Deadly Chaos (22 page)

“I died. My spirit was being ripped from my body. She stood watching with a coyote at her side.

“You’ve had more than one dream?”

He nodded. “She died in the other one. There’s more to Chaos than we know. That’s the coyote. It’s crafty and conniving.”

“Maybe it’s not Chaos that is the danger but rather the spirit at her side. The spirit we’re going to get rid of tonight.”

It made sense to him. “Bill?”

Linda nodded. “He’s attached himself to her.”

“Then we have to protect her from that spirit. He’s a danger to us all and he’s not what we think.”

She put a warm hand on his arm. “You’ll protect us. It’s your gift, Dakota. You’ll keep her safe and be there for her when she needs you the most. I don't think today is that day.”

“You don't think he'll come?”

“Oh, he’ll come. I just don't think her truest test will happen tonight. Everyone, come together and hold hands,” she called out. The team gathered around her quickly. Everyone was on edge and anxious to get started. “Repeat after me,

The light of the universe surrounds us

The love of the universe enfolds us

The power of the universe protects us

The presence of the universe watches over us

Wherever we are, God is

And where God is, all is well.”

Dakota watched Chaos speak the words and wondered if she believed what she was saying.

“We call to you, Bill. I know you're never far from Chaos. We offer our energy to you so you can make yourself known.”

Dakota felt the hairs on his arms tickle. The fire in his belly started to warn him. Bill was coming. He watched Chaos for signs. She looked calm, confident. She trusted them, he realized. Somewhere in the few short days they'd known her, they'd earned her trust. With that trust came loyalty. He knew with certainty that she’d do whatever she could to keep them safe, even if it meant surrendering herself. That knowledge scared him more than anything.

“He’s here,” Sheila said. “I can hear him. He’s wondering why there are so many people. He’s afraid.”

“He’s in the room with us?” Linda asked.

“I’m not sure. I think he’s upstairs.”

“Bill,” Linda said, “If you’re here with us right now, please make a sound. Please let us know. We’d like to speak with you.”

Dakota watched Chaos for signs that Bill was with them. If he showed himself to anyone, it’d be her. Her hands fisted in her lap, she sat ramrod stiff in her chair waiting, expecting, and probably dreading. He couldn’t blame her. He knew what she was going through. Facing your attacker was the hardest thing he’d ever done - well, that and surviving him. A loud crash upstairs pulled his attention away from Chaos.

“He’s here,” she said.

Dakota smelled him first. An overpowering cologne. Chaos smelled it too. He could tell by the way she wrinkled her nose. She sat up straighter as if to say, "Come and get me." He really liked that about her. She didn't cave to any challenge. He heard footsteps across the floor over their heads.

“Linda, should we go upstairs?” Kat asked.

“No we have cameras up there. Let’s see if he’ll come to us.”

Dakota watched Chaos. She looked like she was planning her next move. She was calm as if playing a game of chess. “Chaos, what do you think? Should a team go up there?”

“No. He’s playing games.”

He saw her head jerk back. She yelped and jumped up. “You son of a bitch, show yourself.”

“What just happened?” Linda asked.

“He hit me.” She rubbed her cheek where she’d felt the impact. “How can he be upstairs and down here at the same time?” Chaos asked.

Linda didn’t answer. She closed her eyes as if she were trying to listen to something.

“It’s colder in here,” Dakota said. “He’s drawing our energy.”  He gripped the edge of his chair and waited for the spirit to strike again. It all made sense now. Chaos wasn’t the danger that his dream warned him about. Dead Bill was the danger. He’d gotten it all wrong. “Let me see your face.” Dakota went to her. With the flashlight on her cheek he could see the welts. “You should probably get this on camera, Kat. You okay, Chaos?” He wrapped an arm around her to stop her trembling. He could feel her heart racing.

“I’m not afraid,” she said, stepping out of his embrace. “I’m pissed.”

“Good, it’s better than being scared.” Upstairs, they heard something crash to the floor.

“We should leave,” she said. “I should leave, before he destroys Linda’s home.”

“It’s just a few dishes, Chaos. Nothing that can’t be replaced. Unlike you.” He reached out and took her hand.

“What’s going on with you?”

Dakota read the question in her eyes. She could sense the change in him. He no longer felt like he needed to be on guard around her. Linda was right. Chaos wasn’t a risk to him and she wasn’t going to die. It was Bill and they were going to take care of him tonight. “I just realized I’ve been wrong about something.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you later. Ready to continue?”

