Vengeful Spirits ( The Elkmont Incident )

Chapter One: In Pursuit of Answers

   All my life I've longed for answers.  Answers to questions that no eighteen year old should have to ask.  I've experienced the paranormal for as far back as I can remember; seeing things, hearing things, sensing things that no one else can. In High School I was considered a freak, but then who could blame them. After all, not everyone talks to the dead.

   Walking up to the door of the address I was given, I stop and take a breath. 

No backing out now Lauren.  It's time to figure this out; besides, I need the money. 

Knocking on the door, I wait for the adventure to begin.

As it opens chills overwhelm me.  "Can I help you?"

I snap out of it. "Yeah, is Dillon here?"

He smiles, "That would be me, and I bet you're Lauren Powers." He holds out his hand and I take it. "Please come in."  Following him inside into the living room I see four others; one girl and three guys.

"Everyone, this is Lauren," he says as they turn to me.  "Lauren, this is my team.  The guys checking out our gear is Nolan," he nods, "our video tech.  And Mark our new camera man." 

Mark stumbles as he stands. "It's nice to meet you." I can't help but snicker a little.

"Mark just joined the group. This will be his first investigation," Dillon adds. It's easy to tell he's a little nervous about being here.

"The man on the couch is Robert," he motions toward him. "He's our audio tech.  He and Nolan man our control room and help investigate as well." As he stares at me I sense negativity, and possibly some resentment.

"And finally, over at the table with the laptop is Anissa.  She's our researcher and another one of our investigators." 

"Nice to meet you, Lauren.  It'll be good to have another female in the group."

Robert stands. "She's not in our group, yet.  No offense, but we're all professionals at what we do, and I've never met anyone that was a real psychic."

"Robert," Dillon scolds.

"Dillon, I have to agree with Robert.  We've worked with so-called psychics before and came up empty." Nolan adds.

"I understand your skepticism," I step toward Robert and hold out my hand. He hesitates for a moment, then notices everyone watching.  "Surely you're not afraid.  Are you?"

He grins a little.  "All right, I'll call your bluff." He reaches out and as we touch I suddenly see flashes of his life; the investigations he's been on, the times he was afraid, and most of all an experience he had as a child.

Everyone remains silent as I begin to speak.  "I see a little boy and his mother.  She's in the kitchen doing dishes, and the boy's just outside the window playing in the yard.  He has a towel tied around his neck pretending like he's superman." Nolan and Anissa giggle as Dillon motions for them to be quiet.

"As he's playing something catches his eye at the edge of the woods.  It's a little girl dressed in white holding an old rag doll." Robert's smirk begins to fade. "He stares at her for a moment wondering where she came from.  She waves, laughs, and skips back into the forest.  After hesitating for only a few seconds he chases after her."  I begin to see flashes I don't understand.  Brief images and sounds of the little girl, and of Robert screaming in terror. Trying to see more I push deeper into his memories and sense something darker; a very old and evil presence.

Robert jerks his hand away and our connection is broken, but I continue to stare into his eyes. "The little boy, was you."  The others glance at each other; waiting for confirmation.