The FernWood Trilogy: Prophecy Twin

The Soul of Salem - Chapter 12

I don't remember falling asleep, but then again, no one ever does. I just remember the exact moment that my conscious makes it clear that what felt like a dream wasn't a dream anymore. I remember the moment that my skin felt all too real, tight against me, and my fingers were there, all ten. They say that if you see your hands in a dream you won't have the right amount of fingers.

She spins around, her hair free of the bun she used to keep it in. She reminded me a lot of Eredith, stiff and devoted to her craft and her craft alone.

"You should be lucky I've got these," She motions and I notice a pair of handcuffs I hadn't seen before, "And that I rely on slaves like Dylan to carry out my work, for now."

I raise my eyebrows, "What are you talking about?"

Mafalda looks me dead in the eyes, her eyes of steel piercing through to my very soul. This place is cold and its colors are muted, where were we? "I'm talking about the beginning of the end, Parker."

My heart speeds up as she goes on, "I know you're on your way here. And you know what I've been causing, you've seen the headlines."

"But why?" I ask and she cackles. I can only repeat it again. "Why?"

"For the fun of it? The power? Revenge? I've got all the right reasons, my dear, and I hope you'll open your eyes soon enough." Mafalda Winters wraps her lanky fingers around my neck and tightens until she feels my windpipe close off, "I won't enjoy killing you."

I wake up in a rush, slamming my head against the top of the cargo hold. I feel the bus roll to a stop as I do so and see my friends all staring at me. Perfect timing for me to wake up, it seems.

"How are we supposed to get off without being spotted? It isn't safe to use magic in Salem..." Finlen mutters, her voice trailing off at the end.

"We'd better get out now." Sean instructs and Griffin at the front opens the cargo hold using a tap of his wand, rolling out and then throwing up a hand to motion for us to follow suit. We do as instructed, all of slinking forward and out of the bottom of the bus. Thankfully a tour guide yaps away on the bus about historic facts while we make our move, finding that the bus stopped in a parking lot near a place with a sign reading "The House of the Seven Gables''. I'd never heard of it, nor did I want to learn more. We rushed along quickly down the street, trying to blend in as well as we could but I had my doubts that such a thing was even possible. Some of us looked exceedingly average, like Astryd, Finlen, and I. However, Ethan and Wila stood out like sore thumbs with their brightly colored hair and Dante's spiked red hair was like a beacon.

"I suggest we split up," Argos voices, "A large group of teenagers wandering around Salem looks a bit strange."

"I'll go with Astryd, Ethan, and Dante," Griffin suggests, "We'll check out the shore."

Sean pipes up, "I've got Eredith, Finlen, and Wila."

"Parker and I are gonna go to the Salem Witch museum." Argos tells the others and I nod.

"Fawn and I are gonna check out the cemetery," Richard says, "She wants to leave flowers."

I smile at his remark before we all head our separate ways, Argos dragging me along fairly quickly. My smile fades when I remember our destination.

"Why the witch museum?" I ask and Argos deadpan stares at me. I feel a chill run down my spine as he does so, his usual warmth replaced with a bitter taste left in my mouth.

He clears his throat before telling me, "I've got a point to make."

Wandering about Salem is a bit of a culture shock for me, especially in October. Here they embrace the mystical and supernatural, where people run about in cloaks and pop culture witch costumes. It's as though the Novan galaxy exists here in this one part of the world; It is where magic crosses over and truly completes the Yin and Yang between our two universes.