I slowly backed further against the wall behind me, knowing a comfy looking chair was positioned there. Once I’d found it, I slumped back into the chair and closed my eyes as my head rested against the paneled wall.
“This is bad,” Pete murmured, his concerned tone wasn’t helping me at all, but it was nice that he cared.
“It is,” Rino agreed solemnly. “But I’ll find a way to help him.”
They were speaking like I wasn’t there, which was fine by me, the headache made it hard to even focus.
The door flew open to Rino’s office, startling all of us.
“Boss! I need your assistance!”
Then I screamed as my pain intensified and all went black.
Chapter Nine
Dylan
I’d only just made it to work when my phone rang, Rino’s name on the screen was enough to make my heart beat faster, my nerves tightening with worry. This couldn’t be good.
“Hello?” I said, dreading his next words.
“Mike fainted and he keeps mumbling your name. Can you get here?”
“Where ishere?” I asked, knowing fully well that their location was a secret. Why? I still had no idea, but no one outside of the mediums were allowed to visit.
To my surprise, Rino texted me the address and asked me to hurry. Like I wouldn’t break all the speeding laws getting there.
I knew telling my boss I had to bail would mean losing my job, but I couldn’t care less as I drove like a mad man to get to Mike. He’d mumbled my name while unconscious. It shouldn’t make me all smug and pleased to know that, but it did. Mike had wanted me there. Knew I would help him. And I would.Soon.
The location my GPS led me to was a mansion, which,okay, was a surprise. I’d figured it would be some kind of prison looking building with guards patrolling the area, very area 51 like. And yeah, maybe I’d seen too many sci-fi series lately, but a regular mansion? I was a little disappointed to be honest.
I’d only just parked when Pete came running out the main doors, looking worried as he ran over to my car. I hurried out, meeting him halfway. Pete had resigned as a medium so him being here was a surprise. Had Rino called both of us, and if so, how the hell had he beat me here? Was there a secret short cut I didn’t know about? I didn’t get to question him, as he just grabbed me and hauled me with him.
“I don’t know what the hell is happening between you and my brother, but he’s a whimpering mess and only mumbles words we can’t decipher andyourname.”
I smiled, not even bothering to hide how special that made me feel. But my smile soon faded as worry took over.
“He’s in that much pain?” I asked as Pete maneuvered me through dimly lit hallways.
“Yes, he’s really out of it. Rino has never experienced anything like it.”
I hated that for Mike. He just wanted to be able to live his life again. I knew he wished he’d never gotten his abilities, but this was the first time I’d wished for that, too. What would happen if it never got better? Mike would need to stay in areas where no ghosts would be. His entire life would be limited, like his own personal prison. A bright soul like Mike, who’d dreamed of travelling the world, didn’t deserve to live in a prison not of his own making. And I would do whatever it took to help him out.
The door we were headed towards had a golden name plate on the wooden surface and I already knew this was our goal. My Mike was only a few steps away now.
Rino was in the room, sitting next to Mike’s body on the floor. “Please touch him,” Rino urged, and who was I to deny the boss.
The room was otherwise empty, which I appreciated as I kneeled next to Mike’s body, grabbing his head and resting it on my thighs. I started to card my fingers through his brown locks, adding a bit of pressure to hopefully relieve some of his tension. Rino and Pete were silent as I continued to work my fingers over his scalp. Mike’s whimpering had stopped once he was resting on me, though, so I hoped whatever I was doing worked.
“Interesting,” Rino observed, his tone awed. “I’ve only seen this with three other mediums.”
“Seen what?” Pete questioned.
“Mike is showing clear signs of having chosen Dylan as his anchor, I had my suspicions, but now I’m certain.”
“Anchor?” Pete and I both asked in unison.
Rino just nodded his head. “Most mediums don’t need an anchor, partly because most are born with their abilities, but some need help regulating their energy. Mike is the worst case I’ve experienced, so it makes sense that he latched onto you for help.”
