The Haunting of Anna McAlister

by Jerome Harrison

  “I love you too,” she said into the now dead telephone receiver.

  * * *

  When Anna returned to the hotel several hours later, she was relieved to find that Phillipe was gone. In fact, the bed was made, the glasses had been removed and there was no sign that he had ever been there at all.

  Anna kicked off her shoes and dropped the shopping bag she had been carrying onto the floor. Her feet felt as if she had walked half way around Paris before finding the right sized black candle at a small shop off Rue Beubourg on the right bank. The salt had been much easier. These two items, she had learned as a teenager, were the essential ingredients for a successful séance.

  Who says you don’t remember anything you learn in high school? she said to herself as she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.

  Anna had no intention of falling asleep. Sleep was actually the last thing she wanted. Sleep meant dreaming . . . and again she dreamed. She dreamed of Anita, Loraine, Rob and Gary. They were all standing almost up to their necks in a perfectly still and warm ocean. The water felt wonderful. Anna could see three of her four friends clearly, only Gary had his head turned as if he were looking out to sea.

  “What a weird place for a séance,” Anna heard herself laugh. “What if there are sharks?”

  “All present, all accounted for, all alive.” Rob smiled.

  Anna felt Anita and Loraine take her hands under the water and hold them tight. “Concentrate,” Anita said. “Everything will be fine if you concentrate and let go. It will all be over soon.”

  Suddenly Rob’s head was violently yanked under the water, followed by Anita and Loraine. Anna felt them pulling on her hands, pulling her down into the water.

  “Gary, help me!” Anna screamed in her dream. Gary turned to her, his face mangled, broken and bleeding. Anna saw the chunks of glass embedded deeply into his skull.

  “They closed my casket, Anna.” Gary smiled, his jaw was shattered and the bones splintered through his flesh. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.”

  Gary moved toward Anna. She tried to run, but was held in place by her underwater captors.

  “Soon, Anna. Very soon.” Gary said in French. His voice sounded almost female. He moved his face to Anna’s and kissed her deeply. Half his tongue had been severed in the crash. He was using what was left for the kiss.

  Anna gagged as she was pulled under the water. She saw Gary’s face change. It was now the face of Ariene LaMoreau. Anna woke up soaked in sweat. The bed was sopping wet and the room was cold.

  It was starting to get dark outside. The clock read 8 p.m.

  * * *

  As prearranged, Anna met Stacy and Phillipe in the lobby at 9:30. She said hello to Stacy and dodged Phillipe’s attempt to kiss her on the cheek.

  “What is wrong?” Phillipe asked.

  “I think you know what is wrong,” Anna snapped.

  Phillipe looked confused. He raised both hands, palms up in front of him, “I am afraid I do not.”

  Stacy stepped between the two. “Phillipe,” she said. “Would you be a dear and get us some coffee. I think we might need it.”

  “Of course,” Phillipe bowed before he and Stacy kissed. “I will be right back.”

  Anna shuttered when she saw them kiss with parted lips.

  “What’s wrong with you, Anna ?” Stacy said as soon as Phillipe left. “Are you mad at him or something?”

  “He came to my room last night,” Anna said. “And he wouldn’t stop.”

  “What?” Now it was Stacy who seemed confused. “I think you’re wrong, Anna. Phillipe stayed with me after carrying me to my room.”

  “Are you sure?’

  “Oh yeah,” Stacy said. “And let’s just say he was right about the dicks of Paris, at least his.”

  Anna felt Phillipe fucking her.

  “So, what were you saying about him coming to your room?”

  “Never mind,” Anna said. “I was just kidding.”

  A moment later Detective Malmann and Inspector Cerone arrived followed by the return of Phillipe with the coffee. Stacy took her cup and smiled. Anna took hers and put it down on the table. “Ready?” she said.

  “Before we go,” Inspector Cerone said. “I want to say that I am officially opposed to this charade. I am allowing it only as a professional courtesy to my American law enforcement colleague, who for some reason thinks it might be useful. I feel that we are just wasting time.”

  “You know what?” Anna said. “I hope you’re right.”