“Bring it on.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Dead Time

Another dish crashed on the kitchen floor. Chaos winced. “Dammit. He’s destroying your home.” It was ticking her off.

“Come on, Sheila. We’re going upstairs,” Kat said. She grabbed a handheld video camera and took the lens cap off the digital camera hanging around her neck.

“What are you going to do?” Kat looked like she was pissed and Chaos didn’t like the idea of them splitting up. Bill was up to something. He’d never behaved like this before. She didn’t trust it.

“We’re going to take the camera and try to drive him down here.”

“Stay in communication,” Linda said.

Chaos watched them head up the stairs, the dim light of the recording equipment illuminating their way.

“What if it isn’t him?” Chaos asked. There’d been something else in the room with her the last time, a dark shadow and a mist. Maybe she was being stalked by more than one person. “What if it’s not Bill?”

“My home is protected. Nothing is allowed in here that wasn’t invited. I invited Bill. He’s here.”

“So now what?”

“Now we wait.”

Dakota moved to the end of the couch. “Something doesn’t feel right. I want you on the couch by me.”

She didn’t know what had changed for him, why he was suddenly accepting their obvious attraction, but it felt nice. The barrier was down between them. The sexual tension still vibrated like a hot wire but she didn’t feel like he was pushing her away. Quite the opposite actually, he was protective and comforting. It was the best feeling she’d ever experienced and it wasn’t hers to keep. She couldn’t lean on him. He was in danger every second he was with her. Death and mayhem followed her and she wouldn’t let Dakota be another casualty. Dead Bill was probably gunning for him and curse or no curse, bad things happened to people she cared about. “I’m fine over here. Linda, I wish you would tell me what needs to be done to get rid of him and then leave me to do it. It’s too dangerous.” Upstairs, they heard another loud crash and a scream. “That was Sheila.”

“Dakota,” Sheila popped in on the walkie. “I think you should come up here.” Dakota glanced at Linda and she nodded.

Chaos’s heart jumped in her chest. She steeled herself against it. Bill was separating them. She was sure of that. “He’s trying to split us up.”

“Why do you think that, Chaos?” Linda asked.

She paused and realized she couldn’t come up with a logical reason why. Nothing made sense. She just felt it in her gut. Dead Bill was messing with them. “I just do.”

“I’m going up,” Dakota announced.

He had on his fierce protective face that included deep furrows in his brow. Chaos knew she wouldn’t be able to talk him out of it. These people were his family and he’d die protecting them.

“I’m gonna go take care of this son of a bitch.” He turned to Chaos. “I’ll only be seconds away. Stay here. Don’t leave Linda’s side.”

She didn’t know if Linda was supposed to keep her safe or if she was supposed to keep Linda safe. It didn’t matter. She rose from her chair to go stand beside Linda. “I won’t.”

Dakota disappeared up the stairs. Chaos listened for some kind of sign that everything was okay upstairs. Nothing. Dead silence, except for the beating of her own heart. “Why did you let him go upstairs? He would have stayed if you’d asked him to.”

“You already know the answer to that, Chaos. He’s safer up there. That’s why you let him go without a fight. It’s you Bill wants. It is going to come down to the two of us, Chaos. Are you ready for that?”The meter sounded. “Are you with us now, Bill?” Linda asked.

Chaos watched the meter light up again. Chills zipped up her spine. The hairs on her heck and arms stood on end. As cliché as it was, that was the reaction her body was having.

“Then let’s get right to the point, one blip for yes and two for no. Do you understand?”

It sounded once and then went silent.

“Is your name Carl?” They waited only a second before he answered. “Two blips. Great.”

“Can you show yourself?” Chaos asked. The meter lit up once. She waited but he didn’t show up. “Asshole. Will you show yourself?” The lights blinked twice. “No. Okay.” She looked at Linda for what to do next.

“Do you know you’re dead?” The meter went crazy. They watched it light up and beep for a full minute.

“He’s in a rage,” Chaos said. She could practically feel his anger in the air around them. It pushed at her. Her heart beat, a jackhammer in her chest.

“If you don’t stop that noise now,” Linda said. “I’m turning the meter off.”

The noise continued as if he hadn’t heard her or didn’t care. Linda rose from her chair to turn off the K2. As she reached for it Chaos saw her stumble back. She landed awkwardly in the chair. “What happened?”

Linda straightened her glasses and shifted on the chair. “He pushed me.”

