“Yes,” she admitted. “You might be right. I saw something. It looked like lights, moving around the room, but I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Then, when I went to find Lou….” her voice trailed off.
Harry pushed himself up off the pillow and said, “Listen, I need your help. I have to find her before Jake does. We could debate this all night but we need to move, hopefully before anything else bad happens.”
This last part really made Betty stop and think. She didn’t know if she believed in ghosts or not but she certainly had seen something, so had Lou, and so had Harry. Obviously, someone or something was trying to hurt Logan. After all, terrible accidents had been happening since Logan arrived. She acted like it was her fault. Although, poor thing, it wasn’t. Betty considered everything he told her, finally letting out a big sigh, “Okay, let’s get you up, dressed, and out of here before anyone notices you’re missing.”
* * * * *
Tom’s fingers gripped the steering wheel of his jeep with such intensity that his knuckles were a stark white color, his eyes never wavering from the road in front of him.
His thoughts raced back to the telephone call he had received just moments ago from Betty Gleason. She told him about Lou; he was still reeling from the shock that he was dead. And, she told him that Logan was in danger and she needed his help to find her. A shiver ran down his spine, remembering Jenny’s warning. Betty asked if he knew where she might be and he had told her where to meet him. He had an idea of where she might have gone-the same place he had taken her the day before, the clearing in the woods on the outskirts of the Brown County State Park.
She also briefly filled him in on the other person who was coming with her; Harry Parker was his name. He was the person they had seen yesterday, but Betty reassured him that Harry was here to protect Logan, not to do her harm. He was still trying to piece the puzzle together on that one, but he would reserve judgment until he met the man.
The last thing Betty said to him was that they knew who had caused Carl and Lou’s deaths, and it was not human! This last revelation stuck with him. He thought about this evening, how Jenny had come to him and said Logan was in danger. No one, including Betty, knew that she had appeared to him on several occasions since she died. This only added to the mystery of it all.
He tried to make sense of everything, but couldn’t. He reviewed the events of the last few days.
Yes, there had been two terrible, tragic deaths since she arrived, but they were accidents, weren’t they?
He considered Logan’s reaction when she found out about Carl’s death. She had been terribly upset, even though she didn’t know the man very well.
She probably didn’t even know about Lou yet. She was with me when it happened, and I didn’t find out until Betty called me.
What a nice guy, sweet, funny, loved his baseball. So sad! Everyone knew he had a weak heart. But now Betty seems to be saying that it might not be an accident--maybe someone or something caused him to have a heart attack.
And, Carl, what if that same person or thing had caused the lift to come down? Tom shuddered when he thought about how awful it had been. Poor guy, I just hope he was gone before he knew what happened.
Oh my God, if this person or thing is after Logan now! He exhaled a big breath of air, hating the consequences.
Headlights approached. The car was speeding, trying to narrow the distance. He eased up on the accelerator, allowing it to catch up. He strained his eyes, trying to get a good look inside, hoping it was Logan. Tom slowed down even more, so the car could come up parallel with his. It was Betty with a strange man; must be Harry Parker. She motioned for him to pull off the road.
They both got out and walked up to his car.
She introduced the two men, each sized the other up, curious but not unfriendly. They shook hands, taking time to form a first impression, knowing they might not have time to do anything more than that right now.
Harry broke the ice first, “I know that I have a lot to explain, but please believe me, I’m here to try and save Logan’s life.”
Tom waited patiently for him to continue.
“I’m representing a family she recently helped at the bank and the man who caused the problem is after her now. It may sound crazy but he killed himself because he was not willing to spend time in jail for the money he stole from my employer and many others. His spirit didn’t completely cross over and now blames her for everything and wants to get even. He’s already killed Carl and Lou because he wanted you to think she did it.”
Harry stopped long enough to take a breath. “That’s all I can tell you right now but we need to find Logan in a hurry before he does.”
Tom listened, an incredulous look on his face, and said, “You expect me to believe that? Why shouldn’t I think you’re making all this up so you can get to her?”
Betty interrupted, “Please, we don’t have much time. I give you my word he’s telling the truth. Lou died because of what he saw in Harry’s room today. Harry had a heart attack because of a run-in with this Jake Turner. You have to believe him! If not, at least believe me. You’ve known me forever, Tom, and I’m not lying to you.”
He stared at Betty for a few minutes, trying to take it all in. “Okay, I believe you. As to why, I’ll tell you later, but for now we need to find Logan.”
Hesitating slightly while gathering his thoughts, “This is the road she took, I’m almost positive. She left in a hurry all upset about something that happened in the barn. I think she might go back to the clearing where we took our hike yesterday.”
Betty and Harry listened for instructions.
“Drive slowly and look off to the side. If you see anything, anything at all that might be suspicious, blink your lights and I’ll stop. If I see something, I’ll tap my brake lights.”
They all three jumped back into the cars and took off, driving with their bright lights on. The road was deserted, but Tom saw something in the distance. It looked like lights but they were dim and off to the side. The moon caught his face just as it dawned on him that those lights could be from her car, and, if so, it might mean she had had an accident. He tapped his brake lights to let Betty and Harry know that he was pulling off. Betty quickly followed suit.
