Disclaimer: I do not own Thirteen Ghosts, characters, places, etc. All rights belong to Dark Castle Entertainment, Warner Brothers, and their respective owners.
In Pieces
Summary: There were eleven choices. Eleven out of twelve who could follow her. Thirteen years after the glass house, a wiser Kathy Kriticos inevitably finds herself caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, where an unlikely acquaintance is the only one who can save her. Kathy/?
Chapter Two
They send me away to find them a fortune
A chest filled with diamonds and gold
The house was awake
With shadows and monsters
The hallways they echoed and groaned
I sat alone, in bed 'til the morning
I'm crying, "They're coming for me."
And I tried to hold these secrets inside me
My mind's like a deadly disease
I'm bigger than my body
I'm colder than this home
I'm meaner than my demons
I'm bigger than these bones
And all the kids cried out,
"Please stop, you're scaring me."
I can't help this awful energy
Goddamn right, you should be scared of me
Who is in control?
I paced around for hours on empty
I jumped at the slightest of sounds
And I couldn't stand the person inside me
I turned all the mirrors around
I'm bigger than my body
I'm colder than this home
I'm meaner than my demons
I'm bigger than these bones
And all the kids cried out,
"Please stop, you're scaring me."
I can't help this awful energy
Goddamn right, you should be scared of me
Who is in control?
I'm well acquainted
With villains that live in my head
They beg me to write them
So they'll never die when I'm dead
And I've grown familiar
With villains that live in my head
They beg me to write them
So I'll never die when I'm dead
I'm bigger than my body
I'm colder than this home
I'm meaner than my demons
I'm bigger than these bones
And all the kids cried out,
"Please stop, you're scaring me."
I can't help this awful energy
Goddamn right, you should be scared of me
Who is in control?
"Control" — Halsey
…
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." – H.P. Lovecraft
…
Preparations for the merger nearly consumed Kathy's every waking moment as she, Tom, and the rest of the staff worked around-the-clock the following week. Tom, as well as her employer, never left the office, whereas the others clocked out once their designated tasks were finally finished.
Kathy pulled a few all-nighters, surviving on coffee and cream as she accomplished whatever task asked of her, even if it included calling in an order for delivery or running out for more coffee.
At this point, she had no wish to know how many red-eye espressos she'd consumed, considering it was only Wednesday. She was also reluctant to acknowledge how many hours of sleep she had, only returning home a few hours a night to rest, eat, shower, and find a new change of clothes.
Nevertheless, she reminded herself that a lack of sleep and pulling long hours were a necessary evil. If she continued to demonstrate her loyalty and commitment, then perhaps she would attain the promotion her employer promised her after the merger closed. She had already put five years into her current position, and she would put in five more if it meant that she would finally become a branch manager.
Still, she was beginning to feel the physical strain on her body, and realized no amount of caffeine would replenish her energy. She needed at least a good eight hours' worth of sleep to recover some of her strength.
Besides, she quietly reasoned, it's not going to help if I'm about to collapse during this stupid merger.
It was already Wednesday, and she and her colleagues had less than forty-eight hours before Friday's scheduled meeting with both banks' presidents.
She needed to be at her best.
As she considered what she would say to Tom about taking some paperwork home with her, she noticed her friend Shannon strolling towards her with a half-hidden grin.
Kathy stilled at the sight of it, knowing that no good could come from such a look. Shannon Mason was indeed a fearsome thing to behold, with her easygoing nature, pixie-like appearance, and a taste for adventure, Kathy often found herself more than once flummoxed by the petite blonde.
Normally, they would go out for coffee or lunch with a few of their colleagues. That was the normal side of her friend.
The other side…
Be cayuhful, her conscience warned in the background of her thoughts. She's upta somethin'. Again.
She didn't disagree; Shannon's bold expression said everything.
Having been exposed to what was a seemingly harmless gesture for the last five years, Kathy always wondered how the closest friend she had in Montana envisioned some of their most interesting escapades.
As a native of Helena, Shannon had attended a local community college, having graduated with only a communications degree instead of one in business. Shannon's education was the polar opposite of Kathy's studies, but she didn't doubt that Shannon was talented in communicating with people, her extrovertive personality sometimes too contagious among those around her.
Indeed, there was always a party when Shannon Mason was involved.
Even Kathy, who had gradually become more introverted, sometimes felt compelled to come out of her shell. Rather unsurprisingly, Shannon didn't seem to mind Kathy's scars, and even went so far as to try to fix her up on a few dates. Shannon's attempts at matchmaking had, just as unsurprisingly, never worked, but Kathy didn't hold it against her. Shannon only wanted to help Kathy out.
And so, as she considered the bubbly blonde, she noticed the latter's hands were surreptitiously kept behind her back. Kathy inwardly sighed, waiting to see what madness Shannon would inevitably have her agree to.
"My God, Kathy, you look as bad as I feel," Shannon remarked. "Have you gotten any sleep?"
Kathy flushed slightly, but then shook her head. "I think I won't until all of this is over."
Shannon snorted. "You're telling me. I knew this week would be murder, but I didn't expect for a semi-truck to run us ten times over. That's how I feel, anyway. I can't imagine how you're handling it, considering that you've put in more time than the rest of us combined. I hope Tom isn't keeping you chained at your desk," she groused, before checking for said ball and chain.
The young teller received a shrug in return. "I'm tired, yes, but this has to be done, Shannon."
"I know it does, Kathy, but you have to get some sleep, too," Shannon argued.
With a half-smile, Kathy responded, "I'll get all the rest I need in a week, I promise. Actually, come to think of it, I'll just…rest when I'm dead, Shannon. Won't that also work out?"
"Very funny," Shannon rejoined. "But then, I shouldn't be surprised since I know that's exactly what you'll do. You really have to allow yourself some time to relax, merger or no merger. That's why I'm taking your destiny into my own hands before the big event." With another grin, she revealed what she had kept hidden from behind her back. "Surprise!"
Kathy blinked, stunned by the smiling orange face of a Jack-o-Lantern grinning on a card back at her. "What's this?" she asked numbly, unable to process the simple card's meaning.
"Pssh, it's an invitation, silly! Have you forgotten that tomorrow's Halloween?" Shannon asked wryly. "I'm planning an all girls' night with some of the ladies here. There should be seven of us. Tracy, Mindy, Amber, Lena, her sister Sara, who works the Rockies, and yours truly are definitely on board for some fun—which leaves you, Kathy dear, as our lucky seventh."
Slightly taken aback by the sudden prospect of a girls' sleepover—something of which she hadn't done since high school—and a "light" wine party, Kathy regarded the invitation warily.
"I don't know if I can make it, Shannon," she admitted, knowing well enough that she should spend Thursday night preparing for the following morning's long line of meetings.
Shannon presented her with another unladylike snort. "We're going to drink, laugh, eat pizza, tell our fortunes with Lena's Tarot cards, and watch Gary Oldman's lovely ass in Dracula," she deadpanned. "What more could you possibly need to relax before throwing yourself into a swarm of meetings? Really, Kathy, you can stop adulting for one night, at least. It's not like we're going to talk about boys and braid each other's hair. I trashed my Tiger Beat and Bop mags a long time ago."
Despite her best efforts in demurring, Kathy knew Shannon had a point. Perhaps she could allow herself a little time before the big day. "All right," she reluctantly agreed. "You can count me in."
"Excellent!" Shannon chirped. "I knew you couldn't say no, namely to Gary Oldman and his lovely backside! God, if there was a vampire prince after me like that…swoon!"
