Echoes from Evil

The two boys huddle around the Ouija board at Colby's house, with the serifed text illuminated by the moon and stars. Colby sets the Planchette at the bottom while Isaiah skims the sheet of rules taped to the back of the board. 

                   "I have to ask, does your mom usually take that long to say goodnight to you?" Colby asks out of curiosity. 

Isaiah turns around to face Colby.

                   "No, but when it comes to me being away from home, she can get overprotective." Isaiah explains.

                   "Very overprotective." Colby says, trying to correct him. 

Isaiah's cheeks flush.

                   "So, have you finished setting up the board yet?" Wonders Isaiah. 

                   "Pretty much. You ready?" Colby asks, looking up at him.

                   "Yeah, but what about your mom? What if she comes upstairs and sees us playing?" Isaiah responds, thinking about possible situations. 

                   "Will you stop worrying? She's on the phone with your mom. I doubt we'll see her anymore tonight." Colby informs, trying to calm Isaiah down. 

He leans in closer, directly above the board. 

                    "Are you ready?" He asks Isaiah. 

Isaiah nods his head. The boys look down at the board and then put their hands on the Planchette. Colby looks back up at Isaiah. 

                    "Now, the rules." Colby begins to say. "Never play alone, Never play in a graveyard, and never forget to say goodbye. You understand?" He asks. 

Isaiah nods his head, understanding the rules.

                    "As friends we gather, hearts are true. Spirits near, we call to you." Colby says in a severe tone, starting the game. 

The boys stop circling the Planchette, and there's a second of silence. 

                    "Is there a spirit here?" Colby asks, looking up from the board. 

Tension grows beneath their fingers as the planchette slides toward "YES." Isaiah clasps a hand over his mouth and looks at Colby with wide eyes. He looks up and laughs. 

                    "Isaiah, relax. Now ask your questions." He says. 

Isaiah presses down on the Planchette. 

                    "Spirit, whoever you are, I have to ask. Are my loved ones with us tonight as well?" He asks the board. 

Colby looks up at him, and Isaiah looks back at Colby. They then look back down. Seconds later, it squeaks across the board as if dragged by an ancient apparition. It moves away from yes, then on to yes again. He lets go of the Planchette, leaving Colby's hand alone atop it.

                     "Colby, stop!" He says. 

His rib cage closes around his lungs and chest, and his heart threatens to launch itself straight out onto the board. 

                     "It was the spirit, I swear!" Colby says, trying to explain. 

Isaiah fills his lungs with a cautious breath.  

                     "Well, I'm going to bed, you should too, It's getting late anyways." Isaiah informs. 

                     "Fine, just let me say goodnight to the spirit." Colby says.

                     "Just hurry," Isaiah responds. 

He crawls underneath his comforter to safety. 

                     "Goodnight, spirit. It's getting late, and Isaiah and I need to go to bed. We'll try to catch up with you tomorrow. Hopefully, you'll be here with us," Colby says. 

Colby cleans up the board, stopping occasionally to watch Isaiah deteriorate into a shaking mass beneath the sheets.

                     "Bro, I hope you're not mad at me," Colby says, trying to get under the covers.

                     "I'm not, it's just that the game started to freak me out," Isaiah explains. 

                     "It said it was your loved ones though," Colby remarks.

                     "It didn't feel right," Isaiah responds.

                     "They probably won't come back. Please, let's just try again tomorrow," Colby says.

                      "Fine. Goodnight." Isaiah says.

                      "Night, Isaiah." Colby replies. 

He rolls over and closes his eyes.