Chapter one
“Tori Lynn, Report to customer service. Tori Lynn, Report to customer service.” A women’s voice called out over the store intercom. Internally I screamed in frustration as I had been in the break room and my break was not over for another ten minutes. I had been at work since early that morning and I would be here for another hour and a half. I placed my half eaten chicken finger wrap back into the plastic container, then placed it in my locker and exited the break room. As I walked to the front of the large store, passing by the cookware section. I was stopped by a harried customer asking where to find lamps. The home wares section where lamps could be found was not a normal department in which I worked. Although I knew where the section was located, I did not know where lamps were located within the section.
“The home wares section is over there” I informed, while pointing to the left of where we were standing in cookware which was in the very back of the store on the right. “I know where home wares is, what I need to know is where lamps are located” The man snapped. “You work here, don’t you know anything”. I resisted the urge to give the same attitude back that was given to me and was relieved when one of my coworkers walked past. “Hey, Jen. Can you show this Gentleman where he can find lamps?” I requested of her politely. I heard my name on the intercom for the third time and figured they must really need me at the customer service desk. Jen nodded and asked the man to follow her. Before following behind her, he turned and gave me a dirty look.
I continued walking towards the front of the store silently hoping I would avoid rude customers. I arrived at the customer service desk to find two of my coworkers working the desk which was swamped. I used my key to enter the door that led to behind the desk intending to help them with the customers, but was stopped by Lisa who had the closed sign in front of her register.
“Tori, Can you void this order on my computer?” she asked. I glanced around but didn’t see a customer, “Where is the customer?” I questioned, a bit confused. “Left the store” she explained and then rolled her eyes. I used my key to start the process to void the order, “The reason?” I asked when I was prompted for one on the computer, “She didn’t give one, Just put the stuff down and left the store after I had rung it up” she sighed shrugging her shoulders. I rolled my eyes, That was a typical thing for this location. Customers would pick a bunch of things out and then wait for the stuff to be completely rung up and then just leave the store, sometimes without a reason.
With the order voided, I instructed Lisa, to go ahead and take her break. Then I jumped on her register and spent the next hour and a half working the customer service desk. Typically as a manager I had experience in every department which was required but didn’t work in every department. Even after working at this location for over four years I still didn’t have the layout of the store memorized.
“Tori, You can clock out now” my boss remarked walking up to the desk. “You have been here for over eight hours, I will take over”. I nodded my head stifling back a yawn, I took my work shirt off revealing an short sleeved black T-shirt underneath. I didn’t want to be stopped by any customers on my way to the break room to grab my things so I could leave. It was nine PM and I was more then ready to head home and sit down, something besides for twenty minutes of my break. I hadn’t done since early that morning when, my fiance Derek had dropped me off at work.
I hoped Derek was already waiting for me outside. He dropped me off and Picked me up at work, on the days he wasn’t working which honestly wasn’t often. Unlike myself, My Fiance who was three years older then me, had a career. He had graduated from West Point then immediately joined the marines, where he had done two tours in Iraq and earned a purple heart and a medal valor. He had been honorably discharged.
We had met in December of 2008, in the middle of a blizzard, I had been driving home from work when I started to have car trouble so I pulled over to the side of the road, My phone had died earlier that day so I put my hazards on and hoped someone would stop and let me use their phone. Derek ended up stopping. He knew someone who could tow my car to his friend, Marcs, Mechanic shop. I didn’t like the idea of getting into a car with someone I didn’t know, but it was two AM. The temperature was less then desirable for me to walk in even though I only lived less then a mile away.
I agreed to let him drive me home but I had him drop me off a couple of houses away. I didn’t want him to know where I lived. However when he asked for my number, I gave it to him. We began to text every day which soon grew into first a friendship and eventually a relationship. We had been together seven years, and engaged a little over a year. Derek worked as a homicide detective for the city, and while we each had our own apartments, he was at my apartment the majority of the time.
Thankfully Derek had pulled up right in front of the store and was waiting for me patiently. I opened the door to his 2013 black SUV, and sat in the front seat sighing deeply. He looked at me briefly before pulling off while I pulled my long auburn colored hair out of the neat bun it was in and let it hang down around my shoulders, framing my freckled face. “Movie night?” Derek questioned, breaking the silence.
I thought about it, I had homework but didn’t have a class on Monday and it was Halloween which was a tradition for us to watch a horror movie. I nodded my head, hoping we could watch a Slasher flick which was my favorite type of Horror film but I had chose the movie last year and this year was Derek’s turn. “What movie?” I asked, as he turned into my apartment building’s back parking lot and parked the truck. We both were out of the truck and had began walking towards the side door of the building, “Candy man” he firmly suggested, I sighed hating the choice but reluctantly nodded my head.
Settling on the bed in my small apartment, which was sparsely furnished and was cluttered but clean. Him on the right side of the bed next to the only window and me on the left a few feet away from the galley kitchen. My laptop was in between us on the queen sized bed, I scrolled through the movies on the website while waiting for Derek to finish checking email on his tablet. After searching for Candy man and noticing the website had all three movies, I wondered if he would want to watch all three. I clicked the first movie and paused it until it loaded fully. The building’s included WI-FI was working for a change, but I didn’t want it buffering while we watched. Surprisingly, it didn’t take much time to load and by the time it loaded fully. Derek was done on his tablet and had placed it on the night stand on his side of the bed.
