The Haunting Season

by Michelle Muto

  Jess’s eyes met his for a moment, then he looked toward the door and said, “He’s a little envious, I think, but he’s cool with it.”

  “I—”

  Gage’s eyes met hers again. “I know you didn’t meet me here for that. Not that I’d mind.”

  Jess smiled softly. He tried to tell himself their close proximity made it easier to hear each other and not be overheard by anyone else who happened to pass by the room, but that’d be a lie. At least on his end. He hoped on hers, too.

  “Why are we here?” she asked. He glanced at her lips, thinking of what it’d be like to take her in his arms and kiss her, to show her the most important reason he’d asked her here. “I suppose you want the real reason?”

  Jess fidgeted and the corner of his mouth tilted upward again. She gave him a look, clearly indicating he’d better start talking. Gage sighed.

  “Allison thinks Dr. Brandt wants to free whatever is trapped here. I agree. She also thinks the place is evil, and whatever lives here is evil, too. All of it.”

  “I know most of that,” Jess said.

  “I’m not sure if Dr. Brandt is really into the experiment anymore, or if he’s just saying he is. He might still think there’s a way to control evil spirits, but he’s changed somehow. He’s less interested in the experiment for EPAC’s sake. EPAC isn’t going to be happy. Brandt is supposed to be sending them reports on our progress. No company funds an experiment like this—pays us what it has without wanting something. Like a way to control the stuff of nightmares.”

  Jess studied his face as she considered his explanation. Gage hoped he hadn’t sounded too crazy.

  “You think that’s what Brandt was sent here for? But, how can anyone control ghosts? Or demons or the dead? It’s sort of far-fetched, Gage. Don’t believe everything Allison tells you.”

  He’d have to tell her. There was no other way. “I went through some of Dr. Brandt’s notes.”

  “What?”

  He grimaced. She must really think the worst of him—breaking into rooms, smarting off, trying to get her alone. It was all true, but not the way it appeared. “Look, Allison has already been snooping in his office. She’s the one who told me the conspiracy theory. I always thought the goons who showed up at my parents’ house were up to something. Remember when I went through his things looking for the Ouija board? Well, I sort of came across his notes in a locked drawer.”

  “Locked drawer?” Jess shook her head. “You picked the lock?”

  “Seemed pointless to suddenly grow morals on picking a locked drawer when I’d already picked the lock to his room and gone through his stuff.”

  “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

  “Because I hadn’t finished going though everything. I needed to be sure before I said anything, and I wanted to put everything back where I found it.”

  “Wait. You’re kidding, right? You took his notes?”

  “Yeah, but like I said, I put them back,” Gage replied. Bryan and Allison watched the hallway for me. At first, I thought Allison was a little crazy, but I think she’s telling the truth—at least about the experiment and EPAC. Anyway, Jess—some of what I read—it’s about you.”

  She blinked. “Me? Why were you going through my files?”

  “Not files, notes. I only read a few days worth of notes because I needed to have them back in his desk drawer before he went to his room for the night. Those notes just happened to revolve around you. Mostly,” he said. “Well, you and Allison. But, since Allison already knows, I figured I’d tell you.”

  “Why didn’t Allison tell me?” Jess asked.

  “Would you believe her if she did?” He didn’t want to tell Jess that Allison had wanted to tell her, but he’d convinced her to let him do it. Alone. Allison had smiled at that, which meant no matter how crazy everyone thought the girl was, she was at least observant. Then again, it was hard not to see he had a thing for Jess.

  She chewed on her bottom lip. “No. I guess not.”

  “So, do you believe me?”

  Arms folded, she smiled warily. “Depends on what you have to say about the notes.”

  Gage nodded. It was fair enough. “Seems this whole paranormal thing interests the military.”

  “Military?” Her eyes widened.

  “I’m not kidding,” he said. “I know it’s only one page of notes, and some suspicions based on a few visits from men in black to each of our homes, but the real takeaway here is that EPAC is a private sector company that works with military intelligence. I’m not sure what they want. I can only tell you what I read.”

