Dead Voices

Olivia, she would say, when you’re scared, it means you’re thinking of the future. You’re thinking of what might happen. If you’re doing something risky, you can’t think of the future. You must only think of now. And if you only think of now, then you won’t be scared.

But, little Ollie had said, I don’t know how to only think of now.

Breathe, her mother had said. Breathing is what you’re doing right now. So breathe. Think of that and nothing else.

But she almost wanted to cry, thinking of the warm fireplace, her sketchbook, and her chessboard. Why did her friends want to go looking for scary stuff?

She said slowly, “So you are the smiling man. You had blond hair before.”

“What’s a face?” remarked Seth. “Just another kind of deception.”

Olivia, she would say, when you’re scared, it means you’re thinking of the future. You’re thinking of what might happen. If you’re doing something risky, you can’t think of the future. You must only think of now. And if you only think of now, then you won’t be scared.

“Stay together,” said Mr. Voland. “Keep the fire burning. And hope the night holds answers as well as danger.”