Ashley Ridge (Haunted Hearts Series Book 3)

by Denise Moncrief

  Brett nodded and stepped back a pace.

  “Keep an eye on Tori for me, would you? She’s still kind of shaken up from earlier.”

  Gray’s suggestion was an obvious ploy to give the man something to think about while they were inside without him. The puzzled expression on Brett’s face revealed his curiosity about what had happened to Tori that none of them were willing to discuss in front of him.

  Ashley was well acquainted with that left-out-of-it feeling. She straightened her shoulders, rotated her head to relieve the kink in her neck, and shook out her limbs to settle her jumpy nerves. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  Josh, Gray, and Ashley silently moved toward the front porch of the Love Shack. Gray went first, testing the rotting boards before placing his weight on them. When he’d found a relatively stable path to the door, he motioned for Josh and Ashley to follow him. His heavy equipment bag bumped the jamb as he shoved the door open and pushed into the house. Josh entered behind him and then Ashley right on his heels.

  Her stomach muscles tightened the moment she entered the front room. Other than the tree growing up through the floorboard in one corner, the place didn’t appear much different than when Jeremy had dragged her there.

  A few things about that night had begun to come back to her over the years, but she didn’t remember much past coming into the room. The rest of that evening was missing from her memory banks. Maybe she’d been drugged. Maybe her mind repressed the event. Maybe the lack of memory was a hidden blessing, a protective shield around her wounded psyche.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Mitchell Grayson, Joshua McCord, and Ashley Rivers at the Love Shack on Ashley Ridge. The time is eight twenty-three p.m., Friday, May the second, two thousand fourteen.” Gray clutched Cherish Duncan’s teddy bear in one hand and set a digital recorder on the half-wall between the living area and the kitchen with the other.

  Ashley shivered once. Strong arms slipped around her and she leaned back into Josh’s strength.

  “I’m right here,” he whispered into her ear. “Whatever happens, I’ll be right here with you. I promise.”

  “Is there anyone here with us tonight?” Gray waited a moment before speaking again. “Do I have something of yours?” Another short pause. “Do you want your teddy bear back?”

  When Gray started his conversation with the spirit world, Ashley had to suppress the urge to run. She chewed on her bottom lip, trying hard to keep it from quivering. I will not cry. I will not panic. I will not scream no matter what happens. I will show no fear. The anticipation of waiting for something to happen grated on every one of her taut nerves.

  The question and pause, back and forth of Gray’s monologue went on for a couple more minutes before he halted the session and punched the stop button on the recorder.

  “It seems really quiet in here.”

  Ashley spoke past a lump in her throat. “It’s so still.”

  Josh held her tighter. “The quiet is a little too quiet. Creepy quiet.”

  She wanted to turn around and bury her face in the soft fabric of his shirt, but the bold maneuver might catch Gray’s undivided attention, and she wasn’t quite ready for him to question them about their relationship. He’d already nailed them with several questioning glances, which she had ignored. His interrogation about the status of their love life was only another public display of affection away.

  “So I guess you don’t have the feeling tonight, huh Gray?” Josh’s tease sounded a trifle sarcastic.

  “Nope. I’m not feeling it.”

  They’d come to the Shack with two objectives. To perhaps capture some of Cherish Duncan’s residual energy in something that had been special to her and to attract the attention of the dark spirit that seemed to travel from place to place along the Ashley Ridge Trail.

  Gray had suggested that the waters of Ashley Creek had worked like an electrical conduit, carrying the negative energy from one spot to another. It was an interesting theory, but not one that Ashley had ever heard of before. In fact, she had heard many of the older people in town argue that a ghost couldn’t cross over water, which didn’t make sense to her. If an apparition could go through walls, why couldn’t it also cross over water? Who knew how those kinds of myths got started?

  “Maybe I should provoke.” Ashley made her offer even though the possibility of interacting with Jeremy’s ghost caused her insides to tremble. Her wobbly legs might not have held her upright if not for Josh standing right behind her. She could feel his stomach muscles tighten where they pressed against her back. His arms tensed around her.

