Then, memories flooded her mind—Jason and his parents, their repetitious actions and dialog playing like a video on a loop, pictures falling off the mantel, paramedics peering over her.
“The police may come here tomorrow to question you,” Mom said.
“They’re going to have a long list of things to question me on.”
“Oh?”
“They’ll never believe this one.”
A doctor with bushy hair and square-framed glasses walked into her room, a clipboard and pen in his hands. “Hi, I’m Dr. Zinba. How are you feeling?”
“Like hell,” Jackie said.
“Any pain?”
“My head feels like it’s being squeezed in a vice.”
He made a mark on his clipboard. “Nausea?”
“A sip of water would probably make me blow chunks.”
He marked his clipboard again. “You suffered a concussion,” he said, casually.
Mom covered her mouth.
“Holy shit!” Jackie said.
“According to the Cantinellis, you were unconscious for less than a minute,” Dr. Zinba said, “so it appears to be mild. We’d like to keep an eye on you, though, at least for the next twenty-four hours… just in case anything serious develops.”
“Mom, I don’t want to miss school.” What she really wanted was her life to be back to normal, which included being friends with Jason and going to school every day without being persecuted or harassed by Sandra and her henchmen.
“It’s one in the morning,” Mom said, “and you’re in no condition to go anywhere.”
Jackie found her predicament all so weird. Madam Sophie warned her that if she didn’t learn how to protect herself, she would put herself in physical danger. It would have been nice of her if she had been more specific. Like, Hey, don’t go to Jason’s house today because you’re going to get hit in the head with a thirty-two-inch flat-screen TV.
But Jackie probably wouldn’t have listened to her and would have gone anyway. And how the heck could she have protected herself from what happened at Jason’s house? It was like she was caught inside a magnetic force. Maybe she imagined it all. Maybe Mr. C. did hit her with the TV. Her head really hurt. She didn’t know what to think. There was an IV in her arm and a full bag on the rack. She really didn’t think she had a choice.
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll stay.”
Chapter 25
A staff member wheeled Jackie to a permanent hospital room. Once her head sunk into the pillow, it didn’t take her long to fall asleep. In the middle of the night, she was awakened by a nurse taking her vitals. She fell back to sleep, but didn’t sleep as soundly as she did before. Soon, she was awakened again, this time by the smell of bacon.
At a little after eleven, a tall, lanky man in a suit walked into the room and flashed an open wallet with a badge. “Hi, I’m Detective Sikes.” He pulled a pen and notebook out of his jacket pocket, and after small talk about the weather and how she was feeling, he asked, “Can you tell me what happened last night?”
She wasn’t sure what to tell him. The whole event was bizarre, so she started with the basics. “Well, my friend Jason called. He wanted me to come over, but he didn’t say why. I could tell by the sound of his voice that something was wrong. When I got to his house, I called him so he’d open the door. I hate ringing the doorbell. I’m always afraid his dad is going to answer the door. He’s such a… crab ass.”
Detective Sikes noted that as well.
She smiled.
“Go on,” he said.
“But Jason didn’t answer his phone, so I called a few more times, and then I just went inside.” Detective Sikes didn’t need to know how she got inside. “I was worried about Jason because of the last domestic fight his parents had.” This should justify her breaking and entering through Jason’s window, should that piece of info already be in his police report.
Detective Sikes nodded.
“So, when I got inside, Jason and his parents were in the basement, arguing. When I tried to get Jason’s attention, something hit me in the back of the head, and here I am.”
“Did you see who hit you?”
“No. From what I was told, I was hit with a TV. It hit me from behind. I never saw it coming. The thing is, I’m ninety-nine percent sure it was an accident.
Having no logical explanation to feed him, she shrugged.
“What about the bruises on your body and face?” he asked. “How did those get there?”
Nice. They saw the bruises. “I tripped when I went to fill Babu’s prescriptions.”
He made note of this. “Mrs. Cantinelli and her son Jason aren’t pressing charges against Mr. Cantinelli. The side of Mrs. Cantinelli’s face was red and swollen when we arrived on the scene,” he said, looking at her like she might be lying about her bruises. “But she hasn’t said a word about how it happened. If Mr. Cantinelli attacked you, I would strongly suggest you press charges because he’s going to hurt or kill someone. It’s just a matter of time.”
“He didn’t attack me. I’m sure of it.”
“So that TV just flew up from its stand and hit you in back of the head?”
She nodded.
He handed her his card. “We’re going to let Mr. Cantinelli go since we have nothing to hold him on. Maybe after your head heals, you’ll be sure about that other one percent.” He started to leave and then turned. “You know, if Mr. Cantinelli hurts or kills someone, you’ll be partly to blame.”
She knew this was true, but after what she had witnessed, she didn’t think it was Mr. C.’s fault.
***
When the hospital staff took Jackie for a CT scan, all she could think about was that Dad was going to shit when he got his half of the bill, despite Mom’s insurance.
Back in her room, Mom called from work.
“So, what happened last night?” she asked.
