by Marie Harte
Alex stared at the blonde. What the hell was that? He was not the most religious man on the planet, but if he didn’t know better he could have sworn something divine had just happened. “You said she works with soldiers, where?”
“I’m not sure. But I do know this entire floor is dedicated to soldiers and that the other wing on this floor has more patients. You could start there.”
Alex watched as the blonde turned back towards the door, her golden hair swung back, brushing the top of her shoulders. Making no attempt to stop her, he simply asked, “Where are you going?”
She lowered her head before answering him. “I’m going to say goodbye to my family.”
“You can just do that?”
She turned back once again to face him. Her fleeting smile accentuated the tears in her big brown eyes. Alex froze, a sudden feeling that he had seen her tear stained eyes before. “Well, I’m allowed to say goodbye to my husband. But my sister is different. She already knows I’m dead. She knew the second I died. But, I’m still not supposed to go to her.”
“But you’re going to.”
The blonde shrugged. “Of course. She’s my sister.” Alex nodded. He couldn’t help but admire her loyalty. “I am a little nervous though, she is in a delicate situation right now and I don’t want to make it worse.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “I’ll figure it out.”
Alex held the blonde’s stare. “What’s your name?”
“Justine.”
Alex nodded. “Thanks for the Intel, Justine.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled. “Good luck, Alex Hunter.” And with that said, she turned and left the room.
* * * *
From the moment Justine had appeared at his side, Cade had known something wasn’t right. Her smile had been genuine and full of love but there had been sadness too. Then she had broken the bad news. He was in a coma, and his soul had become separated from his body. This explained why he had been staring down at his own body for the last day and a half. It had sounded completely ridiculous, except Justine didn’t lie. She believed lying only complicated life. God, he loved that about her.
When he had first woken up, he’d thought he was stuck in a dream. And that Justine was surprising him at work for lunch. The truck losing control and pinning them against a wall, was all part of the dream. Then he had woken up here in the hospital, where every single person ignored him even after he had called them every rude and insulting name he could come up with. It had soon dawned on him that they couldn’t see him and no amount of yelling would get their attention. He had felt like he was going crazy. He still felt that way.
“There’s something else I need to tell you.” Sorrow clouded her lovely face.
Cade instinctively moved to her and tried for a third time to pull her into his arms. He couldn’t, his arms simply floated through her…again. He sighed, irritated. “What is it?”
“I was killed when the truck hit us.”
He felt the blood drain from his face. “What?” His voice cracked.
Justine traced her small hand down his cheek to his chin as she had done hundreds of times before, except this time he couldn’t feel her touch. “I died Cade.” The tender stroke always calmed him. But this time he felt nothing but anger and confusion.
“Please don’t look at me that way.” His heart squeezed at her plea. “You know I can’t stand it when you’re angry and I can’t soothe you the way you need right now.”
Raising her deep brown eyes, Justine looked up at him with such love that his heart ached. This was his fault. They should have driven to the restaurant, but it had been a warm day and he’d suggested they walk. If they had driven, the truck would have just hit the building. Justine would still be alive and he wouldn’t be in a coma. Life would have continued.
“Christ, Justine what do you expect?” He wanted to grab her arms and shake some sense into her. “You just told me you’re dead. And you’re so calm about it.”
“I’m not going to lie.” Her shoulders slumped. “This really sucks. There was so much I wanted for us. A big house, kids, and at some point…being part of the mile high club.” She winked at him, then sighed loudly when he didn’t smile. “I thought it was funny.” She shrugged. “I was told it was my time.” She rolled her eyes. “I know, not very original, but that’s what he said.”
“Who said?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
Cade grabbed the back of his neck. “I don’t understand.”
“Honey, look at your body. It’s a mess. And you’re not strong enough to repair the damage done to it.”
“What are you talking about?” He stared at his body, his chest and head wrapped in bandages. His right arm in a cast, tubes in his mouth and arms. “It will take some time but it will heal.”
“Cade!” Justine’s sudden sharp voice caught him off guard. “This part of you,”—she waved her hand up and down—“is the soul. Your soul is not strong enough to heal your body. If you re-enter your body, your soul will be trapped there until your body finally dies. I have no idea how long that will be or if you will suffer any pain.” She was now very agitated. “Please. Please trust me.”
“Okay,” he soothed. “So what happens? I just sit here and wait for my body to die or what, I go with you?”
“You can’t come with me, yet.”
He was confused. He wasn’t dead and he couldn’t go into his body or he’d be trapped until it died and now Justine was telling him he couldn’t die and go with her. “So I can’t die now either?”
“No, you have to wait for him.” There was a sudden blank look on her face that was disturbing—and her voice—it had dropped unusually low.
“Wait for who?”
“The hunter, he’ll need your help.”
Cade scanned his wife, something bizarre was happening. She was her normal beautiful self, she wore the same clothes as the ones she’d died in, but her posture was suddenly stiff and awkward. “Honey.” He paid close attention to her face. “What hunter?”
Justine’s stare became haunted. It was as though she was staring through him. “The hunter is the one who will save Jillian.”
