But try as hard as she could, Sapph could only see the darkness. After a frustrating few minutes, she shook her head and opened her eyes. “I guess it’s more your clairvoyance that allows you to see what I can see,” she said, chagrined. “That’s too bad.”
“Yes and no,” Scottie said. “Your gift is dangerous enough on its own. Do you think you’d be able to handle seeing ghosts 24-7 as well?”
“Is that how it works?” Gwen had come up to them while Sapph’s eyes had been closed. “You literally see them 24-7? How do you not go insane?”
Scottie hesitated, looking for the right words. “I’ve learned to shut it off, but yes, in the beginning, that’s what I saw. There was no separation. And when you’re going through puberty at the same time…” He trailed off and shrugged. “Luckily, we were living in Boston at the time. Mom took me to MIT, and I got help.”
“At MIT?” Gwen frowned. “How?”
“There were two psych students working with Dr. Robinette on their master’s degrees in parapsychology. They were over the moon to help me learn to control it.”
“Which explains why Malcolm recommended you to Mom when she was looking for a new bodyguard for me,” Sapph said. “I always wondered where he found you.”
“Uncle Malcolm has fingers in every good psych program he can find,” Lance said, joining them. “I just wish I hadn’t dismissed his work for so long.” He shrugged. “Oh well. Live and learn, right?”
“Lance Robinette, did I just hear you admit OUT LOUD that you made a mistake?” Gwen’s eyes opened wide in mock surprise. “Someone better check if Satan has enough snow shovels in Hell!”
He scowled at her. “Hahaha.” Then he turned back to Sapph and Scottie. “You two ready? We’re all set up.”
Sapph looked at Scottie. “I’m ready.”
Scottie took Bear from her and nodded. “Me too.”
When she flipped her switch and opened her eyes, Sapph found the barn bathed in the grey twilight of the Ghostlands. Rather than the poured concrete floor that was in the current era, solid granite flagstones covered in hay lay before her. The sweet smell of hay mixed with manure surrounded her, and she fancied she could hear the wickering of horses, although the stalls were empty.
Where was the fog? She reached back out to Scottie, feeling him slide into his familiar spot in her head.
Towards the back. I don’t see it now.
Well, that was interesting. Sapph stepped into the barn, peering through the gloom to see what she could find. No mist here either. I’m going to go in deeper.
Okay. There was a pause, and then he added, Lance is asking you to walk straight back.
Sapph raised an eyebrow, but did as she was told. Like that?
Thank you. Apparently you set off all the REM pods you passed. Lance, Pat, and Knox are in heaven.
Sapph chuckled, her breath steaming out in front of her. I’m glad they’re having a good time.
“It’s been a long time since someone laughed here, you know.”
The voice made her stop and look up. Sitting on the steps leading up to the second floor was a young child, dressed in a neat white pinafore over a blue dress. Her short, curly brown hair reminded Sapph of Shirley Temple, and her thin arms were wrapped around her knees. Her feet were bare.
Scottie….
I see her.
“You really shouldn’t be here,” the child continued, frowning. “You’re making things worse, you know.”
“I am?” Sapph cocked her head. “How?”
“You’re waking them all up.” The girl sighed. “Do you know how hard it was to get them to sleep?”
“Who? The other ghosts? Why did you want them to sleep?”
To Sapph’s surprise, the girl gave a dry laugh. “Because if they’re asleep, they can’t kill anyone else.”
I beg your pardon? Scottie’s voice was sharp. Did I hear that right?
“How could they kill anyone?” Sapph asked. “I mean, doesn't it take a lot of energy to reach back through the barrier?”
“Only if you don’t know what you’re doing,” the girl said. “Besides, the living can supply so much energy. I mean, look at you people. You’ve been here what, 2 days? Already the children are coming out to play again, and even the watcher is stronger. It’s only a matter of time until the darker parts of the past buried in this place feel your presence.” She pursed her lips, a very adult expression on her sweet face. “If you know what’s smart, you and your friends will leave. Now. And when you lock the gate on the way out, throw away the keys, so no one else can ever find their way back here.”
And then she vanished.
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