"Ok, I'm just gonna come out and say it. Fuck this!" Jaxson says as soon as he sees the ouija board. "Vel, you know those things aren't real! Come on! Are you really trusting this guy?"

"You are correct," Malcolm responds. "Most ouija boards are not real."

"Exactly!" Jaxson says.

"I said MOST aren't real," Malcolm repeats. "I don't have MOST boards. I have MY board. It's real and dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Jin asks.

Jin is making the same face as when I pulled my mom's ouija board out—he's definitely superstitious.

"You sure that's a good idea?" Jin's voice cracks.

"Jin," I say, squeezing his hand, "are you afraid of ouija boards?"

"No," he responds awkwardly.

He totally is.

"And we need to contact Vel's mom because why?" Jaxson demands.

"When you pass, you become privy to certain unknowns. You absorb all knowledge of what is and what was. You learn all the secrets of the universe. That's why consulting the spirit world is always necessary for matters such as these." Malcolm says as he sits down to brush off the board.

"Vel, this is crazy!" Jaxson says.

"If you don't think it's real, then why does it matter if we try? Look, I know it's hard for you to understand, but it's real. THIS IS ALL REAL!" I demand, pulling Jin along to sit down beside Malcolm as Jaxson follows, crossing his legs with a sigh.

Even though I've never believed in Ouija boards, I also never used to believe in spirits or souls, and then Red Lady happened. So, if my soul can live outside of me (not to mention haunt and try to kill people), then why wouldn't souls that have passed on be able to talk to the living?

"What are you going to say to my mom?" I ask Malcolm as my eyes scan the brilliant colors of the board.

It doesn't look like your typical Walmart game isle Ouija board. Its base looks heavy and sturdy, the edges lined with velvet purple—shocker. And the alphabet on it is sleek and gold lined. Malcolm draws my eyes away from the board as he takes out that sage stone from his pocket again.

"I'm going to ask for her guidance in curing you," Malcolm says as his hands hover over the board as if trying to feel something.

I move my hands forward to touch the board too, but Malcolm slaps them away.

"Don't touch!" He demands.

"Why not? Don't we all need to put our hands on that thingy that moves around?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Malcolm scoffs as if offended.

"Yeah, Vel, don't be ridiculous," Jaxson adds, rolling his eyes.

Malcolm pops the sage stone out of the bracket holding it onto the chain. Then, he ever so carefully sets the stone down in the bottom corner of the board.

"Hands," Malcolm announces as if we should all know what the hell he means.

Jin moves his hand towards the board, but Malcolm swats it away.

"You said hands?!" Jin demands, his voice still a little shaky.

"I meant hold hands," Malcolm says. "Amateurs," he mumbles.

Jaxson, who just so happens to be sitting between Malcolm and me, shoots me a dirty look as Malcolm's hand extends toward him. Jaxson quickly shakes his head and scrunches his arm back to his body.

"Afraid to hold your grandpa's hand?" Malcolm says.

"You are NOT my grandpa."

"Genetically, yes, where do you think you get that dazzling smile and good looks?" Malcolm says with a straight face.

"Also the dramatics," I can't help but add.

"All great qualities to have, you're welcome," Malcolm says before grabbing Jaxson's unwilling hand to complete our circle.

"You're lucky I love you Vel..." Jaxson scoffs.

My smile soon fades as Malcolm closes his eyes and begins chanting in that damn language again. I look over to Jaxson, whose face is intense, and stubborn. He just hasn't seen what Jin and I have, so I don't blame him for being skeptical. But Jin, he's low key freaking out. His hand is clenching mine ridiculously tight. He's nervous but still tries to give me a comforting smile. But somehow, his smile doesn't calm my stomach like it usually does. I mean, how can it? I'm about to talk to my dead mom!

"River, are you with us?" Malcolm's voice echoes.

I look back to the board and watch the moonlight beam off the sage stone sitting eerily still. I hold my breath as I stare hard at the green stone glistening against the rich velvet of the board. Then, as if attacked by a sudden wind, the sage stone slowly jiggles.

