Dark Imagination

MIYA ALSIP

A Witch’s Tune

She hums to an unknown lullaby as she stirs, counterclockwise as to set in protections. Her hips sway slightly to the mysterious tune she creates. Softly lilting the tune now, she places her utensil down in wait for the next stirring. She turns gently, the ends of her cotton dress flowing around her knees. The young woman walks from her kitchen; it’s small but she prefers it that way. She glides into her living room, dancing lightly to the music pulling gently out of her as if she was in a dream. Twirling ever so gently to her own song, she glances around her little home, from her favorite corner of the couch, to her reading nook up in the loft. She analyzes each little leaf on her plants, noticing that they seem to expand across the room a little more every day. Her body pauses while her voice still sings a song with no lyrics. Her gentle mouth turns up into a small, pleased smile. Yes, her home is small but it was hers and she had dreamed about it for years. Moving again, she picks up a cup to continue watering her little green friends. Humming now, as she finishes watering the last two plants. With cup in hand, she then turns again to the kitchen, bare feet padding gently in the direction of the stove. Placing the cup in the sink next to the stove, she takes up the utensil again. She hums, stirring counterclockwise to set the intention of protection for any in need who eat it.

Dark Imagination

The chill of the fridge glided across my face and arms as I searched through it for something, anything to have for dinner. Mom and dad said they would be back by now with dinner. Where are they? Maybe they both had to stay at work longer? I thought as I located a pizza box from last night. Not much but it is better than nothing. Closing the fridge door I turned around, placing the box on the kitchen table and opening the box’s lid. I reached for the roll of paper towels that were in the middle of the table, fumbling due to being tall enough to pinch the roll’s edge but not having any leverage to pull it towards me until I wiggled them to move enough to tear the towels into pieces. One for me, one for Ariel. “Ariel, would you like some?” I asked my beloved companion, glancing in her direction lovingly and catching a glimpse of her expressionless doll face. Not waiting for an answer I gently placed her share of the paper towel along with a piece of pizza in front of her and then served myself in the same way. I sat down at the table and began to eat my pizza, swinging my legs back and forth to feel the linoleum lightly grazing the underside of my bare feet. “Who are you spirit? How old are you?” a voice pierced my contented silence as it was followed by a series of giggles. Spirit? Like a ghost? There are no ghosts here. Worriedly, I got out of the chair, pizza and Ariel left behind. Padding over to the right of the kitchen table where the voice floated from I found the basement door to be slightly opened. I frowned when I opened the door and looked down to see my sister Nicole and her friend Brittany hunched over a strangelooking letter board. They were surrounded by flickering candles as they sat in the middle of what looked like a circle. “What are you doing down here? What’s with the board?” I asked very confused, only to become more so when both teenagers gave slight yelps, ripping their hands from the board’s surface. “Rae! What the heck? Why did you scare us like that?” My sister snapped as she stood up and began stomping her way up the stairs towards me. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to see what you were doing with that board. What is it anyway?” I mumbled as she now blocked my view of the basement with her taller frame. I moved back to give her room to come into the kitchen if she wanted to. “It is called none of your business you nosey little brat! Stop trying to butt in, this is my time to hang out with MY friend! Annoying little sisters are not allowed!” She snipped, grabbing onto the basement door handle and closing it to give a resounding thud that mixed with their chuckles of amusement. I sighed and walked over to Ariel and my spot in the kitchen. “Who needs big mean old sisters anyway when I have you? Right, Ariel?” I mused, finishing off my pizza slice and placing Ariel's safely back into the box for later. I was closing the lid when I heard it: footsteps creaking in the other room. I got excited, quickly shoved the pizza into the fridge, and gripped Ariel’s little doll hand in mine as I raced towards the living room, passing the basement door. I spun around the corner now clutching Ariel's plastic body into my

chest as I smiled wide for mom and dad. Only they weren’t there, no one was there. Maybe I just imagined it? This house can make odd noises at times. I thought as I dropped my smile, deciding to head up to my room to get ready for bed so mom can tuck me in when she gets back. I raced around the second floor, moving from closet to bathroom to bed. Finally, I settled in bed and lay down with Ariel to wait for mom to come home. Before I knew it I drifted off to sleep without being tucked in.

