Borderland

by Jennifer Seet

  “We’ll take him to Johnson County Memorial Hospital. Do you know of any relatives who should be notified?”

  Shaking their heads, still in shock. “We’ll take care of it…find out for you.”

  The ambulance roared away, siren blaring.

  A small crowd had gathered but Lou and Betty were oblivious to them. “We don’t know much about him, or if he has any relatives. Do you think we should go to the hospital?”

  “Guess so,” Lou answered, looking stunned, unable to comprehend what had happened.

  Both knew Harry had stopped breathing but didn’t want to think about the possibility he might not make it.

  “Maybe we can talk to him. Find out if there’s someone he wants us to call.”

  Walking to their car, quiet in their thoughts, both going over the same scenario. Harry was up most of the night. Lou saw him leave the room, look in the office, and then take off for a walk. Just now, he saw something in the window, something that scared him so much he went into cardiac arrest. What did it mean? Questions, no answers, kept playing around in their heads.

  No one assembled around the motel--the ambulance crew, Betty, Lou, even the curious bystanders--thought to look up toward that window. If they had, they might have noticed a dark figure watching.

  Almost beastlike in appearance, it glared, cursing them for their caring… and for the life-saving efforts. Rage took over, saliva drooled from his mouth, fists clenched, unclenched, sending currents of hate undulating throughout the tiny motel room, “Damn all of you! He’s a goner! I’m rid of him…won’t save her now!

  “Leave him alone!”

  Jerking around, he saw Travis standing there. “You think you can stop me, old man!” He let out a fiendish howl, pointed his finger, and wild kinetic energy shook the whole room.

  Travis felt the sensation of being slammed against the wall, the force of the motion causing him to experience the feeling of collapsing on the floor in a shattered heap.

  With mocking cruel pity, “Don’t even try it.”

  He struggled to regain composure, looked into cruel eyes, involuntarily shuddered and turned away in disgust. He was struck by the changes in appearance--time spent here on earth was not kind, replacing human qualities with animal-like characteristics.

  Jake’s eyes glowed like red-hot coals. The twist of his mouth, permanently marred by the cruelty he possessed as a human, had increased since his demise. His face was pitted and scarred from pus-oozing sores, depicting the savagery of man and beast. Lines intertwined causing gaping ridges and crevices. His features sloped downward, symbolic of his spiral into Hell.

  Feeling a slight twinge of sympathy, Travis accepted that Jake was once a handsome man, but was now pockmarked with the ugly ravages of a wicked soul.

  Seeing the look of pity, recognizing it for what it was, Jake glowered. “What are you looking at?”

  Then he used his power to hold Travis in place, relishing in the strength of otherworldly force, enjoying what it could do. He recovered quickly, and with boastful malicious laughing, disappeared, leaving behind chaos and uncertainty.

  Travis didn’t move for a while, thinking about what had happened. Pangs of doubt overwhelmed him. I can’t do this alone. He’s strong.

  And, what about Harry? His heart is weak. He can’t help, and, now he’s had another heart attack and might be in the hospital for a while.

  Considering the gravity and hopelessness of the situation, allowing time to recover, he slowly regained his will and made a decision. Gotta find out about Harry.

  Despair giving way to a decision made, Travis vanished into the still-pulsating air around him. Gradually the static environment transformed into calm and serenity once again, giving no clue to the spirit conflict that had just disrupted its peaceful existence…or to the conflicts to come.

  * * * * *

  Logan’s mind was a million miles away. Earlier, one of her neighbors had been kind enough to offer her a ride to Nashville, the county seat, a quaint town filled with boutiques and other places of interest. At first, she was inclined to stay home and wait until Tom called with directions to his place. Then, she remembered the events of the last few days and her promise to Bill to enjoy her vacation, so she accepted the invitation.

  Now, she found herself in one of the shops fingering a handmade wool sweater with mock interest. She really didn’t need a sweater but appreciated the colors and knit work.

