Poltergeist Party Girls Read online

  Adrenaline shot through my body, and I ran like I had wings attached to my feet like the ancient Greek god, Hermes.

  Jason, Todd, and Cyrus bolted into the green van.

  I cranked the engine and sped out of there like a NASCAR driver. I fishtailed, negotiating a curve, leading to an access road that led to the main highway to the college. I searched for my phone, but I couldn't find it. A cold realization hit me.

  I’d left my phone inside the sorority.

  I didn’t have any other option because I couldn’t afford to buy a replacement. I had to return.

  Four

  I sat outside the sorority staring at the old building, tapping my steering wheel. I checked the time on my watch. I had fifteen minutes to retrieve it, and then meet Laney at the farmer’s market.

  My butt wouldn't move, but I had to get the phone. I wanted to see the video I recorded. I tried to use what I saw in my screenplay. I had committed to writing it based loosely on the sorority sisters and enter the screenplay contest with an option from Trollhouse Productions.”

  I didn’t see any sign of the old green van or Jason Hunsinger. Chickens.

  Get the damn phone and get out. This would be my mantra. I opened the truck door. I'd to stay focused. I tiptoed up the broken concrete steps leading into the dilapidated building.

  Nana, why didn’t you teach me how to handle ghosts? Cold air rushed over me as I entered the open door of the sorority. “It’s just the wind.” I tried to reassure myself.

  Yeah right.

  The floor creaked as I entered with small, tentative steps. I wiped my sweaty

  hands on my jeans. Dust motes danced in the filtered sunlight through the window.

  My phone was on the floor. Grab it and go.

  The ghost cat along with an old black and white photo materialized next to my phone. I couldn’t move.

  The cat purred as squiggly translucent energy danced along her white fur. Her small pink rhinestone collar sparkled in the sunlight.

  I inhaled to soothe the cold fear that threatened to immobilize me.

  I held out my hand, and I focused on my phone and energy surged through my fingers, the phone rose, and zoomed to my outstretched hand. Thank goodness for my telekinesis.

  Relief flooded through me as I relaxed my shoulders. Something warm and fuzzy rubbed up against my ankle.

  "Hello, Kitty. Kitty. Kitty." I reached out to her, but my hand went through the ghost cat. Suddenly, the cat hissed in the direction of the window. I clutched my phone in my hand and whirled around.

  I caught a slight movement from the corner of my eye. Sticks cracked followed by running footfalls.

  “Jason?” I called out.

  The cat faded out.

  A loud wailing began built up into a shrill as I nearly levitated off the floor. Bolting for the door, with my phone gripped in my hands, I ran to my truck.

  I tossed my phone and my purse on the passenger seat, I shoved my key into the ignition with trembling fingers.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw someone running from the back of the sorority toward an overgrown thicket of kudzu and woods. I punched the gas. This time I had more control of my truck as I sped away.

  Looking back in my rearview mirror, I almost drove off the side of the road—three wispy plumes of mist drifted into the kudzu, followed by the ghost cat.

  I met Laney at the farmer’s market. She was restocking her food truck for tomorrow because she vended at one of the concert venues in Atlanta.

  As my sister meditated on the potato selection, it wasn't meditating, but more of tapping into her ability with food. Nana said it had to do with the fire element.

  I clicked on my phone and watched the video I’d made earlier from the sorority house. The ghost cat was there. A face pressed up against the glass, but it was dark, and then it disappeared as Jason came tumbling down the stairs. I sucked in a deep breath. Bouncing balls of light appeared, but then that was it.

  The film went dark.

  “Are you okay? You’re like super pale.” Laney narrowed her eyes.

  "I didn't want to tell my sisters I had a major encounter with a ghost. Not right now. They knew about Emma, but this was different. Way different.

  “I’m fine.” I had to make a quick recovery and act like nothing was wrong.

  “Ava called and told me about your job.”

  “I know. Sucks.”

  “I could use some help at the concert. Maybe getting out of Cloverville would be good for an evening.”

