Mrs. O’ Searah was a kind old woman who used to live upstairs in the house my family used to rent. The house had two floors, three including the basement, we were on the first, and Mrs. O’ Searah was on the second. I was young when I used to go visit her, she used to watch me after school once I got off the bus until my parents got home from their strenuous days at work. Mrs. O’ Searah had no children, and her husband died young, she had no one. So now I stand alone, at the age of eighteen with my best friend Achilles waiting in the car, at her freshly buried grave with her favorite black roses in hand as the rain pours down.
Achilles used to visit Mrs. O’ Searah with me often, he didn’t believe in what she taught us like I did but, he didn’t discount what she taught us either. You see, Mrs. O’ Searah was considered odd. She was Wiccan. She wore a pentacle or a pentagram pendant around her neck and she loved tarot cards. She worshiped the earth, even though some believed she worshiped the devil.
At night I used to hear her casting spells; or thats what she told me when I asked what she was chanting. She believed in reincarnation and magic, she taught me the ways of her religion. The five elements which are, spirit, water, fire, earth, and air were the first things she taught me.
After I finish paying my respects to Mrs. O’ Searah I walk to the car which holds Achilles impatiently waiting to drive me home, my slow walking must have hit a nerve because he opened the window a bit and yelled “Reed, hurry up! you know I hate driving in the rain!” I sped up my walking speed tremendously and jumped in the car ready to get home and away from everyone. My best friend pulled up to my house, no one was home, naturally. I climbed out of the car quickly without a goodbye, I wasn’t in the mood.
***
A few days passed and I got a call on my cellphone, I found out that Mrs. O’ Searah had left everything to me. Everything that still resided in her portion of the house I used to live in. I quickly jumped in my car. I only had a week to pack all of her stuff up and remove it from the apartment. Deciding not to bother Achilles I drove in silence to the old house that I miss so much. I ran up the stairs with the key she once gave me in my hand. I stopped at the top step to see if it would still squeak if i stepped in the corner, it did. Then I slowly opened the door and walked inside.
Tears clouded my eyes as I walked in and my throat clogged. I could barely breathe. This is where she died. I walked into the living room and saw her altar, where she used to teach me things like tarot card reading. This is where all of my childhood memories were placed. The tears rolled down my cheeks, could I even move anything? Everything was exactly where she liked it, how could I?
I looked over to her rocking chair, it was older than she was, it was her grandmother’s. I looked away then looked back, there she was. Thats impossible, but there she is, rocking in her chair with smiling at me. I must be going crazy.. She can’t be, I watched her body be lowered into the ground not even a full week ago. Am I going insane? I run out of the apartment as fast as i possibly can without looking back.
***
I don’t go back for two full days, I couldn’t. I brought Achilles back with me, I shake as I climb the stairs with Chilles following closely behind me. I didn’t tell him what I saw, he would just tell me I am crazy. We reached the top step and I place my foot so the stair would squeak, it brought a smile to my face no matter how terrified I was. Achilles was staring at me when I looked up from the worn wooden stairs; he had a small smile on his face. He remembered when Mrs. O’ Sereah would watch us when we were young. How we would run up and down the stairs for hours and find new squeaky floorboards. Mrs. O’ Sereah used to yell at us that we would fall but we didn’t care.
He could deny it all he wants but he did miss those times when we were young. He would miss the old woman as much as I would. “Come on, lets go” he says, I follow him to the door and hand him the key. He quickly unlocked the door and held it open for me.
"Ladies first" he said smiling. My heart hammered in my chest. I did not want to go in first.
I forced a smile, "No it's alright, after you."
He looked at me suspiciously, "Alright then" he mumbled under his breath and walked through the door. I followed closely behind him. I walked to the closet in the kitchen and pulled out a bunch of cardboard boxes for us to put her belongings in. Chilles took the boxes from my hands and walked towards the living room. I gulped and followed slowly.
He walks to the altar, "Do you want me to pack the altar or do you wish to?" He asked me quietly.
"You can" I whisper.
