[Completed] Ranked #1!
Ariana Grayson is young, beautiful, popular...and dead. Her best friend, Everly Clarke, is devastated and broken. She has never had to live without Ariana, relying on her as a crutch to hide her crippling anxiety. After meetin...
Strolling uphill, I dug my heels into the sidewalk, taking long strides in my boots. I watched the addresses on each store front rise higher. I turned a corner onto a narrow road that seemed to be a bit darker than before. It looked like the clouds had suddenly covered the sun.
Madame Magnolia's shop was located down this street, a wooden sign swinging from a metal post out in front.
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I stood outside watching the sign swing back and forth before curiosity got the best of me, making me grasp the door knob and go inside.
The door chimed as I stepped in. There were shelves lined up against a wall, books stacked neatly on them. A few wooden tables of different heights were displayed randomly covered in richly colored velvet cloths. I walked over and casually looked at the crystal necklaces and candles for sale on a small lace lined table.
"I've been expecting you, dear." I recognized the raspy voice as the same one from my phone call yesterday.
I looked up to see a woman wearing a long, layered jewel colored dress and red scarf tied loosely around her head. She wore heavy jewelry. Gold coins hung from a thick chain around her neck making clinking sounds as she came closer to me.
"I am Madame Magnolia!" She opened her arms wide. I flinched at the theatrics she displayed just for me.
"Hello," I said quietly. "I'm Everly. I called yesterday?"
"Yes, yes, I know who you are." She told me. "Come with me, child."
I began to regret this decision. I followed her reluctantly into a small space with heavy curtains that she swung open. As we stepped inside, the curtains swung closed again. A round table was set up with a lace cloth over it. Madame Magnolia took a seat on one of the two chairs, motioning for me to sit on the other one. As I pulled the chair out, I watched as she rubbed a crystal ball with her hands; her long, pointy dark red finger nails making a light scratching sound over the glass.
"I've never done this before." I managed. "I'm not sure how much this costs, so-"
She swung her hand in front of me. "No talk of money just yet. Let me tell you why you are here!"
"Oh, ummm...okay." I looked around nervously.
"You are here to get answers from Madame Magnolia, yes?" She asked loudly.
"Well, yes, but I-"
She interrupted me again. "Yes! Good. Let's get started!"
I sighed. She rubbed the crystal ball, staring into it intensely. I tried to look into it, but didn't see anything.
Madame Magnolia closed her eyes. "Give me your hands, dear!" She demanded.
I wiped my palms on my jeans and placed my hands on the table. She reached out and took my hands into hers.
