Details Of The Game - Mystery Man

Chapter 1

Key Allegro, Aransas County

"Oh, come on, Ashley, it'll be awesome." Brandy kept her voice low even though Ashley's mom was in the kitchen getting dinner ready.

"I don't think my mom would like it," Ashley said.

Flabbergasted, Brandy said, "Ashley, its very boring of you to always do what your mother wants. I mean, like whats the big deal? It's only a game."

Ashley looked over at the Ouija board on the bed between them. It made her feel very edgy, a reaction she could not explain to her friend; there were some secrets that you could not even share with your best friend. Trying to delay she said, "You've got nerve sitting through service with that thing in your backpack. You know the Reverend would call it a tool of the devil and totally cause a huge scene, you know he would."

Brandy said, "It was in my boyfriends car, besides, the Reverend is not going to know, and neither is your mom, unless you tell them." Brandy could see the pause her friends face and added, "Even if you did tell your mom, she isn't religious, so why should she care? It isn't a tool of the devil, it's just a game. Let's try it."

"Please? With sugar on top." Brandy begged. Assured of the response she wanted, she moved a night stand table over near the bed, so she could put the board on it. She moved the planchette to the middle and put her fingertips on it.

Ashley waivered for a moment longer. "Okay, all right. But you must keep the questions very specific, Brandy."

Brandy laughed, "Why, is it a dumb board?"

Certain secrets required restrictive measures, Ashley reflected, how could she explain to her friend that when certain doors were opened, you couldn't always control what came in. "Just don't wander off the point, okay? Ask about you and your boyfriend, that's all." Ashley drew a deep breath and placed her fingertips on the planchette.

Brandy began, "What I want to know---"

The planchette jerked violently and centered itself on the word NO.

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Chapter 2

Key Allegro, Aransas County

Responding to the violent movement of the planchette, Brandy exclaimed, "Hey ! You're not supposed to move it."

"I didn't", said Ashley nervously, staring down as if it were a snake.

"But, I didn't even get to ask my --" Brandy shook her head and guided the planchette back to the middle. "Let's try this again. What I want to know is if --"

The planchette jerked again, as violently as the first time and centered over the word NO.

"Ashley, you swear you are not moving it," Everytime Brandy moved the planchette to the center it kept moving back to NO.

Brandy jerked her fingers back, "That isn't funny Ashley."

Ashley removed her fingers and looked at them as if they belonged to someone else. "I didn't do it."

It started to dawn on Brandy that Ashley wouldn't joke about this, "You mean..."

"I think we better stop Brandy"

"You don't really think... I mean it's just a game, right?"

"Some games are dangerous."

Brandy felt a combination of fear with a thrilling exhileration, "But if theres a chance... what if we could find out, for instance, where the missing intern is, or help solve crimes..."

Ashley chose her words carefully. "Brandy, one thing you can never afford to do in this life is assume. You're assuming that whoever, or whatever-- controls that board is who they really say."

"But who else could they be?"

Ashley spoke softly, "If their... spirit... could reach out to us, don't you think that other spirits could as well? Maybe even bad spirits?"

Brandy replied, "Well, but spirits can't hurt us. Can they?"

"I don't know" Ashley lied. "But I imagine it's not a good idea to open a door for them."

It wasn't until four days later that Brandy was able to talk Ashley into trying it again, before they started, Ashley looked Brandy straight in the eyes, "I believe the dead speak when they realize someone's listening. And I am telling you that ---it isn't always smart to be the one who's listening."

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Chapter 3

Harbour Oaks, Rockport (Brandy's House) --

"So, are you ready to start now, Ashley?" Brandy said, with a little more excitement than she wanted to show.

Brandy had a sudden realization. "Ashley--that ouija board. You seem to know an awful lot about it. I have been pretty patient, but I think there is more you are not telling me."

Ashley said, "When I was eight, one of my toys was ouija board. I started having an imaginary friend, at least that is what everyone thought . A little girl named Tiffany. I used to tell my family all about Tiffany, entertaining them with stories about her family and even the pet dog. Then one day I casually told my family that Tiffany had been killed when her house fell on her. They were quite startled, but my dad was curious. So he did a bit of research."

"And found Tiffany?" asked Brandy.

"Turns out the house we lived in Oregon had been built on a site where a previous house had been destroyed by an earthquake. She was the only one to die in that earthquake."

"So, how long did she hang around?"

"I never saw her again after that. I believe little Tiffany just wanted to come to terms with what happened to her. And I was the only one listening. Once I told her story, Tiffany could pass on to wherever she was meant to go."

Brandy shied away from asking about that last point, but said anyway, "What do you know about sudden deaths?"

Ashley answered, "Most people who die suddenly aren't prepared to leave--especially when the death was volent. Some of them are mad as hell to find their lives cut short, but all of them want more time. Somehow, they are often able to get more time, in a sense..."

"By haunting the living", asked Brandy, glancing around nervously

Ashley replied, "Only those who know how to look and listen. Like I said Brandy --people who die a sudden death can be angry. And negative emotions can be very destructive."

They edged closer to the oiuja board, each placing there fingertips on the planchette.

Brandy started by saying, "What I want to know is--"

This time the planchette jerked, but instead of going straight to the word NO, it started spelling out and gliding over the letters, one at a time...

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Chapter 4

2201 Cape McCann, Aransas County

Drawing a deep breath, Ashley reached out and placed her fingertips next to Brandy's on the planchette.

