The Pull (The Emanation Saga Book 1)

by R. J. Lloyd

  “You two camping out here for a while then?” he asked.

  She opened the curtain. “No. Are you alone?”

  He chuckled. “Yes. It’s kind of difficult to travel the way I do with anyone. Well, not so much difficult as it is impossible. Well, except for those times with you.”

  She blinked. “With me?”

  He closed the gap between them and put a hand on her shoulder. “Yeah. I told you we connected. Marcus and my father tried to pair us up to see if they could break your bond with Ian, like I told you back at the lab. We did from time to time, but you always went back.” He squeezed her arm. “But, wow, the things we could do together.”

  She tried to casually move out of his grip. “Like?”

  He noticed her discomfort and let go. “Sorry. I guess I just miss it; the time we spent together. Anyway, have you gotten a chance to read through the files?”

  Eva pried for more. “What things, Mitchell?”

  The door opened, and Ian came in. “Mitchell. I wasn't expecting to see you again.”

  The two men shook hands as Ian sized up the situation. He could see Eva’s anxiety, so he went straight over to her, dropping the bags on the table and putting an arm around her shoulder, placing a kiss on her temple.

  Mitchell gave him a forced smile. “I was just coming by to check and make sure you both were fine, and to see if you’d gotten through those files yet.”

  “I have, yes,” Ian replied. “I had no idea they’d had so much success with so many others. But I don't see anywhere that they were sent out to be a part of society.”

  “No, they weren’t. You were the only two,” Mitchell explained.

  Eva raised an eyebrow. “Why? Why not you?”

  He paced back and forth a few steps. “I guess each one had a different reason. Me? I am not stable enough in my materialization. I can show up for a while in this form, but after a while, I start to fade. Sometimes, I just blink in and out like I'm flickering. Other times, I just disappear. And I never know when it happens… until someone screams, that is. So, I was pulled from being in public.”

  His casual tone to it all unnerved Eva. “You take all of this in such stride. How are you okay with everything?”

  He shrugged. “What can I do? He saved me from dying, and he saved me from all that pain and agony and embarrassment of the disease. I have, quite possibly, eternal life. It might not be ideal on every level. But it’s got its perks.”

  His eyes met Eva’s, which sent a chill through her spine. “Thank you. Thank you for showing us those. It is good to know we are not alone. I hope now your father is the only one there, and we’re not around to research, maybe they’ll get let out to try to have a life outside of some lab. I can’t even imagine what that’s like. Or, rather, I don’t want to remember.”

  A corner of Mitchell’s mouth turned up. “I’d like to think it wasn't all bad.”

  Ian pulled her against him. “But nothing like being out here and being together.”

  Mitchell fought a sneer. “Yes, well, anyway. Those other people in the files? There’s another reason I gave you those.”

  “Of course there is.” Ian tried to hide his growing unease of Mitchell’s intentions.

  “They escaped,” he announced.

  Eva gasped. “They what?”

  “All of them have gotten out.” Mitchell walked over and thumbed the pages. “At least, all of the ones in these files.”

  She walked over by him. “That’s good, right?”

  “Except for the fact that my father is determined to get them back. If they’re unstable or have any sort of metaphysical reaction to something, who knows what it could spur… or who it could scare.” Mitchell eyed her. “I thought maybe you two could help warn them.”

  “Warn them?” Ian’s posture became rigid. “We don't know them, let alone know where they went. How do you expect us to help them?”

  “We all had powers when we were working together. Eva linked with each person throughout testing. Some people had their own, naturally. Just never at her level. But with her… maybe…”

  Ian cut him off. “No. There's no way. I'm not trying to speak for you, love. But you've been through enough. You’re not going to be used as some beacon for escapee ghosts that probably don’t want to be found.”

  Eva’s shoulders tensed. “I’m sorry. You’re both right. Mitchell, I don't remember any of that. And, honestly, I don't want to. Ian knows how hard this has all been on me and how much I’ve struggled with not completely losing my mind. All I want is for Ian and me to start a life together, far away from all of this.”

  Mitchell pursed his lips. “A life? You’re dead, Eva. What kind of life do you think you’ll be able to build out here?”

  His words sent a shot of anger through her. “The best one we can.”

  “I think what you're doing is great, Mitchell. But less than a week ago, we had no idea about any of this. We were two people, living seemingly ordinary lives, having strange, reoccurring dreams of some person we thought we’d made up.” Ian kissed Eva on the forehead. “But despite everything we've learned, we’re not going to get involved in some strange paranormal war.”

  “You can’t just let him hunt them down!” Mitchell’s voice rose.

  “We can’t do what you ask. Not right now.” Ian stood his ground. “Thank you for all your help, but you can’t just connect with Eva and pop in like this, and we don’t want to get involved. I’m sorry. But, please, leave us be.”

  “Eva?” Mitchell searched her for a different response.

  She cast her eyes down. “No, Mitchell. I can’t. We can’t. We were cheated out of our lives already. I won’t let them cheat us out of another.”

