Regina (18 page)

Then, I heard the chanting. My heart started
to race and I cringed from fear. Chills ran down my spine as if
someone poured ice water all over me. The audio was a little
distorted but I could hear the voices. It took some time to
decipher it but I think I heard what they said.

Wal eh tot luos reh dnib

That was it? What did that mean and what did
that have to do with us?

The camera dropped when the voices were
louder. I still couldn’t hear exactly what they were saying. I
heard myself get up and go into the bathroom. Last night it seemed
as if everything happened so fast when in reality it was almost
fifteen minutes later when the camera showed the bedroom door open.
I held my breath. I never expected the camera to last this
long.

A black mist filled the room from the
doorway. Was that a face?! It went to my camera and covered it.
Come on! Let me see what was in my room last night! But the file
was finished showing me the eerie movie I created last night. I
tried to rewind the video and focus it on the face but my laptop
didn’t have a good enough program to enhance it. Either I would
have to buy a new computer or update the one I have.

Days went by and I insisted on sleeping at
Katie’s. Usually, I stayed with her on the weekdays and she would
come to my house on the weekends. This went on for a while. Katie
knew something was up and constantly questioned me. I knew I could
confide in her, and I don’t know why I didn’t. I felt as if I was
in a dream those past few months I was in Lee.

I analyzed the video I recorded over and over
again but I couldn’t hear exactly what they were saying or see the
face in the mist. I thought about asking Katie to look at it but
decided against anyone I know looking at this. That led me to a Dr.
Bill Greer. He was a computer genius who worked for Dell Computers
and did private work on the side. Why he lived in Manor, I’ll never
know, but it served a great purpose because I didn’t think I would
find anyone local. I called and made an appointment to see him
about enhancing my video.

Dr. Greer lived on the east side of a town
called Manor. It was small like Lee, but he lived in a nicer house
and in a cookie cutter neighborhood. I didn’t see a wedding ring or
hear a child so I assumed he was single. He looked old and greasy,
like he hadn’t showered in months.

His voice was surprising low and manly when
he spoke. “What can I do for you?”

My voice held steady as I explained. “I need
this file to be enhanced. There is a voice and face on it. I need
to know what they are saying and who it is.”

Dr. Greer paused in his black leather chair.
His legs were rocking him in a comforting motion but stopped once I
spoke.

“Is it an illegal video? Did you tape
someone?” He asked up front. Those blue eyes stared at me over the
large glasses that were currently residing at the end of his large
nose. I was a bit taken by his honest question.

A smile of relief escaped my lips as I
responded. “No sir.”

“Then tell me why you came to me.”

“I didn’t know who else to turn to. I don’t
want anyone I know to see it, okay. Look, do want the work or not?”
I was getting pretty upset. It was a fair question but I wasn’t
going to fully explain myself. This guy was on a need to know
basis.

“No, I don’t want the ‘work’, as you call
it.” He spun back around in his chair, away from me and began
typing on a tiny laptop I didn’t see before. I put the USB Storage
device back into my bag and gave a sigh of exasperation.

“Why is it so important for you to know why I
came here?” I asked him back. I couldn’t leave this place without
finding out what was on this device. No one else could help me. I
had to swallow my city pride, I guess.

“Because something is important enough that
you came to me instead of buying a program and doing it yourself. A
smart girl like you should have no problem with that.” His response
came from over his shoulder. The chair was still facing away from
me.

I sat down hard on the ottoman beside me. The
room was big and full of computer junk but I felt oddly comforted
here. My thoughts arranged themselves in order and with long held
tears in my eyes, I say, “My parents forced me to come to Lee and
lied to me about everything: my grandparents, aunt, cousins, the
town, everything! Now they won’t let me leave and something is
haunting my house! My life has completely changed for the worse,
and broken apart. Oh and I can’t forget my dreams! I’ve dreamt of
the town long before I came here. So, now I’m feeling totally crazy
and the only thing that will prove I’m not is on this USB
stick.