Brandy started by saying, "What I want to know is--"

The planchette jerked, but instead of going straight to the word NO, it started spelling out and gliding over the letters, going so fast and then jerking to hover over a letter, then zooming on to the next.

W...A...R.

Unconsciously, Ashley leaned over as Brandy spelled out loud.

"Is there going to be a war?" Brandy asked.

NO.

"Cool," Brandy mumbled to herself as she watched in fascination, the rapidly moving planchette.

W...A...R...N...I...N...G

For a moment the teenagers just stared at each other, blank looks exchanged.

The planchette moved frantically.

W...A...R...N...I...N...G

Brandy gasped, her face totally drained of any colors.

Ashley new she wanted to move her fingers off of the planchette, but couldn't somehow. She watched in awe as the flying indicator repeated the words over and over, with an unnatural intensity.

TOO LATE.... TOO LATE... TOO LATE....

*WOOOMMM*

The door blasts open as Brandy's little brother comes flying into the room, airplane in hand, and uses the ouija board as a crash landing site, knocking the planchette to the floor.

Brandy was sobbing hysterically, as Ashley and the little brother locked eyes, shocked. Then a motion caught their attention, and all three turned to look at the closed bay window billow inward, causing the silk curtains to move as if a gust of wind had entered the very room.

Or something.

"Oh, misht," Ashley murmured. But she was thinking to herself, not this again, please not this again...

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Chapter 5

11747 Palawan Way, Key Allegro

They were mesmerized as the closed bay window curtains billowed, as if an unseen wind had blown into the room. The hairs on the back of there necks rose, as a cold wave engulfed the room, seeming to swallow up the oxygen.

The air was so thick that Brandy's little brother started coughing at first, then crying.

They gathered up there belongings and headed out to Ashley's car for the short ride over the Key Allegro bridge and down the road to her house.

"Ashley, were there other ghosts, from your past, that you are not telling me about?" asked Brandy as she continued to fix her makeup. Her hair was whipping around her face as she studied her reflection in the vanity mirror.

"Oh, sure, for several years. My Granmother was able to teach me how to shield my mind a bit, so that I could only see them, when I was looking for them."

"And that was better?" Brandy asked wryly.

"It's always better to be in control of this if you can" said Ashley.

"You know, I still don't know if my boyfriend is faithful-- and now I think there might be something in my house, and I'm scared to death."

Ashley spoke softly to comfort her friend and said matter-of-factly, "With teenage victims of violent death, you not only get the answer of a life cut short but the boiling kettle of emotions we all have at that age. When you are older, you may be able to handle it, but right now, with your emotions so chaotic and your empathy so strong, you could be in very real danger."

"What kind of danger? A ghost can't hurt you. Can it?"

Ashley hesitated, unsure just how much her friend could accept. "They want to LIVE Brandy. They want the life they were cheated out of. So if they see an open door...or an open mind...some of them come in and don't intend on leaving."

Brandy tapped the board with her finger. "If this is the doorway Ashley, it's also the place where you have focused your energy, then your mind must be somewhat protected. Right?"

"Yes, I had to raise my shields immediately when making contact."

"Then what would happen if the doorway was open long enough for a spirit to come through-- but not long enough for it to find our minds accessible?"

"Then the spirit would be there." Ashley looked around. "Inside your house."

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Chapter 6

Key Allegro, Rockport, Texas

A Ouija board, for Christ's sake.

She didn't believe in any of that crap. Well... not conciously, thought Ashley's mother. The girls were so upset that there had been no denying or hiding about what they had just been through. Something about Ashley's attitude had told her loud and clear that she'd better readjust her thinking. And the blasted thing had been right, there was no getting away from that.

Brooding, she shifted restlessly in the couch, at least twice, until she realized something was wrong. She didn't know what it was at first, but when the air conditioner clicked off, she heard it. The sound was so low that she had only noticed it subconciously, but now hairs on the nape of her neck arose, she had to get up off of the couch.

She checked out her house, moving slowly, pausing often to listen and silently cursing, as the air conditioner kicked on again. It was difficult to hear anything else, but as she circled the upstairs area, she ended up at Ashley's bedside, she heard it.

It sounded liked a faint ruffling sound, almost like... whispering. It was low and quiet, but rose and fell, teasing her ability to understand the sounds. An insect? A mouse inside the wall? A voice?

Ashley's mom bent over her daughter and listened, but the hushed, rustling sounds weren't coming from her. She was sleeping, apparently peacefully. She had to fight the urge to wake her just to make certain that she was alright.

Forcing herself to circle the room, and again ended up standing beside Ashley's bed, looking down at her. That whispering... it wasn't an insect, and it wan't a mouse, she was sure of that.

She was sure of something else. Whatever it was, the sound was here... All around Ashley. It wasn't coming from her, and yet... it was here. As if the very air above her relaxed sleeping body, contained something...

Convinced that something was wrong beyond all reason, she reached over to wake her sleeping daughter. The air conditioner switched off again, before she could touch her. She heard Ashley breathing softly. She heard Brandy shift on the futon in the next room and murmer something unintelligible. Nothing else.

Ashley's mom drew back her hand and listened intently for several minutes, but there was only the peaceful quiet inside.

Half under her breath, she said, "Blasted, I must be losing it."

She moved an uncomfortable chair closer to her daughters bed. And didn't feel drowsy again, not for a very long time.

