Rina and Ashley were across from her, sitting next to each other.

"Hi, Amelia," Ashley greeted with a smile before putting a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

"Hey," Amelia said, rubbing a hand down her shoulder. She glanced around the table. There was a plate of pancakes with a jar of jam and a cup of sugar next to them. Then there was a carton of milk and a box of cereal.

Amelia stuck her fork into a pancake the same time Rina did, and Rina smirked, letting Amelia take it. Amelia chuckled, and glanced at Rina often, sitting with her elbow upon the table and chin resting in the palm of her hand as she started on her pancake. Ashley scooted closer to Rina, running her fingers through Rina's hair. It looked like Rina stiffened, eyes still on her plate and expression blank.

"You two gonna try that again?" asked Helena suddenly, eyeing them with her spoon pressed to her lips.

Rina eyed her with a quiet intensity, and Ashley rolled her eyes. "What?" Ashley set her spoon into her empty bowl.

"Your little gay thing," Helena put her spoon into her bowl with a clank.

"Shut up, Hel," Ashley moved her hand away from Rina.

"I miss when you two were a couple," Carrie had her elbows on the table and hands on the sides of her face. "It was cute."

"We're friends," Ashley stressed.

"What were you really before, though?" Helena shrugged her shoulders. "Intense friends? Friends who kiss sometimes? Wait, do you even do that?" Helena leaned forward a little, looking at Rina.

"You're an idiot," Ashley said as she pushed her chair back and stood.

Helena covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled. Rina didn't look at her or say anything to her, just finished eating. Amelia admired her for being able to keep herself calm when someone was being so cruel to her.

"We're all a gay thing here," Melody leaned back in her chair. Julie giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Because you guys are freaks," Helena rolled her eyes.

"Big freaks," said Julie, and she leaned close to Melody, putting her hands on her shoulders. "We are all in love. Sorry you walked in on us last night." She leaned closer to Melody, their lips brushing together, "We perform love rituals."

Helena's lips curled, and she stood, taking her empty bowl as she gave an ugh on her way to the kitchen.

Julie and Melody broke out in laughter, joined by Ashley. Rina had a little smirk, and Carrie was staring, her pale brows drawn in confusion.

"Do you really do that?" Carrie sounded confused.

"No," Ashley said, sighing as she calmed down. She collected everyone's empty dishes and made her way to the kitchen.

"I'm ready to get outta here," Melody leaned back, looking at her phone. Amelia silently agreed.

"Been ready for that," Rina mumbled, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes. When she lowered her hands, she sat back in her chair with a sniffle, her eyes a little red. Amelia wondered if she was okay.

"How did the night go, Amelia?" Julie looked past Melody, pushing her long hair over her shoulder.

"Well, I slept," Amelia said. "Not really used to this though. Being with people I barely know, I mean."

"You got dragged right in, didn't you?" Julie frowned. "Sorry about that."

"Ash is kinda intense," Melody's chair creaked as she leaned back in it.

"Yes, though she means well," Julie smiled.

"All of you are really cool, anyway," Amelia said. "I'm glad she introduced you all to me."

"Yes," Julie smiled again. "I look forward to getting to know you more."

"Yeah, same with all of you." Amelia tensed with surprise at the arms that wrapped around her from behind. She looked at the lacy long black sleeves and long black fingernails.

"Why don't we all do something again tomorrow?" Ashley asked, the side of her head leaning against Amelia's.

"Text tomorrow, I'll see if I can," Julie stood. "Should we add Amelia to the group text?"

"Yes!" Ashley said, and to Amelia's relief, let her go.

"Uh," Amelia breathed, "sure."

She took her phone from her pocket, and blinked when it was pulled from her grip. "I'll add all of us, okay?" Ashley said.

Jesus, this girl.

Amelia didn't voice her annoyance, just watched Ashley using her phone. There was a little chime, and Julie glanced at her own phone.

"There," Ashley handed it back to her. "We're all in there if you wanna talk. Already texted everyone else your number."

"Thanks," Amelia mumbled, slipping it back into her pocket.

"We'll show ya the arcade," Melody stood and stuck her hands into the pockets of her hoodie.

"I'd like that," Amelia smiled at her.

"See ya," Melody started away. Julie smiled kindly, waving as she followed. As they walked out the front door, Rina's chair scraped on the floor as she stood. As she walked around the table, Amelia stood.

"Going home, Ri?" Ashley rocked on her heels with her hands behind her back.

Rina pulled her sleeves over her hands and shrugged. "I guess so," she crossed her arms over her chest.

Ashley leaned toward Rina and kissed her on the cheek. Rina's arms tightened, and she didn't cast Ashley a glance. "See you tomorrow," Ashley grinned at her.

"Yeah," Rina said softly, looking at Amelia. "See you."

"Look forward to seeing you again," Amelia said. Rina gave a half nod, then walked away, slipping her shoes on and leaving the house.

"Before you go," Ashley started, smiling, "can I show you the forest?"

"Okay. Sure."

Amelia went upstairs to grab her bag, then followed Ashley to the front door. They put their shoes on, and as Ashley pushed the door open, called, "be back soon!"

Little footsteps shuffled. "Can I come?" Carrie was asking before she reached them.

"No," was Ashley's quick reply as she took Amelia by the hand, pulling her out the door. As Amelia pulled the door closed behind her, the last thing she saw was Carrie's pouty face.

Ashley still had a grip on Amelia's hand as they crossed the street and climbed up the stone ledge. Ashley pulled Amelia along through the trees, and Amelia stumbled a little as she tripped over rocks and twigs in the narrow space.

There eventually came a little path, and they walked it quietly. Amelia looked around, up at the sky through the almost bare branches. Few leaves swirled in circles as they got caught in the breeze. It was calm, peaceful.

Amelia wondered just how deep Ashley was going to bring her when they stopped. "This is our favorite place," Ashley finally let go of Amelia's hand. There was a large tree stump in the center here, and a circle of stones. Amelia was a little startled when she heard a tune, but then noticed the chimes that hung from one of the branches of the trees.

"We do magic here sometimes," Ashley said.

"Seems like a nice place to do it," Amelia commented. "In nature, right?"

Ashley turned around to look at her and flashed a smile. "Yes." Hands behind her back, she came toward Amelia. "We all have to come out here one night. Before it gets too cold, perhaps."

"That'd be cool."

Ashley stared at Amelia for a moment, and Amelia glanced around the forest; eye contact wasn't something she could deal with. When Ashley walked past her and started back, Amelia followed.

They climbed down the stone ledge, and Ashley looked at Amelia. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Sure."

"And you can text me whenever you feel like. It doesn't matter what time it is. For you, I'll be there."

"Oh," Amelia forced herself to look Ashley in the eye, but that only lasted a second before her gaze fell. "You, too," she felt awkward. "Good luck with your cousin. I mean that. If you need to talk, or vent, I'll listen."

Ashley smiled. "I'll be okay," she said, "because I met you."

When Amelia looked at her, all she saw was a close-up of Ashley's face as she leaned in, and Amelia was stunned in shock at the feel of Ashley's lips against her own, letting out a muffled mmmph against them. Before she could react, Ashley stepped away, smiling again. She waved and hurried away, across the street and back to her house.

Amelia's ears and cheeks were burning, and her breath came out in a tremble.

What the hell just happened?

Amelia pressed her cold palms against her cheeks, drawing a shaky breath. Her whole body felt shaky, and her stomach moved in a way that made her nauseated.

She almost wanted to cry.

Clearing her throat and swallowing it all down, she crossed the street and went to Angela's house. Only Lydia was there, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

"Hey, Ame," she smiled.

Amelia nodded, rubbing the back of her neck. It felt hot, too. She dropped her bag to the floor and sat next to Lydia, and when Lydia asked, proceeded to tell her all about her night. Well, not all about it. She told her the other girl's names, about Ashley's house and her family, and about how awkward it all was. Lydia gave her a smile and rubbed her shoulder. Amelia still felt tense.

Amelia went shopping with Lydia then, her brain and body in a weird zombie state, all stiff and tense. The only thing her brain could focus on was Ashley's kiss, and it made Amelia feel weird and oddly vulnerable.

How the hell was she supposed to act? What was she supposed to say and do around Ashley now?

Why had Ashley suddenly kissed her? What did it mean?

It made Amelia's anxiety flare up in that intense way that made her body feel weak, made her muscles ache and stomach flutter.

Back at Angela's house, she said she wasn't feeling well and went up to her room. She sat cross legged on the bed and covered her face with her hands, moaning softly. All the whys still repeated in her head.

She absently reached into her pocket, feeling the amethyst. She let out a shaky breath and pulled it out of her pocket. She held it in her left hand, thumb and index finger tracing it, caressing it. She breathed. She lost herself in its purple shimmer.

And it calmed her.

She pulled her phone from her other pocket and looked at her contacts.

Ash

Jules

Lydia

Mel

Ri

Sam

She'd only had her aunt and one of her cousin's numbers before. Now she had Ashley and her whole gang.

She touched the name Ri. Taking another breath, she texted: thanks again for amethyst.

She sent it, and wondered what she was doing. She didn't even want to be around them anymore after what happened.

Her chest tightened at the ... of Rina responding.

'course.

Amelia swallowed, faintly aware of the little smile that came to her lips as Rina wrote again.

try sleeping with it under your pillow again.

Amelia texted back: ok I will.

That seemed to be the end of it. Amelia stared at the screen of her phone, anxious as she considered telling Rina about what happened with Ashley.

That'd be a dumb fucking move, probably.

Amelia was surprised when Rina started writing something else.

Picking out some games for you.

Another flutter came to Amelia's stomach, but this one wasn't like the one she'd been having. This one was a nice little warmth that filled her chest. She was both surprised and touched.

thanks, I can't wait to see.

Rina responded with: I'll bring them to you tomorrow, if that's cool

yeah, thank you.

Rina's last text was sleep well with a text emoji that had closed eyes and a smile. Amelia chuckled.

She set her phone down and looked at the amethyst in her hand. She held it a little longer before she put it under her pillow.

Amelia didn't lay awake at night. She didn't wake up a hundred times to turn over. When her eyes opened to the piercing scream that stunned her in horror, the sun had only just begun to creep through the window.

The next shriek made Amelia's skin crawl with goosebumps. Her wide eyes stared at the white wall, her brain trying to process what the fuck was happening.

Voices outside, and loud, heavy sobbing. There was a thump downstairs, and doors creaking. Another scream, not as loud as the last two. Amelia thought she heard Lydia's voice somewhere outside.

Pain squeezing her chest, Amelia breathed, because she realized she wasn't. Her body was trembling with fear and panic as she got out of bed. She was dizzy as she left the room, clinging to the banister as she went downstairs.

The front door was open, and Debra was standing on the front porch, clutching her pink robe around her, her mouth hanging open.

"D-Debra?" Amelia stammered, and the old woman's head turned slowly to look at her, mouth still open. It was like a scene out of a horror movie, and it made Amelia whimper a little.

"The girl next door," Debra rasped.

Ashley?

Amelia passed her, her weak, shaky legs taking her down the stairs. She heard voices and whispers, and everyone had come out of their houses. There were sobs, and gasps, and among the tiny crowd standing in the street, Amelia saw her aunt.

"Lydia," Amelia said breathlessly, and her aunt turned to look at her, hand over her mouth and face pale.

"No," Lydia whispered behind her hand. "Ame, go back inside!"

Too late. Amelia's eyes found what the commotion was all about.

There was a body, a fucking body, on the top of the fence that was around the Miller house.

There was a body impaled on the tall black fence.

Amelia could smell the blood before she noticed it pooled on the ground. "Ashley?" she rasped, mouth completely dry as she stumbled the rest of the way, barely able to walk with her trembling legs.

The girl was pierced through her side, her head and limbs hanging limp and ghostly pale around the fence, like she was a fucking rag doll. Her white nightgown was stained black with blood, her mouth open and her eyes huge like they were bulging right out of her face. There was dried blood on her colorless lips, and her blonde hair was caught in the gentle breeze, shimmering with pieces of glass stuck in it.

Amelia absently took in the sirens around her. She could only stare at the girl's face, knowing for a fact that she would never, ever forget it.

Her eyes wandered to the girl standing in the doorway of the house. Ashley almost looked like a ghost, pale as the body of her cousin impaled on the iron fence.

Twelve

Horror

Amelia couldn't keep herself standing. Her legs felt numb, and she thought she was about to fall when she felt hands squeezing her shoulders, keeping her standing.

"Come on, Ame," Lydia's voice shook, and she sniffed. She was crying.

Amelia turned around and almost fell into her arms. Her aunt held her as she breathed, breathed long and shaky, and still felt short on breath. Amelia stumbled as she walked. She saw Angela, tears streaking her cheeks.

"Back inside," Angela sniffled, gesturing to her house. Debra went back in, and they followed. Lydia led Amelia to the dining table, and Debra pulled out a chair. Amelia sat down.

"It's okay, Ame," Lydia soothed, brushing through Amelia's hair with her fingers. Amelia closed her eyes, just trying to breathe.

The sirens outside were so loud they made Amelia feel like her head was about to explode.

Amelia folded her arms on the table, and rested her forehead against them with a little groan. She felt sick.

Holy fuck.

She shuddered. What the fuck had happened?

How did that happen?

In the darkness, Helena's face was vivid, every detail alive in Amelia's mind. Her gray eyes. Pale, colorless lips, blood dry on her bottom lip and chin. She didn't know how she could picture everything about her face, because she hadn't even looked at her that well just now.

But Amelia knew there was a thing about dead faces that stayed with you. Now she'd be haunted by two of them.

Her breath was starting to sound raspy. There was a tap on her shoulder, and she lifted her head to see Lydia holding out her inhaler. Amelia took it, and it was a relief when the air filled her lungs.

"Thanks," she breathed.

"What can I do, Ame?" Lydia asked softly, her fingers caressing Amelia's hair.

"It's just... I think I'm just shocked," Amelia breathed softly.

"Was that your friend?" Lydia whispered.

Amelia shook her head. "No. That was her cousin."

She saw Lydia's bottom lip tremble in the corner of her eye. "How in the world could that have happened?" shock trembled in Debra's voice.

"She fell out her window?" Angela suggested, sounding unsure. "That's the only thing that could have happened."

Suddenly, Amelia's skin crawled. Her spine tingled, and she started to shake.

Helena really fell out her fucking window.

Helena was really impaled by the iron fence.

Amelia used the inhaler again, specks of red bursting in her vision as only one word pounded in her head: how.

How could Ashley tell a story about Helena falling out her window and landing on the top of the fence, and then it actually happen? How the fuck?

Another chilling thought came.

Had Ashley done it?

The thought was insane. But Amelia realized she didn't know Ashley well enough to judge if she would actually kill her cousin. Helena was cruel, and her words did hurt Ashley, but would Ashley actually murder her?

And would she actually tell her friends how she was going to do it first?

But even if she had pushed Helena out the window, how had Helena landed that way? Luck on Ashley's part?

There was no way for Amelia to know.

What she did know was that Ashley made her uncomfortable. Coming up to her and talking to her out of nowhere, immediately pulling her into her friend group, kissing her. But now it was more than that.

The image of Ashley's face in the dark room, eyes glinting in the candlelight came into her head.

And right then, Amelia felt afraid. Ashley scared her.

Thirteen

Scars

Amelia didn't leave the house for the day. The cop cars were out there all day. Debra and Angela kept peering out the window as Angela talked on the phone to other people on the block, also peering out their windows. According to the people across the street, they saw cops in the room upstairs, and investigators checking the window.

The window, which was shattered, but somehow woke no one in the quiet night.

Amelia was desperate to get the images out of her head, so she went to her room and stuck her earbuds in her ears and played a video game.

Playing the game only worked for a few minutes at a time until Helena's face appeared in her head again, like torture. Sometimes her mom's face popped up too, just because.

At night, Amelia lay with one hand under the pillow, holding the amethyst Rina had given her. She breathed, the sound a little shaky and ragged, but at least she was breathing. Her thumb caressed the bumpy amethyst, and eventually, she fell asleep with it in her hand.

Amelia woke up, still squeezing the stone in her hand. She let it go and turned over with a sigh, checking her phone. Nine-thirty three in the morning. Her heart jumped in surprise at the texts on her phone.

From Julie: I hope you're all right.

Rina: hey, heard what happened, you ok?

Melody: heard you saw what happened at the Millers and I hope you're doing all right.

Amelia's heart warmed a little. She texted them back, telling them she was okay. She wanted to text Ashley too, and check up on her, but she didn't. She knew Ashley wasn't okay right now.

