Paige's Club

Chapter 7. The Little Psychic.

"Mom," Lunasha said when she opened the door. "You were talking with a ghost."

Standing out the door in the dark, with two big heavy bags, Lucinda tossed an odd gaze at her daughter. "Let me in first."  

Lunasha shrugged and carried one of the bags while her mom shut the door. "Jeez! It's super heavy. What's in here, Mom?" She said and waddled toward the sofa on which she plopped the bulky bag in a thud and heaved a sigh of relief.

Lucinda plumped into a chair in the sitting room, feeling exhausted. Sitting, she was feeling the weight of herself all over her. She blew out and wanted to ask after her youngest daughter when she heard Elise's tender chuckle while climbing down the stairs excitedly upon seeing her.

"Mommy!" Elise clasped her delicate body against Lucinda's. "I missed you, Mom."

Snuggling her kid warmly, she said, " Mom missed you more, sweetheart. How have you been, honey? How was school?"

"Cool, Mom," Elise replied.

"Done with your homework?"

"Yes, Mom…" Elise said, walking toward the bag on the sofa.

"Got you candies, honey," Lucinda said. "For you and Lunasha. Ummm…where's dad?"

"Upstairs," Elise said, searching the bag for candies.

"And where's Lunasha?" Lucinda raised an eyebrow. She was here a few seconds ago.

***

Knowing she came home late and sure her husband was madly waiting for her in their room, she went straight to their room on the third floor. Climbing the stairs sluggishly, she imagined how grave her husband's glare would be. Once she reached their room, a ripple of fright swept up her whole body. She grasped the doorknob, hesitated briefly, and opened it slowly.

Ryan was in a white singlet, ash pants, and wearing clogs. He was sitting on the bed, resting his masculine arms on his lap, facing downward. His long hair enveloped his face. 

Once Lucinda got in he raised his head slowly, casting a nasty glare at her. 

Although her husband was a handsome but grumpy guy, she admitted that it was wrong to come home this late…and somehow he has the right to jeer as usual, especially when starving. "I'm so sorry, Ryan, please." Her blue eyes glittered as they met him.

"What happened?" His voice was deep and coated with fury.

"I…I didn't know it was getting late," She quivered. She wasn't comfortable with his mood and didn't want further interrogations so she quickly said, "It will never happen again, I promise." 

But he said nothing, rather than settling his dazzling brown glare on her. 

Overwhelmed with pressure, she mumbled, "Let me go prepare dinner." Then she left the room at once.

***

The sight of Ryan's glare lingered on her mind while climbing downstairs. He was cranky, and managing Paige's Club had even worsened his reactions toward her. He never liked the idea of having the club, so he'd been furious with her since then, and coming home late was nastier. His attitude toward her these days is frustrating. Nowadays she comes back exhausted and needs comfort, not resentment. 

Tears slid down her cheeks and she wiped them off immediately, then she went to the kitchen, put on an apron, and started preparing Tater Tots.

Meanwhile, thirteen-year-old Lunasha was feeling restless in her room while pacing to and fro curiously. Her extrasensory perception was active at the moment, causing her to have unnatural impressions. Her eyes shut immediately then the scene of a dead person flashed through her mind, and she began to hear screams in her ears, causing her to stumble a few steps backward. The event going on in her head was overwhelming, tears began to slide down her cheeks as she plumped into her bed.

***

The Tater Tots were getting ready and Lucinda was about to open the freezer when she heard a loud thud at the door behind her, she turned but didn't see anyone. She waited for a while, expecting someone to come in but no one came. So, she turned to the freezer and brought out a little pan in which she had put the chicken she fried before leaving in the morning. Placing the cold pan on the cupboard, she opened the microwave and put the frosty chicken in it. Once she shut the microwave, the kitchen door creaked open and shut itself at once, distracting her. Placing the hand towel on the cupboard, she went to the door, opened it, and popped out her face in search of whosoever could've done that but found no one.

