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Authors: Melissa Parkin

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BOOK: Divine Vices
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Five
minutes later, Courtney and Chloe reentered the gym.

“Where’s
Trish?” asked Gwen.

“Don’t
know. She did her turn, and then said she heard something in the hallway. She
went outside to investigate, but she didn’t come back.”

“Oh,
how cute,” said Stacy. “Good luck out there. Can’t wait to hear about what she
conjured up to scare you two with.”

“Us
two? No, you’re coming with us,” said Gwen.

“Like
hell I am.”

“What?
Are you chicken?”

Stacy
rolled her eyes and looked out at the hallway. “Fine, but I’m taking a
flashlight with me.”

Courtney
tossed her a small, pocket-sized flashlight before going over to the iPod dock,
blasting the song "The Point of No Return" from the
Phantom of the
Opera
for effect. “Good luck, ladies.”

Stacy
turned on the flashlight as we headed out into the hallway and moaned at its
itsy beam that barely illuminated the length of three lockers. “Perfect.”

We
slowly crept down the corridor, huddling together in the middle as we passed by
closed doors in anticipation for Trish to come jumping out in a frenzy.

“Alright,
whatever she’s got up her sleeve here, we have to make sure not to scream. We
can’t give her the satisfaction of scaring us,” said Gwen upon reaching the
entrance to the bathroom. “So, who wants to go in first?”

Stacy
and I both exchanged agreeable looks. “You.”

We
took hold of her arms and tossed her down the short stretch that curved around
to the mouth of the bathroom.

She
immediately shrieked as she plunged into the darkness.

“Everything
okay in there?” I called out, my voice echoing across the bathroom walls.

“You
guys suck!” she shouted back.

We
laughingly headed in as well.

“Any
encounters with Casper yet?” I said, watching Stacy kick all the stall doors
open.

“We’re
clear,” she said, switching off the flashlight. “Go ahead, Meyer.”

We
all took our turns, and to our surprise, nothing happened. Of course, we
weren’t expecting a red eyed, demonic ghost to come popping up in the mirror,
but we were more than certain that Trish would have tried to pull off
something.

“Satisfied?”
I asked.

“Let’s
just get out of here,” said Stacy. “This place is still creepy.”

The
sounds of the theatrically sinister music from the gym still echoed down the
hallway as we exited the bathroom. A low grumble resonated behind us and we
immediately whipped around, Stacy aiming the flashlight out into the empty
corridor.

“I’m
gonna kill Trish,” murmured Gwen. “This is ridiculous.”

I
pulled out my cell and flipped the cover open to help illuminate the hall a
little more as we all turned and slinked forward. I held the phone out behind
us to keep a lookout in back as Stacy shone the way ahead. Another low growl
rumbled, and it proved to be the last straw for us all. We bolted down the
corridor, but Stacy and I both crashed into Gwen as she came to a sudden halt.

“Meyer!
What the hell?!” said Stacy, fixing herself from the collision.

“Gwen,
what’s with you?” I asked, pulling myself off the ground as well.

We
both came to her side, our lights shining across the occupied floor in front of
us.

“Oh
my God!” screamed Stacy, taking sight to Trish who was sitting slumped up
against a locker.

Thick
red liquid seeped down her cheeks from under her motionless open eyes, dripping
down her neck and chin onto the front of her shirt. Gwen slowly knelt down and
Stacy and I both hesitantly stepped away. She tremblingly brought her hand to
the side of Trish’s neck, hoping to find a pulse. Just as she pressed her
fingers onto her flesh, Trish’s arm shot up and quickly snatched hold of Gwen.

We
all screamed, and Stacy and I almost fell as we both leapt back in a panic,
only to feel a firm leather-bound gloved hand take hold of each of our
shoulders from behind. We spun around and aimed our lights up, irradiating a
pair of burning blue eyes hidden behind a stark white burlap sack mask.

The
three of us cried out in sheer terror, and that’s when we heard it. Trish
suddenly burst out into laughter, releasing her grip on Gwen. The looming
stranger in front of Stacy and me gave into the amusement as well, pulling off
the mask to reveal to us that it was just Chloe.

“You
jerks!” snapped Gwen, shoving Trish over as the two climbed off the floor.

“Oh,
you should have seen your guys’ faces,” cried Trish, still recovering from her
hysterics. “That was priceless!”

I
couldn’t help but at least chuckle. “Gotta give it to you on that one. You play
dead well.”

“Why,
thank you,” she said, wrapping an arm around Gwen and me lightly.

“That
wasn’t funny!” declared Stacy, pushing through us as she irately headed back to
the gym.