I gripped onto the sheets for dear life. My knuckles were tight and beginning to cramp from their scrunched-up positions. My chest constricted painfully as if one of the boas from the zoo was wrapped tightly around me. I wish it was a boa, something familiar, something not…IT. I heard my heart pounding in my ears, mixing with the sounds IT made as it crawled towards me. The achingly slow sounds as IT moved, each sound of motion followed by a chilling noise of what sounded like a single knuckle pop. Creak…pop…creak…pop…creeeeaaaakkk…pop! The end of the mattress, my mattress, dipped as IT crept up the foot of my bed. Coming for me. Shuffle…pop…shuffle…pop…shuffle…pop! Closer and closer, hovering over my small quivering frame. I whimpered as IT neared even closer to where my head was ducked under my sheets. IT let out a breathy, foul smelling giggle that I feel as IT leaned its face close to mine. I whimpered again, partially gagging from the smell as I felt the creature's breath race across my cheek through the blanket. I tensed, feeling one of its hands move from blocking any kind of exit to the top of the sheet and begin to slowly rip the blanket from my head. I clenched my eyes shut wanting, needing to be anywhere else, but there is nowhere else to go. The final remnants of my blanket shield was torn from me and I opened my eyes to find myself blinking rapidly, covered in my own sweat. I bolted up, blinking bleary eyed in astonishment at the amazing miracle that was the sun shining through my window. Only a nightmare, so terrifying, so life-like. And so freaking repetitive! This has been going on for a week now! This is getting ridiculous! Sighing in relief at being free from the nightmare, I began to climb out of bed. The last bits of the nightmare left my mind as I worked my way out of the sheets. I finally got out of the knotted sheets, stumbling towards my vanity while rubbing my eyes. I sat down, eyes still closed as I blindly searched the table top for my brush. Blinking my eyes rapidly to get the sleep out of them, I looked into the mirror and became startled. Not by my reflection but what was suddenly standing behind me, a woman that was tall and skeletal-like with a disturbingly wide smile. I whipped my head back scanning behind me to find nothing and when I turned around the scary lady was gone. I gulped audibly. Is the scary thing from my nightmares real? I questioned fearfully, trying anything I could think of to explain what had just happened. As much as I wanted to not admit that

the scary thing could exist, I had a gut feeling that I just experienced something real, and I began to doubt that my dreams were just my imagination. No longer wanting to be in my room in case it came back, I quickly brushed my hair and threw on a quick pair of denim shorts with a random shirt from my closet. Oh, the closet. It came out of here didn’t it? What if it’s invisible and is waiting for me to have my back turned for it to jump me?! I quivered, frozen with my hand on my closet door, suddenly terrified of the possibility of it coming for me in daylight. It showed itself in the mirror, what if it can get me outside of my dreams? I whimpered, quickly shutting the closet door and bolting out of my room going towards the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I was greeted by the noises of my family rummaging in the kitchen and walked towards them quickly. “Okay, doctor, just so I can understand. You want Nicole for an E.K.G. at two, followed up by a blood draw at three?” My mom questioned into her phone as I walked up to her. “Mom, can I talk to you? There’s a creepy lady that has been…” I was cut off as she did that annoying one minute hand sign and handed me a random cereal box from the top of the fridge. I looked down at the box, walking away knowing she was too busy to listen. Lucky Charms? I hate this one but I can’t ask mom to pull something else down. She will get more agitated then she already is. I glanced over toward her, already dressed for work but even with the day just starting, her hair was already frizzled. I decided to talk with dad, maybe just maybe. “Dad, there’s a creepy lady coming out of my closet at night. I think it may have something to do with a board Nicole was using to talk to ghosts,” I rushed out, hoping for any guidance or really anything at this point. Dad was listening to his phone too but had moved it away to hear me. He scrunched up his eyes, confused. “Nicole, do you have a Ouija board I don’t know about?” Dad asked, glancing down to me then to Nicole who was seated at the table. Ouija board? Is that what that thing is called? “No? Honestly, what would I do with one of those things? Are you sure Rae isn’t just sneaking into the movie cupboard and watching ghost movies?” I gaped as Nicole not only denied using the whatchacallit, but she accused me of watching movies I wasn’t supposed to! “Rae, sweety, you know you aren’t supposed to be watching those types of movies. They give you nightmares, and you know that. Since you seem scared, I will let it slide but no more creepy lady. She is just your mind trying to scare you. Now hop along and eat. You don’t want to be late for school.” He whispered as he handed me a bowl and spoon. I nodded glumly, close to tears, and sat down getting the cereal poured. “Little snitch,” Nicole muttered. “Liar,” I snipped sadly back. Beginning to pour the milk that was out on the table, I went through the motions of it all while trying to tune out everyone. I know she is real. Why won’t any of them listen to me? I get that Nicole has a lot going on with her heart, and they are trying to keep the house running smoothly. But seriously, I think a creepy ghost is a top priority on this. How can they get rid of it if they don’t pay enough attention to my warnings? Slowly but surely as I ate cereal I watched everyone pack and go. Mom always goes first as she needs to be early to help open up the local bank. Then, Nicole, since her bus picks up before mine. Finally, dad rushed out,

