Remnant Book 1

Chapter 10

The orange and pink hues of sunrise peek out of their hiding in a soft willowy glow. They tease the morning with a kaleidoscope of colors before settling on a constant glimmer to start the day. We had immediately collected our belongings and were back on the road with only three hours of sleep to sustain us.

I hadn't told Cyrus about the new location where my grandmother had wanted to meet. Instead, I would let him drop me off as soon as we were in New Orleans and then head back out the same direction to Lafayette.

It is long before Cyrus begins a barrage of questions over my close encounter with what I can only assume is death.

"What exactly did you see in the room? The details are important. Every single thought and memory. I need you to explain them to me."

I go back to that moment and try my best to describe it. As exhausted as I feel, my mind begins to retrace steps describing the image that will now haunt my nights for the remainder of my days.

"The dead man from the diner was above me staring and stroking my hair. It was the strangest of things. I wasn't in bed but seeing myself and him from a distance. He didn't even notice me in the corner of the room until I reached into his thoughts. I think that's what startled him. Quite frankly, I thought I had no enemies but apparently, I have plenty. Foul smelling ones too."

"Foul smelling?"

"Yes, and the piece of shit tried to hit me while I slept! Can ghosts actually do that?" I question angrily.

"Damn! He knows you searched his thoughts which will give him insight to your abilities. There's also the fact that he wanted to frighten you because Dwellers aren't sent to kill. They are sent to terrorize you, search for details, and deter you from your goal. They can be very persuasive, inhabiting your worst fears. This one is probably searching." he tries explaining.

"Dwellers?" I pause. "Am I supposed to know who or what these things are?"

"Something you should be weary of. They are sent to find your location and usually take the form of someone else. Based on what you told me at the motel, I was sure it was a Dweller. That is the reason for leaving immediately. As long as your location is not detected again, they cannot find and torment you. They would need some sort of target."

"Sent? What does that mean, Cyrus? How does someone command the dead?"

Dwellers, hunters, and murderers were not part of my everyday life, and he speaks as if they are. Everything about what he says often makes no sense. How am I to understand half of what he means?

"Only few can command a Dweller. It's like a possession. A dead spirit can travel beyond the realms of those living into all parts of the world searching for a specific target. In most cases, they are used to locate and attain information. In other cases, they are used to torment."

Confusion is written all over my face as I chose my next words very carefully, "Can you command a Dweller?"

"I would never do anything to you, Raven. You forget that I am here to make sure you are protected and besides, I'm well aware of your location. I think the real question you should be asking yourself is why a Dweller is searching for you. You are quite the enigma already revealing so many secrets," Cyrus comments. His voice is laced with skepticism and wonder.

I settle in my seat too drained to even begin another confusing conversation with him. The days prior had included constant study groups and all-nighters preparing for finals in which I had endured many sleepless nights. Now that the last twelve hours contained just as little sleep, my body is burnt out.