“If you can talk to the dead, do you think you could speak to someone straddling both worlds?”
“You mean Charlie?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m not exactly sure how these things work, but if it’s a possibility, now would be a great time to use your skills.”
I clamp down on my cheek to refrain from grinning. Now would not be a good time to rub it in that he was wrong.
“I’m not saying I believe in all of this, but I believe in you, Alyssa. I’m willing to keep an open mind if it helps solve these cases.”
That he believes in me is everything. I smile wide. “Let me make some calls. I’m not sure if it’s possible. I’ll need some help.”
AS SOON ASI called Corinne and filled her in on what went down, she rushed over here and started preparing. Lanie and I ran out to check on Nina and tell her our plan. She decided she wantedto come along, and I wasn’t about to deny her the front-row seat to what I hope is the beginning of the end for Project Ghosts Begone.
Walking into my formal dining room, the first thing I notice is the vintage candelabra in the middle of the table. Five candles glow in the otherwise dark room, throwing shadows to bounce off the walls of the shoebox space. Corinne has hung towels over the windows, blocking out the light. At any other point in my life, I’d be running for the hills. Nowadays, it feels status quo.
When you see actual ghosts on the daily, you tend to get over your fear of shadows.
“What’s happening here?” I ask Corinne, who appears to be meditating in her seat at the head of the table.
“Shh,” she hisses. “I’m preparing.”
“How long do you need? I have to call Nick, and then we’re ready to go.”
She inhales, pursing her lips, and exhales through her nose. “Make the call.”
Less than ten minutes later, we’re gathered around my dining room table, holding hands. Corinne and I are at opposite ends at the heads of the table. Nina and Nick are on either side of me, and Lanie is between Nina and Corinne.
“Be prepared for bizarre changes from that one,” I whisper to Nick, nodding my head in Corinne’s direction. He grins, squeezing my hand.
I lean toward Nina. “Pay attention this time. I can’t be the only one who witnesses the possession.” Her head shakes and she lowers her head to hide the smile.
“I’ve already seen my share of crazy,” she says.
“During this séance, remain in your seat and holding the hands of the person to your right and left. Do not, under any circumstances, break the sacred circle. Do you understand?”
Yeses ring out around the table as we all agree to Corinne’s terms.
“Bow your heads and pray,” Corinne commands. “God. Goddess. Mother Earth. We beseech you to connect us to the imprisoned spirit of Charlie Dunbar of Knox Harbor.”
I concentrate on Charlie, running his features over and over in my mind, willing his spirit to present itself.
Nina’s hold on my hand tightens, but I don’t chance a glance her way. I know this has to be difficult for her, so I offer the only comfort I can in the form of a hand hug.
The table trembles under our arms, and even behind my closed eyelids, I can tell the candlelight is flickering faster than normal, until the flames are snuffed out entirely. A chill works down my spine, alerting me to a spirit’s presence.
I pop one eye open, trying to adjust my eyes to the dark. All I see is black until a flare of light streaks across the room.
The tiny hairs on my arms rise like they normally do.
The overhead light flips on, and in the corner is a very confused Charlie. His arms are crossed, and his eyebrows are folded in. My body sags with relief that it’s him and not some other stranded spirit.
“Charlie,” I coo, in an attempt not to startle him.
He’s not dead, but his spirit is in a sort of limbo. According to Natalia, that comes with a lot of haze surrounding their memories and surely a barrel of trepidation. He might be in so much shock that this entire experiment will result in nothing helpful.
“He’s in shock,” Billy whispers into my ear, confirming my suspicion. “Be gentle with him. You’ve got this.”
Billy’s reassurance is unexpected and dare I say a bit heartwarming. All this time, he’s been an epic pain in my rear, but in this moment, he looks tired and anxious. Maybe his crankinesshas everything to do with being stuck in limbo. In another time and place, maybe he wasn’t so bad.
