Chapter 23

For the Greater Good

Prunella had packed her bag over and hour before it was time to leave for Brain's house. Once she double-checked to make sure everything she would need was secured, she ran downstairs to brew some Darjeeling tea, grabbing her mother's Thermos from a cabinet and retrieving the strawberries she had washed and prepped from the fridge while it steeped. As she completed her tasks, she tried to stay mindful of her purpose tonight: to help Brain make contact with a loved one and get the answers he so desperately sought. What she tried not to focus on was the fact that tonight was the real make-it-or-break-it moment. She had experienced success at Muffy's séance, but she had been completely unaware of it. This would be her first conscious attempt since discovering her gift, and it was hard to deny that the pressure was on to stick the landing.

Oh, great. Why did I have to use a gymnastics metaphor? she thought as she stirred honey into the teapot.

She knew the answer. It was because she missed Marina terribly. Everything reminded Prunella of her, from yoga to her Henry Skreever collection to breakfast cereal for some strange reason. They had not spoken since the day Marina walked out on her. She had been too afraid to even call her and apologize, even though she had no idea what she would even be apologizing for. Marina was the one who had insulted her, assuming she would put her ego above helping Brain. Muffy was even worse, having to get one final dig at her over text, assuming she would outright be mean to him at the second séance. How dare they?

She transferred the Darjeeling to the Thermos and sighed heavily. Maybe she could not blame them. She did sort of have a reputation for that stuff. But that was in the past. She would show them both what she could do tonight, then she would be on the receiving end of the apologies. Then maybe Marina would even take her back.

Take me back? I mean "be friends with me again".

She shook her head. She needed to get out of this frame of mind. She put in her earbuds and played some upbeat pop music to put her in a positive mood as she gathered her things and left on foot for Brain's house.

It was not quite full dark when the limo rolled up to the Powers residence, but the half-moon was already bright in the clear sky. It was getting cold, too, and Prunella hugged the Thermos close to her as she watched the door open wide. Muffy was the first to emerge, and there was an awkward moment during which they had locked eyes only to look away without speaking. Alan was next, and he looked a little confused.

"Where's Marina?" he said before turning to toss a piece of rolled-up white fabric back into the limo cabin and shutting the door.

"She won't be joining us this evening," Prunella said, aware of just how stiff her tone was. "Are we good to go?"

"I texted my parents to let them know the shop is closed, that everything went well, and that Muffy had picked me up. As far as they know, we're all gathered in her den and watching Leaf Blower 16 right now."

"Excellent," she said, forcing a more professional demeanor. "Let us begin."

She held out a hand and gestured for Brain to lead the way. He walked ahead of them and Muffy was quick to stay close behind him. Prunella was not aware that she would be joining them tonight. That was good. She needed another witness to her mastery. Brain took his house key from his front pocket and unlocked the door, holding it for them to enter before locking it behind them. The house was quiet and darkened, illuminated only by a low-wattage lamp here or there, presumably for security purposes.

"Thanks for being here," Brain said to her. "I know we've had our differences, but I'm glad we're able to put them aside and work together."

Prunella hitched up her bag, squaring her shoulders.

"You can save your gratitude for after the séance, Brain," she said in a voice that was kind if unavoidably lofty. "In the meantime, we have work to do…"

Brain kept his room as dark as possible, choosing only to turn on his desk lamp.

"You cleaned your space?" Prunella asked him, glancing around the room as he took a seat on his bed.

"Yes," he said. "Like you suggested."

Muffy crossed the room to be by Brain's side, but she remained standing, her arms folded across her chest.

"The spirits can detect a hostile stance, Muffy," Prunella said as she began pulling items from her bag.

"I'm not being hostile," Muffy said haughtily, catching herself and then evening out her tone. "I'm waiting to get started like everyone else."

"Well, you look hostile. That's all."

"Oh my god…" Muffy exhaled. "Here," she said letting her arms swing downward to her sides and allowing her shoulders to droop. "Is this relaxed enough?"

Prunella regarded her for a moment. "That's perfect," she said, and she went back to work.

As she set up the candles and lit them, she stole glances at Brain and Muffy as they waited. They both looked nervous. Brain sat elbows to knees as he watched Prunella's actions, his fingers steepled and pressed to his chin. It almost looked as if he were praying, though she knew better of him. Muffy just looked down at Brain, her brow creased with concern. She lowered her head and whispered something to him, and when he looked up, she forced an encouraging smile. There was another whispered line, and then Muffy offered her fist. Brain smiled back and bumped his fist with hers, and they ricocheted off each other, fingers splayed.

"We're ready," Prunella said, sitting cross-legged on the floor once everything had been set up. "Come, complete the circle with me."

Brain and Muffy did as she asked and moved to join her, but not before Brain made a quick detour to his desk, where the white queen sat next to his computer monitor. He took it and handed it to Prunella as he and Muffy took a seat on the floor with her. She placed the queen in the center of the circle, then picked up the container of strawberries and passed them around. Brain took one and bit into it, while Muffy nibbled on hers timidly.

"We share our food with the spirits as an offering and ask that they commune with us."

She took a small strawberry for herself and popped the whole thing into her mouth while she poured the Darjeeling into the Thermos cap cup. She passed the cup around.

"Drink with us…"

Brain took a sip of the tea and made a pained pace. He passed the cup to Muffy who eyed the cap cup then Prunella before drinking from it herself. She handed the tea back to Prunella, and Prunella finished what was left before offering her hands to them. They were linked in a circle.

"Let us close our eyes… Spirits, we know you see us. Some of you may recognize our faces, recognize what is in our hearts and on our minds. Tonight, we ask that the spirit of Lydia Fox come forth and make herself known. Lydia, please let us be aware of your presence. I offer myself to you as a conduit. You may speak through me…"

Prunella cleared her mind and left herself open for reception, allowing calm to wash over her, and she waited. And waited. And waited.

