Ghoul of My Dreams (Larue Donavan Series Book 4) (20 page)

Chapter 23

The ghosts stood beside me.

“Larue, what are you going to do?” Marilyn asked in her panicked voice. “I’m so nervous.”

I scanned my surroundings to see if the shadow was getting ready to strike again. It was watching and waiting for the right moment. It would toy with me and make me feel somewhat safe again and then it would pounce.

“The next time it tries something, I am going to get it.” Roger pumped his fist in the air.

I waved my hands. “Everyone try to stay calm. I’m calling Stone so we can go back to Elisa’s house and do this.”

After talking with Stone and convincing him we had to do this right away, I called Elisa and arranged another meeting. It was a good thing she was so understanding. I walked over to the window to check outside. There was still no sign of Mindy or Callahan. I had really made them mad this time. I watched for Stone and hoped the dark shadow didn’t tackle me from behind. Every few minutes, I peeked over my shoulder. The not knowing when it would strike was the worst.

Just when I was ready to give up on Stone, I saw his car pull up in front of the store. I unlocked the door, hurried out, and locked it back behind me. After a quick glance around for Callahan or Mindy, I ran to his car and jumped in.

“You look like hell,” he said.

“Thanks,” I said and motioned ahead. “Let’s get out of here.”

“What happened?” he asked, as he pulled away from the curb.

I explained what had transpired with Callahan and the shadow attacking me.

“I should have known not to leave you alone. This thing is getting worse.” Stone made a turn.

“I don’t want to see what it’s fully capable of,” Marilyn said from the back seat.

We headed out of the downtown section toward the house. Clouds formed in the distance, as if an omen of what was to come. Everything I saw in town reminded me of either Mindyor Callahan. Had I ruined our friendships
?
 

“You know, I think that car might be following us?” Stone said.

I adjusted the side mirror for a better view. “The black one?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

“I’ll keep an eye on it.” Roger leaned forward in the seat.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “Why would anyone be following us? It’s not like the demon can drive.”

“It can’t drive, can it?” Roger asked.

“No, of course not. Unless it has taken over someone’s body.”

“You mean possessed them?” Marilyn’s voice shot up.

I nodded. “Yeah. Something like that.”

That got me thinking, but I shook off the thought.

We finally arrived at Elisa’s house. Stone and I hurried to the front door with the ghosts right behind us. I halfway had thought they might stay in the car. I kept thinking that, but it never happened. Why did I keep thinking that? Now that I thought about it that had been a silly thought. But I knew they didn’t want to encounter the spirit again. I fidgeted as I waited for Elisa to answer. A breeze picked up and whispered across my skin. A restlessness folded over me. Was this a sign of what was to come? Finally, she opened and let us in.

When she saw the expression on my face she said, “Did it get worse?”

“Yes, it attacked me again. I have to do this now. I can’t wait any longer.”

“I tried to explain she should have a good plan first, but she won’t listen.” Stone’s mouth twisted down at the corners.

“There isn’t time,” I said.

“Larue never listens,” Roger said.

“That’s true,” James added sarcastically. 

I rushed over to the spot where the portal was located.

“Is it still there?” Marilyn asked.

“I feel it. Do you feel it?” I asked Stone when he walked over.

He nodded. “Yes, it’s still there and even more powerful than ever. It’s feeding off something.”

I took a deep breath for courage. “I think it’s us.”

He touched my arm gently, just when I’d needed it the most. “You’re probably right.”

“Well, it’s time to get started.” I moved over to the spot on the floor and stood right on top of it. I hoped the dark shadow was still attached to me.

Roger reached for my arm, but, of course, he couldn’t actually touch me. “Larue, I don’t want you to do this.”

“It’ll be okay,” I said, trying to reassure him.

I had no idea he would care so much. Maybe he wasn’t such an annoying teenager after all.

“Yes, Larue, I don’t want you to do this.” Marilyn frowned. She didn’t do that often.

The presence circled me then. I knew that the dark shadow was around me. As much as I hated to admit it, this was a good thing this time because I could take it into the portal.

“It wants to keep you in the portal once you get there.” Stone’s brow wrinkled with worry. .

“That’s why I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.” I pushed my shoulders back.

He shook his head. “I hope it works like you have planned.”

Didn’t anyone have any faith in my abilities? Okay, so I had a bit of doubt, too, but if I let that hesitation stop me every time I wanted to do something, I might not ever get anything done.

“Okay, this is it. Wish me luck, everyone,” I said, trying to offer a smile.

I called out to the spirit to guide me into the portal. “Come and get me. Take me with you.” Nothing was happening, though.

If this didn’t work, I didn’t know what I would do.

“Okay, I’m coming with you,” Roger said as he moved over next to me.

He was now standing with me in the portal’s entrance.

“Let Roger go with you. I don’t want you to do this alone,” Stone said.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I can’t let you do this by yourself.” Roger winked at me and smiled.

“Oh, I don’t know if I can watch this.” Marilyn covered her eyes with her hand.

I smiled. “Thank you, Roger.”

I really hadn’t wanted to go in there alone. It was nice to know I would have someone with me. Even if it was Roger. No matter, my stomach was twisted into knots.

Stone rushed over to me. He grabbed my arms and pulled me close to his body. Before I knew what was happening he’d placed his lips hard against mine. With an urgency, he kissed me. It was a full contact, wet-lipped, tongue-probing kiss. The way his mouth moved across mine was raw and unapologetic. Not to mention sexy. When he finally released me, I stood there in a daze. What just happened? Why had he done that? Was it like some kind of last kiss, as if I was going away and he would never see me again? I was freaked out more than ever now.