  Jess shook her head slowly, as though taking all of it in. Good. She hadn’t stormed out or called him paranoid yet. He couldn’t prove any of this to her without stealing Brandt’s notes again, but so far, so good. He had a chance.

  Jess walked toward the window. “Are you sure?”

  Gage went to stand alongside her. “Positive. For some weird reason, he doesn’t have a password on his computer. Brandt’s been corresponding to some Colonel Blackwell. It wouldn’t be the first time the government has tested ESP, telekinesis or even mind control. Who knows what they’ve dug up. At any rate, it’s not anything they’d share with us, right?”

  Jess bit her lip again. He really liked it when she did that. It was sexy as hell. He tried to stay focused on the conversation. “You believe in ghosts, right?”

  She eyed him suspiciously. “Of course I do.”

  “Do you think Allison lied about the demons? Was I lying? Or Bryan?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Then don’t you think someone might want to figure out a way to use abilities like ours?”

  Jess closed her eyes and nodded. Finally. She was starting to understand. “Yeah. I guess they would. Not exactly what we thought we were signing on for, is it?”

  “You got that right. Except Bryan doesn’t seem to mind some of it. He’s kind of looking forward to seeing if he can do it, I think. Make stuff vanish. But not necessarily in front of Brandt. Like us, he’s leery about the government wanting to tap into his talent. But, if he can make other stuff vanish, it’ll prove he made his dad disappear. Deep down, he’s afraid he’s not really gone. That one day, he’ll show up again. He didn’t tell anyone else, but Bryan’s dad threatened to kill them all if they ever called the police on him again. I think he still has nightmares. He’s sort of messed up about it.”

  “You’re saying Dr. Brandt is keeping information from us? More than he’s told our families? I can’t say I’m surprised, but…wow.”

  Gage nodded. “There’s a huge grant for this. It’s why we were all offered such a large check, and why we all had to sign non-disclosure agreements. Someone way above Dr. Brandt’s pay grade is behind this.”

  Jess frowned. “How do you think they were able to go through all our psych records without court orders?”

  He rubbed a hand through his hair. “I have no idea. Big Brother and all that crap, I suppose. As for why they’d conduct such an experiment, think of it from their perspective. If the four of us can actually talk to, conjure, bring back whatever is on the other side, then send it back again, that’d be pretty handy.”

  Jess took a deep breath. “Okay, so back to the notes about me. What did you find out?”

  “That other than Allison, you show the most promise. Brandt’s initial notes said EPAC is going to be thrilled to finally have a communicator to deploy.”

  “Communicator? Deploy? Are you sure?” Jess asked. “I never agreed to anything like that in the contract!”

  Gage shook his head. “Siler House is a testing ground for them. Honestly, I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but I figured something was up when some guys sporting official badges came to the house one day. Wanted to talk to my parents about Max.”

  “Max?” Jess said. “Your brother’s dog.”

  “Yep. Seems after the funeral, Mom started talking about it. About me. No one really believed her, though. The
town thought she was just too grief-stricken. I came home from school for the summer to help around the house and to help get their minds off Ben. About a month ago, these guys showed up in suits and asked a few questions. They left, not really saying much. Then I got a letter in the mail.”

  Jess nodded. “One that mentioned a federal grant, a study into group psychosis and the paranormal.”

  Jess seemed to be thinking about what he’d told her. Probably putting together her own pieces to the puzzle. Not that any of them had all the pieces, Gage thought. Whoever sat at the top of the food chain wasn’t likely to come straight. Why would they? Well, except in the case of Allison. From what she’d said, her family was banking on her never coming back.

  They both looked out the window at the moon shining down on the back lawn. Jess rubbed her arms and stood a little closer to him.

  “And back to Dr. Brandt, this whole thing about not pushing us as much?” she asked.

  “Allison has a theory about that, too. But you already know it. She thinks the house is getting to everyone.”

  Jess smiled. “Yeah, she already told me. It can’t be true, can it?”

