Voices From Beyond

Chapter 3

I'm leaned against the counter only a few steps away from the board, my head is spinning and I'm not sure why. I try tuning everything out except the noise of my fingers strumming against the countertop. The rhythmic tap tap tap clears my head of any other noise. Everyone goes silent after they sit down around the board. Across the room, Bruno and Noah are sitting in the booth. Both of them look curious.

I watch the snow dance gently to the ground outside the diner window, the dim street light casting shadows of the snow onto the wood floor. A feeling of uncertainty swirls in my stomach, I know that an ouija board is nothing to mess with. Mitch places the planchette onto the board and sets his index finger lightly on the top, everyone else playing does so as well. "Now what?" Samuel asks eagerly, the flame of a candle reflects from his green eyes.

"We ask a question, I think," Ryan's free hand is twirling his shoelace nervously.

"Is there any spirits present? Please indicate on the board," Sydney clears her throat after speaking, wrapping the blanket tighter around her. Everything is still, nothing happens.

"Is anyone with us tonight?" Mitch concentrates hard. The planchette quickly skids across the board to the word yes. My heartbeat quickens.

"Oh hell no," Noah shakes his head with disbelief.

"Alright, um... what's your name?" Mitch sputters out. The flames rise on the candles, a breeze creeps in from the vent above me and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Nothing happens. The planchette doesn't move.

"Ask it again," Bruno chimes in.

"What's your name?" Kennedy echoes Mitch. The planchette shakily scratches against the board and stops at the letter M. Soon after, it goes to the letter A.

Sydney grabs Mitch's hand. "We can stop," Sydney whispers to him. He shakes his head, but I can see the sadness in his eyes. C. E. Y. The last letters spell out faster than the first two. The board had spelled MACEY, which is Mitch's mother's name.

"Alright, the show is over. Who moved it?" Mitch looks angry and conflicted. Nobody answers, they all just stare at him unknowingly. "Fine," Mitch hesitates, "if there's someone here then prove it. Show us a real sign," Mitch finishes. Everyone glances at one another, uncertain of how to respond. "I said, show us a sign!" Mitch bursts into a yell. I look up at the lightbulb above me, I can hear it buzzing even though it's turned off. The second I glance up, the sound of breaking glass hits my eardrums and I stumble backward as shards fall from above. I hear panicked movement, a few gasps, and Sydney screams. My foot hits an uneven floorboard and in an instant, I'm crashing to the ground. "Oh, god!" Mitch shouts from across the room. I hear my friends rushing toward me as a loud banging noise fills my head. The back of my head hits a pool table and everything goes black.

"Hello," an unfamiliar voice whispers in my ear. It's a raspy feminine voice, one I've never heard before. I can feel the hot breath on my neck as the voice speaks to me. Everything is still black, I can't feel my arms or legs to move them. A faint light shines in the distance when my eyes flutter open.

"She's waking up!" Kennedy shouts. I can faintly see everyone hovered over me, I feel the wood floor beneath me as I try to sit up. Sydney is crouched down beside me and helps me sit up straight. My vision clears and their concerned faces come into focus.

"Watch the glass," Ryan holds an arm out, motioning toward the shards beside me. Bruno flicks on all of the lights. The back of my head is throbbing. Ryan scrambles over to a broom and dustpan, he begins to sweep up the mess. Every so often, he glances over to me worriedly. Kennedy grabs my hands and helps me to my feet, Sydney standing beside me.

"I'm alright," I croak, holding the back of my head.

"Are you sure?" Samuel sounds unconvinced.

"You could have a concussion," Noah adds.

Mitch stops me and pulls out his phone as a flashlight. He shines the light into my eyes. "Your pupils look normal. Cora, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked for a sign like that," Mitch shakes his head with guilt.

I let my hands fall to my side and try to break away from everyone's stare. "It's really alright, I feel fine," I take a seat in a nearby chair.

"Should you go to a hospital?" Noah holds up his jingling car keys as an offer.

"No, it's really fine. Thank you though," I shake my head.

"We should say goodbye," Mitch suggests.

They take their spots back around the board and place their fingers back on the planchette. "Goodbye," they all speak together quickly. The planchette slowly slides to goodbye.

After fifteen minutes, my head feels fine. There's a minor bump swelling where it hit but other than that, I'm fine. Mitch folds up the board and puts it back in the box. Kennedy makes her way around the room blowing out the candles. Everyone else is sitting at the booth with me. Bruno is telling a ghost story from when he was younger. I'm not really paying attention, I just twirl my straw in my glass of water that Sydney had gotten me moments before sitting down beside me. I can feel my eyes slowly shutting, I know I'm only moments from falling asleep.

"Hello," the unfamiliar, raspy voice whispers in my ear again. I jump so fast that my knees hit the table.

"What was that?" Samuel looks at me with a confused expression.

"I haven't even got to the scary part yet," Bruno snickers.

"Are you sure everything is fine?" Sydney whispers to me.

"I'm just tired, I almost fell asleep," I nod, ignoring the voice I heard.

"Anyone hungry?" Mitch calls from across the room. I look up at him and my stomach drops.

Behind Mitch, a pale woman seems to hover. She's just behind his left shoulder. She's staring at me, her eyes are dark and lifeless. Her black hair dances around her face as she places her frail hands on either side of Mitch's shoulders and her cheeks pull into a grin that seems too wide for her face. I gasp, my fingers gripping the booth seat as I shut my eyes. When they open, the floating woman is gone.