After finishing the first two Candy man movies and attempting to watch the third, it was now three AM and I was tired but had a hard time falling asleep. Derek had fallen asleep right away, but I had always had problems with sleep. That is the reason why I was prescribed sleeping medication, although I rarely took one. I was tempted too that night. As I laid on my my left side, in the position I normally slept I stared blankly at the white door of the refrigerator in an attempt to tire my eyes enough for me to fall asleep. I noticed something odd that seemed to be reflecting in the door, I strained my eyes trying to figure out if this is what I was actually seeing or if in the late hour, my brain was conjuring up the image.
The image was that of a women, with long black hair, wearing a long sleeved white dress sitting on the floor, an older gentleman in a grey suit stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders as if comforting her. The image stayed steady as I continued to stare at it, never once flickering.
If I could somehow explain away what I knew in the back of my head, I was really seeing, with some other reasoning I gladly would have. The fact that I could see spirits wasn’t common knowledge and the only two people who knew was Derek and my late grandmother. Besides I had been living in the apartment for over an month and hadn’t noticed anything strange, so why now? What was so special about November first?
Chapter 2
A couple of day’s later, the temperature outside had drastically changed, where on Halloween ; it was slightly warmer then usual. On this Thursday, in the first week of November the weather had settled into a blistery cold, the type that seeped through even the warmest clothing. I was used to the drastic changes in temperature, as it was normal for Western NY, Buffalo residents were quite used to it. Although it had not yet snowed, I could tell it would not be long, in fact the forecast predicted flurries by the end of the week.
I was running late for my Creative writing class, having been up late the night before finishing up the short story that was due. I had some trouble coming up with a topic, I decided to write about my personal paranormal experience but tried to make it sound fictional which had been quite difficult for me as I lived through it.
Derek was in the shower and I was at the small closet, across from the bathroom, looking for my favorite red hoodie. I was frustrated because I knew it was hanging in the closet the night before but now it wasn’t. Slightly giving up, I grabbed a dark navy one instead and pulled it over my head, then grabbed my black bubble jacket and pulled it on.
“Babe, you need a ride?” Derek’s voice boomed behind me, making me jump slightly, I had thought he was still in the bathroom as I didn’t hear the door opening behind me, nor his foot steps.I glanced over my shoulder at him and nodded my head, his tanned skin glistened from his shower and his slightly shaggy brown hair dripped with water.
While he got dressed in a pair of black pants, a short sleeved white button down and a black suit jacket, I ran around the apartment making sure I didn’t forget anything for the full day ahead of me. I had 3 classes and then I had to bus it to work, unless I somehow received a ride from one of my classmates. Once sure I had everything, we headed out of the apartment locking the door behind us and outside to Derek’s SUV.
Derek and I didn’t talk much during our ride to where I attended school, 10 minutes away from my apartment building. Instead we both sipped our coffee’s in comfortable silence. “I’ll pick you up from work tonight, after dinner with Marc.” Derek said, as he turned onto the long road that led to the building my class was in.
“I should reach out to Shelia, How is Marc doing with therapy?” I asked while searching through my purse for my student ID that I had to show to enter each building. “He’s doing pretty well, although he gets frustrated sometimes but it’s to be expected” Derek replied as I pulled the student id card out of my purse.
Derek pulled to a stop in front of the English building and I leaned over to give him a peck on the lips, before getting out of the car. “Bye, Call me on your lunch” I called through the open door before closing it and heading into the building.
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Derek leaned over his desk and studied the file in front of him, it was of a teenage girl whose body had been discovered a little over a week ago in the downtown district. The pictures were horrific to say the least, the girl who was presumed to be between the ages of 16 and 18, had been badly beaten, then raped before being shot in the head. While he was a damn good Homicide detective who had been working for the department for the last 7 years, he hated this part of his job, the part of finding the bodies of seemingly innocent people.
He quickly made notes in the file on what he already knew on the girl, although her exact age had not yet been determined, she was Caucasian with brown hair and brown eyes, 5’7? and weighed approximately 120 pounds, she had a scar on her lower stomach which suggested surgery of some kind. The autopsy had revealed that she ultimately died from internal bleeding and was dead prior to being shot in the head. After making notes, he picked up the file of local missing persons in the area that fit the description of the teenage girl. Although the missing persons file listed missing persons, it did not list runaways. He scanned the file and noted two teenagers who fit the description, one was 18 from a local suburb and the other 16 from Buffalo.
Now came the hard part doing research on the two missing girls he had discovered in the missing persons file which meant talking to the families of each girl, to see if either one of them was his victim. He stood up and walked over to the coffee maker that sat across from his desk and refilled his cup, then glanced at his watch realizing he had worked right through his lunch and hadn’t the time to call Tori who should be on her way to work.
He spent the rest of the day interviewing the families of each girl which led to the discovery that the victim was Avery Wilkins, age 18 from Kenmore,NY. She was reported missing two weeks prior and was thought to be with her much older boyfriend, James Nelson who was 36.
James Nelson was now a suspect in the rape and murder of Avery Wilkins.
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A classmate in my creative writing class, Detra Perkins, who I was somewhat close to, offered to drive me to work so I wouldn’t have to stand in the cold waiting for a bus. I accepted the offer, but only after making sure she wasn’t going out of her way. “How did you do on the short story assignment?” She asked as she pulled her car out of the parking lot and started to drive towards the exit of the campus, I sighed thinking of what the professor had said about the assignment after the class.
The professor liked my short story so much, she wanted me to read it next week at the Creative writing workshop she hosts every year and although I said I would do it, I was terrified of public speaking.
“Professor Adams, Loved it, she wants me to read it at the Creative writing workshop next week” I replied to her question, while staring out the window unsure of what I had gotten myself into.
