Gone Ghosthunting With Chanel

5. Black Out Day

Chapter 5 - Black Out Day

The warm morning air hit my face as the wind whipped up the steps to the asylum. Aaron caught up to me walking side by side he said "Man, Madeline I hope you're okay. I know those demons can be pretty rough."

"ohh Aaron don't worry about little old me. I'm perfectly fine." I stated. In fact I was lying, all I could think of was crawling into bed with champagne and staying there all day. I didn't want to talk to anyone, or do anything. The feeling of disappointment still lingered, and my chest was becoming unbelievably sore.

The black cases were packed into the van as soon as we got outside. Ian was taking Zak back to our offices so they could review footage and evidence. Natalie was faithfully outside waiting for me. I didn't bother to say bye to anyone, I just walked up and entered the BMW. As I got in Natalie looked interested but even more worried.

As we pulled off the property I lost it. I began to sob, cry, stutter. I could hardly manage words, atleast enough to form proper sentences. How could it have been a demon. Am I going crazy just as my mother had. This thought made the tears come even harder. Breathing was hard, Natalie noticed as she took my hand in hers and stated in a calm controlled voice "breathe. It's all over." I began to calm down, I reached into my purse grabbing the prescription bottle out. I hadn't needed these in awhile, anxiety and antidepressant medication it was useful when I become worked up like this. I took 2 of each, replaced the top and pushed them back into the bag. I sat back closing my eyes. "I need you to take Chanel out for the day. I'll pay you $300"

"Maddie you never have to pay me. I understand." with that we pulled into the drive way and I started to walk into the house. I creeped in careful not to wake Chanel. I tip toed to my bedroom and shut the door behind me.

I pulled the heavy red curtains shut to block out the sunshine. I sat down on the edge of the bed in the dark, again. I took my shoes off, followed by my socks. Then my pants, along with my shirt. I crawled into bed under the blankets and began a fitful sleep. But let's face it, if it wasn't for the pills I wouldn't have slept at all.

Sleeping on and off several hours I awoke one of those times to a knock on the door. It was Ian calling out my name. With a mumbled and drowsy "mhmm" he opened the door.

Ian stood by the doorframe saying "Natalie took Chanel out. We finished the evidence review. Zak wanted to come check on you"

I replied with a faded and rather slurred "okay" he cracked the door as I sat up in the bed pulling up the white bed sheets to my shoulders so that my exposed torso would be covered. I reached and grabbed the bottle of champagne I had started to drink whenever I awoke and couldnt fall back asleep. I was feeling extremely distressed. I looked toward the phone on my nightstand. Checking it, i had recived emails from Zak, Ian, and Aaron, even Debby, all asking if I was okay. I set the phone back down noting it was already 5 in the afternoon. Atleast I was drunk at 5 right? I admitted to myself that trying to find the bright side wasn't working anymore as the bedroom door opened slowly. The room was still mostly dark, but I made out A tall man with dark hair standing there in a black shirt. I thought in a fog why did Zak come to see me? I'm not going back to that asylum.

Zak's perspective

I opened the bedroom door slowly. It was dark and I could see Madeline lying on the bed covered in white sheets. I stepped Inside the bedroom and made my way across the dark hardwood floor over to her bed. He blonde hair was cascading in loose curls over her shoulders her, hair so bright it mildly resembled the sheets. I saw her eyes shining blue through the dark. Her eyes looked swollen and tired. I noticed an open bottle of very expensive champagne on her nightstand. She had been alone, and drinking.

I was slightly worried while we went through footage at the office. Madeline had jumped into that car before saying anything to anyone. She just silently left. After what had happened to her I worried what else I might have missed that night. Part of my footage made me remember she said her side was burning last night, and she was pushed against that cinder block wall pretty hard. I even worried if the demon got ahold of her soul. She seemed pretty out of it when we were packing up the equipment.

Such a beautiful face to look so out of place I thought to myself. I sat on the edge of her bed, not saying a word, I took in her full lips, her long platinum hair, her engaging eyes, and of course her blushing cheeks that was the best part about looking at Madeline Viktor. Her cheeks always seemed to have a slight color, sometimes she even blushed uncontrollably.

"Zak." she mumbled. She was very drowsy, and I'm not sure she will remember this conversation.

I spoke in a slow hushed tone "Madeline, are you okay?"

She sighed slightly slurring "mhmm wonderful." she said it in a very genuine tone. She gazed at me as she slowly and eloquently spoke "Zak. Is the there something you wanted to ask me?"

"last night you were pushed against that wall pretty hard. Are you bruised?" Zak asked worried the answer might be yes.

Madeline began to be drowsy again as she said "I dunno, I didn't think to check." she shrugged her shoulder as one of the sheets fell down slightly. She picked it back up placing it over her shoulder again. Zak caught a faint glimpse of a purple colored mark on her collar bones.

Zak reached toward the sheet uncovering only the bruises, "your bruised on your chest pretty bad. Lemme see the back. How does it feel?"

She turned away from me to where I could only see her back. "it feels fine" she said in a quiet voice as she moved her hair and casually dropped the sheets down to her hips. Zak tried not to think about the fact her whole torso and chest was bare and exposed. I mean if she turned around..

Which made it hard to concentrate until his eyes fell upon the bruises on her back. The asylum wall had surely done a number on Madeline.

I placed a hand gently on the bruises as she let out a small whimper of pain. I felt immensely guilty.

I let my hand drop as I let out an audible sigh.

"I need to see your side. The one that was burning." I already knew what I was going to see there on her flawless skin. She turned slightly to the side revealing 3 long scratches from her rib cage all the way down to her hip bone

Madeline pulled the sheet back over her shoulders, wrapping it around her slender body she turned to face me again.

"Madeline, I'm really sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have-"

"look, I knew what I was walking into. Don't blame yourself for something you couldn't control in the first place." i was a little shocked at her response. She was right, but that didn't outweigh the bad feeling I had about that night.

I softly grabbed her hand, it was delicate and small next to mine. I held it for a brief moment as I said "I'll make up for it" as I let go of her hand she gave a faint smile, and she said "ooh" with a rounded mouth "I almost forgot" she said reaching into the drawer of her nightstand. She pulled out my gold digital recorder. "I had it after we left lunch yesterday, I meant to give it back last night." she said sleepily.

I grabbed the digital recorder and stood up from the plush bed. I turned to walk away as I said "Bye Madeline. Get some rest."

I swear I heard her mumble half awake "Goodbye Zachary." I walked out, and closed the bedroom door quietly.