Miss Elena 'Helena' Lee Rush lived in an old blue house on top of a hill in the backside of Belleview. It was quite the big house and town rumour had it that the said house had been around for centuries. God only knew how long Miss Helena had been around, the townsfolk swore she had to have been over a hundred years old. Yet, she was still living on her own in that big blue house on top of the hill and she still made her way to church every Sunday, even if she did curse the Lord's name. And that's how it was and that's how it was supposed to be.
Amongst the other rumours that floated around town was that Miss Helena had something to do with witchcraft. Of course she did, that was how she was still alive. Some said she was a witch, some said she was a necromancer, some said she was a psychic. No one really knew what went on up on that hill, but the town's people knew to keep their distance and to not get involved.
Of course, there was always exceptions, and that exception was Jessicka. She was a transfer student from Florida who everyone in the small town of Belleview KNEW was a witch. She was always doing witchy things and causing trouble with her best friend Lindsey. Truth be told, Lindsey had never been to visit Miss Helena's property. Instead, she watched from the sidelines as everything happened. It wasn't because she was afraid to step foot onto the seemingly sacred ground. It was because she felt like she wasn't quite as skilled in the whole witchcraft scene as Jessicka and Miss Helena were. But today, Jessicka was bringing Lindsey along, and there was to be no 'if's, 'and's, or 'but's. Miss Helena simply just had to hear about Lindsey's experiences and about the strange markings on Lindsey's soul. Of course, she did. Miss Helena was always interested in this sort of stuff.
"So, explain to me again why you aren't allowed to speak in Miss Helena's house," Lindsey had asked as they made the walk to the Rush-Way property. The two were a strange pair, dressed in their school uniforms and carrying rucksacks detailed with Sharpie designs. Lindsey had a poncho draped over her head as an attempt to shield herself from the rain, while Jessicka carried her umbrella. The two were babbling all the way until the conversation meandered into the demand from Lindsey.
"Alright, so you know how Miss Helena has been teaching me how to summon spirits?"
"Yeah," Lindsey replied, remembering how Jessicka had summoned the spirit of a young girl in the middle of Lindsey's bedroom. Scary? Yes. Wicked? Yes.
"Well, I summoned the spirit of a vengeful ghost, we got into an argument, and he ended up cursing me. Until I bring him pink sherbert ice cream, I may not speak a word in Miss Helena's house."
"And if you do?"
"Eternal damnation, baby."
Lindsey gave Jessicka a look for her flippant reply.
"What?"
"A ghost literally cursed you for a life in hell over ice cream," Lindsey clarified, pulling a box of cigarettes and a lighter out of her sweater pocket. She tucked a cigarette in the corner of her mouth and lit it, dropping the pack and lighter back in her pocket, "What the hell are you going to do?"
"There's a tub in my backpack. I'll give Jimmy his ice cream tonight."
Lindsey nodded, taking a long drag from her cigarette. She sighed, watching the smoke cloud up.
"So," Jessicka continued, "remember what you're going to tell Miss Helena when we arrive?"
"Something about my soul and the nightmares?"
"The nightmares you've had since you were little. About the Grim Reaper visiting you. And how you're not allowed to repeat what he tells you. And the marks on your soul. Like black handprints marking your aura and soul."
"Don't you have all of this written down?" Lindsey asked.
"Try to explain as much as you can. After I give Jimmy his ice cream, I'll be able to talk."
Lindsey nodded as they neared the hill. It seemed to give her chills just staring up at the blue house. It may have been the weather. It may have been the situation. But either way, the house on the hill seemed ominous.