In a few seconds, she got into the kitchen and shut the door. Then she went back to check the Tater Tots crackling in the frying pan. The door creaked and opened again, somehow she felt a cold wind blowing from within and thought the AC was on. "Elise is that you? Lunasha?" But the place was so quiet, that she could only hear the cracking of Tater Tots. Thinking it was her kids, she decided to ignore the distraction and focus, also ignoring the AC.

***

A few minutes later, dinner was ready. Lucinda came out of the kitchen with a large tray of flavorful Tater Tots and fried chicken. She carefully placed the tray on the dining table and brought out the dishes. "Lunasha? Elise?" She let out, wiping her hands with a red hand towel.

Elise hurried down the stairs while Lunasha strode cautiously.  

"Tater Tots!" Elise giggled and wanted to sit…

"Go tell Dad that food is ready, Elise," Lucinda said.

Elise ran upstairs instantly.

A few minutes later, holding Dad's hand, Elise and Ryan climbed downstairs and sat. They all grabbed their plates, took their portions of the meal, and began to eat. Lucinda couldn't take her eyes off her husband. He still looked wild and indignant.

While Lunasha was munching, that picture of a dead girl crammed into her mind again, and the screams echoed in her eardrums, causing her discomfort. Overwhelmed, she unconsciously slammed her fork against the ceramic plate, causing attraction.

Ryan raised a brow, Elise's mouth dropped, while Lucinda gazed at Lunasha curiously.

"Lunasha, are…you okay?"

The scenario was too fast for Lunasha's comprehension. In an unknown place, a young lady lay dead. Her eye sockets were empty and profuse blood was gushing out of them. Another scene flashed through her mind and she saw ghastly creatures erupting from graves.

At this point, Lunasha was physically tormented and restless. Yet, neither Elise nor her parents could help, they just watched her with dropped lips.

Before she knew it, a bloody face without eyes erupted from her Tater Tots, gritting its teeth.

Lunasha let out a horrifying scream, pushing the table away violently. But, before she could run, the head was approaching her swiftly, then bloody hands sprouted out of each plate of Tater Tots and squeezed her neck, cramping her while she screamed all along. The whispers filled her head:

"Dark secrets! Dark secrets, little psychic!"

"Dark secrets" An intense mixed voice echoed in her ears. "Look how frail you are…you can't stand the dark secrets…"

 Lunasha!

"Lunasha!" Lucinda's voice intruded into her nightmare.

Lunasha's eyes flung open instantly, sparkling with terror. She was most amazed at seeing her mom and the fact that she was in her room baffled her. Lucinda was sitting on the soft bed beside her. "How did I get here, Mom?"

"What do you mean?"

"I thought I was eating Tater Tot at the diner."

The lady paused briefly…

"So you really wanna know about me, Lunasha!" Lucinda said.

Unable to comprehend why her mom asked her such a question, she sat up and realized…a stranger. She was facing downward and had long massive hair that enveloped her face. "Mom?" Lunasha was astonished and curious.

"Not Mom," The lady mumbled.

"Sorry?"

"I said it's not Mom!" The lady said furiously and raised her head, revealing her eye sockets with blood sliding down. She gritted her teeth, raising her fingernails to attack her…

Wake up! 

"Wake up!" Her parents and Elise's voices intruded on the scenario, then she opened her eyes and raised her head.

Panic sparkled in her blue eyes as she studied each of them. She was surprised that she was in the dining room and everyone except her had finished eating. Then she lowered her gaze to the table and realized she didn't push it away… it was just a trance.

Frightened and confused, she lifted her dazzling blue gaze upon her parents and sister who were casting blank and curious gazes on her. At the moment she was feeling like a fish outta water…and she didn't know what to say either. Not that they'll even comprehend whatever she will say, much less, believe her.

"You look like you're under the weather," Lucinda said. "I know you're pretty pointed up, especially after that hard quiz at school. Eat, so that you go napping, okay?!

Lunasha glanced at her tater tot, hesitated briefly, and her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her fork…