Haunted II: Awakening

by Christian Burch

  .Zoe rolled onto her back and pushed the sheets down off of her. DJ’s ears perked up as she sucked in a deep breath and held it.

  Ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty.

  DJ stood up and whined loudly. She exhaled and started breathing rapidly as if she’d been exercising. Thin, curling, black tendrils appeared out of the air above her and sloped down towards her stomach. Panting, DJ rushed towards the bed and watched in anticipation as the tendrils crept closer to Zoe. They stopped a couple inches above her stomach and began circling.

  DJ opened his mouth to bark. A tendril shot out from circle and wrapped itself around his snout, keeping his cries muffled. Zoe moved slightly and the tendrils mimicked her movements. Synchronized, the tendrils floated to rest on her stomach. DJ’s agitation grew and he launched himself onto the bed, waking both of his owners up in the process.

  The tendrils stopped their descent, mere centimeters from her stomach and dissipated.

  “Damn DJ! Really?!”

  He panted and wedged himself in next to Zoe, determined to keep watch over her.

  Chapter 14

  Zoe woke up feeling ill again so Greg told her to stay home and rest. They were going to meet Jessica to pick up Zoe at a Food Lion that was twenty minutes from their apartment. Kind of a middle ground between their two residences that they’d all agreed on as a meeting place.

  ‘On our way.See you soon.’

  Greg shook his head, once again taken aback at the change of attitude in Jessica. It was like night and day with her. Worrying about that was not his problem anymore; it was one for that prick Jason. Just thinking about that piece of shit made his blood pressure spike.

  ‘K, heading out soon.’

  Pocketing his phone, he went over to Zoe’s side of the bed and moved strands of hair out of her face. She did look like she’d caught some bug or something.

  “I’m sorry you don’t feel well sweetheart. Can I get you anything before I leave?”

  She smiled and shook her head.

  “If you need anything just text me okay?”

  “I will,” she said faintly. “I’ll be better soon. I just didn’t sleep well last night is the problem.”

  “That’s not all, but I hope you do feel better soon,” he said, shooting a glance to the bathroom where he knew she emptied her stomach not too ten minutes earlier.

  “Tell Jessica I said hi,” she said with a snort.

  DJ was sprawled out on the bed next to her, snoring.

  “Riding solo this time,” he mumbled as he left the room.

  The traffic was light even for a Sunday morning. He knew that most people were either at church or brunch around nine but the roads were devoid of any traffic. He stopped at a red light leaned back against his seat, cracking his back. DJ plopping on the bed like a big, furry bouncing ball wrecked his sleep too.

  Greg checked down the intersecting road in both directions and saw no traffic, so why the hell was this light taking so long to change?

  A solitary figure stood to his right staring at him in a navy blue sweatshirt and faded blue jeans. The hooded sweatshirt kept his face hidden but it looked to be a man a little over six feet tall. Hands buried in his pockets, the figure started walking across the street, which would bring him directly in front of Greg.

  Tapping his finger on the steering wheel, his patience was beginning to wear thin. The figure stopped directly in front of his car and turned his head slightly to look at him. Greg beeped the horn once and gestured to his left, hoping this jack ass would get the hint and move out of his way.

  The figure turned to face the car and continued to stand in the middle of the crosswalk.

  “Really?”

  He looked down to check the clock and see how long the light had been red. Four minutes. Looking up, he saw an empty street. The man had vanished within a matter of seconds. Where could he have gone?

  The light turned green so he eased forward, checked both directions and sped out of there. Within a few minutes the stranger in the crosswalk was forgotten and his focus was on his son and spending the day with him. Zoe would probably be unavailable for the duration of the day so they’d do something out and let her rest for a…

  “It takes an awful lot to get your attention doesn’t it?”

  Greg jumped at the voice that came from the backseat. He slammed on his brakes and pulled to the side of the road next to a pharmacy that had been closed for as long as he could recall.

  “Whoa, easy there bud!”

  “Oh my God. This is a whole new level to my hallucinations now,” Greg said, as he closed his eyes and began to count.

  “Ah yes. Your go to exercise when you think your mind is fabricating images. I’ll wait. No hurry.”

  Greg clenched his eyes shut so tight that when he opened them spots danced around before clearing and allowing him to see Matt sitting in his backseat.

  “You can’t be here. This is impossible!”

  Matt spread his hands to his sides, “Yet here I sit.”

  Greg dropped his head down on the steering wheel and groaned. “I’ve lost it. My mind has finally cracked. I knew it was only a matter of time until I went bat-shit crazy.”

  “Take it easy with the melodramatics Greg. I’m just here to warn you, whether you think I’m a figment of your imagination or actually here is up to you to decide.”

  Matt now sat in the front seat next to him.

  “Be careful of Zoe.”

  Greg waited to see if there was more but Matt just stared at him.

  “That’s it. No explanation for why?”

  “A decision is going to come about for you both soon. Say no Greg. No matter what happens, say no!”

  “Care to be more specific with your vague warning,” Greg shook his head as if he’d walked through a cobweb. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation right now. You’re not here. This is just a manifestation of my own insecurities.”

