by J. L. Weil
The feeling was completely mutual. “I’m sorry it was hard for you. I can’t imagine leaving the only home I’ve ever known.”
“Surprisingly I think it worked out for the best. I never would have thought.”
When we finished dinner, I walked him to the door. “Thanks for staying.”
“Anytime,” he agreed.
“You know that we are going to fail that test tomorrow,” I told him. Group test or not we were doomed.
“Have a little faith Bri. I’ll get us through it,” he smugly assured me.
I rolled my eyes and shut the door after him.
Chapter 13
MADAME CORA’S WARDROBE WAS A costume establishment packed with plenty of flair in Wilmington. Austin decided to tag along for the thirty minute trip and was riding shotgun with Sophie and I in the back. Tori convinced him that it would be fun if they dress-up as a pair.
Both Tori and Austin had adopted Sophie instantaneously. They absolutely loved her and I think that grated on Gavin’s nerves a tad – to have his younger sister hanging around all the time.
Walking into Madame Cora’s Wardrobe was like being transported back in time. A tall woman with long curly cinnamon hair sat on a stool behind an enclosed glass case. She was decorated in more dangling silver jewelry than I thought one woman she wear – or own. Her every move jingled in music. She had bold red lips – an extreme contrast to her ivory skin and hazel eyes. She smiled at us as we walked through the front door, a whimsical chime resounding through the shop announcing the arrival of guests.
The shop had mannequins dressed up in full gear – wigs, shoes, make-up, masks. I saw Jack Sparrow, Medusa, Queen of the Nile, the guy from Saw – he still gave me nightmares. A Halloween melody pumped in the store from speakers near the doors.
“Well hello my lovelies,” she greeted in a voice of a seductress. I don’t know who the she thought she was going to seduce since Austin was the only guy and he defiantly didn’t swing her curvy way.
“Hi.” The four of us said in unison.
“Is there something I can help you look for,” she offered, never losing the deep sexy quality to her voice.
We had started to peruse around the store, poking through the racks near the entrance. “We’re looking for Halloween costumes,” Sophie spoke for the group. She eyed Madame Cora coolly, measuring her with bright sapphire eyes. There was just a hint of that strange glow.
Round racks housed costumes of variety – sexy, scary, slutty – you name she had it. The best part was the quality of the materials. They weren’t the cheap mass produced ones you found at Walmart. The detail was spectacularly crafted. I found the most difficult part of shopping here was going to be which costume to choose.
“If you need any help, you let me know,” she offered, returning Sophie’s inspection. Her blood red nails taped on the glass.
Tori and Austin took off to a row on the back wall filled with companion costumes, while Sophie and I stayed at the center racks.
“Do you have an idea what you want to go as?” I asked Sophie, pulling out a black cat outfit. So not my style, I put it back in with the others.
“I haven’t dressed up since junior high.” That was only two years ago, but I figured she didn’t need me to point that out. “I don’t know maybe a French maid or a fairy,” she suggested, pulling out an extremely short and barely there black and white skirt with a matching even smaller top.
I couldn’t really see her as either. “That is pretty darn short,” I commented as she held up the skirt. I am sure she would look freaking amazing in anything she wore with those legs.
“I know… that’s the point right? The chance to dress slutty without the usually backlash,” she pointed out.
She had me there. I wasn’t so sure her brothers would agree, but since I didn’t have any… “You think Jared and Gavin would let you wear that?” I was trying to rationalize a potential situation. They were both overly protective of Sophie as much as they teased her.
She snorted. “My brother as a thing for you, he could care less what I wear. He will be too busy looking at you,” Sophie said offhandedly. She was wrestling through a rack of angel costumes. Sophie was a get-to-the-point kind of girl – no beating around the bush.
“Excuse me.” She completely caught me off guard. I was not entirely comfortable with her banking on him being too distracted by me. She couldn’t possibly be serious.
“Gavin,” she responded grinning at my growing discomfort.
I kind figured that part out captain obvious. “Define thing.”
“He is totally into you,” she said astonished by my cluelessness.
“Really?” The disbelief was thick in my tone. Okay so we kissed once and we did hang out a lot but it was impossible to believe that he felt half the way I did.
She rolled her eyes – the ones identical to the brother in question. “You have no idea the amount of power you have there, do you? We really need to have a girl to girl talk.”
Okay this was her brother we were discussing, not exactly my first choice to chat about my womanly wiles with, or lack of. Plus it was sad that she apparently had more experience in this department than I did. “I don’t have any power over your brother,” I argued.
She rolled her eyes. “Here wear this one.” She handed me a revealing gypsy costume. The skirt was violet with an extremely large slit up one side of the leg and would probably show more than I was at ease with. There was a wrapper bejeweled with gold coins. The top was white with flared sleeves and showed a little midriff.
“You’re kidding right?”
“Absolutely not. This is the one,” she insisted.
I did really like it. What the hell.
Sophie settled for a hot angel outfit and Tori and Austin decided on going as Brad and Janet from Rocky Horror Picture Show – the best Halloween musical ever.
