"I'll be in my room if you need me!" I shout down the staircase.
"Alright, but its lights out by 10:30!" Mother replied from the dining room, cleaning up after tonight's supper. "It's a school night, so I don't want staying up too late!"
"Okay!" With that, I race to my bedroom both nervous, yet excited.
Tonight was the night. The winter solstice, longest night of the year, was the perfect time for this. The door between the spirit and mortal world was wide open; anything or anyone could easily get through. Yes, tonight I was going to summon a ghost.
I enter my room and lock the door. I don't want Mother to walk in on me; she'd kill me for doing this. I pull out my supplies from under my bed, and set things up. My spirit board was placed on a red silk fabric with 5 black and white candles forming a circle around it. I burn some sage and open the curtains to let moonlight spill into my room. Turning out the lights, the candles and the moon are the only light source.
It's time, now or never! I kneel down, placing my hands on the glass. A cold breeze coming from nowhere sends the candles flickering. I take a deep breath.
"W-Whose there?" I whisper a bit shaken. I gasp as the glass starts moving over the letters.
A-l-f-r-e-d. Alfred.
"How old are you?"
1-8. 18 years old, that's young! Okay, so far so good. Now, it's time for more personal questions.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you die?"
W-a-r. Oh, wow. Such a young veteran!
"When?" I start to relax at this point. Alfred seems to be a friendly spirit.
1775. The first war that comes to mind is the American Revolution. A Yankee, no doubt.
"I'm guessing you're an American."
Yes. I smile. I might as well help the poor lad. Having to spend two centuries wondering the in-betweens of the living and the dead must be terrible.
"Well, is there anything you want for you to cross over?" I instantly regret asking the question. A strong wind blew out my candles and the temperature dropped drastically. I wrap my arms around myself in an attempt to keep warm, but it's futile. I feel someone pull me into a hug and I begin to feel faint.
Before I black out I hear a low whisper in my ear. "You."