KAYLA15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscn8NhCnf5
She sits on the balcony in the dead of night. There are bags under her eyes. Kay is rattled, her hands tremble. Her mind recalls the odd encounter in her parents’ room. Flashbacks of the wind, the shaking windows… the vibrating glass. She tugs a blanket closer to her chest. Her complexion is dull.
I had to imagine it. My imagination got the best of me, that’s all. No way in the world did that actually happen. She hugs herself, staring at the half-moon. But if it didn’t occur, why am I acting this way? I’ve been distant ever since. I’ve been acting bizarre the whole day. Darius noticed something was off. She recalls meeting him outside the penthouse:
“Hey beautiful.”
“Hey.” Kay replies unenthusiastically.
This troubles Darius. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” Her tone is one note and shaky.
“Are you sure?” He pulls her into an embrace.
“Yeah, I’m sure… I just had a bad dream, that’s all.”
“Aww. It’s okay, I’m here now.”
Kay smiles. “My savior.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
How would I even begin to explain? My mom has freaky books in her room full of spells. I said one, thinking it was meaningless, but ended up summoning wind. Yeah… he’ll totally believe that! Darius will think it’s a joke. If only it was April Fools. “No… I don’t want to. Let’s head to school.”
“We’re not going to the studio?”
She shakes her head. “My body needs to recover; I overworked myself.”
“Oh, alright.” His hazel eyes study her back. “You forgot your bookbag.”
“It’s fine, I don’t need it.” The last thing she wants is to go back up. The thought of passing the bedroom makes her skin crawl.
The whole day is off… her energy isn’t as vibrant. In Photography, Jia noticed that Kay was withdrawn. She’s the type to give space instead of prying. Although Kay felt her observing her the whole class.
Mya, on the other hand, investigated between the bell. “Did you and Darius fight? Or are you mad at your parents?”
“No… it’s just a bad day.” She gets that Mya is worried, but feels her friend needs to know when to leave people alone with their thoughts.
Chester and Izzy are respectful during Pre Law. Kay is glad that they’re more like Jia. They give empathetic stares and uplifting smiles. In PE, she tries sitting out on the bench to gather her thoughts, but Fred is too lively to have a mopey friend. His enthusiasm rubbed off. He didn’t dig for info; he only got Kay up and moving.
“Let’s turn that frown upside down, Missy. Try to beat me… I doubt you can.” That got me in a combative mood and made me forget for a short while. Today might be better. But who am I kidding? I barely slept. I need coffee.
Kay leaves the balcony, a long blanket dragging behind her. In the kitchen, she locates a kettle and fills it with water. Next, she flicks on a stove eye and sets it there. As she waits for it to heat, she peers out at the city. Dawn is approaching. Kay huffs and rubs the back of her neck.
Does Mom know what the books can do? Has she ever said any of the incantations? I want to ask her… but I don’t want to seem insane. I should start with simple questions. Why does she collect them? And for how long have they been a part of her life?
When the kettle whistles, Kay removes it. She adds coffee powder to a cup and pours. No cream or sugar. She drinks it black. The healthiest way to consume the hot beverage. Her pager, which is wrapped in the blanket, beeps.
Darius paged her: 14. Kay turns it upside down to properly read it. The number 14 now translates to Hi. She goes to the wall phone and dials the number 12, then the last four digits of Darius’s number. She selects 406: which will translate to XOXO on her boyfriend’s pager. Kay sips the coffee, waiting for her pager to go off. After a few seconds it does: XOXO.
“You’re up early.” Her dad says from the archway.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Why not?”
“I had a nightmare.”
“Wow… you still have those?”
“Not really…” She rubs her eyes.
“Was it the squirrel monkey?”
“DAD! DON’T TALK IT UP!” Kayla covers her ears. Why would he speak of it? That monster haunted me all my childhood!
James chuckles. “Sorry.” He walks to the kettle.
“I made enough water for you.”
“Of course you did, you’re a daddy’s girl.”
“Maybe a little.” She hangs up the phone.
The sound of heels announce that her mom is awake. Mary rocks a grape-colored flare suit, very 70s chic. “Nope, she’s a mommy’s girl all the way.”
“It’s always a competition with you.”
“You know you love that about me.” Mary analyzes her daughter. “Hon, you look sick. What’s the matter?”
“She had a bad dream.”
“About what?” The mother-bear within her activates, she coddles Kayla.
Can I tell the truth? If I told them that I had a nightmare about the magic books, they wouldn’t judge me as much. This is a perfect opportunity. My last plan slips away. “It was about the grimoires in your room.”
James makes a cup of coffee. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one who’s freaked out.”
“They’re not freaky, don’t listen to your dad. They were handed down from your grandmother, the grimoires are family history.”
Family history??? Handed down from grandma? Does that mean the casting I did was normal? I work on phrasing my words into subtle curiosity. “Are the spells real?”
“No…” Mary caresses Kay’s curly hair. “I thought they were when I was younger. I even recited one. Those are just words dressed up to seem magical. Although your grandmother says otherwise. She claims witchcraft is real. My mom held a séance once, but it was just a prank.”
“So… none of it is real?”
“Not at all.” Mary comforts her daughter. “Forget about the dream, it’s just your imagination.”
Was it? Or do I want to believe it was? My eyes know what they saw. My mind just can’t comprehend it. I can’t deny how the environment shifted from calm to chaotic. I can’t deny how it all ceased when I shouted, stop. There was a presence in the room… that listened to me. I’m not insane. Maybe Grandma isn’t either. I should call her. She may believe me.
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