Page 32 of The Haunting of Lockton

Skyler

“This is called an EMF detector,” I explained to Paxton, holding up the black rectangular device. He had met us at Redwood once he’d gotten off work. “It measures electromagnetic fields.”

“Um.” Paxton grabbed it and turned it over in his hand. “Okay. I don’t know what that means.”

I snorted. He was way too cute. “These are used to get readings on electrical wiring and other appliances, but it’s believed they can also detect ghosts. The theory is that the EMF meter will spike when a ghost is near because of the electrical currents in the air.”

“Why are there currents in the air?”

“Because ghosts have their own electromagnetic fields. They pull energy from everything around them to manifest.”

“Can’t you just see the ghost and know it’s there?” Paxton asked, as if the question was a no-brainer.

“Ghosts hardly ever take a physical form,” I responded. “People have caught glimpses of them over the years, but more times than not, the ghost is invisible to the human eye.”

Paxton smiled. It looked as if he knew some secret we didn’t. “Okay. What about that one?” He pointed to another device on the bed.

“This is a thermal-imaging camera. It detects hot and cold.” I moved to his side and grabbed the camera before turning it on Julian, who was rummaging through his bag. “See how he’s lit up in orange and yellow?”

“Yeah.” Paxton shifted closer to look at the screen.

Warmth came off his body, and my mouth got a little dry at how close we were. I could smell his shampoo and a trace of his spicy cologne. I had to force myself not to turn my face and bury it in his auburn hair. To find out if it was as soft as it looked.

“We give off a heat signature,” I continued. “Ghosts, on the other hand, are cold and will usually appear as dark blue or purple on this cam. Anything they touch will too. So if they’re nearby, we’ll know it.”

Paxton furrowed his brow at all the equipment on the bed. “Pretty sure I’m going to screw up.”

“It sounds more complicated than it is.” Julian offered him a reassuring smile. “But if you aren’t comfortable with it, you can just walk with us while we record.”

“I can’t believe I agreed to come with you guys.” Paxton blew out a nervous breath.

I couldn’t believe it either. When I’d texted him earlier, I hadn’t expected him to say yes. I was glad he had though. The quirky tour guide had definitely captured my interest.

“You’ll do great,” I said. “Just having you with us will be a ton of help. You know the place like the back of your hand.”

Julian packed the cameras into a case and shut the lid. “I don’t say this often, but he’s right.”

I sneered at him. “I have my moments.”

A small blush accompanied Paxton’s smile. “I’ll help in any way I can.”

Around five thirty, we loaded up the SUV with our equipment and left Redwood. Julian drove. Paxton sat in the passenger seat while I sat in the back, opposite his side. Intentional positioning on my part. My eyes wandered to him once or twice… or three times. His hair curled a bit below his ear, and I looked at the side of his neck, imagining myself nuzzling him there.

I tore my gaze from him and looked out the window instead.

The drive to Lockton was a lot creepier at sunset. When the road narrowed, it seemed like the trees shifted closer, stretching out their branches to block what little light came from the setting sun. The radio cut in and out, losing signal, so Julian shut it off, sending us into complete silence.

Minutes later, Lockton Asylum came into view, the three-story building shrouded in shadows on one side while the fading light shone on the other. Julian parked in front of the entrance close to the steps, and the three of us got out.

“I’ll set up a camera facing the window Roy is said to appear.” Julian opened the back hatch and grabbed a case. “We can set up another in the backyard where the woman has been spotted wandering the grounds. The others, we’ll set up inside.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” I saluted.

“Go do as you’re told, ya scurvy lad,” Julian said in a phony pirate accent.

I busted out laughing. “God, you are such a fucking dork. I can’t even deal with you.”

It was a playful side to my brother not many people got to see. It surprised me he was acting that way in front of Paxton. Julian must’ve felt comfortable around him.