"Okay" he speaks quietly. We work in silence for hours, packing and looking at the things she owned and smiling at the memories which were brought to mind. "I'm going to bring this down to the car" Achilles said breaking the peaceful silence.
My heartbeat quickened. I did not want to be alone. Not here. Not at all. "No it's okay, I'll bring it down" I said quickly and tried to swipe the box from his hands but he put it's above my head. Tall people these days.
"What's wrong Reed? You're acting weird" he said staring at me with his light green eyes which contrasted with his ebony black hair.
"What? I'm fine" I said, "c'mon Chilles, I'm fine" I said looking back at him with my blue grey eyes.
He still doesn't lower the box, he just stares at me for a moment. "Let's go" he says and pulls me toward the door with the box in his hand.
"I know something's wrong. When you want to tell me, I'll listen" he said quietly and continued walking leaving me standing alone in the living room. I turn to leave and see her.
She's sitting in her rocking chair, and I scream. I stare into her warm brown eyes and study her. Her grey hair is thinning and her cheek bones popping out from the rest of her face. I screamed again. I slid down the wall pushing myself into it as she stood up and started coming closer. Tears poured down my cheeks and I couldn't get air into my lungs. I was drowning in my own tears. Her steps were slow and careful and her face was without emotion. "Reed. REED. Open the door!" I heard Achilles yell from outside the door. I didn't close the door.
"Achilles" I screamed, then she touched me.
**
I woke up on the ground curled up in a ball with my hair sticking to my face which is caked with tears. The ground under me is soft like grass not like the hard and cold floor in Mrs. O' Searahs apartment. "Achilles" I yelled out.
I was in a dark room alone. I can't see anything and it smells musky. My hand touched the ground and it was damp but soft as I thought it would be. Fear set in and I tried to remain calm, it didn't work. I started hyperventilating and crying uncontrollably. Then she appeared in front of me, frowning.
"Don't frown child, I would never hurt you" she spoke softly in a grandmotherly tone sounding slightly hurt I would ever think something so preposterous.
"Where am I?" I whimper my body shaking with fear.
"You're in the basement, there was a terrible flood and the owners moved out but haven't had the time to fix it" she spoke softly.
"Why did you bring me here?" I ask my confidence coming back. I knew her, she would never hurt me, or I knew she wouldn't when she was alive. The fear came back.
Her face became blank, her expression quickly morphed into one of pure anger. “Don’t ask stupid questions, girl. I brought you here because I could, I want you to bring me back. Use a spell and awaken me from the dead” she said irritably.
“I-I can’t do something like that! I’m not that powerful, is that even possible? Mrs. O’ Sereah please don’t make me do that. It isn’t right!” I spoke powerfully. Her smiled changed into one of menacing meaning.
“You will do as I say” she spoke loudly and then she grabbed my arm. It burnt. I screamed loudly and I heard Achilles shout for me as he ran down the stairs.“Reed! how did you get down here?” through the door.
I could hear the terror in his voice but I couldn’t move, she was watching me, glaring at me with such hatred. This isn’t the woman I used to know. I looked towards the door quickly that was shaking with the force Achilles was banging on it then I turned to look back at her, but she was gone. The door burst open and Achilles looked at me. “Reed?” but I couldn’t move.
My arm was burnt with a large red mark, blistering skin burning. The pain was overwhelming.
****
A week passed and my arm hadn’t gotten any better but, I was sure I was going insane. Everywhere I went I saw her. The menacing look on her face, she was following me I was sure of it. Achilles was freaked out too, he asked his friends to help him move all of her belongings out of the house. I would never go back. Ever. How could she hurt me? She promised she would never hurt me.
Achilles spent a lot of time around me. Always watching, at school, he was at my house everyday after school, he would even sleep on the couch in my living room to be sure I didn’t do anything stupid. He seemed to be as worried for my sanity as I was. I told him everything but he was still sceptical something like that would happen to me.
“How could she be alive? We both watched her body go down in the casket” he had said on the way to the hospital to get my burn checked out. The burn, third degree burn. How is that even possible? I just didn’t understand. My parents still haven’t come home. I’ve given up hope, they resented me anyway.
