“Stop!” I cry out. “You don’t have split ends. Your hair is fucking great!”
As rapidly as it had begun everything ends. The knives that had freed themselves dropped benignly to the ground, the metallic clatter making us all jump.
Erik hurriedly runs over to collect them, wrapping them tightly in a towel as we all watch in shock. He grabs turkey twine and ties them up neatly before finally turning to look at us.
“That was not an earthquake,” he says in disbelief. “This was her?”
“Yes,” Juniper answers breathlessly. “She doesn’t want us here doing this.”
“And apparently she REALLY doesn’t like people clowning on her hair,” Cara offers from under the table where she is unfolding out of.
“I don’t think we should make jokes at her expense, but that wasn’t the problem here.” Juniper is clicking over to the broom and dustpan, which she hands out for Erik to take and begin cleaning.
“I don’t mean to be indelicate, but why does Kayla need to be here?” Cara asks as she dusts off her knees and smoothes her waterfall of flaxen hair. “This ghost wants something from apparently both Erik and Kat, and can’t hurt you, so there are only two people here that are nothing but endangered.”
“Babe, I told you to stay away,” Kayla comes up and puts her hands on both of Cara’s shoulders, forcing her into eye contact.
“I won’t leave without you,” Cara’s voice is tremulous and vulnerable as her eyes become watery saucers focusing on Kayla.
“She can’t control me any longer,” Juniper corrects. “She can still hurt me. Just as you saw in the kitchen, she can still manipulate objects, even if she can no longer possess me, and as she gets stronger she will be able to injure us easily.”
“My point is that you all have some part to play in this but Kayla. Why should she risk her life?” All traces of cheerleader have left Cara’s face and we are left with Shrewd Barbie now.
“Cara, she isn’t going to stop just because you and Kayla aren’t here,” I say gently. “She can follow you.”
“But she won’t have beef with Kayla any longer if we leave, right?” Cara’s voice is an incubator for anxiety and it is billowing out with every word. “Right?”
“No, Kayla remains a threat because she’s needed to complete the cycle,” Juniper explains patiently. With Erik doubting her for years, she’s clearly become inured to skepticism.
“Regardless, even if I leave, I’ll be forever looking over my shoulder, and should something happen to my friends—would I really want that on my conscience forever? Please, my love, understand why I am doing this,” Kayla pleads, her voice is unguarded and raw in a way I’ve never heard before.
“I can’t watch you do this,” Cara moans, tears now rolling over her supple cheeks. “But I can’t leave you either.”
“You should leave though, Cara,” Juniper starts, voice hard but also devoid of malice. “It is actually only you with no part to play here, and you are very much at risk too and it’s for no reason.”
“I’m not leaving,” she says with an offended shrug. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Juniper informs her as she wraps both her small hands around the head of her cane. “Just be warned. I don’t want your blood on my hands, I already have enough stains there.”
“Are you staying, Kayla?” I ask, throwing Cara a supportive glance. I feel for her, because this is an unbelievable situation that had been wrapped innocuously in the guise of a reunion and vacation.
“Yes,” Kayla confirms, looking deeply into Cara’s eyes until she nods and takes a deep, frightened breath. “Yes, I am. Let's do it.”
“Ok, let’s get into the den and sit in our original positions,” Juniper says, walking off before anyone can comment. “Cara can sit off to the side.”
We all follow her silently, and as soon as we arrive into the darkened room, Erik starts gathering things from around the area. I’m confused and then see that he is taking a letter opener and other pointy and dangerous objects from various places. He disappears with them and comes back with a nod.
“Kayla, light the candles. I think it was you to do it last time,” Juniper orders. Kayla says nothing and grabs the lighter and begins igniting the multiple pillars and three-wicks throughout the room.
My stomach jumps as I watch the preparation passively. I’m too frightened to even chatter nervously as Juniper pulls out a Ouija Board and places it in the middle of the gnarled, natural wood coffee table. She’s feeling the edges carefully and I know she’s trying to place it just right.
Cara is sitting tensley in the corner chair, shaking her head and occasionally glancing at her phone absentmindedly. Kayla is clearly avoiding her glares, busying herself with lighting the army of candles around the room.
Suddenly I begin to fear that Kayla or I may become possessed and scratch our eyes out and try to control my breathing which is becoming shallower with every thought that leaches into my head.
I don’t even notice that Juniper has come to stand in front of me. I look up, knowing my eyes are windows to my anxiety, and the fact that she can’t see them isn’t allaying at all.
“It’s time, Kat. Go sit across from Erik.”
I obediently sit on my knees in front of a shiny board, the arcane writing at odds with the modern components that make it. Slick, white plastic meant to glide over a board the color of aged paper.
“I can’t believe we are doing this,” Erik says with a sigh, looking at Juniper sternly. “I am not allowing you to go into the bathroom and chant her name.”
“That is not part of the plan, and if I express interest you have my permission to restrain me however you see fit,” Juniper tells him soberly.
“So what do we do exactly, Juniper?” Kayla questions, legs tucked under her, to my right. “I need to be as prepared as possible.”
“You will open communication