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Chapter 7

Rockport Fulton High School , Aransas County

With the new semester, the girl's found that being Juniors, was a very big deal. Ashley was surprised to find out that several people already knew about their encounter with the ouija board. Ashley glanced over at Brandy , totally engrossed in a one-sided conversation, talking in an animated fashion into her cell. Ashley noticed that Brandy's outfit was perfectly coordinated, to match her phone.

Ashley smiled to herself, a smile that only best friends could understand. "At least that explains why everybody seems to know..." she muttered wryly.

Ashley winced as she recalled the lecture she'd received over breakfast. Her mom was convinced that she had heard whispering noises over her last night while sleeping. Ashley kept her mind-shields up almost automatically, but she was sure she would have felt it, if there was something unnatural around.

She was also feeling the sting of her mothers disappointment with her. Doing something so foolish, and unthoughtful as to create a dangerous situation in their lives.

With a deep sigh, she put on her best smile, grabbed Brandy by the arm, and hurried off to first period class. The chemistry teacher, Mr. Pruitt, was a sight... Mid fifties, balding with a comb over, highwaters with a bow tie. Positively Jurassic. He took roll call and gave the standard lecture, not to mix acids with bases. He attempted to bond with the new students. The class seemed to be sleepy-- Or was it just plain bored?

It was at this time, that Ashley began to hear the whispering sounds that her mom had described from last night. As she lowered her shield for an instant, to capture the images, she felt a searing pain in her head, like fingers squeezing her brain. With a piercing scream, she blacked out, and crumpled to the floor, but the battle was going on within the depths of her mind, and for her very soul...

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Chapter 8

Nurses Office, RFHS ISD

Ashley ignored the voice, at first. It was so far away and barely audible, and besides, she was too tired to care, whatever it was trying to say. She didn't know where she was, but it was quiet and peaceful. All she wanted to do was be left alone there, with no reason to worry anymore.

~Ashley~

From the far reaches of her mind, she understood that something was touching her. She didn't feel it yet somehow, she knew the touch existed. And without thinking about it, she realized that without the contact she wouldn't be able to hear... him... at all. She wasn't really hearing him, but she understood what he was saying, but not because her ears told her.

This was strange, she thought. She considered it idly, not really caring, but mildly curious with the riddle of the thing. All her senses, she realized eventually, had shut down completely and turned themselves off. Now it was her bodies turn to shut herself off as well. The vague impression of a heartbeat, slowing down. It seemed her lungs were no longer drawing in air, and the other organs were ceasing to function.

~Ashley, listen to me. Hear me.~

She didn't want to listen to him. He could hurt her. She knew that he would. He would hurt her and she never wanted to be hurt, in any way, again.

~You have to let me in, Ashley~

Oh, no. She couldn't let him in. it was dangerous to let him. Because he'd hurt her and because... because it wasn't time. Why wasn't it time? Because...

~Please, Ashley. Please let me in. Something's wrong, you have to let me in.~

No. She could'nt. She turned away from him and drifted back towards a peaceful darkness. There was a tugging deep inside her, that surprised her. She wanted so badly to let him in, to feel... something... But that frightened her too, her own need, the hunger that shatters control.

~Ashley... you're dying. Can't you feel it?~

She didn't want to listen to that, because of course she wan't dying. She couldn't die, not yet. There was something she had to do, something... important.

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Chapter 9

Nurses Office, Rockport High--

As Ashley retreated into the depths of her mind, she could feel a touch, trying to reach her in the darkness.

~Ashley... you're dying. Can't you feel it?~

She didn't want to listen to that, because of course she wan't dying. She couldn't die, not yet. There was something she had to do, something... important.

Nothing seemed to matter very much to her. Not now. The warm and peaceful darkness was comforting, while the outside held only anquish and grief. And him. Him, making her life painful and complicated, in ways she didn't need. Him making demands. Him... She was so tired.

~Let me in... God blast you, let me in...~

She almost got away, got free from the wavy whisper thin connections, they couldn't possibly hold on much longer. But then, defenses she was barely aware of gave away, and something grabbed her, captured her.

As the gossamer threads wrapped around her, and where each one touched her she felt a jolt that was pain and pleasure and a certainty that seemed quite inevitable. She struggled with all her might, as she was drawn out of the peaceful darkness.

She felt cold at first, a bone-deep cold, so cold she knew it had to be the beginning of death. Then the slow, heavy beat of her heart, uneven at first, gradually steadying, becoming stronger. She drew in a deep breath of air, in a sudden gasp.

And she was back.

Ashley thought her head was going to explode, and every nerve throbbed in agony. She was cold and she ached, but she could hear again, hear the wind outside howling against the eves and the rattling of the wind chimes. The antiseptic smells of the Nurses office, reminded her where she was, but she did not recall how she got there.

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Chapter 10

Rockport, Tx

Ashley thought her head was going to explode, and every nerve throbbed in agony. She was cold and she ached, but she could hear again, hear the wind outside howling against the porch bannister and the rattling of the wind chimes. The antiseptic smells of the Nurses office, reminded her where she was, but she did not recall how she got there. She new if she opened her eyes she would see the nurses office around her, and him. Whoever he was...

"Blast you," she muttered to herself.

"Blast me all you want, as long as you let me in."

