18

"I see...a man."

"Is he cute?" The three girls watching their friend get a psychic reading giggled.

"Shh! Don't interrupt, Denise," chided Allison, who was actually wondering the same thing.

The medium, Madame Fo, didn't seem interrupted at all. To Jessica, whose reading it was, Madame Fo seemed very far away indeed. Madame Fo continued, "This man is not good for you. You must avoid him."

Denise clicked her tongue, "Get thee to a nunnery, Jess. Or maybe to the softball team. That's rather vague, isn't it, Madame?"

Madame Fo still gazed into her crystal ball, a line creasing between her brows. "This man will hurt you." Jessica could feel the medium's struggle. Was she trying to see more clearly? Trying to find the words? Trying to concentrate over Denise's hostile posture?

"What does he look like?" Jessica breathed.

"He's...going to hurt you. He's difficult to make clear, but the intent is powerful."

Jessica could hear the candles sizzling and their flickering light was making her dizzy. "When?"

"Sssssssoooooooonnnnnn!" Madame Fo's prophecy seemed ripped from her, and the medium kicked out with her legs, knocking the table and making her crystal ball and two candles fall to the floor. The girls screamed, hands over their mouths, eyes wide in the increased darkness. At least Denise had the presence of mind to open the door and let in the light of the tiny waiting room.