  Gage didn’t want to think so. It was just a house. But then, he didn’t know what to believe anymore. “We’ll all be okay,” he said, carefully wrapping an arm around Jess. She didn’t seem to mind. He’d dumped a lot on her; the least he could do was try to reassure her they’d be okay.

  Besides, he couldn’t help himself, and holding her felt right.

  Down the hallway, a floorboard creaked.

  “Mrs. Hirsch!” Jess whispered.

  Gage took her by the arm and gently pulled her behind a bulky armoire wedged in between some other pieces. Sheets draped the furniture, and best of all, it was in the darkest corner of the room.

  “Quiet,” he whispered into her ear.

  More footsteps. Definitely Mrs. Hirsch’s. They were louder now, just outside the room. Jess drew closer to him and he nearly stopped paying attention to Mrs. Hirsch. Outside the door, her keychain rattled.

  Gage pulled Jess closer, lifting a corner of one of the sheets and letting it fall over them. He brought Jess even nearer, moving them to the center of the furniture they were hiding behind. The sheets hung thicker here, blocking out even the moonlight filtering into the room. Jess was pressed up against him in the small space. How he wished Mrs. Hirsch would go away.

  The door opened with a loud creak. Jess started to take a deep breath and Gage placed a finger against her lips.

  “Don’t breathe,” he mouthed. Reluctantly, he returned his hand to his side, although not before brushing against Jess’s collarbone and shoulder.

  Mrs. Hirsch’s footsteps drew closer as she walked into the room. She paused somewhere in the middle of it, judging by the sound.

  Gage’s pulse picked up when Jess leaned into him, her face mere inches from his. He carefully wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her as still as possible. They could only wait for either Mrs. Hirsch to find them, or for her to walk out of the room.

  After another minute, her footsteps indicated she was leaving. Even then, Gage didn’t relinquish his hold on Jess. Not that she seemed all that anxious to move away from him, even when the door closed and the floorboards creaked as Mrs. Hirsch walked away.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Jess listened as Mrs. Hirsch’s footsteps grew more distant. She should move, step back. But she didn’t want to. Gage stood in place, staring at her. It was now or never. She leaned forward and kissed him, gently at first since she wasn’t quite sure what his reaction might be. He kissed her back as he pulled her more tightly against him, sending heat and adrenaline coursing through her body, and apparently through Gage’s, as well.

  His breath quickened as he kissed her lips, her neck. “Jess,” he whispered, sending her pulse into high gear. She ran her hands over his well-defined arms as his hands twined through her hair, cupping her head. Jess didn’t want to ask herself what she was doing—she hadn’t known Gage that long or that well. She simply couldn’t resist. Being so close to him, feeling his breath against her skin, tasting those lips she found so inviting…

  Her hands traced their way up his well-muscled chest. She leaned back a little as his mouth traveled down her neck again to her collarbone. Jess let out a groan of pleasure.

  “Beautiful,” Gage whispered as his hands slid up under her top. She tugged at his shirt.

  It took a second before they both registered the commotion, breaking the moment between them.

  “What the hell?” Gage said somewhat breathlessly.

  “Someone’s yelling,” Jess replied.

  Gage was already in motion, out from under the sheets with Jess right behind him. From somewhere in the house the screaming and yelling continued. The furniture became an obstacle course as the made their way across the room. Finally, they ran into the hallway. Above them, the floorboards creaked with Mrs. Hirsch’s footfalls.

  “Quick!” Jess said, carefully closing the door behind them, the soft snick of the door latch louder than she’d hoped. They ran down the hallway and raced down the stairs and to the room Gage shared with Bryan. Gage pulled up as he reached the doorway and Jess collided into him.

  Bryan lay on the bed, surrounded by knives. Jess had no idea how many knives the kitchen had, but it looked like every one of them was here on the bed, tips pointing at Bryan. Jess’s knees wanted to buckle beneath her and her hands flew to her mouth. The scene reminded her of the vision in the mirror, except that Bryan was alive.

  Dr. Brandt paced the room. “Make them go away, Bryan. Do it!”

  “I—I can’t!” Bryan yelled. “It’s Allison! Make her stop it!”

