The Witch Box Read online

  Chapter Five

  Joshua, as he sat on a bench in the back yard gazebo, thought about his conversation with Leo.

  He told me not to let anyone hide anything from me, Joshua thought. Be careful who I confide in. He was right. I know how they’re all watching me. But why? What did I do?

  He tried, over and over, to remember his high school and any other friends or teachers. He didn’t even have his own vehicle. He checked the files on his PC and iPad, but both were wiped clean, no old homework assignments or photos. His phone contained only a few numbers, including Anna’s. She hadn’t called him since he came home from the hospital. He had no Facebook page or Twitter account, no apps on his phone.

  I’m a blank slate, he thought. That’s not right. No favorite music or books. Everyone likes something; it shouldn’t be any different for me.

  He looked towards the house and saw Colbie exit through the back door; white-blonde hair hanging in her eyes, her belly covered by a gray hoodie. He heard himself sigh as she approached. She sat next to him on the bench.

  “How do you feel?” she asked.

  “I’m worried about Leo. Aren’t you?”

  “Grandpa is a strong man. He’ll be all right. I’m more worried about you.”

  “I’m okay.”

  “You seem confused.”

  “I’m confused a lot. But little things are coming back to me. For instance, I remember going to Sears to pick out my sneakers–“Joshua pointed at the shoes on his feet–“and that was before I got sick. And I remember liking Cheerios. And Chinese food.”

  Colbie smiled. “Madame Wong’s. In Falls River. You took me there once.”

  “How come I don’t have a car?”

  “You don’t have a driver’s license.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll get around to it. Max let you take his SUV sometimes.”

  “That’s weird. I didn’t take driver’s ed in school?”

  “No. I guess not. I haven’t taken it yet. I’ll get my license later.”

  “Colbie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I don’t remember–“his eyes drifted to her belly–“when we were together.”

  “It was only that one time.” Colbie put her hand on his shoulder. “It was your first. Me, too. I didn’t mean...to get pregnant. Believe me. But Max and Brenda are willing to help. I mean, they let me move in. Brenda takes me to the doctor and to school.”

  “Where is the high school?”

  “Off the main road. Going east, the opposite of the plant.” Colbie rose from the bench, arching her back. “Brenda is taking me out to see Grandma. You want to go?”

  Joshua joined Brenda and Colbie to visit Ruth at the trailer, the early evening chilly and wet.

  Leo and Ruth lived on four acres, overgrown except for the area around the single-wide trailer, an unattached garage to the side. Ruth had planted rose bushes and grew vegetables in the back.

  Brenda walked up the steps and knocked at the front door. Joshua saw Ruth peek through the curtain for a moment. She reappeared when she opened the door, allowing Brenda to come in, followed by Colbie and Joshua.

  The trailer was dated but cozy, the door leading to a small area between the living room and kitchen. Framed photographs of Ruth and Leo, through their decades together, graced the fake-pine paneled walls, along with school pictures of Colbie. There was also a framed newspaper article, propped on top of the old TV. Joshua came closer, and read the headline, ’Local Company Opens, Brings Employment Opportunities.’ Joshua gazed at the article’s photo, and recognized his father, Ruth, Leo and some of the crew from fifteen years ago.

  “Grandma, where are you going?” Colbie asked.

  Joshua turned, and saw Colbie pointing at the suitcase on the couch.

  Ruth was in the small kitchen, putting dishes away, a towel in her hands. “I’m staying with Gloria until Leo comes back.”

  “The police will find him,” Brenda said.

  Ruth did not reply. “Josh? Can you help me with my suitcase?”

  He grabbed the case by the handle. He followed Ruth outside to her Chevy, placing the case in the open trunk. He slammed the lid shut. When he turned around, Ruth was standing behind him, wearing a thick jacket, her purse hanging from the crook of her elbow.

  “Take this,” she said. “Don’t let Brenda see it.”