“I can’t stay tonight” Achilles said softly as we ate dinner. “Okay” I responded trying to keep the fear out of my voice. Being alone was not something I was looking forwards to.
“I’ll be back by noon tomorrow” he said with a reassuring smile.
I just nodded my head in understand and he gave me a hug and left. To say I was terrified would be the understatement of the century. She was here. In my house.
I took a shower and saw her standing behind me in the mirror. When I got back to my room I locked the door and changed. Then I padded back to the bathroom and closed the door behind me to brush my teeth. She wasn't in the mirror but there was writing.
"Bring me back" she whispered horrified. That's what the writing said. I quickly whipped the mirror with my hand and there she was. I screamed.
"Bring me back!" She yelled and grabbed my face. It burnt and I screamed.
"If you are not to bring me back you are to die!" She yelled a look of pure anger. She grabbed my hair and pulled me with her. I screamed and begged and cried and she didn't loosen her grip.
"Please" I cried with tears running down my face.
***
I stand at her grave. Suicide, yeah right. The rain is pouring hard, as if the angels are crying as a good soul was gone.
"Why?" I shout. I cannot survive with my Reed. My best friend in the world. The only person I have ever truly loved. Pain is overwhelming. Seeing her dead. I was the one who found her.
The first to see her dead body on the ground in her house with her blue-grey eyes open, looking like glassy marbles. Her face burnt on the right side, just like her arm. "I don't understand" I think to myself as I cross the street to my car. I climbing into the drivers seat on and I pull my seat belt across my body; I look into the rear view mirror. There she is. Beautiful as always, bright but stormy eyes.
"Achilles" she said smiling, but I could not smile back. I put the car in gear and drove quickly. She just stared at me with a smile. A smile I missed so much, my beautiful. I continued to drive up to the cliffs. Then I see the beautiful water, the waves washing half way up the cliff.
"I'll see you soon Reed" I whispered to her. Looking at her I finally smile. Then, I hit the gas and drove off the cliff. That was the end. That was the end of Me and of my Beautiful Reed. I haven't a clue if Mrs. O' Sereahs spirit has gone from the world, all I can say is my Reed and I have cast her away from us so we can be together, no more pain shall come to my Reed.
Achilles used to visit Mrs. O’ Searah with me often, he didn’t believe in what she taught us like I did but, he didn’t discount what she taught us either. You see, Mrs. O’ Searah was considered odd. She was Wiccan. She wore a pentacle or a pentagram pendant around her neck and she loved tarot cards. She worshiped the earth, even though some believed she worshiped the devil.
At night I used to hear her casting spells; or thats what she told me when I asked what she was chanting. She believed in reincarnation and magic, she taught me the ways of her religion. The five elements which are, spirit, water, fire, earth, and air were the first things she taught me.
After I finish paying my respects to Mrs. O’ Searah I walk to the car which holds Achilles impatiently waiting to drive me home, my slow walking must have hit a nerve because he opened the window a bit and yelled “Reed, hurry up! you know I hate driving in the rain!” I sped up my walking speed tremendously and jumped in the car ready to get home and away from everyone. My best friend pulled up to my house, no one was home, naturally. I climbed out of the car quickly without a goodbye, I wasn’t in the mood.
***
A few days passed and I got a call on my cellphone, I found out that Mrs. O’ Searah had left everything to me. Everything that still resided in her portion of the house I used to live in. I quickly jumped in my car. I only had a week to pack all of her stuff up and remove it from the apartment. Deciding not to bother Achilles I drove in silence to the old house that I miss so much. I ran up the stairs with the key she once gave me in my hand. I stopped at the top step to see if it would still squeak if i stepped in the corner, it did. Then I slowly opened the door and walked inside.
Tears clouded my eyes as I walked in and my throat clogged. I could barely breathe. This is where she died. I walked into the living room and saw her altar, where she used to teach me things like tarot card reading. This is where all of my childhood memories were placed. The tears rolled down my cheeks, could I even move anything? Everything was exactly where she liked it, how could I?