I was the last in line as I waited to pay. Laying down the gypsy costume near the register, I waited for Madame Cora – I assumed that’s who she was. Glancing into the glass encasement I admired the jewelry. She had so many beautiful pieces with raw cut stones and silvery charms. While I was admiring a certain necklace that had caught my eye, Madame Cora had come to stand on the other side of the counter.
“Do you dabble in crystals?” she asked me.
I shook my head. “No.”
“No… hmmm, I would have thought you did,” she admitted looking at me oddly.
I don’t know what made her think that I knew anything about crystals and magic.
“Here, let me show you. Each has its own unique properties. This one here –” She indicated to the bauble around her neck. “Is for clear sight and open mindedness.” Her voice enthralled me.
She unlocked the glass case and pulled out an intricate silver chain with a rainbow milky stone and a purple crystal. My eyes were spellbound by the necklace I had moments before been intrigued by. I don’t know how she figured it was that specific piece I was interested in. My fingers itch to touch the smooth stones. They weren’t raw cut like some of the others, but flat and polished. She laid it on the counter and I ran my fingers over the crystals.
“This one is made of moonstone and amethyst,” she informed. “The moonstone is said to strengthen intuitive power. Placed under a pillow alongside an amethyst can allow for a more peaceful sleep. The amethyst protects against evil sorcery. Something tells me that you are in need of.”
I picked up the necklace and let it twirl from my finger. The stones glinted off the overhead lights. Her words affected some deep part of me and I knew that this necklace was made for me. I didn’t know if it was just coincidence that the properties of the stones were incorporated so close to my life. I was starting to believe that I should leave nothing to chance. So of course I added it to my purchase – plus it would look great with my costume.
She rang up my items and handed me my bags. A tingling shot down my arm as our fingers touched. More commanding than I what I had gotten accustomed to with Gavin and Sophie. Her hand snaked out and grabbed my arm, holding me. I lifted my head and saw the eerie glow in her eyes – almost like she was possessed. A gasp escaped my lips and I tugged at my arm. Before I really had the chance to feel freaked, Sophie was by my side.
“Ready?” she asked.
Madame Cora released my arm at Sophie’s immediate response, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. “Yeah let’s go,” I agreed.
“May safety find you…Brianna,” she called as we walked out the store.
Once we were in the car, I allowed myself to breathe. That woman had touched some secret part of me that was partial intrigued and partial horrified.
“That was weird,” Austin commented as Tori started reversing out of the parking space.
“No kidding,” Tori agreed. “I guess Halloween started a little early for some – or maybe never ends in her case.”
Sophie and I sat in silence. I had taken the necklace out of the bag and was absently fingering the stones. Sophie occasionally eyed me wearily. I knew she was checking to make sure I was okay, that I wasn’t crept out by what happened. In truth I didn’t know what to make of it.
Chapter 14
HALLOWEEN NIGHT WAS MY FAVORITE. The moonlight air was perfumed with the scent of damp leaves and wet moss. Fall had moved in like an artist’s brush, painting the trees in vibrant colors of gold, burgundy, rust and tangerine. I stood on my porch dressed in my blatantly revealing costume, toying with the necklace and excitedly waiting for Gavin to arrive. I looked pretty good thanks to Sophie. Austin and Tori were meeting us at Morris Landing.
The Trail at Morris Landing was like a haunted house outside. They had hayrides, bonfires and costume contests every year. At your own discretion you wound your way along the trail. Different sections of the trail had its own interactive scene or scenario to haunt you, from the guy chasing you with the chainsaw to the headless woman hanging from a tree. It was like being in your own personal horror film.
I heard Gavin’s approach before I saw his car. Fireflies rocketed through me in anticipation. Sophie was coming along for the ride with us, much to Gavin’s chagrin. When the Charger came to a stop Gavin got out of the car to open my door. He looked good enough to make me wish we could at least drive alone, not that I didn’t adore Sophie. I just felt like we really haven’t been alone since the night we kissed.
“Hey,” I greeted, smiling with happiness. Just the sight of him made me giddy.
“Wow… you look great.” His eyes roamed over me in a way that had my entire body reacting. The night air was balmy, but I instantly felt overdress – and I was practically wearing nothing. Thank goodness my aunt was still at the shop, I wasn’t all too sure she wouldn’t have let me leave the house tonight looking like I did.
“Thanks,” I replied, sheepishly. His gaze was making me subconscious and I had to fight the urge to cover some part of me as I got in the car. Sophie was in the back grinning like a fool.
“I told you,” she smugly said before Gavin gone back in the car. “This is going to be fun. You do look great by the way.”
“So do you.” And of course she did. She looked better than great actually. She looked celestial in her angel costume, her long raven hair curling over her shoulders and sprinkled with glitter. She could have just flown down from the heavens. Her eyelashes were decorated with rhinestones and her sapphire eyes dotted with a tiny star in the middle. “How did you get your eyes like that?” Thinking she must be wearing contacts. I couldn’t help but stare at them, trying to see the lenses.
“Magic,” she said with twinkling eyes.
I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I swear I could never get a straight answer for either one of them.
