Purgatech: Jess' Horror

Chapter 10

Jess spent the night restlessly tossing and turning in bed. Every time the house shifted in the fall breeze, her heart started to race. Every time the wind whipped up outside her window, the branches on the old oak outside dragged across the glass like the fingernails of the undead.

She knew she was being silly; that she was just letting her imagination get away with her. But in the middle of the night when the rest of the recruits were sleeping, it was hard not to let her thoughts go there.

But she kept what happened last night to herself. She didn't want to freak Erica out. She didn't want Rob hearing about it and belittling her. But most of all she still wasn't even sure it had really happened.

Maybe it was just like the wind in the oaks outside. Maybe she'd heard the wind whistling through the trees and her mind interpreted it as a voice.

"That's gotta be it," she said, pulling the covers up to her chin. "It was just my imagination."

When the sun finally started to peek over the horizon in a pale pink glow, Jess was finally able to breathe again. She smiled softly to herself. As much as Dylan had gone on about the Ridgely's choosing this place for the paranormal hot-spots, she had a feeling Purgatech were a little more calculating.

Housing their offices in a creepy old mansion made it easy to believe in things that went bump in the night. She was sure that if she had been recruited to test their gadgets in some sterile office downtown, it wouldn't have the same effect.

For a brief moment, Kyle's hurtful words came rushing back to her.

"It's sick. Preying on vulnerable people, making them believe they can contact their dead loved ones."

Jess didn't expect to find Gram here, she knew that much. But if Purgatech could prove that it was possible to contact those that had passed on, maybe Jess would get that one thing she longed for most - a chance to say goodbye.

Before she could get too nostalgic, there was a knock on her door.

"Jess? You awake yet?"

"Yeah, come in," she called out.

Erica opened the door and peeked her head in. "You alone?"

Jess propped herself up on her pillow. "Of course I am. Who else would be in here?"

Why would Erica ask her that? Had she experienced the same thing Jess had?

"I just thought maybe Dylan had snuck in here for a secret rendezvous!"

Jess gasped. "Erica! How can you say something like that?"

Erica giggled. She closed the door behind her and bounded over to the bed, sinking down beside Jess.

"I saw the way he was looking at you yesterday. Total goo-goo eyes."

"He was not!" Jess said, shoving her friend. "Even if he was, I'm dating your brother, remember?"

"Yeah, I know. But...Dylan's hot. And my brother's a doofus."

"That doesn't mean I don't want to work things out with him."

"I know." Erica patted Jess on the arm. "But maybe being here, now, is just what you need. As much as I love him, if you two aren't happy together, you shouldn't force it. And from what I've seen these past few weeks, you guys are kinda on different pages. But you and Dylan..."

"Me and Dylan are just friends. I work for him now. Nothing more."

"Mmm-hmm," Erica said. "Just promise me you'll think about what's best for you. Not for Kyle. Not for Dylan. Alright?"