by Natasja Rose
Tina grimaced. She still had nightmares about the fiasco with the ghosts ending other than it had, and had shelled out for a cross-country train purely so that she could pretend to nap and not have to see all the gruesome deaths that had taken place over England’s history. “Enough to wish that I didn’t. Better question, how did you know that I, excuse the cliche, see dead people?”
Valerie smiled sympathetically. “Hard luck, mate. I only see how a person interacts with the aether, and that’s bad enough.”
As much as she wished it didn’t, that sparked Tina’s interest. “Aether is ‘spirit’, right? Aristotle considered it the fifth element when he was philosophising about everything being created from the five basic elements?”
Again, Lizzy was very useful for picking up random trivia. Valerie nodded, and Tina leaned forward, “How does that work? I thought it was a rare thing, and you’re telling me that there are other people I could have sympathised about this with?”
Her new source of information shrugged. “Yes and no. Think of it like the Force. Everyone has some degree of connection, but only a comparative few have enough connection to do so consciously. Most only feel uneasy in sites with a very strong supernatural presence. Some chalk up their ability to sense good or bad things about to happen to heightened instinct. Some see death, or talk to the deceased, or get visions. It varies from person to person.”
Tina grinned. “So most people are normal, some are Han Solo, and I’m a Jedi. Or a Sith, depending on what kind of day I’m having.”
Valerie groaned. “More like one of the Fallen. One bad day and a temper tantrum does not a Sith make.”
Tina grinned again, knowing exactly the trigger to set off a rant. Lizzy had turned her into an expert on Geek-baiting, though Star Wars and Game of Thrones fans didn’t exactly make it hard. “It did with Revenge of the Sith.”
The other woman glared, losing her relaxed stance. “That is totally not - “ she visibly stopped herself from continuing. “Never mind, that’s not the point. Let’s get back on track.”
Tina laughed gleefully, admitting to herself that she got way too much pleasure out of provoking geeks. “Out of sheer curiosity, what about the happy couple that we are both here for?”
Valerie tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, taking a closer look. “Both have a slight predisposition for possession, but inclined toward certain areas. It’s interesting, actually. James’s fascination with his own family history left him open to possession by one who could have been his family, but protected him from other ghosts. By a similar reasoning, Lizzy should be safe from any ghosts who died after 1830.”
Tina raised an eyebrow. “She is kind of disinterested in anything that happened less than two hundred years ago. I suppose we should be glad that James didn’t get Bess as a visitor. Gender-confused ghosts are about the only thing that could have made that fiasco more awkward.”
Both of them cringed at the thought. While the strict gender roles of the 18th and 19th century would have allowed them to pick up on the Possession earlier, Lizzy and James being confused about what century they were from had been difficult enough. Adding confusion about what gender they were at any given time would have been far worse. Valerie shook herself out of it first. “Actually, I’m not just here as a favour to a friend, or in Ben’s history seminar purely out of personal interest. My agency wanted me to find a way to contact you. We need your temporary help on an assignment.”
Tina’s imagination filled with visions of Valerie dressed in a skin-tight, black leather bodysuit, charging through masses of Bad Guys and spouting witty one-liners. It was a surprisingly attractive thought. Then she thought of the usual role of attractive blondes. “What kind of help and what kind of assignment?”
Valerie grimaced. “There have been some very strange happenings at a psychiatric hospital in the midlands that was once an Asylum. A very specific set of people have been targeted. There have been reports that the victims spoke of seeing spirits, of travelling places where time is fluid, and of deaths that are either too messy to be natural, or with no apparent cause.”
OK, that was fishy, but not a confirmation of the supernatural. Valerie continued before Tina could say anything. “So far, about half of the patients who disappeared have been found. Well, the bodies of the patients have been found, at least. I’ve been tasked with investigating if we have a serial killer among the hospital staff, or if the culprit is of the … less natural persuasion.”
Tina tried to think of a diplomatic way to phrase things. “Erm, you said that this was a psychiatric hospital, didn’t you?”
Valerie gave her an exasperated look. “Yes, but hallucinations is a vast minority for what they treat, and before that it was an Insane Asylum. Besides, the reports go far beyond what can be explained by a patient seeing things.”
That sparked a recent memory. “Wait, you said this was in the midlands? Not St Andrew’s?”
Valerie’s eyes sharpened. “You’ve been there? What did you see?”
Tina shook her head. “The train went past it on my way up here. I felt a lot of anger, but that’s normal in anywhere that used to house the ill-treated.”
Valerie frowned. “That’s why it’s unusual. St Andrew’s was one of the first Asylums to be purpose-built for humane treatment, and specifically disallowed casual visitors who wanted to stare at the insane, like how Bedlam made most of its profits.”
That was a good point, actually. “But that doesn’t exclude the multitude of people, especially women, who were locked away for really flimsy reasons. You think an angry woman can be vicious while she’s alive? Try after she’s had a few centuries to plot her vengeance.”
Valerie dragged the conversation back on point. “Anyway, the big problem is that the one thing that all of the victims had in common was a very high sensitivity to the supernatural. It paints a disturbing picture.”
