When Magic Happens

☆☆Mia POV☆☆

"Here he is. Late as usual" I thought to myself as I saw Kevin's car approaching my front door. I was visiting my grandma for the weekend and Kevin insisted on coming with me this time.

"Kevin being my best friend for years doesn't give you the right to be that late every time we go out" I snapped at him as I slammed the car's door shut roughly to tease him.

He hissed angrily and glared at me with his green eyes but swallowed it as I glared at him,

"Miaaa, you look beautiful as usual" he said, flashing his sweet smile at me. His dazzling smile was his charming signature, it made me wonder why he was still single till now.

"Flattery will not get you out of this" I faked a smile back and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Okay, how about this?" he said, throwing a gift box at me. I looked at him in surprise. He never did that before: "hee, what is it" I said smiling back, I love presents.

"Do you forgive me first?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

I looked at him and felt something was wrong: "Yeees" I answered suspiciously.

"Well, it isn't for you, it's for you grandma. It is my first visit. I cannot go empty handed" he laughed at me.

Making a fool out of me was his favourite sport. I got used to it a long time ago. I threw the box at the back seat:

"Kevin, you know how much I love my grandma, and you were late. You know how important this is to me. I don't get to spend much time with her" I scolded him.

"I am really sorry, I was caught up with something back home. But don't worry we will be there on time" Kevin said, assuring me before he started the car and stepped harshly on the gas pedal making the engine roar in power.

I spaced out the window looking at the tree line along the road and remembered my grandma in my early childhood. I only visited her once or twice a year. I loved visiting her; she was old and kind of weird. She used to tell me a lot of stories when I was a child, mostly scary stories but I loved listening to her tender voice while she put me to sleep every night. Most of the stories were about magic, fantasy creatures, supernatural people and witches that never made sense to me. Now that I am old, all the stories have stopped and we just usually enjoyed each other's company and talked about my life mostly, since according to her I had all the action going.

Suddenly Kevin's phone rang, pulling me back to reality. I glanced at him as He picked up the call, he sounded angry and frustrated about something related to his work. He was usually calm, never got angry and seeing him like this got me worried: "is something wrong?" his face gave out the answer: "I really don't know what happened this time, the shipment is late and dad is furious about it. I have no justification for it at all"

I knew that he had a problem at work from before but I never saw him this gloomy. He worked with his father casually and mostly during the summer but it was never that serious. His father wanted to prepare him to take over the company later which Kevin was reluctant to do.

I thought to cheer him up a little and change the mood "do you want to know what happened on my date yesterday?" I asked enthusiastically.

His smile came back right away and said excitedly: "yes, tell me"

"heeee, what can I say? The guy was a jerk; I paid for dinner and he was touchy most of the time" I said annoyed. Kevin's face turned red instantly: "touchy, that asshole you should have called me"

"No need I slapped him at the end of the night when he tried to kiss me forcibly" I said confidently.

We burst out laughing "That's my girl" Kevin was always supportive and over protective. I was the one with the worst luck ever when it came to guys: "what is wrong with me Kevin? Why do I always get the weirdest guy? Why can't I have someone like... like Ben Jacobson?"

"You mean THE Ben Jacobson. The most popular guy in our school. The one who has girls run after him every week and his girlfriend is the most vicious girl in human history" he said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes" I answered back. Suddenly Kevin laughed out loud: "he is so out of your league girl" I glared at him.

"Why Kevin? you always say that" I asked angrily, turning myself to face him.

"Because he doesn't even know that you exist in this world" he replied, laughing out loud even more. I tilted my head a little and thought about it for a few seconds. Kevin was right.

I looked out of the window and thought about how I have always kept a low profile; I really doubt that Ben knew about me. We stayed silent for a while and then Kevin asked again: "Mia, what are we going to do about our finals next month?" such a question changed my mood instantly.

"I don't know Kevin. We will figure it out when we come back" I replied remembering that we have to score high this year for the university application.

Couple of hours later, we reached grandma's house. It was an old, small, two stories house in an offwhite colour and an amazing backyard. Granny had always taken care of the garden herself. So, it was always blooming with flowers of the weirdest types, shapes and colours.

As we parked in front of the door, granny came out grinning and with open arms for me. I ran into her arms and wrapped mine around her tightly, enjoying the moment. I missed her so much. She was always the person who understood me the most and looked out for me even though she lived far away.

I introduced Kevin to her. She loved him right away. He gave her the present he brought. He really was a gentleman when it came to courtesies.

"Come in dears, you must be tired" granny said as she moved aside to let us into the house. Kevin came in looking around the house and took the place in.

"Now, go freshen up quickly, dinner will be ready in no time" granny said with a homey smile that I have missed so much. I smiled back and headed upstairs to my room as Kevin headed to the guest bathroom on the ground floor.