Tori and Austin were waiting for us as we pulled up to the trail, engine roaring. The sign at the entrance threatened in dripping blood – Don’t get left behind, or you might not come back. As we got out of the car an ear-splitting scream hit the air. The three of us laughed.
“Looks like the fun as already begun,” Gavin said as we walked towards Tori and Austin.
The place was overflowed with the sounds of chatter, spooky music and creepy chuckles, along with the scent of buttered popcorn and apple cider – Halloween.
“I think I am going to be sick,” Tori woefully warned.
“You guys look so cute,” I remarked on their costumes.
“Who are you supposed to be?” Gavin asked.
“Janet and Brad from Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Austin informed. “Tell me you have seen that movie.”
“And if I haven’t?” Gavin said.
“Oh man, we have got to seriously educate you on films,” Austin advised in disbelief.
The five of us paid for out tickets and got in the weaving line. When our turn came to enter the trail Sophie, Tori and Austin went in first with Gavin and me behind them.
“I think I’m gonna faint,” Tori complained. Haunted houses really weren’t her thing, but she didn’t want to miss out on the fun. Nothing with her ever made sense. She loved to watch the goriest films yet couldn’t handle the haunted woods.
The first guy we came across on the trail was decked in rattling chains and covered in gooey fake blood. If I hadn’t been preoccupied with walking so close to Gavin, he wouldn’t have frightened me. As it was though, I jumped like ten feet in the air and grabbed onto Gavin’s arm. Of course he found that hilarious and in my jumpiness I scared Tori. At this point a fly could scare her, so that wasn’t saying much.
“Do I need to hold your hand?” Gavin whispered in my ear causing me to shiver for entirely different reasons.
Somewhere along the trail Gavin and I had fallen behind. There was a group in front of us and I think Tori, Austin and Sophie had wound up walking with them. We must have taken a wrong turn because it was all too clear that this tiny path we were following wasn’t right. Not to mention there hadn’t been a single sign of anyone dressed up ready to scare the crap out of us for some time. I don’t know how else to explain the fact that I was pretty sure we were now lost.
“This can’t be right,” I argued. “We’re lost,” I declared feeling the first inklings of concern.
“Common on,” he said, reaching for me hand. “Let’s see if we can find the trail again and get us the hell out of here.”
For the next fifteen minutes we walked in what felt like endless circles. A layer of clouds had rolled in above the treetops and the wind started to pick up. The trees offered little comfort in the blackness.
I glanced at my phone that I shoved in the pocket of my skirt. “Damn, I have no service,” I informed, deflated. Fingering the stones on the necklace, I nibbled on my lip.
“Something is wrong,” Gavin said on guard, shinning the flashlight over the trees surrounding us. “I can feel it.”
My anxiety hitched with each step and the wind whipped against our backs, picking up speed. Dried up leaves covered the ground, crunching underfoot.
Gavin came to stand beside me, scanning the woods. “Bri it’s going to be alright,” he assured in his steady husky voice.
A twig snapped behind us and I jerked around expecting the worst – a faceless horrid monster, a bloody zombie, a thirsty vampire. Fear laced through me, while the winds yowled in the distance.
“There’s something out there.” My voice was shaky and there was no doubt in my mind that we were being watched or worse hunted.
“I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” He grabbed my freezing hand. The night had been fairly warm, but with the abrupt change in the wind it added a bite to the air.
I clung to him, seeking solace. “How are we getting out of here?” My hair blew around in crazy circles, constantly hitting my face. I gave up trying to control the
skirt whipping in disarray.
He must have noticed the chill in my hand. Pulling off his hoodie, he handed it to me. “Here put this on.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, slipping it over my arms. At once I was enclosed by his scent. Closing my eyes, I savored the security and warmth instantly. The sleeves fell past my fingertips and when he went to grab for my hand again, he got a handful of cotton. Grinning at each other, I pushed the end far enough for him to get my hand.
“Lucky for you I was a boy scout… more or less.”
I gave him a doubtful look but if I trusted anyone to get me out of these confounded woods, it was Gavin. “Let’s get out of here,” I advised as he led me through a patch of overgrown brush. “Do you think the others are okay?” I asked worrying about Tori, Austin and Sophie.
“They have Sophie. She is better at this stuff than me. They’re probably waiting in the car wondering where the heck we are.”
I glanced at my cell phone again, hoping to see a change in the reception bars. Nope – no service at all, it couldn’t possibly be that easy.
The only light now was the gleam of blue from the moon, casting intimidating shadows in all directions and the little glow from our flashlight. I walked off to the right, looking to see if I could spot anything other than trees, trees and more trees. A deafening sound reverberated through the woods, followed by the rapid smacking of branches.
“Bri!” he screamed, running straight at me. His eyes were pumped with fear and my heart accelerated in triple time. I knew I was in trouble, but the threat hadn’t hit me yet.
Glancing up might have been the biggest mistake. The blood in my veins turned blue and my legs were paralyzed. Above me was enormous tree, diving straight at me and knocking away everything in its path. It was only a matter of seconds before it hit, trapping me under its dominant trunk. A scream tore from my lungs, ripping through the forest. The back of my throat burned from the power.