by Dale Mayer
What? she cried out, barely hearing their slight groans. Sorry, she said, toning down her voice. Are you saying someone has done this on purpose? If so, why?
That’s what we need to find out, Stefan said smoothly. And for that we have to go back into your history a bit.
No, she said absently. You need to find the asshole who attacked me and knocked me out for six weeks. He’s the one who likely did this to me.
That’s possible but this seems old. There’s got to be a reason why it’s affecting you now, but I suspect it was placed into your system when you were much younger. And probably when you had no idea.
Of course I had no idea, she said. I’d never have allowed it.
What about a long time ago when you were first involved in all those tests? You knew some were done while you were asleep, right?
Yes, she said, her memories opening up to those nightmares. A terrible time in my life.
And what if this person implanted this energy back then? Stefan asked.
Only from one moment to the next, he was gone. So was Dr. Maddy.
She was alone. The voices in her head were gone.
She might have slammed a door in front of them – she kinda felt that way, but the abruptness of it all made her wonder.
She’d never done anything like that before. But the thought of someone having implanted energy what…an energy bomb? In her system a long time ago was damn scary. As scary as those shitty years she’d lived at that “hospital.” Hospital, my ass. It had been a secret testing facility, and that’s all she knew. Except she hadn’t been alone.
There’d been other victims with her.
Faded names and faces filled her mind as she remembered a very aggressive male who hadn’t wanted anything to do with the doctors. They’d done something to him to make him more agreeable. It had worked, she recalled. Considering he’d scared the bejeesus out of her, she’d been delighted with the change. It was only now she had to wonder what they had done. But she didn’t want to remember. It had been years since she thought of the other people in her group. They’d all left over time until, at the end, she’d been the only one still there. Either she wasn’t a success and hadn’t been released or she was the only one without family. The others had all been moved out of the institute while she’d been locked up. She’d done her best to avoid even letting the memories surface.
And in the back of her mind was always the worry the damn doctors had done something else to her. Something irreversible. Something irreparable. Something permanent.
Why?
And why her? She’d never done anything to anyone. She’d been a child. An innocent child who’d turned into a wary and very streetwise teenager. Now an adult, she could look back that long road and wonder that she’d made it at all. And where did she go from here.
Oh wait, she couldn’t go anywhere. Because those assholes from her horrible childhood were still yanking her chain.
*
Dean slumped in the hallway, head leaning back against the wall, eyes closed.
“Dean?”
At the woman’s voice, his eyes flew open and he bolted to his feet.
“Easy, I didn’t mean to wake you.” Dr. Maddy said gently.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” he muttered, giving himself a shake. “How is she?”
“She’s holding. But there’s definitely a mystery surrounding her condition.” She hesitated for a moment, and then said, “You’re in law enforcement, correct?”
Not sure where she was going with this, he nodded. “I am.”
“Is it possible for you to track the studies she was put into when she was a child? I could use the names of the doctors involved. It might give me an idea of what was done and why.” She smiled apologetically. “Normally I’d ask my partner to chase the information down, but he’s out of town.”
“That’s fine. I can search her history and see what I can come up with.” He looked around. “Is she staying here for tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll go to the office and start searching right away.” He said goodbye and took off, glad to have a clear job to do. A nuts and bolts type of job. His kind of job. This damn fairy dust was hard to be around.
Chapter 16
Tia slipped out of bed and walked to the doorway. The place was unlike any hospital she’d ever been in, and she’d been in more than a few. She’d been in way too many all through her young years.
There was carpeting on the floors, beautiful paintings on the walls and some wall hangings that appeared to be hand stitched. She glanced back at her bed and realized it had real blankets on it, handmade quilts. How could this be?
Taking the opportunity she turned left, tugging her housecoat over her shoulders, and walked down a few doorways. Bedrooms lined each side of the hallway, small but complete and lived in. Most of the occupants were middle-aged adults. One held a child who sat cross legged on her bed, a puzzle spread out in front of her.
Tia smiled down at her. She wondered if she should speak, but the child looked absorbed in what she was doing. That was fine by her. She was too upset and out of sorts to do so anyway.
She walked to the closest window. Beautiful gardens were down below, she was on what must be the 4th or maybe 5th floor. There were small sitting rooms and balconies. Easy chairs and comfortable looking couches. This was her idea of a perfect living room, it was very comforting being in it.
“And that is the way it’s supposed to be,” Dr. Maddy said from behind her. Her voice was tired but calm.
“You could read my thoughts?”
Dr. Maddy nodded. “It saves time.”
Tia studied her. “How does this place exist? It must be a private hospital.”
“What it is, is unique.” Dr. Maddy smiled, her gaze assessing. “Shall we sit and talk?”
She motioned to a deck with double French doors open. “I’m going to have a coffee, would you like one?”
“Yes, please.” Tia brightened. “Any chance it’s not regular hospital coffee?”
Maddy laughed. “No, it’s not hospital coffee. Just as we take healing seriously here, we don’t joke about our coffee. Go sit outside and I’ll grab two cups.”
Delighted at the idea, Tia walked outside and chose a chair close to the edge so she could look over the railing.
