Anna Darling

by Angela Hall-Averre

  She found herself standing in front of him. He held out his hands, palms up and she laid her hands in his. He then looked her in the eye and his golden eyes were glowing. There was electricity surrounding them.

  BOOM! and the sky lit up. The ominous boom startled Anna out of her frightful sleep, but just as she was awakening, she heard the man say, “It has happened. You are our high priestess. You now rule the coven. I am your high priest. Do with me what you will.”

  Her cheeks were wet and her body was bathed in a cold sweat. Her heart pounded against her chest. She trembled. Remnants of her dream still clung to her mind, haunting her. Witches? They had surrounded her, she was sure. What did they want from her? She couldn’t remember. A clap of thunder and a flash of lightning illuminated the room in blinding light. The eerie silence was shattered by her scream. Anna let out a frightened cry and buried her face into her pillow. Her breaths quivered as she swallowed, she reached over and turned the lamp on that sat on the nightstand.

  She sat up and couldn’t believe what she saw. It was as if she had been outside. Her nightgown was wet near her ankles. There was a spot of mud at the hem. No way, she thought. There is no way that happened. I have never slept walked in my life. It was just a dream, a bad dream, she said to herself over and over again.

  She got up, stretched and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. She got herself a glass of water and sat down at the kitchen counter. Trembling, her thoughts racing, she was remembering all her dreams. My dreams must be telling me something, how strange to remember them. Why was the neighbor in her dreams anyway? This she decided had to be answered. She would see what information she could get out of him when they went for that milkshake.

  She showered and dressed for the day. She took a load of clothes down to the basement to wash. When she picked up her nightgown she was puzzled. Almost like she was in the dream again. There was a ring left where the fabric had gotten wet and dried. A chill went down her spine. She had a sense of foreboding. Wondering and now worrying what the day had in store for her.

  Mark was standing outside her house when she opened the door. “Hey, I thought I would get here a little early. I hope you don’t mind, but I could go home and come back in an hour, if you’d like.”

  “Oh no that’s all right, you don’t have to go. Just give me a minute and I’ll be right with you. You can wait in the great room.”

  Anna motioned him to enter and led him to the great room. She turned and ran back up the stairs to her room. She quickly brushed her hair and threw her jacket on. She couldn’t help but feel attracted to the guy. He was the best looking man in Briar Glen. When she walked into the room he was standing there with a completely different outfit on. That freaked her out. “How did you do that?” she demanded.

  “Do what?”

  “I just saw you and you had on a completely different outfit. How did you change your clothes so fast?”

  “Are you okay? We can postpone our outing if you’re not feeling well.”

  “No, we can go. Really I’m fine.” She looked at him, baffled by what she saw. She shook her head as if to shake the nonsense out. It had to be nonsense, she thought. There is no way he could have changed his clothes so fast. When they got to the Corner Cafe he opened the door and they got a booth in the back. He ordered a chocolate milkshake and she ordered a strawberry one.

  “How is it?” he asked.

  “I must say I normally don’t have milkshakes for breakfast. It is refreshing this morning,” she stated. “So where are you from? What made your family decide to move here to Briar Glen?”

  “My family immigrated here from Istanbul, Turkey by way of Germany. That is where I was born. Germany.” He said matter-of-factly, took a small sip of his milkshake, swallowed, and after a short pause, continued. “We moved to Massachusetts and got our citizenship when I was twelve. My dad was offered a better job here, so here we are.”

  “What does your dad do?”

  “He’s the new superintendent at the school.”

  “Awesome, my mom is a teacher. Listen, if you're not busy, how would you like to work on the Haunted Manor with me for Halloween?”

  “Haunted Manor? I’ll have to think about it but probably not. I have made plans for that night. What is it going to be ghosts and goblins, or vampires and werewolves?”

  “That’s a good idea, you would make a great Dracula.”

  “If I do it Anna, I will be a great sorcerer…but, I would not be able to stay all evening.”

