Fables & Other Lies - Claire Contreras Page 0,8

go inside one of our friend’s dark basement.

“It’s just a pile of rocks, Dee. I’ll be fine.” I sat down, Martín snapped some photographs, and I stood up, brushing off my pants. It wasn’t dirt, it was sand, I realized. I turned around and looked at the seat again, and then the rest of the rocks. “The entire thing is covered in sand. Did you notice?”

“That’s what it is?” Martín walked over, handing me back my camera before swiping his fingers over the bench and bringing it up. “Huh. That’s so interesting. I mean, the beach is just steps away, right?”

“Yeah, but it’s not like the water reaches all the way out here,” Dee said.

“How would anyone know?” Martín looked at the two of us. “Everyone I’ve spoken to only tells me to stay far away from this area at night.”

The three of us turned our attention to our left, where the water was supposed to be. Normally, you could hear the waves at a distance, but not tonight. Everything was quiet and none of it was soothing.

“I guess you’ll have to come back tomorrow for the pictures of the house,” Martín said.

“Yep. I can’t see anything.”

“I can see the gates now,” Dee said. I looked closer. I couldn’t see anything.

“The weather report says it will be clear the next two days,” Martín said as we turned and headed in the direction we came from.

We were almost to Dolly’s Bar when everything went dark, all of the street lights going out with a ting at the exact same time. Dee groaned.

“Did the lights just go out on the entire island?” Martín asked.

“Yep. That’s what happens when you’re over capacity with people,” Dee said.

“Are you all right, can you guys see?” he asked.

“No.” I stopped walking completely.

Between the sudden darkness and the heavy fog, I couldn’t see a thing. My skin prickled. I felt as if someone was watching me, lurking in the shadows, underneath the fog. I turned around, but it was too dark to make out anything. Somehow, I just knew someone was there.

“Hello?” I called out. “Guys?”

“Where are you?” Dee asked, but she sounded farther away than she was a second ago.

I walked forward, determined to get to Dolly’s. Everyone would surely be outside huddled together. The wind picked up slightly, making a low howl as it swept my hair around my face. When it stopped, I blinked and realized I was right back where I started. I could see the Devil’s Chair from here, the black iron gates that kept people from going into the water and over to Caliban Manor. I shivered, turning around fully. Again, I felt as if I was being watched.

“Hello?” I called out again. “Who’s there?”

“I’ve been waiting for you.” The male voice was deep and soothing.

“Where are you?” My heart slammed as I blinked, looking around. “Who are you?”

“You know who I am.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re scared.” I could hear the amusement in his voice. It made my heart beat a little quicker.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“I thought good witches didn’t feel fear. I thought good witches walked in the light, where there was nothing to fear.”

“I’m not a witch.”

“Hm. You sure about that, little witch?”

“I am not a witch.” My eyes narrowed slightly. I tried to find him, but couldn’t. I tried to speak again, but found that I couldn’t do that either. When I finally found my voice, I screamed, “Leave me alone.”

As if on my command, the street lights turned on all at once. I looked around rapidly, but there was no one there. No trace of a man, of anyone. Just as fast as he appeared, he was gone, and I was left facing the street that led down to Dolly’s. I started running, heart pounding, hands sweating. When I got there, I spotted Dee and ran right up to her and Martín.

“Where were you?” she asked. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head. “No. Yes. I don’t know. I need to go.”

“Do you want to get a drink?” Martín asked.

I shook my head again. “I’m tired. I think everything just hit me all at once. I need to get home.”

“Okay.” Dee’s frown deepened. “Text me when you get there.”

“I will.” I gave them each a kiss on the cheek and turned around, but stopped walking as something up the hill caught my eye.

“Huh.” That was Dee, behind me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a light on at the Caliban Manor that clearly from down here.”

“That is