  “I still think trying to provoke Jeremy is a bad idea. He was dangerous when he was alive. We have no idea how dangerous he could be now that he’s dead.”

  A bubble of hysterical laughter erupted from Ashley’s mouth. “That’s really funny, because after he was dead I really thought he wouldn’t be dangerous to anyone ever again. But you know, he always had a way of proving everyone wrong about everything.”

  Gray picked up a piece of what once was a lampshade and inspected it. “Yeah, he was a jerk that way.”

  Josh added his opinion. “He was a bully.”

  Ashley sensed what was happening. It was like an epidemic running wild among them. They didn’t need to intentionally provoke Jeremy’s ghost. All they had to do was talk about him. State their honest opinions.

  She picked up the sarcastic thread and continued it. “And a coward.”

  The energy in the room escalated.

  Gray attacked Jeremy’s character next. “You’re right, Ash. Jeremy wasn’t brave. There’s nothing brave about forcing a woman to have sex with you.”

  Josh chimed in with his own take on Jeremy’s behavior. “Or taking advantage of her when she’s passed out.”

  Ashley jabbed at Jeremy’s manhood. “He wasn’t a man. He was a spoiled little boy. His father gave him everything—”

  A rush of wind blew through a crack in the far wall and fluttered the tattered curtains on the busted out window on the front of the house. A strange circumstance as it was a calm night. A quiet night, as Gray had already stated. A snap and a crack from the bedroom were followed by a buzz of electrical energy sizzling in the air.

  “I feel it now,” Grayson said in a low tone. He pulled a camera out of his bag and began recording, his lens directed toward Ashley.

  She removed herself from Josh’s embrace and faced the rush of the oncoming wind. “Jeremy are you here? Come out and face me like a man.”

  Cold air continued to blow past her, but nothing appeared out of the dark. No black forms. No strange orbs of energy. No disembodied voices.

  Even in death, Jeremy had the advantage over her. No one could make a spirit manifest. She had to turn it around on him. Entice him to show himself. Somehow. So she tried one more time to get his attention.

  “I remember that night, Jeremy. The night we were together. I remember it like it was yesterday.” She lied without compunction to the spirit of Jeremy Haskins, using words he would have used to describe the attack rather than calling rape what it was. “You are the worst I’ve ever had.”

  Josh wrapped warm fingers around her suddenly freezing arm. “Ashley, don’t do this.”

  It was too late to turn back. A dark force rushed her from out of the bedroom, passed through her, and knocked her backward into Josh. He caught her before she stumbled and fell. The dark energy that had consumed her for a brief millisecond of time overwhelmed her with debilitating fear. Her vision darkened until all she could see was a black void in front of her. She began to shake uncontrollably. Sobs ripping from her. Fear tearing at her mind. Blindly she lashed out at anything near her. Muted voices barely penetrated the noises in her head.

  Then one voice. Clear and malicious. Run, little girl.

  Something snapped, a part of her that was tired of being a victim. She shoved her hand into the dark and spread her fingers, trying her best to push the fear away from her.

  “I’m not runnin
g from you. You can’t control my fear any longer.”

  She had to let Jeremy Haskins know she wasn’t afraid of his memory.

  “There’s nothing here among the living for you. No one misses you. Not even your father. He’s stopped looking for you. You see, Jeremy… You’re better off dead. It’s time for you leave and never come back.”

  A swirl of energy surrounded her, pressed against her on all sides. Flashes of memory assaulted her mind, vague images that her consciousness shoved away from her tortured psyche. She fought the desire to fade into oblivion. Wobbled on the edge of a dark abyss of the heart and soul. The void was in front of her. All she had to do was spread her arms and fall into it.

  As if someone had wrapped his fingers around the back strap of her bra and yanked her away from the edge, she flew backwards, and the black void in front of her fractured. Her vision refocused on two terrified faces staring at her as if she’d just lost her mind. The ratty furnishings of the Love Shack appeared before her. When she fully adjusted to reality once again, she was on her knees with tears streaming down her face.

