Shadows

by RaeAnne Hadley

  “I know it’s hard but think of it as a victory for us.” Tabitha consoled.

  “How can you stay so damn positive all the time? It’s beginning to wear on me.”

  “Because it’s all I’ve got. I spent the past ten years letting things happen to me, living in solitude and fear, never letting myself have any friends or to love anyone. I’m not letting that happen to me anymore. They are no longer ruling my life.”

  “Because of Justin.” Stacia stated flatly.

  Tabitha didn’t hesitate. “Yes, because of Justin. He showed me how to live my life, to take chances and to not let fear ruin my life. I have choices now, choices that I never thought I had before I met him.”

  “You make him sound like a Prince Charming or something. I’m actually envious.”

  “He is a Prince Charming, my Prince Charming. He’s my knight in shining armor but I believe I’m his too, so to speak. I give him strength and hope, which is a very powerful feeling. I believe I saved him as much as he saved me and together, we are strong and can take on anything.”

  “I wish I could find that. Someone who makes me feel strong but yet allows me to be vulnerable and take care of me.”

  “I thought you were with George? He seems like an amazing person and he’s a truly gifted actor. You appear to have a fantastic relationship.

  Stacia waved her hand in the air as if waving away Tabitha’s words. “Media, it’s all superficial. We were good for each other’s careers, him introducing me to other actors and producers who wanted their homes redecorated and I was his uncomplicated pretty face on his arm for the red carpet affairs. The sex is great, so I guess you’d put that in the plus column but there is no love there. I know about the other women. It’s hard being in another country filming a movie for nine months, away from home, all that time and lonely nights. I can’t blame him, I’m just as bad. I have my own so-called friends with benefits who come over when he’s gone but I would love to find ‘the one’. I’m not getting any younger and believe it or not, would like a family of my own. You’re ten years younger than me but seem to be so much closer to living the dream, to having that life. Like I said, I’m envious, you have a very good man.”

  Tabitha smiled and took another drink. “Yes, I do.”

  TWENTY SEVEN

  The intercom buzzed announcing Justin’s arrival and Tabitha jumped up to buzz him in. When the elevator opened, she flung herself into Justin’s arms. “I’m so glad you’re here!” She was surprised to find herself on the verge of tears.

  Justin pulled away from her, cupping her face in his hands, looking over her face and her body. “Are you ok? It was stupid of me to let you and Stacia come back here without me.”

  She stroked his face as if she could sooth away his worry. “We’re fine and it turned out to be a very valuable lesson. Scary but good. Let’s go into the living room, Stacia’s waiting. I’ll fix you a drink and we’ll fill you in.”

  She took his hand, unable to bring herself to break their contact, needing his touch and reassurance. When they entered the spacious area, Stacia grinned and held up her drink.

  “You missed all the fun, Justin. Come and share a drink, you’ll need it by the time Tabitha is done.”

  “I don’t know if I can wait for that drink, can someone start to fill me in now?” He glanced at Tabitha, unsure of Stacia’s odd attitude.

  “The good news is we found a way to keep the reflective demons out and it appears to be deadly to them, too.” Tabitha stated as she led him to the couch, motioning for him to sit down. She quickly told him everything, from their idea of the salt water mixture to when they started washing down the appliances and Tabitha realized too late they should have sealed the apartment before anything else. He shot a worried look at Stacia when Tabitha told him of the freakish insect attack on the balcony and saw Stacia take a shaky sip of her drink during Tabitha’s description. He sat quiet, eyes wide when she described the appendage and the ghastly way the reflective demon had been disposed of and when she finished, he sat there taking it all in.

  “You ladies mind if I go take a look myself?”

  Stacia finally met his eyes and shook her head. “Help yourself. I’m having the fridge torn out as soon as possible anyways. Might even put the house up for sale too. I don’t think I could stay here, it feels tainted.” she spit out the last word in disgust and Justin got up to kneel in front of her, taking her hand gently in his.

