by Ann M. Noser
“Eleven messages… Message one: Hey, guys, this is Steve. You’ve got to come help me. I’ve found something down by the river.”
“Message two: I need your help, you guys! Please come. It’s important.”
“Message three: Emma, where are you? You aren’t picking up the apartment phone, either. Call me back.”
“Message four: Mike, what the heck is going on? I don’t want to have to call Bernard.”
“Message five―”
I hit delete a bunch of times, then dial Steve’s cell phone. The second he answers, I start to complain. “Steve, what’s going on? It looks like you called me eleven times. No wonder my cell phone bill is so expensive.”
“I found myself,” Steve whispers.
“You mean spiritually?”
“I don’t have any time to kid around, Emma. Get Mike over here. It’s almost dawn.”
I sigh. “Okay. Where are you?”
“I’m down by the river, about six miles from campus.”
“I’ll bring Mike right away. Did you get a hold of Bernard already?”
“Yes. Meet me by the road.” Steve hangs up before I can ask anything more.
“Mike, get up!” I shake his shoulder, then gather up the extra body in the grocery bag. We drive with the horrid, deflated body bouncing between us in the bag. As I hit a pothole, one pale foot pops out. Disgusting!
Steve meets us at the edge of the road. He stands alone.
“Where’s Bernard?” I ask. “It’s almost dawn!”
“Bring the body and hurry up.” Steve disappears into the trees with Mike close behind.
I scamper after them with the grocery bag. “Slow down, you guys!” My shoe catches on a tree root, and I fall into the mud. “Wait up! I tripped.”
I expect Steve to say, “So, what else is new?” but never hear it.
Instead, his voice floats back to me. “I found it. I finally found it.”
The two of them disappear from sight as I struggle to my feet and attempt to brush off the squishy muck on my jeans. After a few seconds, I give up, grab the bag, and run after them.
“What did you find?” I pant as I finally reach the edge of the river.
Steve points.
A bloated body half floats in the water, face-up, entwined in roots and long grasses. The early thaw released it from an icy grave.
Steve stands above the corpse, looking down at himself. “Those are my clothes. That’s me.”
A chill crawls down my back. I know the answer to my next question before I ask it. “Steve, where’s Bernard?”
“Claire brought Bernard a while ago so he could help me.”
“But where is he?” I repeat.
“It’s funny,” Steve says, but he doesn’t sound amused. “The water felt absolutely freezing, but Bernard insisted it was blissfully warm. He said people were going to sue you for global warming.”
“Me? What a crazy thing to say.”
Steve keeps talking as if I didn’t interrupt him. “Bernard seemed to be in a trance or something. He spoke of mermaids and dolphins and castles floating in tropical waters.”
I try to imagine a sea of emerald green and cobalt blue. “Could you see it, too?”
“Heck, no,” Steve scoffs. “I didn’t see any of that. As soon as Bernard stepped in the river, he said he wanted to go for a swim. He never came back.”
“Did you try and stop him?” Mike asks.
“Of course not,” Steve replies. “It was his time.”
“I hate this river!” I wipe away tears. “Why can’t it just leave us alone?”
Steve shakes his head. “Emma, how come you don’t understand? It’s simple. In nature, there’s always a balance, and you messed it up. The river’s just trying to put things back in order.”
“I think it’s more than that. But all that matters now is that Bernard is gone. And he’d just gotten back together with Claire, too. That sucks.”
“I think he was ready to go. Eventually, the river will reclaim us all.” Steve looks at Mike. “You’d better figure it out quick what you want to do here, or you won’t be ready when your time comes.”
Mike stares at the ground and doesn’t answer.
Steve turns to me instead. “Emma, I’ve got a bunch of things I need you to do. But first you have to contact Officer Walker.”
“What? Can’t we just call this in anonymously?”
“No, that’s not how I want it. I know he’s not your favorite person, but he needs to see this. Only you’d better wait until we fuse back together.”
Mike points toward the horizon. “Here comes the sun now.”
I set the grocery bag down between them.
As the sunlight filters through the trees, the pale bodysuit rises into the air and glows like the sun. Steve and Mike start to shimmer and tremble. Then, all at once, they evaporate into two clouds of mist that race together to fill the body.
Steve glimmers to the forefront first. “Oh, and before I forget, Emma, while you were at school yesterday, your parents called three times.”
“What do they want?”
“They’re both coming to see you next weekend.”
Crap.
xhausted, I wait for the questions and the standing around to end. My teeth chatter, my feet freeze, and I long for bed. I yawn and rub my eyes, but Officer Walker doesn’t seem to get the hint. The discovery of Steve’s body in the river gives his eyes a manic glow. I sense his obsession with the river growing stronger.
I’m so tired of the river.
I’m so tired of Officer Walker.
Unfortunately, neither one seems tired of me. Not yet.
