Loving Madison

Seven

They left the sitting room and moved up the stairs. Madison worried about Alice, mainly because of the odd stares she'd been receiving from her ever since Madison had seen the vision about Cameron's prisoner. When they reached Rosie's room and walked inside, Madison realized before she could move on, she needed to ask Alice questions.

"I've noticed," Madison began, "that you have been looking differently at me since I'd mentioned the vision I had when I touched your brother."

Alice's cheeks darkened with a blush, and she dropped her gaze to the floor. "Yes. I..." her throat jumped in what must have been a hard swallow, "I've never witnessed my brother so perplexed."

"Never?" It surprised Madison that she'd been able to make him do something he wasn't used to doing. Then again, most people didn't know how to react when talking about her gift.

"So tell me," Alice asked in a small voice, "did you really see a man in that small room?"

"Yes, I did. I didn't see his face very well, except for the cut on his cheek. I don't know who he is, and I don't know where the room is located."

"Tell me about your visions." Alice seemed more confident now as she kept her stare on Madison. "What do you usually see?"

"Most of the time, I can see what's happening now. So if the person is asleep, I can see them in bed, with their eyes closed. If the person is running, I can see that, too. Usually, I hear sounds. I don't often receive visions about something that has happened in the past, but once in a while, it happens. I like to touch an object that held some kind of significance for the missing person because that helps me to see better."

As soon as she said it, she sucked in a breath. Did that mean Cameron and the dead man in the room had some kind of deep connection? Worry clenched her chest. She prayed that didn't mean Cameron had killed him. Although she disliked the man, she didn't think he was a killer.

Alice looked down at the hairbrush in her hands. "So if this didn't work, how will you know what will do the trick?"

Madison shook her head. "I won't know until I touch it."

"Rosie has a room full of personal items."

Tightness consumed Madison's throat. Cameron seemed to think Rosie left on her own, and so far, that was exactly what she thought, as well. But she couldn't let Alice know her thoughts. Not yet. Perhaps her vision would show something different.

"Please, walk around her room and touch anything you wish." Alice swiped her hand in the air. "There's no time like the present to get started."

"Agreed." Madison moved to the girl's vanity and slowly brushed her fingers across each object, but no visions came her way. In fact, the only thing going through her mind was Cameron. She wished she could clear out his image, but he just wouldn't leave. "Tell me about your brother. What is he like on a normal day?"

"Well, he's been like a father most of my life. Our father died four years ago, but even before that, he wasn't really there...mentally. So Cam stepped in as a father figure earlier than planned. Cam has always been responsible. He's very protective of us, as well."

Madison listened to Alice as she moved from object to object, running her fingers across everything, hoping a spark would ignite, but so far, her vision wasn't happening. "How old is your brother?"

"His birthday is next month, and he'll be twenty-eight."

Madison really shouldn't ask, but she just couldn't stop her curiosity. "Forgive me for prying, but why hasn't he married yet?"

Alice chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. "I have wondered that quite a lot, actually. I have never asked him. I remember that he courted a few times, but his heart was never in it for some reason. I believe he was thinking of his sisters."