“Hello? Is someone out there?” she called out. A movement from the corner of her eye made her turn. She walked to the edge of the trail and tried to peer through the fog to see the person screwing with her. Gravel crunched behind her. She jumped and spun around. No one was there. The breeze picked up again and with it came a warning.
“Run, run away, run and hide.” It came from all directions and from many different voices. Zoe’s eyes grew wide as the fog lifted and shadowy figures stepped out from behind trees, stood from behind bushes, or just appeared out of nowhere. Zoe turned circles, perplexed by what she witnessed. The ghosts moved forward, closing in around her while chanting for her to run and hide. Zoe closed her eyes, wondering if the ghosts were a hallucination, or if she were still in her bed having a crazy dream. She opened her eyes again. A ghostly feminine figure stood close enough that Zoe had to take a step away. She looked familiar, but Zoe couldn’t place where see might have seen her before. The ghost was pale with long brown braided hair. She wore a long, faded blue dress and stood stiffly with a look of concern on her face.
“Death is coming for you,” the ghost whispered. Zoe’s hand flew to cover the scream that threatened to erupt from her. Tears of distress pooled in her eyes. The ghost cocked her head to the side and raised her hand to cup Zoe’s cheek. The ghost’s icy touch burned her skin.
“There’s no need to fret. It will all be over soon.” The ghost smiled.
Zoe heard the swoosh of something behind her and ducked just before it whacked her in the back of the head. She straightened and gasped. The ghost standing before her had been sliced in half at the waist. Zoe turned, wondering what had almost chopped her head off. Her face met with the chest of a figure cloaked in black. Zoe shivered and stepped back. She eyed the scythe at its side, assuming that was who almost took her head off. She moved her gaze to the figure’s face to look into its eyes. Blackness was all there was to see. No eyes, no face, nothing, just empty darkness.
“Jumping the gun for my demise, aren’t you? I’m young and in good health. It can’t be my time to die yet. The very least you could do is give me time to say goodbye to my family and friends.” Zoe pointed out. If Death refused, she knew she would have to come up with an alternative plan. She was going to cheat Death today, one way or another. Death looked down at her and shook its head in denial. She nodded her understanding and bowed her head. Death stepped back and raised the scythe. The ghosts around them moaned and sighed. They sounded distraught that she was about to join their ranks. She shifted her head from side to side, watching the ghosts around them float away and disappear. Their reaction was all she needed to deny Death this opportunity. She looked back up at Death with a smirk on her face.
“I will not die today,” she stated and ran off the trail into the dense woods. The air shifted behind her as Death swung its scythe. She cried out when the blade cut the flesh on her neck. She covered the wound with her hand, but continued running to escape Death’s grip. Zoe glanced back to see if Death followed. It still stood on the trail, watching her flee, then turned and started walking toward the beginning of the trails. Relief flowed through Zoe, but she was not fool enough to believe that simply running away from Death would be enough to stop it.
She paused long enough to come up with a game plan. Time was not on her side. She ripped off a piece of her shirt and placed it on the back of her neck as she considered her options. The best idea Zoe could come up with was to return home through the woods. Zoe kept a watchful eye out for Death as she made her way through the rough terrain. She reached her house in record time, sprinted across the yard, and dead bolted the door when she made it inside the house. Her housemate, Claire, looked up from her breakfast and raised a brow.
“You okay?” she asked, before shoving another spoonful of cereal into her mouth.
Zoe nodded and walked over to the cabinets. Death had not given her any other option; she had to do what was necessary to survive. She searched through them until she found the large iron skillet. She calmly walked up behind Claire, raised the skillet, and swung. It connected with Claire’s head. Her body slid off the chair to the floor. Zoe dropped the skillet and checked Claire’s pulse. It was strong and steady. Zoe picked Claire up under her arms and dragged her up the stairs to her bedroom. She eased Claire’s body to the floor and went to her closet.
