Chapter 2

2

“Cassidy?”

I snapped out of it and looked at Sienna. She had a gentle aura and was one of my closest friends.

“Is something wrong?” she asked softly.

“I just saw you staring at the statue like you’d seen a ghost. Is there something on its face?”

I shook my head and forced a smile.

“Nothing. I just thought it looked a bit creepy in this light.”

“Cassidy, don't tell me you’re afraid of ghosts? We’re folklore majors! This is our bread and butter!”

A bubbly girl jumped onto my back, teasing me.

Without even looking, I reached back and swatted her forehead.

“Coming from the girl who hides under my blankets whenever we watch a horror movie? You have no room to talk, Sadie.”

Sadie was my other best friend.

She was loud, impulsive, and never knew when to shut up. Her parents had named her after a word meaning ‘princess,’ but she acted more like a chaotic sprite.

“Hey! What are you talking about? Creepy statue? Let me see.”

Sadie clumsily changed the subject, and Sienna and I exchanged a knowing, weary smile.

“Wait... did the statue’s eyes just move?”

Suddenly, Sadie’s voice cut through the chatter, putting everyone on edge.

“It’s a stone statue, Sadie. Are you blind or just stupid?” Lacey snapped, her patience wearing thin.

“I’m telling you, it moved! Look for yourselves!”

We all instinctively looked where she was pointing. Just then, the last bit of hazy sunlight vanished from the horizon.

Right before our eyes, the idol erupted in a blinding, piercing light.