My Demonic Ghost #3: Hunters and Creators Read online

  I held my breath as dad considered it. “I dunno Rach…”

  “It’s either that or we sleep in the car parked next to the road…” I persuaded him at the exact moment Kate got home and opened the front door. She stepped in with the plastic shopping bags around her wrists rustling, and then once noticing I was on the phone quickly quieted her movements. She smiled and raised her eyebrows questionably at me.

  “Hey, who you talking to?” She whispered. I moved the mouthpiece away from my face and covered it with my hand.

  “My dad. About the Whitehaven place.” I then put my finger to my lips to shush her before she started squealing joyfully. She dropped the bags by the entrance and scooted over towards me, trying to press her ear against the other side of my ear to eavesdrop.

  “Well, you know how I feel about that place. But I guess you can use it…”

  Kate then suddenly cheered, “Yay! Thank you Mr Hastings! Thank you.” I batted her away playfully as she bounced up onto her feet, already texting Tom the news.

  “What? Who was that?” Dad appeared startled.

  “Just Kate. Thanks dad, I’ll be around this week to pick up the keys.”

  “Okay Rachael, just make sure you’re careful. And call me when you arrive. Don’t do anything stupid. And no drinking. And definitely no boys.”

  “Now you’re sounding like mum.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll see you soon then, how about Thursday night for dinner? Call anytime.”

  “Kay, thanks dad. I’ll see you then.” I hung up then went to help Kate with the groceries.

  “What changed your mind?” She bounced on the tip of her toes with excitement.

  “Well, I was thinking that a vacation from this place may be a good idea after all…” My betraying smile quickly pulled at my face, revealing my second agenda.

  “And?” She pressured with a knock of her elbow.

  I flashed my teeth in my grin, blushing already, “And… I heard James Rendell is going to be there.”

  “Oh, so you’ll go for James Rendell, but not for me?” Kate pouted.

  “Hey, just be thankful I’m going at all.” I retorted playfully as we started to unpack all the food.

  Chapter Five:

  Thursday arrived faster than I expected. Once I had the key in my hand, the realism of it all was numbing my toes. What would I say to him? How would I even find him? By the volume of media the Apocalypse sight was raking in, I was estimating the turnout would easily be in the thousands. For such a small town, that was going to be quite a handful. What’s worse was it’s going to be partying young adults searching for something extraordinary. It’s going to be a huge tidal wave of hooligans, a real nightmare for the locals. Like so many others, Kate, Tom, and I packed our stuff and started the long drive to Whitehaven. All in all, it took us six hours to get there - not counting the two stop overs for food and three bathroom breaks. We all sighed with exhausted relief once we finally rolled over into the mountain home of Whitehaven. I had to take out the street directory to find the place but ended up directing them to the train station and leading from there. The roads hadn’t changed at all; wish I could say the same for the house.

  Where once stood a grand two storey mansion of rich oak and wealth now rested a wooden tomb. The plants and trees had barged through the fences, climbing up the walls and pushing their way into the cracks in the windows. It was the old cubby house in most childhoods that sat at the back of the yard where the children were too scared to venture too close.

  “Well… here it is.” I announced with my arms open. Kate and Tom stood at my flank, tilting their heads back at the sight of it.

  “You weren’t kidding Rach, this place is spooky.”

  “Perfect place for a haunting,” Tom teased as he popped open his video camera to record. I glanced wearily at Kate but she shook her head sternly no, making the ‘zip mouth’ gesture across her lips. She wouldn’t breathe a word about my family secret and I trusted her. I had a little bit of trouble unlocking the front door, the doorframe had warped and the rust in the handle caused it to become stiff and difficult to budge. Inside was bleak at best. A layer of dust covered every surface and climbed up into the rafters where veils of abandoned spider webs collected in balls.

  “This is where they lived? Your cousins and aunt and uncle?”

  “It didn’t always look like this, from what I remember it actually used to look really beautiful. Well, let me show you around. Oh, and don’t worry. Dad said he had already asked the electricity and water company to reconnect the services. Just in case you were wondering.”

