Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Twelve Warning

  The mouthwatering, fluffy, syrupy stacks disappear in record time, not even a crumb is left on their plates. Eviee sits back allowing her head to fall over the back of her chair as her distended stomach surges over the waistband of her skinny jeans. Five pancakes were too much for her tiny body but she couldn't stop once the first bite had touched her tongue. Small groans of approval left the girl's mouths as they adjusted their bodies trying to accommodate the pancakes settling in their stomachs. They were satiated.
  After scarfing down their breakfast the girls sat in silence for nearly fifteen minutes their sugar-induced state making them less than eager to leave their chairs. Finally managing to work up the energy to make the trek back upstairs the girls exited the dining hall.
  Ms. Magdalen was nowhere to be seen when their girls entered the false comfort of the seating room. While it made it easier for them to all converge in Fauna's room, Eviee knew the truth and she was about to shatter any pretense of safety offered within these four walls.
  Fauna's room was slightly smaller than Eviee's, it lacked the space offered by the bay window and the style of the turret room. It was however comfortable and felt more modern. The girls clambered onto the queen-sized bed forming a makeshift circle. Their criss-cross-legs allowed their knees to touch and Eviee fiddled with the hem of her shirt while she waited for everyone to be still.
  All eyes eventually made their way to Eviee as they got settled waiting for her to speak.
  "Well, what's so important we had to speak up here?" Fauna asked with a roll of her eyes.
  "Um," Eviee's uneven voice falters and her eyes flutter to Claire's, with a little smile the other girl encourages her to go on. "I told you I believe my power, as you call it, lets me speak to the dead." The girls all nod, "last night, I was visited by a spirit," Eviee takes a deep breath making sure the others understand before she continues. "The spirit was my mother."
  "Not to sound insensitive but what does that have to do with us?" Fauna asks incredulously.
  "Ask them to take your hands," her mother's soft voice whispers in her ear and Eviee looks around startled at her sudden presence although she doesn't see her.
  "Are you okay?" It's Claire who notices the sudden change in Eviee and she reaches over to give her knee a light squeeze of reassurance.
  "Uh, yeah, I think it might be better to show you," Eviee says her tongue flicking out to lick her suddenly dry lips.
  "You can do that?" Nadia implores her eyes widening.
  "I think so, if everyone can hold hands then I can try."
  The girls follow Eviee's request clasping their hands together and strengthening their circle.
  "Close your eyes, think about what I showed you, and envision those memories flowing from you to them." Eviee's mother whispers brushing a curly lock behind her ear.
  "Close your eyes and be open," Eviee instructs focusing on the memories she witnessed and the new memories they had created in her mind.
  She can feel the surge of power bubbling in her middle and she squeezes her eyes shut zeroing in on the way it flows through her fingertips. As her power leaves her she can feel it moving through the others and small gasps answer her power as it connects within Fauna who sits across from her. Delving into where it started Eviee watches from the sidelines as each girl appears in the fog-laden night with her.
  Their ghostly figures take in the surroundings in awe. The Eviee from before steps into view her tiny slender hand waving through the thick fog.
  "There's two of you?" Jamie says almost as a question.
  "That's my memories," Eviee answers.
  "Can you see us?" The girl asks always filled with questions.
  "No."
  The scene begins to unfold and Eviee watches her body fall to the ground scrambling backward while shaking in fear. Then the beautiful woman she now knows is her mother appears. Tears form in her eyes as her mother explains who she is yet again. When they threaten to spill over Eviee quickly blinks them away refusing to cry.
  Memory Eviee takes her mother's hands and the scenery changes. The meadow comes to life around them. The colors don't seem as bright as when Eviee was here with her mother and she realizes that her memory is clouded. The girls remain silent like shadows trailing behind the figures and through the large overhanging branches.
  Everything replays from Eviee's perspective at the side of the action and they skip through the memories in the order Elena had shown them the night prior.
  The last memory ends and Eviee retracts the inklings of her power feeling drained.
  "What the hell was that?" Fauna asks her usually strong voice colored with fear.
  "A warning," that's the only words Eviee can muster, her tongue feels thick refusing to cooperate.
  "So, that creep Ellsworth, he's using us to bring that woman back." Claire summarizes.
  Eviee manages a nod in confirmation.
  "We have to get out of here." Fauna jumps from her bed racing through the room.
  Her eyes search up and down looking for any signs of a camera when she doesn't find one she stops by the door crossing her arms.
  "I think it's safe to talk here, but just to be sure, we can have Claire relay the sensitive information," Fauna concludes her body relaxing some.
  A loud knock then sounds on the other side of Fauna's door causing her to spin on the wooden exit and fire to flare to life along her fingertips and ends of her red hair.
  "Girls, lunch will be served in twenty minutes," Ms. Magdalen calls out.
  Fauna's fire dies down when she realizes it's only the plump woman and she turns to face them again.
  "No talking in the sitting room." Her stern expression leaves no room to argue.
  Ms. Magdalen had made it abundantly clear when she came directly to Fauna's room to knock on her door that the sitting room was compromised. Possibly the hall too, they had to be careful of cameras if their caretakers knew where they had been this whole time.
  Looking at the same Fauna's alarm clock Eviee was greeted with the same red numbers she could see the time said 12:15 pm. 'How long were we inside my memories?" She wondered.
  Regaining their composure the girls made their way back to the dining room and took their seats around the far end of the table although none of them had an appetite after what they had witnessed.
  Much to their surprise Ms. Magdalen entered a few minutes later occupying a seat near the door. The woman had never accompanied them during a meal. The sudden change of behavior was not lost on them and each faked a smile pretending everything was normal.
  "So, any cute boys have your attention back at school?" Fauna teased nudging Eviee with her shoulder and trying to seem normal.
  Claire had already relayed Fauna's real message to the others.
  "Camera behind Nadia, far corner no one look."
  A deep blush tints Eviee's cheeks and she shakes her head vigorously.
  "Katie?" Fauna chooses the two shyest to ask and Katie disappears under her gaze.
  "Well, I need me a Mr. Tall, dark, and handsome," Fauna says winking.
  The table falls into giggles and the lighthearted air returns. While they're still on edge Fauna always finds a way to alleviate extra stress. With their minds able to relax the first pangs of hunger make themselves known. It's not long until lunch is served and the girls indulge in the cheesy, crunchy deliciousness of the grilled cheese sandwiches placed in front of them. The steaming tomato soup pairs perfectly and the slight hint of basil enhances the already savory soup. Even with the news they can't help slurping down every drop.