Mind Fray

by Alexie Aaron

  Today was different. Mia woke up late without the urge to empty her stomach; she didn’t mind the fragrance of the shampoo; and she had lost her green pallor. Instead, as Bernard was fond of saying, she had roses in her cheeks, and her hair was thick and showed signs of ash lowlights in the icy white strands. “Must be the prenatal vitamins,” she said as she dried it.

  Mia took a moment as she stared in the mirror, her moss green eyes not really seeing the person she was now but the frightened individual she had been before. She gave thanks to the universe for that fateful day when PEEPs entered her life. It brought her more than just employment; it gave her a loving, adoring husband, good friends and an appreciation for who she had become.

  She shook her head and with it, the memories. Leaving the upstairs, she took care to walk around the building debris. Her hand was firmly on the rail instead of her habitual running full speed down the steps. Dr. Walters warned her that she had to protect the child she was carrying, and for the first time, Mia listened to him and his concerns. She wasn’t going to be a selfish woman and have her own way, as her mother had. Mia was determined to be a good mother to her child.

  The kitchen was empty except for Maggie who jumped up and ambled over, hinting that she’d like some bacon.

  “Haven’t you already been fed?”

  Maggie did her best to look innocent as she shook her head. She was becoming an expert on human manipulation. If she didn’t eat their shoes, no matter how delicious they were, and sat patiently, looking cute, rewards would be given.

  “You’re going to have a heart attack,” Mia said as she extracted some precooked strips from the Tupperware marked with Cid’s scrawl, Maggie’s treats. After giving the dog a few slices, she returned the plastic box to the refrigerator and drew out another, larger container marked, Prego’s breakfast. Mia flipped open the lid and viewed the yogurt and fruit with suspicion. She closed the lid, drew out Maggie’s container and ate the cold bacon instead.

  Maggie looked at her with disgust.

  “I know, I know, but we all have to make sacrifices,” she told the dog.

  She looked at the clock and decided that she better make her presence known before Ted came looking for her. She tossed the Tupperware in the sink, grabbed her jacket and walked out the back door with Maggie on her heels.

  She stopped to look at the construction project which was on hold, waiting for the county code inspector to sign off on the electricity, before the builders could continue. Nothing moved fast out here in the sticks. Mia was glad that they had a few months before the real cold weather set in. She wanted her solarium up and running. She had plants already picked out and had some furnishings on hold.

  Maggie barked as she caught sight of Murphy moving along the hillside to the west. Mia waved in his direction. He returned her wave and smiled.

  Maggie danced in place.

  “Go on, just don’t be a pest,” she instructed.

  Maggie took off running in Murphy’s direction. Mia suspected that Maggie had been left in the house until Mia was up and running. Maggie wasn’t much protection as she loved everybody, but if Mia was in trouble, she would raise a fuss, and Murphy would be there in seconds. In the beginning of her pregnancy, Mia didn’t appreciate the kid-glove handling, but after a while she understood their concern.

  Mia entered the PEEPs office and called out, “Morning, Jake.”

  The middle monitor of the computer system snapped on, and the dancing hippos from Fantasia dominated the screen.

  “Thanks, you effing bastard,” Mia said to the ghost in the computer system.

  A large bar of Castile soap appeared.

  “Have you seen, ah, heard, ah, sensed my hubby?”

  A gay couple holding hands flashed on the monitor.

  “He’s with Cid. That’s a no brainer. Where?”

  The orange logo of Home Depot filled the screen.

  “Thanks. You can go back to whatever you do. What are you doing?”

  NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

  “Geeze, you are so touchy today,” Mia commented as she walked over to the kitchenette. She started to pour herself a cold cup of coffee but stopped in mid-pour and sniffed the pot. “Not Ted’s, so it’ll be alright.” She placed the mug in the microwave and waited for the beep before sitting down at the desk to resume the film editing project she had left unfinished the night before.

