Page 5 of Bright Dark Curses
“Exciting, right?” Joining my fellow onlookers, I took out my phone and began snapping photos and a video to send my sister. She was going to be so excited! Unfortunately, the main actors didn’t seem to be around yet.
“They’re such a nuisance,” grumbled a familiar voice next to me.
I looked up from my phone to find Jim from the Haunted House scowling at the film crew. “Nuisance?” I parroted, startled by his presence.
He waved angrily toward the crane and the tent. “Stopping traffic, bothering people.”
“Are they in the way of one of your attractions?” The shops in the buildings were normal enough for Olmeda—a mix of tourist traps, local treasures, and the ever-present restaurants—and nothing screamed someone died horribly here and now we charge to recreate the crime, which was Jim’s usual fare.
Although, to be fair, in Olmeda appearances could be deceiving.
Jim looked almost affronted at my question. “Of course not.”
“Why are you complaining, then?” Dru asked from behind us, Rufus and Fluffy crowded by her side. She sounded irritated and bored but lifted her phone to take photos, anyway.
I fought a grin, then brightened as a new thought came to mind. “Jim, are you a fan of the books too?” Who would’ve thought Jim and I would have something in common beyond Halloween?
“What books?”
I pointed at the crew. “The books the movie is based on.”
“I didn’t know the movie was based on anything.”
“Never go to bed without learning something new.”
He grunted and returned to glare at the set.
“Did they steal one of your actors?” Dru asked.
Jim could get slightly territorial where his people were concerned.
“Few of them signed up as extras.” He shook his head in irritation. “Such a waste of time. It’s all for nothing.”
“All for nothing?” Jim usually was a lot more direct than this. “What do you mean?”
“The curse is going to shut them down.”
Was that another movie or TV show trying to film in Olmeda? I searched my brain but the only movie I had seen mentioned online was Gone by Morning. “What’s ‘The Curse’?” I glanced at Dru, but she was busy filming something above the onlookers to pay me any attention.
Jim let out a sound of irritation. “How should I know? Go ask a witch or something.”
Considering Jim was a human and had no idea about the paranormal world, I chose not to feel insulted he didn’t consider me one. Then the meaning of his words registered. “You mean a curse-curse?” I studied the crew with renewed interest. “The movie is cursed?”
“Olmeda has been cursed for years.”
“Interesting,” I murmured. “How?”
Of course, curses weren’t actually a thing. Bad luck, sure, but curses? There was no magic or spell that could curse something. Curses were just excuses for things that didn’t work out the way people wanted.
“How would I know?” Jim said in annoyance. “All I know is that some years ago someone cursed Olmeda, and nobody wants to film here now.”
“Cursed as in, if you film here, your movie will be a disaster?”
“I guess? Hey, isn’t that one of yours?” Jim asked, pointing at the crew.
I followed the direction of his finger and gasped. Key was standing there in black jeans and a black windbreaker jacket, talking with someone. When she moved away, I saw Fairy Circle Cakes’ logo printed on the back. Mouth hanging open, I watched her progress along the street until she stopped by a white van with Fairy Circle’s logo on the side and began talking to…Shane?
“Sucks to see them working for someone else, doesn’t it?” Jim said with a touch of malicious amusement.