Once safely off the road, all three hopped out and made their way over to the car. They could see that it had hit a tree but they couldn’t make out if anyone was inside. Tom arrived first and looked in the open driver’s door. No one was there. He quickly looked in the back seat. Empty. His eyes swept over the interior; blood was on the front seat and the steering wheel.
She must be injured, he surmised. She might have a head wound from hitting the steering wheel. She could be wandering anywhere or, maybe she collapsed and is lying on the ground somewhere, unconscious and bleeding. We’ve got to find her, and quickly.
“Is she okay?” Betty ran up to the car, out of breath; Harry followed.
“Don’t know,” he answered quietly. “She’s not here but there’s blood in the car.”
Betty put her hand up to her mouth. “Poor thing! Where could she be?”
Harry patted her on the shoulder. “She can’t be far. Do you think we should split up or stay together to find her?”
Tom looked at them, recognizing they weren’t as young or agile as he was and that they didn’t know the area as well either.
“I think it’s best that we stay together, but if we have enough flashlights, we can shine them in different directions and locate her quicker that way. I have two in my car. Do you have any, Betty?”
“I have one. Lou always keeps one in the car for emergencies,” tears sprang into her eyes, admitting her use of present tense.
Harry put his arm around her and led her back to the car. “Come on. Let’s get that flashlight.”
Tom took note of Harry’s caring and felt a little better about having him along to help.
The two grabbed the light and were headed back when they spotted someone walking
across the road. It was Logan!
“Look!” Betty pointed.
As she approached, the night creatures fell silent and lifted their noses in response to the acrid smell that filled the air. It was the smell of a follower of the devil, and it occupied her body and spirit just as Jake did. Her eyes blazed with fiery loathing. Dried blood formed crusty lines down her cheeks; other wounds were still raw and bleeding. They should have caused her pain but she felt nothing. A low, unnatural growl escaped her lips, slowly turning into an evil guttural laugh when she saw them.
Jake was gloating. His desire to get revenge was finally going to happen. Not long now, he thought. You can’t save her because she’s mine! And soon, she’ll commit the final act-suicide-and be lost forever!
Logan’s spirit, having been shoved back into the deepest recesses, offered no resistance to the wicked being occupying her body. She lumbered forward, mechanical and plodding. She tried to muster a scream from deep within, but nothing crossed her lips; no sound broke free from her throat.
“Logan!” Tom cried out in relief. As she moved closer, “Are you okay?” His voice tender, choked with emotion, he came forward, checking her injuries, noting the dried blood, no visible broken bones, some blood still seeping from a deep cut on the side of her face. He reached out to take her in his arms, but at the same time, she jumped back, glaring at him.
“Leave me alone!” She screamed and Tom felt a deep hurt fill his insides.
He stopped dead in his tracks, staring at her, curious but at the same time sad, wondering why she was behaving this way.
Her hair fell in clumps around her face, soaking up the blood trickling down the side of her head. Her shoulders sagged but her stance suggested she was ready to pounce if he made one more move towards her.
The air around them was filled with static electricity. No one moved. Betty and Harry didn’t even breathe. In a split second, Logan rushed past him and disappeared into the darkness. He stood there, uncertain what to do next.
“She’s not herself, Tom.” A voice quietly spoke up in the solitude of the darkness.
Tom looked around, trying to locate the source of the sound. It wasn’t Betty or Harry, who stood there with shock on their faces. They had heard it too.
A shadowy form was barely visible in the light of the moon. All three saw it. A puff of air escaped Harry’s lips as he muttered the word aloud…”Travis!”
“Who are you?” Tom looked at Harry curiously but posed the question to the now bright shape standing in their midst.
“In your world, my name was Travis Morton. I am Harry’s friend. Now, I’m a spirit savior.” Tom looked puzzled so he explained, “When you make your transition to the next world, you will understand better, but for now, just know that I was sent to help Logan.”
“Who sent you? Why did she run away from us? What’s wrong with her?”
Travis interjected, putting a stop to the flurry of questions, “I was sent to represent the spirit saviors. They knew I could help due to my connection with Logan. She helped discover who was stealing from me and now that person is trying to get her to commit suicide. He’s the one possessing her body. She’s not in control.”
Tom waited patiently for Travis to give more details. “His name is Jake Turner. He was my lawyer. He stole from me and now he blames Logan. Unfortunately, he escaped Borderland, our world, to come back here to wreak his revenge on her.”
Tom didn’t say a thing even though he had so many more questions. What is Borderland? How did this Jake escape?
It challenges everything I’ve thought about the afterlife, he decided. But, I can’t think about that now. I need to find Logan!
Tom thought about Jenny. She had told him that Logan was in danger. Now it all came together. Jenny had tried to tell him. Logan needed his help, and that was all that mattered now.
It hit him then that Jake was occupying Logan’s body… and he wants her to die!
Tom thought about Lou and Carl. How powerful is this guy? How can I stop him? All of these thoughts tumbled around inside.
