Ava retrieved the journal, then sat back down at the table and handed it to her friend. “I found this when I moved in.”
Eleanor opened it and flipped through the pages, eyes scanning the entries. “This is… what does any of this mean?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” Ava shook her head and pursed her lips. “Do you remember my mom doing anything weird when we were kids?”
“Um—like what?”
Ava grimaced. “Like… God, it sounds stupid saying it out loud—” She took a breath. “Like witchy stuff…”
“The journal mentioned magic…” Eleanor trailed off. “Actually, I?—”
Before she could finish, a scream echoed in the forest beyond.
Ava froze, heart leaping in her throat as her eyes shot to the woods beyond the backyard.
“What was that?” Eleanor whispered, looking around.
“I don’t know.” Ava’s heart raced. “Let’s get inside.”
They started to gather the dishes as another cry resounded, closer than before. Ava’s hair stood on the back of her neck. The scream was not quite animal and yet not human either. Ava searched the yard again, dark save for the faint illumination coming from the porch lights, but saw nothing.
“Forget the dishes,” uttered Ava as she pulled Eleanor inside and locked the door behind them.
Ava poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Eleanor as they settled themselves on the couch. All was quiet now andthe forest resumed its usual nighttime sounds. An owl hooted in the distance as the women listened for any more sounds indicating danger.
Still on edge, Ava pulled a green throw onto her lap and turned back to Eleanor. “Do you think it’s gone?”
“I don’t know. What the hell makes a sound like that?” she asked.
“No idea…” Ava couldn’t help but glance to the window.
“Do you think that’s why your grandpa wouldn’t let us go in the woods?”
Ava’s eyes snapped to Eleanor. “You remember that?”
She sipped her wine. “I remember a lot of things.”
“Like…”
“What you asked me earlier…” Eleanor adjusted her glasses. “I always thought I was imagining this, but one time I swore I saw your mother wave her hand over a dead sunflower.” Eleanor lowered her voice. “…and suddenly it was alive again.”
“You didn’t imagine it,” Ava whispered, looking at her hands in her lap.
“Seriously?” Eleanor’s eyes widened as Ava met her gaze. “Is magic… real?”
“I—” Ava stuttered. “My mom told me it was,” she said, a pang of sadness ringing through her at the thought of her mother. Eleanor studied her silently. “Do you believe me?”
Eleanor’s eyes brightened. “Of course I do. I just—it’s been so long. It feels weird to talk about…”
“I know.”
“Have you ever been able to do anything like that?” Eleanor asked.
Ava shook her head. “No.”
“About the journal… Do you think your grandfather was just—” Eleanor began.
“Crazy?”