Second Chances

by Aaron Brinker

Alex looked at Gene. His face curled into a smirk. “Does that make you any more of a believer?”

  Gene laughed. “You know how I am Alex. I won’t believe something until I see it or feel it.”

  Alex pursed his lips for a second while taking in Gene’s opinion. “Fair enough.” Alex looked at Dave. “Well, I think we will get started on setting up. You said that some of the family may want to help with the investigation?”

  Dave’s voice rose. He nodded. “Actually Chaun and I definitely want to help. Denise is leery about helping due to the attack. She is scared that something may happen to her again. Michelle is willing to help watch cameras and footage if need be.”

  Sara nodded, then looked at Dave. Alex said, “We can accommodate that. Sara usually watches from inside the van on investigations. Just one more question though before we get started. No one in the family has heard any growls or seen any apparitions with animal heads, have they?”

  Dave got a look of confusion on his face. “No, just the possessions, attacks, writings, and items being moved. Why do you ask?”

  Alex traded a glance with Sara, and then looked back at Dave. “Usually when the activity includes growling and apparitions with animal heads, it’s typically demonic.”

  Dave’s brows almost met his hairline. He pursed his lips. “Oh, well I guess it’s a good thing we haven’t experienced that type of activity.”

  Alex smiled. “Well if you’re ready, I think we can set up a camera in the dining room, Sam’s room, Chaun’s room, and the hallway. I wouldn’t mind putting a radio or voice recorder in Sam’s room.”

  Dave shut his computer down and stood up. “That sounds like a good idea.”

  The group stepped out of the office and into the foyer. Dave proceeded to help the team haul the cases of equipment upstairs and get it set up. Dave helped Alex set the camera up in the corner of the nursery adjacent to the door, enabling the team to view the entire room and whether or not anyone was entering or exiting the room. The crib was very close and completely visible through the camera lens. Alex spoke with Sara on his cell phone. She was in the van making sure all the camera angles were perfect. Once completed with their set up in the nursery, they continued to Chaun’s room to set up the camera for that room. They placed the camera on the nightstand. From this vantage point, like the nursery, the entire room was visible. Alex and Dave then returned to the nursery to set up the audio equipment. Within a few minutes, Sara said she could clearly hear what was going on within the room. Dave and Alex then returned to the first floor and set up the camera in the dining room. They placed it where all entryways and the entire living room could be seen by Sara, Michelle, and Denise in the van.

  Alex said, “Are we ready for lights out?”

  Sara answered, “Almost, Michelle has to get Samantha to sleep. Then, we will be ready.”

  Alex then went out to the van with Dave and Gene. He notified everyone present what they needed to look for during the investigation. “I usually don’t prefer more than two people in the house at a time, but since I’m the only person with experience, all four of us will stay together during the investigation.”

  Chaun spoke, “That sounds like a plan. I’m pretty sure that there will be a greater chance of activity tonight if I am present.” He gave a nervous smile.

  29

  After Michelle had taken Sam upstairs and got her to sleep, Alex and the others made their way up the stairs to Chaun’s room. Due to the most severe attack happening there, Alex decided that would be the best place to start the investigation. Once in the room, Alex pressed the record button on his digital recorder.

  Chaun looked curiously at Alex. “Can you really pick up voices on those things?”

  Alex nodded. “That you can,” He set the recorder down at his side. “sometimes really clearly.”

  “Hmm…that’s interesting.”

  “Yes, it is.” Alex paused for a second. His face asking before the words were uttered. Chaun’s eyes and his locked on each other. He asked, “Would you be able to walk me through what happened the night of the attack?”

  Chaun nodded, then looked at the floor a moment gathering up his memories of the order of events before speaking. “Yeah, I can do that.” Chaun walked over to the same spot where he stood before climbing into bed that night and started describing what had happened. He raised his arms in front of him, and then let them fall a few inches with the blades of his hands facing downward. “I was right in this spot. I stripped down to my boxer briefs and climbed into bed. I watched her while she stood by my closet undressing. Up until that point, I usually had turned away when she did this, but that night was another story. She caught me staring, and we began flirting.” Alex nodded his head to let Chaun know he was listening. “She put on my jersey and climbed into bed. We started making out, and I was lying on my back when she straddled me. Her head suddenly jerked back, as if someone was pulling her hair. She was then yanked into the air.”

