Meeting in woods and other natural spots
Nudity (?)
Some type of connection to St. Theresa’s
I tap my pen and read more, trying to pull out something, anything else, from my collection of scattered newspaper clippings, but nothing pops through for me, even after going over the articles multiple times. Only two newspaper pieces mention that there werethirteenwomen discovered doing some type of witchy shenanigans. A couple say that they were in the woods, but about three more reference the church. One bystander in one article claims the women were “nude,” which, maybe, but probably it was wishful thinking on his part is my guess.
I pull out my phone and open the Matchmakr app. @tryingsomethingnew and I have chatted literally every day, and dare I say, he’s beginning to actually feel like a friend now. I haven’t had a sincere, nonrelated friend since before I fell, to be honest.
I thought my sisters and I were friends again…and if we were, I’d be texting them about my new love interest to see what they thought of him. Hell, I’d be texting them to get their ideas on what this cult business is all about. But they’re busy with their super grown-up lives and probably wouldn’t want to hear about it, anyway.
So instead I type to this anonymous man, who I still know could actually be someone’s great-grandfather, chatting me upbetween bingo games.You ever heard of a cult being discovered, or even, like, referred to here in town?
He responds almost immediately.Umm…not that I can recall. Why? What’s up, you just got recruited or something?
I laugh and then type out a short summary of what I’ve been looking at.
Hmm. I know the church has a kind of weird history. I remember doing some research on it, back in the day, for a project related to an old job.
Oh, I hope this is as promising as it sounds. I feel giddy as I type back.Yeah? What kind of history?
I’m trying to remember. It’s been like a decade, lol…
I wait very impatiently as he collects his thoughts, tapping my pointy boot against the corner of my desk leg.So the weirdest thing I remember is something about its architecture that doesn’t add up. Stairs that go nowhere…a couple of doors in weird spots that won’t open. I contacted the diocese at one point, and they pretty much attributed it to confused builders from when it was built. It was kind of a dead end.
Holy crap, this is seriously amazing! Your dead end could be my new lead. Thanks for telling me that.
You’re welcome, my friend
Even though I was just literally so excited to think of this guy as my friend…him calling me “friend” feels a bit like lead’s beenplopped right into my belly. Does that make sense or what? I’m glad he’s my friend, but I don’t want him to think of me asjusta friend, either.He’s an elderly man, possibly, I remind myself.He’s probably married with, like, twelve great-grandchildren.I swallow and wonder way too hard on what to write back—I’m glad we’re friends. Are you a great-granddaddy, perchance?—when my phone pings with a text. It’s Adam.
I frown when my stomach fills with a thousand pale blue-winged moths. “Stop it,” I hiss to my midsection. The way my body responds to Adam keeps troubling me. Butterflies should be for @tryingsomethingnew, not the man who thought I was trying to scam his grandfather out of house and home. Sure, he’s apologized, and he has been lovely since, but he hasn’t once acted particularly interested in me.Except when he stared at your lips the other day, my mind helpfully supplies,as though he wanted to kiss you. I throw my head back, suppress a shriek of frustration, close my eyes, count to ten, and look down to open up Adam’s text.
What are you doing tomorrow?
What does he mean, what am I doing tomorrow?It’s Friday. I’m bringing food to your place for William. You can have some if you want.
Let’s hang out before then. I’ll pick you up?
Oh no. My stomach betrays me immediately. The little blue moths have multiplied by about one hundred billion now, making me feel like they are able to lift me in flight from in there.
I pull up my group chat with my sisters. They would know what to tell me. I’m sure Sage, ever the romantic, would encourageme to flirt with Adam and tell him about the effect he’s having on me in some noncreepy manner. Teal would have the best advice, though, which would guide me on how to immediately drop all these sensations that indicate I might (still) have a crush on him.
But they haven’t written in a good long while, which I should be happy about. It’s what I wanted. I did a whole spell and everything! And yet seeing the lack of updates makes me want to suppress yet another shriek of frustration.
