Hysteria: Part 2

She quickly closed the curtains. She dropped the book; it opened back up, showing more intense details of the crows eating her eyes. She noticed the banging at the window stopped. Her heart started to slow down. She looked back at the book. She grabbed it and rushed over to the front door. She looked around before opening the door; not a crow in sight. She opened the door and tossed it out as far as she could, then slammed it shut.

A feeling of relief and peace came to her as she walked back to her study. She sat back at her desk and began to type.

A few hours passed, and she had written at least ten pages; she decided it was time for a break. Tea seemed more suitable than coffee, considering the experience she just went through. She walked over to the kitchen.

The forest green color kitchen was her sister’s idea, but she hated it. Lia struggled to find the ginger tea. She searched every cabinet and couldn’t find it. Lia opened up a drawer, and her eyes widened. She backed up slowly.

“What is happening?”

The black book was sitting in the drawer. She backed up into a corner. Her heart started pounding; it felt like it was going to explode. She grabbed her chest. As fast as she blinked, the book appeared in front of her on the floor. She started to scream, making her heart pound faster. The book opened once more, but it showed nothing. Amid her fear, she didn’t notice that her sister had returned home. She rushed in and grabbed Lia.

“Lia, what’s wrong?”

Lia only heard the intense ringing in her ears and then passed out.

Lia woke up in her bed. She looked around her room. Her sister was at her side, holding her hand.

“Can you hear me? Lia? Can you hear me?”

Lia groaned and held her head.

“What happened? Why were you screaming?”

“I- the book… where is that book?”

“What book?”

“The book that was on the floor right in front of me.”

“There was no book.”

“Yes, there was, it was there, and the birds- the crows were… killing themselves… smashing into my study window.”

Her sister looked worried.

“Birds? What birds?”

“Go check!”

“There aren’t any birds of any kind at the window.”

“Please, Becca… I saw them.”

Lia's voice was shaky, so Becca decided to take a look downstairs. Lia followed behind her. They headed down the stairs and into the study. Becca opened the curtains, but the windows were clean.

“Spotless and bird free.”

“No, I swear… I saw them.”

“Isn’t that the horror story you’re writing? Maybe you need to take a break because you're hallucinating… let’s sit on the porch, get some air.”

“No, the crows!”

“They are no crows.”

Lia couldn’t believe it. She stared at the empty window, not a drop of blood or a crow in sight. Becca grabbed Lia by the arm and pulled her to the front door.

“We are going to sit on the porch!”

Becca opened the door, and Lia screamed.

“Cut it out! What is wrong with you!”

Becca pushed Lia out the door, and Lia looked around timidly. No crows came to attack her.

“See, you’re fine”

Lia was confused; she knew she saw what she saw. She didn’t understand where the book went or why Becca couldn’t see it or what happened with all the dead crows.

“I guess I just imagined it all…”

“Yes, you did.”

As Lia stood there taking in the beautiful sight of the snowy mountains while the rain gently poured down, she decided to forget the whole thing.