Ashley looked up to find someone grasping her face and staring deep into her eyes. He had on the suit of a paramedic, but there was something else. It was an interesting face. Fascinating, even. Her grandmother would have loved it. It was both unquestionably hard and undoubtedly handsome, and the scar on the right cheek didn't take back one bit from either quality. It was a face that kept the secrets of the man who wore it, yet to Ashley it also revealed much of his character. Especially up close, the intensity of his pale gray eyes was almost hypnotic...

She felt his hands framing her face, and felt his mouth moving on hers, she wanted to resist so bad, but she knew she was responding to him. Her body was feeling warmer, the cold ache seeping away. She could feel herself opening up to him, accepting him now willingly where before she had simply given way to his urgent insistence.

There was a hunger deep inside her, greater than her will to defy it. His hands soothed her aching head and his mouth took hers in long, deep, drugging kisses more addictive than any narcotic.

"This isn't fair," she whispered when she could.

"Do you think I care?" His voice was hoarse.

Ashley forced her eyes to open, thinking she could recognize any expression a face could wear, but this was a man she had never seen before.

"I didn't let you in." She had to say it.

"I know."

He kissed her again and said roughly, " It's my job as a professional. Do you really think there's anything I wouldn't do to keep you alive? It just turns out my training combined with my special gifts helped me reach out to you. I was on automatic pilot and just did what came naturally. Even if it gives you a reason to hate me."

Ashley knew he'd find out soon enough that she did not hate him, but she wanted to address this dying business because it did not make sense to her. But his mouth was moving on hers and his hands were touching her. All of her conciousness was focused on the need he was only feeding. Nothing else mattered.

Outside, a freak summer storm had blown in from the gulf, wailing now, while inside there was a warmth and intensity. As another kind of force raged silently.

A knock at the door, brought both of them to their senses, as each hastily adjusted themselves before the nurse walked in.

"Ashley, you appear to be feeling much better." She said wryly. Glancing over at the young paramedic she said, "Have you been properly introduced to our new emergency medical technician? He may have only graduated high school last year, but he's already completed his pre-med exams. "

As they clasped hands, and offered their introductions, Ashley new that this would be the start of the next chapter in her life. A life she knew she wanted to be in, a life she had been waiting for. She knew she had found the man of her dreams, it was time to put the toys of her childhood behind her, and move on...

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Chapter 11

Oak Terrace Medical Clinic

Having made their acquaintance in the nurses office at the local high school, Ashley and Dustin were never far apart it seemed. The summer squall had turned into a tropical storm , wash out conditions, road closures and high water brought the small coastal community to a grinding halt. Ashley phoned her mom to let her know that she was at the clinic, it was decided that she should stay put until the storm broke.

With the clinic all but empty, they'd had their choice of rooms, but Dustin's father had casually asked his son and Ashley to sleep in the four-bed ward with the youngest patients, two little girls, and "keep them company."

Whether it was for the sake of propriety or in case the girls needed them, neither Ashley or Dustin objected. Ashley felt helpless, and it wasn't a feeling she enjoyed. She was also jumpy, and started when Dustin put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey--What's wrong?"

"You just startled me, thats all."

"I know the feeling," Dustin said ruefully, taking her hand as they began walking down the quiet hall. "It must be the storm or something, but I have been jumping at shadows all day."

"Shadows," Ashley said.

"Yeah, you know what I mean. You get edgy and your mind starts playing tricks on you, starts telling you there is somebody there when there isn't."

Ashley frowned briefly, "I promised your dad I would read to the girls to settle them down. They're jumpy too."

Dustin nodded and held her hand a bit tighter as they continued down the hall. As they passed a corner, he had another of those weird feelings, and almost told Ashley that he could swear he'd caught a flicker of movement from the corner of his eye, as if a shadow had fleetingly reached out for them.

But he decided not to let his imagination get the better of his good sense.

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Chapter 12

Oak Terrace Medical Clinic

Ashley and Dustin helped entertain the two young patients, as they had promised. The girls eventually grew tired of story time. As the storm intensified, she followed Dustin to one of the supply rooms to hunt for a few different games to offer the girls.

"It's going to be a long night," he warned.

"Yes, but at least we have things to do, keeping Christine and Jessica occupied." A quick smile passed her lips. "If you can stand it, that is."

"I'm fine. I like girls."

"I know, and I should probably be worried about that."

"Not like them that way, Ashley. Not the way ---" He saw her smile again, and added ruefully, "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

"You're easy," she agreed.

He was laughing aloud, but sobered suddenly when he found the Ouija board on the high shelf. "Hey, here's another one of those things. I had no idea they were so popular."

Ashley looked at the box, then at Dustin. Her face was had taken on a serious expression. "It's just another game, at least to most people."

"But not to you."

"Not to me. We haven't really got to talk about that part of things." She looked at the backgammon game in her hands with a faint frown.

"We have time, I mean, just knowing my girlfriend can communicate with dead people... well, that's a lot to-- take in." Dustin reminded her.

"You mean believe."

Dustin hesitated, then shrugged, "I don't know Ashley... Talking to the dead? Ghosts? I just don't know how I feel about that."

Ashley summoned a smile. "Well, like you said, we have time."

Sensing he had upset her. Dustin put the Ouija board back on the shelf and took her hand, "In case you are wondering about it, it'd take more than finding out you can read minds or talk to ghosts to get rid of me."

"Good. Now-- why don't we take these games back to the girl's room so they are handy when we need them." Ashley said.

Dustin had barely closed the door of the storage room behind them when they heard a muffled thud from inside.

