The bells above The Maribella's entrance door, jingled as Milena pushed through them.

Their morning coffee ritual had been different ever since the night at the cemetery. It seemed that their usual conversions on life, heart matters and hopes for the future had been traded for nail biting expectations of disaster.

She pushed through the crowd of business people on their way to get their takeaway coffee to be off to their own mystified lives. She couldn't help herself as she clutched her bag tightly under her arm, knowing her stolen piece of gold contained some vile chapters.

She was delighted at the sight of her two friends sitting in their usual spot, at dark corner booth in the back of the cafe. Her heart most happy for the fact to see them both alive.

"Hey, whats going on?" Lindsey welcomed her presence.

"Yeah...next time call, don't text. Atleast than we can know if your sister is trying to kill you or not."

"Cassie lower your voice..." Milena heaved in a whisper, "someone might hear you."

"That's a good idea at least they'll know its her if we die or disappear." Cassie replied back. She was furious but more scared.

"I think that's a little drastic, Cass, she doesn't even know we were there. Margi was right, we weren't supposed to be there. We should've left...or...maybe never have went in the first place." Lindsey took a sip on her herbal tea.

"That's not the point...it still doesn't change the fact that she's a witch." Cassie stated.

"Girls, stop!" Milena slid into the booth next to Cassie. Look this is all my fault. I was the one that took you guys there, it was stupid and now all this crazy stuff is happening -but I think there's a way we can fix this without anyone finding out and all can go back to normal..."

"Milena, what did you do?" they both said concerned.

"I have that book of hers. It's here inside my bag but I don't think we should open it here."

Lindsey grew petrified. "Lena, are you insane! You stole that magic thing of which I'm certain to be the very reason for all this. What if it activates or something."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "Lindsey don't be stupid. Its not like it has a damn switch. Witches often have to use a spell or something right."

"I don't know how it works that's why I want to get out of here as soon as possible and before Halle suspects I took it and comes looking for it. We have to go someplace she won't be able to find us."

"I'll call Margi, she's the only one with a hidden mansion Halle doesn't know about."

"I don't like that girl she's strange. Why do we have to pretend to be her friend again?"

For a split second everything felt like a normal. "We're not pretending Cass...you're the only one that has a problem with her." Milena shoved her lightly against the arm.

"Well call her than, I want to know whats inside that book already." Cassie rolled her eyes as they all prepared to leave.

"Wont it be dangerous though, opening it and not knowing what it could do."

"Its a chance I already took and it did nothing. Than again, it did nothing until Halle said some words. Maybe if we read it, it'll do something."

"Milena look, there's a weird lady at your car. Is she trying to break in?"

"Lets go!"

They all ran to the exit yet the busy workers hadn't subsided to their waiting lives. It took a few moments to persist through the crowd. By the time they were outside the woman was long gone. As they approached the car -a black card displaying a gypsy lady dressed in red with a circle with ancient foreign symbols surrounding her; rested behind the wipers.

"Its just one of those scam palm readers. A bunch of con's..." Milena informed her girlfriends. Despite this, she still placed the card in the back pocket of her jeans. "Lets go, we have better things to do..."

***

Margi Coddington was on her way to school when the call from Lindsey came through.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She hesitated, remembering the strange series of events that turned the couple of days -and went against her own judgement. "Hey, what's up?"

"We need you to hook us?"

"What are you talking about Lindsey?" She replied as a vile feeling gestured in the pit of her stomach. The same warning she got on the night she started to see things.

"You mentioned your parent's deserted little paradise once. Think we can crash there for the day without anyone knowing of course."

"It's the first day of senior year. You all made such a fuss about walking that hall."

"Well..." Milena's voice cut through, "I wouldn't be remembered as the bad ass queen I am if I don't kick off senior year with a stun. Why am I even explaining myself to you. Had we forgotten who runs this show? Send me the location and meet us there right away."

