How did you do that?
It’s just a spell I came up with when I was a kid.
You created a spell all on your own? I asked, impressed.
He nodded. My father had strict rules about lights out. But I always wanted to stay up and read, so after he turned the lights off, I’d create my own little light to read by.
Couldn’t he see it shining under the door?
I made a tent with my blanket and kept the light underneath.
How ingenious.
It comes in handy during blackouts.
“How did you create that light?” The question cut through Peter’s and my conversation, and we both looked up to find Belinda and Anna standing in front of us.
“It’s a spell,” Peter replied.
“Show me how you did it,” Belinda requested. Some of the bitchiness was gone from her tone, and she sounded genuinely curious.
“Why should he do that?” I asked. “You’ve been nothing but rude to us ever since we got stuck here.”
Belinda cocked her head to me. “Was I talking to you?”
“No, but I’m talking to you.”
She made an overly dramatic gesture of exasperation. “Ugh, this constant bickering is boring, and I’m already bored, so let’s call a truce. We were friends once, right?” she said, and I arched an eyebrow.
“When we were ten. A lot has changed since then.”
“So, you can go back to hating me once the storm is over. There’s no point fighting when we’re all stuck here for however long the bad weather lasts.”
She’s right, Peter said, and I shot him a narrowed-eyed look before blowing out a slow breath. “Fine.”
“Great,” Belinda said. “So now we can all play Truth or Dare to pass the time.”
“No,” Peter replied, sitting back and folding his arms.
“Oh, come on,” Anna cajoled. “It’ll be fun. Sophia and Nic will play, too, won’t you guys?”
“Truth or Dare?” Sophia questioned. “Isn’t that a little childish?”
“Not how we play,” Belinda said, and I just knew getting involved in this would be a bad idea. “But if you’re all too chicken to play with us, that’s fine.”
Something about the challenge in her tone set me off. “I’ll play.”
Belinda’s eyes lit up. “Great. Now, what about the rest of you?”
“I guess it could be entertaining,” Sophia said, glancing at Nic. He shrugged.
“That just leaves you, Peter,” Anna said, eyebrows raised expectantly.
I practically felt his grouchiness as he folded his arms and sighed heavily. “Mrs Kanumba and Miss Cristescu will be back any minute.”
“So we’ll play until they return,” Belinda said.
Peter made a reluctant groan, and taking it as grudging acceptance, Belinda clapped her hands together. The only reason I was playing was for the small chance I might be able to get her to reveal or do something embarrassing. Nic came and sat on the couch next to me while Sophia took the armchair I’d been sitting in earlier. Belinda and Anna were seated on the couch opposite ours.
“Okay, so in the spirit of fairness, we’ll play the game alphabetically,” Belinda said.
Those motherfuckers. “How convenient that you and Anna are A and B,” I pointed out.
Belinda’s gaze widened in faux innocence. “Well, sure, but you’re D, so that means you get to go third.”
I rolled my eyes and sat up straight, pushing off some of the blanket I’d been sharing with Peter. “Lucky me.”
“Also,” Belinda went on. “To ensure that the people who choose truth are speaking honestly, we’ll use a little spell.”
“What kind of spell?” Sophia asked.
“It’s a lie detector of sorts,” Belinda replied as she stood before walking to the kitchen and pulling open a drawer. She rattled around in it for a moment before returning with a collection of mismatched spoons. Next, she set the spoons down on the coffee table, one in front of each of us. She closed her eyes, cast a quick spell, and the spoons rose, levitating in the air.
“If anyone answers dishonestly, their spoon will drop,” she declared, entirely too pleased with herself. I glanced at Peter. He looked just as uncomfortable with the whole lie detector spoon situation as I was. Then a thought occurred to me.
“Oh, this is actually great,” I said, leaning forward and speaking to the spoon. “I didn’t murder Mr Williams.” The spoon continued to levitate. “Would you look at that? Now you can correct all those rumours you’ve been spreading and set everyone straight that I’m not a murderer.”
“I know you didn’t kill him,” Belinda huffed. “I was just upset and lashing out. Happy?”
I grinned. “No. Not in the slightest. My pristine reputation has been unconscionably tarnished.”
“Fine. I’ll start telling people you’re innocent. Will that help?”
I folded my arms and sat back. “It’s a start.”
“Okay, so now that that’s all cleared up, I get to go first,” Anna said, rubbing her hands together.
“Go for it,” Belinda encouraged, and the two friends shared conspiratorial grins. What were they up to?