"You forget that he turned into a werewolf, a vampire bat, and then rats," Kathy cut in, ever frank in reminding her friend that the supernatural was far from romantic. "Rats are not sexy, Shannon."
The blonde grinned. "Well, maybe not to you. Me, on the other hand…I could think of something kinky with a vampire, a trained rat, and some string cheese."
Kathy visibly grimaced. Leave it to Shannon's imagination to forever ruin something as innocent as string cheese. She couldn't ask for a more inventive friend. "Thanks for the lovely image, Shannon, I owe you one."
Winking, Shannon chimed in, "Always a pleasure, Kathy, just as it's my duty to pull you out of that landfill on your desk. I'm going to require you to leave whatever work you plan to do in your car tomorrow. You just need a change of clothes and whatever else you need to doll yourself up for Friday. Papers stay in the car," she reemphasized. "No work, just play, otherwise it's going to leave Kathy Kriticos a dull girl."
A dark eyebrow rose in dry reciprocation. "Thanks for The Shining reference. I'll commit that one-liner to heart."
"Be sure that you do," Shannon retorted, a flaxen eyebrow mirroring Kathy's. "And next year, I'm dragging you out to see Dracula Untold. Luke Evans has such a fine ass, too…" She dodged a wadded paper Kathy threw at her. "Okay, I can take a hint. Vampires are my territory, while yours are dreamboats from actors past—not that there's anything wrong with guys like Valentino or Fred Astaire." Hearing an exasperated sigh emanate from the desk, she knew when to take her leave. "Maybe I should invite them over, too."
Turning as if on cue, she pointedly ignored the icy glare Kathy cast at her, smirking once again as she returned to her own desk. She-devil that she was, Shannon knew how to get her shy friend's blood boiling. It was totally worth doing, if only to remind Kathy that she needed to live a little.
The young woman in question, however, could not agree as she tried to refocus on the merger's contract for the rest of the evening, her energy spent on surviving an unforeseen party, which would surely offer only an awkward evening with a group of giggly, wine-induced colleagues.
Happy Halloween, indeed.
She couldn't wait, grimly predicting as she typed that the party would probably be a terrible parody of a Vincent Price film. She only hoped it wouldn't be one like The Last Man on Earth. Shannon would let a horde of vampires in if such were the case.
…
The following day was just as tedious and draining as those previous. If Kathy were a betting woman, she'd wager heavily she'd put at least three large trees to death, the amount of copies for each board member of both banks beyond astronomical in page length.
"Looks like we're adding the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Apocrypha, plus a Third Testament to this Bible of a merger," Tom responded sardonically as he beheld her handiwork. "How many trees went on the chopping block, you wonder?"
"Too many," Kathy answered wearily. "I just want to be sure everything looks right before I clock out for the evening."
Tom cocked a half-knowing grin. "You're going to Shannon's little Halloween party, I gather?" He then offered her a full smile—the first she'd from him in a week. "Looks like she's rounding up most of the office's staff for it. I just hope you girls don't talk too badly about us guys. I know we can be pigs sometimes."
Kathy laughed before she could stop herself. "We won't be too hard on you guys, even though you sometimes bore us with all of the end-of-the-world deadlines you throw at us."
"Cute," Tom replied dryly. "Just be ready for the merger; there will be fireworks tomorrow morning, trust me."
Kathy's face fell. "You think it's going to go badly?" she asked, her expression becoming serious.
Her superior only shrugged. "Devil if I know. Truth is, Megan will kill me if I've driven her and the kids nuts over nothing. I'm actually more worried over the little shitfit Valerie will throw. You know how she tries to press Mitchell for the upcoming manager position."
He was met with a dark look.
Yes, Kathy knew what kind of social-climbing, backstabbing witch Valerie Jones-Masters was. The woman was half the reason why Kathy had busted her backside for weeks. God forbid a leach like her rival snag the position she wanted, simply through charm and influence. She didn't care for the fact Valerie hailed from a wealthy Hartford banking family. Nor did she care that Valerie was seven years younger, a red-haired siren with a golden tongue, and was an absolute ten in anything she wore.
Arthur Kriticos had instilled in his children the belief that honesty and hard work paved the true way in accomplishing one's goals. Bobby was on the same road at school, while Kathy…endeavored to continue that long road on her own terms.
Refusing to take any shortcuts, she prided herself in working long hours and proving her dedication, time and again.
Giving Tom a half-smile, she wordlessly conveyed her feelings regarding the matter. Despite their differing work ethics, both agreed that a woman who had only just arrived the previous year was unready for such a promotion.
"You know, when all of this is over, I'm going to put in a good word for you," he promised, barely above a whisper. "I'll remind the boss about your part in this merger, and how you've been an integral part of this bank for years."
"Thanks, Tom," Kathy replied. "You know how much I appreciate it."
He didn't, of course. Not really. But Kathy accepted it. It was as far as she would, perhaps, have as a promise to a promotion from one as understanding as her figurative overseer. Giving him her most convincing smile, she handed him her hard-wrought work and took her leave.
Leave him to look over the last-minute details.
It was his job, anyway.
She needed a break, and was honestly grateful for a girls' night, which involved pizza and movies. After micromanaging everything, she was grateful for a respite before tomorrow morning engulfed her in another slew of meetings, negotiations, and, hopefully, a successful merger.
Shaking her head, she noticed the time. It was nearly 6:30 P.M. She was supposed to be at Shannon's with three large pizzas in half an hour.
Yuz will make it thayah on time, don't worry, her conscience reassured her.
She quietly groaned, her feet protesting the heels she wore. These are definitely coming off in the car, she thought in return, and gathered her coat, purse, and a thick folder—which she'd pinky promised Shannon she'd leave on the backseat—before she shut down her work computer for the night.
As she made her way past the vacant desks whose occupants had already departed, she noticed that her employer's office was far from vacated. Out of the corner of her eye, she espied Mr. Harrison, Tom, John Sanders, who was a regional bank manager, and the she-devil herself.
Kathy refrained from making a visible face of disgust. Even the attire her rival wore befitted her name, a dark-red pencil length skirt with a white blouse and stilettos to match. Her shoulder-length hair was fanned back, with a look reminiscent of Farah Fawcett's days as a blonde bombshell from Charlie's Angels.
Don't read too much into it, she told herself, although she couldn't shake the feeling that a secret meeting was taking place. Why else would the bank's regional manager be in attendance? She wanted to say that it was because of the merger. Mr. Sanders was expected to be at the bank in the morning. Nevertheless, Kathy felt something amiss. Perhaps she should have worn something more bright and cherry. Her black blouse and gray skirt with short black heels were far from the eyesore she'd just witnessed.
If anything, she was more resolved to enjoy the party. It had been a long time since she'd enjoyed herself without worrying over deadlines.
It didn't take her long to pick up Shannon's pizza order; her friend lived fifteen minutes away from the restaurant. And so, as Kathy pulled into the driveway, she noted the time.
6:57 P.M.
Right on time, as predicted.
Told ya that ya'd make it, sweetaht.
Kathy grinned. Thanks for the reminder, conscience. Reaching for the heels she'd discarded on the passenger side's floor mat, she pulled them back on, grabbing her purse, overnight bag, and the pizzas.
"I see that you're multitasking, as always," Shannon called from the front door before coming out to join her. She was followed by her French Papillon, Trixie, whom Kathy found adorable from all of the photos on Shannon's work desk. Trixie barked excitedly as she trotted alongside Shannon.
