Invisible Terror Collection (2 page)

When Rebecca had called Julie to tell her about the visit from the Ascension Lady and the invitation to participate in a séance, Julie thought it would be fun to grab the rest of the guys and go for a drive. So here they were, driving up a steep hill and slowly approaching the Hawthorne mansion.

Becka looked out her window. For a haunted house, it was a little disappointing. She’d expected something covered in weeds, unpainted, and overflowing with cobwebs and banging shutters. Granted, the place was two-and-a-half stories high and had pitched roofs sloping every which direction, but instead of looking like a home for the Addams Family, it looked more like it belonged to the Brady Bunch.

As if reading her thoughts, Julie explained. “They pay a gardener and housekeeper to keep it spruced up, just in case someone ever wants to buy it.”

“It’s been vacant all these years?” Becka asked.

Philip answered. “My dad’s a real estate agent. They get offers all the time, but they always fall through.” 

Krissi giggled, “Right after they spend a few minutes alone in there.”

“You’re going to help, aren’t you?” Julie asked. “You know, take part in that séance?”

“You’re going to a séance?” Krissi asked nervously.

Philip joined in. “Hey, maybe we can all go.” After all Rebecca had been through, attending a séance was not at the top of her “Things I Gotta Do” list. Ryan, on the other hand, was silent and noncommittal.

“Pull over here,” Philip said, pointing to the curb. “Let Becka get out and take a look.”

Ryan brought his white vintage Mustang to a stop directly across the street from the mansion. Everyone piled out except Krissi.

“Aren’t you coming?” Philip asked.

“I’m not feeling so great. I think I’ll sit this one out.”

“Come on,” Philip insisted. The others joined in until Krissi finally gave in. “All right, all right,” she whined as she crawled out of the car, “but if we die, you’re all going to live to regret it.” No one was quite sure what she meant, but that was nothing unusual when it came to Krissi.

As they crossed the street, Ryan fell in beside Becka. Although he wasn’t officially her boyfriend, he was definitely a boy and he was definitely a friend — maybe her best. She liked everything about Ryan Riordan. But it wasn’t just his thick, black hair, his sparkling blue eyes, or that heartbreaker smile of his. It was the fact that he was always there for her. And if she needed proof, all she had to do was look at the scar on his forehead — a memento from their last encounter with the Society.

The group had just crossed the street and was standing on the walk in front of the house when Julie came to a stop. “Listen

… do you hear that?”

Everyone grew quiet. It was faint, but there was no missing the low, quiet whistling — like wind blowing through a screen window, but deeper. It almost sounded like moaning.

“Guys …” Krissi sounded uneasy. “I don’t think this is such a — ”

“Shhh!” Philip scowled.

Julie took a step or two closer. “It’s coming from over there.” She pointed at the massive brick chimney that ran the height of the house.

“Maybe it’s just the wind,” Krissi offered feebly. “You know, blowing down the chimney or something.”

Becka looked at the oak trees towering over their heads. There wasn’t a single leaf stirring. She glanced back at the house — and then she saw it. In the second-story window. “Look!” But by the time they’d turned, it was gone.

“What was it?” Ryan asked.

“A person. At least, I think it was. I only saw her for a second.”

“Probably just the housekeeper,” Julie said, not sounding all that convinced.

“I don’t think so. It looked like — like a child. A little girl with long black hair.”

The group exchanged nervous glances. Becka frowned.

“Why? What’s that mean?”

“Guys …” It was Krissi again. She was leaning on Philip, slightly stooped. “I don’t feel so good.”

“What’s going on?” Becka repeated. She looked at Ryan, but he gave no answer.

Krissi was clutching her stomach now, breathing deeply. Julie crossed to her. “You going to be okay? Kris, are you — ” Krissi shook her head and suddenly convulsed, once, twice — until she dropped her head and vomited.

Becka stood, staring.

Krissi caught her breath, then retched again.

“Come on,” Ryan said when Krissi had finally finished. “Let’s get out of here.”

       Krissi looked up and nodded in gratitude as Julie handed her a tissue to wipe her mouth. With Philip on one side and Julie on the other, they helped Krissi back to the car. Ryan turned and followed.