Harry came and stood beside him. Betty took Harry’s hand. The three of them stood together, garnering strength from each other.
Betty was not sure what to believe, “We don’t have much time,” she told Travis. “How can we help you?”
He responded by putting his hands up in the air and saying a simple prayer, calling on God to grant these three humans the courage to fight off Jake and save Logan.
“Tell us what we need to do,” Tom spoke quietly, a razor-sharp edge to his voice.
“He’s not far. His aura is fading and he won’t have much power left, but he must be stopped before he kills her.”
“I think I know where she is.”
He thought about their hike yesterday and how much she loved that clearing. He also remembered that Jake was there too. He must have been the one she saw while taking her walk! He plans to take her back there because he wants to send a message, the bastard! He wants me to find her body there, in the place that holds so many fond memories of Jenny…and now of Logan.
Tom shone his flashlight down the road, checking patches of ground in both directions, making sure that Logan had not collapsed up ahead. He noticed that Travis had disappeared, but he knew, without a doubt that he was still with them, ready to lend support when they needed him. “Come on,” he said to Harry and Betty. “It’s not far from here but it’ll be quicker if we use a car. I’ll drive.”
As the threesome took off down the road, Travis watched from a distance. He knew how dangerous the coming confrontation would be for them. He only hoped that it would not result in the death of another.
* * * * *
Panting now, Logan’s breath was coming in short, staccato bursts, like a savage animal. She made her way to the clearing, plodding along, no purpose but to reach her destination. If she had any sense of who was occupying her body, she would have tried to fight…and run. But, she trudged ahead with single purpose.
Dread tried to sneak in, but Jake held onto her with a force too strong to conquer. His spirit had purpose. Her will to live didn’t stand a chance against his wish for her to die. The battle waged on but Logan didn’t have the resolution left in her to win the battle. Jake had control; it was as simple as that.
He had prepared the site well. He left a gun in the knot hole of the tree and now he would extract it from the safe hiding place, put the barrel in her mouth, just as he had done to himself not long ago, and blow her brains out. He was also aware of his dwindling power and knew he had to hurry if he wanted to complete his revenge. Jake couldn’t contain the mounting excitement even though it meant he would have to return to his destiny as well. He smiled at the thought because he knew it would be much more bearable having Logan there to torment for eternity.
Trudging ahead, shuffling, robotic in her walk, singular in purpose, her will was completely subservient to his insidious intentions.
“Logan!”
She twitched at the sound of the voice, grappling for control of her response, but losing the battle. Turning, she snarled, “Leave me alone! Get out of here!”
Tom, Betty and Harry heard Logan’s labored breathing. They could see her appearance changing, could smell the evil. This did not deter them into taking their eyes off of her.
She backed up until she made contact with the tree. Her right hand reached around and grabbed the gun out of the hole.
Betty gasped in horror; Harry clutched her hand tighter. Tom stepped forward, still holding onto the other two. “Don’t!”
All three stood perfectly still, their faces registering shock when they saw her place the gun in her mouth. Tears streamed down her face. “Logan, listen to me,” he pleaded. “I know you’re in there somewhere. Fight him! You can’t let this happen to you!” He took another step forward.
“Don’t come any closer!” She let out an anguished groan from deep within her soul. “Don’t try to stop me!” Her words were garbled, choked by
the gun being held firmly in her mouth, tears mixing with dried blood.
“Don’t do it, Logan,” Tom begged her. “You must listen to me. You have to fight him. Don’t let him hurt you.”
Another scream disrupted the night air. This time it sounded angry, hateful. “Get away from me!”
She withdrew the gun from her mouth and pointed it at Tom.
He backed up but kept talking to her, soothingly, softly. “I don’t want you to do this. We just met a little while ago, but I already know that I care about you. For the first time since Jenny died, I find myself longing to be with a woman, wanting that woman to be you, Logan.” He looked at her and thought he saw something, maybe a sparkle of hope, an understanding, maybe, just maybe, a glimmer of feeling.
Then, just as suddenly, her voice changed, “You don’t care about me. You don’t even know me.”
“That’s not you talking, Logan. I know that, and I also know you’re in there and you’re listening to me,” he pushed on. “I don’t want to talk to Jake Turner. I want you, Logan, only you. Please, fight him!”
Her eyes glittered with something that looked like desperation, or maybe uncertainty. The gun wavered slightly in her grasp. Then, just as suddenly, her demeanor changed again.
Tom watched in fascination and horror as she aimed the gun at him. Her finger pushed the trigger back slowly. He flinched and held onto Betty’s hand tighter.
A small sob escaped her lips as she squeezed his hand in return and waited for the inevitable.
When nothing happened, he looked at Logan and saw her staring at something. She was looking off to his right side. In all his concern and fear, Tom had not noticed the apparition that now stood beside him.
Logan froze. Her expression closed up as she glared at the being with hooded contempt and hatred.
Travis watched carefully, knowing that Jake was pondering his next move. He took advantage of this slight hesitation to come forward and say, “Tom is right, Logan. You have to fight him. His power is diminishing. Push him out!”
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