That… did change things somewhat. Perhaps it was selfish, but having just found out that there were others like her, Tina had no desire to see them die before she could meet them. “It does at that. What are the current theories?”
Valerie shrugged. “Like I said, we’re hoping that it’s nothing more complicated than a serial killer, and yes, I am aware of how insane that sounds. Supernatural theories point at someone deliberately targeting the aether-gifted, though we don’t have enough information to tell if it’s a personal grudge… or a more widespread, nefarious reason that involves getting rid of anyone who could act as an early warning system.”
Which meant a strong possibility that the fiasco would eventually involve Tina herself, depending on whether or not the spirit was bound to a single place, as most ghosts were. If Tina had caught it’s attention from the train… well, being bound to a location, still allowed wandering spirits to travel a few miles at need, and didn’t place a limit on how far they could go vertically. Tina had a week between flights, not counting travel time, and once the wedding was over, Lizzy would still be busy. Tina could spare a day or two to chat with some ghosts.
Besides, she didn’t have anything requiring her immediate attention back home, and perhaps Valerie’s department could be coaxed into a gratuity and covering any fees if Tina ended up needing to change her flight times.
She took a deep breath, and resigned herself to the fact that she wasn’t going to be free of English spirits who needed to learn to let things go just yet. “OK, I’m in.”
Chapter Four
Tina felt quite proud of herself that she actually managed to be up and functional by 8 o’Clock, and was actually the first one of the wedding party in Lizzy’s room, which gave them time for more nostalgic chatter.
Taking advantage of the rare solitude, Tina quickly ran through what Valerie had told her last night. If she was going to be taking off almost immediately after the ceremony, despite her promise to stick around for a few days, she wanted Lizzy to know why.
In her typical fashion that Tina should have expected, Lizzy was far
more upset at the possibility of Tina being in danger than she was about her best friend and bridesmaid having to leave early. “Are you sure that there isn’t anyone else who can do this? You had a hard enough time the last time you were here.”
Tina tried for a reassuring smile, and probably failed. “That’s because I spent most of that fiasco terrified that you were going to die. This time, I won’t have to worry about that.”
Lizzy frowned at her. “No, you’ll have to worry about a spirit on a killing spree, instead. I don’t condone their methods, but at least Bess and John kept the fatalities relatively low and had a discernible pattern.”
A whirlwind romance culminating in two deaths every thirty years since the early 1800’s was hardly trivial, but Lizzy did have a point. This case was likely to be a lot harder, but at least this time Tina would have an experienced partner with her. “Hey, it’s me, and I’ll have back up. I’ll be fine.”
Hearing a gaggle of footsteps approaching, Lizzy pinned Tina with her sternest look, usually reserved for when Tina used the last of the toilet paper and forgot to put it on the shopping list. “You’ll check in periodically, no excuses. If you get yourself killed, I’ll find some way to bring you back for the sole purpose of killing you again, personally.”
Tina couldn’t help but grin as the door opened and the rest of the bridal party filled the small room. “I expected nothing less.”
The second ceremony, which took place in a small, historic church that boasted the kind of architecture and decorative windows that would have made Lizzy more than willing to pay lip service to a religious sermon, wasn’t too different to the first one.
Well, apart from the fact that Tina only knew a handful of people, and there were a lot more references to what God commanded, Lizzy was glowing with happiness rather than the onset of a sunburn and no-one was hissing at the irritating older relative to be quiet, but the sentiment held.
Tina got through the bridesmaid speech without offending anyone too badly, then caught Valerie’s eye and made a discreet exit while everyone’s attention was on the ‘first dance’.
Valerie was waiting for her next to a dark green sedan. Tina, who had been expecting a movie-style flashy sports car of some kind, masked her disappointment and climbed in, noticing that Valerie already had their bags on the back seat. “Did you pack my suitcase for me? I can’t decide if that’s practical or creepy.”
Valerie grinned. “You’d barely unpacked in the first place, and there’s a change of clothes in the glove compartment. When we hit the country roads, we can either stop at a service station, or I can promise not to peek while you change in the car.”
Tina huffed. “Given the state of most service station restrooms? I paid way too much for this dress to go for that, and honestly, I’m less concerned about you perving on me than I am about your driving, if you’re so easily distracted.”
Valerie laughed, and started the engine, heading back down South, to another place that Tina would rather not be.
Chapter Five
Tina took a deep breath as she and Valerie walked into the reception area of St Andrews.
They only had about an hour and a half before visiting hours ended, so Tina really hoped that private hospitals had a shorter waiting room experience than the public system, and that whoever they talked to could get them a pass for the less-public areas.
Valerie gripped her hand tightly, keeping her voice low, “I talked to a few others who are willing to act as support before we came, but I want to do an initial assessment before I bring them here and we try to come up with a plan."
That was a sensible idea, no matter how much Tina didn't like subjecting herself to traumatic deaths. They needed a basic idea of what was going on, before they could figure out a way to deal with it. Still…
Despair.