  I gave them the grand tour of the place first showing them the large main dining room that had a piano pushed into the far corner and a six seater dining table in the centre right underneath a chandelier. Then there was the kitchen and laundry, down stairs bathroom and the parents’ master suite. Upstairs I had figured was where the three boys lived with another separate bathroom.

  Kate stepped up to my side and whispered, “Do you know which one belonged to Evan?”

  I shook my head. I didn’t have the slightest clue but the thought gave me shivers. Once I hit the end of the hallway, we went back down stairs to unload the car. Once that was done, we had to do the unavoidable, cleaning up the house. Tom took the broom, Kate the mop and bucket as I walked around with a damp sponge. I worked into the table’s surface, trying to peel off the crusted dirt that seemed to have sunk into the wood over time. When I got upstairs to wash the sheets a strange pain moved across my right temple. I slowed to hold my head. The headache only got worse as I grit my teeth to stop myself from crying out. It suddenly subsided just as Kate bounded up the stairs.

  “Are you slacking off?” She teased before noticing my scrunched face. “What’s wrong?”

  “I think it’s just a headache. It’s okay, it’s gone.” I took two more steps forward before the pain suddenly hit me again. It lingered a little longer this time and Kate softly gasped.

  “Whoa! Did you see that?” She grabbed my arm firm enough that her fingers pressed into my muscle. “Tom? Tom come up here!” She shouted over her shoulder.

  “What is it?” I glanced about the empty hallway, blinking my headache away.

  “The shadows…” She pointed upwards and I followed her hand to the back corner where a horrifyingly dense pocket of shadows were pressed into the plaster. I barely managed to stop myself from shrieking in fear. The cluster shifted as if it was breathing. I grabbed onto Kate’s arm, so completely freaked out that I was speechless. Tom’s hurried footsteps hit the top of the stairs before his voice sounded from behind us.

  “What’s wrong? Whoa - what the hell?” He stumbled to a stop. Not a second, later the shadows sunk back into the woodwork.

  “Did you see it? Did you catch it on camera?” Kate turned to Tom as he was banging the camera into life with his flat palm.

  “No, stupid thing is taking forever to turn on.”

  “This is so cool…” Kate then motioned her head forward, “Come on lets follow it”

  “What?” I pulled my arm back jolting Kate back with me, “Are you crazy?”

  “What’s the problem? It’s not going to hurt us. We just want to catch it on tape.” Kate turned and gently took both of my palms, giving me a reassuring squeeze. Before I could even utter my protest, Tom stepped around us with his camera humming, leading the way. Tom had wide shoulders and a small waist, shaping his torso into a triangle. Of course, he wouldn’t be scared, he’s a 6’2 foot boy whereas I barely hit 5’8. We wandered forward with slow deliberate steps, freezing every time the floorboards creaked underneath us. It was quiet again. There weren’t any further disturbance until I stopped abruptly, clenching my forehead again at the burst of pain. I gritted my teeth as Tom clasped his hand around the attic doorknob. A pressure was pushing against my temples, and like low drums I could feel my heart start to accelerate as the attic door screeched open.

  “No, stop!” I called out desperately. Tom
and Kate paused.

  “What is it?” Kate asked.

  “I don’t think we should go in there.” The attic beyond the door frame was a wall of darkness. Something was inside that room. Something was desperately trying to keep me out. “It doesn’t want us to go in…”

  Kate placed her hands on my shoulders and whispered, “Wait… is this the green-eyed monster?”

  I shook my head, “I don’t think so, this feels different. I keep getting headaches every step we get closer to this door.”

  Tom rose his eyebrow in question, “What’s the problem?”

  Kate ignored him, barley containing her smile, “Has it ever made contact with you on the outside before? You know, when you’re not sleeping?”

  I racked my brain, trying to recall all the times something phenomenally strange would happen that might lead back to the demon. None of the memories were pleasant. Before I could answer her, Tom disappeared into the depths of the attic.

  “Tom? I said not to go in there!” I called, hastily stepping around Kate to grab him. The pain hit me again but this time weaker, its grip loosened as I barged through the attic door to find Tom standing unharmed. I slowed and arched my neck back, soaking up the golden shine that spilt from the wooden walls. There was just the one window high up next to the ceiling, the shape and position perfect so that there was enough natural sunlight to dose the room. It was strangely beautiful. Aside from the stacks of abandoned boxes leading up to the window the attic was relatively empty. Tom scaled the ceiling in search for the spirit as Kate rushed in after me, quickly scanning around herself.