“Don’t
listen to her,” I said. “That deserves proper kudos. Very well done, ladies.”

Chloe
pulled the gloves off her polished hands and tossed them and the sack over to
Trish. “Too bad Stacy’s not gonna let this one go.”

“Yeah,
she will, at least by tomorrow. It’s customary for there to be some Homecoming
shenanigans,” assured Gwen. “Just be leery of what she might do at the ceremony
later.”

“Ceremony?”
I queried, already knowing no one would clue me in on the details. “Yeah, yeah.
Later. I get it.”

I
watched the minute hand circle around the steel wire guarded clock with a
crimson red glow from the EXIT sign that hung just a few feet away. The rest of
the gym was dark and still, only the sounds of some other restless sleepers
tossing and turning notifying me that I was not left alone. Eventually, my
eyelids grew heavy, and 1:17 was the last thing I saw before my lethargy
slipped me into a slumber.

A
gentle nudge to my shoulder shook me from my sleep though, and I awoke to find
Gwen’s hand draped over my mouth to ensure that I wouldn’t scream from her
rousing.

“It’s
time,” she whispered.

I
pulled myself out of my sleeping bag as Gwen and Stacy continued to awaken
everyone else. Trish was lurking around Miss Tipton, trying delicately to reach
over her to grab the keys without waking her up. At last, she pulled them out
with one hand and grasped them firmly with the other to prevent them from jingling.
Gwen removed a large satchel she had tucked away in her duffle and gave Stacy a
thumbs up.

Tiptoeing
over to the gym doors, we all filed out into the hallway. Gwen unlatched the
satchel and distributed several flashlights, along with a couple of electric
lanterns, despite the fact that there were still a few lights on overhead in
the corridors.

We
slinked passed the main office and headed for the central staircase, taking us
to the second floor. Since no one intended on having us up there, and we didn’t
want to make our presence known, all the lights in the higher floors were
switched off. Everyone equipped turned on their light sources and we continued our
trek to the third story.

“God,
this place is creepy,” muttered one girl.

I
peered inside the classrooms as we passed, seeing an eerie glimmer from the
streetlights cast through the slatted blinds that highlighted all the empty
desks.

“You
gonna clue me in yet?” I asked Gwen.

“In
about sixty seconds, you’ll see for yourself,” she said merrily.

On
the third floor of the west wing, we reached the library and Stacy instructed
us through the back door.

“Dun,
dun, dun...” Trish echoed sinisterly, her flashlight beaming up from beneath
her chin to cascade the light forebodingly over her features. “Still scared?”

“With
that face, it’s hard not to be,” I chuckled before she gave me a friendly
shove.

Stacy
wedged a wooden block in between the door and the frame to prevent us from
getting locked inside. Everyone assisted in moving the couches and tables out
of the reading circle stationed at the front of the library, and we all took a
seat on the perimeter of the spherical rug.

“We
are here tonight to pay tribute to the anniversary of our town. Most of you
have heard the tale, but for those of you who have not, allow me to educate
you,” said Trish, clearing her throat.

“When
European settlers first arrived on the coast of Maine, they came to find that
the lands were already occupied by several Native American tribes, none of
which greeted them with open arms. As the Indian Wars ravaged the whole of the
country, this particular area was met with a massacre that wiped out both the
indigenous population and its foreign colonizers. The lands laid barren of all
inhabitation, until years later when an English group of settlers tried to
build township just south of here, a providence called Haven. These travelers
were prepared to fight for their newly obtained land, arriving with every last
piece of modern weaponry known to man.

“Not
a single aboriginal came to claim the territory, but as soon as these eastern
travelers landed, devastating storms continually tore through the area. All
their attempts at architecture and agricultural harvest failed them, and they
soon found themselves in famine. To make matters worse, stories began to pass
around about a skeletal being lurking in the shadows of the woodlands just off
the coast. As more and more stories of this ghostly individual circulated, more
and more of the townspeople began to vanish, with their dismembered bodies
being discovered at the grave sites of the War’s casualties nearby the
following mornings.  Everyone was certain that the natives had to be behind the
acts, so they confronted the nearest tribe.

“The
local chief told the settlers that they were not the ones responsible, and he
relayed a grisly tale, warning them that something far more blood lustful was
to blame. The reason why the natives never returned to these lands following
the massacre was because a creature, called the Baykok, had settled here. The
Baykok was said to be a demon, spawned from the blood of warriors, spilt during
battle. The Indian Wars had literally created what was said to be Death itself.
Armed with razor claws, glowing red eyes, and an appetite for destruction, the
Baykok preyed upon anyone with a taste for war. Hence, all the folks who
disappeared were that of weapon bearing men.

