Sinister Awakenings

by Marianne Spitzer

  “Of course. I have too much to live for. Come on before I’m late for my own press conference.”

  The six friends walked together toward the city square fountain. Kellie saw the TV truck parked along a side street and the female reporter speaking to her cameraperson. The casually dressed young cameraperson saw them walking toward the fountain. She lifted her camera and nodded to the reporter. The reporter dressed to the nines in a deep green suit, heels, and perfectly coiffed hair turned and spoke into the camera.

  Kellie noticed the clock on the library building. It was ten minutes before two. People shopping at the unique stores near the town square began gathering when they saw the TV truck.

  The reporter hurried over to speak with Kellie.

  “Hello again, Kellie. It’s nice to see you, but I’m still not entirely sure why you’ve called this press conference.”

  The reporter from the local paper joined them repeating the question the TV reporter asked.

  “I’ll answer your questions in just a few minutes. I’m waiting for Detective Stellion to arrive. I want him to watch the press conference in person. You’re sure this is going live?” She turned to the TV reporter.

  “Yes, we’re breaking into our programming as soon as you begin the interview. My viewers will be interested since you hinted at a recent crime and new evidence.”

  “That’s right. I’ll let you know the details in a bit.” She glanced at the newspaper reporter who was writing furiously on his notepad while holding a tape recorder. “Please excuse me. My uncle is here. I’ll be right back.”

  Kellie strode across the street and up to her uncle and Max, who seemed to be arguing.

  “I’m not sure what’s going on here, but the reporter from the TV station started recording as soon as she saw me. Your attitudes might end up on the six o’clock news.” She smiled hoping to settle them both.

  Max shrugged. “Your uncle is upset that I won’t tell him what you’re doing. He doesn’t believe me when I tell him I can’t say a word until it’s time.”

  “Trust me, Uncle Mike, you’re going to want to watch and listen.” She turned and hurried back to the reporter.

  She nodded to the reporter. Kellie listened to the reporter sign into the station with a breaking news alert coming from the city square. As the reporter droned on, Kellie looked at Taylor. Their knowing glances calmed Kellie’s fear. It was time. She took a deep breath, slipped her amulet from her neck, and handed it to Taylor. Kellie cleared her mind of all thoughts except the news conference.

  Max gripped Hunter’s arm. “She’s really doing this. Keep your eyes out for Thomas.”

  The reporter turned to Kellie and asked her why she requested a press conference.

  “I’m here to clear Travis Glanden’s name. He didn’t kill Molly. She was murdered by an evil spirit named Thomas. I can prove it. I wanted to tell the people watching what happened along with the people witnessing this in person.”

  “How do you expect to do that?” The reporter asked.

  “Call him out.” She turned and called out to the maniacal spirit intent on her destruction.

  “Thomas? Can you see me? Can you hear me? Are you brave enough to face me or are you embarrassed you lost when you attacked Claudia’s house? I think you’re hiding. You must be too ashamed to face the woman who beat you. A woman beat you. I understand why you would hide.” Kellie turned slowly in a circle as she spoke. She expected him to appear at any second.

  “What the hell is she doing?” Mike demanded. “I thought that spirit left and even if it didn’t it can’t see or hear her.”

  “It can’t unless she takes off her amulet. That’s what she handed to Taylor. Thomas can see her and hear her.” He stood clenching his fists knowing there was little he could do.

  “Why?” Mike growled. Anger apparent on his face, he pulled his mic and called for backup.

  “She knows Thomas killed Molly. She’s going to clear Travis’ name.”

  Taylor, Andrea, Cole, and Hunter formed a semi-circle behind Kellie. They avoided making eye content with her to help her concentrate on summoning Thomas.

  Max looked at Mike. “I have to join them.” He strode across the street and stood next to Cole.

  The reporter’s gasp caused Kellie to spin in her direction and follow her gaze to the top of the fountain. Thomas hovered just above the water surrounded in a murky haze.

  “My dear Kellie,” Thomas began. “You didn’t come alone did you? Where’s Red? I need to see her again. I’ll settle for you, but I really want Red. I could find her later after we play a few games.” His grin caused Kellie’s skin to crawl.

