Murder by Medium

Chapter 6-Whispers in the Shadows and Con-versations

—-——Whispers in the Shadows and Con-versations —-——

The flickering candlelight cast long, wavering shadows against the peeling wallpaper of the dimly lit room. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood and the faint burning of sage. Phaedra, sat cross-legged on the worn velvet cushion atop her chair, with Eva's £30.00 in cash safely in her back pocket. An array of eerie trinkets lay scattered across an old wooden table: wax candles, crystals, and scrolls inscribed with strange symbols that seemed to pulse with an energy of their own.

Her fingers fluttering over the crystal pendant dangling from her necklace then to her crystal ball. For a moment, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply, allowing the energy of the room to wash over her. This wasn't just another séance; there was something... sinister lurking in the shadows tonight like an unspoken anticipation that filled the space as if the very walls were holding their breath.

This was it.

A smug smirk etched on a face quickly vanished and a throat cleared.

Showtime.

Eva, sat across from Phaedra, her heart racing with a mixture of hope and anxiety. She had watched her grandmother's health decline over the past year, and now, with Agnes gone, Eva sought solace in the possibility of reaching her one last time.

"Let's begin," Phaedra said softly, her voice a melodic whisper that stirred the air. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply as the flickering flames danced nearby, their glow reflecting in her dark, searching eyes. "Focus on the energy around us, Eva. Picture your grandmother, let her presence envelop you."

Eva nodded, her heart thumping in her chest. She closed her eyes, imagining Agnes, the woman who had been her guiding light, with her warm smile and gentle wisdom. "Agnes, if you can hear me, please come through," she silently pleaded, feeling the weight of her longing settle in her chest.

As moments turned into minutes, Phaedra moved her hands above the crystal ball, the faint sound of her breath mingling with the crackling candlelight. A sudden chill swept through the room, causing the flame to flicker wildly. Phaedra opened her eyes, piercing yet soft, and tilted her head slightly, as if listening to something far beyond the tangible world. "I feel her,"

"Honeybee," Phaedra said, her voice taking on a distant, echoing quality. She paused "Agnes, is that you?"

Eva's breath hitched, her chest tightening with emotion. "Grandma?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Yes, I sense her," Phaedra continued, her gaze unfocused yet intent. "She is with us, a presence filled with love and warmth. She wants to share something."

"Tell her I miss her," Eva urged, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want her to know I think of her every day."

Phaedra closed her eyes once more, her brows furrowing as if she were gathering strands of energy from the air. "Agnes, your granddaughter is here, yearning for your presence," she spoke slowly, with an otherworldly intensity. "She misses you dearly."

A gust of wind rattled the window, causing the candles to flicker ominously. Eva felt a sudden wave of cool air wrap around her, and a shiver raced down her spine.

"She feels your sorrow," Phaedra continued, her voice now trembling with an uncharacteristic emotion. "And she wants you to know Honeybee—she is proud of you. She is so proud."

Tears welled in Eva's eyes as she clenched her fists, fighting to hold back the flood of grief.

Phaedra paused head cocked in confusion, "well ok" she took a breath and said "Eva, Agnes said something about tea leaves? And oh" Phaedra paused "She also wants to know if it's raining? Cos if it is—" 

"I better contact the shelter cause' it's raining cats and dogs" Eva finished managing a laugh through her tears before the dam broke and she doubled over sobbing into her hands.

"I wish I could have said goodbye," she breathed, her voice breaking.

"Goodbyes are not always what they seem," Phaedra replied, a knowing smile playing across her lips. "Agnes is saying remember, my dear, it's just a bump in the road; you'll always find your way through" Eva just nodded as Phaedra continued letting her words produce hooks and sink deep into Eva like an anchor on the sea floor.

"you must watch for the signs. When the sun rises and the world awakens, she will be there, in the whispers of the trees, in the songs of the birds. She's never truly gone, Eva. She surrounds you."

A sudden warmth enveloped the room, dissipating the earlier chill. The candles flickered gently, illuminating Phaedra's face with a soft, ethereal glow. "She wants you to live fully, to chase your dreams and embrace joy, for that is how she will always live on through you."

Then the candles flickered out. "Goodbye Grandma" Eva's heart swelled with a bittersweet ache. "Thank you, Phaedra," she whispered between sobs. "Thank you for bringing her back to me."

Phaedra nodded, her expression compassionate her hand finding Eva's own. "Agnes is always listening, Eva. Speak to her, and she will hear you. Now I must light more candles," she chuckled, "its getting awfully dark in here!"

As Eva sat in the haunting afterglow of the séance, she felt a sense of comfort settle over her—the kind that wrapped around her like an embrace. She knew Agnes was still a part of her life, the bridge between the living and the dead no longer felt insurmountable.

In the quiet that followed, the candle flames burned steadily, flickering in a rhythm that seemed almost joyful, like the heartbeat of the world as it turned—ever connected, ever alive.

It had begun.