Dark Souls

Four+

© Amber Kalkes 2014

Song----------}

"Before I Forget" By Slipknot

Four+

Sinking down to the floor I read the book feeling my panic start to heighten. Case after case seems to have the same similarities. Formless voices, mysterious injuries to the person haunted with no rational explanation, seeing things that aren’t really there, being slapped or throw around by an unseen force, its all there in black and white and its freaking me out. This all seems all a bit too crazy to be believed.

Looking back at the cover page I see this book was printed back in 1856. Well that’s from a whole other era, before science or rational was given to the masses. How much can I really trust this book really? Probably as much as I can trust my own mind these days, I think with a sigh. Running a shaky hand through my hair I let out a long exhale before turning back to read some more of the book. Man, I think clutching my coat closer to me; it’s cold in here.

I’m about half way down a new paragraph when a strange rattling sound gets my attention. Glancing around I try to find the source but once my head is lifted the sound stops. Rubbing my ear I shake it off and go back to reading but it just starts again but this time its sounds like two things rattling. Moving my attention to my surroundings again I notice a huge book shaking from its spot in the bookshelf just a shelf above my head height.

I’m frozen in surprise as I watch this book dance its place before, without warning, it flies out and nails me right in the temple. Toppling over with a cry I grip my head only to fins blood in my palm as I inspect it. Grabbing my book I stumble to my feet but the flying books keep following me. I’m now dodging books as they come flying at me from the shelves, some even making they’re target by slamming into me and having me on the floor or gripping onto the next shelf for support.

“Maggie?” Wyatt’s voice calls from the end of the long aisle. Lifting my head I meet his eyes only see his eyes aren’t even on me but behind me with a threatening gleam in them. Following his gaze I don’t seem anything but I do feel the temperature pick up leaving me no longer shivering in my skin.

“You okay?” Wyatt asks as he comes jogging toward me. “What happened?”

Shaking my head I whisper, “Nothing. I need to go now.”

He grips my arm and stops me before I can walk past him. His voice is careful and his words slow as he asks again, “Maggie, what happened?”

“Nothing.” I snap wiggling my arm from his grasp before tossing the book in my hand on a nearby shelf, “On second thought, I’m not in the mood for a book anymore.”

When I reach the end of the aisle I close my eyes as I call, “I’m sorry, okay? Just…I’m just sorry. “

“Miss? Are you okay?” Mr. Moore asks as I pass his desk with a concerned look.

“I’m not feeling well.” I mutter, making sure to angle my head away from him, “It was nice meeting you.”

Speeding walking towards the door I push it open reveling in the splash of cold air that hits my face as soon as I exit. Taking in a few deep cold breaths I make my way up the stairs not as carefully as before but enough that I don’t spill any more blood. A pins and needles feeling still seems present in the arm Wyatt touches and I shake it trying to get it to stop. Maybe I’m having a heart attack?

No, I’ve never been that lucky.

+

Tip toeing into the house I quietly slip off my shoes and remove my jacket before attempting to retreat up the stairs. Sasha’s voice is clear from the kitchen, an apparent favorite hang out in this house, so I decide to just not even deal with the mess that is that confrontation. Of course as my shitty luck would have it I get one toe on the first step when Lorna’s voice calls out to me alerting even the neighbors of my arrival.