Indwell (Chasing Natalie's Ghosts)

by Nicole Smith

  “You really shouldn’t tempt me the way you do,” he sighed as he pulled away from me.

  “I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done.” He turned to leave as I sunk down into the tub again. I noticed a smile cross his face as he left the room. I decided I would let him wait for me. I soaked and enjoyed the scents and the warmth. I eventually rinsed and emptied the tub. I toweled off and put on the new red nightie Hayden gave me earlier. I decided to pass on the robe tonight. If I was cold then Hayden would just have to warm me up. I combed my hair and rubbed lotion on my arms and legs. I smelled like a newly blossomed Lily. I walked out to the living room and saw Hayden reading on the couch. He almost dropped his book as soon as he saw me. We both knew that there would be no resisting tonight. He quickly walked over and put his arms around my waist. Kissing me sweetly, he picked me up and carried me to his room, closing the door behind him with his foot. He laid me down and slid onto the bed beside me. He touched my face, looking me in the eyes he rolled on top of me, careful not to put his weight on me, he kissed my neck and my chest, moving further down, I was trembling with pleasure.

  “Oh Hayden,” I moaned. He came back up and kissed me so eagerly. He was pressing himself against me and I wanted to feel him so much. I ran my hands down his back, scratching him. He kissed me hard and I bit his lip. He didn’t flinch as he continued to love me.

  “I love you Natalie, you belong to me,” Hayden whispered. I have heard this before, but coming from Hayden it was different. He held me in his arms as we lay on our sides, exhausted. He kissed my shoulder and neck. I was still trembling. I was so happy at that moment that all my fears of the other ones vanished. All that mattered was that Hayden loved me and wanted me. I belonged to him now.

  13. LESSONS

  Hayden and I secluded ourselves for days. We spent every moment together. We barely left the apartment. It was like a slumber party that didn’t end in the morning. We had food delivered. Hayden even had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries delivered just for me. I have never felt so adored. I knew it would have to eventually come to an end. My doubts still lingered though. I used to believe that nothing good could last forever, until I met Adam. Adam gave me hope. He made me believe that happiness could be a part of my world but then he left me. I tried not to blame him anymore, it just hurt a lot and it shattered my faith. Now I have Hayden but I still have my doubts as to how long this bliss will last. I try and tell myself to take a step back and brace myself for the inevitable, but I can’t. I want to be in the moment. Taking a step back would hurt. For now, I have thrown myself into the world and if it all ends tomorrow then I’ll just have to deal with it tomorrow.

  I slowly awoke to Hayden stroking my head and kissing my bare shoulders. I moaned and rolled over grabbing his face between my hands and kissed him. He stood and put on his robe and turned to look at me. He was smiling but I could tell by the look in his eyes that he had something else on his mind.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked, sitting up leaning against the pillows.

  “I have to tell you something. I’ll meet you in the kitchen after my shower,” he said as he left the room. I laid there praying this wasn’t the end I was so worried about. It seemed too soon. Maybe I was too easy, he liked the challenge better. What have I done? I have to change his mind somehow. I climbed out of bed and walked to the dresser. Hayden had given me a few drawers even though all I needed was one. He had told me he wanted to take me shopping. He said he didn’t want his doll to just look good at bedtime. He was too good to me. I knew something was going to ruin this for me, I just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon. I slowly grabbed my clothes and dressed. What was the point in showering for this? I was having trouble keeping the tears from falling when I finally walked out to the living room. Hayden was already dressed and making coffee. He noticed my mood immediately because he dropped the coffee and came running over to me. He held my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes searching.

  “What is it? Did you hurt yourself?” he questioned me.

  “No, physically I’m fine I’m just trying to prepare myself for this `talk’?” I said looking up at him, taking a deep breath. He just looked at me for a minute, slowly understanding what I was afraid of. He held me close and kissed me.

  “No silly, we are not having that talk, at least I don’t want to have that talk?” he questioned my devotion.