He opened the dooor cautiously and peered inside, then relaxed with a laugh. "One of the games fell. I guess I didn't put it all the way back on the shelf or something. Or maybe the blasted things are just haunted."

His tone had been light, but Ashley frowned. "The Ouija board?"

"Yeah." He went back inside the room to place the game on the shelf.

Ashley came close to warning Dustin, that occurrences like these were rarely as innocent as they seemed, but decided in the end to say nothing.

It bothered her so she decided to put a bit more effort into maintaining her shield, all the same.

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Chapter 13

Rockport Medical Clinic, Aransas County

The roaring storm made the two girls to jittery to be interested in the games, so Ashley and Dustin made a quick trip to the clinic's video library and returned with several tapes. It took a few minutes to get the girls settled in, favorite snacks in hand, video in the vcr.

Under his breath Dustin, muttered, "We don't have to sit and watch this, do we? I hate it when they sing that Barney song---"

Ashley made a quick gesture to silence him, then drew him away from the two absorbed girls to some plastic chairs near the door. "I'd rather not leave them alone with the storm so wild," she said, "but we don't have to watch the movie.

"In that case, I'm glad we have the games. What do you feel like?' He bent down to sort through the boxes stacked on the coffee table. "Trouble? Yahtzee? I don't think we want Toyland, but what about Rook? Or here's a Pente set and-- Hey. I must have grabbed this one by mistake when I went in to put it back on the shelf."

Staring at the Oiuja board in his hand, she said, "Did you?"

"I guess so."

"Dustin, do you mind taking it back to the storage room?"

He looked at Ashley seriously and said, "I wasn't going to suggest---"

"I know. I'd just feel better, more... comfortable if that board was somewhere else."

"But---"

"It's a doorway, Dustin. I just don't want to be unconciously tempted to open it again, that's all."

"Would you be? Tempted that is."

"Yes, but the answers would have to be worth opening the door-- if I was sure I could control it afterward. But I'm not sure. I don't have enough experience to be sure."

Dustin opened his mouth, closed it again, hesitated and then shrugged. "Sure, I'll put it back."

"Thanks"

Dustin didn't exactly hurry, but he didn't take his time either. He strode down the empty hall to the storage room, being careful to put the Ouija board on the highest shelf and shove it far back, so that no part of it hung over the edge.

He came out of the room and shut the door behind him. Jiggling the knob to make sure it was firmly closed. As he stepped away, he heard it.

The whispering.

Dustin stepped quietly back to the door and pressed his ear against it, listening. He could hear it clearly, a muffled rustling sound that was like a voice or voises whispering rapidly, almost continuously.

He looked down to see the hairs raise on the back of his arms.

Dustin hesitated, then reached for the doorknob, turning it slowly. The whispering continued. He jerked the door open.

Silence.

It was a perfectly ordinary storage room, the Ouija board placed high on the shelf where he had left it.

Waiting for a moment, hearing nothing but the muted sounds of the storm outside, he closed the door. Still nothing. Whatever had made those sounds was quiet now.

"Dusty ole boy, your really losing it now" he said out loud. Wincing, as he recalled his grandfathers description of people who talk to themselves. When he went back to Ashley, he hurried.

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Chapter 14

Harbor Oaks, Aransas County

Brandy walked into her bedroom, to find her little brother staring in facination at her ouija board.

The planchette began to circle the board widly.

Brandy frowned down at the board, "I'm not doing that," she said.

"Neither am I. That spirit, maybe? The one trapped here?" her little brother wondered.

"Communicating without a medium? That doesn't make sense, it would take so much force and determination---" She looked down at the board and shook her head. " No use arguing about it. Who are you?"

E...R...I...C.

Brandys little brother said, "Is it him?"

"I don't know . But whoever it is we better pay attention," Brandy said. "What is that you want, Eric?"

Brandy picked up a pad and pen and began to jot down the letters as her brother called them out.

W...A...R...N... Y...O...U....

"Warn us about what?"

ASHLEY.

Brandy felt a chill. "What about Ashley?"

IN DANGER.

Brandy looked at her little brother, then returned her attention to the board. Holding her voice steady she managed to ask, "You mean Ashley's still in danger, Eric?"

YES. FROM THE OTHER.

"What other?"

ANOTHER CAME IN WHEN THEY OPENED DOOR FOR ME.

"Eric--"

BAD MAN, VERY BAD MAN. WANTS ASHLEY.

Brandy had sudden, frantic realization, that she had forgotten something vitally important. The danger to Ashley wasn't flesh and blood, but a spirit so desperate to live again that it had nearly killed her.

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Chapter 15

Cape McCann, Harbour Oaks

Brandy had a sudden, frantic realization, that she had forgotten something vitally important. The danger to Ashley wasn't flesh and blood, but a spirit so desperate to live again it had nearly killed her.

She looked at her little brother and said, "I thought Ashley was only at risk here in this house, at least for a while, but..."

"Look," he said.

The planchette whirled madly, stopping several times on NO, and then began spelling slowly.

DANGER. HE'S BEEN WITH HER ALL ALONG. WAITING. WATCHING. HE KNOWS SHE'S GETTING TIRED NOW, WEAKENED. HE PLANS TO GET HER TONIGHT.

"Blasted," Brandy whispered. "But... how? Who would have a connection to her so strong as to find her so quickly?"

Who is it, Eric?" Brandy demanded. "Who is this bad man?"

The planchette was motionless for several seconds, then spelled slowly: JIMBO KLINE

Brandy and her brother waisted little time and ran to the car. They would have to brave the gusting winds of the tropical storm, as they headed to the clinic.