  Joshua realized he was holding a photograph between his fingers. He shoved it into his back pocket before Brenda and Colbie came out of the trailer. Colbie locked the door behind her.

  Ruth kept her voice low. “Leo is dead. Be smart, Joshua. You’re strong and that’s what they’re afraid of.”

  Brenda and Colbie were approaching. Ruth turned around. “Well, Colbie, I hope you’ll let me know how you’re doing.”

  “I’ll call you, Grandma.”

  Ruth hurried to the driver’s side door. She glanced at Joshua before getting in the car. She drove off without saying good-bye.

  Joshua looked to Colbie, who didn’t even wave to her grandmother. Brenda was already walking towards her car.

  Am I the only one, Joshua thought, who noticed how scared Ruth is? And if Leo is dead, was he murdered?

  Joshua was alone in his room, studying the photo of his mother and himself. On the back, someone had written,’Elizabeth Hildebrand. Joshua, age 3,’ on the back.

  He took in the blonde beauty of his dead mother. They were sitting at a picnic table, Joshua in her lap. She was wearing a halter top and shorts, her skin tan. She looked like she belonged on the beach. Her eyes were green and wide, her lips full, as were her cheeks and chin. They seemed happy in the photo. He was wearing shorts, but no shirt.

  He continued to stare at his mother’s face, a sense of something familiar trying to come through. A vision of her as an older woman, much older, appeared in his mind.

  Joshua wasn’t sure why, but he went to his dresser to retrieve the crystal. It wasn’t in the spot where he left it. He searched the top of the dresser, but the crystal was gone.

  Someone has been in my room, he thought.

  His first response was to confront Colbie. But Colbie and Brenda had been with him at Ruth’s trailer. Max was the only person at the house.

  Colbie completed her homework, a written lesson for Spanish class. She shut the book and yawned loud.

  She rose from the edge of her new bed. Brenda let her pick it out, the most expensive furniture she ever owned. She had slept on a futon at the trailer. The dresser was an antique, dark cherry wood. A vanity with a chair next to an armoire Brenda had bought years ago.

  Brenda had handed Colbie the obituary section from the Falls River Press when she picked Colbie up from school. Her eyes passed over the page until she saw the photo.

  “She had a massive stroke,” Brenda said. “I can imagine her creeping around the hospital, looking for Joshua.”

  “What could she do?” Colbie asked.

  “Give him a so-called healing crystal. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  “Why would she interfere?”

  “I don’t know. But she’s one less thing to worry about.”

  The nights were becoming cool, not yet cold. Colbie pulled back the lacy white curtain, lifting the blind. When she reached down to raise the window open, she heard the fluttering of wings, as if from a bird or bat.

  She finished opening the window. The night breeze caused the curtains to billow. Colbie took a deep breath, the smell of burning leaves in the air. The night felt wild in the fall, as if anything could happen.

  She was enjoying the cool air and starry black sky when something bumped against the screen, above her head. She gasped and stepped away, just in time to see the screen fall, hitting the ground.

  Someone would have to pull at it, she thought. There’s no way—

  She returned to the window, the curtains on her back. Once the window was closed, the breeze was gone, along with all of the night sounds.

 
She backed away into the curtains. She tried to pull the lacy fabric away from her hair, but the sleeve of her hoodie became stuck, as if from static cling. She pulled with her arm and tried to turn around, but her hood caught. In seconds, she found herself wrapped in both floor-length curtains.

  She felt ridiculous at first, willing to blame her own clumsiness but, as she struggled, the white lace seemed to tighten around her. Colbie, starting to panic, was ready to call for help when the fabric fell from her legs and arms. She pulled it away from her face, stumbling out. She fell forward, but landed on her hands and knees. Colbie looked behind her, the curtains still, the room undisturbed.

  She pulled a lock of pale hair away from her eyes. Fear was soon replaced by anger.

  Try it again, Anna, she thought. I’ll be ready for you.