leaving me to place my bowl in the sink and rinse it so it is easier to wash later. I trudged back up the stairs to my room to grab my backpack and shoes. I stepped into my room, pausing to shove my shoes onto my feet as they are near my doorway. Turning in search of my bag, I stopped dead when I found something else. Is Ariel standing in the middle of my bedroom? I left her on my bed when I woke up. I walk further into the room slowly, unsure of how in the world Ariel the doll was just standing on her own. Her hands were down by her side as her shiny red covered head faced my closet door. I found my bag at the end of my bed, three feet from my beloved doll. I picked it up, slinging the bag over my shoulder, still transfixed on this doll just standing there, standing even when I had tried for years to lean her on to something only for her to fall back despite everything I did. “Ariel?” I called out warily. Suddenly, her head snapped towards my direction. Her face was clear and smiling as normal until quickly her little pleasant smile turned into a gnarled grin. Without me noticing, her body had moved to match her head’s new direction and began to slowly stumble towards. Screeching at the horror of her face and unnatural movement, I booked it out of my bedroom, slamming my bedroom door. Running down stairs, almost falling, my hand found the front door knob, and I wrenched on it to get it to open. A cruel laugh cut through the air as I finally flung the door open and closed it behind me. I stopped only long enough to lock it with my key before I again bolted down the porch steps and through the fence. I continued my run until I was at my bus stop. Heart hammering and lungs screaming, I leaned over my knees to catch my breath.

“What’cha running from? You look like you saw a ghost,” a voice mused as I screeched in terror and stumbled away from it. “Rae! It’s me, it’s Brook! What happened to make you so jumpy?” the same voice rushed out. I paused to look over to see someone whom I had not realized was there. “Brook, hi, sorry. I am a bit jumpy. I…think I just got chased out of my house. You see, there’s this really creepy lady. I started seeing her a week ago in my dreams, and I think she just had my doll, Ariel, chase me.” I explained quickly. “Have you told your parents? This seems a bit dangerous since it had your doll chase you,” Brook asked as she walked towards me, putting her hand on my back as I was still leaning forward on my knees. “I tried to, but you know them. Mom was too busy with Nicole's doctors, and dad just thought that I was having nightmares from watching scary movies,” I answered back as I stood up fully, my heart and lungs slowly going back to their normal function. “You hate horror movies. Why would he think you were watching any? I still remember you hiding under the blankets when I tried to get you to watch that one movie,” Brook responded, confused. “Courtesy of Nicole. I tried to tell dad that the creepy lady started showing up after I saw my sister messing with something they called a Ouijia board, and she denied it while putting the horror movie idea out,” I explained, watching as the bus turned the corner to go towards us.