  “Are you getting this?” demanded the reporter.

  “Yeah, yeah, of course,” her cameraperson responded.

  Kellie smiled and walked back and forth in front of the fountain.

  “What are you doing?” Thomas asked.

  “Thinking. You do remember thinking don’t you? Or have you been dead so long that your brain no longer works?”

  The clap of thunder that shook the area caused both the reporter and cameraperson to duck for a moment. When they realized it was Thomas showing off, they resumed their positions taking in each action and word.

  Kellie laughed. “I see you remember how to make noise. Is that all?”

  Thomas returned her laugh with a nearly ear-splitting maniacal laugh. “You know I can do so much more.”

  “Oh, I’m aware you think you can. You should tell us. You have quite an audience here this afternoon.” Kellie waved her hand at the people watching Thomas. Cell phone camera users snapped pictures and took video.

  Thomas scanned the crowd with angry eyes. He saw many people watching him, but he couldn’t see Kellie’s friends.

  “Where’s Red?” Thomas growled.

  “She’s home safe. You can’t have her now or ever. As a matter of fact, you will never see her again.”

  Thomas screamed and flew around the fountain twice before settling back just above the water.

  “You are wrong. She will be mine again and forever.”

  Kellie did her best to ignore Taylor. Her best friend must be feeling terrified, but she needed to concentrate her white light on herself at the moment to barricade her thoughts from Thomas. It would ruin her plan if he had any inkling what she was doing. Hunter would comfort Taylor.

  “No. She will not. Not ever. You know that. It’s why you went after another pretty red head. Molly had red hair, but she wasn’t Taylor.” Kellie took a step closer to the fountain.

  Max wanted to reach out and pull her back. “Don’t,” whispered Cole. “She knows what she’s doing, and Thomas can’t figure out we’re here to help her.”

  Max nodded.

  Kellie knew Thomas’ anger would be his undoing. She needed to push harder.

  “Come on, Thomas. You know Taylor will never be yours. She’s in love with Hunter. Did you hear they have a baby boy? Their lives are perfect, and you’re here sitting in a fountain. I guess that’s why you attacked Molly. Was she a substitute for Taylor?”

  Thomas screamed again. “Yes, she was a substitute for Red, but a bad one. She didn’t have Red’s spark. Her eyes were the wrong color, and all I could see in them was fear. Red showed me fear, but she also showed me anger. Red’s a tiger. I will get her.”

  “No, sorry but you won’t. You shouldn’t have killed Molly. Once you left the Gotz Manor House, you seem to have lost control. I feel sorry for you.” Kellie smiled at him and slipped her hands into her jeans’ pockets.

  Thomas’ anger grew. He flew around haphazardly for several minutes while thunder rattled and red sparks flew over the crowd gathered near the fountain. Several women screamed, and Kellie saw determined anxiety on the face of the reporter. Kellie knew the woman would stay to the end and gather every minute detail.

  “Now, now Thomas no need to throw a tantrum,” Kellie continued. “We all know you want us to know you’re a big scary spirit, and you killed Molly. Okay,
I’ll give you that. You terrorized and killed Molly.”

  A strangely quiet Thomas hovered over the water again. “Good. I want you to know what I’m capable of, and I want everyone else to know. What I did to the little red head I can do to anyone. People should be aware of that. Maybe they’ll offer me Red. Hey, everyone, just give me Red, and I’ll leave. No one else gets hurt.”

  Not one person in the crowd moved.

  “I told you she isn’t here,” Kellie insisted.

  Mike sat down in his cruiser. “I’ll be damned. The Glanden kid didn’t kill the girl. Kellie was right. The Chief isn’t going to be happy.” He ran his hand through his hair and continued to watch the interaction between Kellie and the spirit he never believed existed.

  Thomas sputtered, “Doesn’t matter. I’ll find her.”

  “Hey,” Kellie yelled.

  “What,” Thomas spat.

  “I’m confused. You killed Molly, but everyone thinks Travis Glanden killed her. You couldn’t do it alone. You actually needed help? I guess you are losing strength.”