  Her eyes met his, and he knew she wouldn’t be willing to budge then. His jaw set. “Okay. I understand. Maybe they will hide well enough on their own. And maybe my father will be angry enough over what happened with you all to delay his search for them. If you change your mind, just call me.”

  She went over to the nightstand and searched for a pen and paper, holding them out to Mitchell. “Here.”

  He waved it off. “Not that way.”

  And then, he disappeared.

  Ian relaxed his stance. “The more he’s around, the more I don't trust him.”

  “What do you mean?” Eva asked. “He saved us back there. He’s saved me twice.”

  “I can’t explain it. I just get the creeps when he’s around. Something about how he looks at you.”

  She sauntered back over to Ian and tucked her fingers in the waistband of his jeans, yanking him closer to her. “I don't care how he looks at me. His claims to some connection we have are of no importance to me. You’re all I want.”

  His fingers combed her hair. “Good.” He pressed his lips to hers.

  Eva pulled back and giggled. “We keep this up, and we won’t be going anywhere, let alone Detroit.”

  He kissed her again, speaking against her lips. “Would that be a bad thing?”

  “Other than it getting expensive staying in a hotel? No.” She pressed herself against him. “So, did you get me something good?”

  “Oh!” He pulled away and picked up the bags from the table and held them out to her, noticing for the first time she wore only his t-shirt and smiling. “No wonder Mitchell was a little taken with you in that.”

  She blushed. “Hush.”

  He laughed. “I hope you like it.”

  Taking the bags, she sorted through, putting away things like toothpaste, food and paper goods. But when she got to the bag with clothes for her, she pulled each article out and examined them, happily surprised at his ability to get her, even when it came to her attire.

  He looked nervous. “I hope you like them. I tried to pick based off what you wear in our dreams.”

  Instantly, she whipped off his shirt and started trying everything on. “They’re perfect. You’re perfect.”

  Three pairs of pants, five shirts, a pair of shoes that ma
tched all and some undergarments and two pairs of pajamas later, she was pleased that all but one item fit just fine. Folding everything and putting them in the dresser, she slipped into the silky pajamas and lay down on the bed.

  Patting the spot next to her, she called Ian away from sifting through the files again. “Come join me?”

  A smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth as he closed up the files and pushed them aside. He did as requested and crawled in next to her, pulling her over so she could curl up on his chest. “A movie?”

  She yawned. “Yes. Please. That sounds perfect.”

  They both woke still curled up together, the TV playing some random movie on one of the cable stations. Eva stirred as Ian stretched. The morning sun streamed in through the dirty drapes, casting a ray of sun that highlighted millions of dancing dust particles in the air of the room.

  Eva sat up, reaching up above her head with both arms to stretch out the kinks. “Detroit?” she asked.

  He smiled through a yawn. “Detroit.”

  It was early. Six in the morning. Ian tossed his packed bag by the door. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Kyle and show you our café.”

  “I’m excited!” She finished zipping her own bag and pulled on her shoes. “How far is the drive?”

  “Something like seventeen hours. We will have to stop for the night somewhere. That’s why I thought the Cincinnati area. It’s just across the Ohio border from that place I told you about in Kentucky. I don’t see a problem with making it that far today. Then it’s a far shorter trip tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good,” she agreed.

  Ian touched her shoulder. “Eva?”

  “Yeah?”

  He paused and took her in. “Are you sure you want to give up your life? Are you sure you’re happy with this? I mean, this is a huge move in the middle of all of this insanity.”

  “Ian, our existence, it seems, is a lie. But my life was, too. I have probably lost my job. My family isn't my family. I can’t trust my best friend. But you? You have a life you built for yourself. Friends, business, home.” She put her hands on his chest. “I can’t go home. I don’t want to be without you. And this sounds like exactly what I need.”

  “What we need,” he corrected her.

  “Yes.” She smiled. “What we need.”

  He lifted their bags and nodded, exiting the room, loading them into the car. Double checking they'd gotten everything, they checked out of the room, disposed of their pre-pay cell phones and got on the road. Traffic was light, and the sun was out. It was the kind of day most people would yearn for a in a road trip.

  “Do you think he will like me?” Eva stared out over the fields that lined the expressway.

  Ian blinked. “Who?”

  She sat up in her seat. “Kyle. I hope I remembered his name right. Your roommate and business partner.”

  Ian turned down the radio. “Of course he will. Why would you even wonder? I can’t imagine anyone not liking you, Eva.”

  Several people from work and Michelle’s parties flashed through her mind. It wasn't like people didn’t really like her. At least she’d like to think not. It was more a combination that she wasn't the typical, bubbly girl that appealed to most people, and she kept to herself a lot.

  She lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not.”

  He patted her knee. “Kyle will love you. Everyone at the café will. And Kyle will love having you around the house.”

  “Around the house?” Eva hadn't even thought about that. She knew they were roommates, but it dawned on her that Kyle would be living where they would.

  His eyebrow lifted. “Yes. You’re going to stay with me, right?”

  “Oh!” She bit her lip. “Yeah. Until I get a job and find my own place. I mean, thank you. I’ve been so caught up in everything that I didn’t think about that. I’ll find a place as fast as I can.”