"Again, we are here tonight to speak with the spirit of Lydia Fox. Lydia, you have reached out to us before. All are eager to hear from you again. If there is anything you wish to say, you may speak through me at any time."

Once again, Prunella left herself open and waited. The only thing she could hear was the sound of Brain breathing, which was heavy on the intake and shuddery on the way out. He gripped her hand tightly.

"It's okay," she murmured to the darkness, trying to assuage his apprehension. "It's fine. Sometimes it just takes a while…"

But she could feel her palms growing sweaty. She did not count the seconds but they remained in the circle for a long while. The floor was growing harder and more uncomfortable. Muffy jostled Prunella as she shifted her position slightly.

"Lydia Fox," Prunella said in her best attempt to drown her desperation with a confident tone, "someone very special has been waiting to hear from you. Please come forth and make your presence known."

Minutes passed.

Speak to me… Speak to me… Please, Lydia, just give me something…

"Lydia?"

Brain was speaking this time, and he sounded distraught.

"It's Alan," he whispered. "I love you. I'm sorry I never told you that, sorry I didn't say it years ago. I'm sorry I wrecked your chess set. I'm sorry I tried to act like nothing mattered after you left. Please, say something."

It was as if a white-hot hand were squeezing Prunella's heart. The pain in his words was otherworldly, transcendent, and it became a part of her. It dawned on her just how all-consuming his grief was. Marina had sensed it: he was thoroughly in love with this girl and had never gotten over it. And Lydia was giving her nothing, no matter how hard she tried.

You can still help him, though. Just give him a little something. Calm him down, ease his mind.

Lie to him.

For the greater good. You'll make him feel better, and that's what matters.

Prunella ignored sniffles coming from Muffy's direction. She supposed she could do that. Just give him some vague imagery and a brief cryptic message to let him know that Lydia was at peace and that there were no hard feelings. Yeah, she could do that, totally. For the greater good.

"I'm… I'm getting something," Prunella said.

"Yeah?" said Brain eagerly, tearfully.

"I… I…"

Her tongue felt heavier than lead as hatred for herself crept in over what she was about to do. What a bizarre feeling that was. She fought to speak the words.

"I… I… I…can't do this. I'm sorry, but I can't."

Prunella opened her eyes. Brain stared back at her in disbelief, his eyes welling with tears.

"What do you mean you can't do it?" he said, sounding betrayed. "You did it the other night."

"I'm trying as hard as I can. It's just not working… I'm getting nothing. I'm sorry."

"You're obviously not trying hard enough. Let's go. We'll do it again."

He held out his hands, indicating they should reform the link. There was a crazed gleam in his eyes. Muffy looked at him, horrified.

"I said we'll do it again. Come on."

"It's not going to work."

"Come on, Prunella. It has worked and it will work again. Let's go!"

"Brain—Alan, listen to me… I am a…a fake. I've always been a fake. I wanted to believe you so badly the other night. I want so much for this to be real. But never once have I actually made contact with a spirit, no matter how much I practiced or how hard I tried. It would seem the séance at Muffy's house was a string of coincidences and lucky guesses and that's all. I'm sorry I took advantage of you and caused you pain. But it's clear that I just can't help you. And I can't lie to you either. So now you know."

Alan shook his head.

"What do you want—money?" he said as he broke the circle and crawled toward her, sweeping the strawberries and the queen aside as he did so. "How much? I'll pay you."

"Alan, no!" Muffy cried. "You promised!"

Before Prunella realized what was happening, Alan had reached toward her and grabbed fistfuls of her blouse. He pulled her close and pleaded with her. Prunella grabbed his forearms and tried to free herself, but he was strong and it was hard to get a firm grip over the sliding fabric of his shirt. Her heart raced. Was this what fearing for your life was like?

"Just tell me how much!"

Muffy tackled Alan from behind, trying desperately to wrest his grip from her blouse.

"Alan, stop! Let go of her! Please! Please, don't do this! Think!"

"This was my last hope!" Alan sobbed as he at last let go of the blouse.

Once free, Prunella scrambled to her feet, fearing he might try for her again if she hung around to give him the chance.

"No, it isn't," Muffy said, still holding onto him.

"I'm scared, Muffy. I don't know what to do!"

"Yes, you do," Muffy said, trying to soothe him through her tears, "you just don't see it right now. Remember…remember the screw that rolled underneath your shelves? Right? Remember how you eventually figured out exactly what to do to get it back? And the key? Remember how all it needed was one tiny extra push to unlock it? You just needed to clear your head first before you figured it all out. You already know what to do about this because we've discussed it. You just can't see it now."

Prunella had no idea what Muffy was talking about, but it must have meant something to Alan, for he deflated just a little in her arms, his head bowed low.

"This feels so much bigger than me," he said, "like I can't do it alone."

"I'll help you," Muffy said. "Whatever you need. I promised I wouldn't leave you behind, and I meant it. Just, please…you have to let go. We'll get through it, I swear."

"I just miss her so much…"

"I know," she said, holding onto him even more tightly as he wept openly. "I'm so, so sorry…"

What have I done?

It was all Prunella could take. Her whole body was shaking. She stooped down and quickly snatched her bag and the Thermos from the floor, not caring to leave Alan and Muffy and the rest of her things behind. She needed to get out of here and fast. She bolted out of the room and down the stairs as fast as her wobbly legs would carry her. She stopped to compose herself once she made it out of the house, mostly because she did not think her heart could take it if she tried to run while she was this upset. Instead, she tried to concentrate on maintaining a steady pace as she continued toward home, bathed in streetlamp and moonlight, frequently wiping away tears that did not seem to stop.

To be continued…