  She pressed her hands against her wet cheeks. Slid her palms down her body. When she glanced up, first at Gray and then at Josh, she drew in her first ragged breath.

  “Why are you looking at me like that? I’m all right.” And to her surprise, she sounded all right. As if she hadn’t just journeyed through all the dark corners of her mind.

  ****

  Josh pulled Ashley to her feet and held both her hands in his. It would have bothered him less if she weren’t so blasted calm. “What happened to you just now? It was as if you were out of your head.”

  She blinked at him. “He spoke to me again. The same message.”

  Gray came close, lifted her chin and stared into her eyes. “You were talking, but we couldn’t understand anything you were saying. Like you were trying to communicate in a dead language. It’s the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Are you feeling okay? Do you need to go to the emergency room?” Josh felt of her forehead checking for fever, and then felt silly for the action.

  She choked out a strangled laugh. “And tell them what? Please check my pulse. I’ve been attacked by an evil spirit. Is that what I should say?”

  “Well, you don’t have to be snarky about it, Ash. I’m just worried about you. That was hard to watch.”

  She glanced toward the doorway. “Brett and Tori are gonna wonder if we’re dead or not.”

  Josh agreed. It was time to leave. If he had his way, the county would condemn the Shack. Let Jeremy Haskins sink back into his watery grave.

  He studied the side of Ashley’s face. Her thoughtful expression sent a stab of fear through his heart. Had facing the evil spirit of Jeremy Haskins somehow put a stain on her soul? Would the encounter leave its imprint on her? Would she carry a piece of Jeremy’s ghost with her wherever she went from then on?

  His gut trembled at the thought of the hell she’d go through if that were the case. “Ashley, are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine, Josh. Really.” She moved a couple of paces toward the open door. “See? I can walk and I can talk and I might even be able to do both at the same time.”

  Gray snorted at her sarcasm.

  “Stay out of this, Gray,” Josh snapped.

  “I wasn’t in it.” He motioned toward the great outdoors. “We should get out of here.”

  Josh tugged on Ashley’s hand and followed Gray out the door. Leaving, Josh was a little less mindful of where he placed his steps, but fortunately for all of them there were no injuries getting off the front porch. It wasn’t until Josh’s feet were planted on the dirt out front that he allowed himself a small sigh of relief.

  Brett paced a few yards away from the front steps and then stopped when he caught Josh’s eye. Hope mixed with fear displayed on the man’s face. Tori rushed toward Gray and acted as if she wanted to throw her arms around him.

  Something stopped her. Maybe it was the nearly white pallor of his face.

  “What happened in there?”

  Gray’s voice shook a little when he spoke. “I think it’s gonna be awhile before Ashley can describe it to us. I think she’s still in shock.”

  “I’m not in shock—”

  Josh interrupted her. “Oh yes, you are. You’re acting weird. A person can’t go from sobbing to calm in two seconds flat like you did. There are probably some residual effects of your experience working on you.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him as if she wanted to rumble. “If you say so, dear.”

  Dear? He’d never heard that word sound so mean. What had challenging the ghost of Jeremy Haskins done to her?

  Brett dove into the conversation. He’d apparently waited long enough for them to finish their snarky banter. “Tori, can you do that thing you do? You know, with the teddy bear. I really want to know what happened to Cherish.” His unspoken that’s why I’m here rang in the air around them as if his thought had been verbalized.

  Tori’s eyes popped with fresh fear. Josh doubted if she’d ever get used to her role as a clairvoyant. She pressed her lips together, keeping her eyes trained on Brett. That might have been the longest minute in history.

  Without a word, she held out her hands to receive the teddy bear from Gray. As soon as the stuffed toy was in her arms, she closed her eyes. Josh stepped back, ready for a burst of light such as had exploded around her when she touched Celeste Standridge’s diary.

  Nothing happened.