  “Thanks, Lane, but I have class, tomorrow night.”

  “The screenwriting class.”

  “Good for you. I’m glad you’re writing, again.”

  A knowing expression passed between us. I spent many a long phone conversation with my sisters after Camden’s betrayal.

  “It is good to be excited about writing,” I confessed.

  “Ava mentioned that good looking ghost hunter. “ Laney swung the bag of apples into her basket.

  “No. Don’t go there.” I would never confess to my sisters that I found Jason handsome. They would immediately shift into matchmaking mode, and their attempts would be embarrassing. I wanted to keep things professional with Jason.

  Laney laughed. "Hold on. I'm feeling the black beans and rice.”

  A new text message dinged on my phone.

  There wasn’t a name, but a number I didn’t know.

  It was a photo of me warily stepping up the concrete steps into the sorority. I read the message: I saw you at the sorority. Stay away, or you will be next.

  Two hours later inside my sister's food truck, we danced around in her food truck kitchen as we listened to one of the bands playing at the concert venue tomorrow night.

  Internally freaking out about the ominous text message, I helped Laney with food prep. Chopping green peppers had a calming effect on me as I thought of how to handle the text message. I needed to talk to Uncle Joe, but he would lecture me about trespassing and stay away from the sorority house. He didn't approve of Nana's involvement with spirits as he called it. He hadn’t inherited any abilities, totally normal.

  My other option would be to speak with Jason Hunsinger. What if he was behind the phone call? What if he was trying to scare me so that he could put it on his YouTube channel?

  I had used my telekinetic ability to retrieve my phone. What if the person that sent the message saw me use my ability? I had to be careful. Frustrated with not knowing anything about our abilities or magic I chopped the green peppers into little pieces. Rudolph Clover had asked me about Nana’s Book of Shadows. Did she have a book of magical spells or even instructions on how to deal with magic?

  I didn’t know how much Laney knew. She was such a free spirit that I didn’t want to burden her with any unnecessary stresses.

  “Did Nana ever say anything about a recipe book to you?” I gathered the bits of chopped pepper together in my hand and tossed them in a plastic bowl on the small wooden counter.

  “No.” She never really cooked. Mom did.

  “Why? Did she have a cookbook?” Laney looked up from the potato salad she was mixing.

  “No, with her missing, I thought it might be something Nana might have.”

  “Ask Mom when she gets home.” The timer beeped on the pressure cooker. “The beans will be ready for the chili, tomorrow night.”

  My sister danced in tune to the music as she opened a cabinet and removed spices.

  I untied my apron. “I have homework to do.”

  “What is it?” Laney asked.

  “I have to write three loglines for a horror movie idea.”

  “You should have that nailed.”

  “I know. Right.”

  Laney leaned against the counter and grimaced. “Do you hear from Camden? You know about Zombietown.”

  Zombietown. Yes, that Zombietown. The hit television zombie series. The television scripts I'd written until my snake of a boyfriend stole my idea. Not only, did he steal my idea, but
he also took my laptop and the external hard drive I used for backup. Cloud, people. Use the cloud to back up your work. Keep multiple copies in several places.

  Indigestion burned my esophagus.

  “It’s number one in the ratings.”

  Laney frowned and reached out and hugged me. “I’m sorry.”

  “Karma will take care of him.” Only my trusted younger sister knew what happened in California. Ava knew Camden and I parted on bad terms, but not over the fact he’d stolen my idea and television scripts and presented them as his own.

  “You sound like Nana.”

  If Nana had a Book of Shadows, then I’d find a spell that would turn Camden into a snake. Snake was too good for him. I’d turn him into a frog with warts.

  “I heard they renewed Zombietown for season two, and that Camden is up for an Emmy.”

  Heat rose in my face. Next thing my mouth would be foaming like a rabid raccoon.

  Laney looked down. “Sorry, I mentioned it.

  "It is what it is. I have to move on. I can't wallow in a pit of bitterness, so that's why I'm taking the screenwriting class. Time to move on."

