by Lisa Orchard
The Cole girls followed Jackie to the end of a cul-de-sac. Beyond it, Sarah spied a sandy trail stretching through the weeds like a discarded shoelace, long and skinny. Walking single file behind Jackie, Sarah winced when the weeds clutched at her calves.
When the girls reached the creek, they continued to follow their new friend. She walked along the bank, chasing the current downstream. The scent of wild flowers wafted past Sarah and she took several deep breaths. Her chest loosened as her lungs filled with the heady perfume. Sarah cracked a smile as her body tingled. This summer is definitely better than I expected.
The smell of wildflowers mixed with the sound of the water making its way to the ocean sent shivers of delight down Sarah’s spine. It surprised her to find the creek only a few blocks away from her aunt and uncle’s house. In the city, there wasn’t a body of water within walking distance of their home. Even finding a mud puddle is a rare occurrence.
Walking along the bank, the girls came to the large willow tree and quickly claimed it as their secret hiding place. Creeping beneath the pliable branches, Sarah sighed, happy to be out of the sun. Jackie sat down on the ground and started playing in the soil with a stick. Sarah and Lacey plopped down next to her.
“Okay, Lacey why don’t you start,” Jackie said.
“Okay…Jackie, truth or dare?”
“I guess…truth.”
“Oh, you big chicken,” Lacey whined, a disappointed pout on her face.
“I’m not chicken. I just think you’ll give me a wimpy dare,” Jackie said thrusting her nose in the air. “So, truth.”
“Okay, would you ever French kiss a boy?”
“Oh, what a lame question,” Sarah grumbled. “I can tell this is the first time you’ve played this game.”
Lacey shrugged. “So what if it is? Just answer the question, Jackie.”
“Boy, you can tell you’re only fourteen,” Sarah said with a superior air.
“Ooooh, you’re a whole year older.” Lacey rolled her eyes. “Okay, Jack, answer the question.”
“All right,” Jackie studied the toe of her shoe for a moment. “It depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether or not he chewed tobacco.” Jackie nodded. “Yeah, if he chewed tobacco, no way…but if he didn’t then I’d think about it.”
“What a lame question.” Sarah gazed at Lacey and raised her right eyebrow, and smirked. This was her infamous ‘are you brain dead?’ look.
“Be nice, it is her first time,” Jackie said, smacking Sarah on the arm.
“Whatever.” Sarah rolled her eyes.
“Sarah, truth or dare?” Jackie asked, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.
“Dare.” Sarah pulled her hair behind her ears and she sat up tall.
“Okay,” Jackie laughed. “You have to go up on the Cat Lady’s porch and ring her doorbell.”
“Who’s the Cat Lady?” Lacey asked as she pulled on the grass growing beneath her and tossed it in the air.
“She’s a witch.” Jackie whispered the words as if the mere mention of the woman would conjure her up.
“Holy Cow!” Lacey chortled. “You’re history now!”
“No way,” Sarah scoffed.
“Way.” Lacey threw a handful of grass at her sister.
“Well?” Jackie asked. “Are you going to do it, or wimp out?”
“I’ll do it.”
“Are you sure?” Jackie wheedled. “You know, she’s a witch.”
“Yeah,” Lacey piped up, relishing the teasing. “I bet she casts evil spells.”
“You remember what I told you about Mrs. Farnsworth, don’t you?” Jackie continued.
“Knock it off.” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. “I know you’re just trying to freak me out.”
“What happened to Mrs. Farnsworth?” Lacey asked, taking the bait.
Jackie deepened her voice. “It was a long time ago.”
“I’m not going to listen to this.” Sarah stood and brushed the dirt off her shorts.
“What? Are you scared?” Jackie teased.
“No, I’m not scared,” Sarah said as she glared at Jackie. “But this is the hardest dare in the history of this game.”
“Yeah, it is,” Jackie snickered. “Are you up to the challenge, girlfriend?”
“Yep, let’s go.” Sarah turned, and began walking out from under the green canopy. The willow branches stroked her face and arms as she moved through them.
Lacey and Jackie stood and followed her.