She hardly noticed when Dr. Maddy arrived with two cups of foamy coffees. “Whoa, nice.”
“My own coffee maker,” she said with a small smile. “I damn near live here, so I have the few pleasures that make my day that much more enjoyable.”
“Smart.” Tia reached over and blew the top gently. She loved coffee and lattes especially, but the thought of waiting for it to cool enough to drink was irritating. It smelled so good.
Dr. Maddy picked up her cup and had a sip. Her gaze was clear, peaceful and yet intent.
Well, she could study Tia all she wanted. She wasn’t trying to hide anything. She went to pick up her cup and couldn’t grab it.
She frowned and tried again. Her hand went right through the ceramic and hot liquid. This was just so not happening. Stunned, she slumped back into her chair and turned her gaze to Dr. Maddy.
“You didn’t know?”
“Know what?” Tia said in a faint voice. “That I can’t pick up a cup of coffee?”
“That you aren’t in your physical body.”
*
As shocks went, this one was big. Dr. Maddy studied the first major case of disconnection she’d ever seen.
That Tia had no idea made it even more interesting. She really didn’t understand she was wandering around in her etheric body and not in her physical body. Maddy wondered how long she’d been able to do this, and if those around her knew.
She had the unique ability to look solid when wandering too. Most people would be fooled until they came closer. And when she was in contact with Dean, she became solid.
Something Stefan and Dr. Maddy had never seen.
Dean’s e
nergy somehow helped her.
It’s one of the reasons she’d given him an errand and sent him away. To see what would happen when that connection broke. And she was seeing it now.
Tia stared down at the cup on the table. “I’m not going to be able to drink that, am I?” Her voice was so forlorn, Dr. Maddy laughed. “Not until you wake up. I promise you a cup when you do.”
“Wake up?”
“Yes,” Dr. Maddy said firmly. “Wake up.”
Tia stared at her. “No, see I was asleep. Then I woke up. I’m awake now.”
“You were asleep. Your etheric body woke up, left the bed and wandered the floor.”
“Not possible.” Tia shook her head. “I saw people here. They saw me.”
“Of course. So did I.” She took a sip of coffee. “Did anyone notice you though?”
Silence.
Reluctantly, Tia shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “They didn’t. I thought I was just being really quiet.”
At that Maddy’s eyebrows shot up, and it was all she could do to hold her grin back. “And you were.”
Tia rubbed her arms wrapped around her chest. “Where’s Dean? I’d like to see Dean.” Tia looked around as if searching for him. Her energy started to fizzle.
Maddy watched carefully at the proof of the connection between Dean and Tia. The bracelet was another big one. It would have affected them both – yet in different ways.
She really wanted Dean to be here right now too. So he could see Tia.
She’d bet a million bucks Dean didn’t know the difference and wouldn’t take the news kindly.
*
Stefan was waiting for Dean in the lobby when he returned to the Maddy’s Floor several hours later.
“Hey, Stefan. I didn’t expect to see you here.” Dean hadn’t been able to stay away. He came back as soon as he could.
Stefan smiled. “It’s necessary. I, we, Dr. Maddy and I need to speak with you for a few moments.”
Dean’s back went up. “Is Tia okay? Is she worse?”
“She’s holding for the moment. Dr. Maddy spoke with her earlier. There was news that came as a bit of a shock to her, but she’s taking it as well as can be expected.” Stefan’s voice turned wry. He turned and walked to the old style gilded elevator. “Let’s go up.”
“Sure, I only left because Dr. Maddy asked me for more information on Tia’s background.”
“And did you find anything?”
“She spent five years as part of a different kind of paranormal study. They likely already knew about some of her abilities. According to the brief I read, they were trying to duplicate her abilities. But what they put out there for the public to read and what went on behind closed doors are probably two different things.”
“True enough. Does it give any other details about who was in the study with her, and where she went afterwards?”
“There’d been an accident and the study shut down apparently. But again, no details.”
“No, there wouldn’t be,” Stefan said. “She believes that Dr. Ansell Wilhelm, the head of the project, died in an attack at the lab. I’m not so sure he did. If we could confirm that, it would help. Did you live anywhere close to that trailer park where Tia lived as a child?”
“No, thank heavens. That wouldn’t have been a great childhood. A rough neighborhood that one.”
“Hmmm.”
The two walked into the elevator and pushed the button to go up. Dean looked at him. “Why all the questions?”
“Just wondering if there is a connection between you and Tia.”
“No,” Dean said in surprise. “I never met her before the hospital.”
“Okay. I just wondered.”
Dean paused. “Of course she looked familiar, but I didn’t really see it until later when she was in my house. She looks like a girl I rescued a few months back. Before all the crap in my world happened.”
Stefan hit the stop button on the elevator panel. “Looks like?”
Dean frowned at him. “I doubt it was her. She appeared to have been attacked. I tried to talk to her, but she wasn’t all there.” He closed his eyes for a long moment. “She wore a hoody and had the hood over her long hair so I couldn’t see much. It was also in the evening and it wasn’t a clear sky. Honestly, she gave the impression of being a runaway teenager in trouble. Seemed to be in major distress. I called for an ambulance and never saw her again.”