And she still had that creeping fear about her.

Another text from Julie popped up.

If you feel like getting out, would you like to go out for lunch with us? It's all right if you don't want to.

Amelia thought about it. She wasn't feeling really up to it, but she'd just sit here all day otherwise, and she wasn't feeling up to that, either.

She texted back: yeah, I'd like that.

She watched Julie text back.

We will be there around noon!

Amelia took a shower and changed into a long sleeved black sweater and jeans. She went downstairs to find Lydia in the dining room, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Ame," she said softly.

"Hey," Amelia pushed a wet curl behind her ear. "Debra and Angela gone?"

Lydia nodded. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she answered, but that wasn't completely true. "I'm gonna go out with the other three, if that's okay."

"Yes. It'll do you all good to do something."

Amelia sat in the chair next to Lydia's. "How about you? How are you?"

It took Lydia a moment to answer, thumb rubbing up and down her coffee cup. "Thinking about your mom."

Amelia looked at her hands folded on the table. "Yeah."

"Which part are you thinking about?" Lydia asked softly.

Amelia swallowed. She didn't want to talk about it, but it hurt to keep it in, to not say it. "The end." She blinked, tears hot in her eyes. "I hate that that's the only version of her I can even remember anymore."

Lydia let out a shaky breath, and Amelia tensed when her aunt put her arm around her, rubbing up and down her shoulder. "It gets better with time, I promise you," Lydia said. "And remember, you will see her again one day, and she will be her most beautiful self."

Amelia didn't believe in God or Heaven, but Lydia did, and it was something that comforted Lydia; especially the thought of being reunited with her family when she died. So Amelia would never be completely honest with her about not believing, even though she felt like Lydia already knew that.

"Thanks," Amelia gave her a smile, which she returned.

The doorbell rang a little while later, and Amelia went down to answer. She opened the door and there stood the three of them.

Julie was smiling gently and sadly, fingers tangled together in front of her, the long bell sleeves of her white sweater almost covering them. Melody had her hands in the pockets of her gray hoodie, and looked at Amelia with sympathy. Rina stood behind them, her short hair blowing in the chilly breeze.

Amelia noticed Lydia's curious glance from the dining room. "Hey," she greeted the three of them. "Wanna come in for a sec?"

She stepped aside and the three of them came in. "That's my aunt Lydia," Amelia gestured to her.

"Hello," Julie waved, smiling.

"Hi," Melody said. Rina nodded her greeting, fiddling with the zipper on her black skeleton hoodie.

"Nice to meet you all," Lydia said. "I hope the three of you are all right."

Julie nodded. "Where are you going?" Lydia asked before taking a sip of coffee.

"We are going to decide somewhere for lunch," said Julie.

Lydia nodded, setting her cup down. "Have a nice time."

"I'll be back later," Amelia said, putting her arms around her aunt in a hug. "Text for anything."

"You, too," Lydia gave her a quick squeeze.

The four of them left the house and walked to the street. They crossed, and Amelia figured it was because they didn't want to be so close when walking past Ashley's house. Everyone looked at the house across the street. It was quiet and eerie, and there were two cars parked in front of it, besides the three near the garage. Amelia stared at the pointed tips of the gate, and could picture Helena there. She looked away, feeling sick.

"Wonder who is there right now," Julie said softly.

"Ash still ain't answering texts," Melody glanced at her phone before sticking it back into her pocket.

"I hope she's okay," Julie shivered, hugging herself.

Amelia glanced back at Rina, who was trailing behind them, looking down at her shoes and hands in the pockets of her hoodie. Amelia stopped, and Rina noticed right away, coming to a stop and blinking at Amelia in confusion.

"You okay?" Amelia asked quietly.

"Um, yeah," she shrugged. She walked again, and Amelia waited so she could fall into step beside her.

"Any votes on where to eat?" Julie looked back at them.

Rina shrugged. "I'm in the mood for pizza," said Melody.

"I'm always in the mood for that," Amelia said.

Julie chuckled. "You okay with that, Ri?"

"Yeah," Rina answered.

They went to the place where Amelia and Lydia came on their first day in town, Louie's. They took a table by the window, and after telling their order, Melody said, "so, we gotta talk about Helena."

That didn't surprise Amelia, but it made her tense. She noticed Rina shift in her seat next to her. "We don't have to do it now," Melody eyed Amelia with sympathy in her gaze, "but when you feel like it."

"I can," Amelia said. "I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Julie asked softly.

"Yeah," Amelia nodded. In fact, she wanted to talk about it, because maybe they would have an answer to how Helena died exactly like she had in Ashley's story.

Melody cleared her throat, looking like she was searching for the right words until she gave up and blurted, "what did it look like?" She winced, "I mean... Do you know what I mean?"

"Like she fell from the upstairs window and landed on the top of the fence."

Amelia noticed them all shudder, and Julie stared at her in horror.

"How the fuck could that happen?" Melody whispered with a look a lot like Julie's.

"When we heard," Julie started in a hushed voice, "we thought of Ash's story."

"Yeah," Amelia said quietly, "me too."

"This is fucked," Melody leaned back in her chair. The pizza was set on the center of their table, along with their drinks, but no one reached for anything.

"How could that be, the night after?" Julie bit down on her bottom lip, soft pink fingernails brushing against her cheek. She was looking a little flushed, and her dark eyes shimmered.

"Coincidences don't come like that," Melody reached for a slice of pizza with a shaky hand; taking one of the two topped with pineapple.

"No," Julie agreed quietly, taking one of the two topped with green pepper.

Amelia reached for one of her pepperoni slices, and her hand bumped into Rina's, who was getting one of her red pepper slices. "Sorry," Rina mumbled, sinking into her chair a little with her pizza slice.

"What are you guys thinking might have happened?" Amelia asked, looking at the pizza slice she was holding.

"We don't know what to think," Melody licked her finger after finishing her pizza. "We have no fucking idea. We gotta talk to Ash. Maybe she did it."

"Seriously?" Rina looked appalled at the accusation, sitting up straighter.

"You know her best, Ri," Melody leaned an elbow on the table. "Would she do that?"

"I—she—" Rina sputtered, struggling for words. "She wouldn't kill someone."

"She only voices creative ways to kill people she doesn't like all the time," Melody said.

"That's different!" Rina argued. "We all do that."

"True, but no one's ever died in the exact way we've described," Melody shrugged.

Rina breathed, looking defeated.

"You don't owe her anything," Melody eyed Rina with intensity, "it might not be completely obvious, but she treats you like shit. I can't wait for the day you start treating her like she does you."

Rina said nothing.

"Either way, we really have to talk with her," Julie was frowning.

They finished eating in silence, and then they left the restaurant. They walked a little, toward the park, and Amelia wondered where they were going. "Thanks for the invite," Amelia said.

"Of course," Julie smiled. "And if you ever feel like talking about anything, you can. I am so sorry you saw what happened."

Amelia nodded.

"Hey, Hayashi," someone called as they strolled through the park, toward the library. A guy their age, with dark blond hair, in short, messy curls.

It was that Noah guy.

"Jesus fuck," Rina whispered under her breath.

"Heard Ashley's cousin died," Noah started, stopping near them. "And it was fucked up. Saw a picture."

"Screw off, Noah," Melody kept walking. "Nobody wants to talk to you."

They all kept walking, Melody in the lead. "No one dies like that," Noah kept up with them, his voice close behind them. "Not even if she fell out a window."

Amelia looked at Rina, biting down on her bottom lip. She said nothing.

"Why don't you all let the cops know what you do?" Noah's voice got louder.

They were on the path leading to the library now. Rina spun around to face him, throwing her hands up. "And what do we do, fuckstain?"

"Ri," Julie called softly, looking back at them. But Rina and Noah stared each other down, both looking about to take each other down, and it made Amelia's heart pound with anxiety.

"Whatever demonic shit you get up to in the park at night," he waved a hand to the park behind them. "With your creepy ass books and jewelry and shit. Ashley hated her cousin. You all probably used creepy shit to kill her. You're all little psychos."

Rina scoffed. "Yeah, okay," she took a step back. "You can tell the cops you suspect we killed a person with demon books and jewelry."

"They'd probably believe me," he said.

"If I could kill like that, Noah, you'd already be dead," Rina said, her words laced with hatred. Amelia watched Noah's face twist in anger, and as Rina turned to walk away, he shoved her hard. She gasped as she tumbled, losing her footing. She landed on her knees, palms out to catch herself.

"Ri!" Julie ran the couple steps toward her, kneeling in front of her.

Rina gasped, looking at her hands. One had landed right on a sharp rock, leaving a bloody gash on her left palm. The blood trailed down her wrist, and she whimpered.

"Let me see," Julie breathed, gently taking Rina's hand.

Noah broke out in laughter. "Like old times, huh?" he grinned. He bent down and picked up another rock. "Wanna relive the moment? 'Cause I do."

Rina looked at him, her breath trembling as she eyed the rock in his hand. He squeezed it so tight his knuckles turned bone white.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," Melody's glare was fierce, and right when she took a step toward him, Noah dropped the rock, turned and ran away, laughing while he did. Amelia was grossed out to see specks of blood on the rock he'd dropped. He'd been squeezing it that hard, that excited to hit Rina with it.

What a fucking sicko.

"Little asshole," Melody cursed, kneeling at Rina's side with a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Fine," Rina sniffed, blinking her eyes. Amelia could see shiny tears threatening to spill.

"Come on," Julie carefully helped her up. "We'll fix it up."

With an arm around her, Julie led Rina to the library. "Wish I could kill that asshole," Melody kicked the other bloody rock, the one Rina had cut herself on, and it hit against the sign of the library.

"I thought it was kid stuff," Amelia said. "But those two got something a lot worse going on between them, it looks like."
"He's been bullying her for like the past year," Melody stuck her hands into her pockets. "He gave her that scar."

The gash on Rina's forehead, right above her right eyebrow. "What happened?" Amelia asked.

"He hit her with a rock, sometime last year," Melody looked at the rock she'd kicked. "Over and over again. She was bleeding so bad the side of her face was covered in blood. She was crying, we all were screaming, and he was laughing. He was arrested, but claimed she'd attacked him first, so he got off easy. She did push him first, but that's because he wouldn't leave her alone. And his dad is a friend of the cops in this town," she rolled her eyes.

"Holy shit," Amelia whispered.

"He's a sick creep," Melody said.

Amelia was quiet while Melody calmed down, running her hands through her curls.

"Will Rina be okay?"

Amelia and Melody turned around, and shock washed over Amelia to see Ashley's little sister, Carrie. Her face was pale, her eyes dark and bloodshot.

"Carrie?" Melody went to her. "You okay?" The little girl nodded, and Melody asked, "what are you doing here?"

"Mom told me I should leave the house for a while, because it's not good to be there, and the police are always coming." Carrie rubbed one of her eyes, exhaling. "So I came to get a book. I like books. I want to read under my tree," she pointed to a tall tree in the park, perfect for sitting against.

Melody put an arm around her, and Carrie leaned into her, closing her eyes. "How's your sis?" Melody caressed Carrie's hair.

"She stays in her room. I hear her crying. No one knows what happened." Carrie looked at Melody, her eyes filled with tears. "We don't know how Helena died. What happened?" her voice broke, and Melody put her other arm around her, hugging her tighter.

"The cops will find out, okay? Leave it to them."

Carrie nodded against her, sniffling. "Come on," Melody smiled gently at her. "Let's pick out your book."

Carrie nodded again, and Melody held her hand as they went toward the library. Amelia followed, feeling weak and shaken by so much happening all at once.

Fourteen

Friend

Amelia went into the library after Melody and Carrie. She glanced around. The carpeting was a deep red, and shelves lined the left side, while there was a counter to the right. The room was pretty large, and in the back, there was a staircase.

"Carrie?" the woman behind the desk was wide-eyed. "Hey, honey," she went toward her. "How are you?"

Carrie said something softly, and the woman nodded, listening. Melody still held Carrie's hand, pushing her hair behind her ears.

Amelia walked slowly, looking around. Most of these shelves were labeled Non-Fiction, and one was New Releases. Amelia hadn't read a book in a long time.

The woman was still talking to Carrie, and Melody was being watchful of them. Voices caught Amelia's attention, and she saw Julie and Rina coming from a room in the back.

"You okay?" Amelia asked when they were close.

Rina nodded, looking at her palm. A white bandage was wrapped around her hand.

"Just keep it clean and remember to change the bandage tonight, okay?" Julie pulled her long sleeves down.

"Thanks," Rina said quietly. Julie smiled softly before kissing Rina on the forehead.

Hearing Carrie's voice, they both looked surprised. "Carrie?" Julie hurried toward her.

"Hi," Carrie said, putting her arms around Rina's waist in a hug. "Rina, are you okay? I saw what that boy did to you."

"Yeah," Rina nodded, wiping her eyes with one of her long sleeves. "I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"That boy is so mean," Carrie hugged her tighter.

"Mean people get what's coming to them," Melody rubbed Carrie's shoulder.

"Carrie?" another voice. Amelia recognized the old guy coming down the staircase. He'd talked to Julie that day in the restaurant.

"Mr. Hoffman," Julie nodded.

He came toward them and looked at Carrie, frowning. "She's all right," Julie said. "No more talking about it."

Hoffman looked at her, but Julie didn't look at him. "Yeah, let's go get your book," Melody gave Carrie's hand a squeeze.

"Yes, please," Carrie let Melody lead her away, to the stairs.

"Poor girl," Hoffman mumbled, watching them go. He looked at Julie again. "Okay today, miss Lane?" he put a hand on her shoulder. "You could always take a day to yourself."

"I'm fine," Julie took a few steps away from his grip. "Text me tonight, okay?" she looked at Rina.

"Yeah," Rina nodded. With a smile, Julie gave her a quick hug, then followed the woman from behind the desk to a room in the back.

Hoffman went behind the desk, typing something on the computer. "Gonna go home?" Rina pushed her hair behind her ear. Her eyes were still red, and she still looked shaken by what happened. Amelia kinda wanted to hug her, but she didn't think they were close enough for that.

Amelia shrugged, taking a step closer to her. "Guess so."

Rina nodded. She looked down awkwardly, at her hand. "What about you?" Amelia asked.

"Kinda wanna get some bubble tea," Rina pulled her sleeves over her hands, wincing a little at her injured one.

"What's that?" Amelia asked.

Rina looked at her. "Wanna see?" she smiled a little, and Amelia was happy to see it.

"Yeah, sure," Amelia shrugged.

Rina chuckled. Amelia followed alongside her, out of the library. As they made their way toward the park, Amelia noticed something weird. The rock that Noah had been squeezing hard was gone. She glanced around, not seeing it anywhere. Weird, and gross. She thought about mentioning it to Rina, but didn't.

Something she did see made her stop walking.

"What?" Rina stopped, looking at her. Then she noticed what had caught Amelia's attention. "Oh..."

A dead bird lay in the grass in the park. Frowning, Amelia stepped around it. "Poor thing."

They walked down the street. Amelia glanced at Rina, looking at her bandaged hand, frowning at the little red dot forming in the middle of it.

"You okay?" Amelia asked softly.

Rina nodded, pulling her sleeve over her hand again.

The walk wasn't a long one, only a couple blocks away from the library. "I work here," Rina gestured to the little building, the sign reading Talim's Teas. "And my apartment's down there," she pointed across the street, where there was a street lined with apartment buildings on each side. "So, if you wanted to stop by and check out some games..." she glanced at Amelia before looking down.

Amelia's heart gave a little jump of excitement. "Yeah," she said. "I'd like that."

That earned a little smile from Rina. She pushed open the glass door, a little bell sounding their entrance. An Asian woman behind the counter looked up and smiled. "Hey, Rina," she lowered her head again. "What'll it be?"

"Introducing a friend to bubble tea," Rina stopped in front of the counter. The woman chuckled, lifting her head to look at them.

"Hello," she greeted.

"Hi," Amelia smiled.

"There's the flavors," Rina pointed to one of the signs hanging up.

"What's your favorite?" Amelia asked, reading through them all. They ranged from mocha and vanilla to all types of fruit flavors.

"It's a mix between mocha, banana, and strawberry."

"I think I'll try strawberry," Amelia decided.

"I'm gonna get lavender today," Rina said.

"Coming right up," the woman said, going to a room in the back.

"Hope I don't hate it," Amelia read over the flavors again.

Rina snorted. "The tapioca is nice till it makes you wanna vom."

"That's what it is," Amelia eyed the little picture on the wall, showing a pink bubble tea with lots of black dots in it. She looked around the little shop; there were five seats, and only one other girl was sitting at one in the back, sipping tea and texting on her phone.