  “It’s… empty?” I exhaled and slumped against the back wall.

  “You were expecting something else?” Tom asked as he lowered the camera not satisfied with the outcome.

  Kate glanced around wearily, then back at me and the door, “Maybe it went into the other room? Tom let’s see if we can lure it out.” Grasping his elbow, she led him back into the hallway.

  I began to follow when something hidden in the corner caught my eye. I went over and knelt beside an old cd player. The dust on the buttons clung to the warmth of my fingertips as I pressed down. At first, a series of crackling notes gurgled out from the speakers till I twisted the knob to increase the volume. Although the speakers were damaged through years of neglect, the crackling melody was oddly pleasing. A gentle mixture of flutes with violins played in the background behind the stronger presence of a piano. I studied the small player while running through my thoughts trying to figure out how something buried in the attic of a distant relative could feel so familiar. It was as if I had heard this song a long time ago, perhaps in a dream or a buried memory. Undeniably, the presence of the lingering spirit shifted about the room before it hissed at me, bolting from the area. I jerked my head around, watching it flee. Was it… did it not like this song?

  The melody didn’t last long, the battery dying only ten seconds into the disc but it was enough for my face to go slack in wonder. I lifted the tiny cd player up and flipped it over, popping open the compartment where the batteries were lodged. It was more than just dead batteries, the player was useless.

  “Rach, are you coming?” I jolted as Kate’s voice called out to me. In a snap decision, I opened the top and took the cd from inside. I eased it into my pocket carefully before scrambling out.

  Chapter Six:

  It took them an hour and a half before they stopped beckoning the spirit out. I finally let the tension in my shoulders go once they gave up. That last thing I wanted was to interact with it on purpose.

  Tom growled in his frustration before snapping the camera screen shut. “Damn it.”

  “I didn’t know you were so interested in this spiritual stuff.” I said as I took a seat on the couch. Tom sat on the single chair recliner, while Kate looked out the window.

  “People are eating this stuff up. It’s never anything beyond a strange shadow movement or creepy noises, but even that’s enough to have people lining up to see it.” He leaned his head back against the neck rest.

  “So, you’re searching for fame?”

  “Aren’t we all looking for something to make us bigger than we already are? What about you, I thought you didn’t believe in all this crap?”

  I merely shrugged, “It’s not that I never believed in them, I just don’t want to interact with these spirits if I can avoid it. Plus, my problem is people’s reaction to it. This apocalypse site in particular is a huge con. They haven’t gotten one thing right and yet people are still pouring in. Humans can’t track whatever these sightings are, spirit or alien or whatever. I don’t know who to pity more, the followers or the con artists who are starting to believe their own lies.”

  “Hey, they’ve gotten a few things right!” Kate called up from the window, “Like that one down in Square Lane. That happened.”

  Tom added in a tease, “I heard it was staged. To keep the dim followers interested.”

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Anyway,” Kate cleared her throat as Tom and I laughed, “Did you get anything on your camera? Besides cobwebs?”

  Tom flipped the screen open and turned it towards Kate’s direction, “I got a nice view of your behind.”

  “You jerk!” She punched into his arm as Tom cringed away, already laughing. “It was still really exciting. I mean we had actually witnessed a real spirit encounter. Not everyone can say that.”

  “Oh, that reminds me. Kate, can I borrow your laptop?” I quickly straightened as the thought hit me. I eased the cd out of my jacket; it had a few scratches on it but otherwise seemed to be in okay condition. Kate set up the laptop and I scooted closer, revealing the disc from my pocket.

  “Where did you get that?” She asked.

  “In the attic, I just want to listen to it.” It took only a moment to load before the music started to play. As it filled the air around us there was an angry rattle, as if something was growling above our heads. Both Kate and Tom jumped to try to see whatever the thing was, but I kept my head lowered and focused on the screen. A pressure was building inside my chest again, tightening my breaths and making it uncomfortable to inhale. Instead of shutting the music off, I played it louder. Obviously bothered the presence fled from the house, taking with it the uncomfortable weight. I exhaled in my relief. So it’s true… it doesn’t like the sound of this music.