“A couple of weeks ago,
something
came into my room. I heard
this chanting and scratching. Then something came into my room. I
hid in a part of the attic while it unlocked my bedroom and
bathroom door, searching for me. The only proof I may have is
this.” I said, holding up the black USB stick. Tears were flowing
down my cheeks easily now. This was the first time I ever said it
out loud. “My camera caught whatever it was in my room that night
but I can’t enhance it. I need you to help me by clearing it up and
making the video fully viewable. I need to hear the chant
too.”

This was probably much more than he asked
for, but I didn’t care. This was the first time I felt better since
I came here. Finally, I said most of the thoughts that are rolling
around in my brain constantly. I signed in happiness.

Dr. Greer, on the other hand, was pretty
shocked. His eyes were wide open and his head was tilted back with
disbelief. His mouth was open as if he wanted to say something but
couldn’t find the words. So, he sat in his chair for a few minutes.
We sat in silence while he digested what I just said. “All right.
I’ll look at it. I must admit, I’m curious to your story. Leave the
stick with me and I will let you know what happens.”

“Really?” I asked with surprise.

“Yes, really.”

“How much will I need to pay?” I asked taking
out my wallet, but Dr. Greer put up his hand, indicating it was not
necessary.

“No, please. Let’s see if I can analyze the
footage for you. Then we’ll work something out. You seem very upset
by this, so let’s see what you have first.” We shook hands in
agreement.

We talked for a few minutes about the stick
and his experience. Dr. Greer graduated from the local Austin
College with a Masters in Computer Technology. Employed by cell
phone companies most of his adult life, Dr. Greer based his
knowledge for the work he did with computers. For twenty years, Dr.
Greer worked as a computer repair technician and worked his way up
to owning the company. Unfortunately, he had to retire from the
company because a stroke left him unable to work those long hours
needed to drive a company to success. Analyzing my data was
something he did on the side to keep from going mad with boredom. I
wondered how old he was. Possibly in his 60’s or 70’s?

On the way to the front door, I noticed Dr.
Greer was rolling his chair forward. He was in a wheelchair! How
could I have missed that? I felt so dumb for not realizing he
didn’t get out of his chair after I came into the house.

“How long do you think it will take, Dr.
Greer?”

“It shouldn’t be too long. You’re lucky I
don’t have a current project so it’ll give me something to do
tonight. You can stop by tomorrow afternoon if you’d like.”

I paused in Dr. Greer’s entryway and looked
at him again. His sweet face was full of kindness. He reminded me
so much of Grandpa. Now he seemed like a lonely elderly man.

“Thanks Dr. Greer. I’ll probably do
that.”

I was going crazy in classes the next day at
school. Katie kept asking me all day what was wrong, but I didn’t
tell her. At first, she thought I was upset because Steven started
seeing another girl, and after some insistence that I didn’t care I
think she finally believed me.

“Hey! Did you hear me?” Katie’s voice called
to me.

“Sorry Katie, I was thinking about the test I
took earlier today in History.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sure you did great! I was
asking if you heard anything about Kyle’s party this weekend. He
said if we can find the party, then we deserve all the beer we can
drink!”

“Rumor was Kyle couldn’t score the beer.”

We were on our way to our next class when I
saw Steven in the hallway. He avoided my eyes as he walked down the
hall.

“No, he has an older brother, Tyler. As long
as Tyler is paid for his gas and time, he’ll do it.”

“Sure. Let’s go this weekend. Nat and Becky
going?” I asked with wonder.

“I’m trying to get Nat to go, but she’s still
pretty upset about the whole Charles, DVD thing.”

“She is? Why?”

“Nat was dating Charles when he made that
DVD.”

“Are you serious? No way!” I exclaimed. We
put our heads together and Katie gave me the details.

Natalie’s boyfriend was also Charles Turner.
It seems that Charles is quite the slut. At least three more girls
were on the video with him. I was pretty shocked that Natalie could
be conned by the likes of Charles Turner but conned she was. I
never understood the fascination with him. He was hot and a lot of
girls drooled all over his perfect face and strong body. You could
find yourself wrapped up in his long arms and be in complete
happiness that he gave you his attention, but I just didn’t get
it.