  Thomas threw his head back and laughed a near normal laugh. “Did you forget so soon that when I kidnapped Red I used Hunter’s body? That way he would think he did it all. His eyes would see what mine did, but of course, I controlled everything. I would be the one to enjoy her.”

  “Oh yeah right,” Kellie answered. “I do remember that. But why the Glanden kid? I understand why you wanted to torment Hunter since you were jealous he and Taylor were together, but why Travis?”

  “Easy target. Look at me.”

  Kellie leaned back a little as if she were studying him for the first time. His clothes were rags and his skin sagged in places. In other places, bone was visible through torn skin. Most of his hair was gone and what was left hung in long, greasy strings. She couldn’t tell what color eyes he had or if there were any eyes in the darkened sockets.

  “I see your point. It must be hard walking around the way you look.” Kellie tilted her head as if she was trying to see him from another angle

  “It is. I didn’t want her to begin screaming because of my looks. Then I would never know if what I looked like or what I did to her was causing the screams.”

  Kellie shuddered at the thought.

  “Okay, so you hid behind Travis’ looks, but why have him kill himself. I know you did that, too. You’re more capable than I thought.”

  Thomas’ smug smile let Kellie know she had gotten through to his ego.

  “I had two choices. I could let the kid heal and forget everything, or he could take the blame. I didn’t want you looking for me quite yet. Not until I was ready. So, I let him remember what I did while possessing him and convinced him to kill himself. Stealing the scalpel and placing it in his room was easy. One, two, three he’s gone and the case is closed. No one thought of me.” He laughed again.

  “I did. As soon as I knew a red-haired girl was missing, I knew you took her.”

  “Of course, you did. You are smarter than all the idiots in this town.”

  Kellie turned to look at her uncle. “Did you get all of that Uncle Mike? Travis is innocent. The real murderer is a cold-blooded spirit.”

  Mike nodded, “Got it.”

  Thomas flew at him, but Kellie’s white light stopped him. It also protected the reporter and the cameraperson. Thomas wanted to kill them all.

  “It won’t do any good,” Kellie shouted. “The news went out live. Everyone in town knows the truth.”

  ~ * ~

  “Whoa,” Rita said. She stood and picked up Faith and Hope.

  The girls gurgled and looked up at her; their smiling faces tightening her heart.

  “We better see if Ethan and Nathaniel’s grandmas are watching this newscast. I have to let them know your daddy and great Uncle Mike will keep your mommy safe. I don’t know what she was thinking. I understand she wants to help Mike and prove that young man’s innocence, but this is dangerous.”

  She was speaking aloud to the two girls who stopped making a sound and stared at her while she slipped their small jackets on them.

  “I don’t know why I’m talking to you about it. Neither of you are old enough to understand. I guess it makes me feel better talking out loud.” Faith and Hope squinted at her. “You don’t understand me, do you? No, Rita get a grip here. You’re just worried. Three-month-old babies can’t understand what you’re saying.”

  Faith and Hope smiled as Rita hurried out the door headed for Taylor’s house.

  Mary Lou Colson, Andrea’s mom, paced the living room watching the scene unfold on the breaking news special. Taylor’s mom, Gina, sat stiff-backed and stared at the television screen.

  “What is she thinking?” Gina asked. “Hunter and Taylor are with her. They might all be killed. I never believed in the spirits Kellie spoke of. I do now.” She twisted her hands together.

  “I don’t know,” Mary Lou replied. She walked into Hunter’s office to make sure the boys were still asleep. When she returned, she added, “Andrea is there, too along with Cole. They all have young children. I wish I understood why they're so careless. Oh, here comes Rita. Maybe she knows more.” Mary Lou opened the door for Rita.

  Rita hurried in with the girls. “Oh, I see you’re watching.”

  “Yes,” Gina answered. “We’re trying to understand why they’re so wantonly careless. They have children. Do you understand any of this? I’m afraid for all of them. These little ones need their parents.”

  Rita tossed a blanket on the floor, removed the girl’s jackets, and set them on the blanket. She didn’t fully understand what the young people were doing, but she’d try her best to explain and hopefully relieve a few of Gina and Mary Lou’s fears.