“I would apologize for what I’m about to do, but to be honest, I never really liked you. You’re not a very nice person, so it makes what I’m going to do to you easier on me,” Zoe said as she dug through the mountains of clothes and shoes piled on top of her special trunk until she was able to pull it free. A grunt escaped her as she moved the heavy trunk to the middle of the bedroom and unlocked it. There was no time for candles or incense. She rummaged past all the unnecessary items until she found her athame and two chalices.
Zoe grimaced as she pulled a strand of hair from her head and placed it in one of the chalices. She hissed in pain as she sliced open the end of her finger and drained enough blood to cover the hair. The process was repeated with Claire’s hair and blood. Once the blood and hair were collected in separate chalices, Zoe recited the ancient spell that would switch her and Claire’s souls.
“Mind, Body, and Spirit Heart, from this body you must depart. Mind, Body, Spirit Life, you must flee to avoid Death’s scythe.” Zoe struck a match and dropped it into the chalice with Claire’s hair and blood. She waited until the flame died out, then drank the warm blood. A drunken dizziness washed over Zoe. Her eyesight became hazy. Once the symptoms passed, she shook Claire’s shoulder to wake her up and recite her part of the spell.
“Claire? Hon, are you okay? I need you to wake up,” Zoe said in her most concerned voice. Claire’s hand moved to her head, and she moaned.
“What happened? I have one hell of an awful headache,” Claire complained.
“I accidently hit you with the iron skillet,” Zoe admitted. She lit another match and dropped it into the chalice with her hair and blood. Again, she waited for the flame to burn out and handed it to Claire. “Here, drink this.”
“What is it?” she asked as she sat up.
“Something to make you feel better,” Zoe assured her.
Claire nodded and drank the concoction. She gagged as she handed the chalice back to Zoe. “That stuff was nasty. It tasted like burned blood.”
“It was. Now, repeat after me,” Zoe demanded as she hid the athame behind her back.
“You’re joking, right?” Claire looked at her as if she were insane.
“No, I’m not joking. It was my burned blood and hair that you just drank, just as I drank yours before I woke you up. There’s no time for me to explain. Repeat after me,” Zoe demanded once more.
Claire started to scoot away from her, but Zoe moved the athame to Claire’s throat. Claire froze.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Repeat after me. Mind, Body, and Spirit Heart, from this body you must depart.” Zoe glared at Claire. She pushed the point of the athame into her flesh.
Claire yelped as tears flooded her eyes. “Mind, Body, and Spirit Heart, from this body you must depart.”
“Good girl. One more line and you’re done. Mind, Body, and Spirit Life, you must run to Death’s arms and scythe,” Zoe finished. Tears fell from Claire’s eyes, and she shook her head. “Say it!” Zoe screamed.
Claire jumped and looked Zoe in the eye. “Mind, Body, and Spirit Life, you must run to Death’s arm and scythe.”
Zoe slowly pulled the athame away from Claire’s throat and smiled. Claire’s eyes rolled back. Her body went limp, and Zoe laid her down carefully on the floor. She didn’t want any more injuries to the body she was about to possess. Zoe stood, waiting for the spell to activate. Once again, she grew dizzy when the spell took over. Her body crashed to the floor. She pulled her spirit out of her body and slipped into Claire’s.
What took seconds in the spirit realm took hours in the real world. The bedroom was dark, and a dark figure stood
over her. Her first thought was that the spell had not worked, and Death had found her. When she saw the glint of the knife in the figures hand, she knew it was Claire. She lifted the knife over her head and screamed. The knife swiftly descended on her. Zoe waited to move from its path until the last possible second. It plunged into the floor where Zoe had lain. Claire glanced from the embedded knife to Zoe and back.
“What have you done to me?” Claire yelled as she tried to pull the knife from the floor. Zoe stood with her arms crossed and smirked at the pathetic girl.
“I switched our bodies. I’m in yours,” Zoe glanced down at her new body, disgusted by it, “grotesquely overweight body. And for a limited time, I’ve let you enter my perfectly fit body. Believe me when I say your body wasn’t on the top of my list to possess, but beggars can’t be choosers.” Zoe sighed and ran her hands over the curves and bulges of Claire’s body. “I really wish you would’ve taken better care of yourself. It’s going to take months to whip this body into shape.”
