Emily thought for a second. It was obvious he was worried, and he had told her to let him know if anything else happened. “Okay. Come in.” She opened the door and allowed him to step inside. “Can you give me a minute?”
“Of course,” he responded. Emily turned and headed down the small hallway to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She opened multiple drawers at her dresser and pulled out a pair of underwear, her favorite leggings, a bra, and an oversized hoodie.
She got dressed, then grabbed a scrunchie off of her nightstand, and put her hair in a messy bun on top of her head. She would deal with the tangled mess later. When she made her way back to the living room, Liam was standing at the window, inspecting it.
“I didn’t mean to alarm you. I was just startled—”
Liam put up his hand to stop her. “Emily, it’s okay. Obviously, something scared the crap out of you. Can we sit? I’d like to hear about what startled you.”
Emily wanted to sit. Her legs still felt like Jell-O as if she had just run a marathon. She gave a silent nod and took a seat on the sofa. Liam joined her, and she noticed a subtle, spicy scent emanating off of him.
Sitting with his body facing her, she was surprised at the amount of concern he was showing. “Can I ask why you’re so concerned? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad there’s a familiar face here right now, but why are you so interested in what I saw?”
Liam stared at Emily intensely before answering. “Because I have a feeling I know what you saw.”
Emily didn’t think she could turn anymore pale, but the sensation of more blood leaving her face proved her wrong. “What do you mean?”
“I’m a paranormal investigator. That’s why I travel so much. I’ve seen people scared the way you are right now. I’ve also seen something recently. In the basement, last night.” Liam took a deep breath. “I thought I saw a figure down there. As I was coming back upstairs to get a lighter to relight the pilot, something caught my attention, but then it was gone. And when I went back down there, the pilot light was relit, on its own.”
Bringing her knees to her chest, Emily wrapped her arms around her legs and hugged herself in an attempt to calm the quaking that was taking over her body. “Emily, please tell me what you saw. I need to know if something is going on here. Because if something is going on here, my friends and I can help.”
Not wanting to remember the image she had seen through her shower curtain, but still feeling a sense of urgency to confide in Liam, Emily met his gaze. “You’re a paranormal investigator?”
That’s convenient. Emily thought. Maybe her prayers had finally been answered. Perhaps the universe was working in her favor, leading her to a place where she could find someone to confide in. Someone who she could tell all of her past experiences to. Someone who wouldn’t think she was mentally unstable.
“Yes. I am,” Liam nodded.
Emily could not believe what she was about to share with her new neighbor. But there was no going back now. She had made up her mind, and she could only hope that he wouldn’t think she was crazy.
“I saw a shadow. While I was in the shower.”
“Go on…” he told her.
“It got really cold. So cold, I could see my breath, even with all the hot water. My hearing went funny. I thought I was going to pass out. It kept getting colder, and when I turned, there was a shadow of a man standing on the other side of my shower curtain, near the door. I couldn’t see a face. It was solid, black, in the outline of a man. Then, it rushed toward me. It came up to the shower. It was just blackness. That’s when I screamed, and it was gone.”
Liam didn’t seem to be fazed by Emily’s explanation, and her heart calmed. A glimmer of hope sparked within her, raising her confidence that Liam could be trusted. He sat and nodded his head when she finished speaking.
“Okay. We will figure out what is going on here. I’m going to call Phil and see if anything like this has ever happened before. I’m also going to call my team and let them know what has happened and see what we can come up with. Are you okay with me telling them what you saw?”
Emily’s throat was stuck. Emotion collecting into a tight knot, she found it difficult to find her voice. She only nodded her head to let him know that she understood what he was saying. “Are you going to be okay if I go back upstairs and make some calls? If anything happens, just come upstairs and bang on the door. Hell, you can even yell or scream for me. I’ll hear you.”
“I think I’ll be okay,” Emily managed a smile. “I woke up with a terrible headache. I’m going to lay right here and watch some TV.”
“Alright. I’ll come back and tell you what I find out from Phil in a little bit.”
Liam stood and took Emily’s hand, helping her stand up. “Lock the door behind me,” he told her.
She did and made her way back to the sofa, where she plopped down and pulled a blanket over herself. Emily grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels until she found the weekend morning news. She tried to settle herself and relax. But it was no use. Her anxiety was too high. She needed to talk. She needed her best friend.
Grabbing her phone, she swiped it open and called Lexi. Relief swept over her when Lexi answered. She briefly explained the morning’s phenomenon. “He’s a paranormal investigator?” Lexi screeched into the phone so loudly, Emily had to pull it away from her ear. “Em, you have to tell him! I know you think he’s going to think you’re insane, but he won’t. He shouldn’t. If he’s any good at what he does for a living, he’ll want to help you and not pass judgment.”