  She tried to concentrate on the items in the store, but kept thinking about all the occurrences that had happened since Jake Turner’s death. Logan thought of herself as a well-grounded individual with no interest or opinion on the supernatural, but her beliefs had been tested recently.

  I’m being haunted. Not only that, but people around me are in danger. And, if a ghost can cause the death of a person (like Carl!), what else can he do? Her eyebrows creased together, considering the ramifications.

  To others in the store it might have seemed like she was intent on buying the sweater, but that was not the case.

  “Did you hear about Carl Sexton over in Nineveh,” a lady asked Carol Williams, the shop owner.

  “Yes, Ann, I did. How sad!”

  “They said he was working on a car and the lift fell on him.” Lowering her voice, “But I know for a fact that the lift was working fine when they tested it. What do you make of that?”

  The two women now had Logan’s full attention, straining to hear what they were saying without looking like she was eavesdropping.

  “That’s what I heard too. Funny…Carl was always so careful. I’m sure he would have noticed and gotten out of the way if something was wrong with the lift.”

  Uncomprehending, the two women just shook their heads sadly and went on with another topic of conversation.

  Logan stood in the middle of the store, uneasiness building. Gotta get out of here. It’s my fault.

  She felt as if the two women were looking at her and knew it was her car, her fault, and she was the one who had caused Carl to die.

  When she finally met their gaze, Logan saw them looking at her strangely, maybe suspiciously, so she bolted from the store.

  “My goodness! She must be in a hurry,” raising an eyebrow. “Guess she didn’t like the sweaters.”

  The bell above the door rang persistently as they both watched her hurried retreat.

  Half panting, half sobbing, Logan ran down the street, head down, not caring or wanting to know if people were watching.

  A few glanced her way, but their faces spoke of curiosity mixed with a hint of sympathy. She was a stranger, but initial impressions were probably more positive than she could have imagined.

  Tourists were the norm in Nashville, known for its arts and crafts community, accepting of people with few, if any, reservations. She might have passed for someone’s daughter home from college, or she might have been the wife of the new deputy prosecutor who had just started working at the courthouse last week. A fleeting interest in her background and reason for being in Nashville might have gone through their minds, no more, no less.

  She, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable. Events of the last few days had made her fearful of others, and it was all due to the insanity of blame…blame for ending someone’s life.

  “Whoa! Logan!” Two hands reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders. A horn sounded, tires screeched.

  She looked up and saw Tom holding onto her with a grip both tender and fierce, and when she calmed down enough to look around, she realized she was jaywalking.

  In her rush to leave the store, she had walked mindlessly out into the middle of the street.

  At the same moment, Tom was headed for an appointment, walking down the other side of the street. Hearing the squeal of tires, he looked over just in time to see a car lurch forward when the stoplight turned green. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure walking toward the dividing line in the middle of the street and instinctively ran towards the person, putting his hand out for t
he driver to stop.

  Impatiently honking his horn and slamming on his brakes, the driver came to a stop, barely missing the two of them. The driver passed, yelling out a few obscenities, as they made their way to the curb.

  Oblivious to the words, Tom wrapped his arms around Logan and said, “What did you think you were doing?” He couldn’t help the hint of panic in his voice.

  In that moment, her defenses broke down like a sea wall that suddenly crumbles under the relentless crashing of water over time. Tears flowed so fast and furious that his shirt was immediately soaked.

  “I can’t …I…I,” she struggled to talk.

  “Shh, shh,” whispering to her. He brushed her fine, wispy hair away from her face; wet, matted strands still clung stubbornly to her cheeks. Using his fingernail to push them aside, “Come on. It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not okay!” She grabbed his shirt, and twisted it into a tight ball.

  Looking around, He realized a crowd had gathered. Cars were slowly driving by. People leaned out their windows, staring and inquisitive. The people of Nashville were used to strangers but not their county veterinarian hugging one in the middle of the town square! He smiled in spite of himself knowing what the topic of dinner conversation would be tonight.