  Alex raised one of his hands to chest level. “When you say yanked into the air…?”

  Chaun laid down on the bed and held his hand parallel, six inches above his waist in the air. “Her feet were here, and she was hanging perpendicular to the bed. She was then thrown into the wall above the headboard. The next couple seconds, it was almost like someone was grabbing her hair and slamming her head into the wall. Her screams went silent, and her body went limp after her head’s second impact with the wall. She was then thrown across the room into the wall behind you. When mom and dad came in it felt like someone had forcibly turned my head towards the door.” He sat up. Chaun glanced down at his bed for a moment and then back up at Alex. “I think that’s when the lacerations were left.”

  Alex and Gene’s mouths fell open. “Wow. How cold did it get in here when all this took place?”

  Chaun shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “We really didn’t notice. When you are making out with someone, your body doesn’t think of cold. Her breath was visible right before her head was pulled back.”

  Alex nodded. “So this attack didn’t take all that long?”

  Chaun shook his head. “Not long at all, only about 10 to 15 seconds, on the outside, no more than 20.”

  Alex nodded and interlaced his fingers. “What made you come to the conclusion that your former wife is the entity causing all the commotion?”

  Chaun leaned against his headboard. “She spoke to me in a dream.” He smirked and gave a slight laugh. “I know it sounds kind of farfetched, but it felt real.”

  He separated his hands, faced his palms up, and then interlaced his fingers once again. “What did she say or do in the dream that brought you to the conclusion of her being the entity?”

  “Her eye color changed.”

  Alex’s brow furrowed, “Changed how?”

  Chaun’s tone was hesitant. He was not sure how it would sound to someone other than family. “They started as her normal, brown eyes, and changed to the black orbs we’ve been plagued with the last few months.” Alex nodded in response. “That’s when I woke up and went downstairs to tell everyone.”

  “Well if that’s the case, maybe we can try to communicate.” Chaun nodded. Alex then spoke to the emptiness of the space surrounding the group. “Is your name Katrina?” He paused for ten to fifteen seconds. “Why are you here?” Alex paused again.

  Dave became curious and asked, “Why do you pause after each question?”

  “It is basically to give the entity time to answer.” Dave’s face portrayed confusion. Alex explained further. “An entity must draw excess energy to illicit a response.”

  “From where?” Dave asked.

  “Electronic devices such as battery operated items or an electrical appliance like a television.”

  Chaun squinted one eye. “How can you tell if it is drawing energy?”

  “With a television, you really can’t tell, but battery powered equipment is another matter. A significant decrease in battery life usually precedes activity.”
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  Dave nodded, “What do you mean by significant decrease?”

  Alex looked at the recorder. “The battery, most often, will drop from a full charge to a half charge in a matter of seconds.” The T.V. turned on. Alex looked at Chaun. He pointed at Chaun. “Did you do that?”

  Chaun shook his head. “No.” Chaun pointed to the remote lying on the entertainment center. “That’s the controller for it.”

  Alex stood up, walked over, and picked up the remote. Inspecting it, he asked, “Has this happened before?”

  Chaun shook his head. “No. This is the only time this has happened.” Alex inspected the T.V. and found nothing out of the ordinary.

  As he walked back over to his chair, he said, “We can leave it on for now. Maybe she needs to gain strength to communicate.”

  Chaun laughed nervously. “Don’t expect so little. Lately, she hasn’t been much for subtle interaction.” Unbeknownst to the group, while Alex and Chaun were talking, the connections were slowly being disconnected from the back of the T.V. When the power cord was removed from the outlet, the T.V. screen went black. Everyone turned their eyes to face the screen.