Kathy found the scene cute, considering that the little "butterfly" adored her master. The tiny dog suited Shannon's adventurous nature as the young teller of twenty-three was already out of the pink A-line dress she'd worn earlier, her attire now a pair of skinny jeans and a purple T-shirt with gold lettering that said "Man-Slayer" on it. Kathy looked at her questionably, but said nothing as Shannon took the pizzas.
"Thanks for picking these up," Shannon said. "I've got snacks and a bottle of Pinot Noir and Riesling out right now. You can help yourself to whatever you want. But first," she continued on with a scolding finger, "I want you out of your working girl clothes and into something comfortable. There's a bathroom two doors on the right. You can change in there, or in one of the upstairs bathrooms. You can set your stuff on the couch near the door. The rest of the crew should be in the kitchen or living room. We're setting up tonight's festivities."
As used to Shannon's chatter as she was, Kathy didn't flinch at the sudden barrage of information she'd just received. A change of clothes. Bathroom. Snacks and wine. Socializing. All in that order. Got it.
"Give me five minutes, and I'll join you ladies in the kitchen," she replied, earning a smile from Shannon.
"It'll be nice to see you in something other than a skirt or slacks for once," Shannon remarked before disappearing with Trixie into the kitchen with the pizzas.
Shaking her head at the well-meaning barb, Kathy made her way to the half-bath down the hallway. A few minutes' privacy was certainly needed as she took in her tired reflection in the bathroom's oval mirror. Shadows rested under her eyes, while the very scant eyeshadow and mascara she applied that morning was beginning to cake a little. Taking a tissue, she smoothed the dusky remnants before changing out of her wrinkled blouse, skirt and shoes, and into a pair of jeans.
Tugging on a dark-green sweater, she completed her look with a pair of matching socks. A scrunchie soon followed as she pulled the thick dark hair away from her face. She vaguely smiled at her appearance. In the years since college, she'd finally allowed her hair to grow a little over halfway down her back. As per her daily ritual, she would usually style it in long curls that obscured some of the scars. It was a very rare occasion in which she would pull it back into a bun, let alone away from her face.
Now, however, she just wanted it out of her eyes. Tonight, she would allow the girls to see her scars in all their grisly glory. They already knew she had them, although the story she often recounted involved an attack while she was at college, the perpetrator never caught. The story was true enough to render itself plausible. The girls had even sympathized with her, knowing well how some universities had such brutal attacks to happen.
Without giving her scars a second thought, she reset her necklace over the sweater—a silver locket her father had given her the Christmas after losing her mother—as she readjusted a pair of hoop earrings that complemented the locket.
Never truly one for jewelry, the other piece she continually wore was a silver charm bracelet—a twenty-fifth birthday present from Bobby—that featured a tiny horse which reflected her childhood love of them, a sun with a sapphire birthstone in its rounded center, a Greek Orthodox cross, a book, a four-leaf clover, a rose, and a cactus that Bobby added just for laughs.
Each year, he would get her a new charm for her birthday, the latest being the four-leaf clover. The charm arrived in the mail with a birthday card a month ago—just in time for her thirty-second birthday. Amidst the card's birthday wishes, Bobby had written that the clover was for luck for the merger, but Kathy also knew that he wished her the best with the managing position she desired.
At her age, she was ready for a promotion. The delicate bracelet glinted in the dim bathroom light, as if in accordance with her thoughts, when she reached for her bag and turned off the light.
Time to go out and socialize, she mused as she placed her purse and bag with several others on a nearby chair. She heard laughter in the kitchen when she entered as several familiar faces greeted her.
"So glad you could make it, Kathy!" Amber, also a teller and one of Shannon's BFFs since high school, said in welcome. "Thanks for picking up the pizza! You should get yourself some wine after the craziness from today."
Mindy, Shannon's other high school BFF and miracle accountant, chimed in, "Yes, today was a real shitstorm in accounting. I can't tell you how many files I had to access and copy." She nodded to Kathy. "Did Tom fall over with the pile I gave you?"
Kathy smiled as she accepted a glass of Riesling offered to her. "He tried not to faint in front of me, but I've a feeling that he's going to pull an all-nighter and look through everything."
Shannon snorted. "I don't doubt it," she remarked, her blonde curls bobbing in agreement. "I can't see how Megan stands his panicking all the time. I'd go crazy with a guy like that."
"Which is why you prefer the bad boys," Tracy remarked with a smile as she flippantly flipped a lock of brown hair away from her face. "You haven't changed since college."
The tax accountant received a shrug in response. "True," Shannon admitted. "But you have to admit that Jack McGinnis was great in bed. And that bike of his was…to die for. I miss riding it more than I miss riding him."
"TMI, Shannon," Tracy rejoined, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "I don't need to visualize that, you know."
"I never asked you to," the blonde returned and took another sip of her red wine. "I just miss his Harley, that's all. I didn't even mind my name being added to his little black book, if it meant that I could ride his Harley again."
"So what kind of movies are we going to watch?" Sara interjected, wisely changing the subject.
Shannon blinked, but then smiled. "I hope you ladies don't mind, but I got some childhood favorites." She proceeded to reach for a stack of DVDs—undoubtedly from her personal collection—as she read aloud the titles, "We have Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Crow, 30 Days of Night, oh, and The Lost Boys."
Mindy laughed at her old friend. "You didn't get us any chick-flick horror films," she teased, understanding Shannon's proclivities all too well. "No real blood and gore, but eye-candy to enjoy."
"Of course there's blood and gore," Shannon countered defensively. "But I figured that a handsome male lead couldn't hurt things."
"I'm not complaining," Lena, who had been quiet up until then remarked. "I just want to get my mind off of tomorrow. We all need this little breather." She glanced at her younger sister who shared the same caramel shade of hair. "Count your lucky stars if your bank doesn't have to go through the headache of a merger."
Sara shook her head. "I'm busy as it is, cashing and depositing checks for people. I'm quite happy just doing that until I finish college."
Everyone, including Kathy, voiced their agreement as a few refilled their glasses, took their allotment of pizza and joined their hostess in the living room. After a democratic vote, they settled on watching The Lost Boys first, whereas Dracula, The Crow, and 30 Days of Night were saved for when it was dark.
Kathy settled herself comfortably on the floor with a pillow. She sat alongside Shannon and Mindy as the other girls found a place. Trixie burrowed herself in between her master and Kathy, which pleased the latter as she would occasionally pet the dog's tiny head.
She vaguely considered the idea of getting a dog herself. She'd long wanted a pet to come home to instead of an empty house. Perhaps, after the merger, she would look into finding one from the local animal shelter. For now, she enjoyed playing with Trixie, who seemed to soak up the attention Kathy gave her.
Yes, she would certainly look into getting a dog—one that would bark happily when she came home. She now understood why Shannon lavished so much attention on her pet, if Trixie's polished pink nails said anything. Kathy vaguely smiled, grateful that Trixie was so friendly.
It would be nice to come home to someone who genuinely wanted to see her.
Returning her attention to the movie, she watched a twenty-something Jason Patric steal the screen as the broody, half-vampire brother who most of the other girls quietly fawned over as they sipped their wine. Kathy inwardly laughed, amused that her colleagues still carried a teenaged appreciation of a handsome male lead with a touch of the supernatural.
In truth, Kathy was grateful that they settled on vampires more than anything else. She had no wish to see a horror movie dealing with ghosts—especially not after the incident when Shannon and Mindy dragged her to a late-night showing of The Woman in Black. She slept with the lights on for a month after seeing it, and vowed she would never let anyone talk her into seeing another ghost film again.
