Chapter 23 #2
“Oh. Well, fuck, that would break their brains, all right, when they learn that’s not how things work at all.”
“That was a major part of the conversation on the way home last night. My daughter-in-law, especially, kept repeating why, over and over again, and you could tell she was very disturbed. Very confused as well. It’s hard to tell someone your religion is wrong because it comes off as an attack, when really, in this aspect, it’s just fact. ”
I pondered this. I did want those two to come around, as Gwyn loved them, even if she was frustrated to the point of murder right now.
“Tell them most ghosts who linger do so because they want to become demons. That’s actually the case for about half the ghost populace down here. It’s not even a lie.”
Joe looked into the distance, lips parted with a sort of stunned surprise. “Huh. Really?”
“Generally speaking, ghosts are here for a multitude of reasons, and sometimes it’s because the soul is terrified about going to hell, so they stay on Earth and attempt to become demons to avoid it. It sometimes works, too.”
“And Gwyn was battling souls trying to become demons?” The horror spreading over his face turned him green around the gills. “My god. No wonder you acted so fast to protect her. You knew what would happen if you didn’t.”
“That’s part of it,” I admitted quietly. Thinking fast, I tacked on, “You can also tell them some of the good souls trapped here is because they didn’t get proper burials. Religious rites help guide the souls on, you see.”
“Oh, the logic for both of those will likely hit better. Thank you, Mack.”
“Just trying to help. We’ll be in touch shortly.”
We parted ways there, me climbing into the front passenger seat again. We still had a workday to get to, after all.
“I think that went very well,” Brandon said.
“Lordy, it sure did. My nerves didn’t need to show up after all. Uh, why aren’t we going anywhere?”
Brandon lifted his phone and waggled it. “Turns out we’re doing the restaurant today.”
“After I just glared a bunch of ghosts into submission?”
Fuck my life.
My phone lit up with a call and I tapped Accept on the SUV’s screen. Why was the mayor calling me? “Mayor, hi?”
“I need a Medium and an exorcism. Now,” she informed me, her tone beyond grim. Frantic, although she was clearly striving to sound calm. “Where are you?”
“Middle of town, where are you?”
Brandon was already quickly backing out.
“I’m at the main bridge, the one next to the pharmacy.”
“We’re two minutes from there. You said exorcism, so I assume someone’s possessed?”
“We think so. Thomas. He’s one of our recent graduates, a sweet kid.
Normally works at the pharmacy, and he was acting weird this morning.
They say he grabbed two canes from the pharmacy’s display and started attacking people.
He’s being weirdly silent, not saying anything, just chasing everyone out.
He’s still in the pharmacy. I’ve got everyone else out. ”
Ah, why she was at the bridge instead of inside, got it.
I had to wonder if this was Joey. A ghost had to have a certain amount of power to be able to possess the living, and Joey fit the bill.
If it wasn’t, then we still needed to deal with this ghost, as we couldn’t just leave him in some poor kid’s body.
“Do not move. Keep people out. I’ll be there in a second. ”
I disconnected, then called Eli immediately. “Eli, meet me at the pharmacy now. A kid’s gotten possessed.”
“Fuck. On our way.”
We were literally thirty seconds out, as Brandon was driving there as fast as the car could go, but I took those thirty seconds. “Gwyn, stick to Beau and Hannah. This isn’t something you know how to guard against yet.”
She looked unnerved but nodded. “Okay.”
“We’ll put down safeguards outside,” Beau promised me.
He knew what to do, so I wasn’t about to stop him. “We’ve got gear in the back of the SUV to help.”
“I know, don’t worry about it. You’ve got to help Eli.”
Possession wasn’t a fun time for anyone, least of all the one possessed.
I’d dealt with exactly one possession so far in my career, and honestly, I dreaded this one.
Getting a ghost out was not an easy exercise and was painful for the host. Adrenaline started coursing through me.
I was still of two minds on whether I wanted this to be Joey.
It could be one of his minions. I kinda wanted it to be him just so I could finally put his threat to rest.
Brandon almost hopped the curb. He pulled in regardless of whether this was a parking spot or not, and I was out of the vehicle as fast as I could manage it.
I spotted the mayor and jogged over. The relief on her face was blatant and she met me halfway.
I took in the spectators—there were many—but she already had two people holding the crowd back.
Of course everyone had phones out, recording, but I ignored them for now. PR wasn’t my department or my concern.
“Mayor Hernandez,” I greeted. “You’re sure he’s the only one inside?”
