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

Chapter 62: Possession

I wake early as the room only just begins to turn to grey in the cool dawn light. I'm knotted in the twisted blankets where I had tossed and turned through the hours of darkness. The same knot was mirrored in the pit of my stomach. I try to untangle myself and suck in my breath at the sting in the palm of my hand, I inspected the wound which had opened again during the night through my agitation. Thankfully my ankle seemed to be holding up better. I patch myself up with the first aid kit I found in the bathroom and waste a couple of hours staring at the TV as it played cheesy infomercials and good morning programs. I wasn't really seeing or hearing the overly cheery presenters, my mind was only on Zak. I felt empty without him but I had no idea what I could do when I couldn't even get close to him without being verbally attacked. I knew deep down that his behaviour was out of the ordinary but it had to come from somewhere and it didn't hurt any less. I couldn't help think that these were his deepest, darkest but real thoughts that were being set free. I was acutely aware that he nor Aaron or anyone else had contacted me since I left them last night. I wonder what he had told them or if they just didn't notice. I dare not check his activity on snap chat or twitter, I had a fair idea that it would only upset me more. The sting in my palm brought me out of my tumultuous thoughts and I find that I had been unconsciously picking and poking it again. The physical pain was a welcome distraction from the ache in my heart. I busied myself dressing the gash properly this time so I couldn't access it anymore. I caught my reflection in the mirror and I wasn't surprised to seethe misery and exhaustion etched in my features. My eyes were watery with the dark circles contrasting starkly against my otherwise sallow skin. Even my hair hung lankly over my shoulders, I pulled it back into a messy knot and checked the time.

I made a calculated guess that Zak would be up and out of the room by now so it should be safe to shower and change my clothes. I was relieved to find that I was right and he was nowhere to be seen when I entered the room we were supposed to be sharing. His laptop was gone so I imagine he had gone to work with the others, I quickly showerand wash my hair and dress in jeans and a loose knit. I pull my hair back from my face not caring that it was escaping the hair tie before I had even finished. Nothing was going to disguise the rough night I had had so I didn't bother trying, a quick slick of balm on my dry lips and I was done.

I braced myself to join them wondering what kind of greeting I could expect from Zak, my phone was still mocking me with its silence. I plodded to Billy's room and knock meekly on the door, it swings open with an exuberance that I have only ever seen Aaron wield.

"Hey pompom! Morning! Zak's gone out for the coffee run but won't be long. Come on in." He ushers me through the door and I sit on the edge of the bed.

"So how is Zak this morning?" I ask and Aaron stops in his tracks.

"Huh? You should know you saw him less than an hour ago." He says his brow furrowed in confusion. Its only then he takes a proper look at my bloodshot eyes and unkempt appearance and he frowns. "Hey Trace, what's going on?" The concern in his voice causes Jay and Billy to look up from their monitors.

"I haven't seen Zak since just after dinner last night. I don't know what he told you but we had an argument before we reached the hotel, he said some truly horrible thinks to me Aaron." I bit my lip to stop it from trembling and picked at a frayed edge on my bandage. "I spent the night alone in another room, I haven't heard from him since I left you all on the way home."

"That son of a bitch told us you had wanted to go for a walk alone and this morning you were still showering and on your way up, we had no idea! I'm sorry pompom." Aaron looks thoroughly grief stricken that he had been lied to and he hadn't been there for me as a result.

"What the hell has gotten into him?" Billy asks also looking pretty angry but before anyone can answer Zak makes his entrance.

"What y'all doing standing around talking shit, get back to work!" He jokes. Its not until Aaron takes a step to the side that he sees me sat on the bed. His face and demeanour change instantly, "Oh its you, I was hoping you had got the message and run back to  your pitiful existence in Melbourne." He spat, his face twisted into a sneer and his eyes that I usually loved were cold and steely. His words shower me like shards of broken glass and I jump off the bed and run to the balcony with a sob.

"What the actual fuck Zak, don't talk to her like that!" Aaron is quick to defend me.

"Go on Aaron run after her, we all know you want to fuck her!" Zak laughs coldly. Aaron flinches as the words hit his ears as he reaches me outside but Zak doesn't stop. "Its cool bro you should go ahead and have a go she's actually a pretty good lay. Obviously she's had plenty of practice, likes it rough too. She's a real good dirty little slut!" He calls out loudly his lips curled into a cruel sneer, his eyes ice cold. Aaron's face turns red with rage and I see him balling his fist as he turns to take a swing I just manage to grab his arm and stop him.

"Don't Aaron please!" I beg as tears stream down my face.

'Get the fuck out Zak!" Aaron warns him his voice seething with anger ."Go or god help me I won't be held responsible for what I do to you." Zak laughs again as if to provoke Aaron into action. I cling on to his arm to restrain him, feeling him shake with emotion. Billy and Jay finally come to their senses and manoeuvre Zak out of the room. I let go of Aaron and sob, unable to hold back the hurt and fear any longer. I appreciate the feel of Aaron's arms as he pulls me into a big hug and leads me inside. He just holds me for a while, soothing my back allowing my sobbing to run its course. Billy returns just as my weeping begins to subside.

"What the fuck was that?" Billy asks wide eyed in disbelief.

"I...i...i'm not sure, but he's been like it since yesterday, gradually got worse as the day went on." I go on to explain to them in detail what had happened, how Zak had been acting. "Its the demon isn't it? Its got him?" I ask in a frightened whisper.

"That's got to be it, this isn't Zak." Billy agrees.

"Yeah, has to be." Aaron concedes, "There's no way he would treat you like this normally Tracy, he loves you. Actually he wouldn't treat his worst enemy like that its just not in him." He rubs his face, obviously worried about his best friend.

"He wouldn't provoke you like that either Aaron." Billy points out and Aaron shakes his head.

"So what do we do?" I ask shakily. "Is Jay ok to be left with him?" I'm scared of what he might become capable of in his current state.

"Jay will be fine." Billy assures me. "Its you that its target, he was using Aaron to get to you. And doing a damn good job of it too."

"Yeah it worked." I mumble as more tears well in my eyes making me blink them away.

"I think we need a priest." Aaron sighs.