Ghost Adventures: The Reunion - Chapter 4#

I opened my eyes to a familiar place. The sunlight was odd and the neighborhood was completely silent. I was alone but I wasn't afraid. I was calm and standing in front of the unchanged white triangle house with it's enclosed porch and grey steps. The Demon House....

How did I get here? I promised myself I would never come back here. There was a strange noise that started filling the silence. I looked down at my hands and I was suddenly holding a white noise box. I stared down at the box and cradled it like a baby. I waited for something to interrupt it's frequency but nothing came. The overwhelming sense of dread came over me. I dropped the box on the sidewalk and watched it break into pieces. The noise stopped and I was surrounded by silence again. I looked back up at the house and my feet started pulling me forward. I opened the door and stepped into the enclosed porch. There wasn't anything besides a old radio on a beat up table to my right. I tried opening the front door but it was locked. The fear started setting in and I began to panic. There was a strong odor of gasoline emerging from somewhere and my lungs started burning. I turned back around to make my escape but the porch door was locked now too. I paced back and forth, beating my fists at my temples, and screaming on the top of my lungs but that only made it worse. Why couldn't anyone hear me? Where are the neighbors?  I tried to break through the door but soon as I touched it, it disappeared and was replaced by another window. No! I went to the windows next and tried to open and bust through them but nothing was happening and I wasn't strong enough. Chills hit my core like a cold sharp knife and I knew I wasn't alone now. The radio started making noises as it turned on by itself. I held my breath and waited for whatever happens next. The music that started to play was Retrograde by James Blake. I've heard the song before and as it played I tried to listen to the lyrics as if there was some important message within the song that I had to hear but I couldn't make my mind work to understand them. I felt a strong urge to turn around and when I did, my heart dropped.

"Rodney!" I screamed. He looked just as he did the last time I seen him. His hair was still slick black and styled the same as Gerard Way when he had black emo hair. His eyes are the same deep blue color that I remember. And he was still wearing his favorite Slipknot t-shirt. He smiled at me. I missed him so much. He was one of my best friend's and a excellent paranormal investigator. He was better than the rest of our crew and he had good instincts. I loved him.... The gasoline smell was gone and the song stopped playing. Rodney's lips started moving but nothing came out of them. I looked at him and he seemed confused and worried. "What is it? What are you trying to tell me?" I began to cry. But his lips continued to move without sound. Somewhere in the distance I heard the screams of our friends and my vision tunneled out until I was falling into darkness.

I woke up and sat up in my bed. My heart was pounding and I was covered in sweat. I looked around my room and nothing seemed to be out of place. I closed my eyes and started taking deep breaths to calm myself down. When my heart recovered, I opened my eyes. Ugh! My head was hurting so bad. I glanced over at my clock and it was seven in the morning. I've been sleeping for thirteen hours!  I got up out of bed and took a shower to get rid of the sticky perspiration. I put on a simple t-shirt and jeans and went downstairs to take four ibuprofen. I sat down in my living room, absorbing the peace and quiet. My head still couldn't wrap around what happened yesterday. First, there's Tiffany and Paul. I didn't know what I was going to do with those two. I trust Paul but I don't want to believe it at the same time. The idea of Tiffany trying to get me fired so that she could keep her job is unreal. But I've spent four years blocking people out so that my panic attacks won't be triggered off. So many things could of happened without me not realizing it because I was blocking people out so much. I exhaled and closed my eyes. I was so mad at myself for letting it get this bad.And then coming home to my safe haven and having a paranormal crew come knocking on my door didn't help things. And my dream last night only made it worse....

I opened my eyes and got up from the sofa and went into the kitchen to make me breakfast. Afterwards, I decided to get to work. I didn't care how early it was. When I got there, it was just me and Cherie. "Good morning Rebecca, you're here early," Cherie said surprised. "Yeah, I had a rough day yesterday and I went to bed early and slept way too long," I said. "Oh, I've done that many times myself. I hope things are better today for you dear," she smiled. "Me too," I smiled back. When it's just the employers here, Cherie is a pretty nice person. Her hair was almost white and she's in her late sixties. She has no kids or husband, and she's been working here for who knows how long. On her lunch breaks, all she does is read and she barely touches her food. I remember watching her countless times and fearing that maybe I'm looking into my own future. I always wondered if it was her choice to be alone or it just happened that way. Maybe she has a past we don't know about that made her this way.

"Wow, you're here before me!"

I jumped and my heart fell into my stomach.

"Paul! Stop sneaking up on me!" I yelled at him. "Well, excuse me," Paul said and busted out laughing. "I'm not doing it purposely. You need to pay more attention to you're surroundings."