  “As if I want to leave you,” I said holding his waist, resting my head against his chest. He squeezed me and led me to the stool in the kitchen while he finished making the coffee. He was smiling now, as if he was laughing at some inside joke.

  “What?” I asked, starting to feel embarrassed for being so insecure.

  “I am just so happy that you are here, I can’t imagine what I did for you to think I was going to let you leave,” he explained. I smiled, loving the security he wanted me to feel.

  “It was just your serious request to talk. I didn’t know what could be so serious so I started thinking the worst,” I told him.

  “I see, well I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so severe but I am starting to run out of time and I need your help,” he said mysteriously.

  “What could you possibly need my help with?” I asked sipping the coffee he placed in front of me.

  “Oh I can think of a few things,” he said grinning, coming around to sit on the stool beside me.

  “Well that doesn’t sound so serious,” I said placing my foot on his leg. He smiled then quickly looked away trying to compose himself for the discussion he needed to have with me.

  “Millicent and Joshua explained a lot to you a few days ago. What I need to do now is tell you exactly what I do and why,” he explained. I grabbed his hand.

  “I am ready, I promise I won’t run.” Leading him toward the couch, I knew this was going to be a long discussion and I wanted to be comfortable for it.

  “I’m ready now,” I said giving Hayden my complete attention. He smiled.

  “Yes, I believe you are ready,” he squeezed my hands, kissed them then took a deep breath.

  “I am a hunter of ghosts, as I have told you before. I seek them out. My reasons for this are all noble I assure you. I am not the devil and I am not evil as Adam may have told you,”

  I shuddered out of habit when I hear Adam’s name, even coming from Hayden. He quickly glanced away as if I had slapped him and I immediately felt awful. I reached for his face and stroked his cheek, thankfully he smiled and nodded. He continued on.

  “I do not do séances or exorcisms. I don’t believe in any of that, but that’s not to say that there are no body snatchers around, I have just been lucky enough not to run into one. I can’t imagine the young ones being able to concentrate enough to do it, but a ghost that has spent many years walking amongst the living may be able to figure it out.” He stopped to watch my face, to make sure I was still with him and not looking at the door. I grinned.

  “Continue.”

  “Once I have located the one I have been ordered to seize, I watch them. I always observe them for a time until I can justify why they have been selected. You will find that there is always a good reason. Sometimes it takes a little longer to surface in some more than others. For some it’s immediate and I go for the capture. I will come to that later. First, my darling, you have one big problem that we have to fix before you can join me,” he said this, almost laughing.

  “What is so funny? What big problem do I have?” I asked, really not seeing anything funny about this discussion.

  “Well I’m going to have to teach you how to recognize a ghost from a living human, because for some strange reason you can’t,” he said, biting his bottom lip, staring at me.

  “I’m going to have to figure out a way to show you. We will leave the apartment tonight after midnight. We are going to go downtown, that is if you feel you are ready for this?” he asked, making sure I was with him still.

  “Can I stop in on Ava? I’d love to return her clothes,” I asked
, hopefully.

  “You can run in but not for long, you can visit another day.” He seemed annoyed with my request. I thought about Ava and Mark and wondered aloud.

  “Why can’t they help you?” I asked.

  “Their senses are of no use to me. All they can do is get a feeling of where the ghosts are. They can’t always hear them and they definitely can’t touch them, let alone capture them,” he explained.

  “You have been given to me as a gift Natalie. You can physically handle them. You are meant to unite with me. Combined, we will be a force and make a difference in this battle. I know you don’t understand yet why we have to apprehend these phantoms but you will. I can’t explain it any more, you’ll just have to watch and learn,” he said, holding my hands again, he pulled me to him and held me, like I was a treasure he never wanted to let go of. I really hoped I would be what he needed.

  That evening we changed for phantom tracking. Hayden was dressed beautifully all in black. He even had a new outfit laid out for me on his bed.

  “When did you go shopping?” I asked. He had been with me all day.

  “I have my ways,” he said smiling devilishly.