  “Look, let’s talk. You want a cup of coffee? Bite to eat?”

  Nodding her head in agreement, “But it’s so absurd, so ridiculous. You won’t believe me!”

  Tom put up his hand, “Listen, I have to go to the courthouse. I’ll only be a few minutes and it’s just across the street. I have some forms I need to pick up. Go with me and I promise we’ll talk. You can sit on the bench right outside the door to the office, and then we can go for coffee and have that talk. Okay?”

  He smiled and Logan felt herself begin to relax. “Okay, but you’re not going to believe what I have to tell you,” she warned him.

  Looking at her quizzically, he didn’t say another word as he guided her across the street.

  * * * * *

  Waiting outside the Animal Control office, she nervously thought about how to tell him her bizarre story.

  Ghosts, huh. You don’t say. She could hear him…imagine the doubt dripping from his voice, almost like too-thin putty oozing from a nail hole. Yeah, I believed in ghosts…when I was eight. A friend of mine even took me to a haunted house on Halloween. Could have sworn we saw a ghost but it was only a sheet someone left draped across the front window to scare kids like us. We ran out of there so fast… left our bags of Halloween candy right there by the window. Neither one of us would go back in there… left them right there for the ghosts to enjoy! She could see the humor in his eyes.

  Ghosts. Yeah, right.

  No, she thought. He wouldn’t do that. He’d listen to me, not laugh. He’d understand. Trust slowly erased doubt and led to a glimmer of conviction that he would believe her.

  She watched the sun stream in the window from across the hall. In the rays Logan could see fine dust particles flitting around. Fascinated with their movements, she almost wished they would continue to swirl, faster and faster, forming an ethereal shape that would materialize for Tom as he walked out the door.

  “Sorry it took so long.”

  She jumped up with a start and saw him staring at her.

  “I took the liberty of calling to see if they would release your car. Chief Helton said they were about ready to wrap up and we’d be able to pick it up in about an hour. For now, why don’t we go get that cup of coffee?”

  She gazed into his gorgeous eyes and lost all resolve to share the terrifying story. She sensed a caring for this handsome young doctor growing beyond the boundaries of friendship, but also a wavering feeling that it might endanger their budding relationship if she told him now.

  “You know what,” shaking her head quickly as if to clear the cobwebs. “I think I’ll pass on that cup of coffee. I saw a sweater back there and I might just go and get it.”

  Surprised, “But… I thought you wanted to tell me something!”

  “Oh, that. It’s nothing. I was just so upset about the car…but I’m fine now…really.”

  For several seconds, he stared at her, uncertainty showing on his face, not sure what to do next.

  “Listen, we’ll talk this afternoon when I come for dinner, I promise,” she offered.

  He tried to read something, anything, in her face. “Well, if you’re sure, but I’m finished with all my business. I could wait and drive you to your car.”

  “I know, and that’s really sweet of you, but I have a ride. A neighbor drove me here and I’m supposed to meet her in an hour. She’s offered to drive me to Nineveh to pick up my car.” Smiling, she gave him a hug, “Thank you for rescuing me though, and I’ll see you around four?”

  “Yeah, sure,” Tom stammered, disappointment in his voice as he watched her turn and start down the street.

  I wonder what changed her mind? Shaking his head, guess she’ll tell me when she’s ready.

  Feeling his eyes on her but resisting the temptation to turn and look, Logan stopped to window shop. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him walking in the opposite direction.

  Dumb, dumb, dumb! He’d think I was crazy if I started spouting off about ghosts, car tampering…and murder! Best not to say anything. But, what am I going to do?

  Considering the dangers, her fear mounted. What will Jake do to me? The possibilities scared her so much that she stopped dead in her tracks. People walked by, but she was unmindful to all. She turned pale. The answer was crystal clear.

  No doubt about it, he plans to kill me.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Tubes ran across Harry’s body, intertwining, leading into every possible orifice. His ashen face, heavy breathing, and the steady drip of the IV highlighted the seriousness of the situation.

