Burn My Paranoia One Last Time

38. The Witching Hour

Fog rolled over the graveyard slowly, moving as if it had a mind of its own. The graveyard gave the appearance of a twisted form of heaven, with its beautiful glass gazebo sitting lonely atop a mountain of clouds and headstones and crosses peaking out below.

Amber had stopped recording. It had been ten minutes since Carmen entered her trance, and Amber didn't want to drain the battery in case anything else happened. The girls stood around the salt circle, guarding and protecting Rain. Shelby leaned against the stone railing across from Amber and yawned. Amber let the camcorder rest on the stone railing beside her as she jotted down notes in her pocket-sized notebook.

Suddenly, a high-pitched and melodious little jingle sounded from Shelby's pocket.

Amber shot Shelby a stern look. "Shut it off!!" She whispered urgently through gritted teeth.

"Geez I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Shelby juggled the phone in her hands before declining the call. Shelby raised her thin eyebrows slightly when she realized the call had been from Mr. Banks. What on earth could he have been calling about at this ungodly hour?

Amber nodded at Shelby. "Who was it?"

"Nobody, don't worry." Shelby shrugged and smiled.

More minutes passed. Carmen remained still. Her eyes were distant and unfazed as if she were watching a scene far, far away. Another chill wind swept through the hill, causing Amber to shiver and bury herself in her warm, cashmere coat.

Shelby meanwhile, drifted in and out of sleep while leaning back against the railing. Her head bounced up every time she woke up, so she switched positions to rest her head on her elbow while leaning forward on the railing. She nestled her head into the warmth of her own arms. It was strange, but she was practically certain the temperature had dropped at least ten degrees.

The sharp resounding jingle of her cell phone jerked her awake.

"Shelby!"

Shelby flipped her phone open to read the screen.

"I'm going to take this really quick," Shelby apologized before stepping out of the gazebo.

"Hello?" She said quietly, while rubbing her shoulder. Her velvet zip-up hoodie was not warm enough for a freezing paranormal session at the graveyard.

The familiar voice on the other end of the call filled her with a gentle warmth. "Shelby? I'm so glad to hear your voice."

"Darren?" She whispered in surprise, walking further away from the gazebo. "Why are you calling me so late?"

"Hmm... I might be wrong, but that's not your usual sleepy voice. What are you doing up so late?"

"Nothing," she said as a matter-of-factly.

"Where are you?" He insisted.

"In my room," she lied. Wind brushed past her jet black hair and rustled the twisted branches above her. It became darker as clouds passed over the moon. Hopefully Rain wouldn't mind this call, but it was boring waiting for Carmen to wake up from the trance.

"You sound nervous. There's no need to be nervous around me." His voice sounded smooth and comforting, with a slightly seductive tone.

Shelby chuckled softly before relaxing her own voice. "I know. I miss you."

"I miss you too. It's crazy, but... I haven't been able to get that kiss out of my head."

Please don't get angry, Rain, Shelby thought to herself.

"Yeah?" Shelby twirled a wisp of hair around her finger as she blushed and listened. She was aware that she was edging him on, and she enjoyed every second of it. To know he was as crazy about her as she was about him was fulfilling, if not exciting.

"Yes. If it weren't for the bell ringing, I could have done so much more with you."

Shelby bit her lip and glanced back. Carmen was still sitting in her meditative state while Amber dozed off with her arms resting on the stone railing. A little bit of fantasy couldn't hurt. Shelby would do anything to get her mind off of this haunting place. She decided to hide herself and lean her head back against a broad tree.

"What would you have done to me, Mr. Banks?" She said playfully while fiddling with the zipper on her hoodie that wouldn't zip all the way up.

"Mmh..." he groaned while chuckling at her inquisitiveness. "I would have picked you up by that ass of yours and plopped you right onto my desk."

"Oh no," she said, trailing her fingertips across her collarbone. "What about all your papers?"

"I don't care, you're more important," he huffed.

Shelby's breath caught in her throat when she heard his noticeably lustful state. She bit her glossy lips with fierce temptation. It would be insane to do anything at this moment, especially at a graveyard. It's not like anyone would see. Yet, the thought of doing so in such an obscene place was thrilling for her.

"And then what..?" Shelby said breathlessly.

Mr. Banks chuckled on the other end of the call. "I would spread those pretty legs of yours and then I... well, I suppose you'll just have to feel for yourself tomorrow, won't you?"

Shelby blushed and opened her eyes, the sultry fantasy starting to fade away. "It already is tomorrow..." she whispered desperately.

"Hm? What was that?"

Shelby tightened her fingers over her zipper and sighed before leaning back against the tree. "Nothing, I just wish I could see you already."

"I see you," he said in a low voice. "I hope you don't mind, I'll be imagining you tonight."

Shelby grinned. "Imagine me all you want, Darren. I know I—"

"Shelby! Come here, hurry!" Amber motioned her over.

The sudden sound of her voice startled Shelby, causing her to step loudly on a fallen branch.

"Shelby? Who else is there..? Are you ok? Why does it sound like you're outside?"

"Shit— I just knocked something over. My moms calling me, I have to go!" Shelby's heart pounded quickly. She only hoped she didn't come off as suspicious as she felt.

She sprinted up the gazebo steps to find Carmen blowing out the candles and Amber holding up the camcorder.

"What happened? What did you see?" Shelby panted.

Carmen stood up and gripped the cross on her necklace. Her hand trembled, and her face looked as pale as a ghost.

"Did you find out who did it?" Amber asked. Her heart raced as she silently begged the universe for an answer. Hayden's life depended on this answer.

Carmen opened her mouth to speak, then covered it with her hands before running out the other side and leaning over the grass to vomit.

"Carmen!" Shelby raced over to her friends side and rubbed her back.

"We're so stupid..." Carmen shook. "I know... I know who murdered Rain Wilson."