Psychic Visions 08-Now You See Her...

by Dale Mayer

  If she was too weak to fight then he’d have to pick up the fight for her.

  *

  Stefan raced through the ethers.

  Maddy?

  Yes, she answered in surprise. What’s up?

  Tia is coming into the ER. She’s in bad shape. Looks to be bleeding from a chest wound.

  A gunshot? Maddy was already running and with her long legs and marathon experience she could sprint.

  I don’t know. Stefan could see through her eyes in a limited way as she raced through the halls.

  What do you know? she asked sharply, heading for the stairwell and taking the stairs two at a time.

  Even in heels. A part of his mind watched her all out sprint in amazement. How the hell could she do that?

  Forget my running style. Talk to me Stefan, she ordered. Can you see who is doing the intake?

  Sabrina someone.

  Good, she knows me. Tell her I’m on the way.

  Ah, yeah, her mind is a closed book, how the hell can I tell her anything. And how is it that she’s the one doing the intake? Her mind is closed because she is another unaware psychic. Closing off is her way of handling the appeals from all those on the other levels. She couldn’t handle listening to their cries for help. But she instinctively knows who can be helped and who can help.

  And if she doesn’t call you…

  Then she might not think I’m the person for the job, but don’t forget I’m not here much. I come in on special cases only.

  I think this is a special case, Stefan said dryly.

  But the world doesn’t operate that way, Maddy said, bursting through the double doors on the main floor. You know that. If we owned the universe then we could make things line up and happen the way they were meant to organically. In the meantime…

  “Oh, Dr. Maddy, there you are. I was just about to call you. We just had an unusual case come in. A police captain is very emphatic that the woman get the best care.”

  Stefan watched Dr. Maddy stride across to where the captain hovered over Tia’s blood soaked body.

  Jesus, Stefan.

  I know. I can’t see much because she seemed to have let everyone in at the same time she spread herself out. I’m blinded by the barrage of energy.

  Dr. Maddy did a quick check then stood up and stared at the prone woman.

  Stefan?

  The captain stood at Dr. Maddy’s side. Stefan was trying to keep track of too much. His own energy was splintering off.

  What, Maddy.

  This isn’t blood.

  What?

  She’s dying, but this isn’t her blood. She’s not the one injured. In fact, she’s fine. But she’s connected to someone else dying.

  Shit.

  Stefan slammed into his body and was up and running out the car door in seconds. He’d planned on going home but had been in need of a quick nap first so was still in the parking lot.

  Damn good thing.

  He ran into the main working area. Such was the nature of the craziness that no one noticed.

  “Where’s Dean,” he shouted.

  No one stopped. No one even looked at him.

  He whistled, long and sharp.

  Silence as dozens of eyes turned his way.

  “Where’s Dean?” he yelled for a second time. “He’s hurt.”

  Several men turned to look at him, puzzlement on their faces. “How do you know if you don’t even know where he is?”

  A man down at the far end got up off his chair and yelled, “He’s in the conference room.”

  Stefan was halfway there before the man had a chance to finish talking.

  He shoved the door open.

  The room was empty.

  Shit.

  “Where is he?” He ran around the side of the huge table. There he was.

  “He’s here. Call an ambulance.”

  Although given the quantity of blood pooling under his body, it might already be too late.

  Chapter 41

  Tia swam in the sea of loveliness. It was beautiful here. Peaceful.

  She heard yells and shouts out and about, but they weren’t talking to her. They weren’t talking about her. And if they were, she didn’t care. Life was good.

  She rolled over, loving the multiple turns she did with little effort.

  Tia!

  Nope, not answering.

  Tia, damn it. Listen to me.

  No. She smiled and rolled over again. They didn’t really need to talk to her.

  Damn it, wake up Tia. You need to wake up. Someone else is dying. Someone else needs your help.

  It’s Dean, Dr. Maddy said.

  Dean? She opened her eyes. What about Dean? Then the pain hit her. She screamed and arched her back, her hands clutching her chest.

  Yeah, now you’re here.

  What happened? Tia sobbed. My chest, oh my God, my chest. Then she knew. I’ve been shot!

  No, a woman’s voice said urgently. It’s Dean who’s been shot. He needs your help now.

  Dean, Tia whimpered through the ripping sensation in her body.“Dean’s hurt? Then help him,” she cried out. “Dean needs help. Save him, he’s dying.”

  How she knew that she didn’t know, but she did. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tossed and turned on the hard bed.