Brandy would find out in time that this guy had been dead for three years. And that Ashley was the lone survivor of all his victims. He was a psychic, and he must have known at some time that she was a medium as well. Maybe he touched her mind somehow and established a connection. One that she wasn't even aware of. All these years he's bided his time, waiting for her to open a door for him.

Brandy drove a little faster, she could see the lights of the clinic, as the windshield wipers thrashed a mightily to keep up with the wind and rain. She had to get there to warn Ashley, she just hoped to get there in time, and in one piece.

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Chapter 16

Rockport-Fulton Medical Clinic

Ashley opened her eyes and gazed blearily at the ceiling. The same ceiling. Same stupid, dull ceiling, hospital gray rectangles pockmarked with tiny star shapes. She was really tired of looking at that ceiling.

The wind was still howling like a trapped animal, and hail was pounding the storm shutters in an unrelenting, unsettling commotion. Ashley sighed, as she saw Dustin get up from the couch, shaking sleep from his eyes, sitting next to her in the clinics white plastic chairs.

"It's time I shared a little secret with you," Ashley said softly.

Ashley reached out and grasped Dustin in a way taught to her by Grandmother. Connecting the energy lines that enable the life force. In this fashion she established her link.

"No," Dustin said.

But he saw it now, the vision she had seen months ago, a fantastic kaleidoscope of images and emotions and uncertainties. He saw she had been the victim of the bad one, but had survived, beyond all reason. He saw that she had been the third victim, the one different from the others-- and that she had survived. He also saw the passion, he and Ashley would hook up and create the intense psychic connection they would soon require.

And after that, soon after that, the end would come with little warning. The images showed him what Ashley had seen from her perspective, a hazy background but Ashley in clear danger, a hand pointing a planchette at Ashley. And as she reached for it, a whirling gust of wind followed by a crack of thunder echoing hollowly, the brutal shock of pain-- and the bitter uncertainty of death. Then, nothing else...

Infusing all the rest, permeating every event throughout the vision, was another awesome certainty, a faith and conviction so powerful, that the sheer mention of its name causes, mountains to tremble. So powerful there was simply no room for doubt. Dustin would save Ashley, had known it all along...

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Chapter 17

Rockport-Fulton Medical Clinic

"No," Dustin said it again. He realized his eyes were closed, opened them to find Ashley watching them intently. For the first time, he wished the connection hadn't let him see, what he had seen with Ashley's vision.

"You said you would take care of me if anything happened to me. I'm holding you to that."

He forgot how his arm had reached out to pull her closely, but now that she was near, he whispered, "Nothings going to happen to you. You are not going to die Ashley. Not here, and not now. Not for a very-very, long time."

"Brandy's too young to go on by herself" Ashley said, as if she hadn't heard him. "You'll be there for her won't you, Dustin?"

Unable to ignore that appeal, he said, "You don't have to worry, hun. I swear to you, I'll take care of her. But this ghoul is not going to kill you, Ashley."

Actions speak louder than words as she kissed him, and despite every other emotion crouded into one small space, Dustin felt desire escalate so sharply that it threatened to reset his inner priorities. It had always been that way between the two of them, ever since the first time-- the first time they kissed. Dustin let out a sigh, as he flashed back in time--

*His hands framing her face, and the feeling of his mouth moving on hers, knowing she wanted to resist so bad, but she knew she was responding to him, there was a hunger deep inside her, greater than her will to defy it. His hands soothed her aching head as his mouth took hers in long, deep, drugging kisses.*

The hunger was instant and consuming, but his concern for her safety, was the only thing keeping him from responding.

~You're trying to distract me.~

~Would I do that?~

With a groan he pulled back just far enough to make her look at him, "I'm not going to lose you. Do you hear me?"

Ashley smiled faintly. "Because you believe what I believe. If you must, the best way to deal with a vision is to make logical decisions and choices as they come up, to go on with your life, and keep an eye out for warning signs. Do something drastic to change fate, and you always end up with a worse outcome than the one you wanted."

"Stop being such a blasted fatalist. You told me that your visions didn't always come true, didn't always happen the way you saw them."

"Yes. But so far this one has. There's no reason to expect the end to be different..."

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Chapter 18

Clinic South Of Town-- Aransas County

Dustin stood just inside the room, holding the ice-cream he'd retrieved for the two young girls. On the other side of the room, Ashley was telling them a story. No one had noticed his return yet. He'd only been gone a few minutes.

What he saw was the ouija board on top of the stack of video games on the end table, Dustin thought Ashley must have changed her mind about using it. He recalled the expression on her face, and the tone of her voice, and decided otherwise. He recalled the promise she had made to her mother, and how serious she got every time it was mentioned. He knew that it wasn't Ashley who had brought the game into the childrens wing.

There was a simple question that was bothering him, if it wasn't Ashley, or the two little girls... then who had? Who would have done this?

A feathery chill worked up his spine as he noticed that the ouija board was now out of its box, the planchette centered on the board and ready to go.

It even tempted him. To put his fingers on the planchette and see if it moved, see the dead really really speak by spelling out things on the board-

With an extra effort, Dustin snapped out of it.

He was telling himself that this was just a dream, a figment of his strained and over-active imagination. But he was standing there eyes wide open, and a game that hadn't been in the room five minutes before had in the space of a few short heart beats, arranged itself, so as to be ready to be played...

