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"Serena! Dahlia! Wake up!" Aria whispered urgently, shaking them from their dreams. Her voice held an edge of excitement that cut through the darkness like a knife.
"Wha— what's going on?" Serena asked groggily, rubbing her eyes and trying to focus.
"Grab a lantern. We need to go now," Aria said, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"Where are we going?" Dahlia questioned, still half-asleep, as she tightened her grip on Mr. Fuzz.
"Remember what we talked about? "OFF LIMITS"? It's time. Come on, hurry!" Aria replied, already stuffing supplies into her bag.
Within minutes, the three girls were fully awake, adrenaline coursing through their veins. Serena gathered her supplies quickly.
"Alright, let's go," Serena whispered.
"Be quiet and follow me," Aria instructed, leading them out of the cabin and into the night. The girls stepped cautiously, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
With a nod from Aria, the girls set off down the widest trail through the campgrounds, their footsteps barely making a sound. The crescent moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting eerie shadows across their path.
"Stay close," whispered Aria, her voice barely audible above the cicadas in the trees. Serena and Dahlia followed.
"Did you guys hear that?" Dahlia asked, her grip on Mr. Fuzz tightening as she strained her ears for any hint of movement.
"Probably just the wind," Serena replied. She couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone, but she wasn't about to let fear hold her back.
"Shadow!" exclaimed Dahlia, her face lighting up with relief upon recognizing the camp dog. He silently padded alongside them.
"Good boy," Serena murmured, reaching out to ruffle Shadow's fur.
"Okay, we're getting close," Aria warned, her voice now tinged with apprehension. "Remember, stay quiet, and stick together."
Aria led the way, her lantern casting a dim circle of light onto the packed dirt beneath their feet. The trail and the trees on either side stretched before them like an endless tunnel, disappearing into the blackness beyond.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Serena asked, her voice barely a whisper to avoid disturbing the stillness that enveloped them.
"Positive," Aria replied, her tone confident despite the doubts that gnawed at her mind.
Dahlia hugged Mr. Fuzz tight against her chest, "But this feels... I dunno, different somehow."
"Maybe because we're sneaking around in the middle of the night?" Serena offered, the corners of her lips curling up into a wry smile.
"Very funny," Dahlia retorted, rolling her eyes.
The cold air brushed against Serena's face as they approached the imposing facade of Hopewell Manor. The mansion loomed over them.
"See? Here it is. Every window is dark, so everyone must be asleep," Aria whispered.
"Alright, let's turn off our lanterns now," Dahlia suggested, her voice barely audible. They each extinguished their lights, plunging themselves into almost complete darkness and leaving only the moon's faint glow to guide them.
"Can you believe we're actually doing this?" Aria asked excitedly.
"Shh, keep your voice down," Serena admonished.
"Sorry," Aria muttered, pressing a hand to her chest in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
With tentative steps, they approached the front door of the manor. To their surprise, it opened easily with a creak at their touch, revealing the shadowy entrance hall beyond.
As they stepped gingerly into the dark hallway, Shadow sat outside the front door. The girls' footsteps echoed through the vast space as they reached the grand staircase.
They moved as quietly as possible up the grand curving staircase, past the room marked "Dahlia," and up to the door whose plaque read "OFF LIMITS."
Aria hesitated, her hand hovering over the antique crystal doorknob. She glanced back at Serena and Dahlia. "Here we go," and she turned the knob. It rattled and refused to open. She pulled off the skeleton key necklace from around her neck.
"Remember, we might not get another chance like this," Serena reminded them, her voice barely audible. Even in the darkness, Aria could see the uncertainty in her friend's eyes, betraying her usual unconcerned demeanor.
"Trust me, I haven't forgotten," Aria assured her. She wiggled the key into the keyhole and turned it left and right until the girls heard a click, and the knob turned. As the door creaked open, the girls exchanged wide-eyed looks, taking in the sight before them.
"Let's keep the overhead light off so no one knows we're here," said Aria as she took the first step into the room.
"Okay, lanterns on," Dahlia whispered. It's not that she was afraid of the dark, but she just didn't like it. The room was bathed in a warm, golden glow as they switched on the three lanterns. Rows upon rows of shelves lined the walls full of a collection of artifacts.
"Whoa," Serena breathed.
"Amazing!" Aria agreed, her eyes darting between the intricate pottery, beaded clothing, and ceremonial tools.
"Look at this," Dahlia said breathlessly, picking up a beautifully carved stone pipe that looked to be centuries old. She traced her fingers along its smooth surface, marveling at the craftsmanship. "Do you think these belonged to the tribes who lived here?"
"Must be," Aria replied, entranced by the delicate beadwork of a nearby moccasin. "And there's so much history here. It feels like we're stepping back in time."
"Or like we're in a museum," Serena agreed, her fingers brushing against an ancient woven basket. "But way cooler."
