27: Still Waters

“Kal look out!” Nedra yelled pulling her arm and pushing Jill back. The two of them ran down the flight of stairs quick putting as much distance as they could between them and the attic. 

Kalene dashed inside the masters’, loudly slamming the door behind her and waking everyone from their sleep.

“Kal?” Quiana yawned and stretched. “What are you doing? Are you ok?”

“NO! No I’m not ok, something’s wrong with Jill!”

Hearing her words sobered everyone and Daijah moved to the tables to light candles. “What do you mean? What’s wrong with her?”

“Her eyes! They…she’s not Jill anymore!”

There was knocking on the door behind them and Nedra jumped into the group as they stared at the wooden frame, afraid of opening it and seeing what was on the other side.

“Maybe it’s Jill,” Nancy said.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of!”

“Don’t be silly! She’s our friend and if she’s in danger, we have to help her!” Karima moved towards the door slowly as the others watched.

The banging returned louder but this time it carried Jill’s frantic cries and screams. “Let me in please! Open the door.”

Karima unlocked the door and pulled it open. Jill rushed inside and threw her back against the door, shutting it tight as Karima rejoined the group.

“Jill? Are you ok?” Nedra asked watching her trying to slow her breathing.

“No! There was something in there! Something tried to get me and you just left me alone! How could you?”

“We didn’t want to go in there in the first place! We tried to stop you but you wouldn’t listen,” Kalene reasoned. 

“Jill what was it? What did you see?” Holley asked taking one step forward. “The girls said your eyes weren’t right.”

“No! They were red and she was possessed or something. She started for Kalene like she wanted to kill her!”

“That wasn’t me! I was still standing by the table and I watched you hit at something and then run off down the stairs! You left me and I felt something. Something else was in there.”

“This was in the attic?” Freedom sighed. “Why would you go in there alone?”

“Because we heard something. Someone closed the door and Jill wanted to see what.”

“That’s Horror Movie 101, NEVER investigate strange noises!” Leah shook her head. “That’s the surest way to get yourself locked up with a blood thirsty monster!”

“Well something was up there, that’s for sure!”

“And maybe it’s time we found out what.” Lizzy grabbed the Ouija board and looked at everyone. “Everett had more to tell us, what say we see what that is?”

He threw down the paper; a grunt at the news
too much violence everywhere it gave him the blues
People were missing, mothers were sick
poverty was high and crime was thick

He’d had his share of grief that much was true
It’s why he was here, a nice change of view
the lake was real peaceful, fine change of pace
he’d give up everything just to live in this place

“My soul I would sell for a house on this hill.”
a death chill brushed on him as if sealing the deal
“The contract is set, your deal has been made.”
he heard a voice speak then quietly fade

“Come to the water and no buyers’ remorse.
Because I’m afraid your life has run its course.”
“Must be the wind,” he thought to himself.
“I may be old, but I still have my health.”

He closed all the shutters to hide from the wind
as that tender sweet girl called again
her voice was real light and drift through the door
and he took himself out to the sandy shore

But Death was hiding in that gentle wave
and in its blue torrent was a decent grave
had he more sense, he would not have bothered
but that beautiful voice called him to the water

There was a feeling he couldn’t shake
As he stood on the shores of that murky lake
Something about the waters was still
Seemed so perfect and yet unreal

He reached a hand beneath the tide
His muscles clenched his eyes opened wide
“Where are you taking me? I’d like to know.”
“You made the deal, and now we must go.”

“We haven’t much time, you must move fast.”
He took her hand and followed at last
realizing too late where he’d seen that young girl
something about her face and the truss in her curls

She was the one missing, or so they believed

that was the story the papers all weaved
but he saw her plain as his eyes searched her well
a frightful, cold vision as she dragged him to hell


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