Even now, she shuddered at the nightmarish imagery from the film. The final confrontation between Daniel Radcliffe's character and the ghost had been the worst, as it reminded her of the enclosed hallways of glass, with an equally terrifying entity pursuing her. She'd nearly had a panic attack in the cinema.
After the film, she'd spent the first three nights with waking nightmares of glass and claws, all the while cradling herself with her conscience reassuring her that it wasn't real, that her fears were a thing of the past. It had only been by the fourth night she was finally able to sleep, the familiar timber of her conscience's roughly gentle voice promising she would only dream of pleasant things, such as cherry ice cream and standing by the beach with a beautiful sunset.
Her conscience hadn't lied.
She did dream of what it had promised—which, as was her custom—she chalked up to her own subconscious fulfilling an innate desire to dream of something beyond…that night.
Lena was the one who broke the dark thoughts Kathy unwillingly entertained as she urged each girl to sit across from her as she read out their fortune with a new deck of Tarot cards.
Mindy, although skeptical, was the first to volunteer. Kathy and the others watched as Lena instructed how to charge the deck with one's energy before giving Mindy the deck to shuffle and cut in three stacks. She then rejoined the three into one stack again before Lena instructed her to select seven cards in a set of three rows.
"You'll have twenty-one cards in total," she said as Mindy gingerly set the cards face-down on the table. She then looked at the others, adding, "The top row represents the past, as the first three cards represent the distant past, the fourth you can consider a transition, while cards five through seven represent the more recent past. The next row, as you can guess, is the present. The final row represents the future."
Everyone nodded their understanding, while Lena continued her instruction. "Okay, so the Tarot deck has seventy-eight cards. The Major Arcana has twenty-two, and is considered as the trump cards. They do not have any suits like the Minor Arcana, which contain fifty-six cards and hold lesser secrets, unlike the Major Arcana, which holds greater secrets. The Minor Arcana represent choices people have in their lives, while Major Arcana are fixed events in a person's life.
"The Minor Arcana is almost set up like a regular deck of cards. You have four suits, like you do in poker. These suits go by various names, but I prefer to call them Swords, Wands. These suits go by various names, but I prefer to call them Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins. Everything still with me?" she asked, knowing that her explanation probably confused a few of her audience.
Shannon glanced at her guests, and, surmising their interest, shook her head, "Looks like we're all on the same page. You can continue, Lena, I think we're good."
Lena nodded and continued. "Okay, so, there are two ways the cards will be flipped towards the person receiving the reading: Upright and Reversed. Upright cards usually have a negative connotation, whereas Reversed cards have a more positive connotation. There are also different ways of using the cards. It's a good idea for beginners to take it easy and just do a three-card spread. The three-card spread's first card represents the past, the second the present, and the third the future. It's easy, but not as detailed as the Romany Card Spread that we're about to do. There's also a Pentagram Spread, a Horseshoe Spread, a Celtic Cross Spread, and so on. I know, I know, too much info, but it's good to know a little background on how to play."
Most agreed as Lena set to work on Mindy's fortune. As she addressed Mindy's past, Lena detailed the significance of each card. She explained the changes Mindy experienced in her childhood and teenaged years. "The Queen of Swords sometimes represents a strong female who is independent in the choices she makes. The card also represents a divorce or separation."
Mindy's eyes widened in surprise. "My parents divorced when I was eleven. Mom raised me and married my stepfather, who I call Dad since I haven't seen Bio-Dad in twelve years. Mom also owns a real-estate business in Missoula."
Sara winked at Mindy. "My sis is pretty good at explaining these things. She actually did a reading for me last month, and it fits what's happening in my life to a T."
Everyone continued to watch as Lena explained Mindy's present and possible future. "Based on your present, the Hermit card indicates that you will need to seek some time alone and reflect on the decisions you have to make based on your finances and living situation."
Lena continued to address each card in Mindy's present before shifting to her future, which featured a variety of wands and coins. "You have what appears to be a steady future with possible love in the Ten of Cups. You don't have much to worry about, as love will come. Just give it time, and everything should work out."
Mindy's incredulous expression relaxed significantly at the reassurance. Please, she did as Lena instructed her, and thanked the cards for their advice. The others received similar readings, although Shannon was disappointed that her love life was left in uncertainty, although her finances and overall health had a positive outlook.
"Damn it," she grunted. "And here I was looking forward to meeting Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy next week." She received a joint echo of laughter from her friends, and gingerly accepted Tracy's condolences on the grim news. Exerting an exasperated sigh, she glanced at Kathy and gestured to receive her reading.
Kathy, in turn, shot her a dubious look. "Okay, fine, I'll do it, even though everyone knows what I'm going to ask."
Shannon rolled her eyes before sipping her wine. "We know you're going to ask about the manager position, but why not be adventurous and ask about Mr. Right? He's bound to show up somewhere in those cards."
Amber and Mindy shot each other a knowing look, well-aware of Shannon's attempts at matchmaking when it came to someone as independent and job-minded as Kathy.
The woman in question, however, said nothing in response. In truth, she felt the only Mr. Right in her life would only manifest his image on one of the cards she selected. Her love life would only go so far as that.
Still, she humored the others as she followed the same instructions Lena had given the other girls. Selecting a set of seven cards for each row, Kathy felt her uncertainty mixed with a hint of trepidation. It was an odd feeling, but she felt an ominous sensation when she placed down certain cards. Nevertheless, she made her selection and waited as Lena turned each card over.
As Kathy watched Lena flip the first card, she saw an image that contained four staves. "This is the Four of Wands," she heard Lena explain. "Based on your past, I believe it explains that you had a very happy childhood since the card is generally positive overall."
Kathy nodded in agreement. She'd had an amazing childhood with her parents, and then, later when she was twelve, she'd gained the addition of a sweet, energetic, younger brother.
"Now, the next three cards are a little different," Lena warned.
Glancing down, Kathy noticed that the next three cards were from the Minor Arcana. "What do they mean?" she asked, somewhat nervously.
Lena offered Kathy a sympathetic look. "The Five of Cups represents a deep loss, while the Ten of Wands indicates that you had a very hard time after this loss."
"I lost my mom in a house fire," Kathy admitted quietly. "My dad, brother, and I had to move into a cramped apartment after her death. It was a very difficult time for all of us."
"I can imagine," Shannon chimed in gently, well-aware of Kathy's loss. "You were so young when it happened."
Kathy smiled, half-heartedly. "It was worse for my little brother. He was only eight when we lost Mom," she said as she urged Lena to continue.
The latter took Kathy's cue and flipped the next card. "Okay, so this is the transition card from your past. It's the Paige of Swords, who represents a messenger. I imagine that someone appeared in your life, with unexpected news," she ventured as she turned the fifth card. "The Magician is from the Major Arcana and is a figure that represents mystery and knowledge. He could represent mysterious knowledge you gained from someone, or could be someone you know who sought secret knowledge. I'm a little iffy on the meaning until we see what's next."
Lena then turned the next card over. It was a king who brandished a sword. She sucked in a breath, but spoke before Kathy or any of the others could question her. "Okay, I think I'm beginning to understand. Something terrible happened to you and someone intervened. The King of Swords is a very masculine energy and represents victory over an adversary. I'm assuming he's a male acquaintance, probably a relative who must've stepped in to help you out."
Kathy's face was a blank slate. She neither confirmed nor denied Lena's interpretation. She didn't have to. The young woman seated across from her was batting a thousand. "What's the last card?" Kathy prompted instead, her dark eyes focused on the final card that represented her more recent past.
