Page 30 of A Witchy Spell Ride
Ghost
I was posted across the street from the shop, leaned against a rusted stairwell, sipping burnt coffee and pretending not to exist.
It had been quiet all morning.
Selene had opened up like usual, lights on, doors unlocked, calm as anything on the surface. But there was a tension in the way she moved. Like she was waiting. Or worse… pretending not to be.
I hadn’t seen anything suspicious yet. No sedan. No extra shadows. No movement in the wrong windows.
But the gut? It was talking. Low and steady.
Something’s off.
Then Briar showed up. Nothing unusual there. She came by often. Usually bringing chaos and caffeine in equal parts, dressed like she’d just left a crime scene or a music festival — hard to tell which.
But today, the vibe was different.
No dance in her step. No loud hello.
She walked straight in with purpose.
Didn’t come back out. Didn’t reappear in the window either.
And that was the tell. Because Briar never did anything quietly unless someone had just died… or was about to.
My phone buzzed.
Reaper:
Get to the shop. Now. I’m five out.
My jaw tightened.
No way that’s a coincidence.
I tossed the coffee and crossed the street. Didn’t knock. Just rapped once on the glass.
Selene was behind the counter.
Briar opened the door before Selene could stop her.
I stepped inside.
And felt it.
That heavy tension in the air. Like the second before a gun goes off. Or the first second after someone sayswe need to talk.
Selene didn’t meet my eyes.
Briar crossed her arms and nodded toward the counter.
That’s when I saw it.
The rose. Fresh. Dark red. Perfect.
And beside it the note. Unfolded. Waiting.
I moved closer and read it once. That was all I needed.