The woman brought them their drinks. "Enjoy," she said.

"Thanks," they thanked her at the same time, and Amelia followed Rina out of the shop.

"See you tomorrow," Rina held up a hand to the woman on her way out the door.

Amelia took a sip while they walked, the taste of strawberry sweet and pleasant. She took another sip, the next one flooded with tapioca. "I see what you mean," she chewed on them.

Rina snorted with laughter, almost coughing on her drink.

They crossed the street, walking down the block of apartments. They turned toward the second building on the right side, and Rina pulled the door open. Amelia followed her up the first flight of stairs, where Rina stopped in front of apartment 4, and pulled a key out of her jeans pocket. She unlocked the door and Amelia followed her inside.

The little living room and kitchen were connected, separated only by a countertop. The living room to the left had fluffy white carpet, a matching white couch and armchair, and a tv hanging up on the wall. The walls were a very soft rosy pink, a few photos decorating them, along with beautiful paintings of cherry trees.

The kitchen to the right had a white tile floor and white cabinets that matched. Everything was shiny, neat, and clean.

"Nice place," Amelia commented, taking off her shoes. She caught sight of the black cat sleeping on the arm of the couch. "Oh, I like your cat."

Rina nodded, sipping her bubble tea and doing the same. "That's Boo. There's another called Ghost somewhere around here."

Amelia chuckled. "Anyone else home?" she asked. It was silent in here.

"It's just me and my mom and the kitties," Rina said. "She's at work."

Rina went to greet her cat by kissing its forehead and giving it a hug. It hit its forehead against her face in return, rubbing. Amelia watched, smiling.

Amelia followed Rina across the living room, the carpet soft under her feet. There were two doors at the end, next to each other. The left one was closed, and Rina went into the right one. While going in, Amelia glanced to the right; a short hallway led to an open door revealing a bathroom. There was another cat in there, a big white one sitting in the sink, watching her. It made Amelia chuckle.

The room they entered was small, the bed in the center, desk and bookshelf to the left, and closet to the right, along with two shelves filled with video games. The walls were painted a light, soft shade of purple, the carpet a matching purple, and bedsheets black. Plushies of video game characters decorated the bed, desk, and shelves.

"I love your room," Amelia said, looking around. Rina flashed a smile.

Rina set her drink on the bedside table, then went to the desk where she collected a little stack of games next to the laptop.

"So," she sat down on the bed, "you said hand-held games. Ever play any of these?"

Amelia sat next to her. Rina showed four games. One of them had cutesy animals on the cover, another had farm animals on the cover, one looked like the usual RPG games she was into, and the other looked bloody and creepy.

"None," Amelia answered.

"You said you liked scary stories that night," Rina stared at the horror game. "So I thought maybe you'd like games like that too. But maybe now you're not in the mood."

"I would love games like that," Amelia said.

With a little smile, Rina handed them to her. "This one looks the scariest," Amelia held up the one with animals on the cover.

Rina chuckled. "That one's just cute and fun. Good to take your mind somewhere else."

"Cool. I need that sometimes. Thank you. It's really sweet to lend me these."

Rina nodded.

They fell into a little silence. Amelia looked at the game covers, but her mind turned to something else.

"Can I talk to you about Ashley?"

"Yeah?" Rina looked at her, running a hand through her hair.

"The other day, when we left her house that morning, she uh... took me to the forest, then..." Amelia paused for a second, awkwardly wondering if she should be telling Rina this. They were exes, after all. But she wanted to tell someone, and she felt comfortable with Rina. "She kissed me."

Rina's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh..." she looked down, looking at her bandaged hand, and Amelia immediately felt horrible for telling her this.

"It just made me really anxious," Amelia said quickly.

"Well, you've known her for a whole day," there was bitterness in Rina's voice.

"I—s-sorry," Amelia started, immediately fearing she'd ruined whatever she and Rina were forming. But then Rina's expression softened.

"No," Rina said softly, scooting closer to her. "You didn't do anything, it's okay. Just... kinda annoyed at her."

"Yeah?" Amelia questioned, and it suddenly felt like there was something heavy in the middle of her stomach, and she quickly realized that it was a dread that Rina was annoyed because she still liked Ashley.

Which, for some reason, bothered Amelia.

"She made the move on me like a week after we met," Rina started, still looking at her hand, running her thumb gently along the bandage. "She asked if we could be girlfriends. I don't know why I said yes," she shrugged. "I mean, I didn't like her. Not like that. I was just shocked someone liked me like that, and I thought I'd feel like that for her eventually. That maybe I'd feel..." she paused, and didn't finish that sentence. "But the whole time, it was just awkward, and I was always uncomfortable. But I got attached to her anyway, 'cause she was my best friend. But that was only because I didn't have other friends. Then everything about me started to annoy her. I was too quiet, too sad, bringing her down, or whatever the fuck. And a lot of things about her annoyed me too, but that's a whole different story. Anyway, it was a big relief when she ended it. But saying yes was still the biggest mistake I ever made. A lot of feelings and conversations and things between us I'd rather not have, but they're there."

"I'm sorry," Amelia said, not knowing what else to say.

Rina shrugged. "We still call each other friends, but it's not what it used to be. Never will be again. A little part of me still cares about her, but... I don't think of her as a friend. But I can't get away from her, 'cause she's still Mel and Julie's friend." She shifted a little to face Amelia. "Since we're talking about this, she thinks you're like her magic friend or something," she waved her hands in the air.

"What?" Amelia raised her eyebrows.

"She said she's been using magic to wish for a new friend. Then you came."

"That's..." Amelia didn't know what to say.

"Like... I get it," Rina looked embarrassed, looking down. "I've wished for friendship, too. But she's talking like she created you or something. Like, getting lost in her own head."

"Well... damn."

"Be careful you don't get dragged into anything you don't want. Don't be afraid to say no. I know how she can be."

"Thanks," Amelia said, feeling a lot better, despite being weirded out.

"Feels kinda shitty to be talking about her like this after what just happened," Rina chuckled, but there was no smile or humor in it.

"Hope she's doing okay," Amelia said.

"Anyway, I'm sorry for all that," Rina rubbed the back of her neck. "Shouldn't have gone into a whole story."

"It's okay. I like learning about you." It came out before Amelia could stop herself, and she felt her cheeks get hot.

Rina smiled nervously, looking down. "You can talk about anything, too. I'd like to learn about you, too."

Amelia felt her face get hotter. She cleared her throat. "So," she sounded a little breathless. "Why don't you show me one of these?"

Rina looked at the games, and grinned. She grabbed a purple hand-held gaming system from her pillow and scooted closer to Amelia.

Amelia watched her play, and a sense of relief came over her. This whole group thing had her feeling overwhelmed, but now that one of them had really become her friend, she felt relaxed. Happy, even.

Fifteen

Light

Amelia walked back home in the evening, carrying the little bag of video games Rina had given her. Amelia kept looking at the bag and smiling; it was pink with little black and white cat faces on it. It reminded her of Rina's two cats.

They'd spent a good two hours together playing video games, then Rina mentioned her mom would be back soon. Taking that as time to leave, Amelia said she'd get back to her aunt. Rina asked if she was up for checking out the arcade tomorrow, and Amelia said yes, feeling enthusiastic.

She'd forgotten all about the death until she turned down her block and saw the fence. Helena's corpse flashed in her head, and she flinched, looking away from the house.

In the house, Lydia was watching tv. She looked back at Amelia, smiling. "Did you have fun?"

Amelia went to the living room and joined her on the couch. "Yeah," she said. She went on to talk about Rina and the things they had in common. Amelia told her about going to the arcade tomorrow, and Lydia's face lit up.

"That's been there since I lived here!" she said. "I'm sure it's a lot different now, but I'm so happy to hear that."

Amelia spent the rest of the afternoon in her room, playing Rina's games. Amelia was so invested in running a town full of animal villagers that she gave a little jolt when her name was called. She went downstairs for dinner, and Debra and Angela were talking about Helena, turning Amelia's mind to the corpse again. It made her weary.

"The rest of the family arrives tomorrow, I hear," Debra said. "Those poor people, losing their child that way..."

Listening to it made Amelia feel sick, and she went back to her room as soon as she was finished eating.

She took a peek out her window. Only one light upstairs was on in the Miller house. With a shaky sigh, Amelia lay in bed and continued playing games, taking a break to text Rina.

I think I'm addicted to my animal town. Thanks.

A smile lit up Amelia's face as she watched Rina texting back.

now you'll never leave.

Amelia chuckled, texting: I owe you.

Rina's next text made Amelia's heart give a little flutter.

you're having fun, that's all i wanted.

Amelia stared at the words, putting her other hand over her quickly beating heart. She didn't really know how to describe what she was feeling. Warm. Light, maybe. She couldn't remember another person making her feel like that before.

Thanks. It means a lot to me.

Amelia wasn't sure what else to say, how else to thank her.

By the way, your amethyst helps, I think, she sent.

Rina sent back a purple heart icon, which made Amelia smile again, and then a: good night, sleep well.

Amelia texted good night in return, and as she lay down to sleep, made sure the amethyst was under her pillow. She held the crystal in her hand, and fell asleep, still feeling warm and light.

At noon the next day, Amelia got a text from Julie.

Ready to go soon?

Amelia responded with yes.

We'll be there soon. Ash is coming too.

Amelia was surprised. And suddenly anxious. She thought about asking Julie how Ashley was doing, but didn't. She'd see her when they got here.

Debra, Angela, and Lydia were gone today. Amelia had a text from Lydia saying she was giving a new job a try, and she'd be back before dinner, and reminding her to have fun.

The sound of the doorbell made Amelia anxious again at the thought of seeing Ashley. She went down to answer, opening the door to Julie and Rina standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hi," Julie greeted with her usual kind smile.

"Hey," Amelia said. She smiled when seeing Rina's smile and little wave.

She slid on her shoes and stepped out of the house. In front of the Miller house, Melody was talking to Ashley. Amelia's heart skipped a beat. There was another younger girl there, too. She looked around Carrie's age.

"How is she?" Amelia asked quietly as they walked toward them.

"Quiet and shaken," Julie answered, just as quietly. "She texted me back last night saying she wanted to see us all. I told her that was okay, and about our plans, and she asked to join."

Ashley looked at them as they neared, blinking her shiny eyes. Her hair was up in a bun, her face pale and tired. The three of them stopped near her and Melody, and Amelia froze in surprise when Ashley threw her arms around her in a hug.

"Hey," Amelia said softly, hugging back. "How are you?"

Ashley sniffled, squeezing Amelia tighter. "Not okay."

"I'm sorry," Amelia whispered, not knowing what else to say.

Ashley let her go, sighing shakily. "I-I don't know what happened," she stammered. "I don't know how that happened," she sounded almost frantic.

The front door to the Miller house opened, and Carrie walked fast toward them. She and the other younger girl hugged each other tight.

"This is my sis, Tasha," Melody introduced, patting the girl on the head.

"Hey," Tasha waved.

"Nice to meet you," Amelia said.

"She's my best friend," Carrie held Tasha's hand.

"Hey," Melody greeted Carrie. "How are you doing?"

Carrie nodded. The little girl's eyes gave Amelia goosebumps. They were so big, like about to pop out of her head, and so dark. "Mom is fixing the house for our aunt and uncle," Carrie looked down, rocking on her heels. "She said me and Ash should get out of the house and do something to take our minds off everything." She glanced up at the iron gate. Tasha put an arm around her shoulder, and they started walking. "Let's go play some games," Tasha told her.

After a little silence, Carrie asked, "How do you think Helena fell?"

"Let's not talk about that," Julie said quickly, looking horrified. "It was a terrible accident."

Amelia swallowed. She glanced at Rina next to her, who looked just as uncomfortable as she felt. Amelia nudged her gently with her elbow. Rina glanced at her.

"Okay?" Amelia asked quietly.

Rina nodded, obviously forcing the little smile she gave. Amelia tried to think of something to say that would help take her mind off Ashley and Helena and the awkwardness. She thought about the arcade, and what Rina said to Melody that morning in the Miller house.

"So. Do I stand a chance at beating your scores?"

Rina looked at her with a flicker of surprise, then a grin spread across her lips, giving Amelia that light feeling again. "I'm gonna love watching you try. You and Mel."

Amelia chuckled. "I know I won't. I've played arcade games like, once, when I was a kid. There was one in a pizza place my mom took me to."

"I can help you out," Rina said. "You'll have skills in no time."

Amelia watched the others walking a little ahead. She and Rina had fallen back a little. Melody, Tasha, and Carrie were in the lead, the two younger girls holding hands, and Julie and Ashley just a little behind them.

"I have something for you," Rina said quietly. Amelia looked at her, and Rina shrugged a shoulder, a little smirk tugging at her lips. "Uh, I mean, if you want it."

"You made me curious," Amelia said.

Rina glanced at the others, still walking, before she stopped. Amelia did, too. Rina took something from the pocket of her skeleton hoodie. A black cord choker with a pointed deep purple crystal dangling from it.

"An amethyst," Amelia said, and Rina nodded. It was just like Rina's choker with the black stone.

"I have a couple of these," Rina said, "if you want this one."

"Really?" Amelia smiled, her chest warming so deeply it almost made her breathless. "Thanks. That's really sweet."

Amelia turned around, pulling her low ponytail of curls to the side. Rina put the choker around Amelia's neck, hooking the back of it. "Thanks," Amelia said again, holding the little amethyst between her thumb and index finger.

"Sure," Rina said.

"Hey?" Julie called. They looked at the other three, having stopped far ahead, looking back at them.

"Oops," Rina mumbled. Chuckling, she and Amelia made their way to them.

"What were you two doing?" Ashley questioned, eyeing them. Amelia saw her eyes stop on the choker around her neck.

"She just gave me something," Amelia answered, holding the crystal between her fingers again.

There was a little snort, and Melody smirked before she started walking again. Julie was smiling, but Ashley wasn't. Amelia felt heat on the back of her neck, and in her cheeks. Ashley spun around and walked again, and Julie followed. Rina released a soft sigh.

They walked down the street, passing the library and through the park. They all stopped in their tracks at the sound of screaming. Amelia looked around, and saw two kids running and screaming at the other end of the park. It was the children's side, with swings and a slide. Melody rushed toward them, and they followed.

"Hey!" she called to the retreating kids. "What happened? Are you all okay?"

A little girl ran to Melody, sobbing. "The slide, behind the slide!"

"Stay here," Melody instructed, going over there.

"What, Cindy?" Carrie asked the little girl. "What's over there?"

Cindy only cried harder.

"What?" Ashley whispered, following Melody. Julie went after her, and Amelia and Rina followed.

Melody walked slowly and carefully, peeking behind the slide. She made a noise, slapping a hand over her mouth and stepping away so fast she almost stumbled backward.

"Call the cops!" her words were muffled behind her hand. "Call the cops!"

Julie did as she said immediately, breathing heavily. Ashley stopped at Melody's side, looking behind the slide. She gave a little screech, jumping back.

"What is it?" Rina's voice shook, and she and Amelia hurried over there.

"Don't look!" Melody said, hand still over her mouth, but they already peered behind the slide as she said it.

Amelia turned away after a second, but that was enough. A body lay there, big red chunks surrounding it, a gore covered stone where their face should be.

Because their face had been smashed in with that stone, leaving only pieces of who they were.

Sixteen

Accusation

Noah Mason. The body behind the slide had been identified as Noah Mason.

Amelia was sitting on the couch in the living room the next morning, eyes heavy after a night of no sleep. She hugged her knees tighter to her chest, listening to Debra, Angela, and Lydia talk. Angela had just gotten the news from the lady across the street.

Someone had murdered Noah Mason with that stone, crushing his face to an unrecognizable mess.

"He was Amelia's age," said Debra.

"I didn't know him much," Angela said.

"Is Amelia okay?" Debra hushed her voice, but Amelia could still hear her. "She and those girls found the body."

Amelia exhaled, leaning her forehead against her knees. Her phone vibrating on the coffee table caught her attention. She sniffled, reaching for it.

A text from Ashley, in the group text.

Everyone meet me outside my house at 10:00 tonight

Amelia stared at it, confused. Ashley sent another: We need to discuss this

Whatever, I guess, Amelia thought.

Amelia set her phone back down without responding as Lydia sat next to her.

"You okay, Ame?"

Amelia bit down on her bottom lip. "No," she answered honestly. "What the hell kind of town is this?"

