Page 105 of Bound By Fury

THIRTY-FOUR

SAM AND I ARE STANDING outside Daisy’s room when an indignant sneer startles us both.

“This had better not be some kind of fucking prank,” Missy growls from behind us.

“Oh, goody,” I mumble, turning around. “Missy’s here.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Look, I, uh, I haven’t really had a chance to talk to you since… you know.” I rub my hands down my arms. “But I just, like, I know what it’s like to lose someone, and I don’t want to say some stupid shit that doesn’t matter and doesn’t help you, so I guess… I know it sucks.” I shrug.

Her eyebrows only lose a microscopic amount of tension, but I take it as a win and turn around to knock on Daisy’s door.

When it opens, Missy pushes past us, but I linger in the doorway, the anticipatory pressure in my chest making me hesitate.

Daisy’s room is dark, the cloud lights above her bed twinkling against the night sky, their reflections matching those of the candles arranged in a circle on the floor and along the edge of her desk and windowsill, casting shadows against the collaged walls. A Ouija board sits in the center.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sam mutters, their eyes wide.

Daisy ignores their protests.

Despite my better judgment, I step over the threshold.

“Not to be mean, but this is fucking weird,” Missy says, bending down to touch the wooden board.

“Not yet!” Daisy yelps. Missy snatches her hand back.

Daisy’s relieved chuckle is off kilter. “We don’t want to disturb the space until we’re ready to begin, okay?” She claps her hands together before placing her palm on Sam’s back and giving them a little shove. They stumble forward a few steps, and Daisy shuts the door, walking into the circle of fire.

“Come,” she says as she curls her hand upward, “join me.”

Her voice is low, a melodic lilt at the ends of her words, almost as if she’s singing. Or praying.

Despite my earlier protests, I’m drawn to her. To the circle. To the flame.

I grab Sam’s hand and drag them with me.

“W-wait!” Sam digs their heels in. “I don’t know about this, guys! Do we really understand what we’re getting ourselves into?”

“Sam, just relax and let Daisy explore her mystical powers.” I wave my hand in the air as I say the last part, my fingers wagging. Sam forces a smile that looks more like a grimace and takes a step closer.

“You all believe in this stuff?” Missy asks, sounding bored.

“I don’t know,” I say. “But if you don’t, then why are you even here?”

She glares at me. I glare back.

“Well, clearly I didn’t have what it takes to find her myself before she…,” Missy trails off. I know she isn’t mad at me. She’s mad at herself. It’s a feeling I wish I didn’t relate to.

“It’ll be fine, Sam!” Daisy cuts in impatiently.

We all take a seat in the circle, our legs crossed beneath us. We do as Daisy instructs, linking our pinkies and resting our hands down, relaxing our bodies.

Despite Missy’s stubborn, apathetic demeanor, I clock the tremble weaving through her fingers.

Daisy closes her eyes and tilts her head back, the candlelight dancing across her face. “Let’s begin,” she murmurs.

I shudder.