“Jillian?” Cade asked.
She acknowledged him with a nod. “The instinct to protect comes naturally to him and he is strong. Stronger than you. He will fix what you cannot. But you must give what is yours to him freely, before you can join us.”
Cade stared down at his wife and got a creepy feeling that it wasn’t his wife staring back.
“He’ll need what you do not.”
And as suddenly as it happened, Justine’s voice and posture were normal once again. “I think I’m starting to get used to that.” She shook her head and grinned.
He narrowed his eyes. “Justine you’re not making any sense. What am I supposed to give freely?”
Her smile was tender. “You’ll know when the time comes.”
Cade instantly matched Justine’s steps as she backed away from him. “I have to go.”
“Where?”
She shrugged, as her eyes searched the room for an answer. “I’m not sure.” She focused on his chest. “But as strange as it sounds, I know it’s going to be okay.” She raised her face to his and, once again, stroked the side of his face.
This time a light feathery touch tickled his cheek. He closed his eyes savouring her touch. When he opened his eyes she was gone.
Chapter Three
The first time Eve had seen him—the man in grey—he had been standing across the street from her house. With his legs braced apart and his arms crossed, he had stood as still as a statue, just staring at her. Though her stomach had flipped, which was usually the first warning sign, she had ignored it and hoped he was waiting for a friend or maybe a ride.
The next time she had seen him was later the same day when she had gone to meet Noelle at the bus. She had felt him before she had seen him. As she’d stepped out of the house and closed the door, she had noticed him lea
ning casually against the far corner of the porch. There had been no intensity like the last time, only a show of interest. Their eyes had locked briefly and she had seen even from where she stood that his eyes were a bright blue. His stare had been so unnerving that she’d turned and walked away. This time not only did her stomach flip, but she suddenly felt nauseous. That was the second sign.
As the evening passed into night, Eve fought the urge to look out the window. He was still near—she could feel him. This was odd because she never felt the presence of a median until they were very close, usually within arm’s reach. She peeked hesitantly over her shoulder. Nope. No creepy man dressed in grey standing in her office.
She sighed, resting her head in her hands. What was going on? Medians at her house—this was a first. She had never encountered one outside the hospital. She had always believed that the fear of the unknown had kept them close to their bodies.
However, the man in grey was at her house, close to her child. At that moment the third and final sign became apparent—she was scared.
Taking a deep breath, she tried calming her racing pulse. She was going to have to tell this median that she couldn’t help him. She didn’t merge anymore. Denying him what he wanted—what they all wanted—was the main reason behind her fear. Refusing a desperate soul usually ended up with them becoming violent. She hated that and this time she knew it would be worse. The man in grey must have incredible strength or she wouldn’t be so receptive to him.
What would happen when she told him no? With the power he wielded he could cause a lot of damage. She stared at the computer screen as her stomach twisted into a knot. The last time she had encountered a desperate soul, she had been verbally assaulted and all she had done was look at the woman. The waitress had screamed in her ear during all three of her appointments at the hospital, calling her nasty, hurtful names. Of course, that was all the waitress had been able to do and the energy the waitress had given off hadn’t been anywhere near as powerful as the man in grey. God, she didn't want to deal with this new, stronger median, but the alternative was not an option.
Eve went to bed still feeling the power of the man in grey. She woke when her alarm went off, feeling tried and cranky. She had woken throughout the night with the feeling that she wasn’t alone. Yet, each time she had sat up and turned on the light, nothing had been there.
She showered, hopeful that it would help her mood, threw on blue dress pants and a cream turtleneck, and went downstairs to start Noelle’s breakfast. As she entered the kitchen, she stopped short when she saw him leaning against the counter. He was at complete ease, standing in her kitchen like he had been there before. All he needed was a cup of coffee and she would think he was an old friend stopping in to say ‘hi’.
As she stood in the doorway, Eve stared him in the eye. “You’re not welcome in my home. You have to leave.”
He raised his eyebrows, amused by her demand.
“I can’t help you.” Eve glared at him. “You need to go.”
He pushed away from the counter, moved closer, displaying his greater height.
She tried not to notice the small holes in his grey shirt, or how each one of them had a dark inky stain circling them. Was he… No! She couldn’t see the dead. She had never seen the dead. That talent belonged to her mother and grandmother. Although, Gran had told her, that could change at any time.
Crossing her arms, she let him know without words that he didn’t intimidate her—which was a total lie—and for several minutes they stood staring at each other. Eve wanted to turn away from his intense blue stare but she didn’t.
Finally he spoke. “I need your help Evening.”
Eve felt her mouth drop open. She turned from him and began preparing Noelle’s breakfast. He knew her name, her real name. Her heart pounded in her chest as her hands shook. She had no idea who this man was or had been, she had never told a median any personal information and she had never told anyone, needy soul or otherwise, her real name.
She focused on breakfast with the hope he would give up, but when she turned to the fridge to get the milk, he was still there watching her. She jumped when she heard a door close. Noelle was up and moving around.
Panicking, Eve broke the silence and whispered. “You have to leave.”