  Laney nodded. “Good for you.”

  The oven timer buzzed. “My cookies are ready. Do you want one?” Sympathy shone in my sister’s eyes.

  Chocolate chip whole wheat goodness filled the tiny space in the truck.

  I held up my hand. “Not now. Maybe later.”

  Back in my bedroom, I set my phone down on my desk. I opened my laptop. The old posters to my favorite rock groups and horror movies still hung from my walls from my teenage years. A time capsule of my inspiration frozen in time.

  My phone rang. My heart raced. I took in a deep breath and prepared myself. If it was another threatening text message, I would call Uncle Joe. It was phone call.

  Dr. Smith. I didn’t need my psychic ability to know what this phone call was about.

  I thumbed accept. “Hello.”

  “Sidney, this is Dr. Smith.”

  “Hi.”

  “Unfortunately, I will no longer require your services.”

  “I see.”

  “Yes, after yesterday’s computer hard drive wipeout, I can’t take the risk of it happening again.”

  Before I could say anything else, she ended our call.

  Anger burned through me. “Damn. It wasn’t my fault.”

  The closed window in my room opened with a loud slam. A cold wind encircled me, and then a bright light shone on my bed as the fluffy white ghost cat in the pink rhinestone collar materialized along with the black and white photo I’d seen at the sorority house.

  Five

  The next morning I checked my bank balance. I had less than fifty dollars. I closed my eyes hoping some more zeroes would appear.

  I opened my eyes. "No." Still fifty dollars. I needed a job. I would get a paycheck from the school, but it wouldn't pay for gas. Worse, the tires on my truck required replacing. Sooner than later.

  It seemed as if I had a bad luck curse. “Quit thinking negatively. You need a plan.”

  Staring at my sad bank account, I needed a job soon. A sharp pain erupted behind my right temple. Stress amped up my caffeine withdrawal. What I needed now was a cup of coffee.

  In the kitchen, a white notebook sheet of paper hung from the oven hood. It was from Mom. Don't forget to unload the dishwasher. Your turn. Mom always left notes for us like this as kids.

  A plate of plastic-wrapped whole-wheat chocolate cookies on a plate sat on the stove. Laney was looking after me.

  I ate two as I unloaded the dishwasher and then checked the pantry for coffee. We were out.

  I’d go to Crooked Spoons for a cup. I could talk to Rudolph Clover and ask questions about Nana’s Book of Shadows and about the photo that had materialized on my bed last night along with the ghost cat.

  Cloverville’s founding father might know something else about my grandmother and the poltergeist party girls and if there was a connection between the two.

  An hour later, I parked on the town square. I had brought along my laptop to work on my loglines and my screenplay. I had the eight-by-ten photo shoved in my messenger bag.

  At Crooked Spoons, I ordered a coffee. Gwen stared down at me as she chewed on her gum. “I saw you on that YouTube video. Did you see Emma?”

  “No.” I didn’t want it known I spoke to ghosts. “I think there was a power shortage that made the electric blackout.”

  Gwen pursed her lips. “I think Emma is real.” She waited and stared at me as if I’d tell her something more.

  "Could be, but I need some coffee. We were out at the house this morning."

  “Sure. Do you want anything to eat?”

  “Just coffee.” Laney’s cookies had filled me up. I pulled out my notebook.

  Gwen brought my cup and glanced down at the table.

  “What are you working on?”

  “Making notes for a school project.”

  “You know every time I watch Zombietown. I tell my boyfriend that it kind of reminds me of Cloverville. Have you watched it?”

  “No.” I gritted my teeth and poured my creams into the cup. I would take my next cup to go.

  Gwen continued to talk as the hairs on the back of my neck lifted. I sensed dark energy. I glanced out the window, and a huge dog made of shadows and mist stared at me from beside one of the park benches.

  The ghost cat materialized on the table next to my coffee, and she arched her back.

  The shadowy dog disappeared, and the ghost cat jumped off the table and faded.