As they continued exploring the room, Aria glanced back at her friends, their faces lit by the lanterns as they examined the items.
Aria's eyes were drawn to the walls as they ventured deeper into the room, which displayed a pair of maps of Native American territories labeled 0 BCE and 1900 AD. Other maps depicted the Trail of Tears, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the location of all Effigy Mounds in North America.
"Check this out," Serena said, her voice low and filled with awe. Aria and Dahlia moved closer, their eyes wide as they gathered around a dusty newspaper clipping pinned to one of the walls.
Serena traced a finger over the faded print, reading aloud, "December 12, 1851: A Cherokee family grappled with the loss of their young daughter... I don't know how to say it... W-A-Y-A."
"Wah-yah. Wait, could that be the burned girl?" Aria asked.
"Maybe," Serena replied, her eyes wide with shock. "It says here that she was found dead, horribly burned, and her sister went missing the same night and was never found... And that the family will bury their children in the hills overlooking the site of the deaths as they must travel to a reservation in Oklahoma."
Aria's hand brushed over another newspaper article. Her eyes scanned the faded words as she read aloud, "Three suspects emerge in the investigation," The girls exchanged glances before huddling closer together.
Aria whispered, "Witnesses claimed to have seen James Anderson near the scene on the night of the tragedy, but he vanished without a trace, eluding authorities' attempts to question him. His slave, Bill Harper, also arrived at the encampment shortly before the fire. Suspicion arose due to his sudden appearance at the scene, but the lack of evidence leaves us uncertain."
"The third suspect, identified as Thomas Turner, was known for acts of violence against the Cherokee. Authorities pursued him for questioning."
"Are you kidding me?" asked Serena in disbelief as she pointed at a third scrap of newspaper, "May 21, 1852: Strange things started happening to the families of all three suspects in the murder of two Cherokee girls – unexplained accidents, sudden illnesses... Anderson's family experienced misfortunes marked by crop failures and livestock deaths that transformed their once-thriving farm into a wasteland, and his mother died of fever. Bill was struck and killed by lightning in the same week, leaving a widow and three children. Turner's family, living in a distant settlement, faced a series of unexplained illnesses and accidents..."
"Like a curse?" Dahlia asked.
"Maybe," Serena replied, her blue eyes narrowing as she pondered the possibility. "Or maybe the burned girl was trying to send them a message."
"I seriously doubt that this is a coincidence. They traveled through Camp Effigy on the way to Oklahoma?" asked Serena, "We all have family history in Oklahoma..."
"We should keep looking," Aria urged. As she stood, she pointed at the map on the wall, "1852? This happened during the Trail of Tears. "
"That's so sad," Dahlia whispered. She opened an old filing cabinet. Its rusty hinges squeaked as she opened the top drawer. After a few minutes, she beckoned the other girls to show them three manila folders labeled with their names: Aria, Dahlia, and Serena.
"Guys, look at this!" she whispered, her heart racing as she picked up the folders and handed each girl her file to read.
As they read through their files, Aria couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the information. Whoever had put these files together seemed to know more about them than they did themselves – and that terrified her.
"Medical records," Serena said, flipping through the loose pages. Her brow furrowed in confusion. "And our genealogy? Why would they have this information about us?"
"Maybe to prove we're connected to this place somehow?" Aria suggested, her fingers tracing the lines of her family tree.
The girls sat on the floor and placed their lanterns together to read their files. After a few minutes, Serena's fingers trembled as she pulled another worn newspaper clipping from her file. She squinted at the faded black and white photograph of the three suspects, their faces hauntingly familiar. Scanning through the text, she caught sight of a name that made her heart stop.
"Guys," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Oh my god, it's right here in my genealogy."
Aria and Dahlia leaned in.
"See?" Serena pointed with a shaky finger. "The name of the suspect is the same as my great-great-grandfather. James Anderson. But he's awful. I definitely don't want to be related to that guy."
"Look how many generations back... That's four "greats." Wait!" Aria exclaimed suddenly, clutching a piece of paper. "Look at this!"
Dahlia and Serena gathered around Aria. The document in Aria's hand was yellowed and thin; its ink faded to a dull gray, but the words sent shivers down their spines.
"Your great-great-great-great-grandmother was married to Thomas Turner," Dahlia said to Aria, looking at the black and white photo of a man and a woman in wedding attire.
"That's my however-many-times-great grandpa then. Wait, my family always joked about being cursed... Has anyone else's family had a bunch of bad luck and creepy stuff happen?" asked Aria.
"Yeah, for sure. Wait, do you think that's why I can see ghosts?" Serena asked.
Dahlia rifled through her file, "I don't even have a family tree in here. Why am I a part of this? I don't see or hear ghosts."