  Betty and Lou stood over him like sentries guarding a prisoner, exchanging glances while he stirred in sleep.

  A cart rumbled down the hallway, clicking and clacking growing fainter the farther away it traveled.

  After an interminable period of time, he opened his eyes and gazed up at the stark white ceiling, blinking, shutting his eyes, then opening, repeating the motion several times. Perhaps he was in a dream world and a flick of the eye would bring back reality…or perhaps his wish was to continue drifting in and out of consciousness and not have to face reality again.

  Lou cleared his throat, hoping to get his attention.

  Harry turned his head at the sound and saw two people standing next to the bed, a glimmer of recognition coming into his eyes.

  “Mr. Parker,” Betty talked quickly, taking advantage of the fact that he was finally awake. “Do you know what happened to you?”

  Confusion took over, “No.”

  “Do you remember anything at all? Do you know why you’re here?”

  All he could muster was a simple headshake back and forth on the pillow, wincing in pain.

  “Well, you gave us quite a scare,” Betty began, “collapsing outside your room and everything. We looked out our window and saw you fall. We called 911 and the paramedics came and brought you to the hospital.”

  “Doctor said you had a heart attack,” Lou added, placing his hand on Betty’s shoulder. “Said it looked like you’d had one before.”

  He blinked again, trying to make sense of the torrent of words pouring from the couple. “I…I…Yes, I’ve had one. But, I don’t understand. Where did you say I was?” struggling to push up on his elbows.

  Betty gently pushed him back on his pillow and patted his arm. “You’re in the hospital but you’ve been through a lot and need to sleep right now. We’ll come back later and talk some more when you’ve had time to rest.”

  Shaking his head in compliance, Harry started to relax, but suddenly remembering, his eyes flew open, “Do you know a woman named Logan Massey?”

  Stunned, Lou and Betty just stared at him.

  “She’s in danger. That’s why I’m here. She has to be to
ld… someone’s after her,” he tried to explain. “You see….”, drifting into slumber as medication took effect.

  So afraid of losing valuable time while languishing in the hospital, he quickly whispered, “Please tell her”, and closed his eyes.

  “What do you suppose he meant by that?”

  Lou shook his head, “I don’t know. I mean if he’s here only to warn her, why has he been acting so suspiciously?”

  They stood there for a long time, thinking about his words. Were they a concern or a threat?

  “Maybe we should ask her,” Betty decided, taking his hand and leading him to the door.

  And, as they left the room, they didn’t know that someone was listening in on their conversation. The object of Harry’s warning was there in the hospital room and he did mean to harm Logan. In fact, as she had already figured out, he meant to kill her.

  Hovering just above the fluorescent lights on the ceiling, Jake listened to Lou and Betty and realized they could present a problem for him.

  Lips curled up cruelly, the old man has had a heart attack in the past too and I could give him another one, just like Harry…or a stroke.

  His arrogance grew as he thought about all the deaths he could cause. Enough to fill a graveyard, he sneered, Harry, Lou, and, of course, Logan. Floating down until he was right beside Harry’s ear, he heard the labored breathing, a rattle in the chest as it moved up and down, machinery pumping oxygen to the heart.

  Leaning over, “I will kill you, you bastard!”

  Cold air hit his ear, causing Harry to stir in sleep. Arms and legs quivered, then settled back against the mattress, lacking the strength of movement that fear usually elicited.

  Then a calm came over the room. Jake sensed it, knew another was present. In the corner he saw a spirit, not Travis as he half-expected, but a female, someone dear to Harry.

  She had been here all along, protecting, watching like she had so many times before. She heard what Jake said and reacted, not with anger, but with love, the love of a mother for a son, with a bond transcending death and life. Strong and hard to deny, it had come into play before when he was in crisis, and now provided protection once again. She wrapped him in her aura, invading the entire room, like a fog spreading out in the misty countryside.