“Tori, That is awesome, I think you should do it” Detra exclaimed excitedly, before I could respond with my thoughts, she forged ahead “I know your major is interior design but have you given any thought to minoring in something to do with English?” She questioned. I shook my head, I really didn’t think my writing was good enough to be recognized as anything other then a hobby at this point, my downfall was that I was my biggest critic.
“Tori, your stuff is good, exceptionally good in fact. You deserve to be recognized for your skill” she said as she pulled into Walmart’s parking lot, which is where I worked. “Yeah” I agreed, while opening the door and preparing to exit her car, she placed a hand on my shoulder to stop me.
“Can I be your plus one at the workshop?” she questioned, I thought about it of course I wanted Derek to be there but maybe I should take Detra, she was my biggest fan when it came to my writing. “I’ll think about it, Derek might want to go” I answered, “I have to go, I’ll call you later”, she nodded before I hurried into work.
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“Tori you look tired, are you sleeping okay?” Jessica questioned as she stocked the shelves in the entertainment section besides me, She studied me carefully. I stifled a yawn as I shook my head, “Classes are killing me this semester, but I am okay”. She still looked like she didn’t quite believe me, “You aren’t Pregnant, are you?” she questioned loudly, so loud in fact several customers who were browsing the section, turned their heads our way. “WHAT! Jessica, No” I hissed, quite upset she was speaking so loudly. “Okay Okay” she muttered then continued her work, I was silent as I worked along side her, noticing that customers were still looking at me, I moved to the book section and stocked what was left in the box.
“You should talk to Pat and go home early” she pleaded, “You look exhausted”. “I only have another hour, I’ll be fine” “Tori, Pat will let you go home, come on” she said as she dragged me into Pat’s office, Pat was my boss and I technically was Jessica’s. Still I let her lead me into Pat’s office, I was tired, so tired in fact I was practically falling asleep on my feet so I knew it had to show on my face.
In the office, Pat sat behind her desk going over paperwork, presumably our checks as we got paid weekly every Friday. She looked up expectantly at us as we came in, “Pat, Tori is not feeling well, she threw up in the bathroom a minute ago” Jessica lied easily, Pat studied me for a moment and I wondered if she could tell Jessica was lying on my behalf. “Tori, go ahead and clock out, If you are not feeling better in the morning, call in sick before your shift tomorrow” she ordered, “Jessica, your shift is over so can you drive Tori home?”. Jessica nodded, “I can call Derek” I interjected. “It’s okay, I’ll take you”, I groaned inwardly, but nodded my head.
As I followed Jessica to her beat up jeep, I text Derek and informed him I had a ride home and I had gotten off of work early withholding the reason why. Jessica pulled out of the parking lot and absentmindedly asked where I lived, as I told her, I noticed her eyes grow wide. “What?” I questioned carefully, suddenly curious as I had never gotten that reaction before after telling people I lived in Waterfront Manor.
She hesitated slightly before answering, “Well it’s just that I heard that place was haunted and it used to be a hotel, but it was closed down due to quite a few mysterious deaths”. My eyes bugged, Were the two spirits in my apartment murdered I wondered silently, Jessica didn’t know my secret and there was no need for her to know, she was quite the gossip.
“Mysterious deaths?” I questioned, “Well yeah…why are you so interested?” she asked suddenly guarded although I didn’t understand why, “I am interested in the paranormal” I lied. That couldn’t have been furthest from the truth, The truth was I was terrified of anything related to the paranormal, especially given the fact that I could see ghosts.
“My cousin has lived in the building for years, I can introduce her to you, if you’d like. She knows much more about the history then I do.”
Chapter 3
After Jessica dropped me off and I told her I would be interested in meeting her cousin, we set up a meeting for the next day after work. I would tell Derek that I had a ride home and Jessica would introduce me to her cousin, who I was told was a couple years older then the both of us. As I walked into my building, I noticed a older gentleman sitting in the lobby, he was talking to himself. As I went over to greet him, I was stopped by a young women who looked to be in her early twenties. She grabbed me by the arm and shook her head, “You don’t want to get messed up with that one” she warned. “Why not?, I was just going to say hello” I argued, “They say he’s nuts, you know the type” she replied shrugging her shoulders. “People say the same of me” I clarified and continued to walk over to the older gentleman, taking a seat by him and saying hello while reaching out my right hand for a shake.
He took my hand firmly with his left hand and shook it, “Hello miss, how are you today?” he greeted. “I’m doing good, how are you?” I began, then I noticed the older gentleman I’d seen in my apartment sans the girl who I had assumed was related to him, hovering around where we sat. I gasped when I realized the two were having a conversation which I seemed to have interrupted.
“Excuse me, but do you know any of the history of this building?” I asked him, deciding to take a chance with this man instead of waiting to meet Jessica’s cousin the next day. He turned to me and Nodded his head slowly, “My mentor and his daughter were murdered here, 65 years ago. I was 17 at the time”.
“Can you see Mister Hamilton?” He asked, I hesitated for a moment unsure if I wanted to this stranger to know my secret even if it seemed that he could see, hear and even talk to spirits as well. “Yes, is he the older gentleman standing over there?” I nodded my head in the direction which the spirit of the older gentleman stood. He nodded, “I am Steven Limrac, who you are seeing is Mister. Alastair Hamilton. Have you seen his daughter Isobel, as well?”