  “Please let me see how it looks.” I dressed while Hayden watched from his bench at the foot of the bed.

  “Well, what do you think?” I asked posing for him.

  “Perfect,” he said walking over to me, he stopped just in front of me and slid his hands around my waist. He gently kissed me.

  “It’s time to go my little stalker,” he whispered.

  I felt dressed to go out to dinner and the theater not hiding in alleys and rooftops to spot phantoms. He bought me a beautiful pair of black pants that fit perfectly. The top was long but fit snug, it was black as well and he gave me a grey sweater to wear if I was cold.

  “You know that they are everywhere but we are only concerned with the poltergeists, the trouble makers, the mischievous spirits,” he said placing his hand on my knee, he was starting to feel excited about the lessons he was about to begin with me. He wanted to start off slow though. He drove to a neighborhood that was full of old heritage homes. The street was lined with black lamp posts and the homes were rather large. The driveways were longer than most in the city. The houses would have been worth a fortune. The gardens were lush and the lawns were perfectly maintained. Hayden parked out front a large red brick home. It had a huge wrap around porch and it looked as though there was a third floor, a large attic I assumed. We didn’t get out. He told me to just watch, to look in the windows, any window would do.

  “What if someone calls the police?” I asked, feeling like a thief, surveying the area.

  “No one living is home, it is okay Natalie,” he assured me. I was curious as to how he knew that, but before I could turn around and ask him I saw someone pull the curtain back to look out a second floor window.

  “They know we are here?” I told him.

  “They know we are here but they don’t know why. We won’t stay too long, it might make them nervous,” he explained.

  “How many are there?” I asked.

  “The house is full,” he stated casually. I was shocked. How could the people that live there handle it? When Adam was in my house, he was overwhelming to me sometimes. He could make my head spin with his energy. I loved it but it was tiring. I couldn’t imagine what a house full of them would do to me.

  As I continued to watch the windows, a beautiful young girl looked out the attic window and quickly shut the curtain. A moment later an older woman opened the front door and stood on the porch as if to stop an intruder. I smiled at her but she continued to look severe.

  “We better go now,” Hayden said starting the car. “I would hate to see all of them standing on the porch. That might be too much for your first night.”

  “Definitely,” I said, still startled by the amount of them in one house.

  “I’m used to my ghosts being on a one on one basis, I can’t fathom a room full,” I told him.

  Hayden drove downtown quickly. He stopped out front Ava’s house and turned off the car.

  “I can’t stay here long, I’ll walk you to the door and I’ll wait in the car for you. When you’re leaving, just flick the porch light for me, okay?” he asked.

  “Yes, but why can’t you come in?” I asked.

  “There are some ghosts here that are afraid of me and I don’t want to spook them. I don’t want any drama tonight I just want to show you what we are up against. I don’t want to put you in the fight until you’re ready,” he said raising a hand to my cheek.

  “Are you still with me?” he asked, cautiously. I gulped, more from the tingle his fingers gave me than from more ghosts running around.

  “Yes, I’m with you Hayden,” I said, reaching for him. He held me close and gently kissed me. He held my hand as he led me to the door. Ava answered almost immediately. She was shocked to see us.

  “Natalie, hi, I’m so happy to see you!” She gave me a quick hug then eyed Hayden.

  “Hi Hayden, it’s been awhile,” she said carefully. I was surprised by this tension between them. I’ll have to remember to ask Hayden about it later.

  “Hello Ava, how are you doing?” he asked briskly.

  “I’m good,” she answered. Looking back at me, she gestured for me to come in.

  “I’ll be right out here. Remember the light and don’t be long,” he whispered in my ear as he gave me a quick hug. He quickly returned to his car as I walked into Ava’s house. Mark was at the end of the hall watching us. As soon as Ava closed it he greeted me.

  “Natalie honey, how ‘ave you been? Come give me a hug,” he ordered. I walked over to him smiling.