I looked over to her rocking chair, it was older than she was, it was her grandmother’s. I looked away then looked back, there she was. Thats impossible, but there she is, rocking in her chair with smiling at me. I must be going crazy.. She can’t be, I watched her body be lowered into the ground not even a full week ago. Am I going insane? I run out of the apartment as fast as i possibly can without looking back.
***
I don’t go back for two full days, I couldn’t. I brought Achilles back with me, I shake as I climb the stairs with Chilles following closely behind me. I didn’t tell him what I saw, he would just tell me I am crazy. We reached the top step and I place my foot so the stair would squeak, it brought a smile to my face no matter how terrified I was. Achilles was staring at me when I looked up from the worn wooden stairs; he had a small smile on his face. He remembered when Mrs. O’ Sereah would watch us when we were young. How we would run up and down the stairs for hours and find new squeaky floorboards. Mrs. O’ Sereah used to yell at us that we would fall but we didn’t care.
He could deny it all he wants but he did miss those times when we were young. He would miss the old woman as much as I would. “Come on, lets go” he says, I follow him to the door and hand him the key. He quickly unlocked the door and held it open for me.
"Ladies first" he said smiling. My heart hammered in my chest. I did not want to go in first.
I forced a smile, "No it's alright, after you."
He looked at me suspiciously, "Alright then" he mumbled under his breath and walked through the door. I followed closely behind him. I walked to the closet in the kitchen and pulled out a bunch of cardboard boxes for us to put her belongings in. Chilles took the boxes from my hands and walked towards the living room. I gulped and followed slowly.
He walks to the altar, "Do you want me to pack the altar or do you wish to?" He asked me quietly.
"You can" I whisper.
"Okay" he speaks quietly. We work in silence for hours, packing and looking at the things she owned and smiling at the memories which were brought to mind. "I'm going to bring this down to the car" Achilles said breaking the peaceful silence.
My heartbeat quickened. I did not want to be alone. Not here. Not at all. "No it's okay, I'll bring it down" I said quickly and tried to swipe the box from his hands but he put it's above my head. Tall people these days.
"What's wrong Reed? You're acting weird" he said staring at me with his light green eyes which contrasted with his ebony black hair.
"What? I'm fine" I said, "c'mon Chilles, I'm fine" I said looking back at him with my blue grey eyes.
He still doesn't lower the box, he just stares at me for a moment. "Let's go" he says and pulls me toward the door with the box in his hand.
"I know something's wrong. When you want to tell me, I'll listen" he said quietly and continued walking leaving me standing alone in the living room. I turn to leave and see her.
She's sitting in her rocking chair, and I scream. I stare into her warm brown eyes and study her. Her grey hair is thinning and her cheek bones popping out from the rest of her face. I screamed again. I slid down the wall pushing myself into it as she stood up and started coming closer. Tears poured down my cheeks and I couldn't get air into my lungs. I was drowning in my own tears. Her steps were slow and careful and her face was without emotion. "Reed. REED. Open the door!" I heard Achilles yell from outside the door. I didn't close the door.
"Achilles" I screamed, then she touched me.
**
I woke up on the ground curled up in a ball with my hair sticking to my face which is caked with tears. The ground under me is soft like grass not like the hard and cold floor in Mrs. O' Searahs apartment. "Achilles" I yelled out.
I was in a dark room alone. I can't see anything and it smells musky. My hand touched the ground and it was damp but soft as I thought it would be. Fear set in and I tried to remain calm, it didn't work. I started hyperventilating and crying uncontrollably. Then she appeared in front of me, frowning.
"Don't frown child, I would never hurt you" she spoke softly in a grandmotherly tone sounding slightly hurt I would ever think something so preposterous.
"Where am I?" I whimper my body shaking with fear.
"You're in the basement, there was a terrible flood and the owners moved out but haven't had the time to fix it" she spoke softly.
"Why did you bring me here?" I ask my confidence coming back. I knew her, she would never hurt me, or I knew she wouldn't when she was alive. The fear came back.