  “I considered being a witch but I’m leaning toward a gypsy queen, a fortune teller if you will. I have some awesome costume jewelry, which will go perfect with my outfit. I’m even considering reading tarot cards and having an Ouija board.”

  “Be careful communicating with the dead,” he said, dryly.

  “I don’t know for sure if I will be using an Ouija board. Anyway, Tom Donahue, our oldest city council member, wanted me to get the high school kids involved with the haunted house. So far I have the drama class and some of the football players helping. We need to gather all the materials to successfully scare children and adults alike. So if you’d like to be a part of it, we would all welcome you. Mr. Donahue is a neat old man. He’s always helping people and involved in many community events. You’ll like him I’m sure.”

  “I’ll have to let you know on that. But, anyway, Anna, how long have you been working at the antique store?”

  “I’m a student at the community college and I work there after school during the week and then during the summer, I work full time. I’ve been saving my money to buy a car. I almost have enough saved up.”

  “What kind of car are you getting?”

  “I’m not sure. I will know it when I see it,” she laughed. “Well I need to get going. I promised my mom I would help her paint the utility room today. I hope you like it here in Briar Glen.”

  “May I have the pleasure of escorting you home?”

  Her pupils dilated as a flush crept across her face. “Sure, I’d like that.”

  They stood up and ambled over to the cash register. He paid for their milkshakes. Standing next to him, Anna had a strange feeling. She glanced up at his face and it seemed that he wasn’t there at all. She shook her head and said, “I’m not really feeling all that well. I may have to help mom tomorrow.”

  “I hope you get to feeling better Anna, as I was hoping you could show me around town sometime soon?”

  “Sure, I could show you around. There really isn’t that much to see. Briar Glen is just a small town with pretty much an eclectic group of people. My parents said that in the late nineteen sixties and seventies there was a hippie commune here with a bunch of flower children. They all lived together and worked the land. Then by the end of that decade almost everyone left or got their own place.”

  “Interesting. I remember reading about communes and cults and such when we moved to Massachusetts. I’ll let you in on a secret Anna,” he said, “only if you promise not to say anything.”

  “Ok sure,” she said as she made the gesture of zipping her mouth shut, “what’s your secret?” she asked intrigue showing in her eyes.

  “I come from a long line of witches and sorcerers. Some of my ancestors were burned at the stake for practicing witchcraft.”

  “Are you serious? I’ve never met a witch other than my own mother and sisters. My Mother says we are kitchen witches.”

  “Have you ever heard of Mary Manchester?”

  “No, I don’t think so,” answered Anna.

  “She was a resident of Puritan Hadley, Massachusetts, who was accused of witchcraft. She was my sixth Great Aunt who was born in England. And was in the first generation of my family who immigrated to America. Her exact birth year is unknown but is believed to be around 1624,” he paused, his gaze focused on the horizon, and then continued, “Anyway, like I said, she was accused of witchcraft so a scared mob of local Hadley residents hanged her in a tree just outside her home. They left her hanging all ni
ght. It is documented that when she was cut down she was still alive and actually lived for another 14 years.

  Anna gasped, just thinking about the attack on the young woman, and then considering she was actually hanged from a tree for hours and lived through it. Then, still in disbelief, she stammered, “But you are saying she was a witch, so her being attacked for witchcraft was not just some kids playing a game like at Salem?”

  “Well, witches and witchcraft are absolutely real, but that is not an excuse to go around hanging people,” he stated flatly. “In fact, my family and I where hoping to start a new coven here. My Aunt Madeline is supposed to be here sometime soon, and we have everything needed, except the right location for the magic circle.”

  “A m-magic circle?” now Anna was a little freaked out by that. She seemed to recall a portion of her dream from the night before. Thinking about it sent a shiver down her spine.

  “That is the reason I wanted you to show me around. It needs to be secluded. We want to hold what is called our Samhain celebration there,” explained Mark.