  Her project, given to her by Burt, the senior partner of the Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners, was to put together an instructional video for Dave Hult, the soon-to-arrive intern, to study. She was showing him the difference between what she and he as sensitives saw, what the cameras would pick up, and what the average person could see. She was having trouble simulating what she saw. Normally, Ted was there to help her with the software. She looked over at Ted’s station and was surprised by the giant eyeball looking her way.

  “I’ll never get used to this,” she mumbled, turning back to her screen. The ghost that had imbedded itself in the PEEPs computers either hadn’t figured out the voice program or just liked to screw with the team. It communicated via videos, pictures, text, and never directly answered a question. It drove Burt nuts. That’s probably why Mia put up with it. “Jake, do you know anything about this program?” she asked sweetly.

  The giant eye closed and the screen shut off.

  In front of her, a small cartoon dog walked across her monitor, raised a leg and pissed on the photo she was working on.

  “I know, it’s pretty bad.”

  The dog turned into Marvin the Martian dressed in artist’s clothing. He marched across the screen, and soon the photo was fixed.

  “Thank you, Jake, but I really need to learn…”

  The image melted before her eyes.

  “Well, shit, that was uncalled for. I just wanted…”

  The alphabet scrolled across the screen.

  Mia put her hands on her head. “This is what I get for trying to help you to become part of this team. You are a pain in the…”

  The screen filled with the naked hind quarters of dozens of men.

  Ted chose that moment to walk into the office. “Whatcha doin’?”

  “What’s it look like?” Mia challenged.

  Ted looked over at her monitor and said, “Porn.”

  “There you go then, I’m watching porn,” she said, crossing her arms.

  Ted walked over and leaned over her, reaching for the keyboard. Within a few keystrokes, he had exiled Jake to his own monitor, and Mia’s project was returned to the screen. “There.”

  “My hero!” she said, tilting her head back and kissing the underside of Ted’s chin.

  Cid burst through the door, dumping a bag of drywall screws on the table. “You ask her yet?”

  “Ask me what?”

  “We got a call from Doc Walters. He wonders if you’re up for a consult,” Ted informed her.

  “A consult?” she questioned. “Do I look like Gregory House?”

  Ted ignored her comment. “He had a patient come into emergency last night who, well, may have been involved in a paranormal incident,” Ted explained. “She’s, well… the Doc would probably be better at explaining it. How are you feeling?”

  Mia smiled. “I’m wonderful. First morning without barfing,” she reported.

  “And you’re drinking coffee,” Cid said, picking up the cup and sniffing it. “Stale coffee. Mia, if you’re going to have your one cup of coffee, why would you pick this?”

  “Not everyone has gourmet tastes,” Mia replied. “And it’s two cups of coffee.”

  “Hang on, I’ll make you a fresh cup while you put on something decent,” Cid said, whisking away the mug.

  “Everybody’s a critic,” Mia said getting up. She turned around and growled, “If that’s decaf, I’m going to neuter you.”

  With shaking hands, Cid showed her the bag of beans.

  “Okay then,” she said sweetly and left the room.

  Ted looked at Cid and said, “Ho
rmones.”

  ~

  Murphy looked at the trees, taking in the subtle changes in color. Soon autumn would take hold, and Mother Nature would paint the hillside with vibrant oranges and reds. The yellow ashes were already luminous against the green pine backdrop.

  Murphy turned back and gazed down at the house he’d built 130 years ago for his bride. Through the years, it had acquired several new sets of shingles, the siding had been painted and now a brick and clapboard addition jutted out from the simple farmhouse.

  He hadn’t thought much about the house after he died. He preferred to roam his land, taking care of his trees. Then fate had brought him a friend in the guise of a small, impish teenager. She now had grown into a beautiful woman. She had brought him out of his veiled world and encouraged him to relate to the living one. PEEPs arrived and brought more than friends into his life, but partners in an enterprise that dealt with restless spirits, demons and other paranormal entities. His existence was filled with challenging activity, much more so than when he was alive.

  In the early spring, another addition would soon be with them. A male child would be born from the union of Mia and Ted. There had been some discussion on whether the child would be able to see him. Would the tiny human be gifted as the mother was? Part of him hoped so. The other part agreed with Mia that it was a hard life being a sensitive. He had seen firsthand the torment Mia went through as a teen, and she had confided in him that her childhood was worse. Whatever was the case, Stephen Murphy vowed to be there for the child.