Crippling despair, that sapped the will and made a person yearn for nothing so much as the kind release of death.
Abandoned by family and friends who didn't know how to deal with someone who was different, who they knew that society would scorn. Abandoned by those who were supposed to love them, to 'humane' treatment that still treated them as something not quite human, even if it was a reprieve from the chains and abuse of former institutions.
The echoing sound of footsteps, lighter than those of the heavy boots worn by the guards, came closer and closer, and they remembered the whispered warnings of another inmate, warnings of…
Tina staggered a little, gripping Valerie's hand tighter and frowning. The intensity of the flashback was strong enough that the person generating it either had died in the kind of anguish usually reserved for torture victims or murder-suicides… or was actively trying to get a psychic's attention.
Valerie's sources, whoever they were, had been right in that something was going on here, though exactly what was still in question.
Valerie deposited Tina in a waiting room chair and went over to speak to the receptionist, frequently glancing back, either to check Tina was all right, or to make sure that she didn't bolt.
A patient two seats away grumbled something about 'shameless hussies' and 'what was wrong with the world'. A young man seated beside the patient, possibly a grandson or carer, offered Tina a sympathetic look, but deliberately ignored Valerie, and didn't actually apologise or tell the old man to stop.
Tina, unaware that anyone except Lizzy actually used the word 'hussy' in everyday conversation anymore, sent both of them her best Death Glare, pointedly taking Valerie's hand as she sat down.
Fortunately, a hospital official stepped out of a door, calling Valerie's name and beckoning the two women into his office.
The nameplate and various certificates around the room identified the man as Doctor Richard Davis, a practitioner of some 35 years. He ushered both women to chairs before sitting down himself. "I'm glad that you were able to come. We've been trying to find out a common cause, but we haven't had much luck so far. I do ask that you be as discreet as possible, to avoid causing a panic."
To Tina's psychic sight, there was something… off about the doctor. Not malicious, but definitely not normal, either. She tried to think of a statement that would provoke a better look, but wouldn't get them thrown out and banned from the hospital, "Isn't this something that patients should know about?"
Doctor Davis frowned. "The current patients have been cautioned and asked to report anything unusual, which is causing no end of chaos for our security, when you consider our clientele. We are more concerned about the Media finding out and stirring up more stigma against the mentally unwell."
The aura flared, almost in exasperation, as Tina accepted the rebuke for what it was; she had experienced her own problems with such stigma. Besides, with Mental Health (at least as it was defined now) a relatively new field of study, a Media Circus taking public attitude back to the days of social ostracism and imprisonment was the last thing anyone needed.
Valerie took over the conversation. "What has my department told you about what they expect?"
Doctor Davis shrugged. "Just that they were sending in people who had some experience and expertise. Honestly, I was expecting Scully and Mulder, or Ghostbusters, or something along those lines."
Tina sniggered quietly and Valerie shot her a quelling look. "Well, we are that. We will need to get a better idea of what is going on before we can really give you any solid information, and it may well sound like an episode of the X-Files, but we will do our best to keep you in the loop."
The doctor nodded his appreciation, abruptly changing the subject. "Do you have somewhere to stay, while you're here?"
Tina and Valerie exchanged looks. "We were planning on finding a hotel nearby, while we need to be nearby."
Tina's first choice had been The Journeyman's Rest, but since that was more than four hours drive away, in Northumberland, it was impractical to make the journey every day, despite Tina's protests that she was in England to see Lizzy in the first place, and that the Innkeepers knew a surpri
sing amount about the supernatural. They had finally compromised on using The Journeyman's Rest as a sort of base of operations, and a hotel near St Andrews for the legwork portion of the job.
Doctor Davis nodded, scribbling on a piece of paper. "The Ibis is cheaper on paper, but you have to pay extra for almost everything. The Poplars is good value for money, but further away. The rest are about equal."
Valerie stood up, shaking his hand. "Thank you for the advice. We'll do a sweep of the hospital and grounds, and be back tomorrow."
The sweep of the hospital proper was extremely limited, given that they couldn't just barge into occupied rooms or offices without a better excuse than the off-chance that Tina might pick up a hint.
After the third flash that didn't reveal any more than the one in the waiting room, Tina sighed. "You know, it's a really good thing this place caters to people with hallucinations, or we would look really conspicuous right now."
Tina could practically hear Valerie rolling her eyes. "Don't be a shrew. We've covered all of the building we can reach without an escort or special permission; do you want to check outside?"
Tina nodded and led the way to the exit. "By the way, there was something about Doctor Davis. I don't quite know what, but I think you should be wary of how much detail you go into with him."
Valerie frowned but nodded, "Is it something we need to be actively worried about, or is watching our words going to be enough?"
Tina considered the question. "It - whatever it was - didn't intend us harm or ill-will, but spirits have very different ideas of what counts as 'unacceptable harm'. It kind of fades in the light of whatever obsession binds them to the living world. Maybe just ramp up the caution a bit."
Valerie gave a soft hum of agreement. "Can you sense anything on the grounds?"