“Why would you do this?” Claire asked, forgetting the knife. A look of confusion washed over her face.
Zoe sighed again. “A not-so-friendly visitor called upon me earlier today. Death is tapping at my door, and I’m not ready to die yet. You’re going to take my place. And before you go telling me that Death will know the difference between my soul and yours, just keep your trap shut. There’s just enough of my soul’s essence left in that body to trick Death into believing that it’s me. Once the body dies, once you die, and Death is gone, I’ll cast a spell to collect the rest of my soul.” Zoe laughed at the bewildered expression on her face.
“You’ve done this before. How many innocent people have died so you could live?” Claire asked.
“You’re right. This isn’t my first rodeo. My soul is over three hundred years old. I lost count of how many people have died for me. Honestly, I don’t really care.” Zoe shrugged.
“Well, I’m not giving up my life for yours, you selfish bitch!”
Claire tackled Zoe. They fell to the ground. Claire clawed at Zoe’s face and pulled out chunks of her hair. Zoe screamed and pushed Claire off of her, lunging for the knife that was still impaled in the floor. Claire attacked Zoe from behind, fighting for the knife, as well. She punched Zoe in the back of the head, causing it to smack against the wood floor. Zoe elbowed Claire in the ribs in return. She was finally able to wiggle the knife free from the floor and pushed Claire off her once again. Claire lay on the floor, exhausted. Zoe kicked her in the gut. She placed her hands on her knees and sucked in a few deep breaths.
“You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that, but in the end it’s you that has to die. Get up.” Zoe straightened and pointed the knife at her. Claire sat up and glared at Zoe as she stood. Zoe motioned for her to walk to the door. Zoe kept the point of the knife on Claire’s back. Claire stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to face Zoe.
“When Death comes to claim me tonight, I will tell him of your treachery. Also, know my spirit will haunt you for the rest of your existence,” Claire threatened.
Zoe laughed. “Honey, Death already knows of my tricks, go ahead and tell him. I can cast a spell to stay invisible from him. How do you think I’ve cheated Death this long? Oh, and ghosts don’t scare me.”
Zoe reached up and broke Claire’s neck. She let her lifeless body fall down the stairs. It landed on the first floor with a final thud. Zoe stared at the body that was once hers.
“What a waste.” She sighed and went back into her bedroom.
She cut the palm of her hand and drew a circle of protection in blood around the bed and then lay down. She was exhausted. Tomorrow, she would have to get up and call the police. This time, her lie would be that her poor roommate must have fallen down the stairs and had broken her neck. She could make up some excuse about being gone and not finding the body until that morning. The police would take her at her word, and no one would be the wiser. She fell asleep with a smile on her face.
A noise woke her around three o’clock in the morning. She lay in bed and waited to hear the noise again. Another loud thud happened. The sound came from downstairs. She contemplated going to check out what the noise was, but that meant leaving the safety of the protection circle. She tried to ignore the noise, but it continued. It got louder and came more frequently. After lying in bed for an hour listening to the constant thud, Zoe threw the covers back in annoyance and got out of bed. She walked out of the room and paused when she got halfway down the stairs. The broken body she once possessed stood on the second stair, making an effort to step onto the third. The broken neck made it difficult for the head to turn her way. The arm not holding onto the banister was broken, but it raised and turned the head to look at her. A wide grin spread across its face. Some of its teeth were missing. Zoe stood frozen in disbelief.
“You said ghosts don’t scare you. How is this?” The body shook, a gurgling sound coming from its mouth as blood trickled down its chin. It laughed at her. It raised a brow when she didn’t respond. “Did I wake you from your beauty rest? Sorry, I tried to be as quiet as possible, but repossessing a dead, broken body is difficult. You know what’s even harder? Getting this body up a flight of stairs.” It lifted its leg and stepped up to the third stair.
Zoe retreated a step.
