Wayward Spirits by Wendy Wang

Author:Wendy Wang [Wang, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-03-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Charlie felt the warmth of the sun and turned her face toward the light, closing her eyes, letting it wash over her. She took a deep breath. The pleasant scent of pine straw filled her senses, and pine needles crunched beneath her bare feet. When she opened her eyes, she found herself on the path where she had first encountered Trini Dolan.

Charlie glanced around, looking for the girl, but the spirit was nowhere to be found. In the distance, the high joyous cries of children's laughter bounced off the trees, which was strange. Trini had been anything but joyful when they’d last met. Charlie turned in a full-circle searching for the source. Tall pines stretched for as far as her eyes could see. Scrubby brush and fan-like ferns filled the spaces between the rough, gray-barked trunks. Twenty yards away, between two trees, a child appeared, her red hair unmistakable.

“Trini!” Charlie called.

The girl moved away from Charlie but turned briefly and motioned for her to follow her. Charlie glanced around. The path she was on led back to safety. It beckoned her to follow it. Charlie shifted her gaze back to Trini, who was now even further away. Something wild raced through the underbrush, and Charlie’s arms broke into goosebumps. Trini disappeared among the trees.

This is a dream—follow her. Nothing can hurt you here.

Charlie stepped off the path, following the girl deeper into the woods. “Trini wait!”

Charlie broke into a run, scanning the trees for any sign of the girl. Ferns and small branches grabbed at her legs, snagging her pants.

Charlie stopped in her tracks. “Trini! Show yourself or I’m going back!” She waited for the child to answer. A crow cawed overhead, mocking her. Charlie glared at the large glossy blackbird staring down at her from a high branch.

“Come on!” Trini appeared beside her. Charlie’s heart slammed into her throat and she cried out. “Don’t do that,” Charlie scolded.

The girl paid no attention to her words and took off again. A cacophony of giggles echoed on the breeze and the hair on the back of Charlie’s neck stood up.

“Show yourself!” Charlie demanded. A small girl with long blonde hair popped up about ten feet away from her. A young black girl with her hair worn in three neat twists stood up on the other side of the blonde. Another girl giggled behind her and Charlie turned to see Macy Givens standing ten feet behind her. More giggles wafted through the trees and Charlie counted five more girls, all standing in the ferns, surrounding her. Something touched the center of Charlie's back sending a shiver crawling across her shoulders. She turned quickly to find Trini. The girl’s faded blue eyes pleaded. “You can't forget about us.”

“Who are all these girls?” Charlie said.

“They’re me. And I’m them.”

“Did the man across the street from you take you? Hurt you?” Charlie didn't want to say kill you. The thought alone sounded so harsh inside her head. A loud piercing foghorn sounded and Charlie winced, bringing her hands over her ears.

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