Listening intently, he concentrated very hard and closed out the sounds of Ashleys soft voice across the room, he was positive he could hear an un-earthly whispering sound.

"Dustin?"

Jumping slightly, he looked over towards the girls to find Ashley gazing at him, her facial expression had a concerned and questioning look about it. From where he was he noticed that Ashley could not see the end table. He made a little detour and placed the board and planchette in the box, he wasn't surprised that his hands shook a bit.

Pushing it under the clinic couch, he thought to himself, out of sight out of mind. He gave the box a final shove and left the couch, heading towards Ashley. And pretended to himself he didn't hear a thing as he walked away.

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Chapter 19

Rockport, Aransas County

After the two young patients had fallen asleep, Ashley found an excuse to make herself more comfortable, as she snuggled up next to Dustin in the waiting room area.

Dustin kissed Ashley, forcing himself to keep it brief. "There is something we'll have to deal with eventually, you know. Maybe we better talk about it now and decide how we want to handle it."

Her smile wavered for just a second as she said, "Why don't we talk about that later?"

"All right, all right. But the point is, I'm very different now and I don't want to distance you. In any way, but especially emotionally or telepathically."

"You do recall there is a price to pay for that kind of closeness? If I should have another vision, then --"

"I'll have it too. Yeah, I know. They hurt, as I recall."

What they had discovered in time was that they shared each others abilities even when apart, but it was much more intence when they were together. They had found out by accident that if they were holding hands, or in otherwise physical contact and either of them touched someone whom neither had been able to read alone, they were some times able to read that person. It made them, quite simply, more than twice as powerful together than either of them alone.

"We're an odd pair, no question about that", Ashley replied, as she followed his thoughts completely.

"I choose to think of us as unique, not odd" He said as he drew her a bit closer, smiling.

She chuckled, "Well, it'll take some getting used to, I'm sure." Her mouth brushed his, then lingered. "I will work on it... Dustin."

For a few brief moments, Dustin forgot every thing except the sweet pleasure of being near and close to her. Holding her and touching her, their mouths hungry, straining to be closer despite the necessity of keeping apart.

"Wow," Ashley murmered at last, her dark eyes, heavy lidded and sensual.

Tightening his arms for a moment, then he eased her back away from him. In a hoarse voice he said, "Much more of this and I won't have enough snap left about me to focus on the problem at hand."

"They say self-denial is good for the soul."

"Yeah, I bet the ones who say that, don't have anything they hate to give up."

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Chapter 20

Farm Road 1098, Aransas County--

The wind was howling like a caged animal, and hail was pounding the old pickup trucks battered windshield in an unrelenting, unsettling commotion. Each side of the farm road had three foot ditches, which had filled to spill over to cover the road by inches, it made judging the middle of the street, hard to calculate. She hoped she didn't drive into the ditch, but could barely see out the windows. Brandy had to warn Ashley, she knew she had too.

Brandy had found out that this ghoul had been dead for three years. And that Ashley was the lone survivor of all his victims, she had been the victim of the bad one. Ashley had been the third victim, the one different from the others-- the one that had survived. In life, the ghoul had been a psychic, and he must have known at some time that she was a medium as well. He had touched her mind somehow and established a connection. One that she wasn't even aware of. All these years his spirit had bided its time, waiting for her to open a door for him, but it was the ouija board which had provided the ultimate gateway.

A whirling gust of wind followed by a crack of thunder echoed loudly. Brandy flinched, temporarily blinded by flashing light, and swerved back to center. She drove a little faster and could see the lights of the clinic, as the windshield wipers thrashed mightily to keep up with the wind and rain. She just hoped to get there in time.

--Healing Arts Clinic, South of Town--

Listening intently, he concentrated very hard, he was positive he could hear an un-earthly whispering sound. Jumping slightly, he wasn't surprised that his hands shook a bit. Heading towards Ashley, he pretended to himself he didn't hear a thing.

As he approached Ashley, they locked eyes, and in those brief intense moments, they shared the strange vision that Ashley had been having with recurring vividness.

They saw it together now, a fantastic visualization of images and emotions and uncertainties. The vision morphed soon after that, the end would come with little warning. The images showed him what Ashley had seen from her perspective, a hazy background with Ashley in clear danger, a hand pointing an object at Ashley. And as she reached for it, hurricane like winds followed by a crack of thunder, the brutal shock of pain-- and the swift uncertainty of death. During the vision, Dustin had a flash back--

*He recalled the sweet sound of her soft chuckles, her mouth brushing his, then lingering... For a few brief moments, Dustin forgot every thing except the succulent pleasure of being near and close to her. Holding her, their mouths hungry... The way she looked at him and murmered "wow", as her dark eyes sparkled, shining and translucent.*

But then, infusing all the rest, permeating every event throughout the vision, was another awesome certainty, a faith and conviction so powerful. So powerful there was simply no room for doubt. Dustin would save Ashley, but the vision trailed off before it showed the ending...

Booming eruptions of thunder pealed across the skies, breaking the sacred connection they had just shared. This was followed by the screaching sounds of padless brakes on metal, as Brandy fish-tailed into the parking lot, out front.

They both turned to look at the front door, then froze on the spot as they witnessed a strange form taking shape, it looked like a bluish swirling mist...

The room took on an eary bone-chilling coldness, causing immediate reactions in the depths of their bodies. Uncontrollable tremors, shook them, causing their teeth to chatter. Cold mist-like vapors issued from there mouths, creating strange and frightening images, right in front of there face.

