Chapter 33
"Are we really going to do this?" Vanessa asked as we stepped into my stateroom.
"Indulge me," I said.
She raised her hands in surrender, not about to put up a fight after today.
I moved to the portlight and closed it.
Then I took a candle from my suitcase, lit it, and set it on the nightstand next to the bed. I flipped out the cabin lights, and the soft amber glow from the candle illuminated the compartment.
"Spooky," Vanessa said.
I gave her a look.
"I thought you didn't like doing this kind of thing.”
"I don't. But I want to put something to rest.”
"Isn't this how you wake something up?" she quipped.
I gave her another look.
We climbed onto the bed and sat across from each other, crisscross applesauce.
"It's been a long time since we’ve done something like this," she said.
We took hands and stared into each other's eyes.
"I kind of forgot how this works,” she said.
"Just close your eyes, clear your head, and focus on the spirit.”
"You want me to focus on this woman, Kate? That I've never seen. That I don't know."
"Yes."
"And just how am I supposed to do that?”
"Like I said, close your eyes, and open your mind. It's like meditation. Don't let any distractions come in. If stray thoughts enter your mind, let them go."
"There's not a whole lot in there to begin with," she joked. She opened one eye and looked at me. "Don't say anything."
"Close your eyes."
She did, then I did as well. I took a deep breath, trying to settle my thoughts.
"What if she's not dead?" Vanessa asked.
"Then there will be no one to respond."
"So, if we don't get a response, you’re gonna finally let this Kate thing go?”
"Yes. I'm tired of playing games.”
"I see that." Vanessa paused. "You've changed. You have a different aura."
"Let's just say today gave me a certain amount of clarity."
"Maybe you should kill someone more often," she teased.
I opened an eye and gave her another look. "Close your eyes."
"I think I like the new Teagan.”
“Shh!”
Vanessa finally settled, and we sat there for a moment in silence. I took a deep breath, then exhaled and said, "Kate, if you are with us, make your presence known.”
Vanessa and I waited in stillness for a response. There was nothing but the sound of the ocean outside and the gentle swaying of the ship underway.
"Kate, if you are present, give us a sign. We are here to help you. What do you want us to know? What are you warning me about?"
Vanessa giggled.
I peeled open an eye and shushed her again.
“Sorry.”
"It's not going to work if you don't take this seriously," I said.
"I am taking it seriously.” Vanessa paused, cleared her throat, then said, "Okay, for real this time. Try again.”
I focused my mind, cleared out all my thoughts, and visualized Kate. I tried to feel her presence in the room. "Kate, if you are with us, give us a sign."
The room was quiet for a moment
That silence was shattered when the window fell open.
My heart leapt into my throat.
It startled the two of us. Our eyes flicked open, and we looked at the portlight that had come undone.
Vanessa and I shared an ominous glance.
"You must not have secured it properly. The wind blew it open. That's all."
I climbed off the bed, moved to the portlight, and secured it. This time, I double checked it to make sure. Then I climbed back onto the bed.
That's when the candle blew out.
We both shrieked.
Then Vanessa burst into laughter.
I fumbled for my lighter, struck it up, and re-lit the candle. When I looked back at Vanessa, she was gone.
Kate sat in her place.
I shrieked again in terror. My eyes blinked, and I found myself looking at Vanessa. She was where she had been all along.
I started to think I was going mad again.
"What is it?" she asked.
I shook it off. "Nothing. My mind is playing tricks on me.”
Suddenly, the room grew a little colder as the air conditioning kicked on.
I said, "You know, on second thought, I don't want to do this anymore."
"Why not? I'm kind of having fun. It reminds me of when we were in high school. Except then we were trying to conjure up hot guys.”
A chill ran down my spine. "You smell that?”
"Smell what?”
I sniffed the air. "Perfume?”
Vanessa indulged me by sniffing a deep breath. She thought about it for a moment, then frowned and shook her head. "No. I don't smell anything.”
"I could have sworn I smelled her perfume, but it's gone now.”
We sat in silence for a moment.
"Kate, if you're here, blow out the candle again."
I waited for a response, my skin tingling with nerves.