I realized with certainty that the two spirits I had seen in my apartment were related, “Yes I believe so” I said. “Have you seen others, I mean, Other spirits?” I questioned while noticing Alastair getting closer to the two of us, which quite frankly freaked me out and I was a sure a look of fright shown on my face. Mr. Limrac seemed to notice and reached out to pat my hand which somewhat calmed me down. “Yes there are others here, all the apartments have some spirit activity, have you not noticed?”.
I shook my head slowly, “I haven’t lived here long, about three months or so”. I took a deep breath before asking what I really wanted to know since discovering that he personally knew the two spirits who I had seen in my apartment and that they had been murdered.
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Derek checked his phone for the time as he sat across from his long time friend, Marc Stevens, with whom he had served along side in the marines. The two had met at WestPoint and joined together when they graduated, out of all the friends he had, he considered Marc the closest. Although Derek had been discharged without noticeable injuries and had been working as a homicide detective since, Marc was not so lucky.
Marc had lost the lower half of his left leg in combat, had been given an immediate discharge and been struggling since it seemed. He had been in and out of physical therapy for the last 6 years. Spending 6 months in the hospital and 6 months in a wheelchair, after being discharged. His wife, Shelia, had become close to Tori, calling her almost every day for awhile during the hardest times.
“How is Tori?” Marc asked, while picking at his steak and mashed potatoes not really interested in eating, as his leg inside his prosthetic was giving him some trouble. Derek noticed the text from Tori, and replied with a quick OK, then placed his phone on the table. “I’m not sure, seemed she left work early today….I should order her something to go” Derek replied, as he raised his hand to flag down the waiter who had served them their meal.
“Shelia will get all the details for you” Marc assured, as the waiter arrived at their table and Derek ordered an orange chicken salad with a side of honey mustard dressing for Tori and Marc ordered another unsweetened iced tea. Once the waiter left, Derek nodded his head and Marc finished eating his steak, before pushing the plate away.
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I sat in the lobby for awhile with Mr. Limrac talking to him and listening to him talk to the spirit of Mr. Hamilton which really freaked me out, although I tried not to let it show. I finally bid, The two goodbye and made my way up to my apartment to lie down.
Soon after I nodded off or so it seemed, I heard the apartment door opening and someone coming in. I jolted myself awake and sat up in the bed rubbing my eyes, as I noticed Derek coming in with a box of leftovers. “Hey” He said as he noticed me sitting up in the bed, my clothes and hair a mess, “Were you asleep? I brought you some food” he lifted up the box in his hand, I had thought were leftovers from his dinner with Marc.
“Hey, Yes, Thank you” I choked out and then cleared my throat, before getting out of bed and walking into the bathroom to brush my teeth and smooth my hair.
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After I ate, Derek was already fast asleep so I laid on my side and tried to do the same, knowing I had to work early the next morning. I already told Derek I had a ride home from work the next day and would only need a ride there, He said that he could take me before He went into his own job. As I laid on my side, I noticed the bathroom light turn off and then back on.
I gasped when it happened again, “Babe, The light just turned off by itself” I cried as I tried to shake Derek awake but he wouldn’t budge. I laid frozen in fear, to scared to get up and check it out as the bathroom light shut off yet again and stayed off.
I finally drifted off to sleep
Chapter 4
“Are you ready to meet my cousin?”
I jumped slightly at Jessica’s voice behind me and nodded my head as I slowly turned around to face her. It had been a long day at work and I was more then ready to get off my feet. Jessica led the way and I followed her to her car.
“You are going to love Natalie, she’s kind of weird if you know what I mean. she’s so nice. She is my favorite cousin.” Jessica gabbed as she drove towards my building. I only half listened to her, my head was leaned back against the seat as I tried not to doze off. I think I nodded my head so she would stop talking, My head was pounding.
I glanced down at my phone and noticed that Derek texted me so I clicked on the message.
I have something to talk to you about when you get in
it read, I shot him a text back and said okay. Then I wondered what he could possibly have to talk to me about, that he couldn’t tell me over the phone. I started to panic and wondered if Jessica could tell from my face, I hoped not.
“Natalie, This is my friend I was telling you about…The one who wants to know the history” Jessica said to a petite girl with clear chocolate skin and gray eyes standing in front of me. I flinched when Jessica called me her friend but didn’t say anything to deny it. “Come in” Natalie held the door open and we followed her into her large one bed room apartment, I sat on the love seat in the corner while Jessica hugged her cousin. “I am just going to let you girls talk, this stuff freaks me out” Jessica stated walking towards the door, leaving me and Natalie alone.
“I think I have spirits haunting my apartment” I volunteered without hesitation, and then leaned back in my seat. Natalie simply nodded her head, “Have you seen them?”. “Yes, I have been seeing spirits since I was a kid” I confessed, “It freaks me out”.
Natalie walked towards the kitchen and got two bottled waters from the fridge, she handed me one and then sat down next to me. It was then I noticed a little girl in a blue dress playing with a ball in the corner, she glanced up at me and smiled. “You have a daughter?” I questioned, Natalie gasped out loud. “I did….did you see Bella”, my smile turned into a frown, what did she mean did.
“Bella was my daughter. she died, she was five. House fire” she explained, “Is she here?” she asked looking around for her daughters spirit. I nodded my head and pointed to the corner where Bella was playing. “I can’t…I can’t see her” she cried.
After calming Natalie down she told me about the entire history and I took notes, afterward she asked me if I would help her daughter and I agreed. I would try. I would try to help all the spirits. I unlocked my apartment door and was met by an angry Derek, I pushed past him and sat on the bed.