  “Rachael…?” Kate murmured a little unsure what to say next.

  “What was that?” Tom asked instead, exchanging disbelieving glances with Kate, “What just happened? How did you know it’ll react to that?”

  I paused the music and stood, “Just a feeling. I found this upstairs in the attic, and when I played it I got a weird feeling. Why else would it so desperately try to keep us out of the attic?”

  “So, that means the spirit has been here before?”

  “Maybe, or that it really hates classical music!” Tom beamed, where I could only shrug.

  “In any case Rach, don’t forget why we are here. We want to see spirits; not chase them out of the house.”

  I could only shrug again, “You don’t want the attention of this particular demon. Guess it’s just nice having a way to torment my tormenter.”

  Chapter Seven:

  On most nights, this little town would be as silent as a grave. The insects and birds usually nested into an early night’s sleep, but tonight it bloomed with festivity. Whitehaven had become a beacon of beauty and hope within the otherwise shadowy forest. Lanterns swung between the trunks of massive trees, weeping colours of orange, blue, red and gold onto the gathering crowd underneath. I walked in with Kate and Tom by my side and immediately felt transported to a fantasy world. I was dressed in a light floral dress that fitted well with the summer night’s heat and simple sandals. My hair was left loose and carefully curled. I was consumed by two opposing fears. The fear of the truth about the green-eyed demon, and the possibility of bumping into James again and making a fool of myself.

  The mom
ent I stepped within the banners that lined the festival, I felt a serenity shift over me. Like a woven tapestry, the people and the music had merged to become one soul; the food, the smells, the warmth and the children’s laughter blurred together as they bolted ahead. It was one of those moments when you felt yourself lifted onto the tip of your toes, your chin held a little higher, and your heart a tender beat within your body. Tom roamed ahead into the open market grounds, pivoting on his heel as he turned his camera upwards to film. Above our heads and untouched by the noise and light was a thick blanket of night sky, stretched out like a watery painting of dark blue. I felt my mind ease, leaving behind the worries of the demon spirit and all that haunted me.

  Now I was free, and my shoulders loosened in relaxation. Everything was perfect, aside from a constant ring of familiarity tickling at the back of my mind where I couldn’t catch it. Or perhaps that was the feeling of someone’s eyes following me? I hadn’t had the chance to look around when Kate pulled me off to the side.

  “Come on, we don’t want to miss it.”

  “When exactly is this thing supposed to happen anyway?”

  “Who knows, but when it does happen,” Tom motioned to his camera, “I’ll be first to upload it onto the net. Everything I’m recording is going live to my site. Say hello, Rachael.” He turned the focus on me and out of shyness, I immediately covered my face.

  “Quit it. Don’t put me on camera,” I tried to sound serious, but it came out in bursts of laughter.

  “Come on, don’t hide your pretty face. I’m sure the male audience has just doubled because of you.” While still laughing I crossed my eyes and sucked my cheeks in so much I looked like a fish, coaxing Tom into laugher, “Ah! I think you just broke my lens.”

  Aside from the carnival wonderland, the organiser and promoter of the website ‘Apocalypse’ had set up a massive stage with booths for merchandise sellers and tents for the people needing rests and drinks. I really wanted to explore the gentler side of the carnival first, but Kate and Tom hurried me into the more wild section of the ghost seekers. A bearded man dressed in skin tight grey jeans, and what I could only described as a farmers work shirt, welcomed everyone from the stage. Behind him, a rock band was setting up and the large stage lights rolled out across the crowd that had gathered in front of them. Between the shoulders’ bumping into me and the ear splitting cheering, I felt like a calf in a herd of charging bulls. It was an atmosphere more suited to a hard-core music festival than a welcoming committee for the supernatural. After a while, I became comfortable among the crowd and the noise wasn’t so deafening. Perhaps my ear drums had already exploded, I dunno. Kate and Tom were both drinking beer which I declined, never being one to like the bitter taste of alcohol, when a hand gently gripped my shoulder. I turned around and nearly spat out the mouthful of popcorn. Thankfully I stopped myself.