  “Strap her down,” someone said beside her.

  “No!” Tia screamed. “No straps.”

  “Then stop fighting the pain. Or you’ll fall. Lie still or we’ll have to strap you down to stop you from hurting yourself.”

  “I’ll stop,” she whispered. “I’ll stop but you have to help Dean.”

  Stefan’s voice jolted through her consciousness. Tia, you have to help him. Travel back to him. He’s been helping you this whole time, but now he needs you.

  I can’t, she cried out. I can’t find him.

  She searched through the pink and blue clouds that dotted her mind. Colors she’d loved a few moments ago and now they seemed to suffocate her, filling her mind with everything but Dean.

  Think about him. Concentrate on him. Tell him to fight to stay alive.

  Oh Jesus. Tears pouring down her cheeks, she closed her eyes and called out to the man who’d touched her like none other.

  Dean, dear God, hold on. I’m coming. As soon as she thought of him, his face, vague and opaque showed clearly in her mind. But there was a distant quality to it at the same time. She shuddered and all the love she’d never had a chance to give poured from her heart. She loved this man. She finally knew she loved someone – after a barren lifetime of being unloved, she was now loved and cosseted herself.

  And the man in her heart was dying. No. She wouldn’t let him. She raced to his side, desperate to save him. But she was no healer. There he was in front of her, on the floor in the same conference room she’d been in earlier.

  She couldn’t help him. She could only beg him to fight. To stay alive until someone else was there to help him. Dean, stay with me, please.

  He was there, in front of her. She cried out in joy. I’m here, Dean. I’m here.

  And something slammed into her.

  Stopping her progress.

  “Hello, Tia.”

  Still shuddering from the quick shift and needing to find a way to get to Dean, she struggled to see who and what was in front of her.

  John. But a different looking John than the young man who’d befriended her. Gave her the first kiss. Her bracelet – that she’d lost. Now he looked…old. Angry. Evil.

  “No,” she cried. “It can’t be you.”

  “Why is that?” he asked, a maniacal look on his face. “Because I left and you never saw me again? Because what we had together was special,” he mocked, making her wince. “I was Dr. Wilhelm’s special student. My abilities used to make him rub his hands together in glee. I cooperated. I befriended you to try and help him. Gave you the bracelet that was supposed to affect your energy so he could do more. It’s how I found you when you returned to town. I have an affinity for meta
ls. And I’ve always kept an eye out for you – knowing you’d have to come back sometime.

  “But you wouldn’t cooperate. I even kissed you. Not bad for a green kid back then. I do prefer Billy though. A woman in a child’s body. Perfect.”

  He laughed. That sound had drifted through her nightmares, waking her, screaming in the night, terrorizing her with threats of what he’d do to her next.

  “He played all of us against each other. But you didn’t know. Unlike the rest of us. We knew about you. We saw more of each other. Could share our stories. Not you. You were always isolated. You had special abilities.” He snorted. “I’m stronger than you ever were. But I see you’ve finally come into your abilities. About time!” Another laugh. “I’m proud of you though. You look great – even without your body. Then I knew you could do this. Unlike you. You had so little faith in yourself. And in me.” He laughed. “How do you think I could do this if I didn’t have powerful abilities of my own? How could I take my research to the next level without my own psychic shells? I even managed to do something crazy Wilhelm could never do – got you to show your true self.”

  “So why did you attack Dean? He’s done nothing to you,” she cried.

  “Ah, but he did what I needed done. He brought you to this point. I’d been trying to get you to show yourself since forever. Besides, he has his own ability to stabilize your energy. Oh yes, I heard all about it,” he said in a conversational tone. “My position as the departmental shrink gave me excellent access to all kinds of cases. I could get my hands on records and emails, making it easy to send the photo. I’d hoped that would push you a little further over the edge.”

  She sobbed. “I don’t care about me. I need to save Dean.”

  “Like you saved him weeks ago? It’s a good thing you wore your bracelet that night. It allowed me to pull on you more than ever. I use dark energy you know,” he said in a conversational tone. “Ancient energy.” Then his tone changed. “But someone helped you escape. Someone powerful.”

  “Stefan,” she whispered. “But Dean shouldn’t suffer for that. I need to save him!”

  “And that’s only going to happen if you agree to come back to me. To do the testing I need you to do. But you have to agree to be there all the way, or else he’ll die.”