“I don’t want you talking to that old man anymore” he spat while I looked confused. “Who, Mr. Limrac?” I asked. “I don’t know his name, the old man every one says is crazy.” he replied with a smirk, that pissed me off. “Derek, he’s not crazy. He can do what I do.” I countered growing angry myself. “If he’s crazy then so am I” I screamed and stomped out of the apartment. Derek didn’t follow me.
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I walked aimlessly through the building ending in the lobby on the first floor. I found Mr Limric sitting on the bench and took the seat next to him after telling him hello.
I was sure that he could tell I had been crying as my eyes were red and swollen. I wiped my face with the back of my hand. “What is wrong miss?” he asked in a genuine tone. “People think I’m crazy… I just wish I was normal.” I confessed and then shook my head as fresh tears streamed down my face.
“Do you want to learn more about your gift” He asked and when I nodded, He handed me a piece of paper. I looked at the paper in my hand, “The name and number of a good friend of mine”. “Call her, she’s expecting your call”.
He got up and hummed as he walked out of the lobby, probably towards his apartment. I shoved the piece of paper in my pocket and glanced at my phone, I would call her tomorrow. I walked back upstairs to my own apartment.
Derek was laying on the bed when I returned on his phone but put it down when I he saw me. “I’m sorry” he said immediately, “Maybe you can introduce me to Mr. Limrac” he said and smiled when I nodded my head. “I learned the history of the building today” and to my surprise he looked generally interested, “Tell me” he prodded.
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“The building used to be a hotel, it was built for a hotel. Hotel Limrac” I began, “Wait Limrac, as in Mr. Limrac. His family owned the hotel” Derek guessed. I nodded, “Hotel Limrac opened in 1930 and has seen it’s share of tragedies before it was shut down in the 1950’s. Thirteen people were murdered during the twenty years that it was open and after the last murder it was shut down. That was in 1950.” “Do you know all the names of the people murdered?” Derek interjected, I nodded again.
“Alastair and Isobel Hamilton were murdered in 1936, they were the second people to be murdered in the history but apparently the most famous. Jessie Jopston was the first women murdered in 1939. Michele and Donna Bopson were the first couple murdered in 1932. Mickey and Dame Poole in 1945. Terrence and Melanie Cooper in 1950. Marques Freddrick in 1945. Barney and Diane Peters in 1941. Justine Markies in 1947.” I muttered reading from my notes, I glanced at Derek who nodded for me to continue.
“After the hotel was shut down, the building remained empty until the 1970’s when waterfront was opened. I don’t know about the murders, I guess that is where research comes in.”
“Maybe Mr. Limrac can help you” Derek offered, “He gave me the number of someone who can help me develop my gift” I mentioned then looked at Derek for his opinion. “You should call this women” He stated nodding.
I was going to call her, I decided.
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Can you hear me?
I heard a female voice whisper in my ear, I lifted my head up and glanced around but I didn’t see anything odd. The TV was off, so I lay back down and tried to convince myself I imagined the voice. I had just fell back to sleep when I felt hands touching my feet, frustrated I threw the blankets off and stood up.
“What? What do you want?” I yelled around my empty apartment, Derek had left after dinner to go back to his own apartment so I was all alone.
“I need help, I’m Isobel” The young female spirit materialized next to me, I jumped in fright. “Please don’t do that” I pleaded. “I’m sorry, I just…I need help” she apologized. I looked at her, her long black hair hung freely and she was wearing the same white dress I’d seen her in before. The thing I noticed most is that she looked younger then she had in the reflection, “How old are you” I gently asked. “Seventeen…My father, you’ve seen him?” she asked, I nodded. “I’m scared….He likes to wander, I don”t. I stay here” she cried, “where is he?” she looked around.
“Calm down, I am going to try to help you, what is the last thing you remember before…” I trailed off but she seemed to understand, “I was in the bathroom taking a bath. My father brought me here for my birthday because I begged him too. We were supposed to go to a play that night, but never made it. I was taking my bath and then everything went dark.” she explained looking around occasionally for her father.
“Daddy, there you are” she yelled, I jumped again as her father materialized in front of me. “Hello, Miss. Sorry if i scared you” he chuckled. “It’s okay” I mumbled. “She can hear us Daddy, maybe she’ll be the one to help us” Isobel said, “No one can help us darling, we are just stuck here like everyone else” Alastair challenged. I stood there quietly as they argued among themselves. I wasn’t sure if I could help them but I could try, the first thing I would do was call this number I had.
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Chapter 5
“Tori Lynn, We need you in customer service” the annoying voice on the intercom blared out loudly. I sighed deeply and continued to walk towards the break room to store my stuff in my locker, as I had just gotten to work and hadn’t clocked in yet. “Tori, How was your meeting with my cousin?” Jessica demanded as soon as she saw me, while I clocked in. “It went okay. I have to get up front.” I hurriedly explained as I rushed from the break room towards the front of the store. “Can we talk on your lunch” She called after me, “I have to study” I said shaking my head.
As I walked to the front of the store dodging customers, I silently hoped I would get a chance to call Christine Landers. She was the physic medium that Mr. Limrac had given me the number for. I hoped she could help me, so I could help them.
I worked tirelessly for four hours straight before I got a chance to take my lunch. I pulled my school books from my locker and settled in at a table at the back of the break room. As I stared at the page in front of me, the words blurred together.
Hello. Can you hear me?
I looked over my shoulder but didn’t see anyone, I shook my head and continued to study.
I need help. I’m lost and scared
“Where are you?” I called quietly, I knew there was a spirit in the room. I had gotten used to them calling out for me to help them, and I never knew how. Now I wanted to try.
