Double Down Demons (A Ghost Adventures/Zak Bagans Story)

Chapter 2: Video call to arms

How was I going to get through the next 3 hours?! I messaged Sara, my best friend back in England, writing her a long essay detailing word for word what had happened. Typically of her she sent back one sentence,

'Go get him girl!' Everyone always assumed that she was sweet and innocent yet so often she would be the devil on my shoulder, goading me on in my crazy adventures. Two hours to go, I considered having a nearly dinner but was too hyped up to eat, so all thoughts of work forgotten I decided to take a bath and try to relax. With a large glass of deep red tempranillo a homemade lavender and bergamot bathbomb fizzing away I lowered myself into the steaming water. I let my mind wander and of course my thoughts drifted to Zak and the GAC. Iwas curious about how they might use my story, thinking it would probably just be a short phone interview for the show. I was just happy that I had gotten to speak to Zak and that I might be a part of one of the shows. This stuff never happened to me, it was really quite exciting.

Finishing up my wine I lifted myself out of the cooling water, dried of dressed in a comfortable tank and shorts with my long dark hair pulled back into a messy pony. Half an hour to go I poured myself another drink and fidgeted around the house, sipping regularly and constantly checking my phone. Half an hour went past, 40 minutes, 50 minutes and I paced and paced. The next thing I know I'm getting a video call from Zak's number. Shit! I wasn't dressed for this! I glance in the mirror at my make up free, wine flushed face, dammit! Oh well what could I do? So I put a smile on my face, lifted my phone and swipe right, hoping that I didn't look completely crazy.
"Hi Tracy! How are you doing? Good to see you!" I can't help but laugh hysterically as Aaron's goofy face filled the screen.
"H iAaron! How are you? I can see your nose is in good health." I splutter as Aaron gives me the perfect shot right up his nostril.

"Hey,give me that you idiot!" I hear the that familiar swoonsome voice as Zak gives Aaron a playful swat and grabs the phone. His face fills the screen and his piercing eyes look directly at me.
"Oh, hi there pretty lady!" He croons in some indiscernible accent and grins, "how are you? I hope you don't mind the impromptu video call and sorry about the doofus." I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes, still grinning but strategically ignoring the pretty lady comment, I sit down on the couch.
"Hi Zak, no worries on both accounts mate!" I say in my best faux Aussie accent.

"Huh?You've gone all Aussie on me!" He exclaims. I just grin, stumped as to what to say.
"So what are you up to?" He asks me.
"Oh nothing much, just relaxing with a cheeky glass of wine or two and my favourite man." I wink....I wink?! What the hell am I doing?! I look up and I can't be sure but it seems like Zak's smile has faltered slightly and I feel like an idiot as he probably thinks I'm just another fan girl.

"Errr do you want to meet him?" I ask.

"Ummm yeah, sure, I guess." Zak agrees looking slightly confused.
"Rufus!" I call in a high pitched voice and Zak raises an eyebrow. I hear the familiar tick, tick, tick across the wooden floor and my red cattle dog jumps on the couch and starts licking my face.

"Rufus,this is Zak. Zak, this is Rufus, my favourite man!" I introduce them giving Rufus' big pointy ears a ruffle. Zak's face visibly lights up.
"Hi boy! Hi Rufus!" He calls and Rufus looks around and runs off to try and find who is calling him.
"Hahaha! See you have Aaron but Rufus is my doofus." I joke and Zak laughs again.
"He's really cute, so is it just you guys living there?" He asks.
"And my black cat Spooks, but yeah just us."I reply, wondering why he asked.
"So you live alone and were all the animals accounted for when you had your experiences?" He enquires. Of course that was why he was asking, why else would he want to know? Silly me!

We discussed my experiences some more, including others that had happened with no connection to the show. I explained that even despite it all I was still fairly sceptical.
"Jeez you're a tough cookie to crack!" He smiled, "so many people are all too willing to believe, some resolutely refuse to believe, I like that you're analytical but still open minded." I flushed at the complement and he gives me one of those to die for crooked smiles of his which makes me blush even more. He glances at hi big black cuff watch and blanches a little.
"Holy shit! I really have to go,we've been talking for over an hour!" I blink, surprised it feels like only a few minutes have passed.
"Thanks for talking to me Tracy, you have some great stories, I just want to go through it some with the guys and I'll get back to you with our next plan of attack. Have a bonza evening Trace!" He finished off in the worst approximation of an Aussie accent. I rolled my eyes and grinned.
"Don't ever do that again!" I laughed as he grinned back. "Thanks for the chat Zak, I've really enjoyed talking to you and I look forward to next time." Hoping I wasn't being too presumptuous. "Have a great day."

"Thanks Tracy," He smiled and his stormy blue eyes sparkled, and I have to contain a small gasp at the beauty of it. "Take care." And with a little wave he was gone.

I just sit a while with a a silly little smirk on my face and slightly stunned. I'm sure I was imagining it but I could have sworn there was a little spark there,some kind of connection. I was happy to glow in that possibility but tried to keep it real and recognise it as the fantasy that it probably was. I rang Sara and went through everything with a fine toothed comb. As expected she told me to go for it, she really was a mischief maker.

I didn't expect to hear anything from Zak for a few days but had my email alerts on just in case. As a night owl I was making my way to bed at about 1.30am when my phone buzzed in my hand. I fumbled sleepily but soon perked up when I saw who it was from.
'G'day mate! 'I read and rolled my eyes with a smirk.
'I spoke to the guys who were really excited about your experiences so I spoke to the network and as I have always wanted to investigate in Australia we are planning a visit and some lockdowns over there in the land down under.' (Wait! What?! I quickly read on...) 'We have already locked in Old Melbourne Gaol as a location and have one or two other sup our sleeves. I'm really excited!' (Me too!) 'After speaking to you the crew and I think that maybe you are a sensitive.' (A what? Hmmm you'll have to convince me!) 'We would really like to explore that possibility and would love for you to join us on our investigations down there. We will be flying over in a few weeks time and in the very least would like to interview for Aftershocks.

Let me know what you think, Love Zak x'

I just stared at my phone, stared at Rufus, then jumped up and down whooping around the house like a mad woman, causing Rufus to bark madly and Spooks to run and hide. I flopped onto the bed and hit reply,

'Do you know what frigging time it is?!' I wrote, knowing how unprofessional it was but not caring and unable to pass up on the joke. 'Are you kidding me? I would love to join you on the lockdowns, this is a dream come true! I'm located in Melbourne so will be able to be your tour guide as well as your "sensitive". :p I'm so excited!!! Let me know all the details and I guess I'll see you soon! Aaaaaaargh!
Love Tracy x'

I fell back on the bed clutching the phone to my chest grinning stupidly at the ceiling. It buzzed less than a minute later.
'Hahaha!You're a funny girl! :p So happy that you have agreed, this is going to great! See attached for the itinerary. All travel and accommodation is covered. We'll give you a call when we touch down in Melbourne.
Now get to sleep...Not that you need it ;) Love Zx'

Is he flirting with me? I ask myself, I've always been rubbish at recognising the signs and don't want to get lost in wishful thinking. I shake it off, he was just being friendly. But, how am I going to be able to survive the next 2 weeks?!?