She had forgotten how intimidating Milena really was. The passed few days, the ice queen's attention had diverted from holding her pose as the popular rebel goddess to chasing ghosts.

Milena wasted no time to shut the call down -before Margi could respond or contemplate, she knew she would do as she was told.

After an hour's drive on the off-the-grid shorelines of Palmview Hills. Margi grew more petrified as she saw the palm trees cascade into a forest. She took a deep breath moreover her own memories of the place.

"I'm sorry..." she left the words to wither into the open, as she took the stone path that lead up to her old house.

The first thing that caught her attention was the sleek black Benz in the driveway of the home that bore her nothing but sultry memories.

The girls had let themselves in when Margi entered the house. A dire feeling gestured in her stomach as she stepped through the front door.

"Look who finally decided to show up! Since she graced us with her presence... Can I open it?"

"I specifically told you the liquor cabinet is off limits!" Margi jumped to her own conclusions.

Cassie looked at her sideways. "The liquor cabinet should be the least of your worries. Why have you been ghosting us these few days when clearly, creepy things have been happening to all us."

Margi wasn't interested in the subject. It was best not to talk about it, incase it summons the darkness.

"What creepy things?"

The party stared at the red sprouted face, who managed to conceal the truth expertly.

"Haven't you seen or heard the doll?" Milena questioned cautiously.

This was news to Margi. Her paranormal experience was far different and confincingly most horrific.

"No, not at all."

Milena's terror turned to reality yet gladness that her sister's curse, had touched one life less. She immediately decided that Margi wasn't going to be dragged into all of it.

"Nevermind..." she shrugged. "We're leaving, come on girls."

"What?" Both Cassie and Lindsey was confused.

"I thought we were..." Lindsey uttered when Milena cut her off.

"-and now we're leaving, it's not a debate."

"Why did you guys ask me up here? Tell me the truth."

Milena's backpack started to rattle uncontrollably, earning everyone's attention.

"What's that?" Margi asked concerned.

"It doesn't matter..." Milena argued.

"I might have experienced some creepy stuff too but I'm not sure." Margi finally confessed.

At once, the bag stoped.

Milena was furious. "Why would you lie about something like that!"

"God knows what you're up to this time -no thanks to you all of this is happening when I clearly said we should've left!"

"Well we didn't! This might be your house but who the hell do you think you are to talk yo me like that?" Milena's highschool supremacy was shining like a yellow lemon and Margi was to have a taste. "Now we have to face the consequences but so thanks to we can reverse whatever the hell it is she did to us."

"Look, there's something else I need to tell you guys..." Lindsey had been battling herself on wether to share the information regarding a certain death...but the doorbell rang -and the immediate silence bore intensified horror.

"I told you not to tell anyone we're here!" Lindsey scolded Margi in a whisper.

"I didn't!" Margi slowly paced toward the front doors.

"Don't open it!" Milena forbade.

Margi persisted and placed her hand on the doorknob slowly. She leaned forward and sneered a peek threw the peephole.

"It's just an old lady...she must be lost or something..." her voice still in a whisper.

"Lena... Why's your back pocket glowing?" Cassie said frantically, no longer content with the calmness of her friends.

Driven by her friend's outrageous behavior, Milena quickly pulled the card from her pocket and immediately threw the red glowing object to the ground.

She was mortified, perhaps the woman was anything but a scam. Margi moved from the door, now too staring petrified at the glowing card.

"That's the card from the parking lot isn't it?" Lindsey was on the brink of loosing her senses.

"Yes...and I don't think she was there to advertise her services..."

She was cut off by a yearning knock and muffled weeping -which caught their undevided attention.

There was no time for plans -as Milena's backpack containing her stolen treasure started to rattled uncontrollably...

"What is happening? We're going to die, aren't we?" Lindsey started to cry.

The room surrounded them with an enchanted blue glow -the weeping a mesmerizing symphony of death and no way out.