  A glance to his right showed a vacant passenger seat. He was alone once again.

  “Okay Greg, talking to yourself and answering will earn you a one-way ticket to Neverland. I’ve got to get some better fucking meds,” he muttered as he pulled back onto the road.

  Chapter 15

  Weird knots formed in his stomach whenever he was in the presence of his ex-wife, and today was no different. Some feelings were hard to shake when you’d been married and had a child with someone. It was easier to harbor feelings of dislike and hate towards her when she was being a bitch but lately it was like she’d turned a new leaf.

  Parking the car next to Jessica’s dark grey Honda Civic, Greg hopped out of the car and waved to both his son and Jessica. Joey’s face lit up upon seeing his father and Jessica’s remarkably seemed to brighten as well. He knelt down and opened his arms to engulf his son in a bear hug.

  “Hey bud. I’ve missed you!”

  “I’ve missed you too dad!”

  Greg scooped him up, hugged him tight, then put him back on the ground.

  “Got your stuff?”

  Joey made his way back to his mom’s car, grabbed his book bag and small suitcase. He made it apparent that he didn’t need any assistance as he started putting it in the back of Greg’s car.

  “Hey Jess.”

  He winced on the inside, ready for the tirade.

  “Morning Greg,” she said with a slight smile. Turning to Joey, “Why don’t you get in the car honey? I need to talk to your father for a minute okay. I love you.”

  “Love you too mom.”

  She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. Once the door was shut, she put her back to the car and faced Greg.

  “I tried calling you on Friday but you didn’t answer.”

  “I’m sorry. I meant to call you back but Zoe’s not feeling well and I just forgot. What’s going on?”

  “No big deal. I hope she feels better. Do you need to go or do you have a few minutes?”

  Greg leaned against the hood of his car next to Jessica.


  “I’ve got some time. She’s just resting.”

  “Okay. The reason I called was that our son got into his first physical fight on Friday. With a second grader.” She saw his face darken and hurried to mention the next part. “He didn’t get hit. Joey was the one to actually take it to the next level. The boy had been picking on him for a while at school and…”

  “Was it that little punk Max?”

  “That’s the one. So he was making fun of Joey for reading a comic book, and yanked it out of his hands. Joey apparently asked him to give it back and when he wouldn’t… he tackled him and hit him once before the teachers came and pulled the boys apart.”

  “Damn. I wouldn’t have guessed he had it in him.”

  “He’s like his father. Doesn’t let people push him around.”

  Her tone sounded admirable and proud. Greg looked at her but she was looking down at the concrete in front of her.

  “I can’t say that I’m upset. I’m glad he stood up for himself but we’ve always told him not to start it but that he could…”

  “Damn well finish it,” she finished his sentence with a nod.

  “How much trouble did he get in?”

  “Just an after school detention with his teacher. She loves Joey and defended his actions to the principal so he got off pretty easy.”

  Greg nodded and looked at his shoes, wondering whether he should ask about what she’d texted him or let her broach the subject. A few awkward seconds passed and he couldn’t stand it.

  “So how are you and Jason?”

  She sighed, “Honestly, not too good. There’s evidence pointing to him cheating on me based on some texts and emails I’ve read. And I hate to say this, but you were right. He is an asshole.”

  “Whoa. I’m sorry to hear that; not the can of worms I expected when I asked the question. Are things able to be worked out or is it pretty much down the tubes?”

  “I’m leaning towards the latter. I don’t even want to try and work it out. I don’t see anything worth fighting for with him. I’m going to ask him, or tell him depending on how the conversation goes down, to pack up his things and be out by the end of next week.”

  Dumbfounded, Greg chose to remain silent on this one. She leaned slightly towards him and he caught himself almost putting his arm around her. He felt bad for Jessica but offering that kind of comfort to her put him in a dangerous place. Buried deep inside were still feelings for her and he was afraid of what would happened if certain thoughts were acted on. He couldn’t trust himself with Jessica. Simple as that.

  “Do you ever wonder how things would be today if we’d…”

  “Don’t do that Jessica, please,” he stood up from the car and ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s not play the ‘what if’ games. There’s no going back and changing what happened between us.”

  Glancing in the car revealed Joey reading one of his comic books.

  “I’m not talking imaginary scenarios Greg. This relationship, if you want to call it that, with Jason has really been eye-opening for me. Do you ever have second thoughts about us?”

  “I can’t believe we’re having this discussion right now! Is this why you wanted to meet up?”

  A shrug of her shoulders and shuffle of her feet was her tell and Greg had an inclination of what was coming. “Possibly. I know you’ve been with Zoe for about a year now and I’m not trying to cause…”

  “Let’s just stop it there. Please, for my sake! I can’t do this. Losing you was one of the hardest things I’ve had to endure in my life. One of the main problems with this whole situation is that I don’t know if I could ever trust you again.”

  Her face dropped but she couldn’t argue with that.

  “I don’t want to hurt you Jess. I’m past that whole anger phase and don’t harbor any resentment towards you, if you can believe it. I can’t pretend to know the future but I am happy with how things are going in my life right now, with Zoe. Were this a year ago, I’m sure this conversation would be going very differently.”