Aria jumped to her feet, "Are you kidding me? You don't see or hear them, sure, but you freaking channeled the burned girl and almost killed us all, even if you don't remember it. Come on! Your dreams? Your sleepwalking? You are literally the most haunted person I have ever met!"
Dahlia snorted a laugh at Aria.
"One more thing..." Serena said, "The burned girl definitely heard you when you told her to get off you. I saw her totally back off, even though she couldn't hear me or Aria. I think you can talk to the burned girl."
"Yeah, you're definitely involved somehow," said Aria.
"I guess there's a chance Bill Harper was in my family," sighed Dahlia.
"It's so sad that your family tree stops here. Mine goes way back to Scotland, 1714," said Aria.
"If Bill was a slave, then his family was stolen and sold. Who knows what his lineage and family name was," said Serena with anger in her tone, "It was so evil back then."
Dahlia was overwhelmed. Her mind reeled with questions. Did she have connections with Camp Effigy? Or with a murderer? Was this the origin of the curse on her family that caused her to have this connection to the dead? Questions swam in her racing mind. She finally spoke, "But who killed the burned girl and her sister?"
"Well, we don't know for sure that her sister was murdered... She went missing and was never found. If the curse is what caused our abilities, then we definitely all got cursed, so I'm guessing that all three suspects were involved," replied Aria, "We can't bring them to justice now that they're dead, but maybe we can help the burned girl – I mean, Waya– find her sister."
"Would that lift the curse?" asked Dahlia.
"I don't know, but I know it's the right thing to do," replied Serena.
As the girls spoke, the air in the room grew heavier, charged with an energy that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. Through the glowing lanterns, Serena realized that Dahlia's eyes had become black once more. The lanterns flickered off in the same instant, plunging the room into darkness.
"Guys!" Aria cried out in panic, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of what was happening. "What's going on?"
"Something's wrong with Dahlia," Serena whispered urgently, fumbling in the dark to find her friend. "We need to get out of here, now."
"Where are the lanterns?" Aria asked, her voice shaking as she felt around for them. Fear coursed through her veins like ice, but she knew she couldn't let it consume her – not when her friends depended on her.
"Here," Serena said, handing a lantern to Aria. The two girls scrambled to turn them back on as they tried to control their rising fear. The lanterns would not switch back on, but they had to turn their attention to Dahlia, who stood motionless, her black eyes staring into the abyss.
Serena grabbed one of Dahlia's arms and slung it around her shoulder. "Aria, help me carry her," she commanded.
"Of course," Aria agreed, taking hold of Dahlia's other arm. Together, they hoisted their friend up and began making their way toward the exit. Each step was labored and frantic as they tried to navigate the darkened room, the shadows seemingly closing in around them.
"Left... no, wait, right," Aria murmured, her mind racing in an attempt to retrace their steps. The darkness was disorienting. Her heart pounded in her ears like a drum, drowning out everything but the stifled sounds of their movement.
"Whatever's got Dahlia, we need to get her away from it," Serena whispered urgently, her breath coming in ragged gasps as they stumbled forward. She could feel the fear creeping up, but she refused to let it paralyze her. They needed to be strong – for themselves and for Dahlia.
"Agreed," Aria replied, gritting her teeth as they bumped hard into a display case.
"Almost there," Serena encouraged, her voice strained from the weight of Dahlia in her arms. She could see the faint outline of the door in the dim light, beckoning them closer.
Aria's heart pounded in her chest as they stumbled through the darkness, her grip on Dahlia tightening with each step as Dahlia's feet dragged behind them. Suddenly, a horrifying scream pierced the silence, echoing through the vast room. She froze for a moment, her eyes widening with terror.
"Did you hear that?" Aria breathed, her voice barely audible.
"What? Hear what?" Serena asked, glancing around nervously.
"Never mind," Aria muttered, shaking her head. Whatever she had heard hadn't reached Serena's ears. The realization made her shudder, but she pushed it aside, focusing on their escape.
Finally, they reached the door, its imposing frame looming over them like a dark sentinel. Aria's hand shook as she grasped the antique handle, desperately trying to turn it - but it wouldn't budge.
"Come on, come on," Aria muttered under her breath, panic setting in as the door remained stubbornly locked. Her breathing grew ragged, her thoughts racing.
"Let me try," Serena said, her voice tight. She gripped the handle with every ounce of strength she could muster and rattled it, trying to turn it in each direction, but just like Aria, she found no success. She searched her pockets for the key but found nothing.
Serena cursed, slamming her palm against the door in frustration. "What do we do now?"
"Think, Aria, think," Aria commanded herself silently as she let go of Dahlia, her mind racing with a desperate urgency. "There has to be another way out."
"Maybe if we both try together?" Serena suggested.
"Alright, on three," Aria said, taking a deep breath as she prepared to put all her strength into this last attempt. "One... two... three!"
