The Lost Chronicles

At The Fairy Door

by Fainne J. Firmin

 

It was one of those late June days where summer apparently decided it wasn’t summer anymore. For the second last day of June, this was terrible. I mean, sure, summer vacation wasn’t even two weeks in if you wanted to get all specific, and this was Ontario, but still. Natasha had actually opted to stay at the house in a blanket.

 

One the other hand, I had chosen to come to town since we needed some food – we weren’t really good at gauging how much was enough – and I was on the hunt for the elusive heavy-duty bobby pins. After bashing some fenrir-descended wolves, I’d realized that my usual pins where not going to keep my hair in a bun if I was going to be doing this sort of thing all summer.

 

I should’ve gone shopping yesterday, the day after our battle, but small towns had next to nothing open on Sundays. That was one reason to miss a bigger city. Also, we’d been pretty banged up so the day of rest had faded several battle scars.

 

I sat down on a public bench, shivering a little as I bent over to unroll the cuffs on my jean capris. I almost wished I was wearing several sweaters under my jacket. Maybe Natasha had had the right idea.

 

In the edge of my vision I saw someone sit down on the bench next to me. I briefly thought about how creepy that was and how I should leave when they asked, “Do you know how much longer until the bus gets here?”

 

I bolted upright. “Bus? – This is a bus stop?” I exclaimed, twisting around until I saw the small sign on a post. “Oh. Oops. Sorry,” I said, turning to the person, “I have no clue.”

 

I found myself caught off guard by the person sitting next to me. I hadn’t expected it to be a guy around my age who was . . . actually kinda cute.

 

That thought made me feel really vain but I wasn’t exactly immune to noticing.

 

At least he didn’t seem annoyed by my lack of a proper answer. Instead he just shrugged. “It’s okay, I just hope I haven’t missed it.”

 

I gave him a funny look. “Can’t you walk everywhere in this town?”

 

“Yeah, but I need to go into the city,” he replied. I had no idea what city he was talking about. I didn’t even think there was one close by. “I’m guessing by that question you’re not from around here.”

 

“And once again I stick out like a sore thumb.” I sighed before drawing myself up. “Avalon Cook. My cousin owns that old house on the north end and I’m staying there with my friend for the summer.”

 

“That place?” He raised his eyebrows and then, in one of those cheesy conspiratorial tones, said, “You know they say that area is haunted.”

 

I fought a smile, and a laugh. Haunted was a misnomer. “Yeah,” I managed. “I’d heard something along those lines.”

 

“So?”

 

“So . . . what?”

 

“Is it true?”

 

I gave an exaggerated glance around, leaned towards him, and in a semi-serious tone said, “The whole place is full of ghosts.”

 

He laughed and I grinned. Once his laughter stopped he introduced himself. “I’m Braden. Nice to meet you.”

 

“You too,” I said. I saw the bus turn onto the street. “Looks like your bus is here. I should probably get going.” I stood up. “Guess I’ll see you around.”

 

“I hope so,” he said. “Just watch out for the ghosts.” I gave him another smile as I waved and then I walked off down the sidewalk. Who would’ve thought this town could have someone who was both nice and normal?