If You Believe

The Woods

          I laugh in disbelief at the gleaming white vinyl sign. "The Woods," I giggle under my breath. Cara rolls her eyes at me with a smirk. We are walking into what used to be the coolest after-school hangout in town- that is, when I was in middle school. The old strip mall is where kids came to blow their birthday money and impress their friends with their high scores in the arcade. I assume she knows this and follow her into a nearly deserted storefront, Ancient Words bookstore. The cashiers wave at Cara and I stare incredulously as she continues to lead me into the back of the store, into a small, dusty room crowded with bookcases full of books literally too ancient outdated to sell.
          "Okay, spill. What's with the strip mall and bookstore? And how did you get us into the employees only zone? What-"
          "Okay, okay. Chill out, tigress. You wanted to know what happened in the lunchroom."
          "Yes, that would be nice!" I suddenly don't feel so secure in my position.
"Okay. You have to swear not to say anything to anyone- not even Paige." Cara says with an intensity that seems a bit too dramatic to me.
"What is so serious that I can't even tell Paige?" I cross my arms. Cara pulls a yellowed, crumpled, burned around the edges piece of parchment out of her back pocket.
"I've never shown this to anyone."