Sarah squinted and shaded her eyes against the sun as she waited for the other girls to catch up.
“So, what did happen to Mrs. Farnsworth?” Lacey persisted.
“She used to live next to the Cat Lady. They were always fighting over something,” Jackie began.
“So what,” Lacey shrugged. “A lot of neighbors argue.”
“Let me finish,” Jackie scolded. “Anyway, the biggest feud they had was over the Cat Lady’s apple tree. Every year it dropped a ton of apples in Mrs. Farnsworth’s yard. They made a huge mess.”
“I bet Mrs. Farnsworth was totally ticked,” Sarah said.
“Yeah, it bothered her so much, one day when the Cat Lady wasn’t home, she hired someone to cut down her tree.”
“Oh, I bet the Cat Lady was so-o mad.” Lacey frowned and twirled her hair around her finger.
“She sure was.” Jackie nodded. “The story goes, the Cat Lady was so angry she cast a spell on Mrs. Farnsworth. She got some mysterious illness and died a week later.”
“I don’t know if I believe that story.” Sarah shot Jackie a skeptical look.
“It’s true,” she insisted. “She died with huge warts all over her face and body.”
“Oooh, so-o gross.” Lacey grimaced and subconsciously wiped her hands on her shirt.
“Yeah, it was. They were oozing yellow pus.”
Lacey gagged. “Gross! She had some horrible disease, the kind you get from an evil spell.”
“Did you actually see the warts?” Sarah’s upper lip quivered with suppressed laughter.
“No.”
“Then how do you know it’s true?”
“I just do,” Jackie asserted. “They were green and oozing yellow pus.”
Sarah hooted with laughter. “Come on, Jack. You don’t believe that, do you?”
Jackie glared at Sarah. “Yes, I do. Everything I’ve told you is true. Remember what I told you about Gus Baker?”
“Yeah, I remember, but I don’t know if I believe that, either.” Sarah gave her the raised eyebrow smirk she usually gave her sister.
“Stop looking at me like that!”
“Come on. You don’t believe those stories, do you?”
“Do you have any evidence they’re not true?”
“No, I don’t,” Sarah admitted. “But we don’t have any evidence that they are true, either.”
“You mean Mrs. Farnsworth’s wart-covered body isn’t enough for you?” Jackie demanded. “What about Gus Baker?”
Sarah sighed and shook her head.
“So tell me about Gus Baker,” Lacey said.
“Not now,” Sarah interrupted. “We’re here.”
The girls stopped and Sarah noticed the sun vanished behind a cloud. Suddenly, the atmosphere around the house changed. Without the sun, it appeared dark and foreboding. Sarah stood across the street and stared at the Cat Lady’s place, looking for signs of ominous danger.
The house sat hunkered down as if it were poised to spring like a cat stalking a mouse. Sarah shuddered at the thought of going up on the porch and she chewed on her thumbnail.
Looking behind her, Sarah studied the church facing the Cat Lady’s home. It was a strong structure built of huge stones. She could tell it was as old as the town itself and its presence made her feel safe. Motioning for Jackie and Lacey to follow her, she moved from the sidewalk to the huge oak tree growing on the church’s lawn. The girls hid behind it, peeking out at the witch’s home.
> “Are you still going to do it?” Jackie teased.
“Yep.”
“Do you think she’s inside?” Lacey asked wide-eyed.
Sarah smirked at her. “Where else would she be? I hear she never leaves her house.”
“Be nice.” Jackie smacked Sarah’s arm.
“What are you waiting for? Are you afraid of the witch?” Lacey asked as she stared at the house.
“She’s not a witch. She’s just a freak, that’s all.”
“Well, then what are you waiting for?” Jackie snickered.
“I just want to make sure the coast is clear.”
“Hey, you guys, look at all the cats,” Lacey whispered. She pointed at the clusters of felines lolling about on the porch and walking in the yard. “There has to be at least twenty of them.”
“Yeah, that’s why she’s called the Cat Lady.” Sarah rolled her eyes and then felt the sting from Jackie’s slap.
“Do you think she put a spell on those cats?” Lacey asked with an innocent expression, twirling her hair with her finger.
