Chapter three - Confusion and Closure
After Dad stormed out again, grumbling about going to the bar, I wrapped my arms around Mom, who looked me over with worried eyes. I reassured her that I was fine before heading back to the phone to update Lily about the letter and the latest fallout with my father.
Lily answered on the second ring. "So, what's up?"
"Tell your mom to open the letter," I said, my voice low.
There was a brief pause and some muffled voices before she came back. "Okay, she's opening it now."
Seconds ticked by before Lily's voice returned, puzzled. "What? Witchcraft? Wizardry? Sev, this can't be real. It's got all sorts of weird stuff."
"It's not a prank," I replied, trying to keep my own unease in check. "I'll come over and we'll figure it out."
"Can you come now?"
"Yeah, I'm on my way." I glanced at my mom, who nodded and pointed to the jacket on the hook. "Thanks," I said, hanging up.
I hugged my mom goodbye, grabbed the long black cloak she usually wore, and stepped outside. The chill of Spinner's End hit me immediately. The alleyway outside our house was a stark contrast to the warmth I'd briefly felt indoors. Spinner's End was a small, working-class area, where coal dust coated everything and everyone. Most folks here were coal miners, and the community was tight-knit, with everyone knowing each other's business.
As I made my way down the uneven, hilly road, I passed by our elderly neighbor. For the sake of her privacy, I've taken to calling her Mrs. OL. She fussed over me, applying various remedies to my face, and it took a good five minutes to extricate myself from her well-meaning grasp.
Walking past the run-down houses, I saw children with coal-streaked faces, playing in the grime with worn beanie hats and fingerless gloves. Their laughter cut through the air, mingling with the industrial noises from nearby factories. Older men puffed on their pipes, their coughs punctuating the cold, acrid smell of smoke that stung my already frostbitten nose.
I continued through the dismal landscape, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing on me, each step taking me closer to Lily and, perhaps, a glimpse into the world that might offer a way out of the darkness surrounding me.