  “Oh, I really don’t know what you’re talking about. But yeah sure, I don’t mind showing you around.” She was surprised her voice and demeanor were so calm, as this twist in conversation had her genuinely a bit apprehensive.

  “According to its own myths, Wicca began more than 35,000 years ago, in a time and place where contrary to what later became normal, certain societies were matriarchal, and women ruled most aspects of everyday life. Life was peaceful and prosperous, and people worshipped nature and the Goddess. In that vain, Samhain is a Gaelic Festival that celebrates the cycle of life in nature. It is a celebration of the dead and signals the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter”

  “You sure know your history. And that’s a very extraordinary topic; one that I don’t know much about, but have always found that fascinating,” she remarked as they stopped in front of Anna’s house

  Wanting to solidify a great impression, Mark continued, “Another thing you might not know is that for American witches, a watershed event occurred in September 1986. The Federal appeals court ruled that Wicca was a religion and was thus protected by the Constitution,” at that point he realized Anna was looking a bit sickly again, and decided he should let her go. “Listen we can talk more about this later. I hope you get to feel better soon. Is it okay if I call on you later tonight?”

  “That would be great, I’m very interested in hearing more, and I’d love to see you again.”

  “Awesome, I’ll see you later then.”

  “OK, bye for now,” she said and looking over her shoulder she noted he had already turned away and was walking across the yard to his house. He is kind of different, she thought.

  WHEN ANNA WALKED into her house, her mother Hanna was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. “Hi, I thought you would be at work this morning.”

  “Oh my god, I forgot. Jesus, I started feeling sick and just started walking home. I have so much to do. Mom, would you please help with the Haunted Manor? I guess I better give Nadine a call.”

  When Nadine answered her cell she said, “Oh I see, you had that milkshake with the mysterious stranger that lives next door and now you feel sick and want to stay home for a little while.”

  “That sounds about right. I’m so sorry Nadine, I believed I saw on the schedule that I was off then mom reminded me that you wanted me to work today.”

  “Listen Anna, I do need you here today, but not until around two o’clock this afternoon. Do you think you could make it in by then?”

  “Well, it’s just eleven thirty now. Maybe if I take some Advil and lay down, my head will feel better. Yes, I’ll make it in by two. Thank you so much for not being mad.”

  “You silly girl, I’m not mad. I just need you here from two o’clock until closing. You get some rest, take a nap or whatever you need to do to feel better okay.”

  “I’ll see you in a little while Sis.” Anna ended the call looked over at her mother sitting at the table and said, “Thanks mom, I owe you one. I just need to lay down and see if my headache will stop.”

  Her mom pulled a bottle out of her purse and handed it to Anna. “Take some of this Ibuprofen. And, of course I will help you with your project. But for now, just go lie down and I’ll make sure you’re awake by one o’clock if you’re not up by then.”

  “Thanks,” she said after she had taken some medicine. She climbed the stairs and walked down the hall to her room. Right now she just wanted sleep and her mom to look after her.

  Hanna got up from the kitchen table and walked down the hall. She grabbed her jacket from the hall closet and walked next door. She wanted to meet the new neighbors. She knocked on the front door and waited for someone to answer it. A woman opened the door.

  “Hello, I’m Hanna Hall and I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood. I live next door. My daughter went out for a milkshake with your son this morning.”

  “Yes, Mark told me he had a date. I’m Roshanak Sökmen, but you can call me Rose. Pleased to meet you, do come in,” she stood aside and gave a nod to Hanna while giving a very welcoming smile.

  “Don’t mind if I do,” said Hanna., and as she followed Rose into the foyer, she continued, “Tell me, where did you come from and what made you decide to move here to Briar Glen?”

  “My husband Arash Sökmen was hired as the new superintendent of the school. We’re originally from Istanbul, migrated to Germany and we lived there for a long time. Later, we moved to the States, landed in Salem, Massachusetts, got our citizenship, and after living there for five years, Arash was offered this job.”