“Was she on the DVD?” I wondered out
loud.

“Yes.” Katie revealed. “But I removed that
part before it was sent, so no one will know.”

Oh snap! This was the first time Katie
revealed to me that she was the one who put the file into Charles’s
laptop.

Chapter
Twenty-three

That night, I fell asleep in the living room
with Grandpa. We were watching old MASH re-runs and got too comfy
on the couch. I woke up to him shaking me.

“Regina. We fell asleep. Get up and get to
bed.”

“Okay Grandpa.” But I had no intention of
going up there. I closed my eyes again after he went into his room.
Instinct helped me up to grab the remote. I turned the TV off and
lay back on the couch. I tossed and turned for a little while until
I realize why I couldn’t sleep: it was too hot in here. I made
myself get up to turn on the air.

The thermostat was located in the
kitchen/dining room, just to the right of the door frame. The house
was quiet and locked up tight. I walked groggily to the thermostat
and turned it down. Once I heard it kick on and I felt the cool air
coming in from the living room, I went back to the couch, but this
time I stopped and woke up immediately.

The front door was wide open!

The door was to the left of the couch, so
there was no way I missed the open door on my way to the other
room.

I walked to the door, trying to act normal as
I went to it. As I came upon it, it closed by itself. My body
jumped with a large jolt of fear. Frozen to the floor with terror,
I couldn’t move.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

Oh shit! It came from the front door! I was
still shaking with fear and couldn’t run or scream. What if I stay
still and don’t say anything?

A few seconds later,
Knock, Knock, Knock.
It was harder
this time, more forceful.

Out of sheer stupidity, I whispered a
response to it. “Come in.”

At first, nothing happened. Then the door
knob started to turn. I jumped and that seemed to mobilize my feet.
I turned and wondered which way to go. Grandpa’s room? Possibly the
kitchen and out the back door? Should I just hide or scream?

Before I could execute my brilliant plan of
screaming, the door opened quickly and I turned back around to see
what was there.

It was a woman. Her hair was brown and long,
maybe to her shoulder blades. I’m not sure because it was all
knotted up. Her eyes were silver and glowed against the darkness of
the night. A small white dress covered her frail body, it wasn’t as
bright as her eyes but it glowed none the less. Her skin was
grossly pale and bloody. Slashes were all over her face and visible
skin. She was a mess, the cuts were made with such fierceness, the
skin was jagged and some of the flesh was cut off. Blood covered
the bottom half of her dress, it followed horizontally across her
waist. One thing that I noticed was the dimple on her right
cheek.

She was floating towards me, arms
outstretched. I could see the silver liquid of Death in her eyes as
she neared me. I tried to back away but I stumbled over the
armchair ottoman. My head hit the floor hard. My feet came out from
under me and over my head. I landed with a hard slam on the ground.
Mom and dad’s light flicked on above, I could see it along the top
of the stairs.

“Mom! Dad!” I tried to scream but my voice
came out hoarse. The fall knocked the wind out of me and I couldn’t
breathe. Tears were coming down my red face. I looked up and around
to see if she was still coming for me.

She was right in front of my face when I
turned around. I could feel her breath on my skin as she came
closer. As she did, I was able to look further into her eyes. I saw
pain, lots of pain. Her hand closed on the top of my arm as I tried
to back away. I started to feel her suffering, as if I was being
electrocuted with it.

She whispers, “Run.”

I screamed hard and Grandpa ran into the room
with his shotgun. Mom and dad’s footsteps were stomping on the
stairs as they rushed down the steps.

“What wrong?” Dad shouted, looking at me and
Grandpa, but Grandpa just shrugged at him in response.

It was gone. There was nothing in the room
anymore. I put my hands out in front of me, trying to make sense of
what was just there. My parents raised their eyebrows at each other
as I did this.