  Alex raised his brow. In a joking tone, he said, “Guess she doesn’t feel like communicating.” Chaun tensed as every hair on his arms and neck stood on end. Chaun’s statement and reaction to the T.V. cutting out were validated a moment later. The Television lifted vertically off of the entertainment center. It stopped four feet above the floor and began floating in a semi-circle around the room. The set moved over Chaun and his bed, past Dave, and stopped across from Alex. Alex watched the levitating appliance, he questioned what would happen next. Alex barely had enough time to dive out of the path of the set as it bolted towards him. The screen exploded as the T.V. slammed into the wall.

  Within the next few moments, it sounded to the group as if, every door within the house was being opened and slammed shut repeatedly. Gene said, “Screw this!” He stood up and ran from the room. Alex, Dave, and Chaun left the room and ran after him.

  30

  Alex caught up with Gene at the base of the stairs, with Dave and Chaun on his heels. “Gene. Hang on a second.” Gene stopped with his hand grasping the knob of the front door. Alex leaned against the door. Alex made eye contact with Gene, and he could tell Gene had just received the scare of his life. His eyes were glazed over, and his face was pallid. “You okay?”

  Gene’s face started to gain a redder tint. “Hell no, I’m not okay.”

  Alex’s voice softened. “Look, you believe in the paranormal now. Granted, you’ve witnessed something that typically doesn’t happen, but I still could use your help. I know you’re freaked out right now. Hell, I would be too if that was my first experience with the paranormal.”

  Gene’s brow furrowed. “No shit!” His brow rose. “How the hell are you so calm right now?”

  Alex smirked. “Adrenaline and years of experience. Come on, let’s go to the living room and all of us can sit and talk for a bit.” Gene reluctantly nodded and followed Alex and the others into the living room. They sat, and everyone remained silent for a couple minutes. Alex looked at Dave. “How long did you serve in the military?”

  Dave let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. “A long time, 25 years. I made a full career out of it.”

  Alex looked at the floor and then back up at Dave. “That’s awesome. What did you do in the military?”

  Dave chuckled. “I was actually a cook my entire career, during my service and after my retirement.”

  “That’s great.”

  Chaun was looking Alex over from a distance, with a concerned expression. “You sure you’re okay? The T.V. didn’t hit you at all did it?”

  Alex briefly checked for blood or scratches. “I’m good. It missed me just barely, but it still missed.”

  Chaun was apologetic, “I had no idea that anything that extreme was going to happen.”

  “It’s okay. Believe me, I’ve seen worse.”

  Chaun’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by worse?”

  “I’ve seen worse than the attack you experienced upstairs.”

  “How could it get worse?”

  Alex looked at the floor, his voice quieted, and his expression grew dark and distant. “Someone that was possessed actually laughed while every other person in the room was being held against the ceiling. Another time, a group member was thrown out of a window on the fourth floor of an apartment complex.” The color drained from Chaun’s face. “The person didn’t survive the fall.”

  Chaun slowly nodded and spoke with a quiet, reflective tone. “It sounds like Denise got off lucky.”

  Alex just nodded in response with a distant look in his eyes. “That’s why I wanted to help you and the family as soon as possible. If you guys were already experiencing attacks it wouldn’t be long before they started getting worse.”

  “Thanks again for coming to help us. I’m grateful that you made our situation a priority.”

  Alex shook his head and responded. “You don’t need to thank me. I investigate to help people find answers and if possible resolve issues.” As Alex spoke, steam from his mouth became more predominant. The temperature in the room had dropped drastically. Alex began visually looking around the room with a heightened sense of urgency. “Here we go again, boys.”

  A stillness settled over the room for the next few moments. Alex and Chaun made eye contact. Alex’s eyes were a light earthy hazel. In the millisecond it took for Alex to blink, his eyelids lifted to reveal two black orbs.

  *

  Alex helplessly watched as his head looked around the room. He realized he was not alone within his mentality. Within his thoughts, he began speaking with Katrina.

