Recall

Astrea

Astrea Clark had spent her entire life living in the small blue beach-house, but she had never once been to the psychic across the street. That changed when her father got a job at the local hospital. When he left for work on a Sunday afternoon, Astrea was all alone. Hours passed by and she began to feel more and more alone. The green flip-phone sitting on the coffee table, was begging her to call her friends. "Hey, Haley," she said, after finally giving in.

"Hey, we're just heading out. What's up?" Haley answered. 

Astrea smiled, the feeling of claustrophobia finally starting to dissipate. She laid back on the old blue couch, the smell of it's age wafting up to her nose. "Could I come with you guys?" Astrea asked hesitantly. She stared up at the cracked white ceiling, dreading the answer.

"I thought you said you didn't want to," Haley said. 

This was the answer Astrea had been expecting, and she still didn't know how to reply. Astrea had never been one to believe in things like psychics, but she couldn't take sitting in the house much longer.

"I changed my mind," she said, though it came out more like a question than a statement. Astrea got up and walked through the cramped kitchen to get to the front door. The house had a kitchen, living room and dining room, but they were all one open space. Leading off of the main room was three doors, one to the bathroom, and the other two the bedrooms.

"If you say so. We're meeting outside in five minutes." Then Haley hung up the phone. 

Astrea grabbed her flower-print docs and quickly slipped them over her feet. Her father had said he wouldn't be home until after dinner, so she didn't bother with a note. She just grabbed her key chain and locked the door on her way out.

The mixed smell of salt-water and pine was strong in the air. She stopped to breath it in while waiting for her friends. Her house was right across from the psychics shop as well as the small sign that read: Oceanside Beach.

"Hey, I thought you weren't coming?" Her friend Izzy asked, crossing to her side of the street.

Astrea shrugged, giving her the same answer as Haley,"Changed my mind." Izzy had also lived in Oceanside her entire life, but she lived further away than Haley and Astrea. Izzy lived in a large house on the quiet side of the beach, whereas Haley lived on the busier side, her house a single block away from Astrea.

Izzy stared at her, not believing her answer, just as Haley had. "Oh, there's Haley," she pointed.

"Hey," Haley called. The two girls crossed the street to meet her in front of the shop. A grin covered her face, making it clear how excited she was to get her fortune told. "Lets go inside then," she said, opening the glass door. A bell chimed on their entrance, but no one else was inside. The room was dark, with its lights almost completely off. The walls were covered in signs, reading different things like: Palm readings, Tarot Cards and more!

The three girls stood in front of a small table covered in a velvet red cloth, the only thing on it being a bell. Haley looked to her friends for confirmation before pressing the bell twice. "Hold on, I'll be back," Astrea heard a hoarse voice say, before a woman stumbled out from behind the purple curtains that hung on the wall. She seemed to be of old age, but there was not a single wrinkle anywhere on her face. She held a carved wooden cane that appeared to be covered in markings. "Hello," She croaked.

"I'm Haley, we booked an appointment?"

The woman looked off behind Astrea, seemingly staring into space. "Do you remember that?" She asked, still staring at the empty space between Astrea and Izzy. None of the girls answered, not knowing who she was addressing. Astrea opened her mouth to speak, but the woman smiled and turned back to Haley. "Oh yes, we remember now."