“Ryan …” Becka tugged at his arm as they walked. “There’s a little girl up there — I’m sure of it. Don’t we want to see if she needs help?” They arrived at the car, and Julie and Philip helped Krissi into the back.

“Ryan?” Becka repeated. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?” He opened the passenger door for her, then finally answered.

He was clearly unnerved. “You know the person that was murdered there? The one who’s supposed to be haunting the place?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s a little girl.”

Chapter 2

2:04 p.m.

Just tell me how you can be so sure,” Ryan said as the surf washed up and swirled around their bare feet. The water was chilly, but it was still a great afternoon for walking on the beach … especially for Becka … especially with Ryan. Muttly ran ahead, barking and attacking the foam bubbles with all of his puppy fury.

Ryan continued. “People have been saying that house is haunted for years, and now you come along and say it’s just a hoax?”

Becka shook her head. “That’s not what I’m saying. I believe there’s something there. Absolutely. I just don’t think it’s the ghost of some little girl.”

“But you saw her,” Ryan insisted. “You above all people should believe — ”

“I saw something, yes. Maybe it was only a reflection. I don’t know, maybe it was just the housekeeper.” Ryan snorted. “Come on, Beck. That was no housekeeper.” Becka knew he was right. She also knew it was time to shoot straight with him. But how to begin? She watched Muttly.

       The foam he’d been chasing was suddenly being sucked out to sea. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop the little guy from pursuing it. He ran after the foam, barking for all he was worth, until he looked up and saw a giant wall of water towering above him.

He tried to turn, but it was too late. The water crashed down on him, twirling and tumbling him like a stuffed toy, until it finally threw him back up on the beach. He coughed and snorted, looking around all confused.

Becka tried not to laugh. “Ohhh, poor Muttly.” She slapped her leg. “Come here, boy, come on.” The dog leaped to his feet and bounded toward her as if nothing had happened. She knelt down and patted him a few times until he spotted another clump of foam and raced off for another attack.

Becka rose and took a deep breath. “Ryan … you’ve been reading the Bible we gave you, right?”

He nodded. “Pretty good stuff.”

“Have you run across the part that says if we’re away from the body then we’re at home with the Lord?”

Ryan frowned. “Meaning?”

“Meaning that once we die, we go straight to be with the Lord. No stopovers at haunted houses. No guest appearances at séances or with Ouija boards. Just death. Then God and judgment.”

“So what you’re saying is … ?”

“That could not have been a little girl’s spirit.”

“Beck — ” there was the slightest trace of impatience in his voice — “how can you deny what you saw with your own eyes?”

“I can only go by what the Bible says.”

Ryan picked up a stone to skip. It was obvious he didn’t want this to become their first argument. “Look, the Bible makes a lot of sense — especially what it says about Jesus and stuff. But

… I mean, it doesn’t have to be a hundred percent right about everything.”

       “Why not?”

“Why not?” Ryan paused, trying to put his thoughts into words. “Well … it was a long time ago.”

“But if we can’t believe what it says about everything, how can we believe what it says about anything?” He opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came.

Becka reached for his hand, making it clear that she wasn’t trying to preach. A while back he had started to read the New Testament. Every once in a while they talked about God and Jesus, but it was never a forced thing. Usually Ryan would just have a question, and Becka would do her best to come up with an answer.

But now … now they were entering an area in which she definitely had more experience. You don’t grow up in the remote Amazon jungles around natives practicing voodoo and witchcraft without learning something about the darker side of the supernatural. Then of course there were the more recent attacks from the Society. Both she and Scott had learned a lot. Becka took a deep breath and tried again. “Ryan … I believe what I saw in the window was not a person.”

Ryan nodded. “Agreed.”

“But it was not some departed spirit, either.”

“Then what?”

“My best guess? It was a demon.”

Ryan threw her a look.

She shrugged. “That’s exactly what we ran into when Scott was fighting the Society’s Ouija board. He thought it was our dad talking to him, but it was nothing more than some demon pretending to be him. My dad’s in heaven with God.” Ryan looked out over the water. He didn’t agree, but he didn’t disagree, either. “And … what exactly do you mean by

‘demon’?”

“Angels that got thrown out of heaven when they followed Satan.”

       Ryan looked at her like she had to be joking.

She wasn’t.

