Starfire (Grim Gate 2)

“I definitely understand the interest in ghosts and wanting to contact a loved one. People have and always will want to know what happens to us when we die.”

“Knowing someone I cared about was stuck here as a ghost wouldn’t bring me comfort.”

“Oh, me neither. Most of the spirits I sense are sad.” I pick up my coffee and blow on it, thinking about Bob, a ghost who haunts the barn Mystery was at back in New York. I never did figure out what happened to him, or what made him randomly change his pattern of haunting. I guess I never will.

“Hey,” a woman says, coming up to our table. She’s holding two cups of coffee and a guy stands behind her. “You guys are going to the library for the ghost hunt, right?”

“Yeah,” I tell her.

“Us too. Could we sit with you until it’s time to go over? There’s nowhere else to sit.”

“Sure,” I say, scooting my chair close to Ethan to make a little more room at the small round table.

“Thanks. I’m Rene and this is Keith.”

“Hi,” Keith says with a little wave. He sidesteps, letting Rene through first.

“I’m Anora and this is my boyfriend, Ethan.”

“I can’t believe this many people wasted money on this event,” Keith grumbles.

“He’s a nonbeliever.” Rene sits next to me and takes a big drink of coffee. “What about you? Do you believe in ghosts?”

“Oh, I totally do,” I answer. “But whether we’ll see any at the library…I’m doubtful. I’ve been in there a few times, and it never gave me I’m haunted vibes.”

“Because it’s not haunted,” Keith quips. “All y’all are just getting conned.”

“I agree with him.” Ethan chuckles.

“I’m not saying ghosts aren’t real, I’m just saying a group of us walking around the library after hours isn’t going to make them magically appear.” Keith purses his lips.

Ethan nudges me. “You never know what could happen.”

“You believe in ghosts?” Keith asks Ethan.

“I believe in a lot of things,” Ethan replies. “But I’m with you on this. The only things you’re going to catch tonight are the things you want to catch.”

Rene takes another drink of coffee, eyes widening. “They have a spirit box we can use.”

“You know those things are total crap, right?” Ethan’s lips pull into a half smile. “It’s another one of those you hear what you want to hear kind of things.”

“What’s a spirit box?” Keith asks.

“It’s a device that scans through different radio channels and supposedly spirits can use it to communicate.”

“So, it’s all random?”

“Yeah.”

“Exactly why it’s total crap.” Ethan chuckles. “But, like I said, you never know, right?”

“Have you been on a ghost hunt before?” Rene asks me.

“Uh, not exactly anything like this,” I tell her, which is true. Spirits seek me out more than I seek them out, and the few times I did go looking, I didn’t need a tour group leading me around with equipment. “Have you?”

“I’ve been on a few. They’re fun. Usually, my sister comes with me but she got stuck at the hospital, so I dragged him along.” She gives Keith a look. “Though, you owe me from making me go see Mary Poppins with you.” She looks back at me. “I fucking hate musicals.”

“Really? I love them,” I laugh. “But he hates them.”

“That theater puts on the best plays every fall,” Keith goes on.

“I didn’t know there was a theater in town,” I say. “We, uh, moved here a few months ago.”

“Oh, well, welcome to Paradise Valley.”

“Thanks. Technically, we live in Thorne Hill, but we’re on the edge of town.”

Keith and Rene exchange looks. “I’m guessing you haven’t heard the rumors,” Rene says.

“What rumors?”

“That the town is cursed by witches.”

CHAPTER 9

Ethan leans back, his face neutral. My poker face, on the other hand, is not on point. “What makes you say that?” he asks.

Rene shakes her head, shrugging at the same time. “I’ve never personally seen anything that would make me think that, but it’s something I always grew up hearing. Plus, people tend to get murdered there—like way more than you’d think when all other crime is super low. Kinda creeps me out.”

“Huh,” I say, taking away the fact that other witches are rumored to be in Thorne Hill, not that people get murdered. “That’s—”

“All right, hunters!” Anissa claps her hands together. “It’s time!”

“Yay!” Rene smiles. “This is going to be fun. I have a good feeling about it.”

I stand up fast, bumping myself on the table. To Rene and Keith, the rumors are just that: rumors. It’s something silly they grew up hearing and didn’t put any stock into it. Keith doesn’t think ghosts are real. There’s no way he’d believe witches are too. My fingers almost tremble as I zip up my coat, feeling like I’m right there, teetering on the edge of finding out the truth, not from Rene, but from…someone.