  Anna started walking toward the elevator. “But I know you’re not.”

  * * *

  When the group got to room 531 they found the door wide open and the lights on.

  “Where you already here?” Anna asked Detective Malmann.

  He shook his head. “Not since we left.”

  “Perhaps we should go in first,” Inspector Cerone stepped in front of Anna. “Wait here.” He and Detective Malmann entered the room, only to emerge a minute or so later.

  “All is clear, as expected. A worker must have turned on the lights,” Inspector Cerone said.

  “Well somebody’s been here, that’s for sure,” Detective Malmann said.

  “What do you mean?” Anna asked.

  “See for yourself.”

  Anna took two steps into the room and stopped. “Who did this?”

  The furniture in room 531 was no longer covered with sheets. It had been rearranged, dusted and polished. Only the bed was in its same place, but now it was covered by an embroidered bedspread and silk throw pillows. There were dozens of red roses in several vases around the room. The colors in the tapestries were once again rich and vibrant.

  “Are those your music boxes?” Phillipe asked.

  Anna looked where Phillipe pointed. She saw a long narrow table against the far wall. All but one of her music boxes were displayed in a neat row. “Yeah.”

  “And that one too?” Detective Malmann motioned with his head toward the black music box with the rose that rested on the night stand next to the bed.”

  “How did they get up here?” Anna whispered.

  “Looks like someone was expecting us,” Stacy said.

  “Let’s find out,” Anna said. She looked at Malmann and Cerone. “Do you want to be part of the séance?”

  “I think I would prefer to observe,” the inspector said and the Detective agreed.

  “Yeah, I’ll watch too.”

  “Then please, whatever happens, just be quiet and stay out of the way.” Anna wouldn’t admit it, but she was very relieved to have Cerone and Malmann in the room. She felt safer knowing that they were there.

  Anna took the roses off a small triangular table. She put the vase on the floor. “This should work for the three of us. Detective Malmann, you would find some chairs please?”

  While Anna pulled the candle and salt from the bag she was carrying, Detective Malmann found three wooden chairs in the small kitchen adjoining the main room.

  After carefully placing the candle in the center of the table, Anna poured three concentric rings of salt around its base.

  “Why do you need that stuff?” Stacy asked.

  “Fuck if I know,” Anna said while finishing the third, outermost ring. “It’s what we did before.” She thought about Gary’s face. “It’s what worked.”

  Anna directed Stacy and Phillipe to sit down before looking at Inspector Cerone, “Would you please turn the light off?”

  The inspector did as asked. Anna quickly pulled out a pack of matches and lit the candle. Its glow slowly lit the room. With the darkness behind them, Stacy and Phillipe’s faces appeared to be detached, and glowing. It was an effect that Anna had seen many times before, many years before. She looked around to see Inspector Cerone standing near the door. Detective Malmann had taken a seat on the edge of the bed.

  Anna watched the candle flame flicker slightly. A sharp chill ran through her body. She looked at Phillipe and Stacy. “Okay, now I want us to hold ha
nds and also touch knees.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Stacy took Phillipe’s hand and ran her foot up his leg.

  “Please, Stacy,” Anna said. “Be serious.”

  “Sorry,” Stacy held Anna’s right hand and softly touched Anna’s knee with her own.

  Anna took Phillipe’s hand in her left. It felt smooth and strong, just as it had felt against her thighs the night before. Anna pushed the thought from her mind. She felt his knee press against hers. “Now,” she said. “The most important thing is to not break the circle, no matter what happens, until it’s over.”

  “And if someone does?” Stacy asked.

  “It breaks the connection.”

  “Oh, like my computer. God, I hate it when my cosmic connection crashes,” she laughed nervously.

  “Stacy?”

  “Yes?”

  “Shut up.”

  “Okay.” Stacy looked back at the candle. It was very hard for her not to laugh. She always laughed when she was nervous, or very scared.

  “So what do we do now?” Phillipe asked.

  In her mind Anna saw another table holding a candle and three rings of salt. It was surrounded by much younger faces.

