Page 312 of Evil Hearts

The full moonwill be out tomorrow night, so I work on getting everything set up. Why am I doing this? I have no idea. Because there’s nothing else going for me in life, so I may as well spend my time trying to cast spells, or whatever this is.

I go over the list again, making sure I have every item need.

One dried rose.

Amethyst, obsidian, and rose quartz.

An unscented white candle.

One feather.

Two tablespoons of water.

Two mirrors.

Everything that’s on the list is here in front of me. So now all I have to do is wait for the full moon to come out, for it to be completely dark, and then I can get to going on this. For now, I get to bed because I have work bright and early in the morning.

There aren’t many careers to choose from when working in a town like Bear’s End. It’s a good thing I like working with my hands and being fit, because an arborist isn’t an easy job. It’s taxing on my body, but it keeps me in shape, so I can’t complain.A job that comes with perks other than financial stability is nice. Plus, I don’t hate it, it’s just that some days I don’t want to do it.

Each season has its pros and cons with the job, but I do enjoy this time of year when summer is ending and fall is beginning, because it’s just cool enough that I’m not sweating my ass off, but not deep enough into fall that it’s raining all the time.

The pay is enough for my bills and to have a little extra, but that’s thanks to my parents leaving me their house. They died during my senior year in high school, which sucked. Since they were the only family I had, I’ve been alone since.

“Here’s your list of jobs for today,” Earl says, handing me a printed-out piece of paper. “Everything should be tagged already.”

“Thanks,” I say, heading out of the trailer that doubles as the office and to my truck. My supplies are in the back already.

My job is to cut down the dead marked trees and trim the ones that are getting in the way of drivers. Bigger jobs have more than one man on site, but that doesn’t happen too often around here. Usually we handle it all ourselves, even if we technically shouldn’t.

It’s hotter today than I’d like it to be, so I stop at the store before heading to my first job and grab a gallon of water.

“How are you today, Ethan?” Peggy asks once I reach the counter.

“Just lovely. How about you?”

“Oh, you know. Same shit.”

I hand her the cash, chuckling, and tell her to keep the change as I grab my jug and go out the door.

It’s ten minutes until I reach my first job, and I stay busy until it’s time to go home. As the sun starts to go down, my stomach does a little flutter. There isn’t a single reason I can think of that to be excited about tonight, but I am. Maybe it’s because it’s something new and nothing new happens in this town? I’m notsure. But when I pull into my driveway, I get out of the truck faster than I ever have before.

I grab everything I need, including the list with the instructions. I lay the items out on the kitchen counter, taking inventory before glancing out the window. There’s plenty of time because the instructions say I have to do this just before midnight. So while I wait, I make myself something to eat, then stand around and twiddle my thumbs, looking out the window every few minutes. I check the items five times, and read the instructions so many times I have them memorized. Of course, that won’t stop me from bringing the paper with me to make sure I do it all right. The last thing I need in my life is more bad luck because I fuck up some spell and turn it into a curse.

My cell rings a little before nine, which is odd. Who the hell would be calling me so late?

Hailey’s name scrolls across my screen.

“Hello?”

“Ethan! Come hang out with us.” She sounds drunk.

“Can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not feeling great,” I lie, eyes on all the stuff covering my counter.

“Oh no! Do you need us to bring you soupy chicken? I mean chicken soupy?”

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