"I try," I mumbled and started polishing the desks and counters. "Have you talked to Tiffany?" Paul asked. And just then, here comes Tif walking through the front doors with two cappuccinos and a shocked face. Paul walked away to the computer lab. "When did you get here Rebecca? We usually always meet in the parking lot," she said in a strange tone. "I got here early," I said. Why was she acting so strangely? Does she think that I got her early because I'm making sure I keep my job or something?  "Why are you here early?" I asked. "Oh, am I early?" she ask trying to make her voice sound normal. "Ha! I didn't even realize. My phone alarm must be off." I watched her suspiciously as she handed me one of the cappuccinos. I was almost scared to drink it but she never poisoned me before. What Paul said yesterday is going to have me paranoid now. I took a sip of it and it was caramel macchiato which is my favorite. It didn't taste off, so I took another sip. Maybe I should just talk to Tiffany and see what this is all about.... I don't know. I don't want anything to ruin my friendship with both Tiffany and Paul. Especially since we have to work together. "Me and the girls are going back to the casino tonight. Want to come?" Tiffany asked setting up her desk. She's actually going to work today? Hmm.... "No, thanks anyway. I'm not up for the casino tonight," I said. "Don't tell me you are going to stay here and read books all day after you get off work." I looked over at her and I couldn't help but to feel irritated by her. "No, actually I'm going out," I lied. I'll have to make plans when I get home. Maybe I'll go see a movie. "Really? Where are you going?" Tiffany asked skeptically.

Thank God for Paul!

Before I had to answer, Paul slammed down a stack full of papers for Tiffany on her desk. "These need to be filled out by tomorrow. I found them hidden in a binder stuffed under old newspapers in the bottom of the file cabinets. They was suppose to be filled out a few months ago. You need to get to work," Paul said and winked at me with a big smile when she wasn't looking. Paul walked away and Tiffany glared after him and than looked at me. "Ugh! He is a psycho," she said through her teeth. "He's doing this to me only because I wouldn't go out with him. My wrist is going to be killing me later and I'll probably end up with carpal tunnel," she ranted. So she says.... "I'm not sure what he's going to do when he finds out that I'm going out with someone this Saturday."

"Who are you going out with?" I asked curiously. "His name is Dylan. We met through mutual friends on Facebook. He's a really sweet and funny guy. He's taking me to Rubicon Club & Grill," she gushed. She went on and on about her new boyfriend and not knowing what she's going to wear for their first date. At least she wasn't questioning me anymore. But Tiffany seemed like her usual gushy self. Her using Paul to get me fired is just too weird for me. It has to be something else. After work, I didn't go straight home. I wasn't sure where I was going but I hated lying and I'm sure Tiffany would ask me again tomorrow. I ended up at a bar called Sierra Gold. It had a nice atmosphere and it was filled with people but it wasn't loud like the casino. I sat at the bar counter since there was only a few people there. I had a italian style pizza and strolled around on my phone. There wasn't much besides storm and flood warnings issued for tomorrow from all the news stations. What is going on with Nevada's weather? I took my last bite of pizza and washed it down with pepsi. My favorite soda ever. The cold and pure sugary carbonated liquid comforted me. I closed my phone and was ready to leave. I got up from the stool and placed a good tip on the counter. I turned around and there they was. Sitting in one of the private booths in the far end of the room away from everyone else chattering away. "You have got to be kidding me," I mumbled. There was four of them this time. From the way it looked, Zak was discussing something serious with Billy. And Aaron and the fourth one was focusing on a computer screen with headphones connected to a two way jack. Before I could sneak out, Zak's hazel eyes met mine. I was like a deer caught in the headlights and there was nowhere to run. He looked surprised and he smiled his cute grin and wave. I couldn't make my feet move. I managed a smile and awkwardly waved back at him like a dork.

Aaron, Billy and the fourth guy glanced in my direction. Zak said something to them and got up and started to approach me. His friends stared after him and my stomach was doing weird flips. I wished so much that I hadn't of paused and just kept walking when I seen them. Guess I'm just going to have to deal with this. "Hey Rebecca," he said still smiling. "I see you're following me now," I said jokingly. "Nah, it's just a coincidence this time," he teased and then his expression shifted. "I want to apologize about yesterday. I should had been careful and more sensitive about what I said and Aaron erased the whole tape."

"It's fine," I said. I meant it. "I.... I just have a hard time... talking about it." He nodded understandingly. "If you don't mind, can we sit down and talk?" He asked. I really didn't want to because I knew it was about the demon house. But I didn't go into a panic attack after our first conversation, so.... "You don't have to if you don't want to," he said after a long moment. "No, we can talk," I agreed. He looked pleased. How can he be so happy to talk about a demon house? He must be a dedicated paranormal investigator. Just like Rodney....

I sat back down at the bar stools which was now thankfully cleared and I won't have to worry about people eavesdropping in our conversation. Zak pulled out the stool next to me. I felt awkward with him this close. I could practically feel his body heat coming off him. I nervously started picking at my nails. A horrible habit that I thought I quit in seventh grade. I turned my head to the right, waiting for him to begin. He was doodling something on a napkin, probably trying to think about what he was going to say. At least he was going to be careful this time. He kept his eyes on his design while he spoke.

