Number 667

Chapter Sixteen

Carrie covered her face with her hands, sobbing into them, her salty tears flowing through the cracks between her fingers. She flopped down onto her bed, the red comforter hugging her skinny body. She cried, until there was a pool of maroon on her comforter where her tears had darkened the color.
Carrie flipped over to her back, picking at her short fingernail. Tears were still freely flowing down her face, but this time they were silent. She thought about school, about fall break. She didn't know how long it would continue - thankfully Vivian had been missing on break - but she heard on the news that it was expected for the end to be postponed because of the unusually cold weather. She had heard there might be snow. But either way, she didn't care. Just anything to keep her from going to school, being the new girl. But she knew she couldn't avoid it forever.
Carrie stood up, her legs brushing the comforter as she walked to the mirror. She pointed at her reflection as it looked at her with its silky hair. "I want you gone." She whispered. The spirit, Josh, looked at her with amusement. "Now how do you plan to do that?" She asked. "I-" Carrie started, but stopped, as she sat down on the bed. Her reflection smiled.
Carrie stood up again. Then she rushed out of the room, her spirit calling after her.
"Carrie! Get back here! I need to-" Carrie didn't hear the rest. She was already running onto the lawn, slamming the door behind her. She could feel the icy tips of the blades of grass crunching under her shoes. The frost had come quickly last night. The days were receding into darkness faster as November approached, and temperatures were dropping.
Carrie braced her hands on the fuzzy corduroy of her pants, puffing out her breaths in clouds of white. Goosebumps popped up on her arms, and she shivered, wrapping them around her waist. She got out, but where to go now? If she wanted to get rid of the Other Carrie, she would have to find a witch doctor, or something of that sort.
Or she could ask Vivian for directions.
Carrie huffed out a puff of steam, turning on her booted heel and stomping back into the house. She opened the door and peered inside. Thankfully, their parents were out. Otherwise, they'd probably be wondering what she was doing running outside in the middle of October.
Carrie shut the door behind her, the white rubber insulation on the bottom of the door squeaking against the wood of the floor. The newly painted lime green walls looked clean, smooth, as she walked up the steps to Vivian's door. She knocked three times, softly, with her knuckles. The door creaked open. Vivian sat on her bed, reading the book the Academy assigned for fall break. The floor was clean and white again, good as new. She turned her head towards Carrie and closed the book, neatly sliding in a crisp bookmark that read, in plain, typed black letters, "Twistville Public Library".
"So can you help me?" Vivian asked, looking at Carrie with pleading in her eyes. She rubbed her forehead. "I just can't concentrate. I don't... Feel like myself." Carrie sighed, her eyes level with Vivian's as she leaned against the door frame. "Well... How about this. I'll help you, but you have to help me first." Vivian turned back to her dresser. "Deal." She said.
Carrie moved her hands up, her palms facing towards Vivian. "This is going to sound weird," she said. "But do you have a handheld mirror?" Vivian rustled in the drawer for a moment, not having to look long, for the drawer was well organized. Obviously. She pulled out a white plastic handheld mirror, whirling back around and saying, "That's not an odd question at all. Here." She held out the mirror, and Carrie hesitated before she took it. Then she stared into it, saying, "Carrie, get out here." Vivian could hear genuine ferocity in her voice. But nothing happened. Then, suddenly, the mirror yelled, "Never!" Carrie smiled. Then tapped the mirror. "We know you're there. Show yourself." The mirror muttered a curse, then Carrie's hair changed to the familiar slicked-back braid.
Vivian gasped.
The spirit rolled her eyes. "What did you need me for?" Carrie pounded over to the dresser, shoving the small handheld mirror in the mahogany drawer. Then she slammed it shut, her breaths rapid and fierce. "Carrie," Vivian said nervously. "Are you alright?"
Carrie nodded. Then she calmed down a bit, sighed, and said, "So is there anyone you know that can do a banishing spell?" Vivian toyed with the locket.
"Well..."