  “From what Mike told me,” Rita began, “Kellie and the rest of them fought this spirit calling himself Thomas once before and lost. He was too strong or Kellie hadn’t learned enough to battle him properly at the time. He remained attached to the Gotz Manor House after it exploded. Once parts of it were removed to begin new construction, he left the property in search of revenge.”

  “Revenge?” Mary Lou stammered. “Against Kellie?”

  “Against them all.”

  “Do you know who this person ‘Red’ is he keeps speaking about. I have a bad feeling,” Gina asked quietly.

  Rita nodded. “It’s Taylor. He was obsessed with her when they visited the Gotz Manor House.”

  “Obsessed? With my Taylor? No! He’ll kill her.” Gina covered her face with her hands and Rita could hear her cry.

  “Oh no,” cried Mary Lou. “Look.” She pointed at the television screen.

  The three women stared in horror as a black mist started to cover the fountain. Kellie held her hands up, a white light emanated from her palms. They shuddered when they again heard thunder and Thomas’ maniacal laughter.

  Max and the other four friends clasped hands and stood behind Kellie. Max was ready to grab her if she needed their strength.

  Thomas stepped toward Kellie, and she pushed more light from her palms. Thomas smiled. Kellie noticed the black rope she’d seen before when battling evil move toward Thomas. This time, he would go to hell. Kellie would make sure of it. The tendril snaked closer to Thomas’ leg and when it was inches from him, Thomas’s foot stomped down on it. The black rope writhed, but couldn’t seem to loosen itself from Thomas’s foot.

  “Did you think it would be that easy?” Thomas smirked.

  “I will beat you. You can’t win,” Kellie retorted.

  “Can’t I?” He reached out and grabbed Kellie’s wrist. His hand slipped through the white light as if it was only air. The black mist encircled them, and Thomas was gone.

  Kellie’s scream hung in the air as she vanished.

  Chapter Six

  Max lurched forward to where Kellie had stood, but he was too late. Andrea and Taylor froze in place and watched with tears streaming down their cheeks. Hunter and Cole ran around the fountain calling her name.

  “She’s g
one,” Andrea stammered. “He took her. He’s too strong for her.” She threw her hands over her face.

  “No,” Max yelled.

  Mike ran up and grabbed Max by the shoulder. He spun him around. “You said she’d be safe. You were right here. How could you let her go?” He fought the urge to use his doubled up fist on Max.

  “I don’t know. It happened too fast. I tried. I tried, Mike. Honestly, I tried.” Anger and fear flashed in his bright blue eyes. “She said she had to finish this and then she wouldn’t go after another spirit. She can’t be gone.”

  “She isn’t,” Lance blurted trying to catch his breath after running the two blocks where he’d been watching the events unfold. “We’ll get her. Claudia’s coming. It’ll take all of us.”

  “What the hell good can Claudia do?” Mike yelled. “What good can you do for that matter. You’re all useless, and he’s taken her.” Mike’s cell chirped. “Oh, Lord, it’s Rita. How do I explain this to her? If you’re going to do something, do it now.” He stomped off toward his cruiser.

  Lance looked at Max. “We’ll get her back. Kellie’s strong. Don’t give up hope.”

  Max paced in a circle rubbing his palms on the sides of his jeans then balling his fists and pounding his thighs. “What can we do?”

  Lance spoke reassuringly. “Claudia’s contacts in the spirit world will know where they are. Thomas may try and hide, but Kellie’s pure power will act as a beacon. We’ll get her. I promise.”

  Max shook his head and walked up to Cole and Hunter. “Lance says he and Claudia can find Kellie, and we can all help her. Are you willing?”

  “Do you need to ask?” Hunter said.

  “Of course,” Cole added.

  Taylor screamed out. “Look. Up on the roof of the library. It’s the black mist. I can see Kellie and her white light.”

  ~ * ~

  Rita, Mary Lou, and Gina stared at the television screen.

  “What just happened,” Gina asked.

  “I wish I knew,” Rita replied as she dropped to her knees next to the girls. “Kellie was there and then she was gone. She disappeared with the black mist. I think she’s battling the spirit.”