“What’s wrong, Zoe? Didn’t expect me back so soon? I know what might cheer you up. I brought some friends back from the spirit realm with me. They can’t wait to say hi.”
The ghosts from the woods started to appear behind the body. Zoe finally realized why she had recognized the ghostly woman. She had been one of the first people she had exchanged souls with. She looked at all the other ghosts gathering behind the body. Each and every one of them had been a victim of her soul switching. Zoe took another step back up the stairs. The body advanced another step, the ghosts right on her heels.
“I told Death about your little trick, and you were right. It already knew, but you didn’t take into consideration was how pissed I was that you played your little trick on me.” The body raised its broken arm and turned its head around to look at the ghosts. It let go of its head and swung it toward Zoe. “Well go ahead my spirit friends, bid Zoe welcome to our world.”
The ghosts moved past the body and rushed at Zoe. She turned and ran to the top of the staircase and down the hall to her room. From downstairs, she heard laughter.
“Don’t fret. It will all be over soon.”
Zoe ran into the bedroom and locked the door. She turned, and Death struck with its scythe. The last thing Zoe saw was the dark emptiness of Death’s face. The last thing she felt was the blade slicing through her throat.
Inner Storm
By Jay R. Thurston
A swelling horizon of grey marked a clear division between sky and ocean along the South Carolina coast. Category five storm Edna roared across the Atlantic, due to hit the beach by nightfall. In the center of the storm’s projected cone, the town of Hammer Bluff made preparations with haste. Most adhered the issued warning to evacuate; where once were neighborhoods active with the sound of playful children and the scent of food on a grill, now replaced by emptied driveways, boarded up doors and windows, and ghostly silence. The last signs of life consisted of the few able-bodied volunteers assisting with the safest and quickest evacuation for the remainder of the Hammer Bluff community.
Danielle and Evan Harlow patrolled the last streets of their assigned neighborhood, just yards away from sand dunes and waving grass’ obstruction of the impending disaster. The Harlow siblings bore little resemblance: Evan a good old boy with dark hair and eyes to match, Danielle a blue-eyed blonde with a lean figure, a tan complexion, and a beauty queen smile. Known throughout the small community, Evan lived in Hammer Bluff for all of his twenty-five years. Danielle moved back three months ago after completing her senior year in a Connecticut university. She was elated to return to friendly faces, home cooked meals, and familiar stomping grounds. Connecticut never felt like home, stuff
-shirt Yankees were condescending until she unconsciously hastened her speech and shed the “y’alls.” She now felt somewhat estranged; she was sensitive to her older brother’s native tongue she once used herself without a second thought.
The Harlows turned onto Topher’s Cove Lane, a cul-de-sac with a half-dozen summer residences. Their search for people refusing to heed the evacuation warnings would conclude here.
“We’d best be getting to the shelter, afternoon’s gettin’ late an’ I don’ wanna be caught this close to the water,” Evan said. He peered over his sister’s head, toward the ocean.
“We’re almost done, Evan. Just a few more houses.”
A large wooden panel protected a bay window, spray-painted upon it the words, “GO AWAY, EDNA”. The next lot showed no foundation at all, just remnants of a trailer home abruptly relocated. A tireless frame of a rundown, lime-green compact car remained amongst scattered trash.
“That’s a strange ‘un there, whaddaya think?” Evan said and pointed to a red house on the opposite side of the road; drywall was stacked against the windows, but the front door had been left wide open.
The last house on the right entranced Danielle. It was a light green cottage with crooked shutters, overgrown foliage, and no evident sign of storm preparation. She almost missed her brother’s words. “Oh, sorry. The red one?” she asked.
Evan nodded. “Y’allright? Getting’ a vibe or sumthin?”
Every so often, Danielle’s nape would shiver; her sense of smell would heighten as if she could pick stress, danger, and dystopia out of the air. She couldn’t explain it, and much less cared to try since any mention sparked ridicule from her brother. She wondered if his mocking and skepticism were results of underlying jealousy.
Dark Light Book Three (Dark Light Anthology) Page 16