  “Just open your mind,” Anna stared at the flame. “Think of nothing. Focus on the candle. Just concentrate on the flame.”

  “Ah, Anna?” Stacy whispered hoarsely.

  “Stacy, please. Concentrate.”

  “I don’t think we have too.”

  Anna followed Stacey’s eyes until she saw the shadow of a man staring at them from the darkness in the far corner of the room.

  * * *

  “Who are you?” Tom said to the woman who was suddenly somehow in his cell. No one had been there a second ago when the guard had slammed the bars shut, but she was certainly there now.

  The light in Tom’s cell seemed brighter than it had before the woman appeared. She was the most beautiful woman Tom had ever seen. It took a moment before he realized that the woman reaching out to him was Ariene LaMoreau.

  Chapter 30

  Stacy tried to pull her hand away, but Anna held it tight. The figure in the corner didn’t move. It just stood in place and stared toward the table.

  “Renee?” Anna looked at the figure. “Is that you?”

  The darkness within the shadow seemed to swirl just a bit, but the figure itself remained fixed in place.

  “Detective, Inspector?” Anna said without taking her eyes off the figure. “Do you see him?”

  Neither responded to Anna’s call.

  “I don’t like this, Anna.” Stacy said.

  “Nor do I,” Phillipe whispered.

  “Be quiet, both of you,” Anna almost hissed. “Renee, is that you?” she stated more strongly.

  The figure raised both arms, as if beckoning Anna to an embrace.

  “Renee?”

  The figure started to move forward toward the table and a perfect waltz filled the room.

  * * *

  “Ariene?” Tom stumbled back onto the cot against the wall opposite the bars where the woman stood. She looked exactly like the old picture Madam Lapautre had shown him and Anna. Except now, Tom could see the texture of her delicate skin, the color of her long red hair, and the power in her emerald green eyes.

  The woman nodded her answer to Tom’s question and simply said, “Oui.”

  “No,” Tom pushed himself back against the wall as far as he could. “You can’t be, you just can’t.” Tom said. So beautiful, he thought.

  The woman smiled as if responding to Tom’s thoughts. “Aidez-moi.”

  Tom heard her voice even though her lips didn’t move. He felt a combination of fear and excitement. “How can I help you?”

  So very beautiful.

  “Come to me, Thomas.” The woman reached for him. “Let me hold you.”

  Tom started to move from the wall, but stopped himself. “No!” he scrambled back into a corner.

  He watched as the woman’s smile faded, but her beauty did not. She seemed very sad and alone. The woman lowered her head and turned as if to leave. Tears filled her eyes.

  “Wait,” Tom called after her.

  Out of his view, the woman’s eyes glowed brightly for a moment.

  “Don’t go,” Tom said.

  Ariene turned back and Tom came to her. She took him gently into her arms.

  * * *

  The figure became no more distinct as it approached. It moved silently around the table. Only the music filled the air, and it filled it completely. As the shadow passed behind Stacy, what felt like a blade of ice moved across her skin from shoulder blade to shoulder blade.

  When the figure moved behind Anna, she felt the hair being moved slowly away from her left ear and heard a whisper that sounded like the wind.

  “Je taime. I love you.”

  Anna smelled the same sickening, rotting breath she had smelled in her own home, in her own country. Something kissed her cheek. It was the deepest cold she had ever felt.

  “Anna, you’re bleeding,” Stacy said. She had watched the tiny wound open on Anna’s cheek.

  “Don’t break the circle,” Anna said. She felt a few drops of blood trickle down her cheek. They felt like tears.

  The shadow moved first behind Phillipe, and then into him.

  * * *

  Tom returned Ariene’s embrace. He felt her running her fingers through his hair, and pressing her body against his. She felt as solid and real as any woman Tom had ever been with. She smelled of roses. Tom felt himself responding to her touch.

  “No, this can’t be happening.” Tom tried to pull away, but Ariene tightened her grip in his hair.

  * * *

  Phillipe looked up at Anna, his eyes were black and empty.

  “Phillipe?”