  The thought made her sick, but there was no doubt in her mind what she had to do. “Yes,” she said softly. “I will, but you have to let me help Dean.”

  He waved something in his hand, she couldn’t see it, she didn’t even know if he was there in physical levels or if he was there in spirit only.

  She hoped he was in physical form, and she hoped there was someone there to shoot him dead.

  Like now.

  As if her thoughts created her reality, several harsh spits filled the air and Dr. John Loring did a mid-air dance, his energy flaring and sparking in multiple dimensions all at once.

  She gasped in shock, then watched his body do a slow slide to the floor.

  Dean, dear God she had to get to Dean. Dean, who was sitting up in his body, his physical body still on the floor.

  He looked puzzled, then surprised, before sorrow washed over him.

  No, she screamed and slammed into him, trying to send him to the floor again and inside his body. Stay, please stay, I love you.

  Tia? Are you all right? You were dying, he cried out. Are we both dead?

  No, but you are dying, unless you fight back. I’m fine, she sobbed. Honestly I’m fine, but it’s you who is in trouble.

  He gave her the sweetest smile and said, As long as you are okay, I’m fine.

  And his eyes rolled up into his head and fell backwards.

  She dove after him.

  *

  Dean, can you hear me.

  I hear you.

  Good. It’s time to wake up.

  No. I’m tired, he muttered. Go away.

  No, I won’t go away. I don’t think I can anymore. I’m here. A part of you. Forever. Tia’s voice was a laugh.

  He smiled. If you’re laughing, it’s all good. He nestled closer. Then I don’t need to wake up. Horrible nightmares, he muttered. This is much nicer.

  Slowly, as if not convinced, he opened his eyes to see her bending over him. He grinned and wrapped her in his arms and cuddled her close, closing his eyes and resting his chin on the top of her head.

  Gentle laughter rippled around him. This is lovely, but we can come back here anytime. You need to open your real eyes.

  What? He leaned back and looked down at her. What did you say?

  Look around you.

  Opening his eyes, he turned to see the world at large. And found himself in a hospital room, in a hospital bed with Tia sitting at his side.

  He frowned and slammed his eyes closed to see Tia cuddling in his arms.

  Uhm…what the hell just happened?

  That’s your inside vision and outside vision. Inside you are here with me – anytime and anyplace. Outside vision is the real world as you used to know it. Now you have a new dimension in which to operate.

  Jesus.

  Yeah, I’ve been dealing with it a little longer than you. Stefan has been trying to explain it since I found myself wearing your bullet holes to the extent that I was the one rushed to the hospital while you lay bleeding in the conference room.

  And who shot me? he asked, his mind blurry on so many details.

  The psychologist, Dr. Loring. Who was also John, one of the men who was in the institution with me. He had his own abilities. She sighed. I never actually saw your shrink or I might have recognized him.

  How did he get to be a cop shrink?

  Not an issue. He was already a grad student and had a clean record. He moved through the system and was actually a visiting psychologist if you remember and one you were supposed to go see to help you with your problems. She smiled. It was his cover to find new patients. Not just police officers but cases. He had access to disturbed kids. And once you entered the picture he really wanted you.

  His mind raced over all the details still missing.

  And one was big – potentially huge.

  And Simone, he asked gently.

  Tia smiled. She was at the lab. He’d taken her prisoner, thinking she might be able to tell him something about me. And if not, then as a hostage to control me. Yes, he killed Brennan who’d tried to save Simone. But she’s fine. Or, Tia corrected… She will be… Now that she’s safe.”

  Jesus. It was too much to take in.

  And you don’t need to take it all in now. A lot of people are waiting to know you’re going to be okay though, as a lot of people had a hand in saving you. So do all of us a favor and come back.

  Holding her hand tight in his, he opened his eyes to the room. This time, he saw Tia smiling reassuringly down at him, several doctors and a couple of nurses. And in the back was his big bluff captain, frowning.

  “Hey,” Dean said, in a faint voice. “I’m here.”

  The room erupted in cheers.

  Tia’s the loudest of them all.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for reading Now You See Her…! If you enjoyed the book, please take a moment and leave a short review here.

  Dear reader,

  I love to hear from readers, and you can contact me at my website: www.dalemayer.com or at my Facebook author page. To be informed of new releases and special offers, sign up for my newsletter. And if you are interested in joining my street team, here is the Facebook sign up page.

  Cheers,

  Dale Mayer

  If you’d like to read about other books I’ve written, please turn the page.

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