Phases Eight

Phase 36 Menacing Caricatures? Is that even a word?

Hayden's shirt got glued to his body with sweat. He wasn't forced to engage himself in the life threatening process, but his irritating inner voice kicked him to the curb that he ended up having a Induced Hypnosis Session, popularly known as IHS at the D.R.E.A.M with the demon.

Orion's shrill voice flooded his ears, "Where are you now?" His tone was stark autocratic just like his father's during a hypnosis session.

Hayden risked his sanity to have an IHS for the sake of his father. Daniel Clark, presently a suspect for Mark Ashworth's murder was temporarily captivated by the FBI . If there weren't any proper evidence, he would be convicted and thrown behind the bars for an eternity.

Though a part of Hayden loathed his father to hell, there was this instinctual bonding and a pricking conscience that apprehended him of the injustice faced by Daniel.

Even if Daniel was vile enough to dig someone's grave, Hayden was sure he wouldn't be the one to get arrested after dirtying his hands. He was too rich and powerful to come up with a perfect blunder.

It took a day of booze on vodka for Hayden to arrive at this truth, and another day of booze to decide whether he must help Daniel or not. The solution to his current black outs and the evidence for Luciana's case would be the same. When the hangover let him off the hook he found himself at the D.R.E.A.M's headquarters at Manhattan.

Daniel and Orion were veterans to perform a IHS. To help the former, the latter was the only hope. Orion did the session with no diabolical intentions as Clark knew too much of his secrets. Presenting Clark before the jury would be equivalent to walking Orion's secrets over the arena.

Hayden reminded Orion of his daughter. He wasn't a good father to her. He never fitted in her little girl's picture of a family. He had too much at hand. Her death was probably his punishment for being a wack job throughout his life. He felt silly to give up following the Hamilton girl so that Daniel and Hayden didn't share the same unfortunate fate.

Hayden shivered on the recliner. Gradually he exhilarated from the initial panic of moving into a hypnotic state and started listening to Orion, "It looks like..like a party" he gave his first response after closing his eyes.

"In the Hamilton Mansion..." he continued taking short breaths in between.

Orion's eyebrow twitched,"In the mansion? Are you sure?"

Never had an occasion been celebrated at the mansion due to Amelia's condition. Even when all Hamiltons were alive, they were too scared to have an outsider in a place where she dwelled. She could burst anytime like the Etna.

"It was the mansion.." Hayden took a gasp, "The first time when I and Lena met the Hamiltons.."

"Lena?"

"Selena" Hayden made a long pause.

Orion sensed the diversion of his thoughts."Get back. We are not leaving the party"

"Barbara..she's standing before us.. She's so scary with kohl in her eyes.." Hayden's chest rose and fell erratically.

"No. You are not frightened by her." Orion's interesting part came up, "You are strong enough to stand up against her. Now... Listen to her... What did she say?" Nothing seemed to be so pleasant to him than playing inside people's heads.

Hayden gave a self satisfied grin, "She's said ..said not to use the second floor of the west wing" his mind synchronised to Orion's plot.

"Did you perhaps go?"

Hayden nodded, "Yes. The Hamiltons were a boring set. So we made things interesting. Lena went first. I followed her. We heard sobs."

"Walk close to the sobs." Orion checked his vitals while commanding his trance. After ensuring stability he sat beside Hayden.