“Could be,” Sarah snickered. “Or maybe she just…you know…gives them food.”
“Knock it off, Sarah.” Lacey glared at her sister. “What’s her real name, anyway? I’m sure she hasn’t gone by Cat Lady her whole life.”
“Mrs. Fedewa,” Jackie said, as she stared at the infamous house.
“Okay, I’m going for it. I’ll meet you back here.”
“Cool beans,” Jackie said.
“Cool beans? Is this town still in the nineties?” Sarah teased.
“Shut up.” Jackie smacked her arm again.
“This is physical abuse.” Sarah rubbed her arm, trying to appear injured.
Jackie laughed. “Be thankful, I like hanging out with you.”
“All I have to do is ring her doorbell, right?” Sarah poked her head out from behind the tree. She noticed the tomato pulp still clinging to the siding and peered up and down the street for the notorious Wykowski boys.
“That’s right,” Jackie chuckled.
Sarah took a deep breath and sprinted across the street. She stopped at the porch stairs. A group of cats were sunning themselves on the steps. They meowed at her as if they were hungry. Jumping when one of them rubbed against her legs, she bent down and stroked its back, never taking her eyes off of the house.
Sarah petted the cat, while she worked up the courage to climb the stairs. She heard the loud purr of the contented feline and it eased her anxiety. All of a sudden, she felt a hand squeeze her arm. Her heart leapt in her chest and she let out a yelp.
Turning, she spied Jackie. “I almost peed my pants!”
Jackie giggled.
“What are you doing here?” Sarah muttered and gave Jackie the evil eye.
“I couldn’t stay behind the tree and miss all the action.”
Sarah glanced around and pointed to some overgrown bushes in front of the porch. “You can hide over there.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah spied her sister running toward them and stifled a groan.
“I didn’t want to stand by myself,” Lacey whimpered, slightly out of breath. She tugged nervously on the hem of her T-shirt as she eyed the house.
Sarah groaned and her shoulders slumped as if she carried a heavy burden. She sighed and pointed at the bushes again. “You hide over there with Jackie and be quiet.”
Sarah waited until the other girls were out of sight, and then climbed the stairs. Stopping when she reached the porch, Sarah took some deep breaths before stepping onto the sagging stoop. Walking gingerly, she hoped the porch would support her. Her stomach clenched when it groaned. She took another step and then another, the porch complaining with every footfall. Halfway across the stoop, she heard the girls behind the bushes.
“She’s almost to the door,” Lacey said in a low voice.
Sarah bit her lip, stifling the disapproving remark dancing on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she turned and glared at the bushes, willing its occupants to shut up. She made eye contact with Jackie, who quickly ducked behind the shrubs, pulling Lacey with her.
What in the world is she doing?” Lacey asked.
“Shhh,” Jackie responded.
Sarah shook her head and continued her journey. She felt Jackie and Lacey watching her as she crept toward the door. Reaching the entryway, she was surprised to find the storm door wide open. The only barrier between the Cat Lady and the rest of the world was a flimsy screen door hanging askew on its hinges.
Alarm bells rang in Sarah’s head. This has got to be out of character for someone who never leaves her home. She turned back and whispered to the other girls. “Hey!”
Jackie poked her head out. “What?”
“The storm door’s open.”
“So?”
“So what do I do?”
“Duh, ring the doorbell.”
Sarah shrugged and pushed the doorbell. It let out an irritating buzz and she had the feeling it had been broken long ago and never fixed. She dashed down the stairs. The cats scattered, alarmed by the sudden activity. Reaching the shrubs, Sarah hid with her sister and Jackie.
Gasping for breath, Sarah waited for a reaction from the old woman. Her heart pummeled her ribs and she pressed her hand to her chest to calm it.
After a few minutes, Sarah started to pace. “Well, nothing’s happened.” She peeked out from behind the shrub and saw the screen door hanging ajar. “I bet she’s not even home. I’m going to try again.”
Jackie shrugged. “Be careful, remember she’s a witch.”
Sarah shook her head, and then peered out from behind the shrubs. Once again, she climbed the stairs. She was braver this time and it didn’t take her as long to make it to the door.
