Regina

by Mary Ann Moody

  Chapter Twenty-three

  The next day, I was anxious to see Dr. Greer. I skipped school and drove like a wild woman to Manor. Manor was a good forty-five minutes from Lee and after last night, I had to know what was on the file. I didn’t care if I was punished for skipping school.

  “I’m glad you’re here.” Dr. Greer said immediately after he opened the door. He didn’t comment on the early hour or the fact that I should be in school, which I was grateful. “I had a chance to analyze the file and unfortunately, it’s going to take a while to enhance all of it because of the darkness.”

  My heart sank. I had a lot of hopes that he would be able to find something for me.

  “I have to tell you Regina, this video gives me the creeps.” He said softly. I looked down and nodded. Dr. Greer gave me a hard pat on my shoulder, as if to say ‘buck up, guy’. “I did decipher the first sentence for you. What did you think they were saying when you heard the recording?”

  “I honestly have no idea.”

  Hot and steamy coffee was ready for me when I went to the computer. Apparently, Dr. Greer had it ready for us. He wheeled himself to his computer and pressed play on an old looking projector. “Okay, here is the sentence cleaned up.”

  The voices took me back to that night. The machine broadcasted the voices in a loud and clear tone. My fear returned and so did my anxiety. Three separate disembodied voices filled the room. My hands trembled so hard, I spilled coffee on my shirt. “What is it saying?”

  “You didn’t hear it? It’s the English language.”

  “It is!” My shocked face turned to his. I grabbed a tissue to clean up the spilled coffee.

  “If you turn the words around it says; bind her soul to the law.”

  He showed me the words on the computer screen. Oh my goodness, he was right!

  “How did you figure that out?”

  “I find encoding numbers, languages, and symbols fascinating. Something difficult for you was simple for a man with my experience. It’s why you hired me.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “Thanks, Dr. Greer.”

  “Yes, well, don’t mention it.” He put his head down and got back to work on the computer. “I’m almost done with the rest of the words. It should take me a few minutes to decipher the rest. You are free to stay if you’d like. I know you had to drive a little ways to get here and you are welcome to pull up a computer.”

  I laughed at his joke and sat down beside him. I pulled out my books and started to work on my history homework while Dr. Greer clicked away on the keyboard. Peace and safety filled my chest. I felt as if I could breathe again. Dr. Greer’s house was painted a neutral beige tone with a house plant here or there, yet, the warmth was missing. There was nothing on the walls and stiff office chairs were sparsely placed. There were tons of computer parts with wires everywhere, but I felt completely safe here.

  “Regina?” His voice called out.

  “Yes?”

  “What do you think was after you that night?”

  It was a good question. “I don’t know. I think a spirit is haunting our home. Maybe it was the spirit?”

  “A spirit is haunting your home?” He asked me. He wasn’t being skeptical at my answer, just trying to understand why I thought so.

  “Or a ghost? I don’t know if there’s a difference, but something has been messing with me since I arrived to that house. One night, a monster tried to break into my bedroom. Then, the night of my birthday party, it came back for me, only it got my ex-boyfriend, Steve, instead.”

  Dr. Greer was nodding his head as I spoke. “Did the attack happen in July?”

  “Yes, it did.”

  “I remember reading an article in the paper about a girl attacking her boyfriend at a birthday party. Was that you?”

  I scoffed. “Yes, but I didn’t attack Steven. I swear I didn’t.”

  “My darling, you don’t have to convince me. I know you didn’t hurt that young man.”

  “You mean, you believe me?” I asked with wide eyes. This was the first time Dr. Greer said he believed me.

  “Of course I believe you, and I believe you are not crazy.” Dr. Greer hesitated before he continued. Once again, he rocked in his wheelchair. I learned he designed this wheelchair himself. Once he felt sensation in his legs, he designed the chair so that he could exercise his feet and legs while working at his computer. “Have you told your parents about this?”

  “No. They think I actually hurt Steven.” I left it at that. No need to go further right now. I didn’t want him to know they were a big part of my problem.

  “Regina, I think we know each other well enough for you to call me Bill, please. Maybe you should try to talk to them again, especially your father. You said you have a nice relationship with him.”

  Disappointment flooded through me. Of course this guy, the adult, was going to encourage me to talk to my parents. He was just like all the others! I stood up and gathered my things. I know he was only trying to help me but it was pointless advice to talk to my father. “Thanks Dr. Greer, I mean Bill. I will try again when I can. I gotta get back to Lee. I need to get to school. I’ll check back with you later.”

  “Regina, if I said something that offended you,” He began. He didn’t hide his surprise over my abrupt departure.

  “Don’t worry about it. You’re right, I should talk to my dad. My dad who now hates me, and looks at me every day like he’s ready to kill me. Thanks for the advice!”

  I closed the door on his advice and home.