They walked in silence a long moment, neither sure what the other was thinking. Finally Ryan spoke. “But … if you saw a little girl in the window, and it was the same little girl others have been seeing for years, and if a little girl was murdered in that house …”

“But how do we know?” Becka asked. Ryan looked at her and she continued. “Isn’t it just like what you were saying about the Bible? If it happened so long ago, how do we know anybody was even murdered there?”

“That’s completely different.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Ryan repeated. “Well, because … because it is, that’s why.”

Becka grinned. She had him and he knew it. He frowned, then slowed to a stop. “There is one way, though … one way to find out.”

She searched his face. “How’s that?”

“Come on.” He turned and pulled her toward the car as he called over his shoulder, “Let’s go, Muttly! Come on, fella.” The dog gave a couple of yaps, then raced after them.

“Ryan, where are we going? … Ryan?”

He gave her a smile. “It’s time you and I do a little ghost hunting.”

**********

2:30 p.m.

Darryl, Scott’s nerdy friend, approached Cornelius’s perch and began teasing the parrot with his finger. Cornelius bobbed up and down, giving an occasional
CRUAWK
or
SQUAWK
of irritation. Darryl paid little attention. “So you really want to get even with the Society?” his voice squeaked. Darryl’s voice always squeaked. Today it sounded like part squealing tires and part fingernails on a blackboard.

       “Absolutely,” Scott said as he plopped on his bed and began cracking sunflower seeds between his teeth. “I’m tired of being their punching bag. I don’t know what the Ascension Lady is up to with her séance stuff, but it’s time for a little ‘eye for an eye.’ ”

Darryl gave a loud sniff and continued teasing Cornelius.

“How’re you going to do it?”

Scott cracked another sunflower seed. “Uh, Darryl, I wouldn’t be doing that to Cornelius if I were you. He packs a pretty mean bite.”

Darryl shrugged and repeated the question. “How’re you going to get even?”

“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. The surest revenge is to go for the leader.”

“You mean Brooke?”

Scott shook his head. “She’s pretty much out of the picture since the kidnapping. I’m talking the Ascension Lady.” Darryl’s eyes widened in surprise. “Priscilla Bantini?” Scott nodded.

Darryl gave a nervous sniff. “I don’t know. She’s pretty heavy-duty.”

“So much the better.” Scott cracked another seed.

“But … I mean, she knows stuff.”

“You’re saying she’s psychic?”

“For starters, yeah. How can you pull off something on someone who knows everything?”

“I’m not sure.” He reached for another handful of seeds. “The trick is to find a weakness.”

“Good luck.” Darryl pushed up his glasses. “Between her psychic abilities, her magic potions, and her astrology charts, she’s got everything pretty well covered.”

“Astrology charts?” Scott stopped cracking the seeds. “She’s an astrology nut?”

“The biggest. She claims it’s her ‘insight to the future.’ ” 

“So what does she use? Books and charts and stuff?” Darryl turned back to Cornelius and resumed teasing the bird. “It’s all done on computer.”

“On computer, huh?” Scott’s mind started turning.

“What are you thinking?”

“Your cousin, the computer hack …”

“Hubert?”

“You think he might want to help us out again?”

“Depends.” He looked back to Scott. “What’s up?” Scott rose to his feet and crossed over to his own computer at the desk. “I’m not sure. Let me check with Z first, see what he knows about astrology.”

“You’re going to talk to Z? Now?” There was no missing the interest in Darryl’s voice. Z was a mystery. The man (or woman — they really didn’t know) had become Scott’s private source of information on the occult. Z knew everything. And not just about the occult. Sometimes he knew about their own personal lives, things only family would know — which often gave Scott and Becka the willies. But Z would never reveal his identity. They’d even tried to track him down once, but with little success.

Z was always one step ahead.

Darryl pushed up his glasses and gave another obnoxious sniff. “Doesn’t he, like, you know, just talk to you at night?” Scott snapped on the computer. “Usually … but I can still leave a message.”

Darryl nodded, then suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream as he grabbed his finger. “OWWWW!”

“SQUAWK.
MAKE MY DAY, PUNK, MAKE MY DAY!” Scott looked up from the computer and chuckled. “I told you not to tease my bird.”