Spellbound

The Strangers

It feels like mere minutes before I'm unceremoniously woken by the thunderous knocking coming from downstairs. Still curled up in a tight ball on my bedroom floor, it feels safe to finally move again. The clock beside my bed reveals that it's close to three in the morning, and my mood immediately worsens.

I hear my father shuffling around outside my door, and switching lights on as he makes his way downstairs. I rub the sleep from my eyes, and throw a robe over the school uniform I'm still wearing. I make my way to the top of the staircase where I have a decent view of my Dad in his own robe, standing in front of our guest by the front door. I can't see who it is, but I can just barely make out their voices, enough to know it's a woman he's talking to. Girlfriend maybe? Though, I doubt my father would be sneaking women in at three in the morning on a school night. Not really his style. Not to mention, he hasn't had a girlfriend since the passing of his wife—the woman until recently, I always believed to be my mother.

Discreetly, I make my way down the staircase to get a better look at her. The top step creaks beneath my foot and startles them below. As my father turns to see me, he reveals the woman. Cloaked in emerald, she removes the hood from her head to reveal long blonde hair.

"Philomena." She says, pushing her way past my Dad, to get a better look at me.

"Yes?"

"You look just like her—" She tells me.

I freeze, looking between my father and the strange woman in my house. Definitely not his girlfriend. All I can do is stand silent, hoping someone explains what's going on. There's an energy that hangs in the air. An urgency—I can feel it. They're frightened. Both of them. And I have no idea why.

"Sorry—" I say, finding my voice again, "Who are you?"

She smiles brightly at me, "My name is Millicent. I wish there was more time to explain, but time is against us I'm afraid—"

"Philly, go back to bed." My father tells me. His tone, makes me want to turn on my heel, run back to my room and hide beneath the covers. But the look in Millicent's eyes, tells me I can't. And for some reason, I know it too.

"It's over Millicent," He says, "She's sixteen. Time's up."

Time's Up. For what?

I wait, desperately hoping someone will tell me what's going on, instead of pretending that I'm not standing right here watching this mess unfold in front of me. I'd almost believe this whole thing is a dream, if it wasn't for the fear lingering inside me, and the tension filling the air around us. Everything is about to change. Those five simple words ringing through my head, feel more like an inevitably than a distant thought.

"The spell was broken." Millicent finally says, "She's no longer safe here."

I watch my fathers anger dissipate, until the look on his face is one I have never seen before. Defeat. Millicent moves to him, placing her hand comfortingly on his shoulder. I want to reach out to him, embrace him, tell him it's all going to be okay—but I can't. The Spell Was Broken. A memory in the depths of my mind stirs, it doesn't feel like my own, but someone close to me.

"I hate this as much as you," she tells him, "But we made a deal—she has to go back."

Go Back. Where is back? And why do I know I have to go?

Millicent finally turns back to me, leaving my father defeated and empty beside her, "You are my blood, Philomena. The daughter of my sister. I'm here to take you home."

I look to my Dad for comfort. He just nods. Despite what my mind is telling me, I know in my heart everything is about to change.

I run down the stairs and sprint towards him. He takes me in his arms, the way he did when I was young. I stay here. Silently. Willing the world to fall away around us. Willing all the bad memories to slip into oblivion. Willing myself to stay here in this perfect moment with my father.