Emily knew Lexi was asking her not to compare Liam to Ben, a psychologist who she dated briefly a few years back. Emily thought that since Ben had been a psychologist, she could confide in him and tell him what she had been experiencing her entire life. Boy, was she wrong. Instead of comforting her and offering to help her figure out what was happening around her, he basically made her feel like a nut case and tried to get her to take prescription anti-anxiety meds. She ended the relationship shortly after his insistence that she be on medication. He was the only other person, aside from Lexi, who Emily tried to explain what had been haunting her. She knew Lexi was right. Liam was not Ben. Maybe he would be able to help.
“I know, Lex. It’s just hard. I don’t want to scare him away.”
“You like him?”
Emily grabbed the remote and began flipping channels again. “If you’re asking if he’s a nice person and polite, then the answer is yes.”
“Is he hot?”
Emily threw her head back against the sofa, huffing out a breath in frustration. “Lexi!” she yelled at her friend’s assumption.
“What? You’ve been living there for a couple weeks. You guys have talked a bunch. What’s the big deal if you notice he’s attractive or not? Ghostly stuff aside, if you like him, see if he’s available.”
“We only just met. Last night, Lex. We’ve had two conversations, Lexi. Two. One of those two was after I’d come face to face with a fucking ghost and could barely stand or speak because I was shaking so badly. So what if he’s attractive? He’ll probably still think I’m a basket case. Who wants to date a person who’s had a ghost following her practically her entire life?”
“A paranormal investigator, that’s who! Em, you need to go after that.”
“Alexis, drop it.” Emily knew her friend meant well, but she was exhausted and the Ibuprofen she had taken did not seem to be working.
“Okay, okay. But hey. I’ll make you a bet. I bet he asks you out in the next week. It’s obvious he likes you. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have run down stairs to check on you or insist that he come in to talk to you about what you saw. Just saying.”
Emily thought about Lexi’s statement. She was right. But she just couldn’t bring herself to think about that at the moment. “Bye, Lex. I’ll call you tonight and let you know how things go today.”
“Okay, hon. Try not to worry. Don’t forget to call. You know I’ll worry myself sic
k if you do. I’ll talk to you later.”
They both hung up. Emily felt relieved after talking to her friend. Aside from her relentless attempt at getting her to hook up with Liam, she knew Lexi only had her best interest in mind.
Closing her eyes and willing her head to stop pounding, she barely registered the conversation between the news anchors on the morning news program. Emily pulled the blanket to her chin, cocooning herself into a ball, and fell asleep.
Four
Holy shit! Liam’s mind combed through possible explanations on what could have started a haunting in the home. Liam’s heart hammered in his chest. Nothing along any paranormal lines had ever happened in the five years he lived in the building. Why now? What was going on?
Emily’s confirmation that she had seen a shadow both relieved and mystified him. It confirmed that there actually was something lurking in the basement the night before. But why? And who or what was the shadow?
He needed to call Phil. Maybe he had information on the history of the house. He would also inform his fellow investigators, Trey and Luke, on what was going on. They would help dig up information about the property that could explain the strange and sudden haunting.
Liam walked through his flat, contemplating pouring himself a drink. As much as he wanted to, he quickly decided against the idea as it was just too early. He would wait until he saw his friends later that day.
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he sent a group text message to his teammates.
Liam: Trey, I need a favor. Remember I told you about the woman who moved in downstairs? There’s been some weird shit happening. Something’s going on here in the house.
Trey: What’s up?
Liam: Too much to type. I need you to see if you can come up with anything on the history of this house. You’re better at this shit than I am. And the sooner, the better if you can swing it.
Trey was Liam’s right-hand man. He wasn’t only his friend but also his teammate and fellow co-founder of their paranormal investigation company. He’d always been able to rely on Trey for anything. They’d known each other since elementary school, and they were as close as brothers.
And then there was Luke, who Liam and Trey had met during high school. He was their tech guy and maintained all of the equipment for the team. The three of them started investigating together during their senior year of high school. Trey was a history buff and was in charge of all the research when they did an investigation. Liam was a paranormal enthusiast, and he’d been infatuated with anything that had to do with ghosts and hauntings since he was a boy. Luke kept up to date on all of the latest investigation technology and even worked closely with a friend, who was a scientist and help develop new ghost hunting tools.
One day, while watching a ghost investigation show on TV together, they came up with the idea of starting their own investigation business. They called themselves The Spirit Hunters and traveled together after graduating high school, investigating the paranormal in different locations throughout the country.
They mostly dealt with large locations that had historical significance, like old hotels, abandoned hospitals, and prisons. Every now and then, they would receive a call from a residential location. Those were the calls that were always made the team’s number one priority.
As he was scrolling through his contacts to pull up Phil’s number, a text came through with Trey’s response.
Trey: No problem. I’ll get right on it. Off the top of my head, because I know you’re wondering, I can’t think of any crazy stuff that ever happened in that neck of the woods. But I’ll see if I can pull up any public records on the place. Maybe something happened that never hit the news. Has anything significant happened since you talked to us last night?
Not wanting to go into too much detail through text, Liam responded with:
Liam: Thanks. Appreciate it. I’d really rather sit down and talk to you two in person. What are you doing today? Can you meet me at the Cliff House in an hour?
His phone chimed.
Luke: I’ll be there, brother.