  “I understand how you feel, believe me, I do, but moving isn’t going to stop these things from happening, only knowledge and self protection will. I understand about the fridge and I will personally take care of having it removed tomorrow. As for your home, you need to remember it’s your home. They’ve taken too much as it is, don’t let them take that from you too. I will stay here and help seal the entire place, we’ll scrub it down and make sure every nook and cranny is sealed. You will be safe here.”

  As he spoke the words and she stared into his eyes, she felt her own welling with tears. “Ok.” she agreed and smiled slightly when he squeezed her hand and stood up.

  He went to Tabitha and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be right back. Will you two be ok?”

  “We’ll be fine. Justin, I’m glad you’re here.” she said it so softly and so intensely that he could feel the love emanating from her.

  “Me too, babe, me too.”

  He went into the kitchen and when he was out of earshot, Stacia took a breath. “He is fantastic, isn’t he? You are a very lucky person to have found him. I hope both of you are strong enough to never let them tear you apart.”

  “I think we are. And I do feel lucky, he’s my strength.”

  “And you’re his.” Stacia added. “Does he have a young, single uncle or older brother maybe?”

  Tabitha saw the gleam in Stacia’s eyes and both ladies snorted before cracking up laughing.

  TWENTY EIGHT

  Justin touched the streaks of water and then inspected the bowl that held the salt water mixture. He went over to the balcony and looked out but didn’t open the door. Thousands of bodies of insects were laying against the threshold, some of them feebly thrashing against the glass, in the last throes of death, but most of them were already dead. He made sure the salt barrier was still intact before heading back to the living room. Both women looked up when he entered and he gave them a reassuring smile.

  “Looks like your idea worked, great thinking! Are you up for using the solution and protecting the rest of the house?”

  “Seems like a pretty big undertaking.” Stacia sighed, looking around at all of the shiny surfaces in the living room.

  “She’s right.” Tabitha agreed, “There’s over six thousand square feet of mirrors, electronics, statues and artifacts.”

  Justin looked around and also sighed. “You’re right. We may have to do this over several days. Why don’t we work on one room at a time and you can stay with us until we get it done.” he glanced at Tabitha, “If it’s ok with you.”

  “Of course! I insist! I have a very nice guest room that you can use.”

  Stacia stared at Tabitha. “You have a guest room?” She laughed. “Miss anti-social has a guest room.”

  “Hey, a girl can dream.” she retorted but then started chuckling. “I had this cute second bedroom and I love to decorate, so…”

  “It’s very nice.” Justin added, “You’ll be very comfortable.”

  “I really couldn’t impose…” Stacia tried to argue but heard the weakness in her own voice.

  “Please,” Tabitha quickly cut in. “It would be my pleasure, really.”

  “I think it would be a great idea, plus it gives Tabitha a chance to have the slumber party she never had. You know, popcorn, hot cocoa, scary movies, painting each other’s toenails or whatever.”

  “Stop teasing, Justin. I’m not sixteen!”

  “Are you kidding me? I’m counting on all that stuff!” Stacia grinned. “Except maybe the movie, would you settle for a
romantic comedy instead?”

  “Deal! Let’s pack some stuff and go back to my place, we can get a fresh start here tomorrow.”

  They got Stacia settled into the guest room and she was taking a shower when Justin pulled Tabitha aside.

  “I really need to get back to my apartment.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, stunned that he would leave them so soon but he put a gentle finger on her lips.

  “I know the timing really sucks but there’s no one there and what if the reflective demons come to get our captive? We just can’t risk it. I think you guys will be safe. Mix up some salt water solution and spray everything, I’ll help clean up the spots later but I really need to get back.”

  “What about you? What if they are there waiting in the shadows to ambush you? It’s too risky, let me spray everything down and come with you, at least with me, we would know before we got into the apartment if they were there or not. I’ve really been focusing on my shivers and it’s getting easier to feel them from farther away.” she pleaded.

