Page 3 of Dead End

Maddie snickered next to me, trying to cover the laugh with a cough. “Frank,” she deadpanned. “Couldn't you come up with something more mystical, like Alistair or Merlin or something?”

He blinked at her. My cheeks were flaming, but I’d thought the exact same thing. “But my name’s Frank,” he said, his brows furrowing like he didn’t understand.

I was trying to contain a snort. Everything about Frank seemed so sincere and kind. His face was open, and his eyes shone with simple humor, but everything about him was strangely refreshing for some reason. Being in his presence gave me a breath of fresh air. Strange. I was almost positive I’d never met this man in my life. I would have remembered.

“Let’s start with you then, Miss Maddie.” He stuck out a palm facing upwards for her to take. I sucked in a sharp breath, and Maddie’s eyes went wide as he waited for her to grab his hand.

“Maybe he just heard me say it or something,” I whispered nervously in her ear, but deep inside, I knew that was bullshit. I hadn’t said her name out loud. Was this just a trick?

A weird breeze flowed through the room, giving me goosebumps. I didn't know if anyone else noticed the way the candles flickered or the way the beaded curtains clinked. Maddie was too busy staring at his open palm. Suddenly, this didn’t seem so make-believe.

Despite her reservations, she slowly took his wrinkled hand and waited with her breath held, as if something magical was about to happen. He went silent, closing his eyes. She glanced at me, looking lost, and once again, I was trying to contain a smile. Maddie wasn’t much for the spooky mumbo-jumbo. She thought it was entertaining, but she didn’t believe in any of it. Not in the way I did. I believed in magic and psychics, but not so much at a carnival, of all places. He was really starting to change my mind.

She squeaked when his fingers closed, tightening on her palm. “There’s a change looming ahead, Miss Maddie. Something’s about to shift in the world, and you'll have to make a choice.” His voice was low and unwavering. “It’s hazy, but it’s there. You’re going to walk a fine line. A fine line indeed.” I saw her try to pull her hand away, but his fingers just held hers tighter. It was like he was in a trance. “Keep your friends close to your side; you’ll need them for what comes next. Don’t succumb to the temptation of running, or the darkness will follow.”

This time, she did rip her hand away. She was breathing hard and looking a little green. Frank’s eyes popped open, and for just a second, I could have sworn his irises were gone. But I must have been seeing things.

“I thought you were supposed to tell me about my soulmate or my future lottery ticket, not some ominous warning that means jack shit to me.” She folded her arms over her body petulantly as she bit the inside of her cheek. I knew it was just a defense mechanism. His words had rattled her. Hell, they’d rattled me, too.

“I don’t pick your future from a basket, nor do I select what I wish to see, young lady. If you wanted to know if your crush fancies you back, then you should have gone down a few tents to visit Madam Esmeralda.” He sniffed, seeming put out. I needed to defuse the tension.

“Me next,” I said in fake excitement as nerves bounced in my stomach, sticking out my palm for him to grab.

Frank looked at my hand, his brows furrowing. His eyes flickered to mine, worry simmering in their depths. “Are you sure you want to know?” he asked gruffly, like a warning for my doomed future.

“It’s what I came in here for, isn’t it?” I raised a challenging brow.

“That’s not what I asked.” He stared at me like he was trying to tell me something important, but I wasn’t scared.

My past was already fucked up, so not much in my future could catch me by surprise.

“Just do it so we can get out of here,” said Maddie with an exasperated groan. She was bouncing in her seat, looking uncomfortable.

I ignored her, too curious about my fortune, and it was too late to just get up and leave now. So I placed my hand in his with a deep breath. A cold chill immediately rushed up my arm, and I could have sworn the lights dimmed, a few candles flickering out completely. I shivered, glancing over at Maddie to see if she felt the same, but she was just staring off into space as she bit her nails, probably pretending she was anywhere else but here right now.

Frank’s other hand landed on top of mine, and he clasped my palm hard, his jaw going slack and his eyes looking glassy, a faraway look taking over his expression. I was prepared to come in here and listen to some mumbo-jumbo about finding true love and good fortune, but the look on this man’s face made me feel a little scared. I didn’t think he was faking it. This wasn’t a performance. I could feel it in my bones. So no matter how much I wanted to pull away and sprint from the tent, I stayed put. I really must’ve loved torturing myself.

Those glassy eyes met mine after a tense minute, and they came back into focus. It was then that I realized his hands were shaking ever so slightly in my grip.

“What is it? What did you see?” I breathed out, wondering if he'd seen my own death.

Fuck, I was scared shitless.

Maddie huffed in annoyance. “He didn’t see anything, Toby. C’mon, this is giving me the creeps.”

“Miss Hallowell,” Frank whispered in a hauntingly raspy voice. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up on end, and even Maddie shut up and stopped bouncing her feet. He squeezed tighter. “Everything you know is about to change. Something comes for you. Something dark, it’s not right. It’s unnatural. Answers will finally come to light, but watch your back, because there are some places even the sun can’t reach to protect you.”

“What are you talking about? What’s coming?” I was on the edge of my seat now, scooting closer with my heart pounding.

He shook his head, his brows scrunched together. “It’s unclear. So far away and ever-changing.” His eyes snapped to mine, widening. “You need to prepare yourself, Miss Hallowell. Something unnatural lurks around the corner, and if you let it, it will consume you. Everyone and everything you hold dear could slip away if you let them. Don’t let the past repeat itself.”

“Okay, I’m fucking out of here,” said Mads, standing up from her stool that tipped over with her sudden movement. “Dude, you’re insane. I should report you to the police for tricking people into this shit.” She grabbed my hand and pried it from Frank’s grip.

The moment our skin lost contact, that cold feeling disappeared, and it was like a fog receded and the world snapped back into place. Frank’s eyes visibly cleared, and so did mine. I suddenly didn’t feel so well. My stomach gave a lurch, and there was pressure building in my inner ears. I stood, letting the stool clatter to the floor.

“H-How much do we owe you?” I reached for my bag with my hands trembling, ready to start running for the hills.

Frank shook his head and waved me away as he continued giving me a worried glance. “Your money’s no good to me here, Miss Hallowell. Just please…” He stood, walking around his small table. Mads backed towards the entrance, but I stayed put. “Heed my warning. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more, but it was too unclear, like trying to see through dark, murky water. You’re in danger, young lady. You need to...”

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