  What are you wanting Katrina?

  Alex could feel her hatred. I want him to suffer. I want him to feel pain.

  He thought with a sense of calm hoping it would ease her hostility. He has felt pain.

  Not as much as I want him to.

  Not realizing the internal conflict going on within Alex, Chaun spoke, “Katrina, leave him. Why are you hurting other people when I’m the one you want to hurt?”

  Alex’s face stretched into a grin that seemed wider than physically possible. “Chaun, I know how much you care about other people and put their needs and care above your own. That’s the reason for hurting others. It hurts you more that I hurt others instead of you.”

  Chaun sprang to his feet and leaned over Alex. He hissed, “I wish you would stop.” His voice began to raise. “You were always mean and controlling while you were living. Why I thought that you could now be more heartfelt and genuine, I don’t know.” His tone was spiteful. “Oh that’s right, you have no beating heart.” He stood up and said with a condescending tone, “Hell, I’m shocked you haven’t been roaming the house whaling like a banshee. Your voice was that fucking annoying while you were living.”

  Alex pleaded with Katrina. He heard her thoughts and did not want to witness what she was about to do. Don’t do this Katrina. Please don’t do this.

  Her mental tone was sadistic. Don’t you see, I have to, even though I am no longer living, I still have complete control.

  Alex watched as his body stood. Within the span of a second, Katrina placed Alex’s left hand on Chaun’s chest and pushed him back down into the chair so hard the momentum almost upended the chair. She made her way towards the kitchen. Gene remained seated on the couch. He was too scared to move. Alex looked on, unable to take control of his body, as Katrina walked into the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife out of the block on the counter. She turned and slowly made her way back into the living room. She walked behind the couch and stood directly behind Gene. He attempted to get off the couch and distance himself from Katrina. Alex watched in horror as Katrina grabbed a handful of Gene’s hair with Alex’s left hand. She jerked hard enough that Alex felt some of Gene’s hair break free of his scalp. Once he was back in a seated position on the couch, Kat continued to pull his head back
exposing his neck. She placed the blade of the knife on Gene’s throat. Katrina showed Alex memories of a tiny set of hands, knives, and numerous animals with their throats being slit. With each image, the sickly, sweet, metallic scent of blood grew stronger. Kat’s mental tone was a proud hiss. You see Alex, I was able to control my urges growing up. I learned how to suppress them for the longest time. I gained control over those urges.

  Alex was mentally pleading with Katrina. His mental tone almost a whisper. Please don’t do this. All the others could see of the struggle raging within the recesses of Alex’s mind and body, were the tears streaming down his face.

  Chaun watched as a trickle of blood began running down the back of Gene’s neck. He heard the dripping of his blood hitting the hardwood floor behind the couch. Katrina spoke, her words slow and calculated. “You see Chaun. I have always had control, and I will always have control. When I was little, I used to do this to animals all the time. It’s a secret I’ve kept for so many years.”

  Chaun was furious. His mental state edged close to the level it had the night of the accident. He yelled at Katrina. “Look, he has done nothing to you! Take the knife away from his neck and leave him alone!”

  Alex’s body stood up straight. Kat’s eyes never leaving Chaun’s. She pulled the knife away from Gene’s neck and let go of his hair. A clump of his hair remained in Alex’s hand. With a flick of Alex’s arm she flung the knife towards the floor, embedding it an inch into the hardwood. “Fine. I’ll leave everyone alone for now. I need to recharge for the next round anyways.” Alex’s face grinned again menacingly. Alex’s hazel eyes reappeared with a blink of his eyes. Other than Gene’s sobbing from the couch, the room was once again quiet.

  31

  Michelle, Sara, and Denise watched in silent terror. Their hands covered their mouths holding in the screams that longed to escape. They were speechless and petrified. No one moved or made a sound for many moments after Alex had stepped away from Gene. Holding the walkie-talkie in front of her mouth, Sara broke the silence, “Alex, what’s going on?”