We had dinner together and then after, we sat down drinking tea in the living room. We talked, laughed and grandma showed Kevin my baby photo album and like always Kevin made fun of me. Grandma was happy that Kevin came, they got along very well.

After a while, Kevin got up and excused himself saying: "Excuse me ladies, but I have an important call to make" and he headed towards the backyard leaving grandma and me alone.

Grandma gestured for me to come and sit next to her on the sofa: "oh sweetie I have missed you so much, how is life?" she said, pulling me into a bear hug.

I giggled, enjoying the warmth and the love she showered me with: "I missed you too granny. Life is good don't worry I have everything under control" I winked back at her.

Grandma raised her eyebrow and said: "you can tell me anything"

"Don't worry grandma" I replied with an assuring smile.

Grandma then looked at me smiling: "what about Kevin? He seems a nice guy"

I sighed inwardly I kind of expected that question but I already had prepared an answer: "he is just a friend granny, we have been best friends for years now, there is nothing like that between us"

As I finished, Kevin came in and entered the room, but grandma suddenly stood up and said: "that is it for me kidos, I am off to bed. There is an extra mattress if you need it in the attic and the covers are in the closet" and then she headed upstairs and we heard the closing of her door.

I shivered as I heard the word attic. I hate that place. It scared the hell out of me when I was a kid and it still did. I wouldn't go up there no matter what. I looked at Kevin and asked: "You can settle on the couch right?"

Kevin plonked at the couch comfortably saying: "yes, why?"

I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes shivering at the memory of the dark room before replying: "nothing, I am scared of the attic and don't really want to go up there for the mattress"

Kevin laughed out loud teasing: "you are such a coward"

I took a breath in and calmed myself a little: "it's really spooky and cold. You wouldn't like it either"

"It can't be that bad, let's take a look" Kevin stood up, grabbed my hand and started to go upstairs. But, I glued my feet to the floor and pulled my hand back replying seriously: "No, I will not go up"

"Oh come on, I will go with you" Kevin came around me, put his hands on my back and started to push me to go up. I held onto the rail and stopped myself yelling: "No, Kevin. It really scares me. Please, don't"

But he didn't listen and kept on pushing me upwards, while I struggled with all my strength to stop him. "Kevin, stop it" I shouted, but in vain. My words fell on deaf ears.

Out of sudden Kevin came to my side and lifted me up on his shoulders with my head back and ran towards the attic in one swift move.

I was shocked that I couldn't say anything. His actions froze my mind instantly. I never thought he would do that.

Then he put me down in front of the attic door and pushed it open with his other hand.

CREEEEAAAAAK

The sound of the door opening gave me an instant shiver, my breathing stopped and I almost fainted. It felt like he was opening the door to my grave while I was still alive and threw me inside. I held onto Kevin's arms for support and He dragged me into the dark room as he stepped in...

☆☆Kevin POV☆☆

The moment I heard Mia saying that she was scared of the attic, I couldn't hold the urge to tease her about it. However, I never thought that she would actually fight back and nail herself to the floor like that.

The more she resisted, the more I wanted to take her up. For a while, l lost control and carried her up the stairs and forced her into the room.

She was right about one thing for sure. The attic was indeed a cold and spooky place. But nothing to be scared about. I came back to my senses, when Mia held onto my arm and felt her icy cold fingers wrapped up around my arm .

She was shivering; I was really surprised by her. I always knew she was a wuss but not like that.

I wanted to make her face her fear. "What is so scary about it? It looks normal" I tried to assure her as I walked inside the room and looked around.

The room was dark with a dim moonlight coming from the only window in it. It was filled with a lot of boxes, a broken chair, a few baby toys scattered in one corner, a mattress in a plastic cover leaning on one side of the wall and a big dusty grey safe on the ground half covered with a white sheet on it.

I took a few steps in looking around more. It really looked okay, nothing scary about it. But, Mia's fingernails were digging into my skin. "Hey, you are hurting me" I said and removed her hands, however, her face lost colour like she had seen a ghost and trembled a little saying: "sorry, let's go" she stepped back and I stopped her back: "Mia, face your fear. Nothing here is scary. Look around and tell me what scares you?" She stopped and looked around, still shaking.

"See, nothing. You scared yourself when you were a child but now you are a grownup" I tried to convince her but in vain. I stretched my hand to hold hers, the second she touched my hand I got goosebumps she was still cold.

"It's fine. Let's go. I am sorry" suddenly I regretted it. She was really frightened and I couldn't figure out why. I took her hand and turned towards the door.

