Turtle wasn't answering Alex's question; his eyes were fixed on the dead crows, and the fear inside him kept growing.
Alex shook Turtle and said, "Hey, what's wrong—why did you go quiet? Tell me, why did people give their lives to seal the Graveyard Manor's door?"
Turtle, trembling, answered, "People didn't give their lives—Elysira took their lives, Alex."
Alex said in shock, "What! But an old man told me that after killing my father, Elysira's hunger was over. So why did she kill more people—wasn't she supposed to be at peace?"
Arthur, surprised, asked, "Who told you that?"
"Some old man I met on the train," Alex replied.
Turtle placed a hand on Alex's shoulder and said, "Alex, that old man fooled you. Elysira is a witch, and a witch's cravings never end—they just grow stronger over time."
Arthur added, "Look, Alex, in villages a thousand mouths spread a million rumours. The truth—there's only a handful. Elysira wasn't at peace; she was imprisoned inside the Graveyard Manor."
Alex's mouth dropped open, "What—you mean, she was imprisoned there?"
Turtle explained, "Yeah, Alex. Grandma told me that thirteen years ago, after your dad died, the villages decided to shut down the Graveyard Manor. Everyone said, ever since English times, the manor was Elysira's second lair. Do you know, when your dad died, your uncle—what was your uncle's name again..."
With a frown, Alex replied, "David."
Turtle, brightening, replied, "Right, David! After your dad's death, David Uncle took some men to the manor to recover your dad's body, but they never found it anywhere. Only his writing room was found—soaked in blood, blood everywhere."
Alex, angrily, said, "I know all that—just tell me what you want to say."
Turtle explained, "Chill, I'm getting there. David Uncle tried to have the manor locked, but whenever he sent men to seal the manor, they couldn't put the lock on—and ended up losing their lives in the process."
By now, sweat was forming on both Alex and Arthur's foreheads.
Turtle continued, "Did you know, every one of those men had all the blood sucked out of their bodies, not a drop left—and with not a single scratch on them. Only their hearts were missing. Tell me, could any human do that? It was Elysira—she killed anyone who tried to lock up the manor."
Alex stared at Turtle, "So what happened? How did the manor finally get sealed?"
"Grandma said, in Maple Junction, there's a place—I forget the name—where there's a temple, church, and mosque all together. The priest, pastor, and imam from there were called to seal the Graveyard Manor."
"And then?"
"They used the combined power of their prayers to lock the manor. But..."
Turtle fell silent.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Alex asked, "But what? Go on!"
Taking a deep breath, Turtle said, "But all three lost their lives."
"What? Why?"
"To imprison Elysira inside that manor. It's said, to confine a spirit, you must offer its favorite thing in sacrifice. Since Elysira loved men the most, the only way to save the village was for those three religious leaders to lock the manor—and then offer themselves as a sacrifice."
Alex, astounded, said, "But how could Elysira do that? Dad always said Elysira was good at heart."
Turtle interrupted, "Good? You think a witch can ever be good? No witch ever wishes well for anyone."
"But Dad said she became wicked because she was cursed."
Arthur sided with Alex, "Yeah, he's right. I read somewhere that Elysira-types come from another realm, like nymphs, worshipped as goddesses. But somehow, this Elysira turned evil."
Annoyed, Turtle snapped, "Man, I don't want to hear your nonsense. The whole village says Elysira's an evil witch—so do I. And stop changing the subject! The real issue is, you two were wrong to open the manor—you've freed Elysira, and now she'll start luring and feeding again."
Alex defended himself, "So basically, you're saying Elysira was locked in Graveyard Manor and we've now set her free, right?"
"Right."
"So tell me, if Elysira was imprisoned and now free, last night Arthur and I slept right inside the manor—why didn't Elysira harm us?"
Turtle instantly replied, as if he'd rehearsed it, "Because last night wasn't a new moon or full moon, Alex. Elysira only hunts on those nights."
"Then tell me, those men that Uncle David sent, who died trying to seal the manor—were they going on full moons or new moons too? Seems unlikely."
At that, Turtle fell silent, unable to answer further.
Arthur cut in to break up the debate, "Guys, enough quarrelling. Whether Elysira exists or not, we'll see at the next full moon in seven days. For now, let's get back to what we came for."
Turtle, puzzled, said, "And what's that?"
Arthur answered playfully to lighten the mood, "Turtle, you know as well as I do—Alex came so far and after so many years, he needs your help."
