Guide My Steps - A Zak Bagans Story

His Mina, Her Dracula

"Oh, I'm a mess right now - inside out. Searching for a sweet surrender, but this is not the end. I can't work it out. How going through the motions, going through us. And oh, I've known it for the longest time. And all of my hopes, all of my own words are all over written on the signs. But you're on my road...walking me home..." – I'm a Mess by Ed Sheeran 

*

Life was funny. Not to forget the random oddities that often follow the hilarity.

My life was never honestly on track, not now or even later. Hell, I was bound to the Ghost Adventures crew. We were never in one spot for too long unless we hit the motherload of paranormal hotspots. Given we had yet to visit every country in the world, we had a lot of ground to cover in our lives.

But what I was most concerned about was how one moment, Bagans was confessing all the other men his ex-girlfriend had while dating him...and the next, he dragging me outside to quite possibly snog me silly. Can you see the holes in that story? I could.

The world outside the rest stop/café/gas station/whatever was quiet, too quiet. It was only mid-afternoon and darkness was already falling about. When I looked up, I confirmed my suspicions of the well-known 'Dracula weather' that tended to follow us to about every lockdown location. Or, at least, while traveling. This was certainly going to put a hiccup in our plans. But first, I had to deal with this growing emotional breach with Bagans. He was my top priority.

Hand wrapped tightly around mine, Bagans and I quickly made our way to the side of a building – a large restroom facility, by the looks of the cemented walls and odd smell. He pinned me with his hips to a wall the first opportunity he had, and I went along willingly.

"I want to kiss you." He murmured to me.

Heart pounding rapidly against my ribcage, I asked, "Why?"

"May I kiss you?" He asked more directly. 

"I still want to know wh–"

Lightning cracked above us. Out of absolute fear and instinct, I flinched and practically cowered against the rough surface of the old, cracked wall. The clouds seem to growl down at us as they began to trickle their masses onto the world below. Bagans growled himself, pressing his face into the space between my clavicle and neck. Breath hot against my shoulder, I felt his lips smile against my skin.

"Figures." He grumbled half-heartedly, pulling away.

In our whirl and scramble to get outside and against the wall, Bagans had just about ruined his usual hairdo. I half smiled, reaching out to fix the remnants of the stubborn black hair that formed the shark fin Mohawk atop his head. It fell back the instant I removed my hand, and the new coat of rain wasn't helping either.

I glared to the sky, rain beginning to trace pathways down my shirt and soak my jeans. Great. "We should head back inside..." Bagans nodded to the car. "Clothes?" He nodded, covering what was left of his updo with his hand and ran to the car. I found my legs following our hurried path back into the station.

Once inside, I literally slammed into the lean chest of Nick. He looked down – damn my height! – and grinned from ear to ear. "Looks like you and Bagans got caught in the storm." He observed, eyes gazing up and down my drenched body. I rolled my eyes. Nick caught my eye roll and his smile grew. "So, why did you and Bagans take off like that?" That son of a bitch.

I shrugged. My eyes instantly snapped to the open windows of the building, I could see a shaded figure making its way towards the door. Brushing past my brother with a quick apology, I heaved the door open for Bagans. He plotted in, dripping wet and frowning. He handed me my suitcase, which was thankfully waterproof. He had his own duffel bag who seemed to have gotten the brunt of the rain.