- That happens a lot around here.

Not reasonably what Sophie had expected to hear. The mansion that emerged from the forest brought a vision of hauntings. It was always freezing there. It was never hot. And there was more. Many secrets dwelt in those lands for generations. Some people refused to talk about figures that appeared between the walls. They didn't comment on strange sounds.

-You heard that, didn't you?- Sophi insisted.

Neither she nor Heather really wanted to talk about it. There was always a logical explanation for everything in life, even for two beginners.

The altar was on the old, heavy varnished wooden shelf.

-Do you know I've heard? They've burned witches around here in the past.

"I didn't hear anything," Heather stated fearfully.

And the sound came louder and louder through the trees, penetrating the false security of the huge hall with its shuttered windows. And came the second and third time.

"Are you also going to say you didn't hear it now?" Sophi asked with a shiver.

Play with the dead. Maybe their decision to venture into the shadow world wasn't such a good idea after all. But it had seemed tempting... The stranger was waving, arousing curiosity.

-Oh, all right. It's a scream. A loud, loud bellow of a goat. What's wrong with a goat screaming? Maybe you also have insomnia.

Sophi's skeptical look was that reality was gone. Night of shadows. A new moon shone in the dark sky.

An illusion scenario. The ancient forests that still dominated the region brought legends of pain, suffering, and blood. She imagined what it must have been like before. Fugitives and slaves. Escapes from slave quarters. Foremen and the sound of barking dogs in pursuit.

-Apart from the fact that this is a farm? And that there are no goats around here and we are alone?" Sophi returned the question, looking for the first time at the windows.

The huge, colorful brindle cat lazily waved its furry tail and groomed itself. It was a huge, fat neutered cat. Okay, who after all once in their life hadn't had the curiosity? Only now it didn't seem fun or very funny.

There was something else in that room and along with it. And it wasn't natural. Someone they had invited. And it was not of this world. The cold air around them intensified.

-The temperature will drop more this morning. Do you have extra blankets?

The lace and ornate bedspread covered the twin beds in the large room where the sisters slept.

"I told you not to play with such things, didn't I?" Sophi's voice sounded an octave higher.

And maybe it was true. It was a time of mourning after the grandfather's funeral. A painful, slow death from illness.

Of course, she wasn't afraid. The goosebumps and the chill were nothing. It just happened. It was an old and huge farm in the mountains in times past that whole region. Legends said that so many had already died in those lands. They talked about black slaves. they spoke of slave masters. And slave quarters and an inhumane way of life.

It was a very simple ritual. Summon a spirit. And that same spirit should move the glass around the letters of the alphabet. What harm could there be after all?

-You were the one who made the joke. Did you move the glass on purpose? - Sophi's accusation came categorically.

- But of course not. It was you.- Heather stated with all the conviction in the world and crossed her arms in annoyance.

It was not to be surprised. Things just happened there. Without explanation. There was a lady who swore she saw a goat screeching and her head in the shadows. Things disappeared. Instant combustion. The weeds around the house had caught fire without explanation.

Of course, it was in the dry season and it was even easier for the fire to spread. Who had set fire to clear the land for new cultivation? Nobody found the culprit.

-It's all right. - the oldest of the girls decided seriously. - For everything in life there is a logical explanation. Some landowner... Someone must have bought such an animal.

The younger girl frowned in dismay. Alphabet letters, the numbers from 0 to 9, and the words yes or no written on the paper before blank.

-You know we brought something, don't you? He responded! It was a yes.

They still discussed and decided to repeat the ritual. This time it was agreed that no one would touch the glass. They replaced it with a pencil on the table around the open circle of letters of the alphabet.

"Is anyone there?" the youngest asked.

-You know that if they catch us with this game here...- The eldest began for the first time to give reasons to end the game.

-I don't think we should do that and... She's going to finish us off. She's going to be annoyed, you know? She will speak for eternity in our ears and...

-She won't get angry if you don't say anything.

-Of course, I won't say anything if you promise not to talk too.

Both of them look at each other in silence. Indeed the pencil moved. And it wasn't an optical illusion.

-Okay, of course, there is an explanation...- Sophi started to enumerate a list of arguments to explain reality.

-What time is it?

Sophie was going to reply that it didn't matter what time it was. The fun was over. Maybe a good late-night snack and a few more movies on the old TV. The signal there among the mountains was not well received. It never was.

-My watch stopped...- The comment came without concern.

Heather's eyes sparkled. There was enthusiasm in the youthful face.

-Do not see? We woke up something. - her euphoria was absolute.

-How do you wake up something? Like the guardian of these lands?