  “That’s nice, was he Superintendent at the high school back in Salem? I sure hope he is a better super than old man Potter. You know, I teach high school.”

  “No he wasn’t the Superintendent. He was a professor at Salem State. So, the last superintendent wasn’t very good?” Rose asked. “We understood he had a heart attack and had to quit.”

  “I never heard that.” Hanna said “He must’ve kept it quiet. I do know he lives next county over, in Mason. That must be why I never heard. I do hope he’s all right. I guess I sounded pretty bad for saying that he was not a good superintendent.”

  “Oh it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Arash will be a good Superintendent. Wait till you meet him. You will like him I’m sure. Would you like a cup of tea?”

  “Yes, that sounds nice. Thanks Roshanak, what an unusual name.”

  “No problem, but please call me Rose,” she said over her shoulder as she walked into the kitchen and heated some water. Then she got a box of Sara Lee cupcakes out of the cupboard and put a couple on the tray. She got the teabags down from the shelf and set them on the tray. She grabbed two cups and when the water came to a boil she poured it into a carafe and carried everything out to the family room. “I hope you like Constant Comet.”

  “It’s one of my favorites.”

  They sat and enjoyed their tea and cakes and talked about the neighborhood and the school.

  “Only a month and summer will be over,” declared Rose. “I’m hoping to finish all the unpacking by the end of the week. I just want to get settled and relax a week or two before school starts. I have no idea where we got all this stuff.”

  “I do know this, the bigger your house the more stuff you accumulate,” she smiled. “On a different note, if you’re looking to get involved in some community projects, would you be interested in helping my daughter out on the Haunted Manor for Halloween? There are also some high school students involved as well.”

  “That would be great. I love Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday,” declared Rose.

  Hanna leaned forward to get an extra sugar cube from the tray. The medallion on her necklace fell loose from her blouse and was swinging just enough to catch Rose’s attention. Rose smiled. “That’s a nice necklace,” she said.

  Hanna glowed, “Thank you. It’s very special to me. I love it. I got it at an estate sale.”
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  “Do you know what the medallion signifies?”

  “I was told it is a symbol of witchcraft,” Hanna said as she chuckled. “I consider myself a kitchen witch.”

  “So you are a wise woman then? Do you help people who are sick and such?”

  “Sometimes, I never thought of myself as a wise woman before.” Hanna said as she glanced up and to the right. “I was taught all about herbs and healing plants by my Grandmother when I was a child. I make a good Sassafras elixir for my family when they have upset stomachs. And my neighbors ask what they need to take once in a while for different ailments. Like rheumatism and colds and ailments like that.”

  “It’s nice that you are so caring. My family also dabbles in the magick arts.”

  Hanna let her head fall back as a surge of energy swept through her body. “I’ll let you know soon what I find out about helping with the haunted house. I guess I better get home. I need to make sure my Anna gets to work on time. She works at Old Stuff That Dazzles that my other daughter, Nadine, owns. Thanks for the hospitality. ”

  “I enjoyed your company. We will have to do this again soon. I visited your daughter’s antique store this morning. I just love the name. I bought a French country chandelier there. Antiques are really my thing,” she exclaimed.

  “I have always like old things too,” replied Hanna, “it was nice to meet you Rose. I hope we will be good friends.”

  Rose’s eyes sparkled, “Yes, I think I would like that.”

  Hanna left and by the time she got home it was almost twelve thirty. She sat down and compiled a list of things she needed from the grocery store. She thought she would give Anna a ride and go get what they needed. She got up, climbed the stairs, and then walked down the hall. She stopped in front of Anna’s door and knocked softly. “I’m awake Mom. You can come in.”

  “How is your head sweetie?”

  “It’s a little better. I was just going to go jump in the shower. Maybe that’ll help.”

  The shower did seem to help her feel better. Anna quickly got dressed and dabbed some perfume on her wrist and some behind her ear. She hurried downstairs, looked at her mom, “Do I look okay?”