  Tori opened her eyes. Sadness settled across her features. She handed the bear to Brett. “I’m sorry. I don’t get anything from it.”

  “Nothing? But I thought—”

  Gray broke into the tense moment. “It means one of two things, Brett. Either Cherish wasn’t attached enough to the bear to have left any residual energy on it, or she isn’t dead.”

  Josh wanted to punch Gray. The worst thing he could do is give the man false hope. After all this time, chances were that Cherish was dead, especially if a murdered woman had been using her identity.

  Of course, Brett would prefer if Cherish were still alive. Josh would prefer the same if he were Brett. If he had a little sister that had disappeared like Cherish had, he’d cling to hope until the last moment, the moment when all hope was lost.

  “So what happened?” Surprisingly, Brett was the one pushing for the story.

  Ashley held her shaking hands in front of her. “I pushed him too hard.”

  “Him who?”

  Brett hadn’t been told anything about Jeremy Haskins.

  “You don’t have to talk about it yet. If you don’t want to.” Josh’s concerned voice soothed Ashley a bit, but not enough. His curious gaze betrayed him. Josh wanted to know as badly as everyone else present.

  “I shouldn’t have taunted him like that.”

  Tori placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Did he appear?”

  “He who?” Brett’s insistence on knowing rattled Ashley’s nerves.

  She gulped down her anxiety. “No, it was like a dark energy overcame me. I looked into this deep dark hole in front of me, and I wanted to fall into it. I felt this desperation deep in my soul. I could sense his presence. He kept trying to pull me into the dark. He wanted me to be as miserable as he is. As dead on the inside.” She focused her attention on Josh. “He wants me to die just like he did.”

  Josh shook his head. “That’s not gonna happen.”

  “How do you know?”

  She rolled her shoulders, dislodging Tori’s hand. “He’s never going to leave.”

  “Do you think he’s with you now?” Josh’s voice shook.

  She stared into his eyes. She understood his fear. Josh was afraid the negative energy of Jeremy’s dark soul had attached to hers.

  “No, I don’t think so. Right now, I just feel sort of numb inside.”

  “Who the hell are ya’ll talking about?” Brett’s voice rumbled with irritation.

  The four of them answe
red Brett in unison. “Jeremy Haskins.”

  His eyes widened. “You mean old man Haskins’s son?”

  A far off owl hooted, his call echoing through the still night air. The waters of Ashley Creek gurgled in the distance, below the cliffs of Ashley Ridge.

  Ashley glanced over her shoulder at the Shack. “There’s no light in that house to absorb his dark energy.” She turned her attention to Brett. “I’m sorry, Brett. Tori didn’t have to hold the bear. I could have told you Cherish wasn’t there.” She stopped a moment. “I’m not sure how I know, but I know she isn’t dead.”

  Gray scratched his head right behind his ear. “Maybe we should listen to the EVP.”

  Josh nodded. “Maybe.” He took Ashley’s hand in his. “Are you up for this? Do you want to leave now? I can understand if—”

  “No, play it back. I want to hear it.”

  Gray hesitated. He waited about a minute before he held the recorder in front of him. The group gathered around as he punched the play button.

  Is there anyone here with us tonight? Gray’s baritone had recorded loud and clear, but there was no answer to his question. Dead silence.

  Do I have something of yours? Hoarse laughter crackled from the playback, muffled almost, as if coming from a distance.

  Do you want your teddy bear back?

  A clear answer rasped from the recording this time. She’s not here.

  Gray’s voice again. What’s your name?

  Static for half a second. I told her to run.

  Gray asked his final question. Do you want to give someone a message?

  A clear voice boomed from the recorder. You’d better run, Ashley.

  A cold wind blew in from the north and swirled around them. Ashley stepped back from the group, prepared to run. Strong fingers wrapped around her wrist and she screamed.

  “Ash, it’s just me,” Josh yelled over the rising wind. “Come on, I’m getting you out of here.”

  Gray grabbed Tori’s hand and pulled her toward the trail. “I think we should all leave.”