“That must be it.” Stefan hit the button and the elevator continued its creaky climb. “I’d bet that was Tia. It only makes sense that there’d be a prior connection.”
“Must be what?” Dean said in exasperation. “You’re weird most of the time but since Tia, you’re downright bizarre.”
Stefan laughed. “If you only knew.”
“Knew what?” And why wouldn’t he just come out and tell him. It might have been Tia he’d seen. The more he thought on it, the more possible it became. Still, what difference did it make? “You’re just as bizarre. You just don’t know it.”
The double doors opened to see Dr. Maddy waiting for them. “Good, you found him.”
She turned and led the way back to the balcony.
Seeing Tia, Dean smiled with relief. “Hey, I’m so glad to see you awake and up. You look great.”
Tia gave him a half smile, her gaze curious as she stared back at him. “I’m glad to be awake this much at least.” Her comment confused Dean even more. Then she added in a low voice, “Thanks for caring.”
The truth and pain in her words reminded him of her lonely childhood. He sat down on the chair beside her, reaching over to pick up her hand and smiled. “I do care. You’re not as alone as you think.”
She stared at their hands for a long moment, raised that shocked gaze to his then looked to Dr. Maddy and Stefan.
Dean knew something was wrong. He just didn’t know what. “It’s really irritating when you all know something I don’t. I’m not used to feeling dense but around you two…”
“We don’t want you to feel that way,” Dr. Maddy said. “In this case, you are showing us something we’ve never seen before. And we don’t know what to think. So it’s for you to teach us.”
He stared at the two of them. “More riddles.”
Tia laughed. “They mean you can see me as if I were solid and real in front of you. Feel me as if I’m flesh and blood. Hold me as if I’m solid.”
“What the hell does that mean?” He pulled back slightly. “What? Are you trying to say you aren’t?”
She nodded. “I’m here in my etheric body only. My physical body is still in bed.”
At his look of incomprehension, she added, “Something like being a living ghost.”
Oh hell.
Chapter 17
“I want to see my body.” Tia stood up and ran. Straight past them. Dean unsuccessfully reached out a hand to stop her.
She stormed down the hallway back to her room and came to a screeching stop in the doorway. She looked in and saw herself sound asleep. In bed.
Not standing in the doorway like she thought she was.
“Actually, you are both. Remember it takes both to survive,” Stefan said behind her.
“Easy for you to say,” she said bitterly. “It’s not like you’re standing here without your body on.”
He gave a bark of laughter, walked over to the visitor chair and sat down.
Then he stood up.
Leaving his body behind.
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.
She could feel her nonexistent heart pounding inside her nonexistent chest. She closed her eyes then opened them wide. He still stood in front of her and his body still sat in the chair beside her bed.
“This is so not happening.”
“Of course it is.”
“You never knew?” Dean said beside her, his voice curiously detached as he stared at Stefan seated on the chair. “I presume Stefan just did something odd.”
“He left his body so he looks like Tia in et
hereal form,” Dr. Maddy said. “If you can see her, then you can see him.”
“But I can’t,” Dean said in frustration. “I see him sitting beside the empty bed only.”
Silence ensued. As one, all three people turned to look at him. He groaned. “Now what did I say?”
“Is that bed empty to you?” Tia asked in shock. “Really?”
He turned and studied the bed. After a moment he shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure what I’m seeing. The bedding is pulled up and sitting at an awkward angle, but there doesn’t appear to be anything underneath. It’s like you’re invisible again.”
“I’m underneath,” Tia said. “How weird is that? He can see me in ethereal form but not in physical form right now.”
“I don’t know how,” Dr. Maddy said, “but let’s find out.” She turned to Dean. “Walk over and hold both her ethereal and physical hands.”
“How?” He looked at her, and then said dryly. “Remember I can’t see her physical hand.”
Tia watched as he followed Dr. Maddy’s directions and eventually managed to pick up her physical hand.
“Now, Tia, go and hold his hand. Make sure you hold him with your right hand, the same hand your physical body is holding.”
Tia stepped to Dean’s side and placed her right hand in his.
Crackle!
“Whoa, what the hell was that?” Dean cried out.
“Now look at the bed and tell me what you see.” Dr. Maddy said, her voice raised slightly, curiosity and excitement in the air.
But he was staring down at the hand in his. The nonexistent physical hand. “Holy crap. I can see her hand.”
His gaze flew to the form on the bed and he swallowed – hard.
“This is some weird shit.”
Stefan spoke from the far side of the room, “Dean, when you thought you saw her being attacked and you stepped up to help her, how long ago was that?”
“Just before I went off on physical leave myself.”
“Physical leave,” Dr. Maddy asked sharply. “What do you mean by that?”
He turned, but his gaze stayed on the bed. “I started having trouble with my vision, digestive problems and fatigue. The doctors thought I’d picked up a virus somewhere but couldn’t pinpoint it. That’s why I was doing a security stint at the hospital – I need the extra money. I’m no longer getting my full pay, but the bills didn’t reduce with the income.”