Dwellings On The Past ~ (Lorraine's daughter)

Connection

"See you next week." I say while Katie steps out of the door. We both chuckle when we hear both of my parents call a goodbye to Katie from the living room. It's already dark outside and the sky looks like it's about to be raining. "You sure I shouldn't walk you home?" I question, but Katie reassures me again it's no problem. "My brother will meet me halfway." she informs me before she's out of my view.

Just as I'm about to go upstairs again, the phone starts to ring. I walk over to it quickly. "Hello?" I ask as soon as I pick up. "Lorraine, is this you? I need to talk to you and Ed." I hear Father Gordon say. He's a friend of our family and the one my parents get their cases from. They rarely tell me what the cases are about, so if I just pretend to be my mom, I could find out myself. I'd really like to know. But I'm aware that this would be wrong. "Hello?" I hear the voice of Father Gordon again.

"It's Linda." I say firmly before calling my parents names. They're quick to be by my side and I push the phone in my dad's hands. "It's Father Gordon. He needs to talk to you both." I inform them.

"Thanks, hon." my mom says before they're both busy with the call. They don't even realize I keep standing close to them. I use the opportunity and quickly walk behind a closet. My parents can't see me this way. Not until they walk into the kitchen.

I listen carefully while I can hear my dad talk on the phone. My mom's just waiting for him to finish, same as me. "Alright, thank you, Father Gordon." my dad says before I can hear him put the phone back where it belongs. "What did he say?" my mom asks.

"There's a family who's claiming to experience paranatural things. We should go check up on them." he says. "And... they were talking about a bell that doesn't belong to them." he adds. I almost gasp in shock, but quickly hush my mouth. This case has to be connected to the bell I found. It can't be a coincidence.

"We can't take this case." my mom says. Her voice is thin and I can hear the inner conflict. Of course she wants to help them, but something is telling her she can't. "Ed, think about Linda. She's connected to this."

"That's exactly why we have to take this." my dad argues. I agree with him, but I can't just step in and support his side. They can't know I spied on them. "There's no argument here." my mom tells him. "When I was pregnant with Linda we promised each other she would always come first, same with Judy. This is it, this is how we protect them." she says. I didn't even know about that promise before.

I can't listen anymore, I need to interfere. "Mom, I think dad's right." I say as soon as I step forward from behind the closet. Surprise is written over my dad's face while my mom looks a bit more angry. "I'm sorry for listening, but he's right. If that family's case is really connected to our bell, then we're in danger just like them."

"That's not how it works." my mom tells me calmly.

"How does it work then?" I wonder. She looks between my dad and me. "I'm not doing this. For your own safety Linda, you're staying out of this. I'm sorry." she says.

"Fine." I say before walking out of the room in quick steps. I rush up to my room and throw myself on my bed. It's not fair, it's just not fair. We have the whole extended weekend, I could even come with them. I have wanted to join them on a case since ages, but they never let me. But I'm 17 now, almost 18. They were actually close to allowing me on a case. So why not now? Especially because I'm personally involved. This is really not fair.

It's true I know less than my parents about spirits and all the other stuff, but I do know some things. Also I think if that case is really connected to us, we're in danger too. It only makes sense. Spirits or demonic spirits can use items as their medium and I think that happened with the bell. I don't really understand why the family is experiencing paranatural things if we have the medium. But my dad said the family is in possession of a bell as well, so maybe that's the reason? But how could their case be connected to us when there are two bells?

Someone knocks at my door three times. That's how my mom always knocks. "Linda, can I come in?" I hear her voice. "Yes." I answer before she opens the door and walks towards me on the bed. "Can I sit down?"

I nod and sit up so she can sit next to me. "I want you to understand why I don't want you sniffing around in our work." she tells me. I look down at my hands. "I know you only want to keep me safe. And what you do is dangerous." I say.

A smile appears on her face. "Exactly."

"But it's a risk I can take. Also, I have visions now." I try to convince her. "And that case has to be connected to me, so I'm kind of already in your work." I reason. "Mom, I wanna come with you on the case. I know I could help. And I don't even have to do anything, I can only watch."

She sighs deeply. "Linda, I really don't think that's a good idea-"

"When are you driving to the family?" I interrupt her. "Maybe three hours. That family really needs our help and they live seven hours away. Your grandma is already on her way." she says. "Look, I have the whole weekend and then three more days." I say even though she knows I don't have school from Monday to Wednesday. "I could come with you and if you really don't want me there, I can go back home."

"And how would you do that? It's a seven hour ride." she argues.

"I would... find a solution for that." I murmur.

"I'll talk about this with your dad." she chuckles while standing up. "Thank you, mom." I call after her. I'm really excited now, my parent's work is so interesting. I can't wait to experience what they do so closely.