She looked inside, her heart lurching in her chest. She tiptoed to the picture window and peered through it. Gasping, she ran back to the entryway. Pulling it open, she lunged inside.
Sarah stared, unable to tear herself away. Shock ran through her body like an electrical current as she eyed the scene before her. The crumpled form of the Cat Lady lay on the living room floor, just inside the door. No life flickered in the old woman’s staring eyes. Her mouth gaped open in a silent scream and her hands were up around her head as if she were warding off blows. Turning away from the Cat Lady’s body, Sarah gagged as the coppery scent of blood assaulted her. There was blood splattered everywhere, on the wall, on the carpet and under the Cat Lady’s body.
Suddenly, Sarah’s throat constricted and she gasped for breath. Fearing she would faint, she stumbled back out the door and collided with Jackie and Lacey on the porch.
Jackie grabbed Sarah’s arm and shook her. “What are you doing? Are you crazy? I never said to go inside!”
Sarah didn’t speak. Shejust stared blankly at the porch.
Jackie shook her again. “Are you under the Cat Lady’s spell?”
Lacey whimpered. “Hey, Sarah…. Can you hear me? Sarah?”
“She’s under the Cat Lady’s spell,” Jackie said waving her hand in front of Sarah’s eyes.
“Oh my—,” Sarah moaned and clutched Jackie’s arm.
“What is it?” Jackie shook her again. “Speak…say something!”
“Th-th-the C-C-Cat Lady, sh-sh-she’s—,” Sarah stuttered.
“She’s what?” Jackie demanded.
“Sh-she’s dead.
Chapter Two
“What?” Jackie asked, her voice so shrill Sarah winced.
Taking a deep breath, Sarah stared at her new friend. She noticed Jackie had the wild-eyed look of a horse ready to bolt.
She took another deep breath and clenched her hands, hoping they would stop shaking. Grabbing the hem of her shorts, she dropped her head and gulped more air. Her heart thundered in her chest, and the sound of her blood rushing through the veins in her ears, reminded Sarah of the roar of a lion. As Sarah tried to get a grip on the scene she had just witnessed, she raised her head and stared at Jackie.
“Yo
u won’t believe this,” Sarah wailed. She stood and wiped her face with her sleeve, and then gestured with her hands. “Sh-she’s d-d-dead!”
“Are you sure she isn’t sleeping?” Lacey asked.
Sarah glared at her sister. She fought the overwhelming urge to slap her. “She’s lying on the floor and there’s blood everywhere.”
“No way! I don’t believe you,” Jackie said.
“Go look.”
“No way. This is one of your tricks.” Lacey folded her arms across her chest.
“It is not,” Sarah insisted and pointed at the door with a trembling hand.
“Are you sure?” Jackie asked. “This better not be a joke.”
“See for yourself.”
Jackie eyed her suspiciously. “You do look kind of freaked out.” She studied Sarah.
“What?”
“Just making sure this isn’t a joke.”
“Go look.” Sarah pointed at the door.
Jackie cautiously opened the screen door. The squeak of the hinges unnerved Sarah even more. It was an eerie sound that seemed out of place on this lazy summer day. Following Jackie into the dim interior, Sarah stopped and blinked several times. She waited for her eyes to adjust, hoping she would see a different scene the second time.
Sarah watched as both girls gasped at the site of the Cat Lady lying on the living room floor. Her body lay in a large pool of blood. She gawked at the wide, staring eyes again and shuddered.
Lacey shrieked, “Oh no! Oh no!” She started to shake and tears welled in her eyes.
Sarah put her arm around Lacey and squeezed her tight. “Shhh.”
“It smells like pennies in here.” Lacey gulped. “Where is that smell coming from? I think I’m going to be sick.” She clung to Sarah and took huge gulps of air.
“Calm down, Lacey.” Sarah squeezed her tight. She knew by the sound of Lacey’s voice, her sister was on the verge of going over the edge.
“She was murdered!” Jackie said in a horrified voice.
“Someone killed the Cat Lady!” Lacey shrieked again.