"Last year, I started a documentary about the Demon House with my crew," he suddenly paused for a minute to look at me, waiting for my reaction. I kept a poker face. He went back to doodling. "At the time it was just me, Aaron and our former member Nick Groff. Something drew us there. I can't explain it. But when we first stepped foot in that house, we knew something sinister was in there." I remember that feeling. "We have been on so many investigations through the years but we never came across something like this before. I've never felt such a strong diabolical presence. I probably should had just stopped the production but I was drawn in too deep. I couldn't let it go." I couldn't either. "In November, we had to stop filming because the house became unsafe. One of my production crew quit on spot because-" he paused again and I realized his hands was shaking. The doodle on his napkin was a dark figure with no face. He didn't finished on why one of his production crew quit but I'd rather not know anyway. "I had to call a priest to come exorcise the house afterwards. We had planned to resume filming in December but the exorcism was unsuccessful and.... things continued. Nick was the second one to quit. He didn't tell us why but sometimes after these investigations, things follow us home and bring havoc in our daily lives, relationships, family and friends. Nick always struggled the most when our investigations turned demonic. We thought he would come back. He continued ghost hunting though. I tried talking with him a few times but he changed. He's not himself anymore and he's angry all the time. His wife almost took their daughter and left him. He sent us a letter stating that he didn't want to be shown in the Demon House documentary, so we had to start all over again. And of course the internet blew up when he announced his departure and I had to tell lies to reporters. As of right now, everyone thinks the Demon House had nothing to do with him leaving and he had no involvement what so ever in the documentary," he rolled his hazel eyes and continued. "In January, I decided to buy the house and we recently tried to start production again but the house is still unsafe. It's like the exorcism made things worse," he said and then looked at me again. I couldn't say anything. I was kinda relieved to know that I wasn't the only one that had a bad experience in that house. But it still doesn't answer my question on why my friends are dead. Nick made it out and never went back like a smart human being. "I'm not quick to run away from a ghost or a demon. I want to still do the investigation but I need to do some more investigations and study other places with demonic presences before I can go back inside that house again. I need you with me.... I mean, we need you with us," he stumbled a little. "First off, you guys made it out alive. You must have a death wish," I joked and shook my head back and forth and laughed. "I'm not a paranormal investigator anymore. I can't help you. Besides, you don't even know me." But soon as I said it, I knew deep down that I was wrong. I remembered his hands shaking just now as he talked about what happened to him and his crew in the demon house.

"True. But in away, I do feel like I know you, Rebecca. I can't imagine what you went through four years ago but I understand what you are going through now. When I first heard you're story, I knew  I had to meet you. If we can do this investigation together, we might be able to solve what happened to you're friends. I know that you want to figure out what's going on in that house just as much as I do," he said. His hazel eyes pierced right into mine. "You still haven't told me how you got my address," I said changing the subject. That irritated him. Good. This guy is getting on my nerves too. I wish he would stay the hell out of my head and my life. Why did he have to come here anyway?

"You're parents," he said. That shocked me. My parents didn't like my ghost hunting days at all and thought it was a waste of time. "My parents?" I gasped. He smirked. "Yeah, they are the ones that told me where you lived. We would had met sooner but you're house was hard to find," he laughed. "They find out about our documentary at the Demon House and they contacted me and told us your story." That's strange. Why would they do that? The past ten years they barely talked to me because of my career choices as ridiculous as that sounds. Is this away of them making amends or something? Shit! I forgot about that email my mom sent me..... I never read it. I looked down at my hands as I spoke. "Zak, I can't go back to that house. There might had been a part of me that wanted to find out what happened to my friends but that's gone now," I said sadly. "I don't believe that." I looked up at him angrily. "Normally when I asked someone if they want to come with my crew on one our lock downs and they say no, I would just take it. But I know you Rebecca," he was starting to get angry too. "You think you know me," I snapped back. "I can help you," he almost whispered. I swallowed hard to keep myself from crying. "You're parents told me that you loved being a paranormal investigator. You would travel place to place and be gone for weeks. They never seen you so happy. Despite what they wanted selfishly for you, they was happy and they feel bad for how they treated you," he whispered. It took all I had in me not to cry. That's the worse thing I could do in front of him right now and I didn't want to see pity in his eyes. I didn't want pity from no one. Zak took another napkin from the holder and started writing again. "This is my number. I love doing what I do and I don't let anyone or anything stop me. Please, just think about it," he said. My stomach felt really sick because I honestly didn't know what I wanted. It should had been easy to say no. "Okay," was my only reply. I took the napkin and got up from the stool and left Zak there. I didn't glance back at him or looked over at his crew. I breathed in the fresh outside air and it made me feel better. My mind was numb on the way home but when I got inside the house, there was nothing to do to keep my mind busy. My house was no longer my safe haven to protect my mind. I had a lot of thinking to do and a big choice to make.