Jackie really didn’t want to go over this again. “I don’t know. Mr. and Mrs. C. were arguing. Things got crazy.”
“I don’t want you going to Jason’s house any more. I never liked Bob. There’s always been something seriously wrong with him.”
“How do you think Jason feels? He’s stuck with him every day.”
“It’s not your responsibility to save the world. It never was. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, back then. I—”
“Mom, it’s okay. Thanks.”
***
It was late afternoon. Jackie was sitting up in the hospital bed watching a soap opera with the volume turned down, bored to tears, and wanting to go home. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a young man standing at the room entrance in sweat pants and a hooded, zip-up jacket. He said hello to the woman in bed one.
It was David! Not on official business. Not good. She disappeared beneath the covers, hoping he wouldn’t spot her.
Controlling her breath to keep quiet and lying still, she pretended to be asleep. His presence grew stronger as he, no doubt, approached the bed.
Go away!
“Jackie?”
A hand squeezed her arm. The warmth of it penetrated the thin covers, rushed through her arm, and sent her stomach whirling like a periwinkle in the wind.
She threw back the covers. “Would you stop that?”
He jumped back. “Sorry.”
She pointed to the wall where the white board hung. “Stand over there.”
“Am I being punished?”
She shook her finger at him like Babu in scolding mode. “You…”
His hands folded in front of him, his head down, he ambled toward the wall. “I do not know what happened between us at the church, but I am sorry.”
“Ha! Don’t even think it was you. It was the candlestick.”
Looking like a guilty schoolboy, he raised his eyes to look at her. “Then, why am I standing here?”
“Because you… you have this weird energy. It annoys me.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t know what the heck goes on
in that church and what I picked up.”
He smirked. “Obviously, too much. Father Dmitriev gave me an hour lecture on the dangers of getting too close to the patrons.”
Her face burned, and she covered it with her hands. “I meant the candlestick.”
“Honestly, I am very sorry I put you through that. I did not know you were so… sensitive.”
“Father Dmitriev thought I was possessed back in the day. Now, I bet he’s pretty much ready to burn me at the stake.”
David nodded. “But that is only his opinion. I pray all the time over the problem in the church, and still it persists. Father Dmitriev has performed several exorcisms too, to no avail. We tried to keep the problem hidden from the congregation, but someone looked behind drop cloth. Now, the whole congregation knows. That is how I learned about you. Some church members came to me and begged me to ask for your help. They think God has blackened the icon to bring you back to church. You are still special to these people, despite what Father Dmitriev says.”
This vision thing had gone too far. “I’m not what people say I am.”
“They say that they felt energy around you. It made them feel good. I know what they are talking about, because I feel it too.”
He feels my energy? “It’s all in their heads.”
David looked offended.
“How come the congregation never felt this way about me before I had the vision?” she asked.
“Maybe you were blessed the day you had it.”
Ugh! There was no convincing David she wasn’t who he thought she was. She had to come clean, tell him the truth. The whole school knew it. The congregation may as well know it too. Maybe then, David would leave her alone.
“I lied. I never saw the Virgin.”
David’s lips parted. He gazed at her, silently.
“I was scared. It was the first time this whole touchy-feely thing came to me. The vision of the fire was so vivid, I freaked out. Father Dmitriev made me feel like I’d carried the devil into the church, and everyone was staring at me like I was possessed. I was afraid that Father Dmitriev was going to throw me, Babu, and Grandma out of the church for good, so I made up the lie that the Virgin told me the church was going to catch fire.”
“But it did.”
“Well, yeah, but not because the Virgin told me it was going to catch fire.”
“How do you know God didn’t show you the vision?”
“Because I know what I am.”
He looked at her like he didn’t understand.
“I can read the emotion in objects and people. I know what’s going on with them. I know what’s happened to them.”
“And you can predict the future?”
“No, I may have a feeling something’s going to happen, but that’s like intuition. Most everyone can do that. I just have extra help through the emotions I pick up.”
“Then, if you cannot predict future, how did you predict fire?”
“I don’t know.”
“Would it be because God showed you?”
She grimaced. “And what if the vision came from Satan, like Father Dmitriev said it did?” She didn’t really believe in Satan; she was just playing devil’s advocate.
“That would mean that Satan has power within church, and that he showed you the vision to protect the church and to save a life. I do not think that is Satan’s character.”
“So what good did the vision do? I dropped the ball, and Stephanie died. And then everyone’s on me like I’m all holy or something, when I’m not. I mean, I pretty much defrauded the church, and that’s why I’m never going back there.”
“Maybe God gave you this gift for a reason… to use for His good.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“I understand.” He took a step forward. “How is your grandmother?”
“Stubborn and not taking her pills.”
He raised his brow. “Hmm.”
“Don’t say it.”
He grinned.
“You will be proud to know, however, that I’ve been downloading Russian lessons. Maybe, someday, I’ll be able to better communicate with Babu.”
“Good. It must be hard for her not having anyone to speak with.”