Right here the spirit replied showing herself to me, I gasped as I took her in. She was a young girl with short brown hair and brown eyes, she was badly beaten and had a gaping hole in her head. I had never seen a spirit like this before, they usually looked normal so I was somewhat taken back. “What happened to you” I asked before glancing around the break room, making sure there wasn’t anyone around.
I don’t know, I want my parents, where are they she cried, I immediately wondered if she knew she was dead. I didn’t think I should tell her. “I don’t know where your parents are, How old are you?” I asked gently. 18, I am Avery.
Avery, I muttered to myself. Where have I heard that name before? I thought about it for a minute, Then I remembered Derek telling me about the case he is working on and it clicked. The victims name was Avery and I knew that this was his victim. I made a note, to tell him about her appearing to me.
“Where do you live? I’m going to try to find your parents” I stated, 444 Bakers Rd. I nodded and wrote down the address in my notebook, I had no idea how I was to broach the subject with her parents but I noted the address anyways. Hopefully Christine Landers would be able to give me some insight on that problem. “Do you see a light?” I asked Avery, hopefully. I watched dishearteningly as she shook her head no. “I am going to call a friend of mine, who may be able to help” I said, pulling my phone from my pocket.
“Is this Christine” I asked after dialing her number, I glanced at the clock and realized that my lunch break was almost over. “Yes, who is this?” she breathed, “Tori Lynn, Mr. Limrac gave me your number. He said you may be able to help me with my gift” I whispered into the phone, as I noticed Jessica coming in the room with another coworker. “Ah yes, Steven said you would be calling. How can I help?” she acknowledged. “I am at work right now, Can we meet tonight. Around 7?” I asked, crossing my fingers hoping she said it would be okay. “Yes that is fine, How about you come over to my house.” She said. She gave me her address which I wrote down in my notebook, and we got off the phone.
I pushed everything back in my locker and hurried out of the room to get back to work.
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“Hey babe, I need you to drive me somewhere” I confided to Derek, getting in the car and clicking my seat belt closed. I leaned over and gave him a kiss, “Please” I added. “Where?” He asked as he started the car. “Christine Landers house” I stated giving him the address so he could put it in the cars GPS system. “How was your day?” He asked as he started to drive, I glanced at the time and noted that we had a half hour before our meeting with Christine. “Interesting, Avery showed herself to me” I admitted and then glanced his way to note his reaction. “Avery, as in Avery my victim?” He asked shocked. I nodded my head, “She needs help” I disclosed.
We were silent on the rest of the drive, both of us with our own thoughts. I was thinking about helping Avery’s spirit, I wanted to cross her over but I didn’t know how. I tried the light, assuming that she needed to see it in order to cross over. That was a question, I wanted to ask Christine about.
We pulled down Christine’s street and I began to look for her address, 222, 221, 220, 219 I muttered to myself, “There it is, 217” I noted and he pulled the car in front of her house and parked. “You can come in or come back and pick me up” I offered, “I’ll come in, if that is okay” he decided. I nodded, and we both got out the car and walked up to her door. Ringing the bell, we waited until she answered.
Christine opened the door and I noticed how pretty she was and how young she looked. She was five feet tall with long blond hair and striking green eyes, she was on the heavier side but it didn’t take away from her beauty. “You must be Tori” she smiled, “Come in”. Derek and I followed her into the house and settled in the living room, Derek and I sitting together on the love seat and her in a chair next to us. “How can I help you, Tori?” she asked after I introduced myself and Derek to her and she fetched us bottles of water from the kitchen.
“I have been seeing spirits since I was a little girl” I began and continued when she nodded. “I have always just ignored them but more recently some of them having been showing themselves more aggressively towards me. I want to help them” I admitted. “Tell me about some of the spirits” she asked, interested. “Well there is Alastair and Isobel Hamilton, I believe they were murdered in the 30’s. They haunt my apartment. Then there is Avery, Derek is investigating her murder and she showed herself to me today.” I explained. “I know there are others who were murdered in my building as well” I added, as an after thought.
“Have you attempted to cross any of them” I shook my head, but remembered my attempt with Avery. “I asked Avery if she saw the light” I noted, and Christine nodded. “I just want to help these spirits, but I don’t know how”. “I can train you” she decided.
After Christine had given me a few pointers and agreed to go to Avery’s parents house with me, Derek and I left her house. “That was interesting” Derek muttered as he drive, “very” I agreed. “Is today the first time you’ve seen Avery?” Derek inquired and I nodded my head. “Hopefully won’t be the last” I noted.
Chapter 6
I had a hard time falling asleep the night before and when I finally fell into a blissfully deep sleep, it was punctured with terrible dreams. This tall pale man with short blond hair and blue eyes, filled my dream. The name Mike fluttered through my mind and I got the instinct that he was somehow related to Avery. I didn’t think he was related to her as in family wise, I got the feeling he was related to her as having done some harm to her. I didn’t usually trust my instincts, I had never been good with that sort of thing. However, I felt very strongly that I needed to trust this one.
The next morning I woke up rather grumpily, feeling anything but well rested. Derek had already left for work and I had a free day which I hadn’t had in quite awhile. I had my first of three exams in two days but I didn’t need to work today. I thought I should study but I simply couldn’t get my mind of the dream I had, It had started with Avery looking very normal. Meaning she didn’t have a hole in the middle of her head and she wasn’t beat up, she was sitting behind a desk..maybe a desk at work. She was going over a file of the pale man, maybe Mike.