“You’re still hiding something, Emma. What is it?” He stands so close no one else can hear him.
A whole team of official-looking people work around us in the misty morning light, but it feels like we are all alone. Even Mike waits a little off to one side.
“If you’ve got anything more to tell me, I’m listening.” Officer Walker sighs. “Come on, Emma, help me out here. I know there’s more. Just tell me.”
I remain silent. I’ve already told him everything I intend to say.
“If you think I believe your story that you found this body through your nightly fascination with hiking along the river, you’re wrong.”
“But you’ve seen me walking along the river before…by that creepy smiley face near campus.”
He pauses. “Did you ever find anything else there besides the graffiti?”
“No.” Oh, wait, yes, I did. I glance at Mike. The policeman follows my gaze.
“Hey, Walker, come over here!” a tall man from his team calls out.
He leaves me with another aggravated sigh.
“I’m freezing!” I complain to Mike. “How long do you think they’re going to keep us?”
Mike shrugs.
My temporary thaw disappeared along with Bernard. I want to go home and take a long, hot shower.
What seems like a long time later, Officer Walker comes back. “Emma, you can go now, as long as you’ll be available later for any more questions.”
“Sure.” I thankfully turn toward the road.
As we drive home, Steve takes over. “Do you still have that old steel rod?”
“Yes. It’s in the closet, which doesn’t say much for my cleaning skills.”
“I want you to give it to Walker, but I have a favor to ask of you first.”
“Shoot, now I wish I’d thrown it away.”
Within an hour, Steve requests a series of three favors.
He writes the first while I warm my refrigerated self in the steaming shower.
“This is a letter for my parents.” He hands me the sealed envelope. “I want you to mail it after the river takes me back.”
“Of course.” This request I understand. At least I think I do.
The second involves a thick manila envelope he stashed in the top drawer of the dresser in the boys’ room. “Please give this to Abby a
fter I go.”
“All right,” I say. “Why? What’s in it?”
“None of your business. Don’t snoop. Just do it.” He stares at me until I give in.
“Okay… What’s the third favor?” I ask.
Steve pauses. “I want you to conduct a séance at the site of the smiley face.”
“You want me to do what?”
“Something happened to me there, Emma. I’m sure of it, and I don’t have much more time to figure it out.”
“Are you sure about this? I’ve never held a real séance before.” Only that tiny one about Jake, and that didn’t make any sense. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
While Steve sleeps, I research my books and the Internet to devise a tentative plan. I scurry about town, purchasing large quantities of incense, burners, and candles. As night falls, I begin to sweat. This time in fear, for there’s not a hint left of Bernard’s “global warming”. Mike’s concerns have left a nagging doubt in the darkest corner of my mind. Should I really be doing this? But, with Steve around, I know I have no other choice. He’ll just force me to do whatever he wants anyway.
After dark, we head out again. We lug heavy bags full of supplies through the damp cold to gaze upon the wicked, smirking face hanging on the tree. I shiver in the frigid night, wondering if the painted graffiti or the winter chill is responsible for my trembling.
I set my bags down below the painted face, take a deep breath, and prepare for the spell.
“I call upon the elements of Air…”
I line the road leading up to the branded tree with incense bowls and light each one in turn. Within minutes, the dirt road disappears into a haze of potent scents and shadows.
“Earth…”
I pull river pebbles out of my pockets and drop them along the road.
“Water…”
I fill Grandma’s bowl with river water and set it next to the tree.
“And Fire…”
I position white petition cross candles in an intertwined Magic Circle and pentagram around the branded tree. Then I add red and black cat-shaped candles to help guide us through this mystery.
“Watch over me.”
At the base of the tree, I encircle a black-winged devil candle with brown problem-solving candles.
“Guard me.”
I light all the candles, watching each flame come to life.
“Guide me.”
I turn to Steve and nod. Candlelight illuminates his profile as he places the bent steel rod in the middle of the road.
“Protect me during these, my Rites.”
Steve backs under the tree cover. I shiver and lift the parchment. Shadows dance in every direction. I take a deep breath, and then my body lurches forward and my voice grows loud and powerful.
“Reveal to me
The treachery.
Expose the crime
From back in time.
Bring forth, bring down,
Let truth be found.
Draw back the veil
That hides the tale.
Make known the fear
That once lived here.”
I light my written parchment with the devil candle, watching as the smiling face mocks me. A single ember of burning parchment flutters down into the water-filled bowl and bursts the contents into flames. Firelight crawls up the tree. Tongues of yellow and orange flicker beneath the smiley face.
All at once the fire goes out and the face disappears.
A booming crack resounds behind me. I spin around to face the dirt road.
The air fills with buzzing static, as if a radio plays off station.
Headlights blind me.
I raise my arm to shield my eyes.