Then creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaak

We both froze at the door and held our breaths soundly. "What the hell?" I thought to myself. Mia's hand was colder than before and she didn't even blink as if she was afraid to close her eyes.

I turned slowly to see what that sound was. I looked around the room, everything was the same. but, I noticed the safe on the ground, it was open now.

"What the hell?" I said pointing to the safe. Mia moved her gaze from me to the safe and then back at me saying with a tremble in her voice: "sseee, I ttold youu, let's go now"

"NO" I said forcefully as I pushed her hand and turned around, found the light switch and walked to the safe. "Now, I want to know what is going on?"

I removed the sheet revealing the safe completely.

Under the sheet, the safe stood on the floor all dusty and it looked like it was closed for a few good years. There was a black colour sprayed on the top in weird shapes like some kind of hoodoo.

I knelt down in front of the safe's open door and looked inside. There was nothing in it except an old wooden box with a white signs drawn on it just like the ones sprayed on top of the safe.

I took the box out and held it. I looked at Mia and her eyes were wide open and I think she wasn't breathing either, her face was turning blue. I wobbled the box and a rattle sounded.

"Did you see that box before?" I asked Mia, maybe she had seen it before, but the look on her face confirmed a big no.

I held the box with one hand and opened it with the other. I was expecting a boom or smoke to blow up in my face.

But there was only a medallion in it embedded in a velvet red sheet. It was small, old and rusty. It had the shape of a horseshoe with some kind of inscription written on it. I tried to read it but it was in an unknown language.

I handed the box to Mia, she took the medallion out and looked at it: "I never saw that before" she flipped it around and then put it back in the box: "put it back Kevin and let's go" I nodded my head in agreement. I had a strange feeling about that thing that scared me as well.

I looked at it again, closed the box, put it back in the safe and closed the safe as it was. I turned around and then Mia took the sheet and covered the safe again.

I switched the lights off and we went downstairs. We were both quiet and shocked.

We sat down on the couch and spaced out. After some time, I looked at Mia and she was still pale white and looked like a lifeless corpse.

I got up and brought her some water. With her trembling hands she pushed my hand away. I felt a pain in my heart seeing her like that. It was all my fault: "Mia, I am sorry, I ..." she cut me off saying: "I need to rest" she stood up and walked upstairs to her room. I stared at her back as she disappeared up the stairs looking like a ghost.

Oh god, what just happened? I felt like I was dreaming and I couldn't wake up no matter how hard I tried. I breathed out soundly, got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up a little. I changed my clothes and went out. I found a blanket and a pillow neatly folded on the couch.

I settled down on the couch and closed my eyes. Of course sleep was far away from me. I thought about everything that happened today. Only the look on Mia's lifeless face haunted me and drove my sleep away further. "I shouldn't have forced her to go into the attic; I have to talk to her tomorrow and sort this out" I thought to myself as I sighed out guiltily.

Paaaakkk

My eyes shot open wide as soon as I heard the loud thud coming from above.

☆☆Mia POV☆☆

The sound of the door creak that came from the safe made me lose full control over my body. I was shivering like I was standing naked in the middle of a snow blizzard. I didn't want to turn back and see what was going on. I wanted to get the hell out of here.

But again, Kevin was just being Kevin and insisted on going and looking. What the hell was wrong with him today.

I wanted to call after Kevin and stop him from opening the box. But I couldn't utter a word out of my mouth. I felt stuck, and Kevin didn't give me the chance to object, he hurriedly opened the box and showed it's contents to me.

I picked up the medallion, it looked like a horseshoe but smaller in size and had faded inscriptions written on it. But the second I touched it I felt an electric shock pass through my fingers and into my body. As I inspected it, I couldn't understand any of the writings on it. It looked like some kind of an old language or a charm or something that I never saw before. My hands were trembling from fear and the electric shock I felt increased my anxiety, so I just put it back in the box and asked Kevin to put the box back in the safe.

Stress, Panic and Dread were rising inside me like a hungry fire eager to burn and sent my mind into a daze. I didn't realise I was already down the stairs and sitting on the couch, until I saw Kevin holding a glass of water in front of my eyes.

"How did that happen? I shouldn't have let Kevin open the safe or look into it. I never went into the attic or opened granny's things before" I thought to myself as I wondered how granny would act if she knew what just happened.

Suddenly I felt my body go weak, I wanted to rest and calm down my head and emotions that were raging inside me like a volcano about to erupt. So, I just left Kevin and headed upstairs again but this time towards the safety of my room.

It was my safe zone. I plonked on the bed sighing in relief as I raked my face and hair. "I should shower and sleep now; I am sure tomorrow will be better" I thought to myself as I stood up and grabbed my bag. I took a few things and went into the bathroom.