“So,
as all white settlers had become accustomed to, the English disregarded the
advice to vacate and lay their weapons down. Instead they armed themselves
heavily, ready to wage war on this hideous, malevolent spirit. One night, the
entire village fell under attack. Only, their adversary was not that of this
world. No manmade creation could defend them from the cruelty of Death. This
phantom ripped through the community, sparing no person who carried armaments.
By night’s end, only the women and children of the parish had survived. Upon
abandoning their surroundings, they fled to the north and heeded the native’s
counsel.

“Building
refuge here, free of devastation and all weaponry, the newly established ‘New
Haven’ was constructed with only the purest of intentions in mind. This
God-fearing parish is said to be free of all malevolence, a sanctuary for all
who wish to be liberated from the evils of aggression and carnage. That is why,
to this day, when the sun sets on the hills of New Haven, the townsfolk light
the beacons at the tops of all the churches and even the bell tower of this
very school. It signals to all opposing forces that we have no other objective
but to provide safety and knowledge for this world. Paying tribute to our local
legend, we will all light a candle. Upon everyone in the circle possessing one,
we will blow out the flames at the exact same moment. It is said that if you
are marked for Death, the Baykok’s gleaming red eyes will become visible to you
in the darkness,” concluded Trish.

Gwen
began to unload her bag, handing each of us a candle of our own.

“Now,
hurry and get these things lit and blown out, before the smoke detectors go
off,” said Stacy as we passed around a lighter.

“To
our fallen ancestors and to a hopefully long life,” declared Gwen, raising her
candle once the last candle was lit.

Everyone
held up their own candle as Stacy counted us down.

“Five...
four... three... two... one...”

We
all extinguished our flames with a puff of air from our lips, and darkness
swallowed the entire space. My eyes shifted across the room with a childish
sense of relief that I saw nothing.

Gwen
and Trish both switched on the lanterns beside them, and I happily invited the
light.

 

“How
about we make things
really
interesting?” said Stacy, reaching into the
book bag behind her.

“Hell
no,” I said the instant she pulled out and displayed an Ouija Board. “You can
count me out.”

“I
second that,” said Ashley Canton.

“Third,”
said Stacy’s fellow cheerleader, Brittany Laver.

“Yeah,
my mom played with one of those things when she was our age, and she and her friends
wound up levitating someone off the floor. I don’t mess with that kind of
hoodoo,” affirmed Gwen.

“Well,
you’re all more than welcome to go venture your way back to the gym, alone,”
said Stacy, watching us rise up from the floor. “Make sure to tell Michael
Myers that I say ‘hi.’”

“Come
on,” said Trish, motioning us to sit back down. “It won’t take that long.”

The
four of us decided to stay, but we refused to participate. Instead, we stepped
outside the circle and parked our butts down on the carpet in front of the long
bookshelf by the computer station, watching them set up the board with a few
yards between us and it for safe distance.

“I
don’t get why people even mess with those things,” whispered Ashley. “When do
you ever hear somebody ask it something of importance? It’s always, ‘Will Bill
ask me out?’ or ‘Will I pass Mrs. Smith’s exam next Tuesday?’”

“Exactly,”
I affirmed. “Besides, everyone else partaking in the reading is responsible for
the piece moving across the board. It’s nonsense.”

“Well,
if you’re so sure, then why don’t you go give them a hand?” cracked Gwen,
playfully nudging me forward.

“Because
it still gives me the heebie-jeebies. I believe in the laws of science.
Everything has positive and negative energy that affects the objects it comes
in contact with. And that board over there has some seriously bad mojo. Its own
popularity is based on the belief that it has demonic origins.”

“Okay,”
Stacy said, commencing the reading. “Has anyone ever used one of these before?”

Everyone
exchanged unknowing glances.

“Come
on! Not a single weird, satanic, emo Goth here? Figures, the one time you need
’em.”

“Whatever,”
said Trish. “We’ll just wing it.”

“Yeah,
we’re just opening up the portal to a demonic dimension. What could go wrong?”
whispered Brittany.

All
the girls in the circle placed their hands of the triangular playing piece.

“Okay,
spirits from beyond...” announced Stacy.

Gwen
and I snorted with laughter.

“Is
there a problem?” asked Stacy, flashing us a glare.

“You’re
honestly going to tell us this doesn’t sound cheesy?” said Gwen.

“Fine,
let’s cut to the chase. Anyone have a question?” said Stacy, looking around the
room.