  “It’s not me!” Allison shouted. “I’m trying to make him stop!”

  “Bryan,” Gage said calmly. “Just get up. Nice and slow…”

  Bryan shook his head. “I don’t think I can,” he replied, voice shaky.

  “What happened?” Jess asked, her eyes darting to Allison, who sat in a chair in the corner. She still wore her pajama shorts and top and her arms were wrapped tightly around her legs.

  Were the demons back? Was Allison somehow doing this to Bryan?

  Mrs. Hirsch burst through the doorway, shoving Jess and Gage aside like bowling pins. Her eyebrows were knitted together, making her perpetual scowl even more pronounced. “What is going on here!” she demanded. She eyed them all darkly.

  “It’s perfectly fine, Mrs. Hirsch,” Dr. Brandt said. “We have a little experiment going on. It’s all under control.”

  “Under control? Well you’re taking it too far!” She reached out to retrieve one of the knives but they soared upright, their blades hovering directly over Bryan.

  She gasped, then clutched the chain around her neck and the pendant that hung from it. She spun around to face Dr. Brandt. “Freaks!” she spat. “I warned you! I said bringing them here wasn’t a good idea, that you should call the whole thing off!”

  “Mrs. Hirsch,” Dr. Brandt said, his tone edged with warning. “Go back to your duties. Or your room. Now.”

  Her eyes narrowed. Without another word, she stormed from the room.

  Everyone turned their attention back to Bryan and the knives dangling above him.

  “Make her stop it,” Bryan said, motioning to Allison.

  “I told you I’m not doing it!” Allison repeated.

  “Then why were you here? You were here when I woke up!”

  “Because I knew he’d be here!”

  “Who?” Jess nearly shouted. “Who’d be here?”

  “Slow down!” Gage said. “We’ll figure it all out, but first, let’s work on getting the knives away from Bryan.

  “And us,” Dr. Brandt added. “Wouldn’t take much for the knives to change direction.”

  “Allison?” Jess said as soothingly as she could. “Can you put the knives down someplace safe?”

  From upstairs, the sound of piano keys echoed, the house seemingly using the air vents a
s its own speaker system.

  She cut off their tails with a carving knife,

  Have you ever seen such a sight in your life…

  “It’s the same tune from the other day in the basement,” Jess said, no longer able to keep her voice from trembling.

  “Allison, it’s okay. No one is going to hurt you,” Dr. Brandt coaxed. “Just make it stop, okay? You can control them. Bryan can’t focus on this many objects at once.”

  Or under this kind of pressure, Jess thought.

  Allison shook her head. Tears streamed down her cheek. “I’m not possessed! It’s Riley. He’s doing it.”

  “There’s no one else here!” Bryan said. His outburst caused the knives to drop a few inches closer.

  “Chill, okay?” Gage said, taking a step toward Bryan. “Let’s all stay calm.”

  Jess believed Allison—she wasn’t doing this. If the demons were back, Allison would have said so—that much, she was sure of. It had to be Riley. “Where is he, Allison? Where’s Riley?”

  “In there.” Allison raised a trembling hand and pointed toward the dresser mirror.

  Gage shook his head. “I got nothing.”

  Jess stepped closer to the mirror despite the pounding in her heart telling her to stay away. The same dark hair and eyes that had looked back at her in the basement stared at her from within this mirror. Riley’s skin was pale and his complexion gaunt. Jess looked over her shoulder, but found only Dr. Brandt and Gage standing behind her. Allison still sat in the chair. The knives still hung over Bryan. The only difference was that in the mirror, Riley was crouched on the end of Bryan’s bed.

  “Oh my God,” Jess said softly.

  “Lord Riley would have sufficed, but…if you insist,” Riley said. He twirled a finger and the knives spun around, too.

  “No one else sees this, do they?” Jess asked, keeping her eyes on the mirror. She didn’t want to turn her attention from Riley. His features seemed off just enough—just a little here and there. His eyes were solid black, void of the whites around his irises. His face seemed too long, the cheekbones a bit too pronounced. His facial features human, but not.