Unforgettable (OLD COPY DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 30

With the Ouija board still in my possession, we set out late at night for the park in the neighborhood next door. As soon as we cross the fence-line of the school I can feel the power returning to the Ouija board, as it suddenly cools in my hands while we walk and my heartbeat picks up and pounds faster.

A few, faint stars glimmer in the distance, their lights dim from the distant lights of Salem. I can hear the rumble of traffic from town beginning to dwindle as we start up a winding street that leads between the houses. Their dark windows watch us like glassy eyes as they're illuminated by street lamps that glow alongside the road, our shadows stretching out onto the pavement as we walk.

We settle onto a corner of a basketball court that is in the center of the park, the concrete still warm as I sit down with the others. Astrid makes a hand motion as orbs of light flicker and float around us, casting us in a soft, golden glow.

"These will deter evil spirits, we're safe," she says, the hollows of her cheekbones sharply defined in this light.

Tessa's eyes flick to mine, her brown eyes looking like polished onyx as she nods, "Whenever you're ready."

I take a breath, my hands threatening to shake as I take the Ouija board out of its box and set it on the concrete. The board looks innocent enough, but I know better.

Evil, evil, evil. This is wrong.

"Put your hand on it," I tell the others as I lick my lips, my mouth going abruptly dry.

They obey, Tessa's hand coming to rest on a corner of the planchette as her skin blends with the shadows, its dark tones mimicking tanned leather. Astrid's fingernails are a bright contrast to her, the chipped, blue paint standing out vividly as she follows Tessa's lead and I follow hers.

"Finn, if you're with us-," I start to say, but the planchette moves before I can finish the question.

"G-L-A-S-S?" Tessa repeats as the planchette spells the word and she looks to me.

"Does that mean anything to you?" Astrid asks me as the air begins to cool.

I shiver as my breath fogs the air, the memory of nearly crashing in Diana's car coming to mind as I shake my head, "'Glass' doesn't make sense."

"C-A-T, B-L-U-E, C-A-T," Astrid reads aloud.

"A blue cat? But-," I'm cut off from saying anything as the planchette continues to move, tugging our fingers along with it.

I can feel the strength in the movements, like there's no time for whoever is communicating with us to be gentle about it as the planchette is jerked about. Our breath continues to fog the air, a light frost beginning to coat the ground around us as we watch.

"'Glass cat'," Tessa says before the planchette continues to move, "'get out', 'help'."

"This isn't making any sense, what if it's not Finn at all?" Astrid begins to argue, but the planchette isn't done moving yet.

"'Delacroix'," I repeat as it finishes spelling, "it's him."

She eyes me warily before she shrugs, "Finn, you're not making sense, what cat?"

"'Room', 'dark'," Tessa furrows her eyebrows, "maybe he's seeing something? Maybe he's somewhere else and he's trying to-."

She stops talking suddenly, her words trailing off as her eyes seem to glaze over. The lights surrounding us flicker, the protective orbs Astrid had summoned abruptly going out as we are plunged into darkness. I try to take my hand off of the planchette then, but it's like my fingers have been glued to it as the planchette refuses to budge.