“Should
Jill break up with Todd?” asked one of the girls.

Everyone
started to giggle.

“What?
Like you weren’t thinking it,” the girl remarked.

Jill,
the individual in question, simply shrugged. “Yeah, I’m not gonna lie. I
wouldn’t mind hearing what the afterlife’s opinion is on this.”

Even
from afar, the four of us could still see inside the circle as their hands shifted
over the board.

“Yes!”
they screamed laughingly.

“Like,
oh my god!” Gwen mimicked.

“All
right,” said Stacy, rubbing her hands together readily as she gave me an unkind
smile. “Will I go to Homecoming with Jackson Matthews?”

“Woo-hoo!”
declared Trish. “Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

Again,
their hands shifted. “Yes!”

I
couldn’t help but to roll my eyes. “Is he deranged? Um, YES!”

The
four of us chuckled.

“What
the hell? Who’s doing that?” said Stacy.

“What?”
called out Gwen.

We
could see the piece shifting about under everyone’s hands.

“Hey,
morons, you have to ask it something first,” Stacy cracked.

“Don’t
look at me,” said one girl.

“Yeah,
I’m not doing anything,” replied another.

Everyone
shook their heads to confirm they weren’t the culprits.

“Whoa!”
Everyone jumped the instant the piece jerked sharply crosswise over the board.

“This
isn’t funny,” said Trish, her once joyous expression turning grisly pale.

The
triangle wrenched about from side to side, racing across the letters.

“A-D-V-O-S-M-O-R-S-V-E-N-I-T,”
they spelled out.

“Apparently,
the otherworld needs a brush up on grammar,” I whispered lightly.

Suddenly,
everyone screamed! The piece started jerking furiously about, causing everyone
to remove their hands from the board. Only the triangle did not stop. Ashley,
Brittany, Gwen, and I all rose to our feet disquietly, and I felt an unnatural
urge to investigate it. After a half dozen steps forward, I froze the moment
the piece paused.

“This
is too weird,” muttered Trish.

The
piece moved again, respelling ‘A-D-V-O-S-M-O-R-S-V-E-N-I-T.’

“I
think it’s time we put this thing to rest,” I said, everyone else nodding in
agreement.

When
the piece stopped again, the board began shaking on the carpet like the ground
beneath it was in the middle of experiencing an earthquake. Only, the floor was
perfectly normal.

All
of the sudden, the triangle levitated off the board by several inches. Trish
swiped her hand underneath it to prove to our eyes and her own that it was
legitimately happening. We all jumped back the moment it began rapidly spinning
around in circles.

“Move!”
I cried out, pushing Gwen to my left as I dove right.

Sure
enough, the playing piece came hurtling through the air, flying right between
Gwen and myself! Everyone, including me, screamed and scrambled away as the
triangle sat lodged in the spine of an Encyclopedia Britannica volume.

“What
do we do?” bellowed Gwen.

“Get
out of here!” declared Stacy.

We
all threw the furniture back into place as we did our best to not touch the
board.

“What
do we do with that thing?” Brittany asked, pointing at the Ouija’s contents
cursedly.

“Dump
it in the trash,” said Gwen.

“Go
get it,” said Stacy.

“Why
don’t you? You’re the one who brought it.”

Trish
proved to be the bravest out of us all. She pried the triangle free from the
book and snatched the board off the ground before dumping it into the garbage
bin at the front entrance.

“Isn’t
that bad luck to just throw it out?” asked one girl.

“Yeah,
what if someone finds it?”

“Like
who, the janitor? If he wants to play with it, then by all means, let him have
a ball. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not our problem anymore,” said Gwen.

We
all raced out of the library, shutting the door behind us. Quietly trotting
down the steps and through the hallways, we eventually arrived back safe and
sound to the gym.

“Let’s
all agree to never speak of this, to anyone,” said Stacy.

“Agreed,”
we all concurred as we slinked inside.

Throwing
myself back into my sleeping bag, I laid motionless as my heart continued to
flutter like that of a hummingbird’s.

“You
okay?” whispered Gwen.

“Just
peachy. You?”

“That’s
the freakiest shit I’ve ever seen, but you have to admit, that was kind of
cool.”

“Having
a levitating board game piece nearly slice into my legs isn’t exactly my
definition of ‘cool.’”

Thankfully, my prior lack of sleep, along with my
nerves draining whatever energy I had left, allowed me to fall back asleep
rather quickly. Unfortunately, that didn’t spare me from the hellish nightmares
in my dream state.

BOOK: Divine Vices
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