Turning the card, Lena's solemn expression shifted to one of relief. "It's the Judgment card, which means the Resurrection of the dead. It also means reunions with lost loved ones, or those who have been absent from a person's life." She regarded Kathy with a mark of hesitation before the latter gestured for her to address the present.
As Lena flipped the first card in the next row, she explained the card's significance. "Okay, so, yeah, the Chariot is another Major Arcana card, which, again, is a fixed moment in your life. It symbolizes freedom, which makes sense since it's a transition from your past. Everything you've lost is replaced with new possibilities. And, ah, this goes in line with the next card, the Six of Cups, which indicates that you started a new chapter in your life."
"That's when you left Pennsylvania and moved to Seattle for college!" Shannon interjected excitedly.
Kathy could only nod, stunned as she was by the accuracy of the reading. She listened closely as Lena continued to interpret the rest of the cards.
"The Queen of Cups is a very positive card, as it represents you. Now, I know I haven't known you for very long, but I'm willing to place fifty down that Shannon can vouch for you and say that you're a caring, devoted person to your family, friends, and everyone at work. You're practical, based on what I've seen you do with Tom and Mr. Harrison. The merger would still be a pipedream without your dedication. And, yes, you can take credit for it. You deserve that much and more, Kathy."
"Thanks," Kathy mumbled, blushing slightly in embarrassment. The rest of the circle urged her to simply accept her hard work and acknowledge it for what it was. "Okay, Okay, I'm the Queen of Cups—at least for tonight," she added as she imbibed in her nearly forgotten glass of wine.
Laughing, Lena flipped the next card, her blue eyes brimming with mischief. "And to prove my point, ladies, it looks like the Queen here is about to come into a nice little fortune," she declared as she held up the Nine of Coins. "You're going to come into some serious cash, or at least get that comfy management position you're dreaming of."
Tracy grunted, feigning envy. "Lucky you, Kathy, please remember the rest of us poor little unfortunates, as you sit on your throne of Benjamins."
"I'll be sure to throw a fat stack your way, Tracy," Kathy returned glibly. "After all, it does get lonely sitting on a throne made of cold, hard cash."
"Well, maybe Lena will flip you a King of Coins to join you," Sara ventured as she shared Shannon's interest in matchmaking.
Lena rolled her eyes. "I can hardly summon a card to please a client," she retorted before flipping the next card over. "See my point?" she queried, indicating with a pointed finger toward a card with a circular illustration. "Everyone see that? It's the Wheel of Fate. Another card from the Major Arcana. Lucky little Kathy here has selected a change in her life, which I can safely assume we'll all come to want in our own lives."
Mindy threw Lena a challenging grin. "There are still two cards left in that row. Maybe we'll see if Kathy beats us all and snags the Perfect Man as well."
Shannon wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, Kathy, you have to make up for the sad love lives we're going to have. We're gonna end up as old maids, save for snarky-ass Mindy over there, who has that lazy pig of a boyfriend."
"Hey!" Mindy called out, nearly spilling the remainder of her wine. "Sean isn't a lazy pig; he's a lazy ass, to be precise."
"I stand corrected," Shannon rejoined as she urged Lena on. "Come on already, Lena, let's see if my girl here gets her King."
With an encouraging nod from Kathy, Lena returned to the reading. Turning the next card over, she blinked, as if in surprise. "Well, that's interesting," she mused to a puzzled Kathy. "This card"—She gestured with a blue fingernail—"is the Hanged Man. It's another from the Major Arcana, and while it looks ominous, it can mean an inability to act. It might have something to do with your job, or it could mean something that's happening in your personal life. It indicates that you're unable to make a decision, and it's best to accept the consequences from your uncertainties and move on. Since it's reversed, though, you'll be able to make a decision."
"Well, that's a relief," Kathy remarked, an odd sense of dread suddenly washing over her as she looked at the unturned card next to the Hanged Man. Inclining her head once again for Lena to continue, she held her breath as her reader flipped the card over.
"Damn," Lena belted out in a bewildered tone. "It's the Two of Swords. I totally wouldn't have seen that one coming."
Frowning, Kathy reached for the card and examined the illustration. It was a simple image that depicted a woman with long dark hair in a white gown, blindfolded near the sea, with two swords crossed over her chest. It was an interesting image—one that spoke to a part of her—as she felt drawn to the card. "What does it mean?" she asked, looking up to Lena for an answer.
Lena regarded Kathy with a serious expression. "I'm going to say this particular card is the first one you were drawn to pick up. That's significant because the energy instilled means you have an affinity to this point in your life." She accepted the card when Kathy returned it to her and set it back in its rightful place. "That being said, it's the final card in your present, as it means that you'll have a difficult decision to make, and perhaps someone will come into your life and you'll form a partnership. It really depends on your intuition."
"Oooh, this has to be Kathy's King!" Shannon broke in like a giddy schoolgirl. Lena shot her a look to be quiet.
"It doesn't necessarily mean that this partnership is romantic," she corrected with a curt nod, returning to the reading at hand. "It just means that, although you might know next to nothing about this person, you still intend to trust him or her regardless. I would caution you to be careful, especially since this card follows the Hanged Man. Still, it doesn't mean that this person is out to hurt you. He or she may genuinely want to help you out. I just think you should be careful."
Kathy couldn't agree more as she felt a reluctant desire to not continue the reading. She was more than a little leery of learning more about her future. But if you chicken out now, the others won't let you live it down, she thought, scolding herself for her cowardice. It was just a good game of interpretation. Fake psychics did it all the time with cold readings.
With this in mind, Kathy directed Lena to read the last set. "Might as well see if I get my King," she teased, winking at Shannon. "Maybe then, Aphrodite over here will stop nagging me to go out with every single guy at the office."
"Hey, now, I didn't try to set you up with Pierce, the Hypochondriac Germaphobe, did I?" Shannon cut in. "Even I know not to go that far."
"That's true," Mindy agreed, visibly shuddering at the mental image that one Pierce Stewart conjured with his immaculate four-pattern suits and unnerving green eyes. To most of the girls, he was the antithesis of the bookish Clark Kent.
Sara and Lena took immediate affront and championed a man unable to defend his reputation against several tipsy coworkers. As Lena quietened the group, she turned her attention to the set of cards that represented Kathy's future.
"Okay, now, let's get this show on the road," she muttered and picked up the first card. "The Knight of Wands reversed…interesting. I haven't seen that fellow in a while. And, no, Shannon, he doesn't represent a potential love interest—with a big wand in his pants—quite the opposite, in fact."
Curious, Kathy pressed Lena to explain, "Is it a good sign?"
Lena hesitated, before shaking her head. "It's a card, much like the King of Swords, which radiates a very masculine energy. However, unlike the King who desires justice, the reversed Knight is more so one on the warpath or reckless. He could represent a careless mistake or be someone who might do something to hurt your interests. It can be about business or just be plain and personal. I would again advise that you take care if you feel something is off."
Kathy took the advice to heart as she watched Lena turn the next card. Another Knight, one with cups, revealed itself. Without waiting for an explanation, she took it in her hand and examined it. "Okay, so if the reversed Knight of Wands is reckless, what about the Knight of Cups? I'm guessing that's who he is."
"And you'd be right," Lena confirmed as Kathy continued to stare at the card, which depicted a knight in shining armor, riding astride a gallant horse next to a river. "By the way, that's the second card you've had an urge to hold, as both are tied to earth and water. It's a good sign, especially since the Knight of Cups is—and you've guessed it, Shannon—Kathy's King. Not only is the Knight in the upright position, which is a bearer of good news and health, but he's sometimes also considered to be the love who'll sweep you off your feet. He's connected to one's finances and maintains a link to the spiritual aspects in your life. An overall excellent card for everything you currently want at the bank."