A dark figure flies out of the woods, throws me down to the ground, and drags me behind a row of dark, prickly bushes. A firm hand covers my mouth when I start to scream.
A white, windowless van turns around and backs up to the river. Several young men wearing black bandanas and green and black flannel shirts jump out, dragging something with them.
That something is Steve.
His eyes are swollen shut, and his face is smeared with blood.
My stomach convulses, like I’ve swallowed something slimy and alive.
Everything happens so fast. Steve struggles against them, crying out incoherently. His attackers seem to make no sound whatsoever, as if they are the ghosts and only Steve is real.
One of the men grabs the metal rod from the middle of the road and whacks it over Steve’s head, silencing his futile cries for help.
I struggle to get to my feet, but strong arms pin me on the ground.
The hoodlums toss Steve’s crumpled body into the river. One of them sprays the tree with the sneering smiley face.
I fight against my silent guard, choking on the sick taste of my own terror.
Steve’s murderers pile back into the van, the engine roars, and they careen away down the dirt road through the woods.
Finally, the hands that held me down relax. I stagger to my feet, gasping for air as I mentally prepare a lecture for Steve and Mike about using way too much physical force on me.
But they are nowhere in sight.
Officer Walker stares at me with eyes afire. “Emma Roberts, what in the hell was that?”
his is not real,” Officer Walker mutters as he paces back and forth in the clearing. “This is not real.”
“I think it was real once,” I whisper.
Walker backs away, as if I’m contagious. “Are you crazy or something? This is insane! What am I supposed to do with you?”
Heat flushes my cheeks. “Don’t yell at me, Officer Walker. It’s not like I asked you to be here or anything.”
“No, I did.” Steve comes forth with a piece of paper in his hand. He hands it to Walker.
I fume at both of them. Is Steve stupid or something? I’ve spent most of the last year trying to avoid this cop.
Officer Walker examines the paper with a flashlight. “You got their license plate number? Where do you propose I say I got this information… From some crazy fantasy of mine?”
“Call it an anonymous tip. And you should also take that when you go.” Steve points toward the bent metal rod.
Officer Walker shudders and turns to me. “Emma, please tell me that was some incredibly realistic holographic film I just saw. I don’t want to imagine what else it could have been. Yes, I watched you with all your candles and chanting, but I don’t believe in that hocus pocus.”
“Neither do I.” Mike shimmers right in front of Walker.
I can’t believe it. What is he thinking?
“Why were you all shiny and glowing for a second? And did your voice just change again?” Officer Walker sighs and rubs his face. “You know it’s done that before. And there’s no Samuel Jacob Anderson registered as a student at this university. There are several Sam Andersons, but none with the middle initial J.”
I scramble for an excuse. “He’s taking this semester off.”
Walker scowls. “I meant last semester. When you first told me he was from out of town and then all of a sudden he was a student here. Everything you tell me is only half-true, Emma. Why don’t you just be honest for once?”
“I’ll tell you the truth.” Now Steve glimmers in front of Walker. “My name’s Steve Lawrence.”
“Oh no,” I groan into my hands.
“The same Steve Lawrence whose body just got pulled out of the river last night? I don’t think so.” Charlie Walker flashes the smile he must usually reserve for the criminally insane. “I think it’s high time we take a trip downtown.”
“That would be fine with me.” Steve nods.
I grab my supplies before Walker escorts us along the dirt rode back to his police car. Every snapping twig, hooting owl, and gust of wind startles me. I imagine ghosts hovering over my shoulder.
Walker throws suspicious glances in my direction.
; “I’m not going to run off, if that’s what you’re worried about.” I hope I’m not going to get arrested. That would really freak my parents out.
His eyes narrow. “At the moment, I’m wondering how your parents are going to take finding out their daughter is a witch.”
How does he know I’m thinking about my parents? I hate that he can read my mind!
“Why? Are you going to call them again? Please don’t.”
We march on in silence. Once we get to Officer Walker’s car, he guides me into the back seat. Steve walks around to the other side and gets in on his own.
Sitting in the police car and watching the streets pass by as we make our way downtown, I am more scared than I ever have been before.
Things can’t get any worse…can they?
As soon as we park, Steve bursts out of the car. He dashes across the street toward a modern bank. “Follow me,” he calls over his shoulder.
“What’s he doing?” Officer Walker slams his door.
Then it hits me―that entire bank is covered with large, tinted mirrors.
“This isn’t a good idea,” I moan.
I run after him with Walker right behind me.
In the glow of the streetlight, three figures appear instead of one in the mirrored wall of the bank. I’ve always hated that building for its supreme ugliness; now I hate it even more. There stands Mike, Steve, and the body, all looking back at the disbelieving Officer Walker and me.
Charlie’s eyes bulge. “This is crazy. I know who both of you are…” He points at Mike and Steve. “But who the hell are you?” he asks the image of the borrowed body.