The Piano || 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬

|5| Do you want to tell us your story?

Grinning, Sam turned off the camera and they began setting up the method. Ashley was handed the blindfold and the headphones while Kris got the rocking chair out to the middle of the room. Colby set up the camera to face all of them while the boys and Kris would be sitting on the couch and Ashley in the rocking chair right next to them.

Ashley felt the nervosity in her stomach, and she couldn't help but start playing with the bracelets she had on her right wrist. Colby noticed it immediately.

"You sure you want to do it?" he asked.

"Yes, of course," she answered without hesitation. "I'm fine, really." As if to prove it, she let go of her wrist and took the blindfold. Sam gave her a reassuring nod before starting the camera again.

"So, as most of you know, the Estes method is basically a spirit box session, but with sensory deprivation so that the answers are completely authentic. Today, Ashley is going to wear the headphones – after what happened in the ballroom, we believe we'll get the best answers this way," he explained and then turned to Ashley. "When you're ready."

She quickly put on the blindfold and was amazed that she couldn't see a thing. Immediately, the movements of the rocking chair seemed to calm her down.

"And she's going under," Sam said silently as she put on the headphones. The rustling of the radio stations filled her ears right away and she wasn't able to hear anything anymore. She shuddered slightly as she leaned backward, and the rocking chair began moving.

"Ashley, can we start?" Sam asked. No response. "Great, let's do it."

"Is Ilse here with us?" Kris asked and looked at Ashley expectantly.

"Room."

"Oh, she's in this room with us?" Sam suggested.

"Well, hello, Ilse Hoffman. I hope you're not disturbed by our invasion of your home," Colby greeted her. "We are just here to talk to you. Do you want to tell us your story?"

"Choose it."

"What do you choose? To tell us how you died?"

"Cold."

"Was it winter when she fled out of the hotel?" Kris asked, looking at Sam. He shrugged.

"Maybe it was. Ilse, why did you leave the hotel? And what happened?"

"Stream..."

"Was there a river nearby? Where she may have drowned?" Colby asked. "Didn't we drive over a river when we came here?"

"Oh, yeah, you're right," Sam said, frowning. "Ilse, did you drown in the river?"

"Out."

"Do you want us to-," Colby began but he was interrupted.

"Alone."

"You want to talk to one of us alone?" Sam asked with wide eyes. How did the answers make so much sense?

"Red."

They all stared at Ashley's red hair. "Does she mean..." Sam whispered, and Colby nodded.

"I think so," he whispered back.

"Why do you want to talk to her alone? Are you going to tell her about your life and death?" Kris inquired in a normal tone.

"Ring."

Sam stood up from the couch and walked behind it, to lean on the backrest with his forearms. "She said that before, in the ballroom," he explained. "The ovilus was silent for the whole time, and then it said ring. What does that mean? Ilse, why do you keep saying ring?"