“Something is blocking me. Does one of you doubt this is possible?”
My head jerks back, looking to both my friends to uncover the culprit. Both look equally mystified. My hand comes to my chest. “I believe,” I stress to Lanie first, who nods her head in solidarity. “I’m open!” I reiterate to Nina, who smiles sadly. “Don’t you believe me?”
“I don’t doubt you, Alyssa. It’s her ability I doubt.” Madame Corinne balks at the slight, but Nina doesn’t apologize. “We should go.”
She stands to leave, and I yell out, “No,” shaking my head vehemently. “I want to do this. We came all this way, and something happened.” I hold Nina’s stare, hoping to convey that although I’m nervous about what’s to come, I don’t want to throw in the towel. “I need you to trust that Corinne can do this.”
Desperation to contact Garrett clings to me like lint, forcing meto come to terms with the fact that I mean what I say. My stance has shifted, and I believe—for the time being—it’s possible.
Nina’s eyes close. It’s written clearly all over her face—she wishes we hadn’t come—but I don’t dwell on that for long.
I throw my shoulders back, close my eyes, and do the first thing that comes to mind.
Beg.
“Garrett, if you can hear me, I’m open. I. Am. Open!”
“What’s wrong with you?” Lanie asks Nina, but I don’t pay attention to them, keeping my eyes shut tight and conjuring an image of him in my head.
I’m hyperfocused on willing Garrett to this room. I bite my lip, concentrating hard. My hands ball into fists and my foot taps the ground, creating a vibration I feel work its way through me. The table trembles, and I don’t stop to consider why or what it means.
Come on, Garrett. Please.
My eyes open in time to see the candlelight flicker, scattering shadows that resemble wayward spirits flitting around the room. Lanie chokes, Nina screeches, and Corinne remains utterly silent. Still, I persist, centered on this one lofty goal.
I’m open. Come to me.
The table halts its quaking, and the lights stop flickering. The three women in the room are deathly silent, but I feel their eyes fixed on me. A heavy breath rushes through my chest as every last iota of energy abates and I slam my back into the chair, falling limply into it.
Corinne drops my hand and Nina and Lanie spring to action, coming to my side.
“Alyssa! Are you all right? What the hell was that?”
My head moves slowly back and forth. I’m bone-tired and unable to speak. I can’t focus my eyes on any one person or object.The room vibrates in waves of energy that somehow Icansee. My ears ring and my entire body tingles.
I can just barely make out the swarm of questions and accusations being flung around the room until the noise stops and my vision focuses.
Three sets of eyes peer at me as though I’ve sprouted a third eye right in the middle of my forehead.
And maybe I have.
“Alyssa...” Nina whispers my name, drawing close. “Talk to me, love.”
I blink several times, attempting to swallow, but my mouth is desert-dry.
“Water,” I manage to croak out, and Lanie jumps into action, rushing toward the shelf.
“Not gin,” Nina chastises. “Corinne, do you have a bottle of water?”
I don’t see or hear Corinne’s answer, because Nina is all up in my personal space, clamoring on about god knows what. Moments later, a bottle of water is shoved against my mouth.
“Drink,” Nina commands and I don’t argue, sipping down every last drop. I lick my parched lips, ready for more water.
I take a deep breath, ready to ask for it when Corinne states firmly, “You all need to leave. Now.”
Nina’s head jerks in the direction of Corinne. “Excuse me?” Nina sounds ready to attack, which is so unlike my docile friend. “You did this,” she says, waving a hand in my direction.
Corinne wears a mask of boredom, but I don’t miss the way her hands tremble. She’s freaked but doing her best to hide it.
