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

Chapter 87: Life's too short to keep a secret.

"For fuck sake Aaron!" Zak starts to pace and Aaron shrugs his shoulders, his hang dog expression having me take sympathy on him, he was only trying to help.

"Don't blame Aaron, I overheard the end of your conversation in the car anyway so spill!" I insist.

"I want to put it in the museum." He says quietly, not looking me in the eye.

"You fucking what?!" I raise my voice, incredulous that he could think this would be a good idea. Zak flinches slightly and still refuses to look at me.

"I'm, err, I'll just, I'm gonna..." Aaron excuses himself with his cup of coffee, taking Rufus outside with him.

"Seriously Zak, what the hell are you thinking?" I ask him.

"You think about it Tracy, it will make the most amazing centrepiece. We have the whole story first hand, some of it documented on audio and video, we know for certain that its 100% genuine. Its connection to me will really draw the people in. Its perfect!" His excitement takes over from any reservations he had in telling me and it is infectious. I do agree with him in some respects. It would be a crowd puller and a great exhibit but it was too risky, what if something happened to it? And I can't shake the doubt that I have from the hushed conversation in the car, was he ever going to even consult me, it hurt that he may not have.

"What if it gets damaged Zak? We'd be back to square one! Do you want to risk that? There are crazy people out there, they'd do anything to get a hold of that knife. A demon infused weapon with your blood on it for fuck sake! Imagine what they could do with that!

"It will be locked up in a protective case, I'm not that stupid Tracy." He growls at me.

"Locks and glass can be broken!" I fling my hands up in exasperation."That's not all either is it though? You say you have the story, that's our story Zak. There's no way of sharing it without sharing our relationship with the world." It was a well known fact that Zak had become notoriously secretive about his private life. He had been burned in the past, the evidence was still available for all to see on the internet. He also had his fair share of over zealous fans, he had even had his own stalker, he'd not want to add more fuel to that fire.

"I was going to talk to you about that." He answered me quietly, making my stomach drop, here it is exactly what I had been waiting for. He went back to Vegas in a few days, we were no longer bound together by Hatchi, he had the perfect item to and story to boost his career, I'd only get in the way.

"Were you though? Because it didn't exactly sound like it in the car! Too cowardly to tell me that your career takes precedence once again. Well don't worry Zak, I get it. Take the knife, do what you want with it, just please keep it safe because if it gets broken I don't know if I could cope with having to see you again." I went on the attack, defending myself from the inevitable hurt that was about to come. A single tear escapes down my cheek as I turn to watch Aaron and Rufus gambolling around the yard.

"Tracy, what the fuck are you talking about? I was waiting to speak to you because I wanted to get it straight in my head first, weigh up the factors of what is a massive decision for me. Seriously will you stop thinking the fucking worst for a change!" He pulls my arm making me look at him. "What I wanted to talk to you about was not just putting the knife in the museum but also about going public with this, with us." I blink at him trying to absorb what he had just said. "I mean we won't be flaunting our every move like those Kardashian creatures or anything, but we wouldn't have to hide away either. But its a big decision, it will be intrusive for you, the media will dig into your past and family, and will probably even follow you on occasion. The reaction from our fans will be mixed, most are great and will be supportive but there'll be some nasty ones too. You'll need to be more cautious in every aspect of your life. Damn! I'm not selling this very well!" He backtracks as he sees my look of panic. "I'm just trying to be realistic but the thing is Tracy we'd also be free and wouldn't have to hide away. Realistically the chances are that after your episodes are aired people will draw their own conclusions anyway. This way we control exactly how and when it happens." I blink at him again and chew my lip as I contemplate what he has just said.

"Come on Tracy, sweetie, please say something. This is a massive decision for me." He takes my hands in his.

"It kind of is for me too don't you think?" I say quietly.

"Yes, of course, I know, sorry. I just need to know if it s even something you would entertain." He looks so worried and I realise how scared he is that I might reject him.

"Ok." I say with a small smile.

"What?" His brows pull together as if he doesn't understand English any longer.

"I said ok, lets do it." I grin at him as I realise what a commitment this is for him.

"Serious?" He asks again.

"Fucking hell Bagans, yes!" I laugh. "I have conditions, but yes lets do this." He pulls me to him lifting me off my feet into a tight hug.

"I think this is the scariest thing I have ever done." He breathes as he puts me down, I roll my eyes.

"You just banished a demon with a knife to your throat and this is the scariest thing you have done? Trust me to fall for a crazy man." I sigh as Zak chuckles.

"Hey you , come here." He smiles as he beckons me to him with his finger. I step towards him and suddenly his lips are on mine. I melt into the kiss, revelling in it, marvelling at the freedom and lightness that comes with it now we are not oppressed by Hatchi. I hate to be cliché but it really takes my breath away.

"Knock knock. I'm not looking, I just need the bathroom please." Aaron stumbles through the door with his hand covering his eyes, his other reaching out in front of him to feel where he is going. Zak rolls his eyes and I grin at the goofball as he disappears around the corner. On his return the three of us sit down and hash out exactly how the knife will be handled. I wanted Aaron there to act as an objective point of view, I trusted him to be fair and not get caught up in Zak's crazy ideas. To my surprise however Zak was being reasonable and sensible. Maybe just maybe this whole incident had made him realise that sometimes it paid to be cautious.

"So we're all agreed? The knife will be kept in the most secure case that can be procured and will be under 24 hour surveillance. The story will be told through a video presentation featuring you both telling it together with clips from the investigations and parts of Jays audio of the ritual. When the museum opens in a months time that will be when you two go official with a brief media statement thus giving Tracy time to speak with friends and family and lock down her social media accounts. Did I get it all?" Aaron reads back to us an overview of the list we had made.

"I think so and yes I agree." Zak affirms.

"Yup, that's it I think. It covers all the important stuff anyway." I nod and rub my eyes, exhaustion hitting me like a brick wall. It was only 9.30pm but I was ready for bed.

"Tracy, Trace? Are you still with us?" Zak nudges me.

"I don't know, am I?" I yawn. "Just about I think."

"Doesn't Rufus need a walk?" Zak asks me as he rubs my back trying to keep me focused.

"Shit yeah." Rufus' ears have pricked up at the sound of his name and he was up on his feet as I made to get up from the couch.

"I'll take him!" Aaron jumped up and I smiled at him in appreciation.

"Thanks dude, I'm not sure I would have even made it out of the door." I flop back onto the sofa and snuggle into Zak. "You're welcome to stay here tonight Aaron, if you don't mind the couch."

"She must be tired, she called me Aaron." He chuckles. "Yeah, I'd love to stay I need to spend as much time as I can with my pompom before we leave on Friday." And with that he heads out with Rufus close at his heels. I try not to groan when I realise that Friday is just 3 sleeps away but I bury my head into Zak's shoulder and breathe in deeply, trying to commit his scent to my memory.

"You ok sweetie?' Zak asks me as he strokes my hair.

"Yeah, just you know, Friday." I talk into his shoulder so he can't see how upset it makes me.

"I know sweetie, I know." He barely whispers as he holds me tighter to him resting his mouth against my head.