  He rested his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I know,” she whispered. She turned and wiped away a tear.

  Chapter 16

  “So who does the house go to then?”

  “According to his will, the house and everything in it goes to his daughter. We’re in the process of getting in touch with her about what happened.”

  “Can I see his will? Do you have it with you?”

  The lawyer gripped the folder in his arm tightly. The disheveled man in front of him could use a decent shower and shave. Black hair in disarray, patchy bear, bloodshot eyes, and the smell of stale alcohol and body odor radiated off of him in nauseating waves. The white shirt the man wore had yellow stains on the arm pits and neckline, and the pants he wore had dirt and God only knew what else crusted on it in flakes.

  “The will is very specific as to the persons allowed to view it.”

  The lawyer got a case of the chills as the bloodshot eyes gave him a once over. Standing in a four hundred dollar, three piece suit, he could imagine what this man thought of him.

  “Is that so? I’m his fucking brother! Doesn’t that count for something?”

  “I’m just doing my job sir, I’m sorry I can’t be of more help to you. You can try to contest the will but I would strongly advise against that. Why don’t you just talk to your niece Mr. Phillips?”

  “I haven’t spoken to that bitch in over fifteen years. Probably doesn’t even remember me. What’s your name again?”

  The last sentence came out a bit garbled because he was slurring his words badly.

  “Mr. Taylor, and I work with Dumont and Freeman,” he replied, pulling out a business card. “If you want to make an appointment to discuss this in more detail, it can be arranged.”

  Mr. Phillips, even in his current state of mind, caught the understanding behind the words. Waving the card in front of him, he headed back towards his beat up Jeep Wrangler. Tripping on the last step, he tried to make it look purposeful but failed miserably.

  “Hopeless,” the lawyer muttered to himself.

  Taylor’s phone buzzed and he answered while keeping an eye on Phillips as he struggled getting into the vehicle. Last thing he wanted was to give the bumbling idiot a reason to come back to the porch.

  “Morgan Taylor of Dumont and Freeman, how can I help you?”

  He turned his back and faced the house as he spoke with a woman who was seeking representation in a custody dispute. Something whipped past his ear and smacked into the door with a loud thunk. Chips of wood fell on the deck and peppered his face.

  “I’ve got to call you back,” he said and whirled around just as Phillips was bringing the rifle up for a second shot.

  Dodging to the left, he avoided the bullet and it blew out the window.

  “Are you out of your mind?!”

  Phillips could barely stand on his own two feet but was throwing rocks like a major league baseball pitcher.

  “That’s up for debate! Should have just let me see the will. Could have avoided this whole mess, but no! You had to go and make things complicated, trying to rob me out of what’s mine. Now, just stop moving around for me.”

  Chapter 17

  Wanting to get his mind off of Jessica and what she was hinting at, Greg looked for a distraction. The shopping center that was coming up on the right had just store.

  Comics and Games.

  “Mind if we make a quick pit stop before heading home bud?”

  He motioned to the store and Joey’s yell of excitement was all the answer he needed. Having a son so heavily engrossed in comics, Greg figured that Joey could spend a decent amount of time trying to look for the issues he was missing. Plus it gave him some time to get his head straight.

  Joey flipped through the hundreds of comics in the rows of dollar and two dollar boxes. Greg stood off to the side, amused by the number of kids and teens playing some kind of tournament w
ith cards. The conversations tended to be a little strange but didn’t bother him.

  “You’re joking right? Dark Elf doesn’t beat Beserker Demon.”

  The other kid, clearly not as knowledgeable in the game stuttered, trying to come up with an explanation for how he was right.

  “I casted invincibility and used the Blade Master’s Axe!”

  “Doesn’t make a difference. You know the demons can’t be killed by those kinds of weapons. Only one of supernatural origins can best them. That’s another win for me!”

  With the dream he’d had last night, he didn’t like the sound of that. It’s just a game, dumbass. You’re looking too much into it!

  A stack of about seven or eight comics balanced in his hands, Joey walked to the counter, all smiles. Shaking his head of all the nonsense, he made his way carefully around the multiple games being played out on the tables. A card on one of the tables caught his attention.

  The hair on his arms and neck rose and he felt an unnatural cold come over him. The creature depicted on that card was one that was familiar to Greg. It was the one that had haunted his dreams since Fairmont.

  Pushing kids out of his way, he grabbed for the card.

  “Hey!”

  “What the hell dude?”

  “Not cool!”

  Upon closer inspection, it was an exact replica of the one who’d been tormenting him the most for the past year. In the majority of his hallucinations and nightmares, the demon that had come after him in Fairmont took the form on the card.

  “What’s the name of this card?”

  The urgency in Greg’s voice was evident. It probably didn’t mean anything but he wasn’t taking any chances.

  “Dude, chill. It’s a Warrior Demon card.”

  Nodding, Greg pocketed the card and handed the kid a ten dollar bill.

  “Thanks, this is for the card.”

  “Sweet! Anything else you want to look at?” The pre-teen brandished his deck of cards hopefully.

  Greg hurried to the counter, his mind racing in a dozen different directions. Let’s see the Doc explain this one!