It looked as if she was studying notes of some kind, written in someone elses handwriting, not her own. Then the scene changed to one quite dark, Avery was laying on the ground and her eyes were lifeless. I knew this was the day she had been murdered, there was a tall man standing over her and I couldn’t make out his features. He had a small black hand gun pointed at her head, There was loud bang as he pulled the trigger. Next he was running away from the scene, leaving Avery’s body behind and he tossed the gun in a body of water. I couldn’t tell where.
I woke up startled afterward to Avery’s spirit standing over me just staring down at me, I glanced at the clock and noticed it was four in the morning. When I looked back up her spirit was gone and I remained unsettled for the rest of the night, unable to sleep.
After laying in bed for two hours, with my mind racing. I finally pulled my tired body from the bed at six and jumped into what I hoped would be a relaxing steaming hot shower. So it was most unsettling to find, as I was washing my hair that I was not alone in the bathroom. “What?” I shouted from the shower as I felt an unseen energy nudge against me, I stepped back and threw my hands up to shield my body from the dead.
Help me, Please
“Can I finish here please” I snapped in a biting tone as I began to rinse out my hair without my hands, still trying to cover myself not knowing where the spirit was. I began to wash my body when I assumed the spirit had left the bathroom, I didn’t feel her there anymore so I hoped I was right. I grabbed my fluffy white towel and wrapped it snugly around my body before exiting the shower, then I grabbed another for my long hair and secured it tightly on top of my head.
When I exited the bathroom the atmosphere felt peaceful so I knew there wasn’t a spirit around. I breathed an audible sigh of relief and dried my body before getting dressed in loose fitting clothes. As I pulled my books and notebook from my bag, preparing to study for my first of three exams I had later in the week, I had an feeling to call Derek. I didn’t know why but the words Call Derek NOW wouldn’t leave my mind, and I felt it was really urgent.
Deciding for once in my life to trust my instincts, I picked up the phone and scrolled my call list until I found Derek’s work number, then pressed send. The phone rang six times before voicemail kicked in and I hung up. I nearly had placed my phone down when the same thought fluttered through my mind again, along with the numbers 211. Thinking those three numbers had some significance to something, I jotted them down and dialed Derek’s cell. While I waited for him to pick up the phone, I started writing down some notes of the dream I had. I didn’t know why I didn’t do it when I first woke up.
As I was making notes and trying to make sense of it all, Derek finally picked up the phone. “Babe I’m in the middle of something” He barked into the phone, “Avery….Mike….Murder….211…We need to talk” I said quickly offended by his tone. “What?” he asked in a more pleasant tone then he initially answered the phone with, “I had a dream about Avery. I think someone named Mike had something to do with the murder, he’s pale with blond hair and blue eyes. Did she have a boyfriend and if so what is his name?” I demanded.
Derek sighed deeply before answering, and I got the feeling he didn’t really want to tell me. “James Nelson, he’s a suspect” He finally said. I tossed the name around in my head for a minute, “Does he have blond hair and blue eyes” I asked, but Derek said he didn’t. “He’s not the one who killed her, I am sure of it”.
Derek said he had to go and I heard a dial tone in my ear, I decided to put away my books for now because I couldn’t concentrate and I knew Avery would be back.
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Turns out I was wrong, Avery didn’t come back and I was almost done preparing dinner when Derek came through the door. He barely put his stuff in the closet and taken off his jacket before he started shooting off questions. “Who is mike? and how are you sure that James had nothing to do with her death?”. I stirred the sauce I was making and thought carefully before answering, “I had a dream about a Mike. At least I think that is the name of the tall pale man with blond hair and blue eyes, I am not sure. This Mike, has something to do with her…something to do with harming her, but I am not sure if he is the one who actually killed her. The one with the blond hair and blue eyes, she was looking into him for something, I saw her at an office.” He nodded his head, “We checked her office but didn’t find anything” He confirmed.
He sat down and looked at me, “I know you want to help but I don’t want you involved. It is to dangerous” He finally stated. “Derek, Avery wants me involved. I think she’s the one who put the dream in my head.” I argued, I really didn’t want to be involved but I felt that Avery wasn’t going to let me off the hook that easily. Derek was shaking his head, “No, No way” he said firmly. I decided to drop it for now.
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After we had eaten, I studied for a little while or tried to but my mind kept fluttering back to Avery and this Mike character. I pulled out my laptop and typed in Avery Wilkins in the search bar to see what I came up with, the name Mike Charleston came up with her name as one of the pages, it was news article. I clicked on it, while skimming the article the connection became clear. Mike Charleston was her ex boyfriend whom was abusive, she had a order of protection out on him. The article had shown a picture of him, He was indeed tall and pale with blond hair and blue eyes. The most troubling thing was there was an active warrant out for his arrest, I was now quite positive that he defiantly had something to do with her murder.
I couldn’t even say for sure how I came to that conclusion but in my mind it was a fact, was he the one who pulled the trigger. I couldn’t say that for sure, but he could have ordered her death and paid someone else to do it. I knew he had money, as it was stated in the article as well and he had motive. Unable to leave it alone, I decided to pester Derek with details and hoped those details led to an arrest of both Mike and the person who actually pulled the trigger.
I was determined to get to the bottom of her murder and cross her over, both for her sake and my own.
Chapter 7
As I drove to Avery’s parents house, I went over the things I wanted to say in my head. I briefly glanced at Christine who sat in the passenger seat and noticed her staring straight a head in some sort of trance. I slowed down for a stop sign and noticed this was the street we were supposed to make a left on. Avery’s parents house should be at the next corner, I pulled up to a nice blue house that sat on the corner lot and parked in front. Christine still looked like she was in a trance so before I opened my door, I nudged her shoulder a bit.