I took my time showering, I wanted to relieve all the tension I felt earlier and relax my body. The warm water just washed away all the fear and anxiety that made my knees wobble.

I was about to go to bed. When I remembered that Kevin was downstairs. I thought I should bring him a pillow and a blanketn. I got the things out of the closet and went downstairs. I found that he was already in the bathroom. I left the things for him on the couch and went back to my room.

I entered my room and closed the door behind me and as I turned back I froze in my place.

No. No. No.

I felt cold again and my feet trembled. I tried to call for Kevin but everything went black in a second and I felt my legs give up and my head hit the floor hard as my eyes rolled back.

☆☆Kevin POV☆☆

When I heard the loud thud, I jumped out of the couch and ran upstairs taking two steps at a time. I saw granny coming out of her room in her sleeping gown as soon as I reached up there. She must have heard the noise too: "what was that Kevin?" I looked at her puzzled and answered: "I don't know I was sleeping downstairs" then at once we both said: "Mia".

We opened her room door and found her collapsed on the floor. She looked white pale again like how she was in the attic.

What happened to her, she was just fine a while ago. Oh God please let her be okay. Granny rushed to her and bent down towards her, cupping her cheeks and calling her name a few times, but no response from her.

My heart quickened and I walked closer to them: "allow me granny" I asked and held her shoulders back a little. Granny took a few steps back and I bent down and lifted Mia in my arms.

I could feel her body. She was cold again. I settled her on the bed and moved back allowing granny to come next to her. She tried to wake her up but still nothing.

"What the hell happened?" I stood beside the bed and looked at her pale lifeless face. What could possibly happen to make her pass out like this?

I gazed around; I saw something on the floor and I froze instantly. I saw the horseshoe on the floor where Mia passed out. "What the hell?" I thought to myself.

I did not know what to do. Should I tell granny about the whole thing? Why Mia, did you go and get it? She was scared like hell the first time, why would she go to the attic again? Then I came back to my senses hearing: "I will go and call for a doctor" granny said and ran outside the room.

I hurried to the horseshoe and picked it up. Oh wow, I felt an electric shock run within my body, making my heart skip a beat. I looked at it carefully for the first time and shoved it into my pocket quickly as granny came into the room and said: "The doctor will be here in 10 minutes" taking her seat next to Mia on the bed again, she hugged her with a concerned look.

I stood there thinking about what could have possibly happened that made Mia go back into the attic again and get that thing out of the safe until the doctor came and I went downstairs again waiting for them.

I sat on the couch and my leg was shaking uncontrollably. I was so nervous; I wished it was me and not Mia. I forced her into the attic. I scared her till she couldn't take it anymore. Guilt was growing inside me.

The doctor came down and I went to him and asked: "how is she?"

"She is fine. She is just stressed out. Take care of her. She should have a good sleep and eat well in the morning" and he left.

I went back up and saw granny sleeping next to her. I settled in the La-Z-Boy in the room and let sleep take me into its deep ocean.

As soon as the sun rose up high in the sky and the light filled up the room, my eyes opened a few seconds later, I got up, went downstairs and freshened up in the guest bathroom. I headed to the kitchen and started to prepare breakfast for Mia.

"You don't have to do that" granny sounded from behind startling me that i dropped the spatula on the floor.

I laughed a little "It's okay granny. I don't mind" I said smiling as I turned and saw her standing at the door and staring back at me. she smiled back and started to put the plates on the tray.

I prepared the eggs scrambled just like how Mia likes it and put it on the tray along with juice, toast, and cheddar cheese. I gave it to granny and went to the garden to attend to some calls.

I called my father's assistant. I wanted to know about the shipment's update and as soon as I heard the news, I was shocked to my very core. I knotted my brows asking again to make sure that I heard her right the first time: "are you sure Jane?"

Jane replied back through the phone "Yes sir. I double checked already. The shipment arrived a couple of hours ago at the port. Everything is sorted out and your father is really excited. He even arranged a bonus for you"

A bonus for me, I hung up the phone and felt strange. I looked up at the blue sky and took a deep breath in trying to understand.

The shipment was supposed to arrive next week and I tried to hide the news from my father for as long as possible. How did it arrive yesterday out of the blue?

Something is not right. I breathed in and out trying to calm myself down. "I should be happy. It's a good thing. I even received a bonus" I told myself and started to relax a little.

Then I saw granny coming down the stairs and I ran inside towards her: "Oh God, Mia please be okay" I thought as I waited for granny to come down and asked: "How is she? Did she sleep well? Did she eat her breakfast?" granny was overwhelmed with a plastered smile on her old face. "Sorry" I apologised.

She replied back: "she is okay. Don't worry. Come with me I want to talk to you" and she pulled me to the garden again...