“Nicole was messing with a Ouijia board?!” Brook screeched in alarm as the bus pulled

up.

“Yeah.What is it?” I responded slowly, beginning to walk towards the edge of the path where it meets the road. “This isn’t good. If they won’t take care of it, we have to,” she mumbled. I looked back at her with confusion on my face as I watched her suddenly lean onto her knees panting like I had just moments ago. “Brook? What’s wrong?” I asked, quickly walking towards her hunched form and rubbing her back trying to comfort her. The bus pulled over to the side as the bus driver opened up the door to let us in. “Hey, is she okay?” The driver called out. “Tell him to go on and that you are going to walk me home,” she muttered, still hunching forward. What is she doing? Brook can’t get this suddenly ill can she? I looked over towards the bus driver and into his worried face. “She isn’t feeling well enough to go. I’m going to walk her home,” I called back as I continued to rub Brook’s shoulders in a soothing manner, having no idea what she was thinking. “Alright, be safe you two!” He shouted over the engine as he closed the doors. The bus eventually pulled away back onto the road and turned down another street. As soon as the bus was out of sight Brook quickly corrected herself and began to walk down the street. “Where are you going? Your house is the opposite way!” I called, confused as to why she just had us skip the bus. “We are going to get help for you. The only way to do that is to go to the store,” Brook answered calmly as I finally met up with her. The store? What store? Oh, please don’t tell me. “We aren’t going to the store your mom works at are we? My mom said to stay out of there,” I exclaimed, worried about not only skipping school but also going to the one place I was forbidden to go. “You need a specific kind of help, Rae, and this is the only place you can get it,” Brook muttered seriously. I sighed both in exasperation and in relief from knowing I would be getting help. We continued to walk in the direction of the store Brook’s mom, Lily, worked at. It looks like any regular shop on main street but what they sell makes the local church goers, like my mom, nervous. It’s a place called Magical Momentos; it sells anything from crystals to witch cauldrons. Suffice to say, the customers are not exactly your run of the mill Christians, a good chunk of them being pagans or just witches in general. I know enough from Brook’s past ramblings to be able to understand how they would help. Of course the store and owner would help. It is run by a medium who is known for helping people get rid of ghosts. I wish I had gone behind mom’s back to read all those ghost books; I wouldn’t be flying so far in the dark if I did. “You never did answer me about what a Ouija board is,” I asked as we crossed the road onto the main street sidewalk. “It’s an object that is used to talk to the dead and other spirits. It basically opens up a portal and advertises into the void. A lot of people think it’s a game, and companies sell it as one. But in

reality, it is a low vibration tool, and it attracts very dark spirits that can then use the doorway to come into our world,” Brook answered mechanically, shouldering her bag higher as we closed in on Magical Momentos. “Low vibrations? What does that have to do with anything?” I question, skimming through the various store front signs. “Everything with a soul vibrates with energy. We each have our own levels. The living give off different vibrations than the dead and other spirits. What happens is when we have high vibrations, we attract good things and spirits with the same levels. But when we or other objects give off low vibrations, we attract low vibrational things or spirits,” Brook answered. “So, basically my sister and her friend used a Ouija board that attracted and allowed a bad spirit to come into our house.” I summed up as we finally reached Magical Momentos. “Yep and I think I know what you are up against. We’ve got this, Rae. We just need to double check that it is what I think it is and just grab what we need to get rid of it.” Brook turned from the door to me as she answered, placing her hand on my shoulder and squeezing it lightly to comfort me. I couldn’t help but smile in relief as Brook is an expert at this stuff. Brook turned back around and gripped onto the shop’s door handle. Opening it, she went inside with me right behind her. “Hello! Welcome to Magical Momentos. How can I… Brook, why are you not on the school bus?” Brook’s mom began only to stop and begin questioning what was going on. “Mommy, Rae’s sister Nicole used a Ouija board and something came through. It just had Rae’s doll chase her out of her room this morning. She needs help, mama, and her parents don’t believe her,” Brook cut to the chase quickly as she walked further into the shop. Lily stopped short there, letting her daughter’s words sink in. “Oh dear, you were right to come as quickly as you did. Come into the back so we can get this taken care of,” Lily stated as she ushered us into the back room. “Maria, I am sorry. Brook’s friend needs help, I think there may be a poltergeist haunting her. I am going to go call your mom and tell her you got sick at the bus stop. That Brook is going to watch over you for the day” Lily mumbled as she sat Brook and I at a table with the owner of the shop, leaving to go call my mom. “Wait, poltergeist? What is that?” I asked confused and ruffled by the fact Lily was going to call my mom to lie to her. “A type of spirit, dear. Nasty things but not impossible to get rid of,” Maria answered gently as she got up to skim the books lined up on the shelves near her. She found what she was looking for and opened up the book. Finding the page she apparently wanted, she placed the book face up and slid it over towards me. “Here, read this. It should help,” She stated as she then walked into the main part of the store. I looked down to see what she wanted me to read: “Poltergeist or noisy spirit. These things are derived from people with spiritual gifts who cannot or will not control their release of negative emotions. Those with gifts need ways of converting negative energy safely through meditation and chakra learning. What happens if a gifted person does not control this energy is that their negative energies will leave their body in bursts and come together until there is so much separate energy that it becomes sentient. What