  Maggie barked, drawing his attention to a small herd of deer. She looked back at him, asking permission with her eyes to chase them away from the hearty but small trees he had nurtured.

  He nodded and watched as she joyfully bounded over the long grass barking. He looked down at the farmhouse to see if Maggie’s barking was attracting attention. He saw Cid come out on the second story platform of his stairs and look. Cid saw Murphy and waved at him before going back in.

  Cid was Mia’s husband Ted’s best friend. He had ventured across the prairie transporting a vehicle for PEEPs and ended up staying. Murphy and the tall handsome contractor became fast friends well before Murphy allowed the man to see him. They had communicated by taps of Murphy’s axe. Now that Cid could see him, it made it easier to debate over a television program or discuss with him the latest PEEPs investigation. But only Mia could hear Murphy without the ghost expending a lot of energy to speak. Her abilities had taken off once she decided to embrace her gifts instead of being victimized by them.

  He had seen her and Ted leaving in Mia’s truck a while back. She was dressed in one of Ralph’s many gifts. He laughed as she tugged at the hem of the dress, uncomfortable in the ladylike attire. Mia was more at ease in a pair of cargo pants, military boots and a hoodie. But even dressed as, what her aunt referred to as, a gutter snipe, Mia looked feminine.

  Maggie bounded back, proud of herself. Murphy leaned down, concentrated on his hand being solid and petted the dog. He wondered where Mia had gone to. He decided to venture down and ask Cid what had prompted the sensitive to leave the farm dressed as a woman.

  ~

  “We put her in Sister Agnes’s room,” Mary Margaret informed Mia and Ted. “She arrived manic, and we had to sedate her.”

  “If she is sedated, how do you know she had a paranormal experience?” Mia asked.

  “Her husband. He had it too evidently. He’s waiting in Doctor Walters’s office. We thought it best not to discuss the problem in front of the woman. No sense in bringing on another anxiety attack.”

  Mia nodded. She stopped in front of the room. “Mind if I look in for a moment? I won’t disturb her,” she promised.

  Margaret Mary opened the door and put a finger to her lips. Mia walked swiftly into the room. She nodded at the spectral nun in the corner before approaching the bed holding the young woman. Mia looked her over and was pleased to see that, aside from some wicked rapid eye movement indicating a nightmare, Kim Madison appeared to be recovering from her ordeal. She didn’t appear to be possessed by an entity, though Mia was well aware she had been fooled before. She looked over, and Sister Agnes seemed to be composed. If there had been another presence in the room, the nun would have alerted Mia as soon as she entered. Mia nodded to the sister before leaving.

  Mary Margaret was waiting for Mia outside the door.

  “I think she’s having a nightmare. Perhaps a gentle prod may bring her out of the dream,” Mia suggested to the nurse.

  “Sure, we nurses are gifted in the art of prodding,” she said wryly. “Your husband said he was going to get you a decent cup of coffee and would meet you at Doctor Walters’s office.”

  Mia thanked her and headed to the elevator. She slowed her steps behind an elderly woman who was floating in the corridor.

  Mia regretted it the moment she said it but asked, “Can I help you?”

  “Wendell promised to wait for me, but I don’t see him around?”

  “Has Wendell passed?” Mia asked, looking up and down the hall.

  “Yes, last Tuesday. I had to see to his burial before I let the Lord take me.”

  “So this isn’t a case of a broken heart?”

  “Goodness, no! I hate the bugger, but we’ve been together for so long, and after he left, I found that I had no more purpose.”

  “Perhaps…”

  “Tarnation!” a male voice boomed down the hall, causing Mia to jump.

  The woman looked behind Mia and complained, “There you are. I’ve been looking for you for ages.”

  “Martha, you know how confusing these hospitals are. I said I’d be here, and here I am. Now where’s that damned light? You said… Oh, there it is.” He held out a hand and Martha took it. Together the cantankerous couple walked towards the light.