Trey: See you in a bit.
Closing the text app and going back into his contacts, Liam found Phil’s number and pressed the call button. It rang with no answer, only sending him to voicemail. Of course, when he needed information, the old man didn’t answer. After cursing, he composed himself and left Phil a message saying that he needed him to call him back as soon as possible. It had to do with the house, and he needed information.
In the bathroom, he picked up his electric beard trimmer and ran it along his facial hair. He preferred the mustache and beard but kept them closely shaved. He caught his reflection in the mirror and was taken back to the night before. When he had first seen Emily, his breath caught in his chest. At first, he chalked it all up to her beauty. Her golden-brown eyes were captivating. He wanted to reach out and caress her ivory skin. A part of him knew how silky it would feel under his fingertips. The thought of running his fingers through her dark brown locks of hair swept through his mind. There had been an overwhelming feeling that he was seeing a long lost friend and not just meeting someone for the first time.
As busy as he had been traveling, he had not really noticed women lately. In fact, the concept of dating hadn’t entered his mind in quite some time. He had convinced himself the night before that was the reason he felt drawn to her.
But after seeing Emily this morning, there was no doubt in his mind as to who she was. It wasn’t just her beauty. Though she was absolutely breathtaking. It was her presence, her energy. Her soft, sultry voice…
Shaking his head, Liam jumped in the shower and continued to get ready. Before leaving his flat, he checked his phone again, but there was still no response from Phil, so he sent a text to the team, letting them know he was leaving. Once on the main level of the house, he knocked on Emily’s door softly so as not to startle her. He worried he’d woken her because she looked groggy when she answered the door. “Hey,” Liam said. “I have to head out and talk to my team. I called Phil, but he didn’t pick up, so I left him a message to call me back.”
“Okay.”
“Will you be alright alone? I can have the guys meet me here, so you’re not alone in the building.”
Emily smiled and let out a sexy giggle. “Yes. I’ll be fine. Go, see your friends. Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.” Emily’s smile turned into a grin, revealing a dimple on her cheek, just below her left eye.
“I’m positive you can. I just wanted to be sure.” Liam reached in his back pocket, pulled out a business card from his wallet, and handed it to Emily. “Here. My cell number is on there. If anything happens, anything at all, you call me. Okay?”
Emily’s hand lightly brushed his as she took the business card, and he felt an electrical current shoot through his arm. It was the same pulsing sensation he felt last night when he had shaken her hand, and again a little while earlier when he helped her off of the sofa. He wasn’t sure if Emily had felt the same sensation. She stared at the card. Her thumb caressed the ink on the paper, making it hard for him to read her face. A part of him hoped she’d felt something.
“Thank you, Liam.”
Emily looked up and met his eyes. They were the most magnificent whisky brown color he had ever seen. “I’ll let you know when I get back. Can I bring you anything? Some lunch?”
“Oh, you don’t have to.” Emily shook her head while she spoke.
Something sparked in Liam. He needed to come back anyway and install the latches on her window, and for reasons unknown to him, her well-being was now his top priority. “It’s not a problem. My treat. As a belated housewarming gift. It’s the least I can do after the kind of morning you had. I’ll let you get some rest. When I get back, I’ll install those latches for you too.”
“That’s sweet of you. Thank you.”
“Rest up. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Liam took a step away from her door as she closed it, and he waited to hear the sound of
the deadbolt engaging. He waited for a beat before heading out of the building. Outside, Liam paused, taking a cleansing breath. If he wasn’t one hundred percent sure who she was a few minutes ago, there was no doubt in his mind about who she was now.
“My god,” he said to himself. He needed to get to his team. Fast.
Five
The wind blew more forcefully than usual. The waves crashed violently against the rocky shore, sending a salty spray into the air, colliding with the foggy mist that kissed the coastline. The robust scent of damp earth and pavement was magnified by the morning fog that had not yet retreated back, and sprinkled droplets coated everything in cold dampness. Dark overcast skies blanketed the city, indicating that heavier rain was on the way. Despite that, the natural beauty of the landscape and Mother Nature coming together created a picturesque scene.
Liam sat at a table by a window watching the waves break. He had ordered a drink and waited for Trey and Luke to arrive. Emily had told him that it was okay if he shared her paranormal experience from that morning, and Liam was glad she trusted him and his friends to help them get to the bottom of the situation.
Liam had reservations about leaving Emily alone. But her insistence that she would be fine eased his anxiety, and she now had his phone number. And, he hoped she wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
He requested a table in the back corner of the restaurant to ensure privacy. While waiting for his friends, his mind relentlessly turned over theories in a desperate attempt to find answers to what was happening. Under normal circumstances, a new case would excite him. He would relish in the opportunity to sink his teeth into a new case and gather new evidence of paranormal activity. Adding the investigation to the ever-growing cases of unexplainable phenomenon while trying to develop solutions for the anomaly victims.
However, the case with Emily had his stomach wrenching with uncertain apprehension. Why had the activity begun as soon as she arrived? And why was she so familiar to him? What was the shadow figure?
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