It all started with an Ouija board. The three of us with our fingertips squeezed together, touching, and our breath heavy with anticipation. “Are there any spirits that want to talk to us tonight, is anyone here with us”, Alexis said in a clear tone. We wait and nothing moves but the hair on our necks and the storm wailing against the window in my houses attic. It is cold and dry here and the only light is the half dozen small candles we have surrounded ourselves with and the small flashlight in my lap.
We look at each other uncertain of this silence. In a small voice out of the corner of his mouth carter says, “I’ll talk to you guys, I’ll be your friend!” and with that he flung one of my ancient teddy bears out of the box next to him. Carter and I laugh but Alexis just grimaces and looks down at us. “You guuyyysss, take this seriously or the spirits won’t talk to us.” We chuckle for a few more seconds but then I hit carter in the arm, “yeah carter, stop scrooing around.” He stared back at me grinning like a Cheshire cat.
We settle back down with our fingers gently placed onto the heart shaped piece. Again Alexis called out to the empty dark attic, “If there are any spirits in here, in this house, we invite you to join us and talk with us, just spell out what you want to say.” We waited. And waited. And waited. I watched as carter began to shift and become antsy, and Alexis wriggled her nose and tried not to breath in too much dust. “This is your last chance to contact us, if you’re here make yourself known.” I said loudly over the raging storm.
Everything grew silent, carter and Alexis looked at me surprised. “Jeez josh you don’t have to be so demanding. Ha ha . . . is anyone else freezing right now”, carter said this and his words froze in the air. The hair on my arms and neck rose up and I looked at Alexis. We paused and watched our breath flow out in plumes. Alexis now in a shaky voice called out once more, “we are here to talk to you, can you show us a sign of your presence.”
I felt a series of small tugs on the planchette, and I felt it being pulled toward carter, probably a prank of his, but it felt odd. The hairs on my arm rose up. It moved inch by inch, and I was sure Carter had to be doing it, but that thought was extinguished when carter looked at me, “are you moving it?”. We went silent again for a moment and I barely was able to whisper, “No, that aint me man”. We both looked at alexis who then with big eyes shook her head.
HELLO. It had dragged the small heart shaped wood piece all the way to hello. We made first contact. “Can you spell out your name for us?” The planchette seemed to move effortlessly, I wanted to take my hand off but was too afraid, L. Our breath still turned to puffs of ice, U. The storm outside was raging and pounded against the window, C. The light from our candles was dim and wavering, and everything seemed to stop on Y. “Lucy”, Alexis said quietly. “How old are you?”
17. The planchette glides effortlessly . Now the loaded question, “how did you die?” Alexis stuttered when she said it. There was a pause. Then it moved too fast, C.A.N.T. T.E.L.L. “You can’t tell us?” Alexis said. “Why not?” and then it quickly moved the heart shaped planchette to goodbye and stuck there. We took our hands off and stared at each other in awe. “I think we should call it a night and get out of here. . .” carter said looking at me. “Yeah guys let’s just go to bed.” I said We blew out the candles and left the board there. The storm outside rattled the house.