  Mia thought about a thousand comforting words to say, but none fitted the situation. She managed, “Good luck!”

  The couple laughed and disappeared.

  Mia was aware of the stares of the nurses behind their station. She was determined not to blush but felt the heat anyway. It wouldn’t be the first time she was caught apparently talking to herself, and it wouldn’t be the last. She nodded in their direction, said, “Ladies, gentlemen,” and got on the elevator. She ignored the ghost in the elevator. Mia had had enough spirits for one afternoon.

  Chapter Two

  Mia followed her nose and soon was standing in front of the open door of Doctor Walters’s office. Inside Ted was handing two gentlemen a cardboard cup of aromatic brew. He turned and smiled. “I have one for you too.”

  Doctor Walters frowned.

  “It’s only my second cup today,” Mia explained, taking hold of the 16 ounces of java.

  “That is more than a cup,” Walters pointed out.

  “I’m weaning myself. If you knew how much of this stuff I drank prior to little Martin joining me, you would understand that I’ll go into shock if you take away my coffee beans.”

  He lifted an eyebrow and offered Mia his chair.

  She smiled but opted for the chair closest to Ted instead. “Thank you, anyway.”

  The twentyish man sitting on the other side of Ted studied Mia a moment before speaking, “I’m Maxwell Madison. My wife Kim and I experienced something unexplainable in our home last night.”

  Doctor Walters walked over to the office door and shut it before returning to his chair behind the large, cluttered desk. Mia liked this about the physician. She saw the clutter, and it told her that his mind was on his patients and not the order of his things.

  “Please tell me what happened last night,” Mia said, removing her glove. “I’m going to hold your hand. Sometimes I can see more this way.”

  “I’m afraid I may crush it. Your hand is so small,” Max said.

  Mia smiled kindly and said, “I assure you, I’m quite strong. Besides, I’m going to hold your hand not vice versa.”

  He nodded and held his hand out. “It started with Kim waking me up. The c
at was scratching on the door…”

  Mia watched through Max’s eyes as he walked through the dark room towards the door.

  “Peachy, stop that or you’ll have to spend the night in the kitchen,” Max said as he turned the doorknob. The door opened. Before him stood a bubbling gray mass. Oblivious to what Mia could so clearly see, Max called, “Peachy. Come here. If you’re coming in, now’s the time.” He waited a moment, listening for the feline. “Okay, stay out there,” he said and closed the door. Max walked back to the bed and got in. He had a bit of problem getting his share of the bedding from his sleeping wife but managed to cover himself when the scratching started again. “For pity’s sake!” he shouted.

  He jumped out of the bed, stomped over to the door and opened it. The bubbling mass reached a tentacle of gray out and caressed his cheek. Max felt nothing. He walked through the mass and headed down the hall. Mia stayed with him as he walked into each room turning on the lights. He found the cat under the coverlet on the guest bed. “There you are.”

  Mia pulled out of his mind and asked, “Did you feel anything when you walked through the door?”

  “No. Cold, maybe. We’re trying to save on the fuel bill, so we didn’t have the heat on,” he explained.

  “Please continue.”

  “Peachy, that’s the cat’s name, bit me, and I went to the kitchen to wash my hand and put an antiseptic on the wound. She drew blood.” He held his bandaged hand out to Doctor Walters.

  “We’ll look at it after. Tell the Martins what happened next,” he instructed.

  “I heard Kim screaming…”

  Mia heard the terrified screams of Max’s wife as he ran towards the bedroom. Mia watched as he entered what she could only guess was a hallucination controlled by the ghost. The lights in the hall were flashing, creating a strobing effect. Mia watched as the hall seemed to grow longer, but in actuality, Max was standing still; he only thought he was running. He was confused but determined. He lunged forward, running so hard that he couldn’t stop in time and crashed into the closet door at the end of the hall. He turned to find his bedroom door shut. He tried to turn the knob and found it wouldn’t move. He banged on the door with his fist while he shouted, “Unlock the door, Kim. I can’t get in!”