  “I am much more than that,” Phillipe said. His mouth smiled slightly, but his eyes remained blank.

  “Are you Renee?”

  Anna felt Phillipe’s hand squeezing hers until her little finger broke in two places. She ignored the pain. It didn’t matter. “Are you Renee?”

  “I am . . .”

  Before he finished his statement, Phillipe’s eyes suddenly returned to their normal shade. He looked at Anna for a moment. Then, his head fell toward the table. He was dead before it hit. From beneath his face blood spread out in both directions.

  “Phillipe, no!” Stacy cried. Both she and Anna tried to pull free, but Phillipe’s hands wouldn’t release them. In fact, both thought they felt his grip tighten.

  “I am going to show you what you came to see,” Detective Malmann walked into the circle of candlelight around the table.

  “His eyes, Anna,” Stacy quickly whispered. “Look at his eyes.”

  Anna saw that now it was Detective Malmann who looked at them through the eyes of the dead.

  “Inspector Cerone,” Stacy screamed. “Help us!”

  Detective Malmann started to laugh. When he opened his mouth, the smell of decayed flesh filled the room. “Inspector Cerone is . . . elsewhere.”

  The candle flame grew larger. It lit the room just long enough for Anna and Stacy to see Inspector Cerone slumped against the door. His clothing was caked with drying blood and his throat had been cut to the bone.

  “Where is Ariene?” Anna screamed at the body of Detective Malmann. She thought for a moment that his facial expression changed slightly at the mention of her name. “Ariene,” Anna stared directly into Detective Malmann’s dead eyes. “I am here to help Ariene.”

  “We are all here to help Ariene,” Malmann laughed once more and looked away.

  “I will free her.”

  “Yes,” the being paused. “You will.”

  “Bring her to me now.”

  “To help the dead, you must feel their death,” Detective Malmann moved toward Anna. “Come to me, Anna. Come to me now.”

  * * *

  “You should have protected me,” Ariene cooed into Tom’s ear. She twisted his hair around her fingers and held him
in place. “You should have stayed awake. You belong to me, Renee. Now, you belong with me.”

  Tom felt Ariene’s grip tighten even more. She pulled his head back and rammed it into the cell bars with incredible strength. She did it again, and again and again. Before losing consciousness, Tom felt his skull splitting open. Ariene continued to hit Tom’s head into the bars long after he was dead. She didn’t stop until it was forced between the bars, a broken mass of bone, brain and blood.

  * * *

  Detective Malmann reached out to Anna. Taking her hand in his own he gently pulled her to her feet. Anna felt herself leave her body. As she was led toward the bed, Anna looked back at herself still sitting at the table.

  “Anna, no,” Stacy yelled. She had watched Anna step away from her physical body. When she did, her hand suddenly felt as heavy and lifeless as Phillipe’s,

  “Stop, leave her alone!” Stacy screamed. She tried to get up, but Anna’s hand tightened on hers.

  “Shhh,” Anna turned back and looked at Stacy. “This is why I’m here. This is how it will end.”

  Detective Malmann moved her to the edge of the bed. He touched the open black music box on the nightstand. The waltz continued to play and an avalanche of memories crushed through Anna’s mind. These were from someone else’s past, but Anna relived them as if they were from her own. “Ariene, no,” Anna whispered.

  “Oui,” Detective Malmann said. “Ariene.”

  Anna looked down at the bed. A young girl was tied to it, her body bruised and naked. A man, Renee, climbed between her legs and pushed himself into her. Anna heard herself laughing at the girl’s screams.

  Renee fucked her violently and climaxed quickly. When he pulled out, Anna felt and saw her own hand slapping the girl’s breasts as hard as she could. She saw Renee remove a small, razor sharp knife from the music box. He held it out to her.

  “No, Renee,” Anna heard a strange voice coming from her mouth. “I think I would like to watch while you carve. And this time, my darling, start with her beautiful, beautiful breasts.”

  Many memories played out their scenes of horror and pain before Anna, who relived them all through Ariene’s eyes. Different girls, some men, all tied to the same bed and tortured until Ariene tired, and ended it with a blade.