  “Find a place?” Ian sounded hurt. “Your own place? You want to find your own place?”

  She chewed the inside of her lip raw from the anxiety. “Isn't that what I should do? I don’t want to overstay my welcome at yours. And it’s not as if you haven't done enough to help me out during all of this.”

  Ian took the next exit and pulled into the carpool lot just off the ramp. Throwing the car into park, he killed the engine. “Eva, do you have some misunderstanding about how I feel?”

  “I know you said you love me. But you're talking moving in with each other.”

  “Do you not want that?”

  “I do.”

  He shook his head. “So, why the talk about getting your own place?”

  “Because I didn’t want to assume anything,” she replied.

  “Assume away. I want you there,” he said. “Do you want to move in with me?”

  “Yes.” A slight blush rose in her cheeks.

  Ian started the car and pulled on to the on ramp. “Good. Then it’s settled. You’re living with me. We’re living together from now on.”

  She smiled. “Then it’s settled.”

  “Settled,” he repeated.

  “Settled,” she mimicked him.

  “S…”

  She slapped his shoulder. “Stop it!”

  “What?” He laughed hard.

  She crossed her arms and mocked pouting. “Don’t tease me.”

  “But how else was I going to shake you out of your funk?”

  She smirked. “I can think of one or two things.”

  “Do we need to find the nearest hotel and stop early?”

  She could see his eyes scanning the billboards. “No.” She dragged out the word. “But I wouldn’t drive slower than five over, if I were you.”

  “I like how you think.” He patted her on the knee again, leaving his hand there.

  Eva leaned over and rested her head on Ian’s shoulder, and they drove. Passing town after town, field after field and exit after exit, the hours slipped by. They talked more about living together, eventually putting Eva's mind at ease.

  Ian explained how his stance on it came from the fact that they’d pretty much been in a relationship for months at that point, seeing each other in their dreams daily… twice on some days. He also explained he didn’t want to run the risk of her being unprotected in case someone eventually came looking for them. Of course, throwing in the factors of being ghosts, as well as being married previously, helped her see his side.

  Conversation drifted to talk of the times they had in the dreams. The two of them had shared so much about themselves, their aspirations, their lives and their secrets, assuming it wasn’t possible they were actually telling another living person. The drive was the perfect opportunity to rehash a few of those topics to rediscover each other as well as verify what they remembered was what was shared. Some topics made one or the other blush after realizing they’d actually shared certain secrets.

  But one thing kept coming back to mind for Eva. “Do you really think they’ll come for us again?”

  “I don't know,” he replied.

  “But if they do, is staying in Detroit the best idea? I mean, should we stay where they know where to find us?” She began to feel aimless. “It’s not that I want to go on the run or be homeless or bounce from city to city. But…”

  “We can either live like that, being scared and on the run and never having any sort of a stable life. And, as we've already seen, they track us down. Or we live our lives together, knowing they may or may not come. I don’t want to live a life as if they will be coming for us. I want to just brace for it being a possibility without that being the focus.” He pointed off in the distance. “Cincinnati. I’m hungry. You ready to stop?”

  Are you ready to stop? That question had more than one meaning right then, and she felt the weight of it. “I am.”

  “First, we see the spaceship house. Then, I take you to the city overlook since it’s dark out, and the view will be spectacular. Then, we grab some Goldstar Chili before checking in to Aloft Hotel in Newport. I stayed there a couple mo
nths ago when I came here for a coffee expo, and it was actually one of the better hotels I’ve stayed in. Then, in the morning, we’re going for a walk in my old neighborhood. The architecture is breathtaking!”

  She laughed. “You sure you wouldn’t prefer to live here? You seem to have quite the plan laid out.”

  He tilted his head. “No. You just wait until you see me geek out over Detroit. This is nothing.”

  She nodded, humored. “Fair enough. But I might rethink the whole not traveling and settling down with you if this is how excited you get. No city would ever be boring.”

  They pulled off the expressway and into some winding hillside streets. “We will have to add adventures to our schedules then.”

  He wasn’t wrong about the area. After taking a glance at the extremely unique house that literally was shaped like a 1950s spaceship from the b-rated alien themed movies, they headed up the hill to the top and sat, overlooking the Cincinnati and northern Kentucky skyline. And it was an amazing view.

  “There’s something familiar about this spot.” Eva wrapped her arm around his and leaned against him.

  His eyebrows inched in for a moment. “I’ve always felt that when coming here.”

  She looked up at him. “Do you think…” she trailed off.

  “Stop right there. No memories. I don't need you thinking back to a lost life, then falling down this hill and losing you.” He was only half joking.

  “Oooo. Good point.”

  “You know,” he pulled her in, “we do have to think about that at some point.”

  “Think about what? I thought you just said no memories.”

  “No. I mean think about the fact that if we choose to allow ourselves the memories of our lives together, we might become… mortal. We could become who we were if we let them take over in our minds. We can grow old together.”

  “Ian, I don’t want to…”

  “We can have a normal life. But if we never do, if we never go there, it’s entirely possible we could live forever.”

  “Ian…”

  “Do we want that?”

  She pushed out of his arms. “Ian…”