Best Friend is Acting Strange

Quick Note: This is part three of Deciding to Stay Overnight in Pennhurst and The Investigation of Pennhurst. Make sure to check those out. Part four coming soon...

I darted to open the front door for the guys.

“Hey! Come in.”

“Ay, what’s so urgent?” Kade said.

“Yeah, you have us freaked. You texted 911.” Replied Griff.

“Our Pennhurst trip last week did something to Everly. Ever since that night, she hasn’t been acting like herself. She’s been staring off at nothing, mumbling to herself, and I catch her rocking back and forth. She denies it whenever I bring it up and states she’s fine, but I don’t think she is.”

The guys exchanged a look, then turned back to me.

“What! Are you keeping something from me?”

“Uh, no,” Griff replied, scratching the back of his neck.

“What Griff means is, if you feel something is wrong. We can try our best to help figure it out.” Kade said, elbowing Griff in the ribs. Griff let out a grunt.

They are acting weird… or maybe it’s me. I’ve been overthinking everything since Pennhurst. Everly has me spooked.

“Okay, I’ve been researching possessions, but that doesn’t seem right. So, my next guess is an attachment.

Kade broke out laughing in my face. “You think something possessed Everly or has an attachment? Come on, Kenzie.”

I folded my arms across my chest, rolling my eyes. “Excuse me! This isn’t funny, something may be seriously wrong with Everly, and you are making a joke.”

Griff is standing here, looking uncomfortable. He doesn’t like confrontation.

“Okay, what should we do?”

“I think we should go back to Pennhurst and tell the spirit to leave Everly alone and that no spirit may follow us home.”

Griff’s eyes widened, “You want us to go back there? No, no way.”

“We have to! There may be no other way.” I looked over at Kade for support.

“Uh, sure. Let’s do it.”

“You guys are ridiculous. Please fill out the forms and let me know the closest date. I’ll fill one out for Everly. We will not tell her what we are doing. Got it?”

“Yeah, sure. We will text you the information. Let’s go, Griff.”

I locked the door behind the guys, pulling out my phone to shoot a text over to Everly.

Kenzie: Plans in motion

Everly: Perfect!

Kenzie: This will be the best prank ever. You should have seen their faces about having to go back.

Everly: I’m excited. Lexi and Nick are going to be there before us. They are going to hide out in separate rooms.

I was typing out a reply to Everly as the boys texted.

Griff: Tomorrow is the soonest.

Kenzie: Perfect, let’s go.

Kade: Is this what you want to do?

Kenzie: Yes, this is Everly we are talking about.

Griff: Okay.

Kade: I’ll support it.

I exited out of the chat with the boys.

Kenzie: Tomorrow is the closest. Are you ready?

Everly: Yes! I’ll see you there.

*****

As I sat on my front porch waiting for the boys to pick me up, I kept giggling. All the pranks they pulled on us in the past, this one will top them all.

“Ay, Kenzie. Let’s go!” Kade shouted out of Griff’s Nissan Altima, tapping the hood.

“Okay, okay!”

“Are we picking up Everly?” He looked at me as he spoke.

“Yeah, she said she’s ready.”

As we headed towards Everly, the boys chitchatted about sports and other boy stuff. I kept going over the prank in my head. I want to scare their pants off.

My phone played, Best Friend by Saweetie.

“Hello?”

“Kenzie, are you guys here already? Nick and Lexie aren’t ready.”

“No, we are on our way to get you?”

“Something’s wrong, Kenzie. Someone’s here.”

The phone went silent. I looked at my phone call disconnected. This wasn’t part of the prank, or is she trying to change things?

“Hey Griff, go to Pennhurst. Everly’s already there.”

“What? Why is she there already?”

“Honestly, I don’t know, but hurry.”

Griff stepped on it, and it filled the rest of the car ride with worry. We arrived shortly. I didn’t see any sign of Nick or Lexie’s car or anyone heading this way.

“Look! Everly’s car. Pull over.”

I jumped out of the car, peering into Everly’s red Hyundai. Her purse and keys are sitting on the front seat.

“Something is seriously wrong. We need to get to Pennhurst. Everly’s keys and purse are in her car.”

“Go, Griff!”

“Okay!” Griff put his car in drive, flooring it.

As soon as we pulled up to the admissions building, I jumped out of the car and ran to the dining hall.

“Everly!”

I threw open the door. It looked the same as last time. I ran in, looking under the tables. I checked behind the kitchen counters—no sign of Everly.

I ran out, yelling at the boys to go to the housing units. They started jogging behind me.

“Go see if any doors to the other housing units are open.”

“Got it.” They took off.

I pushed the heavy door to the main housing unit as it creaked open. Light poured in from the windows, casting shadows from the furniture. The last time we were here, the room looked untouched.

“Everly! If you are playing around, this isn’t funny.”

Nothing came from the building. I jogged to each room, opening every door, checking every inch. I looked under every bed, behind every door. Nothing.

The boys barged in with a look on their faces.

“What? Is it Everly? Is she okay?”

Griff rubbed the back of his neck.

“Spit it out! Where’s Everly?”

Kade stepped toward me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Her mom called me. She’s at the hospital. Someone attacked Everly. You saw her car because her dad is coming to get it.”

“Attacked!?! What do you mean attacked? What are we still doing here? We need to go.” My heart sunk to my stomach. I took off towards Griff’s car.

“Now!”

As we raced back towards Griff’s car, the boy’s footsteps fell into step with mine.

I’m coming, Everly.