Lydia shifted, and put an arm around Amelia's shoulder. "Nothing like this has happened here before," she said. "The people are shocked. Not only at the murder, but the deaths of two young people within the week. It's truly horrifying." Lydia's voice was heavy as she rubbed up and down Amelia's shoulder.

People Amelia's new friends hated. She shuddered when she thought about it: Noah Mason had bullied Rina, hit her in the head with a rock repeatedly when they were kids. She would forever have that scar.

And his face had been smashed with a stone.

His death was connected with Rina. Just like Helena's death was connected with Ashley.

But had they actually done it? It hurt, and made Amelia sick, to think Rina could do that to someone; she was truly starting to like Rina.

She needed to talk to her.

And how could Ashley kill Helena that way? Shove her out the window? Someone would have heard the struggle, or Helena's scream, wouldn't they?

Had Helena screamed?

Amelia's head hurt. She wanted to sleep, but knew she wouldn't be able to.

When ten o'clock at night came, Amelia quietly crept out of the house. Debra and Angela were always sleeping by now, and there was no light under Lydia's door to tell that she was still awake. She'd gotten a job at a shop in town, apparently, and was starting early.

Amelia walked to the house next door, seeing everyone else was already there. Melody was leaning with her arms folded across her chest, Rina with her hands in her pockets, and Julie looked nervous, fingers tangled in front of her.

"Back here," Ashley whispered, waving a hand. They followed her to the back of her house, in her yard. "No one needs to see us," she stopped, looking at them. No one said anything. Ashley's eyes glinted in the dark, moonlit night.

"Why was Noah beaten to death with a stone, Ri?" Ashley started off with sounding accusing.

Rina's eyes widened, her mouth open but no sound coming out. There was confusion, then obvious hurt. Amelia remembered how Rina had defended Ashley in the pizza place. It must've hurt a lot for Ashley to not do the same for her.

"W-What?" Rina stuttered.

"Why was Noah killed that way?" Ashley asked flatly.

"Why are you asking it like that?" Julie eyed Ashley.

"Mel told me he hurt your hand," Ashley's eyes were still on Rina.

"But I wasn't accusing her of anything," Melody snapped quietly.

"He hit her in the face with a rock," Ashley's voice was hushed and quick. "Now he's dead because someone hit him in the face with a bigger rock."

"I don't know," Rina threw her arms up. "Why did Helena fall out her window and get impaled by your gate, Ash?"

Now Rina sounded accusing, her words of defending Ashley that day crumbling.

Ashley's mouth slammed shut, her shoulders tensing.

"We haven't talked about that one yet," Rina's voice shook with hurt and anger, her eyes shining.

"I had nothing to do with that," Ashley's voice shook.

"And I had nothing to do with Noah," Rina shot.

"He did it to you before!" Ashley argued.

"Are you fucking serious?!" Rina glared fiercely, looking livid now. "The story you told came fucking true!" Hands balled into fists, Rina took a step toward her, "to the fucking detail, Ashley!"

Ashley flinched.

"Ri," Julie pleaded, her eyes shining in the dark.

"Chill, both of you," Melody said calmly. "Yeah, these deaths got something to do with both of you," she looked from Rina to Ashley, "I ain't saying you killed them, but something real funny is going on, isn't it?"

Ashley and Rina were still staring each other down. "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Julie asked timidly.

"I'm done," Rina said before she spun around, sniffling and wiping at her eye with one of her long sleeves. She stormed away. Ashley watched her go, her eyes glittering with tears.

"I should get back," Amelia felt beyond awkward. "Before my aunt notices I'm gone."

She walked away, breathing shakily on her way back to the house. She crept up to her room and gently closed the door behind her. She peered out her window to see the three of them were gone from the yard already.

With a sigh, Amelia got into bed, squeezing the amethyst under her pillow, begging the anxiety to go away.

When Amelia opened her eyes to sunlight, she forced herself up on one elbow. Tired as she was, she didn't want to fall asleep again. She kept dreaming of Noah; of those sick chunks scattered around his stiff body. She started to cough at the images in her head, and it turned into gagging. She sat up, breathing heavily.

When she felt okay, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table to check the time. It was almost ten o'clock. She opened a text from Julie that was sent at eight in the morning.

Are you ok?

Amelia answered honestly: feeling kinda shitty. you?

She almost set the phone back down when she saw Julie typing back. She waited.

Same. I was going to check up on Rina at work and meet with Melody at the library. Would you like to come? It's fine if not.

Amelia thought about it. She wanted to see how Rina was doing, too. She remembered the hurt on her face when Ashley accused her last night, and felt a surge of sympathy for her. Rina had defended Ashley that day when Melody mentioned she might have had something to do with Helena's death; so Amelia couldn't imagine how much it must have hurt when Ashley didn't do the same for her, when Ashley had been the one to accuse her of actually murdering someone.

It didn't matter what she did today, she'd be seeing those faces in her head either way. But it might be worse if she kept herself locked up in here.

She decided to join them, and texted her answer to Julie, who quickly responded with: be there in an hour.

Amelia got dressed and then went downstairs to try and eat something. She decided on orange juice instead of coffee, and a banana, because her stomach was still swirling.

Feeling healthier already.

Julie was right on time, and Amelia left with her. "Talk to Ashley today?" Amelia folded her arms together against the little chill in the autumn air.

"Yes," Julie replied. "I asked her if she would like to join us. She said she'd rather be alone today."

"Has anything like this happened before?" Amelia looked at the Miller house as they walked past. "A fight between any of you?"

"Yes," Julie replied. "Well, nothing quite big. Ri and Ash have had a lot of disagreements, as have Mel and Ash, sometimes Mel and Ri. But they were just typical things. We've never been in the middle of anything like this..."

"What do you think is going on?" Amelia's voice fell a little lower.

"Honestly," Julie looked at her, frowning, "I don't know. I know that my friends are not killers, but I don't know what's happening. Perhaps it's just... coincidence," she sounded unsure. "Perhaps Helena fell. Perhaps Noah angered someone else, or was just in the path of someone else."

"That would be a lot easier to consider if they'd died differently," Amelia said.

"Yes," Julie said softly, "you're right about that."

They walked to Talim's Teas, and went inside, the little bell ringing after them. Amelia immediately noticed Rina behind the counter, dusting off her black apron. When she glanced up and noticed them, she sighed, looking down.

"Hey, Ri," Julie said softly, stopping at the counter. "Came to check up on you."

"Yeah, well, thanks," Rina clicked a fingertip on the counter, her fingernails too short to make a sound.

"Ash was cruel last night. Don't feel bad about feeling angry, you owe her nothing."

Rina stared at the shiny polished counter. "I had nothing to do with it," she said after a moment, and then whispered, "what happened."

"I know," Julie said.

Rina eyed her. There was fear in her eyes, and they were red, with dark lines underneath. Amelia knew that look; Rina had spent the night awake, crying.

"I don't know why it happened like that," the fear in Rina's voice was laced with desperation, "I know I said things to him, and I..." her voice shook, and she sighed shakily.

"I know you had nothing to do with it," Julie said again. "I know you." She leaned a little over the counter, "I trust you."

Rina sniffed, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.

Amelia watched her, and it felt genuine. Rina looked scared and confused about what happened. But Amelia didn't know her well enough to really judge.

Still, she'd come to like Rina, and her heart ached for her. They caught each other's gaze, and Amelia gave her a little smile, which Rina returned before looking down.

"See you later, okay?" Julie leaned forward to quickly kiss Rina on the cheek.

"Yeah," Rina mumbled, nodding.

"Later," Amelia waved, following Julie out.

They headed back toward the park. The children's side was still off limits still, silent and empty. They went into the library, and Amelia followed Julie upstairs.

Melody was up there, sitting cross legged on the carpet among a tiny crowd of kids. There was an open book in her lap, and she was reading aloud. The kids watched her and listened intently.

"That's cute," Amelia commented quietly.

"They love when Mel reads to them," Julie whispered with a smile. It faded almost instantly when she noticed the man at the other end of the room, standing with his hands behind his back, smiling at her. That Hoffman guy.

They waited until the story was finished, then the kids burst into conversation or went on their phones or went to a different part of the library.

"What's up?" Melody stopped close to them, brushing her curls back with her hand.

Julie opened her mouth to say something, but it snapped shut as she jolted at the touch; Hoffman stopped behind her with his hand on her shoulder.

"Well today, miss Lane?"

"Yes," she answered, monotone. His hand slid down her shoulder and he went down the stairs.

"You all right?" Melody asked.

Julie brushed her hand up and down her shoulder, like she was frantically trying to get the feel of him off her. "Wish he'd choke on his own tongue," she said in a voice that made goosebumps rise on Amelia's flesh. "Then I'd never have to hear his voice again."

Amelia stared at her, a little stunned, that voice still in her head. She didn't know what was going on between them, and Julie probably had a million reasons to hate that guy, but it was still chilling.

"Maybe one day," Melody started toward the shelves at the left side of the room. They followed, Julie still rubbing her shoulder. Melody looked at the shelf of comic books. She started to pick some out when there was a vibrating noise, followed by a chime.

Melody absently pulled her phone from her pocket, and Julie did the same.

"Oh..." said Julie softly.

"What?" Melody said, giving her phone more attention. They looked at each other then.

"Did something happen?" Amelia looked between them.

"It's from Ash," Julie said. "It seems Helena's death has been concluded a suicide."

Seventeen

Fear

Melody and Julie stared at the screens of their phones. Melody slid hers back into her pocket, looking careless, and turned her attention back to the comic books.

"That's..." Julie paused, shaking her head slowly.

"Bullshit?" Melody finished.

"You think so?" Amelia was a little intrigued by their reaction.

"I know it," Melody added another comic book to the stack in her arms. "Helena had strong opinions on stuff like that, to put it kindly and not speak ill of the dead." Melody didn't look like she cared if she spoke ill of Helena at all, as she shrugged.

"We had a suicide in town once," Julie started quietly, still staring at the screen of her phone. "He was a boy our age. He was depressed, and took his own life. Helena said anyone who takes their own life deserves to die, anyway."

"Jesus," Amelia stared at her, a little surprised.

"That's the kind of person she was," Melody said. "And that ain't even the worst of it. But now everyone's going on about how she was such a sweet fucking angel or whatever, but no. She was a cruel, heartless bitch till the day she died."

"They're talking about how Noah was such a nice boy, too," Julie added bitterly.

"Big surprise," Melody rolled her eyes.

A squeaky little "hi," made the three of them jump, and they turned around to see Ashley's little sister, Carrie, looking at them. She held two books tightly to her chest, eyeing them with her big, curious eyes that still looked tired and dark.

"Hey," said Julie softly, taking a step toward her and smiling. "Are you checking out some books?"

Carrie nodded. "I like to read. I'm always here."

"Are you?" Julie smiled brighter. "I never even notice you."

"No one does," Carrie nodded her head a little, looking down. "Ms. Kim said stories can take my mind off things, and ever since then, I read a lot."

"Oh," Julie said softly, and then, her voice full of sympathy, "how are you doing?"

Carrie was still looking down, and kicked her foot a little, scuffling on the red carpet. "I'm scared."

"We're here for you," Melody told her. "It's gonna be okay. You're not alone."

Carrie looked at her. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open a little. She nodded.

"Come on, we'll find you more stories," Melody said, trying to balance the comics in her arms. Amelia took a couple from her before they could fall.

"Heh, thanks," Melody flashed a smile.

They wandered around the library until Carrie chose another book, then they went downstairs. Carrie checked out her books, and Melody her comics.

"Oh, Mr. Hoff," Carrie started, going to him, "I wanted to show you something."

"What is it, dear?" he knelt down.

"Someone wrote in this book here," Carrie was frowning, turning the pages. She showed him.

Two of the pages in the book had red writing on them. On the first page, it said: Keep your hands. The next page said, To yourself.

Julie made a weird noise, like a little gasp.

"Oh my," Hoffman's face fell in shock as he took the book from Carrie's hands. Amelia raised her eyebrows as he tore the pages from the book.

Weird reaction, but okay.

"What's it mean?" Carrie asked, leaning closer to him.

"That some people have no respect," he said, glaring at the words. "Destroying a library book."

"Yeah," Carrie agreed. "I liked this book, too. I really wanted to finish it." She leaned closer to Hoffman, "hmm. Maybe I can get the words off, or just read around them." She quickly tugged the pages, sliding them from Hoffman's hands. He gave a little jolt.

"Is it okay if I just keep it?" Carrie asked.

"Ah," Hoffman looked at his palm, then at her. "All right."

"Wanna read at my place?" Melody looked at Carrie. "Tasha's home."

"Okay," Carrie smiled, showing enthusiasm as she held the books to her chest.

"See you later, Mel," Julie said. Melody and Carrie waved on their way out.

Behind the counter, Hoffman licked a finger and then rubbed it across his hand.

"Um," Julie looked at Amelia, and quieted her voice as she said, "I have to work, but do you want to stay here for a while?"

Amelia didn't really want to. She'd rather go home and play a game instead of hanging out here doing nothing. But before she said anything, she noticed the look in Julie's eyes. It was almost desperate. Pleading.

"Yeah," she said, trying to figure out what could be wrong.

There was only one other person in the room with them. Suddenly, Amelia felt very uneasy.

"Thanks," Julie's eyes lit up, relief in her voice.

There was a soft chuckle, and Amelia eyed Hoffman. "Perhaps you should be a volunteer, Amelia, was it?" Hoffman smiled. "Help is always welcome."

He collected a few books and papers, and then went back upstairs. Julie exhaled like she'd been holding her breath.

"You okay?" Amelia asked.

"Yes, come on," Julie answered quickly, obviously wanting to change the subject, "I'll show you around."

Amelia followed Julie around, sorting new books and taking care of check-outs. Julie was quiet, looking like she had something on her mind, and Amelia didn't know her well enough to think of a conversation topic. So she tried, "you read a lot?"

"Hmm?" her thoughts still looked like they were somewhere else, and Amelia was about to repeat herself until she said, "not really, actually. I started here because Mel didn't want to do it alone. Even though I don't read much, I like the job. I don't like being bored, and doing this kind of soothes me."

"I think I get that," Amelia said. She understood, but wouldn't be able to do it herself. It was so boring it made her hungry and restless.

"I do like reading sometimes though," Julie went on. "I enjoy poetry and I find some books that paint fantastic imagery in my head."

"I haven't read a book in forever," Amelia said, looking at the door to see Rina walk in. She was out of her work clothes, in her usual jeans and black hoodie. She stopped near them, leaning close to Julie.

"Helena didn't kill herself," Rina said in a hushed voice. "Like, do you think she did?"

"No," Julie said quietly, "I don't."

Rina sighed, leaning an elbow on the front desk. "This shit is so weird."

"I know," Julie agreed. "But I am not sure what else to make of it. Perhaps... she fell accidentally." She shrugged, frowning.

"The hell would she be doing to manage that?" Rina mumbled absently, chewing on one of her short black fingernails. "Dancing?"

Julie sighed. "Well, I have to help my mother. I will see you both soon." She smiled at Amelia, "thank you for staying, and for the help."

"Sure," Amelia nodded. "Anytime."

Julie walked around the counter, kissing Rina on the cheek. "Don't think too hard," she chuckled.

Rina scoffed.

"On your way out, miss Lane?" a voice from behind made Julie give a little jump.

"Yes," she said.

"As always, thank you for your help," he told her. "See you tomorrow."

The three of them walked out, and Julie went her separate way from them. "Bye," she waved.

Amelia and Rina walked slowly through the park, side by side. "So," Rina dragged the word out a little. "Don't think anyone's asked how you are?"

Amelia looked at her. "I mean, you just moved here, met us, and now... this." Rina shrugged.

"Yeah, thanks for pulling me into your crazy," Amelia said. Surprise flashed across Rina's face before she did her usual snort laugh, which made Amelia chuckle.

When Rina got quiet, Amelia asked, "will you be okay? I mean, about that Noah guy."

Rina lightly shrugged a shoulder. "I'll sound pretty messed up, but I'm... I mean, I'm not glad he's dead. That's sick, and I never, ever, would have really wished that on him, but... I'm not gonna miss him." She looked guilty, sighing shakily.

"Why would you?" Amelia asked. "Not like he treated you with any kind of decency. You don't owe it to anyone to miss him."

Rina nodded. "Same with Helena," she said softly. "I won't miss either of them, but it... hurts, I guess. What happened to them. I feel sick about how they died. Like, disturbed. But I won't miss them."

Amelia nodded.

"Anyway, why and how they died, I mean really died," Rina's voice got softer, shakier, "I'm scared."

Amelia tried to think of something to say, but was distracted by the nearing blonde.