comes from this creation is a negative shape shifting spirit with the ability to interact very directly with the physical world. They bang cupboards, move chairs, drag people, and have the ability to physically harm humans among other things.” So this is what has been bothering me this whole time? How am I going to get rid of it? Suddenly, both Lily and Maria came in. They were both whispering and heading over towards the shelves of extra supplies. Lily motioned for me to come forward, and I slowly stood up, scared to come over. What if they can’t help me? What if I’m stuck with this thing in my room torturing me for the rest of my life or something? “Are you sure we are out of the liquid sage?” Maria questioned, focusing on the packed shelves. “Yes, I sold the last bottle yesterday. We have a new shipment coming in a few days,” Lily supplied. She was twirling a cord necklace between her fingers. The pendant was gorgeous, a metal tree inside a circle that had the tiniest of beads on the branches to act as leaves. Lily noticed me watching her movements and smiled lightly. Though her eyes showed how worried she was, she lifted the necklace so I could see it more easily. The little pendant spun slightly as it caught the light that seeped into the backroom from the store’s windows out front. The tree shone in the light, making it more beautiful. Looking at it made me happy and a warm feeling spread through my chest. I suddenly had a desire, no, a need, to put the necklace on for whatever reason. “Would you like to put it on? This necklace has been made for the purpose to protect its owner from harm,” Lily offered, her hands stretching the necklace between them so it could go around my neck. I smiled and nodded, allowing her to put it on. I felt a rush of safety, my breath shuddered lightly at the sudden onslaught of comfort. I didn’t even realize that I felt so unsafe, so…exposed until it came. “Okay, dearie, we can help you, but we need to wait for some things to come in first. The necklace Lily gave you should protect you until we get what we need. I do request that Lily and I head over to your home though. By Lily’s descriptions, it sounds as if the spirit has attached itself to your doll. Unfortunately, that means you will have to part with it,” Maria explained turning to me, smiling in satisfaction to see the necklace already on me. Get rid of Ariel!? Why did it have to come down to this? Why did that creepy lady have to take Ariel from me? But let’s be honest here, after this morning, was there anyway I would want to be near that doll again? I guess this morning was really the final goodbye. I shuffled my feet as my eyes became blurry. “If that’s what it takes to get rid of the creepy lady, I will do it,” I whimpered out softly. “That a girl, sweetheart. Everything will be just fine. Do you have a key to your house so Maria and I can get in and get Ariel?” Lily soothed out. “Yeah,” I muttered weakly, pulling the key out of my pocket where I shoved it as I ran out this morning. I handed it to Lily, watching as they both prepared to leave. “We’ll be back soon. We will close down the shop while your girls stay here. Best if you don’t come with us. Did you say your sister had a Ouija board? Do you know where she placed it? ” Maria asked as she got her purse and keys, getting ready to head out.