A door slammed upstairs. Something crashed to the floor. Chaos heard yelling and Kat screamed. Linda started singing.

Chaos struggled to listen to whatever was going on upstairs. “What are you singing?”

“A hymn. It popped into my head.”

Chaos heard the clip of Kat’s boots over their heads. The steps stopped. The air in the basement became almost unbearably heavy, as if someone or something was pushing down on them. It made her skin crawl and the hairs on her arms and neck stood on end. The house was silent except for Linda’s soft singing. Like standing in the eye of a hurricane, Chaos waited for all hell to break loose. Dead Bill wasn’t done with them. Not yet.

Her walkie beeped. “Everything okay down there?”

“It’s awfully still, Dakota.”

“Yeah, I don’t like it.”

A loud roar filled the house. “What is that?”

“It sounds like there’s a tornado in Linda’s meditation room upstairs. We’re going to check it out. You okay?”

Bill was drawing them further away. He was definitely separating them. Why? What did he think he could accomplish when she was alone? She glanced at Linda, Still singing, her eyes were closed, a look of deep concentration on her face. “Yeah, we’re fine.” Let Bill separate them. Let him think he was getting his way.

Chaos put her hand on Linda’s arm. The singing stopped. Her eyes popped open. “He doesn’t want to cross over.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was inside his thoughts, his energy. He knows he’s dead and he’s furious with you. He is completely fixated. Nothing else matters to him except vengeance on you.” Linda raised her hands and held her head. She squeezed and groaned.

Chaos had never seen anything like it. Was Bill trying to get inside her head? “Linda, what’s wrong?”

“My head hurts. I need my pain medication.”

“For what?”

“Brain tumor. Cancer. I’m dying, Chaos.”

“Yeah, right,” Chaos laughed. Linda was one of the most vital people she’d ever met. “I’m not leaving you alone. Dakota said to stick together so you can get your aspirin or whatever, later.” She looked at Linda. In the light of her headlamp, her face was the color of dryer lint. Even in the darkness, Chaos could see Linda was telling the truth. She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. The air rushed out of her. A deep pain filled the space.

“Will you get my meds?”

“No.” Chaos couldn’t believe she was denying a dying woman her pain medication. “We can’t separate. I’ll ask Dakota to get them. Does he know?”

“He knows.”

Chaos felt her heart break. Linda was the mother Dakota had never had. She’d helped him find purpose and meaning for his life. He must be devastated. He’d never let on that anything was wrong with Linda. “Sheila and Kat?”

“No.”

“How long?”

Linda didn’t answer. Maybe she didn’t want to talk about it. “Linda?”

“He’s here.” Linda rose from her wooden armchair and pointed to the stairwell.

Chaos didn’t see anything. Why isn’t he showing himself? she wondered. She wanted to get this over with and get Linda the help she needed. “Show yourself , Bill. You fucking coward.” Anger usually helped him gain strength. She’d give him her anger and help him manifest. It was a dangerous approach. He could get too strong, but Linda needed help.

“He won’t.” She wavered in front of the chair as if standing took too much energy. “He needs energy to manifest and he’d rather use it to cause trouble. And he likes moving around unseen. He knows it frightens you.”

“I’m not afraid of him.” She wasn’t. Not anymore.

“Maybe you should be.” Linda raised her arms up toward the ceiling and started singing again.

Chaos saw a dark mass dash past her. It slammed into Linda. She watched in horror as Linda stumbled back. Her foot clipped the chair. Chaos lunged forward to catch her. Linda’s head caught the arm of the chair and Chaos heard a pop. She caught Linda as she crumpled to the ground. Cradling Linda’s head and keeping the shadow in her periphery, she filled her lungs and yelled for Dakota.

He was there instantly. His long hair blew behind him like he stood in a windstorm. Shimmers of energy radiated off of him like the flames from a sparkler. It was almost too bright to look at. Chaos pointed to the back of the room. She couldn’t see Bill any longer but she knew he was there, crouched in the darkness waiting for a moment to strike. Before Chaos could look away, he was gone. She frowned. Where did he go? She looked at Dakota. His eyes were wide with surprise. Fear flashed over his face, then hate. Chaos gasped. A storm cloud of panic, fear, and fury engulfed her. Chaos saw Bill in Dakota’s eyes. She watched as he slowly looked around the room, the energy still emanating from him. She saw Bill’s evil smile on Dakota’s face. “You’re mine,” he hissed. It was Bill’s voice. Terror raked her spine.