She was startled to see Madam Sophie standing by bed one, wearing her pink, quilted jacket and an olive-colored skirt that swept the floor.
“Oh, no,” Jackie said, expecting hellfire to rain down on the room or for the ceiling to cave in.
David turned. He and Madam Sophie nodded at each other. Jackie guessed they were leaving it to her to make the formal introductions. She thought about just saying, “David this is Sophie,” but to drop the title from Madam Sophie’s name would be disrespectful—especially after Madam Sophie had been so kind to her. So, she dropped the bombshell. “David, this is Madam Sophie. And Madam Sophie, this is David Davidovich.”
They stared at each other for a second or two.
“Madam as in fortune-teller, not prostitute,” Madam Sophie said.
David blushed. “That did not cross my mind. I know who you are.” Partially extending his arm, he held out his hand. Madam Sophie seemed hesitant about reaching for his hand as if she sensed that he was a seminarian and sparks might fly. But then she reached out and locked hands with him.
David pulled away. He looked nervous.
Madam Sophie eyed David up and down. “You’re from the church. You are—”
“I am a seminarian completing my internship at Holy Resurrection.”
“I would have gotten it if you gave me time,” Madam Sophie said.
David flexed the hand that Madam Sophie had held.
“Madam Sophie was quite the Good Samaritan the other day,” Jackie said, trying to ease the tension. “I was getting my butt kicked in town, and she came to my rescue.”
Madam Sophie smiled, her crooked teeth showing.
“How did you know I was here?” she asked Madam Sophie, expecting her to have had some kind of a premonition.
“Newspaper,” she said.
Jackie was kind of disappointed.
“Me too,” David said. “I have to go. I have a basketball game with the neighborhood boys. Think about what I said.” His gaze cut through Jackie. He glanced at Madam Sophie, a worried look on his face.
When David left the room, Madam Sophie looked curiously at her. “Problems at church?”
“Let’s not go there.”
“You want to tell me about last night?”
She really didn’t. She was so tired of telling it, of filtering what she disclosed, but then she realized, with Madam Sophie, she could tell it all. She would understand. “Yeah,” she said. “It was so weird. When I walked into Jason’s basement, the room was hot, like there was friction or electricity in the air. And it was like the whole family was being controlled by some force. I mean, they weren’t themselves. They were saying and doing the same things over and over like they were caught in a script. When I stepped in front of Jason, pictures fell off the mantel, the lights went off and on, and I was slammed in the back of my head.”
“I warned you.”
“What am I supposed to do? Lock myself in a padded room?”
“No. There are things you can do to protect yourself. You’re a healer. You can protect yourself by zipping yourself up from the forces of evil and sending out healing energy to assuage those forces.” She took a crystal out of her jacket pocket. “Take this.”
Jackie shirked the crystal. “No. I’m good.”
“It’s just a natural object that will help ward off negative energies.”
“No, thanks.”
“The religious teachings of your church are so ingrained in your head, you can’t even see a natural object for what it is. You can’t even accept yourself for what you are.” She slipped the crystal into her jacket pocket. “Come to my apartment. I’ll teach you how to use your gift to protect yourself.”
Father Dmitriev had called Jackie a heretic and a divine
r. By the time Madam Sophie was done with her, he’d have sorcerer to add to the list.
“I’ll pass.”
“Call first,” Madam Sophie said.
As she left the room, she passed Jason, who looked like he was about to shit when he saw her. “Was that Madam Sophie?” he asked Jackie.
Jackie nodded. Since she and Jason hadn’t been talking, she hadn’t gotten a chance to tell him about Sandra and how Madam Sophie came to her rescue. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
She was so happy to see Jason. She felt grounded, back to normalcy.
“I brought you something.” Jason handed her the current edition of Professional Photography.
“Thanks.” She set it on her lap.
“I’m sorry about what happened last night.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry I couldn’t help. Madam Sophie says I don’t know what I’m doing.”
He stared at her, slack jawed. “You’re seeing Madam Sophie?”
“No. I’m not seeing her as in getting my fortune read. We’re just friends.”
His eyes widened.
“It’s a long story. She’s not a bad person. She’s just… odd.”
“Watch your back.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on seeing her again. So, how’s your mom holding up?”
“She’s not. Dad came home about an hour ago, packed his things, and left. Says the house is driving him crazy. He might be right. It was so weird. Ma and Dad were in the basement fighting. I came down to protect my ma, in case he flew off the handle. They kept saying and doing the same thing over and over. All I remember is walking over to them. After that, I don’t remember anything until you were lying on the floor. My dad called the police. He told them he blacked out and thought he did it. He made them take him in.”
“He did?”
Jason nodded.
“Well, if he comes home and goes berserk again, just come over to my house. My mom will understand. Unless you’d rather stay with Trish.”
Jason dropped his head. “She shouldn’t have told. I shouldn’t have told.”
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry about what I said to you. I would rather die than hurt you.”
Possessed (Pagan Light Book 1) Page 12