When DEAD calls

Chapter 5

ANNA CARTER'S POV

My eyes train over to the top as I find myself still seated in the car. The rest seem to be chatting over their own chores. Gorblachev driving the cab, with his partner Lyeoneed in the passenger seat, talking about their own life mysteries.... okay i'm sorry, they were speaking ukrainian, I couldn't understand a word. The CIA team settled at the back seats. Joseph and Amanda chit-chatting, changing their subjects from the case to their confidentials. Me, stuck with Agent Smith, who happens to be unconscious right now. We don't know what happen to him lately, but all of a sudden he just blacked out and fell on the floor, screaming, 'Its them .... we're near to them... they are looking-', and then silence, he went comatose. We tried to wake him up by splashing water, but he upshotted with no response. So we just booked a police cab, lifted Jeff and put him in the cab, climbed ourselves, and decided to start our investigation at the abandoned and dead town, Chernobyl.

And now we are on the highway. Its 11 at night, too late to go and continue our investigation, especially for a case like this.

'What are you thinking, Anna?', Amanda's voice interrupted my thoughts and I came back to my senses

'I don't know. Many things are going on in my head. First, the case. Second, those photos in the basement board. Third, Jeff screaming out 'bout us being near to them and then all of a sudden, just went unconscious. And now we're on our way to Chernobyl, not sure whether we're goin' to the right place or not. Most of all, why us being recruited to such an extreme case. Something is fishy... we have to-'.

'Anna! Just chill. You have to relax. It's not just you. We all are in this case. I know you're worried for him. Don't worry, we'll figure it out sooner. Right now, we have to concentrate on what's going on. You know that we can't back off. So just take a deep breath', Amanda's timbre was soothing and comfortable.

'All we have to find right now is, who is 'them' Jeff was talkin' 'bout before he went torpid', Joseph spoke out trying to involve in their conversation.

'Is it some person or something, who may also have dealt with our case before?', Amanda asked curiously.

'Or is it the ghost, Tim was talking about, which killed almost the entire race of the legends and the cops of our CIA buildings?',I added.

'So, you're saying that you believe in that supernatural dude killing people for no reason?', Joseph asked doubtfully.

'What if it's true, what if the ghost found us and is trying to kill us before we kill it, what if it is the one who is manipulating Jeff's mind?',I said in just a breath's time.

'Woah, that's a lot of 'ifs', are you telling that the ghost found us?', Amanda said those words cautiously.

'And you're saying that the ghost got into Jeff's body? Man, that's ridiculous. How could that possibly be? Why are you still on this spooky things? There is no such things', Joseph added and ended with a guarantee.

'Look you may not believe in phantoms, but it is the truth. That's why the director has enrolled us in this case. Does anyone know 'bout Jeff's past?',I asked. There was a left-to-right shake of their head, and quizzical eyes to know about his past. I continued, 'In his childhood years, he was illusory. He keeps hallucinating 'bout strange things. Nightmares always keeps him awake at night. He sees things that a normal people can't. He had rough years back then. He needed some break with all his illusions. He wanted to be strong and brave. That's why he joined the CIA academy, to get over his past. He knows 'bout all these spectral and supernatural stuffs better than us. That's why he is being selected to lead us.', I sensed the air getting emotional and serious, and also expected them to fire me with questions.

Joseph, after a long rubbernecking, cleared his throat to ask me the first obvious question, 'How did you know his past?'.

'He was so suspicious from the day he walked into the CIA building. So I went through a background check on him. His medical report explained everything clearly', I said.

'This explains why Agent Smith got all jumpy the time he heard of this case', Amanda said with a spark on her face.

'This also explains how a great stalker and dangerous you are and warns us to be careful with you', Joseph added mockingly. I rued and just ignored him. Amanda was glaring daggers at him. After a long beat, he turned towards the driver, 'Aren't we there yet? It's taking much time, more than we expected. It's 11:55'.

' I'm sorry, sir. Even I'm cofused. I don't know why it's taking much time.' Officer Gorblachev said in his ukrainian accent.

'Don't worry, sir. By my calculations, we'll be there in 10 minutes. So just sit tight and relax, sir. We'll do the rest', Officer Lyeoneed said assuringly.

Joseph turned back to his team and announced unflusteredly, 'No worries, we'll be there in 10 minutes. That's what the officer told me'.

'What, that's all he said to you? Officer Gorblachev said something 'bout getting confused. Why are you hiding that?', I said furiously.

'I wasn't hiding that. I thought that wasn't necessary to tell you', Joseph reflected back with the same reaction.

'Okay okay', Amanda intruded, 'We shouldn't fight among ourselves. Whatever the hell he is confused of, doesn't matter. What matters-'.

'IT DOES MATTER, for God's sake!', I cut her off and continued, 'I guess the roads are extending. That ghost is trying to trick us. Its trying to stop us from getting near to it', I yelled furiously stating the obvious.

' "Extending the roads", w-what are you talking about. Y-you should stop panicking', Amanda's voice was trembling too.

'I ain't panicking and I know what I'm talking 'bout. Something is playing us. Something is extending the highway road to delay us from gettin' to Chernobyl', I confirmed.