With their combined effort, Aria yanked at the handle. Serena shoved her shoulder into the door, but it remained immovable.
"This isn't working," Serena hissed, "We have to find another way out."
"Okay," Aria agreed, "I must have left the stupid key in the lock."
Just as Aria was about to suggest searching the far corners of the room, a gut-wrenching sound tore through the air. It was Dahlia, thrashing violently in Serena's arms, her eyes rolled back and her face contorted.
"Help me get her down!" Serena shouted, struggling to keep hold of Dahlia. Aria grabbed Dahlia's shoulder, and they lowered her to the ground as gently as possible.
"Listen to me, whatever you are, you need to let go of Dahlia right now," Serena demanded, her voice strong and unwavering despite the fear coursing through her veins. "Unlock the door and leave her alone!"
"Come on, Dahlia, you have to fight it," Aria begged, her voice cracking with emotion as she grasped her friend's hand. She picked up the teddy bear and held it in front of Dahlia's face, "Mr. Fuzz says, calm down and open the door, please."
There was a moment of tense silence as Dahlia relaxed, the only sound in the room being Dahlia's shallow, ragged breaths.
"Please," Aria whispered, tears beginning to well in her eyes. "Mr. Fuzz wants out."
As the last word left her lips, the lock on the door emitted a soft click, and the handle turned ever so slightly. Aria glanced up in disbelief, hope surging through her chest like wildfire.
Dahlia's eyelids fluttered open, revealing her deep brown eyes once again.
"Serena... the door," she breathed, unable to tear her gaze away from the now unlocked exit.
"Are you serious?" Serena asked, her eyes wide with a mixture of relief and shock. "It worked?"
"Seems like it," Aria replied.
"Alright, let's get her out of here," Serena said as she hoisted Dahlia up and made for the door.
"Wh-what happened?" Dahlia whispered, her voice weak but filled with confusion.
"Something... super bad," Serena replied, struggling to find the right words.
"Mr. Fuzz!" Dahlia's gaze fell upon her cherished teddy bear, cradled in Aria's hands. "I remember... It was so dark, but I heard your voice, Aria. And then I saw him..."
"Mr. Fuzz helped bring you back to us," Aria confirmed.
"Thank you, guys," Dahlia reached out and grasped Mr. Fuzz, holding him tightly to her chest. The familiar feel of his soft fur seemed to anchor her back into reality.
"We're in this together, remember?" Aria nodded.
The girls wasted no time, racing out of the room and down the grand staircase. Each footstep echoed through the empty hallways, amplifying their desperation to escape whatever darkness had just tried to claim Dahlia.
As they crept through the front doors of Hopewell Manor and into the moonlit night, the girls didn't slow down. Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they dashed through the campgrounds. Shadow was hot on their heels, his panting heavy but comforting.
They reached their cabin, the door creaking open like a welcoming embrace. The girls stumbled inside, collapsing onto their bunks with relief and exhaustion. As their breathing slowed, Serena remembered the book they'd found in the armoire – Gifted: A Playbook for Mediums – and retrieved it from beneath her pillow.
"Guys," she said, flipping through the pages, "this book has a section on protection techniques. Maybe it can help us ward off whatever attacked Dahlia."
"Really?" Dahlia sat up, "What does it say?"
Serena scanned the pages, her finger tracing over the words as she read aloud: "To create a protective barrier, visualize a circle of white light surrounding you and your loved ones. Hold the image in your mind and feel the warmth of the circle's energy."
"Sounds simple enough," Aria murmured, her voice still shaky but gradually regaining strength. "Let's try it."
"Okay," Serena agreed. "Close your eyes and picture the circle of light around us."
Each girl closed their eyes, concentrating on the warm, glowing circle that enveloped them. As Aria envisioned the barrier, she felt a subtle shift in the air - as if the very atmosphere around them was becoming lighter and brighter.
"Did... Did we do it?" Dahlia asked as her eyes fluttered open.
"I think so," Aria replied, a small, triumphant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I don't know about you guys, but I feel better already."
"Me too," Dahlia whispered, snuggling deeper into Mr. Fuzz's worn belly.
"I can see it," Serena whispered, "White light all around the cabin. Sick!"
"No way?" Aria replied, her eyes flicking back to the book. "Well, we'll need all the protection we can get as we figure out what's going on. We should keep the circle going as much as possible."
"Wow," breathed Dahlia, eyes wide. "Do you guys feel that too?"
Aria nodded, her heart swelling with hope and courage. "Yeah, I really think we're onto something here."
"Me too," Serena admitted, softening for a moment. "But we should get some rest."
"Agreed," Aria said, tucking the book under her arm.
The girls prepared for bed again as if the night's revelation hadn't happened. Eventually, the exhaustion took hold and they drifted off into a dreamless and deep sleep.
