Five Shades of Fantasy

by W.J. May

  Chapter Fifteen

  Nathan and Duncan were full of questions as we walked back to the house. I was still in a state of confusion and had a difficult time answering them.

  “Who was it?” asked Duncan.

  “Where’d they go?” asked Nathan.

  I shook my head. “I…I just can’t remember.”

  It wasn’t exactly true, but my thoughts were so muddled because of my overwhelming attraction towards Ethan. Part of me understood that it wasn’t natural; it was some power he was using to control me. Another part of me didn’t care; I just wanted him to have his way with me, whatever it was.

  Nathan scratched his head. “Did you see who it was, Duncan?”

  He shook his head. “I was thrown backwards and then she was gone in a flash. It was crazy.”

  Nathan scowled. “I don’t even know how to call this one in to nine-one-one. Attempted kidnapping by the invisible man?”

  I cleared my throat. “Um, don’t worry about it, Nathan. I’m fine.”

  “No, we have to call the police. You could have been murdered or raped.”

  It certainly wouldn’t have been rape, I thought. Although, if he was using mind control to make me desire him so much, then it was as bad as a date rape drug.

  “I didn’t see anything. I don’t even know who it was,” I protested. “The cops are going to think we’re all crazy.”

  Nathan stared at me for a minute. “Okay, I’d better ask – was it human?”

  “To be honest, I don’t know,” I muttered.

  Duncan grabbed my hand. “I’m calling my dad to let him know I’m staying over tonight. I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”

  Nathan looked at both of us. “Wait a second, did I miss something?”

  I could feel my cheeks turn pink.

  “I guess you could say that I’m kind of falling for your sister,” said Duncan with a sheepish grin. “I hope you’re okay with it.”

  Nathan smiled. “I’m fine with it. Now I won’t be the only guy who has to suffer her P.M.S.”

  I slugged him in the shoulder. “Very funny, booger.”

  “See,” he said, moving away from my fist, which was cocked again.

  “Heads-up, your mom’s home,” said Duncan.

  She was just getting out of the sheriff’s car and he was helping her up the stairs.

  “Sheriff, what’s wrong with her?” asked Nathan.

  Caleb smiled. “She enjoyed one too many glasses of wine again. I brought her home so she could sleep.”

  Mom gave us a lopsided grin. “Hi, my babies…”

  I groaned.

  She was totally hammered and stumbled towards me. “Nikki, I love you.”

  Nathan and I put our arms around her and held her up. “Wow, mom,” I grunted, trying to hold her up. “I think it’s time you start laying off the vino.”

  Her smile fell. “I didn’t have anything to drink.”

  “Sure you did,” interrupted the sheriff. “Don’t you remember the Cabernet you picked out yourself from the wine cellar? We had it with dinner.”

  Mom looked confused but then when her eyes met Caleb’s, she smiled wickedly and licked her lips. “All, I remember is dessert.”

  “Okay, T.M.I.,” I replied as Nathan and I swung her away from Caleb and into the house. The idea of her and Caleb getting it on was enough to make me want to be celibate for life.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow night!” called Caleb from the porch.

  “Nikki, can you take care of mom? I’m going to talk to the sheriff,” said Nathan.

  I nodded and then proceeded to help her upstairs, which wasn’t an easy task. When we finally made it to her bedroom, she passed out the moment her head hit the pillow. I removed her shoes and covered her up with a sheet as she began to snore.

  “Nikki, the sheriff wants to talk to you,” said Duncan, as I closed mom’s bedroom door.

  I nodded and took his hand while he led me back downstairs. Both Nathan and Caleb were sitting on the couch.

  “So, I heard there was a little excitement here earlier?” asked Caleb.

  I sighed. “I guess you could say that. It was really… bizarre.”

  He nodded and took out a notepad. “Could you tell me in your words what happened?”

  I gave him my version but left off the part of knowing who the person was that carried me off.

  Caleb’s eyes narrowed. “So, you didn’t get a good look at the person at all? Didn’t notice what he was wearing or what he even smelled like?”

  Come to think of it, Ethan had smelled like butterscotch.

  I rubbed my arm. “To tell you the truth, I was so scared that I didn’t notice much of anything. I do know that he was as fast as the wind.”

  Duncan nodded. “He was quick. He shoved me to the ground, twice, and I didn’t see him either; just a blur of movement.”

  Sheriff Caleb put away the notes he was taking and smiled wryly. “You realize how this sounds, don’t you?”

  Nathan nodded. “Crazy, I know.”

  “I know, show him the video,” said Duncan.

  “Oh, yeah,” replied Nathan, grabbing the tape from the fireplace mantel. “We taped this yesterday after someone destroyed all the video surveillance equipment. They apparently missed this one.”

  We all watched the video in silence, and when it was over, Caleb let out a long sigh.

  Nathan folded his arms across his chest. “Even crazier, huh?”

  He nodded. “I don’t really know what to say about it, actually. It doesn’t really make a lot of sense.”

  I cleared my throat. “What should we do?”

  Caleb ran a hand over his face. “Let me take this tape and I’ll show some friends who specialize in paranormal research.”

  Nathan’s jaw dropped. “So you think it might be a poltergeist, too?”

  He shrugged. “Even I have to admit; it’s some kind of strange phenomenon. I just have no experience with this type of thing.”

  “Okay, yeah take it. Let us know what you find out,” said Nathan, giving him the tape.

  Caleb stood up and started walking towards the door.

  “What about Nikki?” asked Duncan. “How are we supposed to protect her against whatever this thing is?”

  Caleb turned back and looked at us. “Don’t go anywhere alone, keep your doors locked, and don’t invite any strangers in.”