What in the fuck was this?
I moved the phone away as my eyes crossed.
He paused, and so did my heart.
Goosebumps crawled up my arms.
“Listen,” William whispered as he stared directly into the camera.
As if the night was listening to his commands, metal creaked at a nearby ship. They’d made the same noise when we’d been on our tour, but I didn’t remember it being so loud.
William tilted his head. “They say the fire wasn’t an accident.”
His voice was calm, collected. Too calm. Too collected.
It was as if he’d been possessed.
“He says they sealed the corridor too fast. Three men scream behind the door. The burns are still here.”
I swallowed. Did we see burn marks on our tour? I didn’t remember them.
The corners of William’s lips tipped up in a faint smile. As if he were remembering the tragic fire.
“The flames never leave. They just circle the ship. Circles and circles.” He held up his index finger and twirled it in a circle.
A noise came from the kitchen, and I jumped, almost dropping the phone. I paused the video, held my hand against my chest and listened. Was the killer here? Another sound came—that of water, and I let go of my breath. It was only the ice maker refilling.
I took a calming breath and released it. It’s only a video.
William’s voice came through as soon as I unpaused the video. His eyes were still distant, but he’d started swaying. “They don’t all want help. Some just want to be heard.”
Was he talking to ghosts?
“She said I had to be with them. That it was my time to go. They take me with them. Keep me warm. It’s so cold.” He shivered.
If this was the night he died, William took this video in April out on the water. It’s possible the night was chilly. Or there were other reasons for his temporary issues.
He looked to the right suddenly. Something off camera.
At nothing.
The camera jolted and then steadied.
William nodded. “Yes, I’m here. I feel it. Don’t you?”
Who was he talking to? Well, who did he think he was talking to?
Nothing but a heavy pause as we both waited for what happened next.
What was that? I turned my ear toward the phone to hear better.
A humming. Was it coming from William? His mouth wasn’t moving.
Another chill slid down my spine. What was happening to William? Was he always this way? From the message Lonny sent with the file, it didn’t seem like this was normal behavior for the thirty-year-old.
The video wobbled. Possibly the wind blew it onto the phone stand. William whispered something, but I couldn’t hear it. A heavy clanging noise echoed. Like metallic thunder.
I flinched, but William didn’t move.