"There you are," Ashley raced toward them, black skirt flowing around her. "I've been looking for you. Why didn't you text me back?"

"Oh," Amelia checked her phone to see the four missed texts. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

"Can we spend some time together?" Ashley linked her arm around Amelia's. "I'm feeling lonely."

"Uh, okay," Amelia said, too nervous to turn her down. "Sure."

Amelia looked at Rina, who was eyeing Ashley expectantly, but Ashley kept acting like she wasn't there. When Rina gave up, she stuck her hands into the pockets of her hoodie and started away. "See you later, Amelia."

"Yeah," Amelia called back, "soon."

She almost said I'll text you, but that might upset Ashley at the moment. So she watched Rina walk away, and her chest ached a little. That was when Amelia realized she was really starting to like her.

Eighteen

Storm

The walk back to their block was quiet. Amelia desperately hoped that Ashley wasn't bringing her to her house; she'd think up any excuse to not have to go back in there.

"You and the other girls are getting along, then?" Ashley suddenly broke the silence as their pace slowed toward her house.

"Yeah," Amelia answered, heart beating faster as she looked at the fence. To her relief, they crossed the street, going toward the forest. Not that Amelia wanted to go there, either. It made her even more anxious when she remembered Ashley's kiss.

They climbed up on the stone, but then Ashley stopped before going deeper. She looked up at the trees, squinting at the setting sun.

"I guess you heard," she said. "About my cousin."

"Yeah. I'm sorry."

"I don't think she killed herself." Ashley looked down, chest falling in a quiet sigh. "But maybe she did. Who knows what's actually going on with people?"

"Maybe," Amelia didn't know what else to say.

"And Noah was an asshole, he could have angered anyone," she sounded like she was trying to convince herself. "Rina isn't a bad person at all, but..."

"But?" Amelia stuck her hands into her pockets.

"She has anger issues. She snaps so fast."

"Going to the length of murder?" Amelia raised her eyebrows.

"No, of course not," Ashley looked at her. "I've never seen her violent..."

Amelia waited for the but, except it didn't come. Ashley just looked at her, like she was studying her, trying to figure something out.

"I'm just... scared," Ashley finally said, looking down.

"I'm sorry all this is happening," Amelia said softly. "I'm here for you, and your friends."

Ashley smiled, and Amelia braced herself when she came closer. She put her arms around Amelia in a hug, and Amelia relaxed a little, hugging back.

After a moment, Ashley sighed and let go. "I'm glad I met you," she looked Amelia in the eye, and Amelia had to avert her gaze. Eye contact was awkward with anyone, but worse with Ashley, because Ashley made the anxiety intensify.

"Despite everything, I hope you're glad you met me, too," Ashley tangled her fingers in front of her, and Amelia could still feel those eyes looking right at her.

Amelia swallowed. "Uh, yeah," she forced herself to glance at Ashley, who was frowning.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," she stepped forward, and Amelia tensed at the kiss on her cheek. She still didn't particularly like it, but at least it was on the cheek this time.

"See ya," she waved, and Ashley waved back.

Amelia went inside. Angela and Lydia were making dinner, and Debra was sitting on the couch watching tv. Amelia greeted them before going to her room. She pulled her phone from her pocket and texted Rina: sorry about that.

She sat cross legged on her bed, watching Rina text back.

it's cool. still with Ash?

Amelia responded with no. She stared at the screen, and her heart started to beat a little faster. She texted: wanna do something tomorrow if you can?

She sent it with a shaky finger and waited, not wanting to look at the screen to see the reply. Her gaze wandered, looking everywhere except her phone. When she finally glanced at it, she noticed Rina had responded. She read.

helping julie at library tomorrow but you can come too?

She was still writing, and Amelia waited.

it would be cool if you were there too

Amelia smiled.

What time? I'm in.

around noon. i'll let you know!

Smiling, Amelia texted: Thanks. Goodnight.

night!

Amelia laid back and spent the night playing games, an odd warm sensation in her chest the whole time.

A little past noon the next day, Rina sent a text asking if Amelia was still up for going. Amelia definitely was. She was weirdly enthusiastic.

When Rina came, they walked together, talking and laughing about the games. Their conversation was interrupted when someone called: "hey!"

They both turned around to see Ashley jogging their way, Carrie behind her. They stopped at Amelia's other side. "Going to the library?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah," Amelia replied. "You, too?"

"Yes. I was talking to Julie last night. She said you two were going."

She took Amelia's hand, smiling. "I know the perfect books for you. Do you read much?"

"No," Amelia answered. "But I'm curious, so I'll read what you pick out. Think I trust your taste."

Ashley grinned.

The walk was a little awkward then; Ashley was still ignoring Rina, and Rina seemed to respond by ignoring her. Carrie was looking at her phone. Then Rina broke the silence with, "dude, it's gonna rain. Hard."

Amelia looked up at the sky. The clouds were dark.

"Hope we don't get caught in it," said Ashley.

Amelia was relieved when they found Julie, Melody, and Tasha. Melody was laughing about something, and Tasha looked playfully annoyed at her. Melody ruffled her little sister's head of dark curls. "Hiya," Tasha greeted them, stepping away from her sister. With a sigh, Carrie went to her, resting her head on Tasha's shoulder. "I finished it."

Tasha let out an excited squeak. "The ending!"

"I know!" Carrie grinned. And despite the tired look she wore everyday, she looked so happy right then and there.

"Let's hurry," Julie said. "Before it rains."

They weren't so lucky when the rain came pouring down. They ran, laughing, and uselessly shielding their heads with their hands. Carrie and Tasha led the way, shrieking with laughter and holding hands.

They raced through the park and into the double doors of the library, everyone laughing.

Amelia felt a little tug on her head, and looked at Rina, twirling one of Amelia's wet curls around her finger. "Now they're all flat," she grinned.

Amelia grinned back, fluffing her hair. "Ah well. They'll poof back."

"Damn, what's that smell?" Tasha wrinkled her nose.

"Eww," Carrie groaned, covering her nose and mouth with her hand.

"I smell that too," Julie frowned, pushing her damp hair behind her ear.

"Ain't Hoff supposed to be here?" Melody asked, looking around at the empty library.

"Yes," Julie mumbled.

Julie led the way, and they followed. Amelia caught the smell then; something disgusting she couldn't place. Then she got a strong whiff of copper.

"That smells like..." Ashley didn't finish, water trailing down her pale cheek.

They turned a corner, and there Hoffman was, sitting against a bookcase. Amelia knew immediately something was wrong; he was sitting on the floor, head down, legs spread.

"Hoffman?" Julie gasped. They all hurried to him, and Julie knelt in front of him, lifting his head a little.

And then she screamed, falling backwards and scooting away. Tasha screamed, and then Melody yelled something, quickly shielding her sister and Carrie from the scene.

And Amelia looked at Hoffman's dead face: mouth opened so wide his jaw was broken and hanging, and something long, bulging and red hung out of his mouth and down his chest. It had been stuffed in his mouth and down his throat as much as it could be.

His own tongue.

Nineteen

Trust

The lights from the police and ambulance cars were all Amelia saw. Her vision was unfocused, her head spinning.

"Amelia? Amelia?"

The distant voice made her jump when she finally heard how close it was. Amelia blinked, clutching the blanket around her shoulders. Lydia was looking at her, eyes big and horrified.

"Ame," she whispered, and Amelia leaned into her embrace.

"I-I'm okay," Amelia stuttered.

Lydia let her go, and Amelia breathed shakily. She saw Ashley's parents there, Mrs. Miller with her hands on Ashley's shoulders. She saw Julie's parents, both looking afraid as they talked to their daughter, and she saw a woman with an arm around Rina's shoulder, probably her mom. Melody was hugging Tasha to her chest, a horrified looking man with his arms around both of them.

"Is she all right?" the panicked voice belonged to Angela. She stopped next to Lydia.

Amelia nodded, not sure she could get another word out.

"They say she and her friends found the body," Lydia said in a hushed voice, one hand rubbing up and down Amelia's shoulder.

"Another one?" Angela nearly gasped, and Amelia looked down, away from her eyes. Lydia didn't say anything.

Yeah, another one. And this one definitely proved that Amelia's new friends had something to do with these deaths.

She looked at Julie, only able to see the back of her head.

I hope he chokes to death on his own tongue.

Amelia could still hear that voice in her head, full of hatred. That's exactly how Hoffman had died.

Just like Helena died exactly how Ashley told in her story. Just like Noah died in a way he'd hurt Rina before.

They had something to do with these deaths.

Amelia started to shake. Her chest burst with pain, and she sucked in a breath. She hadn't realized she wasn't breathing.

"Here," Lydia handed her the inhaler. Feeling like she couldn't get enough air, Amelia used it.

"That isn't normal," Angela breathed in Lydia's ear. "These deaths aren't normal!"

Amelia saw Lydia swallow. Her aunt held shaky fingers to her lips, looking at the library.

"Amelia, you need to stay away from the Miller girl," Angela said. "There's something wrong with her. She's always been so odd. That whole family." She lowered her voice to a whispering hiss, "she must have something to do with this! It's all her!"

As Angela ranted, Amelia watched Carrie Miller pass by, obviously hearing what Angela said. She looked at Angela, blinking shiny eyes, and then hurried to her family. Amelia watched Carrie, who kept looking back at them, looking sad and scared.

When they were informed that they could go home, Angela drove them.

Amelia wanted to go up to her room, but her skin was crawling and she was still short on breath, so she didn't want to be alone. She sat on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest, listening to Lydia, Angela, and Debra.

"How are those girls involved?" she heard Debra ask.

"They found two bodies so far," Angela said. "Both were murders! I know they say the cousin was a suicide, but I'm thinking not!"

Amelia trembled, leaning her forehead against her knees.

"How did Ame get mixed up in all this?" Lydia sounded like she was about to cry.

"I warned her about those girls," said Angela. "You have to keep her away from them!"

Amelia shut her eyes tight against tears. Guilt nauseated her, her stomach churning. Angela was right. She had to stay away from them.

Because she had a feeling of dread that more people would end up dead.

Amelia barely slept all night, and in the morning, had to talk Lydia into going to her new job.

"You'll be okay?" Lydia asked for the tenth time. "You're staying home?"

"Yes and yes," Amelia replied tiredly, hands around a cup of coffee. "Alone."

Lydia nodded. "I don't mean to tell you you can't be with your new friends, Ame, I just..."

"I get it," Amelia said. "I'm gonna keep my distance from them for now."

With a shaky sigh, Lydia hugged her. "Text or call for anything, and I'll be right home."

"I got it."

When Lydia was gone, Amelia was alone in the house with her thoughts. She knew there was nothing that would be able to take her mind off it; there was no getting rid of these dead faces haunting her mind. It was a silent torture she couldn't escape no matter what, and she knew they would follow her into her dreams.

Amelia's mind snapped out of it a little later, when her phone chimed that she had a text. Anxiety washed over her to see it was from Ashley.

Come outside.

"Fuck," Amelia breathed, rubbing a hand across her forehead. Should she say no? Just ignore it? Both were shitty choices; she'd have to tell Ashley she didn't want to be around them anymore.

She went out the front door, heart skipping a beat to see all of them were there.

"Hey," Ashley came up the stairs. "Are you okay?"

"No," Amelia answered. "Look, I... I don't wanna see you all anymore."

Surprise flashed across Ashley's face. Melody, Julie, and Rina looked at her.

"Amelia, we have nothing to do with all this," Ashley insisted.

"But you do," Amelia told her. "You might not be killing these people, but you have something to do with it."

"You really think that?" Ashley stood straighter, her eyes shining.

"You told a story about how your cousin would die, and then it happened for real," Amelia said breathlessly. "You said you hoped Hoffman would choke to death on his own tongue," she looked at Julie, who flinched. "He fucking did," Amelia's voice almost broke. "Intentional or not, you have something to do with it."

Ashley opened her mouth to say something, but Amelia interrupted. "Just leave me alone. I'm done with this." She stepped back into the house, and looked at Rina. "I'll bring you your stuff back, or I'll text when you can come back and get it."

The surprise and hurt on Rina's face made Amelia's chest ache. Before the break down came, Amelia quickly said, "I'm sorry."

Then she closed the door, and let herself break down.

Twenty

Shadow

Amelia lay in bed at night, feeling a dread she couldn't place. She was afraid, and she didn't know why. Maybe because she'd spent the day feeling like shit after pushing her new friends away.

She didn't want to. But there was no denying these deaths had something to do with them. She didn't know how, but they did. And she didn't know them well enough to judge if they were responsible. She didn't know if any of them, or maybe all of them, were capable of murder.

And it hurt, because she was beginning to like them.

She turned to her right side, checking the time on her phone. Two-forty six in the morning.

She sighed shakily, putting her hand under her pillow in search of the amethyst, until she realized it was in Rina's bag on the floor, along with her games.

Amelia's breath hitched, tears flooding her eyes. Rina hurt the most.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

It became a chant in her head, as if Rina could hear her. Just like it did every night after her mom died.

As if she could hear her.

Amelia pulled the blanket tighter around her, sniffling. It was a little like an embrace, kinda comforting. She just wanted the time to go faster so she could get up. She didn't want to lay here, or sleep. Everything would feel safer in the daylight. Life would go on in the daylight.

A creak broke the silence in the house. A long, eerie creak; like one of the doors was pushed open slowly.

Quiet. Amelia's tight chest told her that she was holding her breath. She drew in a trembling breath, covering her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle a dry cough.

More creaking. It was footsteps, walking very slowly down the hall. Taking in quick, raspy breaths, Amelia leaned up on her elbow and grabbed her inhaler from the table next to her. She used it, still listening to the footsteps. They didn't trail far until they stopped.

Then came another creak of a door opening. It drew out for what felt like forever, and then came a heavy footstep. Then another.

Amelia listened in confusion. Where the hell were they going?

Up.

She looked up at the ceiling, and a chill made her shudder. Who was going up to the attic at this time, and why?

The dread pounded in her chest.

She pulled her blanket off and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, staring at the closed bedroom door. The heavy footsteps still thumped up the stairs; it almost sounded like someone was being dragged up there.

Panic burned in Amelia's throat, thinking of Lydia, and she hurried to the door, pulling it open.

She stood there, listening. They kept going up the stairs.

"Shit," Amelia whispered, heart pounding in her chest. She walked the little hall and peered around the corner. The door to the attic was open, and so was one of the bedroom doors. She couldn't remember if it was the door to Angela or Debra's room.

She crept to the attic just in time to see a shadowy figure reach the top of the stairs.

"H-Hey?" she called, her voice shaking. Their heavy feet kept walking, now making the ceiling creak.

"Goddammit," Amelia whispered breathlessly. Should she wake someone up?

The thought was interrupted by a voice whispering up there. Amelia bit down on her bottom lip as her skin crawled. Angela was whispering. Then something scraped across the floor.

Taking quick breaths, Amelia started walking up, panic and fear pulsing through her. When she could understand what Angela was whispering, she went up the stairs faster.

"Noose. Let me sway."

What the fuck?

When Amelia reached the top, she stopped dead in her tracks.

Angela was tossing boxes around, mumbling quietly and maliciously to herself. Then she opened one of the boxes, pulling something out of one of the many boxes up here. She started tossing the things she pulled out; clothes. Then she grabbed a belt out of the box. And then another belt. Then she was climbing up on an old wobbly chair, and there was someone else there with her. Someone was standing right next to her. Amelia saw their long shadow on the wall, and frantically searched for the person it belonged to, but then the shadow was gone; now it was only Angela standing atop a shaky chair, belts in her hands, looking up at a beam.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Amelia whispered, running over there. "Angela!" she grabbed the woman by her arm. Amelia was stunned at the look on her face: her eyes were wide and bulging, her mouth hanging open. Like she was already dead.

"Angela," Amelia whimpered, squeezing her arm and trying to pull the rope from her hands. "Hey, stop! Please!"

Angela blinked. Amelia gasped. "A-Angela?" she stuttered.

Angela took a deep breath. She looked at the belts in her hands, at the chair she was standing on, let out a little cry, and stumbled.

"You'll fall!" Amelia squeezed her arm tighter.

Breathing heavily, the belts fell from Angela's hands, and she carefully stepped down from the shaky old wooden chair. She looked at Amelia, horror-struck. "Amelia, what's happening?"

"You came up here, and..." Amelia's eyes burned with tears.

Angela covered her mouth with her hand. "I don't remember," she whispered. "Was I sleepwalking? Oh my God. Why would I do this?" her voice broke as she looked up at the beam, realizing what she had been about to do.