“Yes, we’re sure. How fast can you fix this?”
“Hopefully fast. The longer a ghost is in a body, the harder it is to get them out. Eli’s on her way. She’ll be more effective, but I’ll do all I can. You said the kid’s name is Thomas?”
“Right. He’s not a troublemaker, one of the studious types. I don’t think he did anything to pull this ghost in.”
“That’s usually the case.” He might be just sensitive enough to be open to ghost energies.
If so, living here was the worst possible idea.
I’d address that later, though. First, we had to rescue the poor kid.
“Beau’s going to do some work out here, make sure protections are in place so the ghost can’t jump into anyone else. Do whatever he asks.”
“Got it.”
I parted from her, turning for the pharmacy.
A white historical building, it was two stories, lovingly maintained, with a wide porch.
It was built right at the edge of the bridge and likely had been something else entirely at one point, but it had a large black-and-white sign now proclaiming it as Clark’s Pharmacy.
All of the lights were on inside, but I didn’t see a single soul.
I did, however, see a charcoal grey trail leading right into the building. Fuuuuck, odds were it was Joey.
Now, what was that asshole trying to do, getting this kid? Why stay holed up inside the building and not try to run for it?
I didn’t like this. My gut said this was serious trouble.
Fortunately, I recognized the other black SUV joining Brandon’s bad parking job, and not going to lie, my inner child cried with relief when Eli popped out of the car. I wasn’t too proud to say Eli was often my adultier adult. Especially in cases like this one.
I jogged to meet up with her, both of us now standing one step down from the porch. “To sum up, there’s a barely adult in there named Thomas, and he’s been possessed by someone. He’s the only one still in the store. He’s been acting off all morning, apparently.”
“So he’s likely been possessed for a few hours, at least.” Eli’s mouth flattened into an aggravated line. “Great. This won’t be easy. I see the dark grey trail, too, so this motherfucker’s on a whole other level. Joey?”
“Odds are good, yeah.”
She grunted, still staring at the doors. “I say park Davina at the door.”
“Wait, Davina’s with you?”
“Yeah, she was riding with us since Lachlan’s flirting with Seiji and she didn’t want to be a third wheel.”
I wouldn’t either.
Eli rattled off, “I’ll sweep right, you sweep left, let’s try to do a pincer movement. If you can at least grab and hold him, I can get the ghost out of him.”
I gave her plan really good odds. Maybe with three Mediums, we could get this done without it becoming a wild chase scene straight out of a Bollywood movie? I was willing to try it, anyway. “Let’s do it.”
Davina caught up, we told her the plan, and she was game for it, ready to grab hold of Thomas if he somehow got past us. With the plan in place, she parked herself at the door with Booker. Quinn went with Eli, heading right as planned, and Brandon went with me as I went left.
The pharmacy was much like any modern version, except the shelves were wood instead of metal.
Still had a medicinal smell, but it was mixed in with the scents of old wood and moving water from the nearby river.
Eerily quiet, my own breathing rasped loudly and Brandon’s footsteps sounded like percussion drums being hit.
I moved quietly, hoping to get the drop on this fucker.
The aisles on this side carried nonmedicine stuff like greeting cards, lotions, and other sorts of merchandise.
I paid it little attention as I made my way down the aisle.
All right, there wasn’t much ahead of me.
Only five aisles separated me from Eli, as the building was narrow, so where was this guy hiding?
Oh, there was a very long wooden counter in the back. Cashier stations stood on either side, with a pickup sign on the far right. Motherfucker, I’d bet anything he was lurking behind there.
I slowed down a bit to whisper to Brandon, “If you fire, do it with holy water.”
“Got it.”
The holy water would hopefully force the ghost out. At least make him uncomfortable enough to want to leave the body. It also wouldn’t hurt the host, unlike the rock salt.
Come on, come on, where was he hiding?
From behind the counter, I caught a hint of blond hair, and then something sharp whizzed toward me. I ducked and heard Brandon grunt and do a quick side shuffle. What was that?!
“Asshole just threw scissors,” Brandon snarled. “Oh, he’s dead now.”
Uh-oh. Monsieur le Stupid tripped a Havili’s protective instincts up to full throttle.
Bye, ghostie, been nice knowing you.
Brandon shot past me, and next thing I knew, he had a hand on the counter and sailed right over it. Damn, what I wouldn’t give to be so athletic. Except dedicated gym time; I wasn’t doing that.