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Chapter 21

Farm Road 1069 - Aransas County

Booming eruptions thundered across the skies, followed by the screaching sounds of padless brakes on metal, announcing Brandy's fish-tail in the front clinic parking lot.

"Unnggg" Brandy moaned.

Healing Arts Clinic - South Of Town

Dustin and Ashley both turned to look at the front door, then froze on the spot as they witnessed a strange form taking shape, it looked like a bluish swirling mist...

"Oh God, not again..." Ashley let out a plaintive reply.

The room took on an eary bone-chilling coldness, immediate reactions shook them to the depths of their bodies. Uncontrollable tremors caused their teeth to chatter, while cold mist-like vapors issued from there mouths. These created strange and frightening images, right in front of there faces.

"Du-uh-uh-stin-n-n," Ashley stammered through her chattering teeth.

"Don't look at them Ashley, it is a trick by the demon ghoul." Dustin replied.

Ashley had a sudden, overwhelming sense that this was the place she had seen in her vision, and she felt the helpless rushing in of fate, as her worst dreams appeared to be coming true, carrying her forward toward whatever destiny was intended for her. She didn't look towards Dustin, but she was very concious of their connection, and of his absolute certainty that she would not die here.

On the other hand, she knew that if what she had seen was right, the abrupt severing of their link could be as devastating for the living as the dead; gently and without warning, she closed the door on her side.

Ashley felt her eyes shift into three diminsions, as her spirit began to rise slowly up and out through her body. When her spirit was head high out of her body, the powerful ghoulish entity grabbed hold of her spirit and started to communicate, her mind understood the communication...

'Now I have you completely, and you are under my control, you will do each and everything that I command', Ashley heard the entity clearly, she could only retreat into a cold dark place where no one could find her, deep within the shadowy hallways of her mind.

At the same time, the clinic front door was flung open, allowing the white hurricanes full tropical fury into the room. The misting vapors grew larger and more horrific, as if inspired by the flying rain and stinging hail, that was coming at them sideways.

"What the blazes is going on in here!", Brandy cried out.

It took every bit of strength she could summon, in closing the front door. She looked around to see Ashley being taken over; by the very ghoulish demon she had come to warn her about. Brandy brought her hands to her face in an unconsious defensive reaction, as her own piercing screams, rolled and echoed loudly across the room.

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Chapter 22

Clinic South of Town -- Rockport-Fulton

The freak hurricanes full tropical fury was blown into the room, as the front door was flung open. The misting vapors grew larger and more horrific, as if inspired by the flying rain and stinging hail.

"What the blazes is going on in here!" Brandy exclaimed..

It took every bit of strength she could summon, in closing the front door. She looked around to see Ashley being taken over. Brandy brought her hands to her face in an unconsious defensive reaction, as her own piercing screams, rolled and echoed loudly across the room.

Brandy felt a chill so icy that she went cold to her bones. Ashley was now under the control of this entity, the subject if his insane *obsession*.

"No," Ashley attempted to reply from within, pushing back mentally against the powerful force that was gripping her.

"She can't help you," said the demon ghoul.

"She can because she can really talk to the dead," Brandy replied.

"Thats an aspect of the human experience, that makes no sense to me. I understand the death of the flesh, and now I have control of her mind and spirit, besides you are next on my list..." replied the ghoul, with a deep chortling laugh.

As if she hadn't heard him, Brandy said, "Your victims would love to judge and punish you. They're just looking for a door so they can come back."

"Door?"

"Between our world and theirs. Your victims of murder are unhappy souls, and angry. They have stayed in limbo for a long time, unable to move on, and they want to repay you for your kindness." Brandy replied, thinking that if she could anger the demon, then maybe it would not think correctly. But she knew she was already treading on thin ground.

In one motion, Dustin dove towards the end of the waiting room couch, grabbed from underneath and then tossed the board towards Brandy.

"Brandy- catch," shouted Dustin.

When it touched Brandy's outstreached arms, she could almost hear the screams of his victims, and she knew that the ghoul had heard them too. She could see the ghouls expression through Ashley, his face tightening in rage, and she understood in a moment of utter clarity that he would kill Ashley, because he couldnt keep her alive.

Sensing a threat more immediate than Brandy, the ghoul moved with lightening speed, grabbing the box open, the planchette floated in mid-air, within a slowed moment, Brandy and Ashley both jumped up, as they reached the apex, touching the planchette and each other in mid-air. *Kaa-Boom*

Crackling electricity sent a shock wave through the room, when the front door blew open, the victimized spirits emerged in unison, along with the ghoul as it left Ashleys body crumpled on the floor. Brandy ran to her friends side, as an eery vacuum like feeling swept into the room. Brandy looked out the corner of her eye to see Dustin approach the whirling apparitions.

"In the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, give me the strength to overcome this evil that has befallen us" Dustin exclaimed...

His heartfelt benediction was filled emotion and sincere faith, bred by experience. The brief faint sent of honeysuckle and mint wafted thoughout the room.

As Brandy looked over her shoulder at Dustin, she could not make out what he was saying but she was seeing a very strange optical illusion... It appeared that a brilliant white light was pulsing down from the ceiling, and Dustin appeared to be caught squarely in the center of the awesome magnificent light, which seemed to grow brighter each moment...

"What the blazes is tha..." Brandy exclaimed.



--THE END

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