The Dead House

“I don’t care.”


“Of course you do. That board is a board of the Spirits—great spirits. By using that board, you drew their attention. I’ve tried to tell you before that you’re special. Every person has a living body and a soul. The soul is hugely powerful. It’s an amazing energy source, and it connects us to whatever comes after this life. You and Carly are two souls. That’s two in one body. Do you see the kind of power you wield? Do you see how potentially catastrophic that is? Two souls connected to what comes after in a single form? Can you see how attractive that is to malevolent forces? You and Carly are in there together, so you have to stay under the radar—”

Kaitlyn rolls her eyes and makes a guttural sound of irritation or boredom. “Twin souls, blah blah. Yeah, I’ve heard it before, Naida. What’s the point?”

“Playing with the Olen is dangerous,” Naida snaps. “You never know who’s listening. It’s like talking on a tapped phone line.”

“I guess that makes you a real genius, having that thing in your cousin’s house on Halloween. I bet you planned this.”

“You’ve really got no idea how dangerous that board was, do you? You just be glad I burned that pointer.”

“Nice going, Sherlock. Now get out of my room. And take that bloody thing with you!”

Naida turns, reaches for the camera, and the screen goes black.

[END OF CLIP]





31




Diary of Kaitlyn Johnson


Monday, 1 November 2004, 8:43 pm

Attic

Naida. Queen of the dramatic. Melodramatic.

I need a drink. Want to fly. Want to jump.

Away, away, up, up, away!

Later, Dorm

It’s official. Juliet McClarin is missing. No one has seen her since the party. She and her little friend Maggie were meant to come back to the dorms together in Maggie’s dad’s car, but Juliet left right before the Ouija board… thing.

They think she tried to walk the two miles back to school alone. At night. She could have fallen into a ditch or been eaten by foxes.

That’s really stupid if you ask me. Unless you are me.


From: AriHait558

To: RealxChick

Date: 1 November 2004



Subject: Tell Me



Tell me the truth about you.

Ari





32


36 days until the incident




Criminal Investigation Department, Portishead Headquarters

Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Portishead, Bristol

Tuesday, 28 December 2004, 15h40

AUDIO INTERVIEW #1: Detective Chief Inspector Floyd Homes (FH) and Scott Fromley (SF)

(FH): This is Detective Chief Inspector Floyd Homes, Avon and Somerset CID, interviewing Mr. Scott Fromley on the twenty-eighth of December 2004. You are a student at Elmbridge High in Taunton?



(SF): Yes.



(FH): In what year?



(SF): 2004.



(FH): What academic year, son.



(SF): Oh, uh, I’ve been here since seventh grade. I’m in my last year.



(FH): Do you know where Juliet McClarin is?



(SF): No.



(FH): Any ideas about who might want to hurt her?



(SF): [Laughs] Seriously? She was the year below me, mate. I barely paid attention.



(FH): Do you have a girlfriend?



(SF): Yeah, I do, so why would I look at Juliet?



(FH): So you only have eyes for your girlfriend?



(SF): Bloody hell, yeah. Sorry. Look, mate, Naida’s my girl. I’m no playboy, right? Nothing to it but that.



(FH): Naida. [Pause] Naida Chounan-Dupré?



(SF): Yeah, that’s right.



(FH): And you’d do anything to protect her?



(SF): Of course I would.



(FH): Even lie to protect her. [Pause] Even if it would hurt someone innocent?



(SF): What are you talking about?



(FH): Even if a life could be in danger?



(SF): Seriously, mate, I don’t know what you mean.



(FH): Juliet has been missing for almost two months now. It seems highly likely that Carly Johnson was the last person to see her. Juliet stepped outside before the Ouija board incident, and shortly after that, Carly went outside. Witnesses state that they heard a scream, but none have been able to identify that scream as either Carly’s or Juliet’s for certain. It was several moments before others joined Carly outside. We don’t know what happened in the interim.



(SF): What does that have to do with Naida?



(FH): Do you know where Juliet is?



(SF): This is mental. No, I don’t know where she is. You should, though. Besides, I still don’t see what any of this has to do with Naida.



(FH): Scott, I need you to be honest with me.

[Pause]



(SF): Okay…



(FH): Is Naida Chounan-Dupré hiding Carly Johnson?


[End of tape]





33


91 days until the incident




Diary of Kaitlyn Johnson


Wednesday, 3 November 2004, 11:00 pm

The Anniversary of the Accident

Attic

We both know what today is, so I guess I’m not surprised that Carly didn’t leave a note. I should just come out and ask her, but… what if it’s true, and Lansing’s right? What if I cause irreparable harm by forcing her to talk to me?