Her face became blank, her expression quickly morphed into one of pure anger. “Don’t ask stupid questions, girl. I brought you here because I could, I want you to bring me back. Use a spell and awaken me from the dead” she said irritably.
“I-I can’t do something like that! I’m not that powerful, is that even possible? Mrs. O’ Sereah please don’t make me do that. It isn’t right!” I spoke powerfully. Her smiled changed into one of menacing meaning.
“You will do as I say” she spoke loudly and then she grabbed my arm. It burnt. I screamed loudly and I heard Achilles shout for me as he ran down the stairs.“Reed! how did you get down here?” through the door.
I could hear the terror in his voice but I couldn’t move, she was watching me, glaring at me with such hatred. This isn’t the woman I used to know. I looked towards the door quickly that was shaking with the force Achilles was banging on it then I turned to look back at her, but she was gone. The door burst open and Achilles looked at me. “Reed?” but I couldn’t move.
My arm was burnt with a large red mark, blistering skin burning. The pain was overwhelming.
****
A week passed and my arm hadn’t gotten any better but, I was sure I was going insane. Everywhere I went I saw her. The menacing look on her face, she was following me I was sure of it. Achilles was freaked out too, he asked his friends to help him move all of her belongings out of the house. I would never go back. Ever. How could she hurt me? She promised she would never hurt me.
Achilles spent a lot of time around me. Always watching, at school, he was at my house everyday after school, he would even sleep on the couch in my living room to be sure I didn’t do anything stupid. He seemed to be as worried for my sanity as I was. I told him everything but he was still sceptical something like that would happen to me.
“How could she be alive? We both watched her body go down in the casket” he had said on the way to the hospital to get my burn checked out. The burn, third degree burn. How is that even possible? I just didn’t understand. My parents still haven’t come home. I’ve given up hope, they resented me anyway.
“I can’t stay tonight” Achilles said softly as we ate dinner. “Okay” I responded trying to keep the fear out of my voice. Being alone was not something I was looking forwards to.
“I’ll be back by noon tomorrow” he said with a reassuring smile.
I just nodded my head in understand and he gave me a hug and left. To say I was terrified would be the understatement of the century. She was here. In my house.
I took a shower and saw her standing behind me in the mirror. When I got back to my room I locked the door and changed. Then I padded back to the bathroom and closed the door behind me to brush my teeth. She wasn't in the mirror but there was writing.
"Bring me back" she whispered horrified. That's what the writing said. I quickly whipped the mirror with my hand and there she was. I screamed.
"Bring me back!" She yelled and grabbed my face. It burnt and I screamed.
"If you are not to bring me back you are to die!" She yelled a look of pure anger. She grabbed my hair and pulled me with her. I screamed and begged and cried and she didn't loosen her grip.
"Please" I cried with tears running down my face.
***
I stand at her grave. Suicide, yeah right. The rain is pouring hard, as if the angels are crying as a good soul was gone.
"Why?" I shout. I cannot survive with my Reed. My best friend in the world. The only person I have ever truly loved. Pain is overwhelming. Seeing her dead. I was the one who found her.
The first to see her dead body on the ground in her house with her blue-grey eyes open, looking like glassy marbles. Her face burnt on the right side, just like her arm. "I don't understand" I think to myself as I cross the street to my car. I climbing into the drivers seat on and I pull my seat belt across my body; I look into the rear view mirror. There she is. Beautiful as always, bright but stormy eyes.
"Achilles" she said smiling, but I could not smile back. I put the car in gear and drove quickly. She just stared at me with a smile. A smile I missed so much, my beautiful. I continued to drive up to the cliffs. Then I see the beautiful water, the waves washing half way up the cliff.
"I'll see you soon Reed" I whispered to her. Looking at her I finally smile. Then, I hit the gas and drove off the cliff. That was the end. That was the end of Me and of my Beautiful Reed. I haven't a clue if Mrs. O' Sereahs spirit has gone from the world, all I can say is my Reed and I have cast her away from us so we can be together, no more pain shall come to my Reed.