"It's okay," Amelia put a shaky hand on her shoulder. "Y-You're okay now."

As Amelia helped her out of the attic and back downstairs, all she could think of was the shadow figure. It was going to make Angela kill herself.

And Amelia knew right then that Angela wasn't the first person it had done that to.

Twenty-one

Sleepwalking

Amelia was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring out the window. She'd been like that for a while now, or at least that's what it felt like, with what had happened playing in her head over and over again. A soft knock at the door made her jump.

It opened slowly, and Angela peered in. Amelia's breath hitched, and she stiffened. She realized she was afraid of her, but it wasn't actually her. Something had been making her do that.

Angela stepped in, closing the door only partly behind her. "Amelia," she whispered, stopping near the bed.

"Yeah?" Amelia's whisper was so quiet she didn't know if Angela heard her.

"I was sleepwalking," Angela tangled her fingers in front of her. "I-I don't know why. But I don't remember going up there, and..." she shuddered.

"Okay," Amelia said quietly.

Angela took a breath. "I'll let my mother know. But please," she looked at Amelia seriously, "don't tell my mother or Lydia what I tried to do. Please."

"But what if it happens again?" Amelia asked quietly, tears filling her eyes as she thought about it again.

Angela breathed. "Just let me take care of it, okay?"

Amelia sighed miserably. Angela put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for asking this of you, I really am. But please."

"Are you okay?" Amelia looked at her.

"What?" Angela looked taken aback.

"I mean... okay. Are you... um, depressed, or—"

"No," Angela breathed. "I have no idea why I would try to do that."

"But what if you need help?"

Angela's face was suddenly firm, no trace of fear. "Will you please not tell them?"

Amelia was quiet for a moment. "Yeah, okay. Fine." Agreeing to this made her feel sick, and she looked away.

Angela squeezed her shoulder. "Thank you."

When she pulled her hand away, Amelia noticed a white bandage wrapped around her hand. "What's that for?" she asked, her heart jumping.

Angela quickly drew her hand back. "Oh. This..." She paused, swallowing. "There was a piece of glass in my purse this morning. I cut myself when I reached for my phone."

"A piece of glass in your purse?" Amelia's voice was hollow and empty.

"I have no idea how it got there," Angela's cheeks got red, obviously knowing how all this sounded at this very moment. "A lot of people are in my store everyday. It's nothing. Good night."

Amelia listened to her leave the room, softly closing the door behind her. With a shaky breath, she covered her face with her hands.

When it was an appropriate-to-text time, she'd tell the other girls. Because she knew she'd seen something else there with Angela. Someone's shadow. But a person couldn't just disappear like that. It was something else. Maybe it was the same thing that helped Helena take the step out the window. Maybe it had been there with Noah, crushing his face in, and Hoffman, too, tearing out his tongue and shoving it back down his throat. Maybe it would go after the girls, or their family.

And maybe one of them knew about it.

It was seven in the morning when Amelia couldn't wait anymore and sent the text to all of them: something happened and really gotta talk to you all.

She heard Lydia's door, and her footsteps trailed down the hallway. Angela and Debra had been making sounds in the kitchen for almost an hour already, so they'd be leaving soon.

Amelia glanced at her phone when it buzzed on her pillow. It was Julie.

Is it ok if we meet up?

Amelia responded with yup.

When she heard everyone leave, she got out of bed and went downstairs for coffee. She spent some quiet time alone for a few hours, enjoying it. At noon, she got another text from Julie: We are outside.

With a sigh, Amelia slid on her shoes and went outside. The four of them were gathered by Ashley's house. Amelia rubbed a hand up and down her shoulder, shivering even in an oversized long sleeve, and made her way toward them.

"What happened?" Ashley was frowning with worry.

"Angela was sleepwalking last night," Amelia stopped near them, glancing at each of them. Ashley and Julie were frowning at her, Melody was looking away, and so was Rina. The hurt on Rina's face hurt Amelia's heart again.

And in that second, she decided she didn't want to make her feel like that.

"Or, well, that's what she says," Amelia kept going. "And that's what it was like, I guess, but something was really wrong."

They stared expectantly. "She, uh..." Amelia fell into a whisper, "tried to kill herself."

Melody and Rina looked at her, their expressions the same surprise as Ashley and Julie.

"When she snapped out of it, she had no idea what was happening," Amelia went on anxiously. "She doesn't want me to tell anyone."

"But—" it seemed like Ashley was about to protest, but Amelia didn't feel like listening.

"And there was something else," Amelia interrupted, and Ashley blinked, looking down. "I saw something there with her when she was like that."

"Something with her?" Julie questioned, brows furrowed.

"Like a person, but it was... dark," Amelia felt her ears burning, thinking she sounded like an idiot. "Like a shadow, or something. It's crazy, but I know what I saw."

"So you're saying something was making her do it?" Melody looked like she was trying to decide if she believed it or not.

"I think," Amelia shrugged, cheeks burning along with her ears. "Was thinking it could've been with the others when they died, too..."

There was silence as their expressions changed to horror at the thought.

"How the hell is that possible?" Melody asked quietly. "You think something is making people kill themselves?"

Amelia swallowed. "I don't know. I don't know what's happening, I just know something is."

Melody scoffed, but it didn't look like she was rejecting the idea; more like struggling to accept something else was going on.

Everyone seemed at a loss for words. Amelia glanced around at them discreetly.

"Any ideas on how that could be a thing?" Rina asked softly, looking at Amelia carefully, like she was afraid to.

"No," Amelia answered.

"You never said that about Angela, though," Julie looked deep in thought. "If it is connected, and I believe it could be, we said those things about the others..." She looked guilty, afraid.

"Ri didn't," Ashley glanced at Rina. "She never actually said I hope Noah gets his face smashed in."

"But it happened in a way that is related to her," said Julie. "Something that he did to her before."

"But you never said anything or wanted anything to happen to Angela, did you?" Ashley asked.

Amelia shook her head. "No. I've got literally nothing against her. I like her."

"Then if it's something going against the people we hate, why her?" Julie voiced, and then bit down on her bottom lip.

After a short silence, Ashley asked, "Amelia, do you still think it's us?"

"I, uh..." Amelia wasn't sure. "I don't know."

"Um..." Julie started, pushing her hair behind her ear. Her breathing was shaky, and it looked like the color had suddenly been drained from her face. "I didn't hate Hoffman just because he annoyed me. I've been wanting to talk to you guys about it, but it's hard. But now I'm so afraid."

"What?" Melody put a hand on her shoulder.

Julie closed her eyes. Amelia noticed she had her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. "Hoffman, he... he made me uncomfortable. He would say things that suggested he was interested in me. He always tried to get me alone with him. Once, he ran a hand up my leg when I was sitting at the desk."

"Holy fuck," Rina whispered, looking at Julie in horror.

"I hated him for that," Julie said. "But I promise, I didn't kill him." She looked around at them desperately. "Someone, or something, did, and they used something I said as a way to do it. But I promise it wasn't me."

Her breath hitched, and she looked down. Everyone's soothing words got caught together as they all tried to comfort her at once.

As Amelia watched her cry, she believed her. Something was using all of them to kill people. Amelia just had to figure out how.

And which one of them was doing it.

Twenty-two

Care

They'd all gone into Ashley's yard, sitting on the bench under the trees. Julie was sniffling, having calmed down a little. Melody and Rina sat at each side of her, Melody rubbing her shoulder and Rina holding her hand.

"How long was that happening for, Jul?" Ashley asked quietly.

"Since I've been at the library," Julie was looking down at her lap, caressing Rina's hand with her thumb. "About a year."

"I'm so sorry," Ashley whispered. "I'm so sorry he did that to you."

"It's over now," Julie said, and whispered, "he's gone now." Her voice sounded fragile and hollow.

Amelia tried to read their expressions. Ashley looked torn, Rina was blank, and Melody was... questionable. She was hard to read, but she looked at Julie with care and sympathy, though there was also a glint in her eyes. Anger, maybe.

"I have to get home," Julie stood, taking a breath. "Thank you all."

"I gotta pick up Tasha," Melody stood too.

"Amelia, are we, um..." Julie moved her hair behind her ear, looking nervous. "Are we okay?"

"Yeah," the last thing Amelia wanted to do was hurt her. "We're cool. I'm sorry."

Julie flashed a smile. "See you soon, then."

Julie and Melody walked away together. Rina quietly started away, too. "See you later, okay?" Amelia said quickly to Ashley.

Ashley nodded. She looked like she wanted to say something, but held it back. Amelia walked away, and when she got to the block, jogged toward Rina.

"Hey," Amelia fell into step alongside her.

"Hey," Rina glanced at her.

"So, I'm sorry."

"For?" Rina asked.

"For what I said to you."

Rina shrugged. "Honestly, I get it. Everything you said is true. We are connected to what's going on."

"Yeah. But I'm sure you really don't have anything to do with it. I trust you."

The words came as a surprise to Amelia right when they left her mouth. Rina stumbled a little as she stopped walking, looking surprised.

Ah hell. Amelia looked down, her cheeks and ears feeling like they were on fire again.

"That, um, means a lot to me," Rina brushed her hair back with her hand, looking as anxious as Amelia felt. "I like you, and I kinda care about what you think."

There was a hot flutter in Amelia's chest that almost made her breathless, but in a completely different way than usual. "I like you too," she said.

They gave each other sheepish smiles, and Amelia's heart did another little flutter. "Doing anything else today?" Amelia asked.

"Not really," Rina answered.

"Wanna do nothing together?"

Rina chuckled. "Yeah."

They fell into step beside each other again. Amelia's soft, warm feelings were mingled with a sudden chill. Feeling the presence, she looked back.

Ashley was standing in front of her house, watching them. Amelia gave an awkward little wave, but Ashley stayed still. Amelia looked away, but could still feel the eyes burning into her.

Amelia walked with Rina to the apartments, following her inside. Amelia and Rina slid their shoes off at the entrance.

"Hello," said a voice before Amelia noticed the woman standing in the kitchen, mug in her hands. She was short and thin, her short brown hair reaching to her chin and bangs to the side.

"This is Amelia," Rina gestured to her.

"Oh, the new girl," the woman smiled. "I am Reiko Hayashi, Rina's mother," she nodded.

"Amelia Allan. It's nice to meet you."

"Rina talked so much about you," Reiko's kind smile grew wider. "I was wondering when I would get to see you."

Amelia looked at Rina, who scoffed a little, obviously embarrassed as she looked away. Amelia pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

"What will you two be doing?" Reiko asked before sipping from her mug.

Rina shrugged a shoulder. "Wanna play some games?"

"Sure."

Reiko sighed softly, rolling her eyes. "You play those all day, too?"

Amelia chuckled. "All day, huh?" she grinned at Rina.

"I'm in it for the fun," Rina shrugged.

Reiko clicked her tongue as she rinsed out her mug. She walked toward them, grabbing her purse from a stool at the counter. "You both have fun, okay?" she said before she kissed the top of Rina's head.

Rina nodded. "I'll have dinner ready tonight."

Reiko smiled at her, caressing her cheek. She looked at Amelia. "I hope to see you again soon, Amelia."

Amelia nodded. "You will."

Reiko waved back at them on her way out the door. "Love you."

"Love you, too," Rina told her.

Reiko closed the door softly, leaving them alone. "She's really nice," Amelia commented.

Rina nodded. She walked around the counter that separated the living room from the kitchen. "Do you want something to drink?" she asked. "I can make some tea for us."

"Thanks, I'd like that. Need help?"

"I got this," Rina held her hands up. "You can go to my room, if you want," she nodded toward the doors.

"Okay," Amelia walked across the room, pushing open the half open door to Rina's room. She sat down on the edge of the bed, listening to Rina do stuff in the kitchen.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she looked at it. It was from Ashley.

Are you with Rina?

Amelia stared at the screen, and that little dread that Ashley always made her feel stabbed at her.

Yeah.

She looked at Rina when she came in, setting a plate of cookies on the bedside table. They were small and round, and smelled like vanilla. "If you want some," she shrugged. "Do you like black tea? With milk?"

"Yes and yes."

Rina nodded, going back to the kitchen. Amelia was smiling until Ashley sent her next text.

Be careful around her.

Surprise and confusion fell over Amelia. She wrote back: why?

Her heart beat a little faster as she waited. She heard Rina getting the tea ready in the kitchen.

Ashley responded: Heavy issues and personality changes. Just don't want her to hurt you.

The little heart Ashley sent next made Amelia raise her eyebrows.

Amelia slid the phone back into her pocket with a little scoff. Rina returned, setting two mugs of tea down next to the cookies.

"Thanks," Amelia said. She took a mug and sipped. Warm black tea with a little bit of milk. Amelia glanced around the room as she took another sip. She noticed the little cat pin Julie had given to Rina before, sitting on the bedside table.

"Hey, can I see more of your art?" Amelia asked.

Rina looked surprised as she chewed her cookie. "Sure?" it sounded like a question. She wiped her hands on her jeans and went to her desk, taking the laptop. She sat down next to Amelia, who sipped her tea as they waited for the laptop to boot up. When it did, Rina opened a folder of images. Amelia scooted closer to her and leaned closer to look.

The drawings were in different styles, from realism to watercolor to anime, all of witchy looking girls, and a few of spooky cute looking creatures, mainly cats. Amelia chuckled at the black and white cats, inspired by Rina's own.

"These are so cool," Amelia said. "I love them."

"Thanks. I'm glad you like them."

"You try a lot of styles."

"Experimenting is fun. Just gotta get, you know, decent at one of them," she chuckled, pushing her hair behind her ear.

"You will."

Rina closed the laptop and set it aside, taking the other cup of tea. Amelia's mind wandered back to Ashley's texts, and she started to think about Ashley and Rina. "Hey, um, can I ask you something that's personal?"

"Uh, sure," Rina sounded uncertain. "I think."

"I mean, you don't have to answer," Amelia said, "I'm just wondering."

"Go ahead."

"When we slept over at Ashley's, Helena said stuff about the relationship you had with her. Shitty stuff. But I was kinda curious about what she meant."

Rina looked at her tea for a few seconds, then shrugged a shoulder. "She always made fun of the fact that I'm asexual. I'm not sexually interested in anyone, but I'm still, you know, interested. At having something special with someone. And in girls. She didn't like that either. Because of that, she tried saying what Ashley and I had wasn't real."

"Oh."

"She wasn't wrong," Rina said softly, pushing her hair behind her ear again. "But it wasn't real for a different reason. I wasn't feeling it."

Amelia looked at her for a moment, heart beating faster to know there was a word for it. "Asexual," she said, and Rina looked at her. "I mean, I don't know if I'm the same," Amelia started, "but I've realized I've never felt attraction like that to anyone, too. I've never felt romantically interested in anyone either, until now."

She'd said it before she realized she was saying it, and Rina raised her eyebrows. Amelia felt the flush rising to her cheeks, and surprise flashed across Rina's face. They awkwardly looked away from each other, but when Amelia stole a glance, she saw Rina was smiling.

"I mean, it could always change," Rina began. "Feelings do that. Never know until it happens, right? But for now, that's how I feel."

"Yeah," Amelia agreed. "So," she was feeling a little frantic to turn attention away from what she'd revealed, "wanna play some games?"

"Yep," Rina grinned.

The next few hours were full of laughter. Ashley's words stayed in the back of Amelia's mind. Eventually, though, Amelia pushed them away; she decided she liked and trusted Rina just fine.

And couldn't help wondering what their relationship might turn into.

Twenty-three

Gentle

By the time Amelia left Rina's apartment, it was evening. Rina wanted to make dinner, so they said their goodbyes and promised to text each other tomorrow.

Amelia left the building and walked down the block, where Melody was sitting on the bottom step to the apartment at the corner.

"Hey," she noticed Amelia, pulling her earbuds out of her ears, faint rap music bursting out of them. She glanced down the block. "Were you at Ri's?"

"Yeah," Amelia answered. "She was beating me at every game we played."

Melody grinned. She stood, and they fell into step beside each other. "Going home?" Melody asked, stuffing her phone and earbuds into her pocket.

"Yeah. I'm hungry. Where are you headed?"

"Picking up Tasha from a friend's house," she said. "I don't want her walking alone."

She looked grim as she said it.

"Good idea," Amelia said.

"This whole thing is fuckin' scary," Melody said. "We had people die in town, of course, but not like this. This is something else."

Amelia could feel her staring, so she looked at her. "Those three always had problems with Hel, Noah, and Hoffman," Melody said. "But they only die now. You know, when you get to town."

