Page 53 of Secrets That Bind Us

Savannah

Present Day

Savannah preferred the colder weather. It reminded her of home.

She didn’t much like Texas. Her only saving grace lately felt like a boy by the name of River Hicks, to whom she found ridiculous most of the time.

Although, he did seem to have redeeming qualities.

Such as: he never let others be mean to her, and he was quiet while in the library.

He also seemed to pick up the same authors she did.

She took pictures of the tendrils of mist hovering at her feet, like wisps of souls lapping at her ankles.

She understood her way of thinking could be considered gloomy– which is why she didn’t like to talk much.

She liked to watch . To observe . To listen to the world around her.

She did not mind being underestimated, nor considered what some would call a ‘ freak .’ While the word was cold and cruel, she was fine with it.

Besides, nothing really ever intimidated her.

Except sometimes the way River watched her.

Savannah also never minded dark and cold spaces.

But lately, they seemed to be darker, colder .

Shadows now seemed to shift in her periphery.

Dancing. Forming. Which is why, the second she entered the barn, with her expensive camera slung over her shoulder, now resting on her hip, she immediately shut her eyes, as little puffs of fog escaped her parted lips.

Ever so slowly, Savannah let her lashes flutter as she stared at the large, black, horned mass before her. Dark, brown eyes stared back. But it only stared. It did not move. And yet, it felt as though it was beckoning her.

To touch the goat.

“Here…” It said. “ Come closer…”

Hands at her sides, Savannah took one step back, eyes on the enormous black goat that seemed to take all of the air in the barn. And then another.

“Here…” It said.

She shivered.

Little wisps of souls lapped at her feet, dancing…

Dancing…

Dancing…

“Come closer…”

She did not. In her fear, Savannah ran the quarter mile back to the house, straight into her father’s arms.

And felt safe.

“Hey, sunshine, hey, it’s okay. What happened? Are you okay?” Her father asks, rubbing his hands down her back, pulling away when he feels her shivering to look over at her mother.

Yet that grumbly voice still rang in her ears. Black, horizontally elongated, rectangular pupils burned into the back of her retinas. She shivered uncontrollably, as though that entity had stolen her warmth.

Losing my mind. I’m losing my mind, she thought, more fearful of that than anything.

But suddenly, It whispered back. “ No… you’re not.”