“I need your help, Evening.”
Her eyes grew wide. “You can’t stay here. Please go.”
“I need you to put me back in my body.”
“No. I can’t.” She glanced towards the door, praying Noelle was slow in coming down this morning.
“I was told otherwise.”
“Whoever said that is wrong,” she cried. “I can’t help you.”
One minute he looked mildly annoyed and the next his face was a mask of rage. He stalked towards her, his blue eyes glowing as if beams of light were behind them.
Startled, Eve staggered back but the damn counter blocked her. He stopped just before her and lowered his face so they were nose to nose. “If you can do it for six year old Jimmy Chen and for Debbie Wilcox and for Emily Spencer, you can do it for me.”
How did he know all of this? With her eyes wide, she moved her way along the counter, desperate to get away. “They…” Condensation floated between her parted lips as she spoke, thanks to the sudden drop in temperature. “They were…different.” The surrounding cool air caused goose bumps to prickle her skin.
He closed the small gap and loomed over her. “Stop moving.”
Closing her eyes, Eve prepared herself, tensing her muscles, waiting for whatever might happen next.
There was an unnatural silence until she heard him curse, then breathe out in a long frustrated sigh. “Open your eyes.” Eve did as he asked and stared at him. “Different how?” He demanded quietly.
“You’ve been shot.” She didn't see her breath this time when she spoke.
“Yes.” Alex agreed. It wasn’t like he could hide it. “How is that different from the others?”
Alex studied her as he waited for her to answer. Evening was clearly more than just scared, she was terrified. He decided to use that fear to his advantage but, when he saw her close her eyes and her body tense, he stopped. She had been preparing herself for a hit. It was sobering to realise she had been expecting him to hit her. He took a breath.
“Evening.” He pressed for the answer.
She closed her eyes. “Please, stop calling me that.”
“But that’s your name.”
Her eyes flew open. “I know what my name is.” She snapped. “Just Eve. Okay. Eve.”
“Okay, Eve. How is being shot different from the others?”
She shook her head. “It just is. But that doesn’t matter. I still can’t help you.”
He kept direct eye contact with her as he crossed his arms over his chest. A loud thump came from upstairs and Eve’s head shot up. He saw the pulse beat wildly in her neck. He needed to exploit her one weakness. “I was shot by a man that wants to kill an innocent woman.” He paused. Another thump came from upstairs. Her daughter again. He fixed his sight on her. “An innocent, pregnant woman.”
Her eyes locked with his. “What?”
Happy with her shocked expression, he continued. “She witnessed the murder of a guilty man. The men responsible had no idea she was hiding there, or they would never have performed the task. She can identify one of the men. That man cannot afford to be identified. If he’s caught, the authorities could track him back to his house. His career, family and life depend upon him being invisible. So he panicked and tried to kill the woman.”
“But you stopped him?” Eyes narrowed, she shifted slightly, her body turning towards the exit.
“There were other ways to silence her rather than killing her. He didn’t care and we fought…”
“That’s when he shot you?”
“Yes.”
She glimpsed nervously towards the door of the kitchen and then back to him. “What happened to the woman?” The suspicion was still there in her e
yes, but her question about Jillian gave him the result he was hoping for…he had her hooked.
“She was able to get away. But she’s still in danger.” Alex decided he should be blunt. Eve needed to know the kind of person Miles was trained to be. “The man is a trained killer—he will hunt her down and dispose of her and her baby in a manner that is untraceable.”
The truth caused her to flinch and she stared up at him with horror in her hazel eyes. “He could do that so…easily?”
Alex paused. Strange, he never hesitated in his job, he couldn’t afford to, but for the first time since his parents had died, he’d second-guessed his methods. He wanted Eve’s help and being honest was the right thing to do, but it wasn’t his intention to give her nightmares either. In spite of his good intentions and of how odd it seemed, he knew deep down that it would be hard to lie to her. “Yes, he can. That’s why I need your…” A loud thump at the bottom of the stairs caught his attention and Alex turned just in time to see Eve’s daughter walk into the kitchen, tucking a necklace inside her blouse.
“Good morning, Mummy.”
Turning to face her daughter, Eve ignored him and smiled. “Hey.” She cooed and opened her arms. Eve hugged her daughter and kissed the top of her head. “Have a good sleep?”
Alex focused on Eve. Her voice…it sounded different. He stepped back and listened, his muscles relaxing, his breathing slowing.
“Yup! What’s for breakfast?” The girl pulled away and moved to the fridge.
“I was thinking scrambled eggs and toast, so grab the eggs while you’re in there.”
As he watched mother and daughter, Alex noticed it again. Eve’s voice had changed, there was a calming, almost musical lilt to it now and he realised that he felt calm and not so restless about getting back into his body.
“Okay.”
The girl’s response snapped him out of his stupor. Wait! He blinked hard and shook his head. What the hell was going on? How did she do that? He went from being wound as tight as a spring to feeling…tranquil. He never felt tranquil.
Alex took a step towards Eve, staring intently at her face. As she met his stare, the smile faded away.