  “Hi Mark. It is so great to see you again.” I turned to Ava, holding up the bag of clothes and the Doc Martens she lent me a few nights ago.

  “I’m sorry it has taken me so long to return them, I’ve been recuperating,” I said laughing lightly.

  “Thank you and no worries. I just really wanted to see you and make sure you’re happy. Is Hayden treating you well? He seems too serious for my liking,” she inquired. I smiled.

  “He has been nothing but wonderful to me, very caring and sweet. I shouldn’t have run away before. I was just panicking, I do that. I don’t always think through my decisions before I act on them,” I told her. She nodded as though she understood.

  “Millicent and Joshua will be happy to know your safe. They have wanted to try and find you but they can’t get into Hayden’s ward, he has unearthly defenses,” she informed me as if I knew what `Hayden’s ward’ was. I had to ask.

  “I’m sorry Ava, but what do you mean by that?” I asked. She realized her mistake immediately. Before she could answer I heard Hayden beep his car horn outside. I thought he was being rude. I hadn’t been here that long. I smiled through my embarrassment.

  “I am so sorry Ava, Mark, but I guess I have to go. I will come back and see you as soon as I can,” I said walking towards the door. Mark walked only to the hallway entrance then stopped in the same spot he was in when I arrived. Ava walked me the rest of the way.

  “Take care of yourself Natalie!” Mark said seriously, tilting his head to the side as if he was listening to a faint voice. I didn’t sense anyone here but I knew someone was close by, I could feel a slight stirring of the air.

  “I will,” I said smiling. I gave Ava a quick hug and flipped her porch light switch on and off. As soon as I opened the door Hayden was standing there reaching for my hand.

  “Bye,” I said as I quickly ran towards the car with Hayden leading the way. He opened the door for me and swiftly walked around the car, waved to Ava and sped away, not even noticing the red lights.

  “Hayden, please, you’re scaring me,” I said quietly. He slowed and reached for my hand.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll explain later I promise. I just have to get us out of this area as quickly as possible,” he said, not taking his eyes off the road. He looked almost angry. I hopped I hadn’t upset him.
His eyes were slanted and his jaw seemed clenched. I watched him as we drove. He was captivating to watch. He was so serious, as Ava had described him. Once I realized we were closer to his apartment he seemed to completely relax. He looked over at me and smiled while placing his hand back on my knee.

  “I’m very sorry if I upset you,” he apologized.

  “It’s alright,” I said looking ahead. I realized we weren’t heading back to his apartment like I thought. I didn’t recognize this neighborhood. There was a stretch of stores and restaurants. He parked out front an Italian restaurant. It looked as though it was one of the oldest restaurants on this block. The building was large, half of it was vacant and the other half was a restaurant. The windows on the second floor were dark. There were a few people inside having dinner. He opened the door for me. He held my hand as we walked past the restaurant to the empty space beside it. He stopped out front and told me to look in the window. I slowly walked closer to the building. Shaking, I put my head closer to the window and looked in. There was a young couple dancing. She had curly, dark brown hair and wore a black dress under a camel colored wool coat. Her lips were a deep red and her eyelashes were jet black. Her skin was pale. She was beautiful as she twirled in his arms. He was a smooth dancer. His hair was sandy brown and was slicked back. His suit was black and kind of baggy compared to the way most suits fit men and his suit coat was long. Not that my dad ever wore a suit, but what I’ve seen from the movies I could tell it was an older style. I imagined Hayden looking breathtaking in a well-tailored suit.

  This handsome man dancing with this startling woman really was mesmerizing. I smiled as I watched them. They didn’t seem to notice me at all. It looked like they were talking and laughing as they danced. When they stopped, he held her close and kissed her cheek. It was so sweet and innocent. He held her hand as he put on his long black wool coat and hat. They couldn’t have been much more than twenty years old. Their skin was flawless and their teeth were bright white. I couldn’t pull myself away, even though I knew they were heading towards the door now. The man opened it and they skipped out onto the street. That’s when an old black Rolls Royce sped down the street towards them.