“How can I help you?” I whisper, knowing she can’t communicate with me.
She doesn’t respond, as expected. She doesn’t even move, aside from flashing in and out of existence.
I take a deep breath, but she’s already gone, leaving me a bit rattled.
I’ve gotten over the worst of my fears surrounding ghosts. Having them in and out of my life these past couple of months has helped prepare me for life as a medium. However, there’s a different energy that comes with poltergeists. It’s unsettling, to say the least.
While I’m not scared that she’ll harm me, I’m not exactly jumping at the thought of being here alone. Might as well push up my visit to town.
I grab my purse, phone, and keys and haul ass to the door. I’m much more composed than I was the first couple times Billy presented, but there’s still room for growth.
I’ll master it one day. Today is not that day.
My phone dings, and with shaky hands, I pull it from my black crossbody to find Nick’s name lighting up the screen. He’s sent a text.
Nick
SOS…are you around?
Me
Yes. Everything okay?
Nick
My sister Jackie needed a huge favor and dropped my niece off.
I’m about to ask him how I can help, but another text comes in.
Nick
She’s crying hysterically. I don’t know what to do.
Will you come over here?
Me
On my way…
I don’t bother with a coat because I could tell from his messages that the typically calm and collected Nick West is panicking. I slip on my boots and run next door. I don’t even have a chance to knock before Nick’s door swings open and the wailing sounds of a very upset infant sound somewhere toward the back of his house. A harried-looking Nick runs his hand back through his hair.
“Thank you so much, Alyssa.” He’s standing in the door, not moving.
I smirk. “Mind if I come in?”
He blinks, shaking his head and standing aside. “Shit. I’m sorry. Come in.”
I’ve never seen Nick so rattled. Not by my insistence that ghosts were feeding me information. Not from watching a séance unfold.
His niece, Zoey, is sitting on the floor, screaming at the top of her lungs. She’s holding her belly as tears pour down her face in a flood.
“What happened?” I say, looking back to Nick.
“I have no idea. One minute she was fine, and the next…this.” He motions toward the dark-haired baby, who’s the cutest thing I’ve seen despite the blotchy face.
“She’s holding her belly,” I comment. “Did something happen?”
“No. Well…not that I know of.” He rubs at his forehead, clearly out of his element here. “I mean she’s been a little off tonight. She typically likes to be a terror getting into everything, and she’s just sat here all night.”