  “Have you heard anything?” I heard someone’s voice and focused on Gwen.

  “About what?” I looked up.

  Gwen whispered. “About your Nana.”

  “No.” I pointed at my coffee. “Can I get this to go? I forgot I had to be somewhere.”

  “Sure.”

  A few minutes later, Gwen brought me a to-go cup. I tossed five dollars on the table—enough to cover the coffee and a tip that I couldn’t afford.

  Outside, I breathed in the fresh air. I walked over to the statue and leaned against the marble base. The coolness soaked into my sweat-drenched skin.

  “We need to talk.” I whispered out of the side of my mouth.

  Rudolph Clover emerged from his statue.

  "I saw a black dog, and then I have a ghost cat appearing and disappearing in my house, in the coffee shop, and my truck. What is going on?"

  “I sensed the presence of the guardian’s dog, but what ghost cat?”

  I explained about the Poltergeist Party Girls and the ghost. I removed the photo of three sorority sisters dressed as if they were going to an ancient Eighties Madonna concert.

  He grimaced. “This is not good. Those poor souls trapped in that house. They’re desperate.”

  “Why?

  “Because the balance between the Void and this world has weakened. Ghosts, spirits, and other evil entities will walk in this world.”

  “What happened?” I stared at Rudolph.

  "Your grandmother was powerful . . ." he hesitated. "A powerful witch."

  “She never exactly called herself a witch.”

  “She was, and she was the leader of the coven that kept the balance between our world and the Void.”

  “What? Who are the other members of the coven?” My brain was about to short circuit.

  “I don’t know. Only the coven leader knew.”

  “What does this have to do with me?” I sat down on the park bench before my knees crumpled.

  “You are the one who must restore the balance.”

  "Me? I don't know anything about ghosts or whatever. Nana never taught me."

  "That's why we need to find her Book of Shadows. Before the dark entities grow stronger, you need to locate that book.”

  I pressed my hand against my forehead. The pounding had increased. “What about the sorority sisters?” I didn’t want them appearing at my house, scaring my family, particularly my mother.”
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br />   “You have to solve their murders and find their bodies before they can pass onto the Bright Side.”

  “How?”

  “Maybe you need the help of a ghost hunter.” Rudolph arched an eyebrow.

  “I’m not asking Jason Hunsinger for help.” I walked over to my truck. Talking to Rudolph hadn’t been helpful.

  “Think about it.” The ghost popped to the driver’s side of my truck and pointed. “You might want to get this tire aired up before it goes flat.”

  I pulled into Hunsinger Automotive Store, the only tire store on this side of Cloverville. One stop shop. Get air in my tires. Talk to a ghost hunter.

  Jason stood behind a counter with automotive signs hanging on the wall behind him. He smiled when he saw me. “Sidney, I wanted to talk to you about the other day.”

  His smile discombobulated me. “I need air in my truck tire,” I stuttered.

  He walked around the counter. “Show me.” He pushed the glass door open and motioned outside. Walking past him, I caught a whiff of sandalwood.

  It had been over a year since I’d been with a guy.

  Jason kneeled and checked all four tires. Nice ass. Wait a minute. Rein in the hormones.

  He stood and walked around to the front of my truck. “Open it.”

  I climbed into my truck and clicked the hood release.

  He’d pulled out the oil stick and wiped it with a grease rag. Stuck it back to the car engine, removed it, and it came out clean. He grimaced.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “How long has it been since you’ve had your oil checked?”

  “Since I left California?”

  “How long was that?”

  “Been awhile,” I mumbled.

  “It’s time to change it.”

  I thought about my fifty dollars in the bank.

  “I can’t. Not right now. I was fired. I just need air in my tire.”

  After returning the oil stick, he sighed. “I’m sorry. I guess it was because of Emma and me.”

  How much did I admit to Jason? I needed to think before I took the next step in trusting him. After learning about Nana from Rudolph, I wanted to sit down and rationalize everything.