Chad

For the first time going on an investigation, I felt nervous. As we headed to Jacynda’s house, I glanced over at her every so often and could feel the tension coming from her that matched my own. I could tell that when I told her we were going back to her house that she didn’t want to. But since Susan had found a medium and a preacher who she thought might be able to help, Jacynda agreed. However, she had made it clear that she didn’t want to participate this time, which I agreed would be best. The thought of her going back in that house made me feel on edge.

I’d only known her for a short time, but it felt like I’d known a lot longer. Maybe it was because she was shacking up at my place and had bled all over my condo… or maybe it was just because she was a cool girl who appeared to be normal, not full of herself or pretentious like so many girls were nowadays. Not only had she bled out all over my couch, but she’d let me see her without makeup, too, which were two things that almost never happened when it came to the girls I usually dated. And she liked to sing in the shower. I don’t think she knew I was awake and could hear her, which made me love listening to her even more.

I stole another glance at her as I stopped at a red light and, to my surprise, she was stealing a glance at me, too. I smiled, trying to reassure her it was going to be okay. As long as I was around, I’d never let anything hurt her. The way she took a deep breath and made a weird face at me, I don’t think she believed me.

“You don’t have to go in if you don’t want to. It’s a nice day. We can sit outside.” To be honest, I didn’t want her going in that house at all.

“I think I’ll be okay, as long as I’m not alone. There’s safety in numbers, right?”

I nodded, having no clue if that was true. The way I look at it, if someone could be attacked when they were alone, I’d think there would be even more energy for it to use in a room full of people, but that was just my theory.

As she picked at her bandages, I couldn’t help but remember what the scene looked like that put her in it. When I’d gotten off work that morning, I saw that I had two texts from her. At first, I was excited, wondering what she had texted me about, since she never did. Then I saw that she had hurt herself and the bottom dropped out of my excitement. And when I got home and saw that my living room looked like a scene from a horror movie, I knew I had to go check on her. She might’ve been okay enough to text, but her blood everywhere said otherwise.

I didn’t tell her everything that Billy had said or insinuated about her, knowing that the fact that he had talked to me at all unnerved her. I doubt he would’ve said anything to me if he would’ve known that his ex-girlfriend was staying with me; that it was my condo he’d picked her up from. And, of course, when I realized who he was talking about, I didn’t tell him. I was interested in what he had to say about her. Knowing that he still loved her like he did made me want to love her, too.

It had been a long time since I’d loved someone like that. After all that had happened, back then, I don’t know if truly loved her at all. I think I loved the idea of us more than the actual us part. When it got to the point that I could go for days without seeing her, I knew it was time to call it quits. I’d dated girls off and on, since then, but never had a desire to have more with any of them. Then I met Jacynda. We had only gone out once, and that was on a double date, but it left me wanting more.

The situation we were in made me hesitate when it came to pursuing any type of relationship with her. We were friends and I could handle that… for now. But if I caught her staring at my semi-naked body while I slept, again, I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out. It took everything I had not to get up and pull her down on my bed with me. And from the look on her face, I don’t think she would’ve fought it.

“So, who is the medium? Is she legit?” Jacynda asked, thankfully pulling me away from my thoughts of the two of us in my bed.

“I don’t know her. It’s somebody Susan has known for a while. I’ve met her once, but it wasn’t long enough for her to impress me.”

She tilted her head and smiled at me. “I’m guessing it might take a lot to impress you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, you don’t have a girlfriend. Or you never talk about another girl, anyway.” She said another girl, like another girl besides herself? “And you’re a… nice-looking guy.” Her face started to turn red, making it harder to look away from her and back to the road. “I would think you’re picky.”

“I thought we were talking about a psychic?”

“We are.” She laughed nervously. “Never mind.” The apples of her cheeks looked like someone had pinched them.

“No, I guess I am picky in a way… when it comes to psychics,” I added with a wink. “I like a psychic who’s normal. Well, as normal as a psychic can be. And I like when they act like themselves, not putting on some fake front to impress me. That’s what impresses me… when they don’t try.” I smiled. “And when they sing in the shower. I like a psychic who sings in the shower.”

She laughed and shook her head, probably realizing that I’d heard her belt out a few shower songs. “I bet you do.”

Once we pulled into her driveway, the malevolence that the house emitted flooded the cab of my truck, causing all laughing and flirting to come to an end.