Page 127 of The Haunting of Lockton

“His name’s Alan,” Paxton said.

Albeit small, a smile played at the corner of Callum’s mouth. “I’m not used to feeling such happiness come from a spirit. He’s well loved.”

Paxton’s cheeks darkened.

“Will Taylor be joining us?” Callum asked, that smile slipping from his face.

“No,” I answered. “He said he’s stuck at his parents’ house. They live out of town, where the roads are a lot worse right now.”

“For the better, I suppose.” He peered up at the ceiling. “I sense another presence as well. Take me to Julian?”

“Uh, sure.” I sprang into action and led him to the staircase. “Fair warning. He’s not… well, he’s not himself right now.”

“I’d imagine he’s not.” Callum stayed several paces behind me, his steps light on the stairs. Whatever hunch he had, or whatever he knew, he kept it to himself for now. It was irritating. “Have you noticed anything other than mood swings and fatigue?”

“Headaches,” I answered, stopping in front of the closed door to Julian’s room. “But that’s it.”

“Just as I feared.” Callum nodded. “He’s declining fast. It won’t be long before it progresses, if it hasn’t already.”

“Until what progresses?” Paxton asked from behind us. A glimmer formed beside his left shoulder before fading, and I knew it was Alan.

Instead of enlightening us, Callum lightly tapped on the door before pushing it open. Paxton and I stepped into the room behind him. Julian lay curled up in the middle of the bed. His eyes opened at our approach, but he didn’t move. His vacant expression unsettled me. It was like the lights were on but no one was home.

“Good afternoon,” Callum said, stopping at the edge of the bed.

Julian’s eyes slowly moved to him. The hollowness in them trickled away as a spark of recognition took its place. “What do you want?”

“Jules,” I said. “Stop being a rude little bitch and—”

Callum held up a hand to silence me. His attention never left my brother. “I’m here to help you.”

“I don’t need your help,” Julian said with a sneer. “Get the fuck out and leave me alone.”

An ache twisted in my gut. Something was seriously wrong with him. My brother was soft-spoken and oftentimes shy. This rude and hateful attitude wasn’t him at all.

Callum remained unfazed by his harshness. “I’ll only leave once you do.”

Huh?What was that supposed to mean?

A cold smile touched Julian’s lips. “I quite like it here, thank you.” He sat up in the bed and touched his face. “I’ve not felt like this in many, many years. You don’t know what it’s like to live in darkness, day in and day out. No faces to greet you. No voices except the ones screaming in your head.”

My confusion only deepened.

“So you would give that fate to another?” Callum asked.

Julian moved his jaw from side to side as his eyes darkened a shade. Maybe it was the lighting, but they didn’t look the same anymore. He blinked several times, as though confused. “Callum? When did you get here?”

If I wasn’t already worried, another bout of anxiety toppled into my gut.

“I haven’t been here long,” Callum responded. “I came to check on you.”

“Check on me?” Julian curled back up on the bed and cuddled into the puffy comforter. It was one of those heavy pillow-top ones perfect for when it was cold outside. “Can we talk later? I’m so tired.”

The anger had left Julian’s voice. Exhaustion had taken him over again.

“Of course. We’ll let you rest.” Callum turned from the bed and motioned for me and Paxton to follow him from the room. He shut the door as we stepped back out into the hall.

“What the fuck’s going on?” I asked.