Holding onto the card for a moment longer, Kathy's gaze returned to the Knight of Wands. "You know, I've noticed that I've had two Knights in a row. Does that mean anything?"
"I think it does," Lena replied as she reflected on both cards. "They may represent two men who are about to come into your life, hence the conflict from the previous cards. You might even find yourself in one of those godawful love triangles," she smirked with a teasing voice.
Kathy made a face. "Let's just hope that I don't have to choose between a vampire and a werewolf. Think I'm pretty much done with the supernatural," she muttered, the implication of her words holding more meaning than her friends knew.
Shannon, however, only shrugged at the remark. "I don't know, Kathy, judging by Gary Oldman, vampires are very good at seduction, and I'm sure werewolves are absolute beasts in bed."
A collective sound of groans reverberated in the wake of her words. Shannon, naturally, took her companions' disgust in stride. Lena, however, ignored Shannon and nodded to Kathy. "Let's finish your reading," she muttered, flipping another card.
A tower, set ablaze with people falling from it, greeted Kathy menacingly. She paled slightly at the sight of it, a memory, long suppressed edging towards her conscious mind. "What does the Tower mean?" she inquired, half-afraid to know.
Lena's mouth thinned into a firm line. "This card was upright," she muttered. "Okay, usually in this position, it means destruction, a great change, or even despair. In layman's terms, it can mean a loss of a family member or friend, losing a job, a home, etcetera. Really, it's not the best card to have in the upright position, but it isn't the end of the world. I'd advise you to beware of something unwanted happening in the future."
Nodding glumly, Kathy urged her to continue as Lena turned the next card, which, to her discontent, was the Devil. "What does it mean?" she muttered, her voice devoid of feeling.
The rest of the group was silent. Even Shannon said nothing as she looked at Kathy in concern. Lena held the card and regarded it solemnly. "The Devil usually means to feel trapped in a situation, like work or a relationship. This is actually a time to reflect on what's trapping you or making you feel hopeless. I caution you to look at every aspect of your life and see if there's anything that you feel is confining you."
"That's a relief," Shannon muttered as Kathy thanked Lena for the interpretation.
Gingerly accepting Kathy's thanks, Lena turned the next card that depicted a young maiden sitting in bed with nine swords above her head. Lena's eyes widened in surprise before looking at Kathy with a look of sympathy. "Okay, so the Nine of Swords is generally the darkest of all cards in the deck. Since it's depicted at night, whatever problem you have, will increase. As you can see the woman on the card is burdened by something that leaves her bereft of sleep. Honestly, it's known as the "Dark Night of the Soul" card and usually foretells a tragedy and ill health. I'm so sorry, Kathy, for the reading. It may be nothing…"
"Or it may be something," Kathy finished grimly. "Let's just finish my fortune. There are only two cards left, anyway."
Reluctantly, Lena turned over the next, which held a man and a woman, the Lovers. "Well, despite the other cards, it looks like you're going to find love, after all," Lena mused, inwardly relieved to see the Lovers card in the upright position. "I imagine your Knight of Cups will be the one who'll help you through this rough patch in your life." She glanced up from the card, eyeing Kathy with sympathy. "I think that, whatever is troubling you, there will be someone out there who cares for you enough to help see you through it."
"Well, that's comforting," Shannon remarked as she squeezed Kathy's stiff shoulder. "It really can't be that bad, Kathy, honestly."
Kathy offered her friend a weak smile as she nodded for Lena to finish the reading. "So, I have a knight in shining armor, who's going to rescue me from the dragon. Let's see if we have our happily-ever-after."
Lena flipped the final card in return, and everyone in their little circle gasped, for the card in which she turned was none other than Death.
"You gotta be shitting me," Mindy protested angrily. "This is ridiculous, Lena. Why does Kathy have to have the worst reading in our group?"
Lena turned to Mindy, obviously offended. "I'm not the one who selected the cards," she snapped. "This is how the reading just turned out. Sometimes this kind of thing happens."
"It's bullshit," Mindy retorted before apologizing to Kathy. "Look, it can't be that bad. It's just a coincidence."
A few of the other girls chimed in agreement. Kathy, they reasoned, had just been dealt a bad hand by chance. Nothing bad was going to happen to her. After all, how could just a bunch of silly cards foretell one's future? People made their destiny by choice, not by following a prediction inspired by drinking and laughter.
Kathy, however, said nothing to those who tried to comfort her. Instead, she looked at Lena and asked for her interpretation. "There has to be something more behind the last card."
"Yes," Lena agreed quietly, "there actually is." She cast a look of disgruntlement toward the others. "Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, the Death card shouldn't always be taken literally. It doesn't always mean that someone's going to die. It just means that a great change might happen in someone's life. As it's the thirteenth card in the Major Arcana, it represents change, letting go, the closing of doors, and the end of an era. It isn't the literal death of a person, but the metaphorical end of something in a person's life."
Turning to Kathy, she gathered the cards and the rest of the deck and handed them to her. "It looks like you have a storm ahead of you, but someone who cares about you will help you through it, as you'll be able to move on from this part of your life."
Lena received a critical snort from Shannon. "So, in layman's terms, you mean that Kathy will get the management position, after all of the hell she's been through, snag a hot guy, and leave the rest of us spinsters behind?" she summed up, half-sarcastically. "Damn, Kathy, I now wish I'd pulled those cards for my reading."
The woman in question only shook her head, quietly appreciating Shannon's efforts in trying to make her feel better. "Thanks, Shannon, Lena," she said, gingerly accepting the cards. "I'll keep the reading and your advice in mind, I promise."
Neither believed her, but they refrained from saying anything to the contrary. Luckily, Shannon had the insight to change the subject as she suggested they watch a movie, now the Tarot readings were done.
Out of the movie options, the vote to see The Lost Boys was unanimous. Kathy shook her head in amusement as Shannon and Mindy argued over who was the hottest vampire.
"You know Kiefer Sutherland's David is hotter," Shannon declared, although Mindy looked unconvinced.
"You just like bad boys, Shannon," Mindy pointed out. "I think Jason Patric's Michael is a safer choice."
Shannon snorted, but said nothing in return as she began the movie. Everyone continued to enjoy their pizza and wine, all the while suspending their disbelief of a gang of Californian vampires. Kathy was therefore unfazed by the onslaught of the horrorfest transpiring in front of her: Flying vampires who displayed their masculinity by jumping off of a bridge.
At least it's better than glittery, vegetarian vampires, she mused, vaguely noticing that Trixie had scampered off to another corner of the room, tail wagging excitedly. Kathy tried to see what caught the Papillon's attention, but could see nothing.
Strange.
Something obviously had the little dog's interest, for she whined in the same manner of begging for attention. Also noticing, Shannon called for Trixie to return, although she only did so reluctantly after a few more calls and a promise of a treat. Shannon excused herself as Trixie followed her into the kitchen.
A moment later, the two returned as Trixie returned to the same spot. After three more attempts at calling for Trixie to return, the dog instead trotted to another corner, seemingly following something invisible. Shannon only shrugged. "I don't know what's gotten into her tonight. She usually loves sitting through a movie with people. It must be something with Halloween."
Tracy smirked. "It could be a ghost," she remarked, half in jest. "After all, this is the time of year when the veil between the living and dead realms is at its thinnest."