Amelia was taken aback. Melody looked satisfied by her surprise. "You got every right to suspect we got something to do with it, but we can think that about you, too."

"That's fair," Amelia mumbled. But she thought that was stupid. She had nothing to do with any of them, had only known them for like two days before people started dying. But she didn't want to argue with Melody.

Melody looked away, one of her shoulders falling in a shrug. "Just a thought."

Amelia felt weird as they continued walking side by side in silence.

"Mel!" a girl waved from near the park. It was Tasha, and she and two other kids came toward them.

"Hey," Mel grinned, putting an arm around Tasha's shoulder. "What are you all up to?"

Amelia eyed one of the kids, trailing behind the others. Carrie Miller. She stopped quietly, looking down at the grass, shoving her messy blonde hair behind her ear.

"Just watching," one of the kids, a small dark haired boy, gestured to the library.

"They're investigating," said Tasha.

"You shouldn't be watching that," Melody said softly.

"We just wanna know what's going on," the boy said.

"I know," Melody said. "We'll know soon. Anyway," she perked up, patting Tasha on the shoulder, "I can walk you home." She eyed Amelia for a second, "wanna help?"

There was something in her eyes that was almost playful. "Yeah," Amelia answered.

The boy led the way in the direction Amelia assumed his house was, the block past where Rina's apartment was. Melody gently put a hand on Carrie's shoulder. "How are you?"

Carrie looked at her, pushing her hair back again. "Better."

Melody patted her on the shoulder.

"I got it from here, thanks Mel!" the boy waved, running down a block of houses. "Later, Tasha!" he called.

"Bye!" Tasha waved back.

They turned and started back down the street. "Y-You don't have to walk me home," said Carrie, shyly glancing at Melody.

"Don't worry, it's cool," Melody smiled at her.

Carrie tilted her head a little. "Amelia can do it," she said. "She lives next door."

Amelia caught her gaze, her curious, tired eyes.

Melody started saying something, but then Tasha nearly gasped, "Mel..."

Melody stopped, looking at her sister. Tasha was staring into an alleyway, mouth hanging open. Melody peered down there.

"Son of a bitch," Melody whispered, eyes glinting with anger. She sighed heavily, hands balling into fists at her sides. She stomped down the alley, and Amelia looked down there. There was a man slumped against one of the buildings, his head hanging down.

Melody stopped in front of him. "Carl?" she demanded. His head bobbed a little, and a little quieter she ordered, "get the fuck up."

The guy slurred something, and there was a loud clunk when a bottle rolled off his lap.

"Up," Melody raised her voice a little.

"Le' me lone'," he slurred, lifting his head to look at her before it fell again.

"You're in the fucking alley, you piece of shit," Melody whispered angrily. "You need to get up. Go home."

Amelia didn't understand what he slurred next.

Melody sighed shakily, covering her face with her hands for a second.

"You, uh, need help?" Amelia asked softly.

"My uncle, Carl," Melody's hands fell back to her sides. "Miserable fucking drunk that likes to humiliate us." She looked at them, looking close to tears. "Hey, Tasha, take Carrie home, okay? I'll be home in a few minutes."

Tasha nodded, pressing her lips together. She took Carrie's hand, and they walked away together, Carrie looking back with a frown.

"I got it."

The voice made chills run over Amelia's skin, and she glanced back at Ashley. Ashley frowned at Melody.

"Get up and go home, asshole," Melody hissed at her uncle. "Or I'll shove that bottle down your goddamn throat."

She grabbed Carl by the shoulder of his dirty white t-shirt and pulled, and he slowly got up to his feet.

"Want me to help?" Ashley offered.

"I got it," Melody said, staring hard at Carl. "Walk," she ordered.

He did, leaning against the side of the building, which Amelia now realized was a bar, for support.

"Are you sure?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah," Melody avoided looking at them, following behind Carl. When he had to stand straight and walk, she grabbed one of his arms, and he leaned into her. Tasha walked alongside Melody, taking her hand.

"Be safe," Carrie looked at Tasha like she was about to cry. Tasha nodded at her.

"You okay?" Ashley asked after a moment.

"I'm fine," Amelia said.

Ashley kept looking at her, and Amelia looked away. "Do you want to go to my house?" Ashley asked then.

God no.

"Gonna go home and have dinner," Amelia said. "Kinda tired. Just gonna chill."

"All right, then."

Amelia nodded, passing her, and then passing Carrie. She took a shaky breath, feeling a little shaken by what happened, and Melody on her mind.

Twenty-four

Drown

When Amelia went up to her room after dinner, she saw a text from Melody on her phone.

Sorry you had to see that.

Amelia's chest ached a little for her. She responded: it's cool. had my share of drunken family members.

She was about to set the phone down when Melody sent another text.

heh.

since you didn't get to check out the arcade last time, wanna plan a meet-up tomorrow?

Amelia grinned. I'd love that.

maybe at night when everyone's off work. i'll let the others know.

Amelia set the phone down, still smiling faintly.

Around evening the next day, Amelia got a text after dinner. It was from Melody, saying they were on their way.

Amelia went to meet the four of them in front of Ashley's house. Carrie and Tasha were with them, too. Carrie looked even more tired and pale than usual today. Poor kid probably needed help to deal with everything that was happening right now.

Rina's smile warmed Amelia's heart, and they walked alongside each other on their way, Carrie and Tasha in the lead.

The arcade was small, and there were a couple of kids and teenagers inside. There were some retro games, which Amelia played with Rina, and then newer games, mostly fighting games.

"Wanna try me?" Melody gestured to one with a grin.

"Sure," Amelia shrugged.

Rina scoffed. "She's like, a freaking robot at that game."

"Robot?" Amelia chuckled.

"Like programmed to instantly win," Rina rolled her eyes at Melody's grin.

"You just suck hard, Ri," Melody told her, starting the game up. Rina scoffed, plopping down in a chair.

"We're going to get pizza slices," Julie said, heading toward the counter with Ashley.

Amelia played with Melody, and as expected, lost. They played a few rounds, but even as Amelia got the hang of the game, she still lost.

"I was trying to let you win that one!" Melody grinned at her winning screen.

"Yeah," Amelia sighed. "I could tell. These kinds of games were never my thing."

"I'll avenge you," Rina stood and took Amelia's place, and Melody laughed as they started another round. Rina chose a different character, but Melody stuck with hers. The three rounds were tense, Melody taking the first one, then Rina the second, which earned an amused oooooh from Melody. Melody got another win, then so did Rina.

"Damn, you're getting me, huh?" Melody was grinning at her.

"Shut up and play," Rina stared at the screen, and Amelia couldn't help smiling at how focused she was. Melody lost her amusement and became just as serious as their health bars drained, both with one hit left.

When Rina got it, she threw her arms up in the air, giving a thrilled squeal as Melody's character suffered a K.O

"Are you serious?" Melody stared at her screen, apparently shocked at this.

"Biiitch, I beat you!" Rina pointed a finger at her, then clapped her hands together.

Melody scoffed, shaking her head slowly at the screen.

"You're losin' it, Mel," Tasha commented before taking a bite of her pizza slice. Carrie giggled, rubbing her tired looking eyes.

"She won one out of a million," Melody rolled her eyes, but it didn't bring down Rina's happiness as she happily grabbed a pizza slice.

It was ten o'clock when they left the arcade. Amelia texted Lydia that she was on her way back. Streetlamps cast a yellow glow on everything, but no one was out here, making it feel eerie. All the shops were closed.

"I can drop Tasha off then walk you home, Jul," Melody said.

"But then you will be walking alone," Julie frowned.

"I'll walk back with her," Rina said. "We live down the same block."

"Okay," Julie nodded. "Thanks."

They were walking down the street, past the bar, when Amelia stopped. "Shit," she gasped, stepping back.

"What?" Rina asked.

"Ugh," Amelia took a step back. A dead rat lay in their path.

"Eww," Carrie whined, clinging to Tasha, who put her arms around her.

"Oh my God, look," Tasha pointed. "There's more."

Going down the dark alleyway, there were two dark lumps. And the sound of flies buzzing.

"The fuck?" Melody mumbled, using the light on her phone to brighten the dark alley. "Oh, you fucking kidding me," she muttered.

"What?" Ashley asked, peeking down the alley. "Oh."

A figure was slumped against the building.

"Your uncle?" Julie asked quietly.

"Carl, you dumb asshole," Melody breathed in anger, stomping down the alley. But then she stopped, gasped, and her phone hit the ground.

"Mel?" Rina went toward her.

"You okay?" Julie did too. Ashley used her phone for light, and they went to Melody.

And when Ashley's light shined on him, Amelia saw.

He was slouched against the bar, just like yesterday. His head was against the brick building, leaned back, wide eyes staring up at the starry sky.

The bottom of a beer bottle was sticking out of his mouth, shoved so far down his throat that his cheeks and neck were bulging.

"Carl?" Melody's voice cracked, breaking the dark silence.

The words played in Amelia's head, Melody's words.

I'll shove that bottle down your goddamn throat.

Amelia watched Melody gasping, crying, shuddering in her shock. Her words had killed him, but she hadn't. Exactly like the others.

Something was killing these people for them.

Twenty-five

Curse

Carrie's scream pierced through the night. It brought people out of the bar to see what was happening.

Julie was already on the phone with the police, crying out the address to the bar. Rina put an arm around Melody, walking her away from her uncle's body. The people from the bar saw him, and shock was heavy in the air. The cops were there in not even two minutes.

And it all happened again.

Amelia was soothed and questioned with a blanket around her shoulders. Everyone's family was there. People had come out of their houses. Lydia was crying, holding her close.

Amelia told her she'd stay away from the girls; but she hadn't and now they'd found another dead body.

Now, they'd have to be suspects in these deaths.

When all was done, Amelia and Lydia were brought home in a cop car. They told Lydia that Amelia would be questioned again. Amelia didn't look at them, but she could feel the way they were looking at her now.

In the house, Angela and Debra were awake and alarmed. Lydia told them what happened. She could feel the way they were looking at her, too.

"Go to sleep, Amelia," Angela tried to be gentle. "Rest, okay? Everything will be okay."

Amelia went to her room. She didn't change or anything, she just lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, completely numb.

When Amelia opened her eyes, the sun brightened her room. She sat up, and then jolted in surprise, gasping.

Lydia was standing at the foot of the bed, watching her.

"W-What?" Amelia sputtered.

"What is going on, Amelia?" Lydia asked. Her eyes were red, and her cheeks were pale and flushed.

Amelia adjusted herself, crossing her legs. She rubbed her dry eyes, and sighed softly. "I don't know."

"Amelia," Lydia was breathless, and put a hand on her forehead, breathing deeply.

"That's the truth," Amelia said. "I mean it. I don't know what's going on. I don't know why this is happening. I don't know, I promise you, I don't know."

Amelia's desperation came from deep within her heart, panicked that Lydia could think she was a murderer. Lydia looked at her for a long time, then she sighed, and sat on the end of the bed, next to Amelia.

"I believe you, Ame," she sounded exhausted. "But your friends..."

"I know how it seems," Amelia said quietly.

"You said you would keep your distance."

"I know. W-We just went to the arcade..."

Lydia sighed again. "Ame," she started softly, "are you going to be okay?"

Amelia thought about it for a long time. "I have all these dead faces in my mind," her voice was hollow, afraid. "And I don't know if they'll ever go away."

And as she cried, letting out all the built up panic and fear, Lydia held her.

News came later in the day when the officers stopped by. What they said left Amelia in shock.

Carl Martin's death was ruled a suicide. It was evident that he had shoved that bottle down his own throat.

Just like Noah Mason had hit himself with that stone. He lay on his back, and brought it down on himself.

Over and over again.

And Peter Hoffman had torn out his own tongue and attempted to force it back down his own throat.

And, Amelia thought, cold all over, Angela had tried to hang herself with that shadow watching.

Things were already getting back to normal the next day. As normal as they could be, anyway. Angela and Debra were off to work, and with an hour's worth of persuasion, so was Lydia.

"You promise you are staying home, doors locked?" Lydia repeated.

"Yes," Amelia answered again.

She felt guilty for lying. But she needed to see the others, and she couldn't do it with Lydia knowing.

Lydia finally left. Amelia waited a while, and before she could text the others, she got a text first.

It was from Ashley, asking if everyone could meet at her place. Her parents were at work and Carrie was at school, and she wanted them all to come in.

As much as Amelia didn't want to go in there, she agreed.

They all met up outside the Miller house an hour later. Ashley was pale, and obviously something was wrong. She led them into her house wordlessly, then shut and locked the door.

Everyone was quiet. "You all heard it was... all suicides?" Ashley started quietly. "All of them?"

"Yeah," Melody answered aloud while everyone else nodded.

"But we know something is making them do it," Ashley said, sounding timid and fragile.

"Stuff we're saying," Melody's voice trembled. "I said..."

"I know," said Ashley softly. Melody sighed shakily.

Ashley pushed her hair behind her ear. She was twitchy and shaky. "L-Last night, I found books in the yard."

"Huh?" Rina looked at her.

"Remember, I was missing magic books?" Ashley asked. "I came home and found them sitting on the table in the yard last night."

They all watched her, and she sighed shakily. "I looked at them. They're books I never looked at much before. F-For... darker magic. Curses."

"What are you saying?" Julie whispered, but looked like she already knew.

"Whoever took them put them out there, and I'm so scared that when I look through them I'll find..."

"What's happening," Melody's eyes widened. Ashley nodded.

"Wait, we're fucking cursed?" Rina stared at her. "You think we're cursed?"

"I don't know," Ashley shrugged helplessly. "But someone took them from my room, and then gave them back by leaving them in the yard. God, my parents could have found them," she sniffled.

"Okay, um," Julie breathed, "let's look at them together, okay?"

Ashley nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. She led them upstairs to her room.

The books that sat on her bed were ominous. Amelia looked at them, not wanting to go near them. Two books with black covers.

Julie and Ashley sat on the bed, and Julie carefully picked one up, studying it.

"We've never used these," Rina commented, looking too scared to be near them.

"Yeah, I always just kept them on my shelf," Ashley said.

Melody watched with her arms folded, eyeing the books warily. Julie flipped through the pages. "Someone wrote notes in these..." she said, looking intrigued. Curious, everyone gathered closer to look. Someone had scrawled on some pages, with what looked to be their thoughts on the spells.

"Make someone love you," Julie read as she turned the pages, "bring someone pain, make someone sorry, make someone see the worst in themselves..." Her brows furrowed, and then she flipped all the way to the end of the book. "Here..." she pointed.

Amelia stared at the last page, and her blood ran ice cold. Written on the cover, in the scrawly cursive, horrifyingly familiar writing, the book's owner had left their name.

Property of Sylvia Allan

Twenty-six

Mother

Mom.

Amelia's chest burned, and she took in a breath. They all looked at her. "Allan," Julie said softly, "that's your..."

"My name," Amelia breathed. "Th-That's my mom," she reached a hand out, and Julie handed her the book. Amelia ran her fingertips over the name. "This was my mom's..."

"Your mom was a witch?" Ashley stared at her, wide-eyed. "Wait. Wait!" Her eyes got shockingly, even wider, "how's this your mom's book?"

"This one, too..." Julie was looking at the other book. "Um, and your aunt." She held it up, and Amelia whimpered a little at the scrawly red writing.

Spells by Sylvia and Lydia!

"Holy fuck," Amelia whispered, the book shaking in her trembling hands.

"How is that possible?" Melody was looking at Amelia in surprise.

Amelia looked at Rina, who was frowning at her with sympathy. Ashley glanced between them and caught on quick. "Oh, so you knew?" she rounded on Rina. "What's going on?" Her voice got louder.

"Because they lived here," Amelia said. "This was their house."

"Your mom and aunt lived here?" Ashley's voice went up a pitch.

"Where did you find these?" Amelia kept staring at her mom's writing.

"I-In the attic, a couple years ago," Ashley looked bewildered. "My parents never took anything out of the attic."

Amelia closed the book, sighing, short on breath.

"More of their stuff is probably up there..." Ashley mumbled. "Why didn't you tell me?" She took a step toward Amelia. "Why wouldn't you tell me they lived here before?"

Amelia didn't answer.

"Okay, uh," Melody blinked hard, shaking her head slowly. "We looking for this fucking shadow killer, or not?"

Amelia handed the book back to Julie, who cleared her throat. Julie looked through the books, Rina and Melody looking with her. Ashley was staring absently at nothing, and Amelia's mind was racing.

"Here..." Julie whispered.

"What?" Melody looked closer at the page, voice shaking.

