Conjuration from Hell

Radha McCarthey was a writer. She worked for the local newspaper company, being part of the editorial team. She had a side job though, working for a small supernatural blogging group. She was the oldest, being 26 years old while the rest were just sophomores and juniors in college.

Radha grabbed a coffee from the small cafe. The business owner smiled warmly at her. “Isn’t it the future chief editor.”

“Maria. You don’t want that to spread around town. They might pin me as egotistical.” She sipped her coffee. “Then I’ll never get that gig.” A small smirk on her lips.

One of her blog coworkers walked in looking exhausted. “Matt! Hey, what’s up. Is it college?” She remembered the sleepless night college has brought upon her.

His dull eyes lit up slightly when he sees Radha. “Radha. Yes but no. It’s not that...did you not get the text message?”

She never had her phone on vibrate so she never regularly got messages’ notifications. “No, what’s up.”

“I think we found a hot spot in the woods. Where we set up the remote control cameras. I’ve got...interesting results. The meeting is at Jess’s place. She said to bring snacks as well.” He placed his order for a triple shot of espresso. He then frowned. “How did you survive college and life?”

Radha smiled warmly at the kid. He was majoring in Computer Programming and he was also dealing with his nerve-induced butterflies with Jessica. “Well, I took care of myself and then when I liked a girl, I told her.”

He laughed and shook her head. “Jess isn’t into geeks. She’s probably into some jock like Adrian Nox. With his blue eyes and sandy blonde hair and his smile. That damn smile.”

Radha laughed a little. “Be careful or I might think it’s you who’s in love with him.” Matt drinks the freshly delivered coffee and looked at her. “When are you going to get someone special?”

Her eyes averted his gaze, “Love is something that will find me soon. And it’s going to be four-legged, big paws, and big brown, loving eyes.” Matt snorted and shook his head. “See you later boss.”

They went their separate ways and Radha went to the library due to it being her day off. She felt her phone vibrate, it was Jess. She sent a request. ‘Hey, Rad. I need you to check up on a few things.’

‘Sure. What’s up?’

’Search up Anna Hon.”

Radha knew about her briefly, the woman who went missing in the nearby woods. A lot of people speculated wolves have maimed her but also the insanity of losing her husband at a young day has damaged her which led her out to the woods. It was a grisly tale of what she left behind.

Anna Hon: Demons or Grief?

Anna Hon, 32, was a woman who was married to the police officer Jack Hon. Jack was shot in a shootout between a wanted criminal and himself.

Months had passed since the police-involved shooting and the funeral, which people claimed was enough time for a woman’s mind to crumble. Neighbors reported strange sounds and a strange figure entering the house between 10 p.m. and midnight.

Trying to search for clues of the disappearance of Mrs. Hon and the connection of the mysterious figure, they searched the house. The police reported seeing several things that you would need for ill-intended practices. Knives, a cauldron, and satanic symbols were not something that seemed horrific when it was in ‘Hocus Pocus’.

No leads of Anna Hon have been discovered and nothing on the mysterious figure.

Radha was about to text Jess questioning on what the connection to their meeting and this case was but she felt soft lips on her ear lobe whisper. “Don’t worry. I’ll be waiting.”

Radha looked around, gasping but just saw the librarian cleaning up around the library. She goes out and went to Jess’s house, stopping only to go to the grocery store. She entered Jess’s house, carried boxes of assorted pizzas. Radha smiled but her eyes looked worried.

Jess picked up. “Hey, what’s wrong. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She then smiled. “If you saw a ghost, that would be great for our reputation.”

Radha laughed and sat on her couch and looked at her. “Why did you make me research Anna Hon?”

Jessica frowned and looked at her. “There’s been odd things happening in the woods. And I was going to save it until everyone came over but I saw her on CCTV.”

Radha didn’t follow. “I thought she disappeared.”

“She was arguing with a woman...the woman was a tall figure and she twitched her hand, then Anna dropped dead.” Radha opened her mouth, ready to say something. “That isn’t the strange part. The figure looked at the camera and smiled, saying that she would make a great meal.”

Chills covered her spine as she shuddered. “Maybe it’s just a crazy person living in the woods. I know your opinion of the police officers, but maybe we should get involved.”

The young college student shook her head. “They won’t believe us...let just figure out a plan with the rest of the group.

The two females arranged the house and put some beer as well as other non-alcoholic beverages. Soon the three other students, including Matt arrived.

Jessica hugged all the males. “Matthew. Kyle. Skull.”

Skull was not his real name, but he argued Skull sounded a lot more masculine than Shelby. The shaggy looking kid smiled. “Matt said you had some beer.”

Radha shook her head and pointed to the fridge where both Skull and Kyle went. Matthew looked nervous and Radha knew why. He was a sweet kid. “Is pizza in?”

Jessica looked at him, and Radha was shocked to hear a gentle tone from someone who was usually sarcastic when she spoke. Radha didn’t mind her sarcasm, but some did. “Yeah. Rad picked up some pepperoni, cheese, and combo.”

Matthew smiled, “Ah. The holy trinity.”

The three laughed but it died when they heard glass shatter. Kyle’s voice trembled despite him having a confident attitude. “Someone is outside the house.”

Jessica frowned and rushed to her bedroom where she pulled out her late father’s shotgun. “Matthew, lock the door. Kyle, the windows. Skull.” However, he seemed dazed. “Radha, call 911!”

Radha rushed to her phone but she heard humming in her head. “Curiosity killed the cat. That cat never learned its lesson.”

She shakily dialed 911 but all she heard was a white noise, which was odd for a mobile phone. The sound of a shotgun being fired was heard and Jessica crying could be heard. Radha rushed to the kitchen and saw that Skull was shot. It was a lot of blood, the coppery smell disorienting Radha.

“Ring-a-ring-a-rosies”

There was a lot of screaming, yet everyone seemed unconscious.

“A pocket full of roses”

Shadows began to fill her visions.

“A tissue, a tissue”

Radha’s legs quaked and her breathing quicken.

“We all fall down.”

Unconsciousness fell upon her.