Read Online The Next Full Moon by Carolyn Turgeon - Free Book Online

can’t, yet. But I know what is happening to you. I’m here to help you. If you come with me, I can explain everything.”
    Ava studied her. What if it was true? The thought was so huge Ava couldn’t even really grasp it. The idea that her mother could be alive? Was it possible she really was?
    Something told her she needed to go with the woman, even though the woman was a stranger and everything about this seemed strange and wrong and dangerous. Except of course for the woman’s kind face, her lovely, melting eyes, her soft voice. But Ava had read the old myths and knew that underneath all that beauty the woman could well be an evil old witch or devil.
    â€œWhere do you want to take me?” she asked, narrowing her eyes again.
    â€œInto the woods, where the others are waiting.” Helen released Ava’s hand and stepped back.
    â€œYou’re not kidnapping me, right? You can’t kidnap me. I have a test tomorrow and if I don’t pass it I will totally fail the seventh grade. And there’s this boy I like . . . ”
    Helen laughed. “No. You will be back here before you know it. I promise.”
    Ava waited a second, so as not to give in too easily—but of course she would go, how could she not?—and then nodded. “Okay, fine, I’ll come. Just give me a minute.”
    Leaving Helen at the front door, she ran back to her room and grabbed her keys and her cell phone, just in case. Her phone was flashing with messages, no doubt from Morgan, who was probably imagining Ava flying her around like Superman. Ava shoved the phone and keys into her jeans pocket. Monique was at her heels, yowling at her.
    â€œShoo!” Ava said.
    Monique swiped at her feet.
    â€œYou’re not coming!”
    Helen was waiting, and Ava breathed out in relief that she was still there. Despite herself, her heart was all clenched up, and she’d been terrified the woman would disappear as quickly and mysteriously as she’d come. Her mother! Maybe she would really finally have a mother, after all this time. It seemed impossible, but then, she was probably dreaming all this anyway, and even a dream mother was better than no mother at all. She shut the door on Monique’s glowering face.
    â€œI’m ready,” Ava said.
    â€œLet’s go.”
    They walked around the house and cut through the backyard to the woods. It was as if Helen had taken this path many times before, but Ava was certain she would have noticed a woman like her if she’d ever been in the vicinity. Helen was even more beautiful up close and had that same gentle,delicate quality her mother had had. Ava resisted the urge to reach out and take her hand as they walked.
    Helen led Ava into the woods. Their feet crunched under them. Ava glanced back at their little house with the moon shining down on it. She hoped her father wouldn’t get back before she did. He didn’t need to worry about her any more than he did already.
    â€œI used to live with your mother, Ava,” Helen said, glancing back. “My sisters and I. I remember when she met your father.”
    â€œYou did?” Ava had never heard anything about her mother’s life before she had met her father. It was as if her mother had only begun to exist when she’d met him. Hearing this, now, was amazing. “What . . . What was she like? Where was that?”
    â€œA place I’ll take you to one day. We lived there with many of our friends. Your mother and I used to love to visit the creek here together, in these woods, and go swimming.”
    â€œThe creek here? Where my dad goes fishing?”
    â€œYes.” Helen smiled.
    Ava had to walk quickly to keep up with her. Helen seemed to walk unnaturally fast, without putting forth any real effort. And she seemed to have no problem navigating the woods in the places where the twisting branches overhead blocked out the moonlight. If it weren’t for Helen’s