"Um, see through them..." Julie's finger was shaking as it lined the words on the page. "How to get into one's head, see through their eyes, move with their body... "

Julie's breath hitched, and everyone was wide-eyed as they stared at the page. Amelia couldn't look at it. She was still standing, arms crossed over her chest, too terrified to look at anything in the book.

And she remembered that dead look on Angela's face when she'd tried to hang herself. Had someone been inside her, using her?

"Says you need their fucking hair, blood, or skin," Rina whispered breathlessly. "What the fuck?"

"So, this could be the spell," Melody wiped her palms on her jeans. "But who's been doing it?"

It looked like they were all afraid to look at each other. Melody looked at Amelia then, gaze piercing. "It's your mom's book."

"I didn't know she was into..." Amelia gestured toward the book before her hand fell to her side. "I had no idea."

"But it's hers," Melody stressed, and Amelia's temper dropped.

"She's dead," Amelia said sharply. Julie winced.

"Could be connected to you," Melody held Amelia's gaze.

"Stop," Rina said quickly. "Let's just..." she sighed, not knowing how to finish.

"I'm gonna go home," Amelia said, wanting to get out of here. "I'm gonna ask my aunt about this. Her name's in there, too."

Before anyone could say anything else, Amelia walked out of the room.

Amelia was lucky to get home when she did, because Lydia decided to come back early. She joined Amelia on the couch. "How are you feeling?" she ran a hand through Amelia's curls.

"Okay," Amelia lied, staring absently at whatever was on the tv.

They fell into normal conversation: dinner, whatever show they needed to catch up on, and then finally Amelia built up the courage.

"Hey, I remembered something Ashley said to me before that I'm curious about," she started, and Lydia looked suddenly wary. "It was when we met, and I told her that house used to be where you and mom lived," Amelia lied. "She remembered the last name Allan, and told me about old books she'd found in her attic before. Some kind of magic books, with mom's name inside."

Lydia was staring at her, but Amelia could tell she wasn't seeing her. She was lost somewhere in her mind, and it traced fear on her face. "Was she into anything like that?" Amelia asked casually. "I thought it was kinda amusing."

Lydia looked away. She said something so quiet that Amelia didn't understand. Before Amelia could ask what it was, Lydia said softly, "we did."

"Uh, did?" Amelia questioned.

"We played with that stuff before," Lydia said softly. "We were kids. Didn't know what we were doing. Sylvia liked witches. You know, silly movie witches. When she found books that were spells, she was so excited. I was so excited. We were kids."

Amelia's skin prickled, because she could see it. They'd done something. Something big.

"So I used my birthday money to buy her spell books for her birthday. Thought it would be fun. We tried all kinds of things in those silly books, and I know you won't believe me, Amelia, but that stuff is real."

Lydia looked at her, horror shining in her wide eyes. "Never touch things like that. I know you don't believe, Ame, but devils are real. I've seen them."

Her words chilled Amelia further. Amelia realized Lydia was clutching the cross she wore around her neck, usually tucked under her shirt.

Lydia looked away again, sniffling. "We hid the books up there, buried them somewhere. Tell Ashley to never mess with them. Never mess with them."

"Okay," Amelia was relieved her voice was steady. "No worries."

The vibe was terrifying, so Amelia changed the subject.

But it wouldn't leave her mind. They'd done something so bad as kids that Lydia was traumatized. Amelia didn't even want to know what it was.

Maybe that shadow figure was a devil. And someone had already played with it.

Twenty-seven

Murder

The shadow was fuel for Amelia's nightmares. It made an appearance in every single one. She could remember her mom being there too, and Rina. And Helena. But Amelia couldn't remember what had happened, because all the dreams blended together and were now fading from her tired mind.

It was eight in the morning, and she didn't want to get out of bed. Someone had used her mom's books to murder people, and she was right back to wondering who.

Ashley. Julie. Melody. Rina.

God, please not Rina.

Amelia was surprised at how much that thought hurt.

It didn't seem like Julie. Then Amelia remembered her mood change. Still, she had every right to hate Hoffman and want him dead. That didn't mean she did it.

Melody was defensive and protective of her friends. Maybe she was pushed over the edge to keep them safe. But Amelia remembered the way she'd looked when she found her uncle, and how badly she seemed to want answers. Didn't seem like she had anything to do with it.

As for Ashley, Amelia didn't know what to think. She didn't trust Ashley, and as she thought about her killing those people and pretending someone took her books, it kinda fit.

Ashley wanted attention. It wasn't a bad thing, because we all want attention from people we care about, but maybe Ashley was hurt and lonely to a point of doing something like this to help her friends. To bring them together.

It was insane, and Amelia felt guilty thinking it, but it could be.

A text pulled Amelia out of her thoughts.

Can all of you come by later? We need to talk.

Ashley.

Amelia responded with yeah.

They decided to go to the Miller house in the late afternoon. Amelia hoped Lydia didn't decide to leave work early again today.

The others were already standing in front of the front door when Amelia walked next door. Ashley let them all in, and they went upstairs. The door next to Ashley's was open, and Carrie was inside sitting at her desk.

Ashley closed her bedroom door when they all were inside. "Okay," she breathed, looking at them.

"What are we talking about?" asked Julie quietly, running her fingers through her hair.

"Guess whoever's doing this should confess," Melody shrugged. Her hands were stuffed in the pockets of her hoodie, and she was eyeing her friends with suspicion.

"One of us?" Julie nearly squeaked.

"Yup," Melody cocked her head in a nod.

Silence. Melody huffed, looking impatient. "It's not Amelia."

Amelia stared at her, surprised. Melody looked at her. "You didn't know about those books. You just got here. You knew shit about magic before we showed you stuff. I was thinking you could have taken the books when you slept over with us, but Ash was already missing them before that, right?"

"Um, yes," Ashley nodded.

"I know you, Jules," Melody turned her attention to Julie. "You're one of the two or three people I even trust. So, I trust you. I know you. You ain't gonna kill a person, even if it was Hoffman."

Julie's eyes were shining, and she said nothing.

"You're a lot of talk, Ri," Melody turned her attention to Rina. "But... you might even hurt people if you were pushed. If you could. Maybe a spell is just what you needed."

"How the fuck could you say that?" Rina's shock was all over her face, and so was her hurt.

"I don't want to," Melody gazed at her with sympathy. "But you're like me. I say the same thing about me. I know I didn't do it, but you all don't know that." Melody looked at Ashley then, who stiffened. "Can't say what you'd do Ash, cause I really don't know."

"I didn't kill anyone," Ashley's voice was strained with anger, eyes glimmering with tears. "I hate that you think that."

She looked about to say something else, but the little creak by her door made her groan in annoyance, and she pulled it open to look at her sister.

"Carrie, go away!" Ashley shouted. "You have to stop doing this! Mind your own business!"

Carrie looked at her sister, and the look on the younger girl's face made Amelia shudder.

"Stupid," was all Carrie said.

"Whatever," Ashley made to close the door again, but Carrie held her hand against it.

"You think I'm so stupid Ash, but I have to say it to you just so you can figure it out."

"What?" Ashley looked at her.

Carrie's chilling smile was the only answer she needed to give. The cold realization washed over Amelia, leaving her horror-struck.

Twenty-eight

Loss

The silence was broken by Melody's shaky gasp. "Carrie?"

"I've always listened to you all," Carrie was looking right into Ashley's eyes. "Always wanted to help you all. You all loved magic, and I read about it and wanted to love it too. So I learned and learned, and listened. I wanted to be a part of it, too."

Ashley's breath hitched, and she took a step back.

"You killed them, Carrie?" Rina asked quietly, voice hollow.

"Helena hurt me and Ash all our life. I wanted anything for her not to live with us. My parents wouldn't listen. So like you all do, I looked at magic for help."

"That's not help, Carrie!" Ashley was horrified.

"She would have probably killed you if she stayed!" Carrie took a step closer to her sister. "She makes you not eat! She makes you cry! She makes you cut yourself!"

"God, stop!" Ashley cried.

"She deserved it!" Carrie yelled.

"And the others?" Julie's voice was a fragile whisper.

"I saw what he did to you," Carrie looked at her, and Julie paled. "All the time, I saw. Didn't anyone know I was always in the library? I gave you what you wanted."

"N-No," Julie cried, covering her mouth with her shaking hands.

"I always saw what Noah did to you, too," Carrie looked at Rina, who looked stunned. "He actually said he wanted to smash your entire face in with a rock. So I did that to him."

"Holy fuck," Rina whispered breathlessly.

"And your uncle hurt Tasha," Carrie looked at Melody. "She hid the bruises from you. That's why I sleep over all the time. She's so scared to be alone."

"What?" Melody sounded almost like a hurt child, her face horror-stricken.

"I told her to tell you. She said she was scared you'd kill him. I heard what you said you would do to him, so I just did it."

"Oh my God, Carrie," Melody was breathing heavily, and had to sit down on the bed. Julie sat next to her, putting her arms around her and crying into her shoulder.

"And Angela?" Amelia didn't even recognize her own voice. She didn't really need to ask, because the memory had already come up during all this. Carrie heard what Angela had said about her family.

"That lady thinks she's better than everyone," Carrie glared. "She doesn't know anything about us, but she hates us. She would have tried to get everyone to think it was Ash that killed them."

Amelia breathed, and it hurt. She must have been holding it. She jumped a little at the touch, and turned her head to Rina, who held her hand. Amelia leaned into her, desperate for the comfort.

"I took your books to try other things just to impress you," Carrie was looking at her sister again, sadly this time. "Nothing worked except this. But I saved you and your friends. Those people deserved it."

"It doesn't matter," Melody was sniffling. "You had no right to give it to them, Carrie. Do you know what you've done to yourself?"

"I only helped all of you!" Carrie yelled. "I saved my friends!"

A creak on the staircase made everyone jump. Mrs. Miller walked up slowly. Her face was drained of color, like a corpse.

She'd heard it all.

Ashley broke down when she saw her mother. She fell to her knees, shaking with sobs. Rina knelt next to her, taking her in her arms. Amelia did, too. And then Julie and Melody.

And Carrie watched her mother and sister cry, still saying, "I did it all for all of you," with a confused look on her face, not understanding why they didn't want this.

Twenty-nine

Aftermath

It had been two days since Carrie Miller admitted to everything in that doorway, and Mrs. Miller demanded they all leave.

Amelia had gotten together with Rina, Melody, and Julie since then. They'd voiced wonder on what might be happening now. No one had heard from Ashley.

What do the Miller family do now? Their daughter murdered people with a magic book. Even if they were to turn her in, they couldn't go with that explanation.

But Amelia had a grim feeling that wasn't their plan. She was their child, and she was young. They would protect and defend her with everything they had.

Amelia was sick of thinking about it all, but a text from Ashley the next morning pulled her back in.

Can we all meet? Please?

Amelia agreed. She hoped the others would too.

She was relieved when she went to the Millers' backyard, and all of them were there. Everyone looked tired.

"Um, so," Ashley cleared her throat, pushing her messy braid over her shoulder. "My parents are sending Carrie away. To-To a place that can help. They're saying that Carrie thinks she killed people with magic, and that Carrie has a desire to kill people." Ashley paused to take a shaky breath. "My mom wants it to be a secret. And she made me get rid of all my magic stuff, says she doesn't want to know about any of it, she wants it destroyed. She's gonna stay with Carrie."

Ashley looked down, kicking at the dirt with the front of her boot.

"I'm so sorry, Ash," Julie said softly.

"You're not alone," Melody said, and Ashley looked at her. "You never will be. We're gonna be with you through all this."

"And even though it doesn't feel like it, it's gonna be okay," Rina told her.

"It'll take a while, but it will," Amelia added.

Ashley looked at her in surprise, but she smiled, faint and sad. "Thank you all," she said. "I wouldn't survive this without all of you."

Once again, they all gathered around her for a hug.

When Amelia got home, Lydia was talking to Angela excitedly in the dining room over coffee. "Hey, Ame!" she called. "I have something to tell you."

Amelia went in there, sitting at the table with them. Lydia was smiling, but Amelia recognized a sadness in it.

"So, I've been waiting for a response from an apartment," Lydia started. "I finally got one. We got one."

"Seriously?" Amelia leaned closer.

"Yup!" Lydia nodded, but her smile quickly faded. "But now, with all this going on in town... do you want to live in Mooncrest?"

Amelia stayed quiet for a moment. The books were gone. Carrie was gone. Everything would be okay now.

"I do," Amelia answered. "I do want to stay."

"You're still friends with Ashley Miller?" Angela asked. "And those other girls?"

Amelia nodded. "Yeah, I... I trust them."

"They are not suspects," Lydia said with a glance at Angela. "They were, but no longer. They had nothing to do with those suicides."

"I know," Angela said. "I just worry."

Angela and Amelia caught each other's gaze, and Amelia tried to give her a reassuring smile. Her heart warmed when Angela returned it.

Later that night, Lydia took Amelia to see their new apartment. At first, Amelia was amused that it was on Melody and Rina's block, then she was surprised that it was in Rina's building. They went up the steps, and Amelia was stunned that it was next door to Rina, who was in the hall with her mom, both laughing about something. Confusion fell over Rina when she noticed them.

"Oh, your friend lives next door!" Lydia smiled.

"Wait, what?" Rina asked.

"Uh, this is our new place," Amelia gestured to the door Lydia was unlocking.

She and Rina stared at each other, and then at the same moment, both burst out laughing.

And in that moment, Amelia remembered what it really felt like to be happy.

Thirty

Love

The roar of laughter was a loud one when Melody beat Rina at the game again. Rina groaned, complained, and then threw her arms up and plopped down in a chair to sip at her soda.

"I'm gonna retire," Melody sat at another table, grinning. "I'm too good." She took a bite out of her pizza slice and Rina rolled her eyes.

Julie and Ashley went to the game to play against each other, and Amelia took a seat next to Rina. "Guess you got lucky that one time, huh?" Amelia smirked.

Rina glared, nearly coughing on her soda as she wanted to say something but remembered she was drinking. Amelia laughed.

Rina set the soda down with a little huff. "So, we're neighbors tomorrow," Amelia commented.

"I know," Rina grinned. "Been counting the days."

Amelia was surprised, and Rina looked down and mumbled something, looking like she hadn't meant to say that aloud. "At least I can beat you at games," she said casually before taking another sip of soda.

Amelia chuckled. "True."

Amelia glanced around the arcade, sticking her hands into her pockets. She felt something rocky, and took out the little amethyst.

"Hey, you still have that?" Rina sounded surprised.

Amelia nodded, turning it over in her hand. "It... it does kinda calm me. I mean, a little."

"That's its thing," Rina said.

"How do you feel about magic now?" it was something Amelia had been wondering.

"The same," Rina answered softly. "It's still a place I like to go to for healing, to try and better myself. Attract better things and thoughts. There's a bad part of it, like with everything. Everyone chooses how they use things."

Amelia nodded. "I'm glad you showed me the good parts." She squeezed the amethyst in her hand. "I always think of you when I have this. So maybe the magic soothes me, or just knowing that."

Rina gave a nervous little chuckle, flustered, and Amelia smiled.

They left the arcade, stepping out into the darkness of the dimly lit streets. Amelia looked up at the sky, the full moon shining bright.

"See ya'll," Melody went around to give everyone a quick, one armed hug. She took Tasha's hand and they walked together, and everyone called bye after them. Tasha had been quiet all night, still in shock about her best friend. Melody was trying her hardest to make her smile these days.

"See you," Julie waved before linking her arm with Ashley's. They walked off together, Julie spending the night at Ashley's.

Ashley glanced back at Amelia and Rina, her eyes a little sad and curious. Amelia gave her a smile that she returned before looking away.

Amelia looked at Rina, staring up at the moon. "Still want me sleeping over?"

"Yup," Amelia answered. "Lydia promises to wake us up nice and early to start moving."

"Why?" Rina looked up, arms spread out, and seemed to be asking the moon that question. "Why am I doing this?"

Amelia chuckled. "I do really appreciate your help."

Rina looked at her, and smiled. They moved a little closer to each other. Amelia leaned forward, pressing her lips against Rina's forehead in a kiss.

Smiling, Rina took one of Amelia's hands in her own. Then they walked, hand in hand, under the moonlight, toward the new day tomorrow would bring.

Thanks

Thank you so much for reading! I am incredibly grateful for anyone who takes the time to read my writing. I put a lot of personal things into writing, and my heart is put into my stories, especially this one. I'm grateful you read it, whether you found enjoyment in it or not. I really hope you did.

If you did, and you're interested in more horror and murder mysteries, or me, you can find me on most places as: @aspookything
