Running Up That Hill

1.8

Massachusetts Western University, Wakefield, 1971, Seven years later

"Which brings us to the three stages of demonic activity: Infestation, Oppression and possession." Ed listed off on the chalk board after he pulled the projection screen back up.

Asher and I came back into the classroom taking our seats again, his hand never left mine after my episode. The only time my episodes are this frequent is when danger is coming, but we haven't taken a lot of cases since Lorraine's incident months ago. So, what could be coming?

"Now, infestation: that's the footsteps, the whispering, the feeling of another presence, which ultimately grown into Oppression, the second stage. now this is where the victim, and it's usually the one who's more psychologically vulnerable, is targeted specifically by an external force. Breaks the victim down and crushes their will. Leaves them to the third and final state, possession."

As my father explains to the class of these stages, my eyes wander to the people in the room until they land on her. The woman from my episodes. She had medium length brown hair and was in a cream cardigan, she looked to be about 40 years old.

"Ash." I whisper tugging his hand a bit. My eyes didn't leave her. Asher turns in his gaze following mine. "that's the woman from my dreams and visions."

"Are you sure?" Asher asks. "I've never been more positive in my life." People started to get up when the lecture was over including the woman.

I was instantly up and going after her when she was making a b-line for the woman. she was making her way to Drew, the camera man who helps catch evidence on cases, but I felt someone grab my wrist completely stopping me.

"Are you crazy, babe?" Asher pulls my back. "You can't just go up to her and tell her what you've been having dreams about her and visions of her and her family."

Asher was right, not everyone is fond of hearing that especially from a stranger. "you're right, I don't know what I was thinking.

______•🌑•______

The bells were tolling as we made it outside. They were coming off the nearby church by the university. Asher and I were heading to my parents' car as I see them backing up from the lecture today, but Drew was leading that woman from earlier to my parents. I partially sped walked over there almost making Asher trip on his own feet since he was holding my hand.

"Hey, Ed? Lorraine?" Drew calls out. "Yeah?"

"There's someone here that would like to talk to you." Drew tells them. Asher and I are at my parents' car now with this woman from my visions. I watched this woman give me a look over as her eyes land on my gloves. It made her brows furrowed together.

Ed turns towards the woman as so does my mother. "How can we help you?" Lorriane asks, her calming nature was always so soothing. "there's something horrible going on in my house." the woman says to Lorriane. "Could you come take a look?"

Lorriane looks at my father, he sighs deeply. "You know, uh, it's gettin' kind of late." the woman shakes her head no at Ed. "

"No, you don't understand."

"We do; there's usually some sort of rational explanation."

"I have five daughters who are scared to death, I'm so afraid this thing wants to hurt us, I mean you have a daughter don't you? You would do anything to protect her?" the woman looks at Lorriane, which it causes my mother to look at me now. "Please can you come and take a look?"