"Da, fuck?" Jaxson says, jumping back a little.

With a sudden jolt, the stone shoots across the board only to stop in a new location—on top of the word, yes.

I've seen lots of tricks over the years—this was no trick.

"Mom?" I say, feeling my throat become dry.

As I speak, Jin squeezes my hand so hard that I can feel my heart beating against our interlocked fingers.

"River, Vel's soul has been disturbed. Do you know what's happening to her?"

My eyes widen as the stone jiggles back to life, moving rapidly.

"R...E...D...V..." Jin's voice whispers as he begins tracking the stone's movement.

I already know what it's going to say before the stone completes its path—Red Velvet Theory.

Malcolm's face fills with pride. He composes himself before asking another question.

"What is the cure?" Malcolm says, his eyes watching the stone intensely.

This time, the sage stone doesn't wiggle to life. It sits quietly, still, and unmoved. My heart races as the anticipation builds inside me.

"River, is there a cure?" Malcolm says, this time, more forcefully.

We all wait, edging towards the board when suddenly, the stone springs to life once again.

"G...E...M...I...N...I," This time Malcolm spells out the words.

"Mom, what does that mean?" I ask, fear filling me.

The stone slowly circles in place. I know that movement. My mom would make those circles on my back while I fell asleep every night.

"Mom," I whisper as tears fill my eyes.

Then, the rock shoots across the board yet again.

"S...O...U...L...S...P...L...I...T...A...N...D...T...I...E," Jin reads, following the stone's new path. "Soul split and tie?"

Malcolm's eyes widen. "River," he says, this time breathlessly. "I was hoping there was another way?"

With one large bounce like a rock skipped across water, the stone flops across the board to land on the word no.

Quickly, Malcolm grabs the board and slams it shut, letting the stone fall, taking away my only chance to speak to my mom.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I yell, jumping up.

"I'm sorry," Malcolm says, stuffing the board back into his bag and grabbing the stone.

"Sorry for what?!" Jin demands, coming to my defense.

"I can't help you. What she's asking its...its..."

"It's what!?" Jaxson yells, joining in our outrage.

"I just can't," Malcolm says, hurrying to shuffle out of the room.

"Where are you going?!" I demand, chasing after him.

"Leaving."

"I thought you were Master Malcolm!" Jin yells after him.

We all basically collapse down the stairs to find a still frozen Cece staring off into space.

"What's wrong, guys?" Rina asks.

"Not now, Rina!" Jin and I yell at the same time.

"Look, I'm sorry. I can't help you," Malcolm says with sincerity in his eyes.

"Bro, can I leave if you are?" Maverick says, coming to join Malcolm's attempt to escape.

"Why leave now?!" I demand, ignoring everyone but Malcolm, tears wheeling in my eyes.

Big Girl Panties. Big Girl Panties. Big Girl Panties. No matter how many times I say it, I can't stop the tears.

"JUST TELL US WHAT SOUL SPLIT AND TIE MEANS!" Jaxson yells, grabbing Malcolm by the collar to hold him against the front door.

"Soul split is what it sounds like!" Malcolm says, struggled to break free. "Vel's soul needs to be separated from her."

"How?!" Jin desperately adds in.

"It's already been done," Malcolm says, his face becoming red from the pressure of Jaxson's hand.

"THEN WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?" Jin demands.

"It's not the split that's the problem! It's the tie. It's a crime of nature to tie someone's soul to something."

"WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?!"

"Jaxson, let him go!" Jin demands as Malcolm gasps for air.

Jaxson drops Malcolm, who slumps to the floor, gasping for breath.

"Malcolm," I say, crouching down to meet him eye to eye. "Please. What does it mean?"

His scared eyes meet mine. This time, there's no dramatics, no pride, no cockiness, only fear. "Your soul needs a new home. It needs to be bound to something else for eternity."

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