Shannon frowned. "Where did you hear that garbage?" she asked, puzzled. "I thought Halloween was created by the candy factories."
The young accountant shrugged. "I had a roommate in college who was really into the occult. She told me about this Celtic tradition called Samhain—a.k.a., All Hollow's Eve or Halloween—and some of the stuff she did around that time really freaked the shit out of me. I soon found another roommate."
"Did she sacrifice babies and drink the blood of virgins?" Lena teased.
Tracy hesitated, her expression becoming serious. "She didn't do anything like that; she loved animals, and was really into nature. But, yeah, she'd cast love spells for girls and guys who wanted someone to notice them, and would even try to contact the dead for people who lost someone. It was really freaky. I swear, I thought I saw some kind of shadow person in the dorm once. It was awful. That's why I moved out."
Sara, a skeptic by nature, looked at Tracy incredulously. "You probably just imagined seeing something. The subconscious does a lot of things to a person who is already predisposed to fearing something."
"Ha, ha. Thanks, Dr. Freud, but it wasn't like that," Tracy countered with a firm shake of her head. "I saw it, and heard it, too. It laughed. There was no way I imagined any of that; a classmate I was going to study with for a final exam also heard it. It wasn't shared paranoia, because I didn't tell her anything about what my roommate did."
"Maybe someone else told her about your roommate," Mindy suggested, and absently tugged at one of her large hoop earrings. "That kind of stuff gets around, you know."
Tracy bit the lower half of her lip, her blue eyes remembering the incident. "It's possible," she said after a pensive moment. "But then, that doesn't account for us both seeing and hearing the same thing. We didn't imagine it, considering we both got the hell out of there. I never asked my roommate about it; I was too afraid to, honestly. As soon as the semester was over, I moved into another dorm with a girl I had in Chemistry class—a med student who was not into that kind of stuff."
Kathy remained oddly silent throughout the exchange, which Amber noticed. "Hey, Kathy, any experiences since you were in Seattle? I remember hearing from somewhere that there was a lot of crime there, like shanghaiing sailors and stuff."
A soft laugh escaped from Kathy. "Shanghaiing happened in some coastal cities," she kindly corrected. "But as for anything supernatural, there were some stories on campus, and Kell's Irish Pub was supposed to be haunted, but I never saw anything when I was there."
Amber grunted, obviously disappointed. "That bites. Well, I guess all the good things happen in the East since nothing ever seems to happen here in boring old Montana."
A few of the other girls nodded, the movie now forgotten. As if noticing the shift, Shannon suddenly stood up, a proposition coming to mind. She glanced at Trixie who was still in a corner, continuing to wag her tail at…something.
She threw Amber a mischievous smile. "Maybe we can make our boring state a little more interesting. Do you girls remember that Ouija Board I got for my birthday in high school?"
Mindy instantly nodded. "Yeah, I remember it. Didn't we try to play with it that night and—"
"And nothing happened," Shannon appropriately concluded. "Yes, you're quite right. Nothing happened. But who's to say nothing will happen tonight? After all, we might have something here," she suggested, indicating Trixie and her odd behavior. "Maybe something does want to talk."
"You can't be serious," Tracy deadpanned, her hesitation in participating in such a thing evident. "Didn't you just say it didn't work, the last time you tried it?"
Shannon only smiled in response. "That's true, but maybe we'll be able to contact someone tonight. Didn't you just say that this is the time of year when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest? Maybe something has a message for one of us."
Lena suddenly seconded Shannon's proposal. "I think we should do it," she agreed. "I mean, what's a girls' sleepover without playing games and trying to look into the future? Last time I checked, none of us found our true love. What's the harm in asking some questions about where we'll be in ten years?"
As the conversation continued, Kathy said nothing, her mind secretly awash with conflict. Would it be so wrong to play with one? She'd heard how people regretted using Ouija Boards, but then she was also well-aware of the ideomotor response that scientists explained was the reason behind the answers people received from the "dead." She had even had the same results as Shannon when she played with some friends in middle school.
What harm can it do? she questioned herself. It wasn't as if her great-uncle would jump through the board and grab her. And speaking of him…What she would give to slap him for—everything! Besides, if her daily quote from H. P. Lovecraft didn't reemphasize that point, she didn't know what did.
"Let's play it," she voiced suddenly, meeting Shannon's gaze. "I think it'll be fun."
Shannon's smile widened. "See, girls? Even Kathy wants to play! But of course, we'll do this democratically with a vote. All in favor, say 'I.'"
The vote, naturally, was unanimous.
Six to one voted to play, with Tracy as the only outlier.
Shannon beamed at the result. Turning off the movie, she bounced out of the living room, obviously retrieving the game in question. Mindy and Amber left to search for candles to set the mood, while Lena and Sara moved the sofas away from the small coffee table. Tracy and Kathy collected pizza plates and refilled the girls' wine glasses.
When all was done, they returned and sat on the floor, patiently awaiting their hostess who was still conducting a thorough search in a spare bedroom. They continued to wait, the only light in the room emitted by the few candles found. The soft light cast eerie shadows on the ceiling and walls, while the rest of the room was engulfed in darkness.
Tracy was on the verge of turning on a lamp before a voice echoed, "I found it!" from upstairs. Shannon appeared a moment later, a rectangular box in hand.
"You have a pink Ouija Board," Lena instantly derided. "Seriously, are you, like, nine?"
"So what if I like pink that much?" Shannon replied defensively. "I thought it was awesome that one came in this color. It doesn't matter if it's girly or not; I liked it better than the glow-in-the-dark version."
Mindy snorted. "Girls, girls, you're both pretty," she gently chided the two. "Let's just enjoy the game, okay? I want to see if something happens this time."
Without another word, Shannon opened the box and set the cardboard game down on the coffee table. She removed the darker pink plastic planchette, setting it off to the side of the board.
"Where are the directions?" Amber asked after a moment. "I thought your game came with some?"
Shannon blinked, her eyes adjusting to the candlelight. "Uh, let me see," she muttered, glancing through the rest of the box. "Hmm, that's funny. I must've tossed them out. They're not in the box."
Tracy's eyes widened. "I know there are rules to playing," she informed her hostess nervously. "I'll pull them up on my phone, but there were a few rules I remember my roommate once telling me that were very important."
"So, how did she get that shadow person in the dorm, if she knew what she was doing?" Sara asked sarcastically.
"Bite me, Sara," Tracy bit out, her displeasure evident as she again turned to her phone. Finding a quick and easy wikiHow page, she read aloud each step and emphasized not to ask questions regarding God or someone's death.
"Looks like we've already done most of everything," Shannon observed, noting that all of the candles in the room were white. "We just need to remember to be polite, ladies, and no stupid questions."
Kathy grinned. "Maybe we can ask how tomorrow's merger will go?"
Shannon gave her an exasperated look. "That's the last thing I want to ask about," she groaned. "I'm more interested in finding another sexy man, with an equally sexy Harley."
"Hey, didn't one of the rules say not to be under the influence of anything while playing?" Amber pointed out when Mindy took another sip of wine.
"It's not like we're wasted," Lena answered before taking a sip from her glass. "If anything, we're only slightly tipsy."
The rest, including Tracy, concurred, as each girl was designated a role. Most were observers whose hands were remanded not to touch the planchette, board, or coffee table. They would not ask questions, merely observe. Shannon was to transcribe the answers, while Mindy asked the questions. Sara and Amber were assigned to hold the planchette.
The session commenced with the suggested greeting given on the wikiHow page. Mindy began asking general questions, but the planchette remained still.