  “Did you see Stacia? She can’t be left alone tonight, I really think she’s at the breaking point, it was too much for her. She needs a somewhat normal night tonight with someone she trusts. I’ll just go there, spray everything down and secure the openings and then be back in a flash. Two hours max, I promise, no experiments tonight.”

  Although she hated the idea, she understood why. “You call me the minute you’re in the apartment and the minute your in your truck and on your way back. Promise.” She met his eyes, searching for any sign that she could possibly change his mind but she didn’t see any.

  “I promise.” He gave her a long, deep kiss, ending it just a little harder than he intended, slightly bruising both of their lips. “I’d better go before Stacia gets out. I don’t know if I have the strength to argue with two women about this. Tabitha, I know it’s early but I want you to know…” he hesitated, trying to find the words that matched his feelings.

  She kissed him softly as she whispered against his mouth. “I know, me too.”

  He cleared his throat against the emotion welling there and walked towards the door.

  “Call me.” she hollered out to him as she heard the locks engage.

  TWENTY NINE

  “He what?” Stacia’s anger and disbelief boiled up and was as hot as the steam that was escaping from the bathroom door. “Leave it to a man to argue reasonably in an unreasonable situation.

  “We are stronger together than we are apart! You can sense if they are even there and I can tell what they are thinking. It’s absolute stupidity that he would even consider going without us!”

  Tabitha let Stacia rage knowing it would vent her frustrations and the stress of the day. When Stacia exhausted herself, she focused on Tabitha, raising an eyebrow.

  “You haven’t been arguing with me or coming to his defense, why is that?”

  Tabitha sighed, “Because I agree with you. I’m scared, for him. There’s so much we don’t know about these things. What if we’ve only just scraped the surface? We do seem stronger together and I don’t feel confident with him being there by himself, especially with dusk falling and shadows becoming more prominent.”

  “So let’s do something about it.”

  “What? Do what?” Tabitha asked, frustration in her voice.

  “We’re two strong women with unusual gifts and the three of us kind of make up a weird kind of Three Musketeers. Isn’t it all for one and one for all, I think? You know where he lives, so let’s go get our third Musketeer.” she started to get dressed when she noticed Tabitha still standing there. “I’m not as fragile as you think and I won’t do anything to jeopardize what you and Justin have. If anything, it makes me stronger to believe that I can find what you two have. Please, Tabitha, trust me.”

  Tabitha only had to look at her face to see she meant every word and quickly got ready.

  “We need to spray everything down quickly, we need to have a safe place to come back to, just in case.”

  Stacia nodded, not needing to have the ‘just in case’ explained. Within fifteen minutes, they had every reflective surface dripping wet, not worrying about the damage they may have caused to some of the items.

  As they were heading towards the door, Stacia grabbed the spray bottles and threw a glance in Tabitha’s direction. “Just in case.”

  Tabitha grinned and they headed towards the door. They were half way through the lobby when Tabitha’s cell phone rang. She looked at the caller id and breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s Justin. I told him to call me when he got to the apartment. I’ll tell him we’re on our way and explain later. I don’t want to waste time arguing with him.”

  As Stacia nodded, Tabitha flipped the phone open. “Justin? Thank God, listen, we are on our way and I’ll explain later.” she stopped walking and fell silent, a hissing, static noise came through the earpiece, so loud that Stacia could hear it.

  “Taaabbiitthhhhaaaaa.”

  The alien voice rasping through the earpiece caused Tabitha to jerk away. “Oh my God! Justin! They’ve got Justin!”

  “It’s a trap, calm down, Tabitha! They’re trying to trap us, we’ve got to calm down and think!” Stacia said steely.

  “I don’t care! They have Justin, how else would they have his phone? We have to save him!” Tabitha sobbed.

  “Calm down, Tabitha. Who said we weren’t? We just need to figure out a plan. We know they are trying to trap us. Clear your head and focus, Justin needs us now, three Musketeers, remember?” Stacia grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

  “Okay, you’re right. Justin left his car here, we’ll take it.”

