Magic Spawn Origins

Magic Spawn: Chapter 29

by Meredith Skye

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"Here, take the camera. You'd better get some footage of me walking through here," said Haley. "Just keep it rolling. You don't know what we'll see."

The 17 year old girl buttoned up her gray knit sweater against the growing chill of night, and adjusted the matching gray cap. Even in the graveyard, Haley needed to look her best for her news report.

Of course, she didn't work for a real news channel. Not yet. It was just for her own youtube channel. But she had a growing audience—and maybe this footage would make the difference.

"Is it too dark?" she asked her goth-vampiress assistant.

Anya took the camera and turned it on. "Hmm. A bit dark, kinda foggy."

"Here. Take the flashlight," said Haley. "And aim it at me."

"Okay," said Anya. "Yes, that's better."

"Good," said Haley, feeling encouraged and a little excited at the unfolding drama. And she was in the center of it. A shiver went up her spine; this graveyard gave her the creeps. Of course, she'd never come up this way before. She had never known anyone who had passed away. In a way, she felt like Nancy Drew, solving a mystery. The Mystery of the Darktree Cemetery. Maybe she should be a writer ....

Carefully they moved ahead. "Watch your feet!" said Haley. "You're moving the camera too much." The girl had no sense. Haley still resented the fact that the 13 year old had followed her, even when she told her to go back.

Anya rolled her eyes. "Sorry," she said not really sounding sorry, but nonetheless trying to hold it steadier.

Still, perhaps the young girl could make a passable camera person.

Something crunched under Haley's feet. She looked down and saw a skull staring up at her. She screamed and jumped back.

"That was good!" said Anya, approvingly.

"No, that was real, look!" Haley pointed to the ground covered in bones.

Anya moved the camera down to see the skeleton. She walked closer and kept the camera rolling.

"Cool," said Anya.

"Don't talk while you're filming," objected Haley. What a dope!

"Sorry, maybe you'd like to do it yourself," snapped Anya.

"I could," said Haley, drawing herself up a little and acting as though it was no big deal.

Anya stared at her, pouting a little. Her black lipstick looked absurd. "You don't have a tripod."

The tripod. Crap! Anya was right. "Just—don't talk while you're filming. Okay?" said Haley.

A truce.

Haley needed to get this done. Anya. What a diva!

"Okay," said Anya. It was hard to tell if she smiled or grimaced—with Anya, both looked the same. But Anya lifted the camera to her eyes and filmed Haley standing on the ground with the skulls at her feet.

"Good," said Haley, "now on me."

Anya tilted up to Haley. "Here is evidence of what has been reported. Are these bones an undead skeleton brought back to life by some evil, dark power from another dimension, or just a vicious Halloween prank played on our unsuspecting town by teenage boys? This is the question that we have to answer."

She held her stance a moment, then relaxed. "Okay, nicely done Anya." Haley meant to be a little condescending, but the truth was that Anya's camera operator skills were—all right.

Anya smiled awkwardly. "Thanks."

"Follow me; you can keep rolling," said Haley, and they both started back along the trail, looking for more clues. Actually having a camera person gave the shoot a real professional feeling, as if she were a real reporter. Haley liked it! She could get used to this. They wandered through the main graveyard but saw no more signs of anyone or anything unusual.

"Wonder where they went?" asked Haley. She suspected that they'd gone up the hill to the old graveyard. A noise drew their attention.

"Someone's up ahead!" whispered Anya.

Haley froze. She heard the voices and motioned Anya to follow her.

Carefully, they both crept through the grove of trees ahead and came upon a wide spot on the trail. It was Rian and Harlan. And a strange woman that she'd never seen before.

They were arguing about the wizard and Kyran being connected somehow. Most of the arguing seemed to be between Rian and that strange woman, but it was hard to make out what they were saying.

"Is that Westin, laying on the ground?" whispered Anya, gesturing at a figure on the ground.

"Shh," said Haley, motioning for her to be silent.

"Is that what you'll do to my brother? Shoot him in cold blood?" said Rian.

She couldn't make out what the strange woman shouted back.

Both Haley and Anya backed up and quickly found cover behind an old tombstone, hiding as the woman made her way towards them. Both girls sank as low as possible, hoping not to be spotted in the gloom.

Haley didn't breathe as the woman passed them. Why would this woman want to kill Kyran?

"What's going on?" whispered Anya after the woman passed.

"I don't know," said Haley. "But I'm going to find out." She motioned for Anya to follow. Anya nodded. Once it was safe, Haley followed the strange woman, at a distance.

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