Kathy watched as the others were equally disappointed. Well, what had she been hoping for? Wasn't it better it was only a board game and not an actual means of contacting the dead?
After her own experience, she should have been grateful, but still…
This is ridiculous.
Blinking suddenly at her conscience's observation, she felt an odd tension within its timbre.
How so? she returned, curiously.
Her conscience was silent, and Kathy noticed how Trixie was now sitting next to Shannon. Odd. Perhaps it hadn't been an actual ghost that held the dog's attention after all.
Still, her colleagues were far from deterred.
"Okay," Mindy grumbled. "I'm going to ask the board if someone from the other side is here."
Good luck with that, Kathy's conscience remarked.
The planchette suddenly moved to "Yes."
A collective gasp reverberated around the table.
Mindy, however, was conscientiously aware that she was delegated to ask questions, which now focused on the particular spirit in the room.
The planchette confirmed that the spirit was not a demon, but a ghost who wasn't malevolent, and was also male.
What on Uth…
Kathy felt a sense of unease with the consistency her conscience's responses evoked. For the first time, she recognized its apprehension.
It's just a game, she thought in response. Nothing's going to happen.
I don't like this. Somethin' isn't right. I think ya and the otha girls should stop playin', it replied.
She was about to ask what was wrong, but Mindy shattered the mental exchange with another question.
"Are you the one who Trixie saw tonight?"
Again, the planchette shifted to "Yes."
Shit.
A cold chill ran down Kathy's spine. What's going on? she demanded of her conscience, which had now, surprisingly, resorted to profanity.
I don't know, its disembodied voice answered sharply. I nevah answuhed that bahd's doin' the talkin' it faw me. This isn't the pahlah game I rememba playin' in '22!
A feeling of disbelief overshadowed her rationality. How's that possible? You're just my conscience, aren't you?
Her "conscience" didn't answer as the discourse between Mindy and the "spirit" continued. Kathy watched, inwardly at a loss as she tried to rationalize what was happening. For so long, she simply accepted the gentle presence in the back of her mind, but where did she first begin thinking of it as a separate entity?
More questions followed as Mindy, albeit politely, tried to discern the spirit's name. The planchette refused to move regarding the question, and so Mindy gave up trying to determine the spirit's identity.
"This is so lame," Lena groused irritably. "Whoever this guy is, he's boring as fuck. He doesn't want to talk about anything."
Tracy looked at her angrily. "Be polite," she reminded Lena firmly. "The dead don't have to tell us anything about themselves. Why give out personal info to people they don't even know?"
"Well, maybe we can find someone else who'll chat with us?" Shannon suggested.
Mindy nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me, especially since I suck terribly at asking questions. I'm going to let someone else take over. Any volunteers?"
Sara extended her hand forward. "I'll take over; my hands are getting tired of holding this thing. Who wants to take over my spot?"
No one volunteered, and so Kathy reluctantly offered, while Amber remained holding the planchette. Her conscience had been eerily quiet, and she wasn't in the mood to think, only react.
Trading places, the girls restarted the session, forgetting to end the first properly as they tried to contact someone more interested in conversing. A few minutes passed as the planchette eventually moved to "Yes" when asked if another spirit wanted to talk.
Forgetting to ask the same opening questions as Mindy had, Sara instead asked the spirit's gender.
Male.
The girls smiled, although Lena suggested the answer was merely a coincidence, brought on by an unconscious desire to talk to a guy. Kathy ignored the immature banter between Lena and Tracy as she instead focused on holding the planchette steady. Another question was posed, although she failed to pay any attention to it, her mind elsewhere.
When asked who the spirit was, Shannon wrote down several words in quick succession.
This is bad. Very bad.
Kathy started in response. So, her conscience had returned, and it was as perturbed as ever. And why is that? she demanded. It's not like you're real or anything.
Undeterred, it answered, We needta stop this from continuin'. Kathy, ya gotta tell the girls to stop playin' with this thing. It isn't a game! I can feel a daw openin' that shouldn't. It isn't just me comin' through this bahd.
Paling suddenly at the meaning it imparted, Kathy looked at Sara, who now asked if the spirit wanted to speak specifically to someone. The plachette, in turn, moved frantically over the letters.
Kathy, tell them to end the game now! I can't keep this daw closed!
Trixie began to growl, as if in accordance to the dire warning her conscience—or whatever the hell it was—issued. Heart racing, Kathy cried out, "We need to stop playing—right now!"
Lena scoffed. "But it's finally getting interesting," she contended, and then threw Kathy a caustic grin. "What, do you have a phantom boyfriend, telling us to be good Christian girls, and to stop playing with divination devices from the devil?"
The planchette again moved at a frantic pace.
Amber met Kathy's ashen face, her own expressing something akin to fear. "I'm not moving this thing, are you?"
Kathy shook her head, wishing she that was, that this was all just a terrible joke. "No, I'm not. Shannon, what's it saying?"
The blonde looked at her, utterly bewildered. "Night. Glass. House. Scars," Shannon muttered as she translated the message. "I don't get any of this." She frowned as the planchette continued to move. "It all just sounds like a bunch of random gibberish."
Flashes from a night that happened so long ago flitted across Kathy's mind. An ocean of glass. Antiques. Her missing brother. Her father rejecting the idea of ghosts. Spectral viewers. Claws. Blood. Absolute terror.
"Oh, my God," she muttered barely above a whisper, and frantically turned to Tracy. "Tell us how to end it! Now!"
Tracy nodded, finally realizing the enormity of the situation. "Just a second; my phone's WiFi's crashing. Let me reload the page! It's never done this before! Oh, crap! My phone just…died."
He's comin' through. I can't stop it! Ya gotta end the session now!
Kathy's heart fell to the pit of her stomach. But I don't know how, she answered before feeling a firm, masculine hand rest abruptly over hers. Cold electricity surged through her at its icy touch, her dark eyes widening as the invisible hand forcefully, yet somehow gently, guided hers to the word "Good-bye."
As soon as the planchette touched the word, the candles surrounding them guttered out as Trixie's barking and a mutual scream of panic from the women echoed in the darkness.
…
Author's Note: Many apologies for taking…literally years…to post this chapter. I've spent a lot of time researching, writing, and revising this story. I've also gotten most of the other chapters written. I just can't help but nitpick at this story. XD
Since I'm on a semi-vacation, I should be able to post another chapter. I estimate this story shouldn't be more than thirteen or so chapters. That being said, I don't want to rush things, as I've a clear idea of where this story will go. We'll definitely see Kathy's conscience take a more prominent role in the next chapter.
I also want to apologize in advance if her conscience's accent is difficult to understand. I'll put the most prominent words in my notes, beginning with the next chapter. I actually purchased a Boston accent guide to write the phonetic pronunciations correctly. It's been very helpful, seeing as I'm not from the area.
Also, many apologies if I'm wrong regarding Tarot readings and the card meanings. I had some friends who taught me the basics, but I'm very rusty. I did a lot of research online, so I hope I'm not too far off the mark. The pink Ouija board is really a thing. They're available on eBay, but seem to be out of production otherwise. I'd normally elect to go with the classic look, but Shannon struck me as that one girl who would want to have a pink one for a slumber party. She also has a Papillon as a pet, which, yes, I purposely made a parallel between Shannon and Marie Antoinette, who, according to legend, had a Papillon. They're just so dang cute!
But more importantly, I really want to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, and favorited this story. Thirteen Ghosts is such a niche in fandom, but it's really one of my favorite horror movies.
Anyway, I should, hopefully, have the next chapter out soon.
Until then!
— Kittie