Turtle pointed at Arthur and said, "Arthur, quit beating around the bush. I know your tricks from childhood. You must want something from me. Out with it—what do you need?"
Laughing, Arthur said, "It's nothing, Turtle. Alex's going to live here now. But the manor's full of dust, and he was hoping we could help him clean it so he can stay there comfortably."
Turtle, irritated, said, "Are you crazy? You know Elysira haunts that manor and still you want to stay there?"
"We told you—we spent a night there, it's fine. And remember, Alex saved you from the teacher once!"
Turtle pouted, "I would have rather gotten smacked by the teacher than get killed by Elysira thanks to you."
"Aww, don't say that, Turtle. We really need you."
Arthur smacked Alex's hand for emphasis. Alex caught on and pleaded, "Please, Turtle, come on, remember how I saved you from the teacher?"
Seeing Alex's sad face, Turtle relented, "Alright, I'll come—but on one condition."
Alex immediately asked, "What?"
Turtle laid out his condition, "You have to bring Kevy too—you know I can't do anything without him!"
Arthur grinned, "I'd forgotten our childhood gang of four always needed Kevy. But where will we find him?"
Turtle replied, "Where else—at Emily's store. I can't function without Kevy, and Kevy can't function without Emily!"
Alex scratched his head, "I remember Kevy, but who's Emily? I can't remember anything about her."
Arthur said, "You forgot Emily? Come on, man."
"I'm not saying I forgot her, just can't recall anything. No idea why."
Turtle said, "Well, let's remind you—once you see Emily, you'll remember everything!"
Alex, Turtle, and Arthur had barely taken a step toward Emily's shop when it started raining.
Looking up, Alex said, "What—where did this rain come from? It was clear when we left the house."
Arthur opened his umbrella and said, "Man, this is Maine, not your old Boston. It rains all the time here—that's why I told you to bring the umbrella from home."
As soon as Arthur opened his umbrella, Turtle ducked under it. Alex opened his own umbrella too.
Arthur started walking, saying, "Alex, do you know why they call Maine the 'Land of Clouds'?"
Alex, surprised, said, "Why?"
"Because the name means 'cloud home,' and it's one of the rainiest places in the country—more rain than anywhere else. That's why it's called that."
"Oh, I see!"
Chatting as they walked, Alex, Arthur, and Turtle made their way to Emily's shop.
At Emily's shop, light rain was falling—barely more than a drizzle—while gusts of wind swept the clouds away. Emily's shop was a small eatery and tea stall. Outside, three or four square tables and chairs were set up; some customers were having tea, some eating.
At one of these tables, a young man in a white shirt sat, wearing a cap, a pen in his hand, scribbling in a diary. A group of school kids in uniform surrounded him, probably middle schoolers.
As he wrote, the guy recited:
"I look super cool
Brought you a rose, my jewel
If you like me too, dearest mine
Say 'I accept' three times in line
Your sweet… what's your name again?"
He asked one of the kids.
"Benny, bro," the kid answered.
The guy wrote, "Your loving admirer, Benny."
He tore out the page, folded it into a note, and handed it to the child, who exchanged it for ten bucks. The kid asked, "This will totally work on her, right?"
He replied, "Not just work, son—she'll be all over you."
A tiny boy, maybe ten, piped up, "Bro, write a love letter for me too!"
"You're such a little fellow—who've you fallen for?"
"Bro, love has no age."
"Alright, what's your girl's name?"
"Emi!"
"What—Emi!"
Hearing the name, the young man muttered,
"Can't get any sleep for days
Since you stole my peace, Emi…"
He had just finished when a girl arrived with a tea tray. She was petite, in a red dress, round face.
She stared at the young man and said sharply in Russian, "Что скажешь, Кевой?"
Kevy stammered, "Nothing, Emily! I was just writing a letter for these kids' sweethearts—and his crush's name happened to be Emi."
"And what's that got to do with you? Don't you have anything better to do than write love letters for kids all day? Why don't you get a real job?"
"I am working, Emily! You don't know how big a poet I'll become—as soon as my book of poems gets published, you'll see."
"You and your poetry are both trash!"
Emily was still scolding Kevy when Alex, Turtle, and Arthur arrived.
Seeing Kevy and Emily argue, Alex's memories came rushing back. He said, "You two haven't changed a bit—still arguing just like in childhood!"
Emily, surprised, turned to Alex, "Why do I feel like I know you from somewhere? Have we met?"