I followed Christine up the walkway and waited until she rang the door bell. We both decided that she should take the lead since she had the most experience with this sort of thing. “Yes, May I help you?” asked the tall blond women who answered the door. “Hi, My name is Christine and this is my associate Tori. We are helping the police with the murder of you daughter, Avery. May we talk with you about that?” Christine asked. I was fully aware that this women may turn us away, but to my surprise she opened the door and nodded at us to follow her inside.
As soon as we stepped inside the house and followed who I assumed was Mrs. Wilkins, Avery’s mother, into the living room where she greeted, Mr. Wilkins. Christine reached her hand out to shake Avery’s fathers hand. “I am Christine, a professional physic medium and this is Tori, also a physic medium. We are here on behalf of the police who are investigating your daughters murder”. Mr and Mrs. Wilkins nodded their heads and motioned for us to take seats on a worn blue couch.
Although Christine and I both agreed for her to take the lead, Avery’s spirit kept knocking against my energy. “Your daughter came to me” I blurted out. Mrs. Wilkins took in a sharp breath next to me as tears brimmed her eyes. “Is..Is Avery here now?” she asked in a low voice, I breathed in deep before nodding my head yes. Christine looked at me before turning to Avery’s parents and pulling out a small notepad. “Tori has been in contact with Avery’s spirit. She has not yet crossed over and Avery has asked Tori to come and talk to you”. “Can you tell me about Mike?” Christine asked, “Mike is Avery’s ex boyfriend. She had a order of protection on him. Is he the one who killed our daughter?” Mr Wilkins questioned taking the lead.
“I had a vision of a blond haired man, shooting your daughter. Does this Mike, have blond hair?” I asked and breathed in deep when Mrs. Wilkins nodded her head. “Do the police have any leads?” Mr. Wilkins asked in a deep booming voice. I paused for a minute because I really had no idea but I had to reassure her parents and put them at ease. So I nodded my head which I hoped wouldn’t back fire on me.
Ten minutes later we said our goodbyes and I followed Christine back to the car. “That went well” I said as I opened the passenger side door and got in, Christine started the engine and turned back on to main street. As she drove, I stared out the window at the passing trees which were bare as snow clung on to the branches.
Chapter 8
I dragged myself into the house after taking the bus home in the middle of a blizzard, all I wanted to do is get these boots off and soak my feet. I sat on the bed after removing my boots and coat. Pealing my wet socks off my throbbing feet, I balled up and tossed them aside. I placed my feet inside of the bowl of hot water and sighed at how good it felt. I removed my notebook from my bag and opened it to study. Finals were the following week and then I had a three week break until the next semester started.
Banging in the bathroom startled me as I was alone, it sounded like a ball hitting the wall. I sighed deeply irritated that I couldn’t get a break for one damn night. I stood up and stepped from the water onto the carpet, I started to the bathroom unsure of who I would find. To my surprise sitting on the floor in the same blue dress I had seen her in, in Natalie’s apartment, was Bella.
She was throwing a little blue ball against the wall and letting it bounce back into her hands. As if sensing me, Bella looked up and gave me a wide smile. I smiled back saddened that this little girl had lost her life at such a young age. I reached out my hand for her to take, she hesitated then reached for it. As her hand lay on top of mine, I felt the cold sensation in my bones but ignored it as I led her from the bathroom towards the bed.
“Bella, where is your mom?” I asked as I studied her beautiful chocolate skin and silky black hair braided down her back. Despite the fact of her being dead, her gray eyes sparkled with happiness. She’s sad, she’s always sad. I don’t want her to be sad, It’s not her fault. Bella stated with a frown, I was playing with fire, its my fault.
“Bella, you didn’t know. I am going to help you, and make your mom happy. Shes sad because you are not at peace.”
I pulled out my phone to call Natalie and have her come to my apartment, I was finally going to fulfill my promise.
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Natalie arrived ten minutes later and I put my notebook to the side, as she sat on the bed. “Would you like to talk to your daughter, then we can send her to heaven?” I asked Natalie. She nodded as tears streamed down her face. “Go ahead, she can hear you” I urged gently.
“Bella Baby, I love you. I’m sorry mama wasn’t there the night you died. You don’t belong here, you’ve been with me since that night. Baby you gotta do what this lady tells you and be at peace. Thats what mama wants, for you to be at peace.”
I’m scared mama, with you I feel safe. Its my fault i’m gone, don’t be sad. Bella reached up to brush one of Natalie’s tears and she gasped. “She said she’s scared to go, that she feels its her fault shes gone and not to be sad. Then she touched your face.” I said, as more tears fell from her face.
“Bella its not your fault, you were so young. I love you so much but you have to go, please go for mama” Natalie whispered, Bella redundantly nodded her head. I love you mama, we’ll be together again she said as she wrapped her arms around Natalie.
“She said she loves you and you’ll be with her again. Are you ready?” I asked Natalie and she nodded. I closed my eyes and spoke directly to Bella.
“Bella what do you see around you, is there a light? it should be bright” I asked. Yes, I see grandma standing in it “Go into the light, baby girl”. Tell my mama I’ll be okay now
When I opened my eyes, Bella was gone and Natalie was crying hard into her arm. I placed my hand on her arm, “she’s gone, she’s with her grandma” I whispered surprised that I was crying as well.
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Later that night after Natalie thanked me a million times for helping her daughter, I settled under the covers and for the first time in a long time fell asleep with a big smile on my face. I knew at that point, I had to cross the others as well.
