Voices From Beyond

Chapter 16

What I really like about rain is how peaceful it feels to have the water sprinkle against my skin. I feel like it washes away not only the good but most importantly all of the bad. I know it's silly to think this way, but I feel renewed every time it rains, like I can be anyone I want to be because the me I was before has been washed away.

I wake up in the afternoon after falling asleep since Noah had dropped me off and hear rain softly sprinkling against the small window in my bedroom. The sky is a dull grey, it makes me feel as if nothing matters. I think of Kennedy, what it might be like if she were here with me. As if it were another one of our sleepovers, we'd wake up and go sit on the porch to listen to the rain and talk about insignificant things. It's funny because times like those never seemed to matter as much as they do now that she's gone. I wonder what Ryan would be doing right now; maybe letting his dog inside from the rain, or playing with his little sister. It doesn't matter anymore, but I can't help but think about it.

I text all of my friends to meet me at the diner again, things have felt too still for too long. I know that if we don't do something soon, someone else could die. Though I'm not sure how to avoid that at this point.

Mitch and Sydney are the only ones at the diner when I get there, Mitch still hasn't reopened it for business yet. Just as I'm entering, Sydney runs over and wraps me in a hug. I squeeze her back gratefully. I want to tell her about what happened with Noah but I see no real point. I decide not to even think about it, I just box it up and let the rain wash it away for good. In my head I picture a little cardboard box floating down a stream, if only things were that simple to forget about.

Mitch greets me with a half-hearted smile, I can tell that things are weighing on him. I nod to him in hopes to let him know without saying, I understand how you feel and you're not alone. I'm here for you. Hopefully he gets the message.

Bruno and Noah enter the diner together, the rain grows more intense just outside the door. I hear the water rushing down from the clouds and pelting against the glass of the diner window. I wave to greet them just as Mitch sets the ouija board on the counter.

"Are we doing this?" Sydney chews on her lower lip with nervousness.

Something feels off.

"Might as well," Bruno shrugs as he slides into a chair. Noah quietly takes a seat beside him. I want to go stand out in the rain some more, so I do without an explanation to any of them. I just walk right out and stand in the pouring rain.

My hair is a mess, my clothes are soaked, and I probably look crazy just standing there outside. Once I walk back in, I see the look of confusion on all of their faces. However, I don't care anymore. "Let's play," I say as I smooth down my frizzing hair.

Sydney's gaze lowers to the water dripping onto the ground and then rises back up to me. "Are you alright?" she raises an eyebrow.

"Yup, never better," I say as I take a seat across from Bruno, and I mean it.

Mitch moves the board from the counter to the table we're all sitting at and pulls himself up a chair. Sydney takes the chair beside me.

"Isn't it a little weird without Samuel here too?" Bruno asks suddenly.

"He probably is here," Noah mumbles so quietly that I almost don't hear. Bruno shoots him an analytical look, as if he's judging him somehow. I decide to keep quiet.

Lightning flashes outside, it lights up the whole diner for a split second and highlights all of their facial features. I'm hesitant to even look at the board, nothing good can come from it. I feel like someone is watching me; someone that I can't see. It's strange to have that feeling, I've gotten it all my life at unexpected times but now that I've played this stupid game it's like I have to actually listen to my gut telling me, hey there's a woman watching you. Now it's more likely to be right than wrong. I glance around the room every now and again, just anticipating another set of eyes staring at me from the darkness. It doesn't happen.