“Why did you do that?” I asked.

Stone shrugged. “I just felt like it was something I wanted to do.”

He’d seemed so reserved and enigmatic. I saw him in a different light now.

“This really isn’t the time for you all to have this conversation,” Roger said.

The kid had a point. I’d have to ask Stone about this later. With the way he kissed me though, I wasn’t sure there would be a later. I had to push that thought out of my mind. Now was not the time to reflect on thoughts or feelings. 

“We’ll see you on the other side,” Roger said to everyone as he pulled me into the portal.

The sucking motion pulled on me and then a swoosh sound as we went inside. Darkness encircled us at first and I didn’t see anything. Then, a bright light suddenly appeared. Just as quickly as it appeared, it dimmed. I could see, but everything was murky. It would be hard to find our way around in there. I couldn’t believe I was doing this.

“Where do we go now?” Roger asked.

I was hoping he would have a suggestion, but then again, this was my idea. Out from the shadows, I saw the other spirits. They were all around us. I couldn’t make out any features. They were just shadows, unlike what I saw with the ghosts who looked like living people.

“Do you see them?” I asked Roger.

“I see whatever they are,” he whispered.

“They’re the dark shadows. I think they’re the ones I saw at the other house.”

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Because they all put off a different energy and with that comes and image in my mind. They all have a unique image.”

“Are they all evil?” he asked.

His voice was so soft, it was almost as if he didn’t want to know. It was unlike Roger to be so subdued. He would never admit to being scared, though. I thought it was pretty tough of him to volunteer to come with me. He didn’t have to do that.

“Yes, they are all evil ones. Some more so than others.”

“Can you point out the really bad ones so I can avoid them?”

“Let’s just hurry up and get out of here,” I said. “Act as if you don’t see them.”

“It’s kind of hard to do that,” he said out of the corner of his mouth. 

We moved further into the portal. My fear was quickly rising. The more shadows that appeared, the more fearful I became. I didn’t even know if we were going in the right direction. I assumed if I walked in a straight line when I entered, I would make it to the exit. However, with the dark, it was hard to know where I was. It was disorienting.

“How will we know when we reach the exit?” Roger asked.

I was afraid he was going to ask that.

“I really don’t know,” I said, keeping my eyes on the spirits.

So far, they were simply watching us.

Since they had no faces, we couldn’t see them watching us directly, but I knew that was what they were doing.

“What do you mean? Larue, I thought you had a plan.”

“Well, it wasn’t exact. I knew I would have to improvise once I got in here. Before we worry about getting out of here, I have to make sure the spirit is here with us. So far, I don’t sense it. If it’s not here, then we have a problem. All of this will be for nothing. And we might be trapped in here for good.”

“Larue, stop telling me the bad stuff please. So, what draws the spirit to you?” Roger asked.

“The only way I know to do that is for it to think I am scared. It feeds off the fear.”

Roger and I talked as we walked.

“So, you need to act like you’re terrified?”

The spirits were inching closer to us now, so I figured it wouldn’t be too difficult to act afraid. They were making me terrified. I’d tried to act as if I wasn’t, but now I needed for the spirit to sense my fear. I let down my guard and gave in to the alarm and panic. My heart rate increased and my legs and hands shook.

That was when I sensed the spirit. Its dark emotions surrounded me. Suddenly, hopelessness overwhelmed me and then that feeling turned to fear.

“It’s here,” I whispered.

“Where?” Roger asked.

“I think it’s behind me.”

He slowly looked over my shoulder, by the expression on his face I figured it was definitely back there.

“Just keep walking,” I said. “When I tell you to run, then do it, okay?”

He nodded. “Got it.”

How would I ever outrun the dark shadow? Would the other shadows stop me? Would I even reach the exit? I didn’t know if I was going in the right direction.

Since the shadows were closing in on us, I knew it was time for us to run.

“Go,” I yelled to Roger.

I moved my legs as fast as I could. We ran for what seemed like forever.

“What’s happening? Where is the exit?” Roger asked.

He sounded as panicked as I felt. I couldn’t even think straight. The dark shadow was right behind me now. Not to mention I was beginning to feel light headed.

“I think we’re in trouble,” Roger said.

He was right, but I couldn’t allow myself to admit it. This dark shadow was going to get my soul after all. I had brought my soul to him. He didn’t even have to work to get it. When the exit didn’t come into view, I knew we were lost. I couldn’t stop to check now. I glanced to my left and then to my right. I had to make a decision. Did I keep running forward or did I turn to either side? I made a decision to keep running forward. At least for a little while longer. Roger didn’t ask what I was doing, he just keep following me. I didn’t want to be alone right now.

“How will we find the way out of here?” Roger asked.

“We’ll have to find a way.”

I didn’t have an answer for Roger. Roger must have realized that I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt the shadow on me. It would probably reach out and grab me at any moment. Maybe I should have listened to Stone, but what other choice did I have? How long would Stone wait before he started to realize I couldn’t find my way? Would he try to rescue us? I hoped he didn’t try to come in here, too. He would only get lost.

That was when I saw the light. Oh, thank goodness! Maybe this was the way out. Now, I just had to keep up my strength long enough to make it to the exit. My legs were starting to shake even more and I didn’t know how much longer I could press on. I was already starting to slow down.

“Roger, are you doing okay?” I asked.