  Tabitha had only driven his BMW twice and both times she had been consumed with the knowledge she was driving a hundred and fifty thousand dollar car. But now, as she was driving to his apartment, the thought of how much money the car was worth never crossed her mind as she drove. Her focus being of getting to the man she loved. She flew into the parking garage and slammed the car into park when she stopped in the handicapped spot next to the elevator, the same one that weeks before she had chastised Justin for parking in. As they both jumped out of the car, Stacia tossed her a squirt bottle and they made their way to the elevator. They warily glanced around as the doors closed but Tabitha didn’t experience any shivers.

  “They’re expecting us, wanting us to get to the apartment.” Tabitha stated.

  Stacia said nothing, just nodded her affirmation. They hesitated outside Justin’s door and Stacia looked over at Tabitha, a stern look on her face.

  “No matter what you see, you need to keep your head. It could be bad, he could be bleeding or even dying but we’ve got to keep our heads. They’re counting on our emotions and us losing our cool. We’ve got to keep in mind the greater good.”

  Tabitha glared at her, “And that is?”

  “That the three of us get out alive, ok?”

  Tabitha’s expression softened, “You’re right, sorry.” she took a deep breath and nodded.

  “What’s the layout when we open the door?” Stacia asked.

  “The living room and kitchen are the first rooms when we open the door. It’s an eat in kitchen, a hall to the far left of the living room that leads to a bathroom and the room across that is his spare bedroom. Farther down at the end of the hall is his bedroom.”

  “Ok. Are you ready?”

  Tabitha tensed and nodded, trying to prepare herself for the possible scene. She placed her hand on the door knob and felt a shudder run up her arm.

  “They’re here.” she said bluntly before swinging the door open.

  They were both unprepared for the scene that appeared before them. The cat carrier, or what was left of it, was laying on the kitchen table, the door hanging off the lower hinge, the metal grate mangled and broken.

  “Oh my God.” Stacia’s voice floated to Tabitha’s ears, Stacia’s eyes focused on Justin’s living room.

  THIRTY

  She glanced at Stacia,
then followed her gaze. She saw Justin’s legs laying on the floor, the couch obscuring the rest of his body. She started, then felt Stacia’s hand on her shoulder.

  “Easy, caution.”

  Tabitha squared her shoulders and cautiously looked around. She motioned towards the entry mirror and Stacia quickly stepped in and sprayed it with the salt solution. They were both taken by surprise when an ear piercing scream shattered the room. They both jumped, confused, before they realized what was happening.

  “It’s an ambush!” Tabitha yelled over the scream. “Spray everything you can!”

  Stacia bared her teeth in a determined grin and leapt into action, spraying everything that had a reflective surface, the screams doubling and intensifying every time the solution came into contact with the intended item.

  Tabitha also attacked ferociously, though she kept her attacks focused on those items closest to Justin.

  Knowing Tabitha’s concerns, Stacia focused on the outer perimeters to allow Tabitha to see to Justin.

  Tabitha quickly swept the living room, making sure she got every reflective surface but terrified because she couldn’t see if Justin was breathing or not. She made a quick glance around the room, making sure there were no creatures sneaking up on her before she dropped down next to him. While continuing to scan the room, she felt for a pulse at his neck and when she found it, slow but steady, she allowed herself to take a breath and look over him for any wounds. She saw a large bleeding gash along his thigh and a slimy trail leading from Justin, over the throw rug, across the wooden floor to abruptly end at the foot of the tv she’d just sprayed. She shuddered as she saw her own foot print in the sludge, apparently stepping in it when she’d sprayed the tv, her concern for Justin and the unending screams that were still coming from the apartment, distracting her from seeing where she was stepping.

  She looked back at his wound and saw he was still bleeding from his thigh. Blindly running back to his room, she ripped clothes form his closet, searching for a tie or a belt. When she felt the leather in her hands, she ripped it off the hanger and ran back to Justin’s side.