Page 43 of Medium
“Greg says they’re waiting for us.”
Manny twisted around in his seat to look at Pia. “Chica, if you don’t want to get out of the car when we get to the cemetery, I can hang in here with you.”
I glanced in the rearview mirror. She was frowning down at Ms. Jackson’s head. Finally she said, “I’ve never been to a cemetery. Can Ms. Jackson get out with us?”
Ellis said, “I don’t think the cemetery allows tigers. But this would be a good time for them to practice another form. Like a big dog or something?”
Shane cocked his head. “Irish Wolfhound?”
I offered, “Mastiff?”
Manny said, “Saint Bernard!”
Pia ducked down so I couldn’t see her in the mirror for a moment. Then she popped up. “Ms. Jackson says it’ll be a surprise!”
“Oh, god,” Shane muttered beside me. “As long as it’s not a six-foot tall Chihuahua.”
I laughed, and he gave me a wry smile. I said in a low voice, “Yeah, the hedgehog was... unsettling.”
He gave an exaggerated shudder. “I hope they never do that again.”
“You said Ms. Jackson started out as an inanimate object? How...?” I waved my hand toward the back seat.
Shane blew out a breath. Then he turned so everyone else could hear him too. “Ms. Jackson, I’m going to tell the short version of your story if it’s okay with you.”
They made a weird soft yowl, which Shane seemed to take as assent. “They aren’t sure what they were originally, but they’re definitely from the Elven dimension. Somehow they came to Earth and ended up in the book room at TWIST, which is the Wonder rescue organization Greg’s mom runs.”
“Okay.”
“Greg and Cal were searching the book room for information on vampires, and they came across a statue of a cat. When Cal dusted the statue off, they changed into something else; I can’t remember what.”
Ellis leaned forward. “I think it was a typewriter. Then a toilet seat.”
Manny and I laughed.
“Eventually someone suggested they become a Ouija board so they could communicate, and they said they were called Ms. Jackson. This, uh, larger and more animated version came about when Cal was experimenting with his magic, and he accidentally gave it all to Ms. Jackson. It was, what, three weeks ago?”
I shot him a startled glance. They’d only been able to walk around for three weeks? Before I could ask for more information, the navigation app directed us down a side street, and then we were cutting though a subdivision. The houses ended and the cemetery appeared on our right. I drove through the huge wrought iron gates, and for the second time in less than twenty-four hours I was in a cemetery.
This one was wide open, with trees and tall grave markers here and there, but mostly grass and gentle little hills. There was a wall around most of the cemetery, with the subdivision bordering it on one side and some trees on the other. I didn’t see any other visitors.
Shane directed me to follow the drive until we got to the far end near the trees. A silver SUV was parked along the curb, and two men, who I assumed were Greg and Cal, were standing next to it.
Ms. Jackson’s head rose up behind Ellis’s seat, and they made a weird growling-yowling sound. Ellis turned to look at them and chuckled. “You miss Greg and Cal already? You just saw them yesterday.”
Both men turned to watch as I pulled in behind their vehicle. Shane hopped out and started to walk over to them, but then he stopped mid-step. Ellis, who hadn’t left the car yet, grabbed his chest and made a coughing sound.
Manny had opened his door to exit, but he whirled aroundand said, “What’s the matter? Are you choking? Chest pain? What is it?”
Ellis waved him off. “I’m okay,” he gasped out. “Shane and I can’t get very far from each other.”
Shane walked back toward the car, and Ellis sighed in relief. “That’s better.” He looked at Manny. “I’m fine, I promise.”
Manny frowned. Shane opened Ellis’ door. “Sorry.”
I got out of the car and helped Manny slide his seat forward so Pia and Ms. Jackson could get out.
“What the fuck was that?” Manny whispered.
