Page 38

Sleep isn’t so kind tonight; it feels illusive and sluggish. I get up and pace the house and touch all my crystals again. I watch for smoke and any unexplained noises, alas, all is quiet. All is calm.

Until I receive a knock at the door.

Here we go.

I grip the handle and wait for Walker to destroy all hope, but no.

On the threshold of my door stands a teary-eyed, wild-haired being, clutching a bag and a suitcase like they’re her only lifelines in the world.

She has purple skin and green hair; warts and wrinkles cover her skin and ripple every time she moves. I’d guess a hag, but then again could be a crackfairy.

‘Can I⁠—’

‘Milly, it’s me!’ My heart stops. Everything does. The world freezes and is minimized to two people staring at each other through a doorway.

‘Tilly.’

‘I had nowhere else to go.’ She shakes her head. ‘I went to your old place in Ken, but they’d said you’d moved so I tracked you to here and…’

‘Of course. Um, let me, let me get you a cup of tea.’ I usher her to the couch and realise Tilly doesn’t drink tea. Never has. I go to grab her a beer instead, but she grabs my arm and declines.

‘What happened? Do you want to talk about it?’ I say, taking up the space next to her.

‘There was a witch! A witch, and she put a hex on me. She said the only way I’d be rid of it is to seek the one who knows me best, and my true self would be revealed.’

‘Okay. Right.’ Now’s probably not the time to feel vindicated, but I can’t help a small degree of smug. ‘Erm, what… so, how can I… what do you need⁠—?’

But as I’m speaking, Tilly’s face begins to morph even more, it becomes long and wide. Green gunk starts pouring from her eyes. She cries out as the glop covers her body. Her hands scratch at my arms. She pleads with me to help her, to save her.

‘I don’t know what to do! Tilly, I don’t know what⁠—’

I gasp and sit up ramrod in bed, clutching my chest as the house heaves and shakes.

‘You’re being a tad dramatic.’

I look at the far corner and pause, still coming to grips with what just happened.

‘Oh my stars, it was a dream.’ My chest concaves, it feels like the air has been kicked out of me. My face falls into my open palms. I try to rein in the tears I can feel just short of falling.

‘You’re gullible,’ he says with distaste.

‘And you’re cruel! You had no right to⁠—’

‘No need to be so touchy, it was just a little mind⁠—’

I throw the damn rock through his head.

Step Three: Get Salty.

You can create a barrier around your home using a number of stones and minerals, but none offer easier access than the humble table salt. Plain salt can offer a rebuttal to spirits seeking to enter your abode and is available at most local supermarkets and corner stores.

‘That, is a lot of salt.’

I tap my card to the eftpos machine and try not to cry as I read the numbers on the screen.

‘What can I say? I’m a salt-of-the-earth kinda gal.’

‘What does that even mean?’