Page 33 of The Haunting of Lockton

Before the sun completely set, we went inside and set up. As Paxton had mentioned during the tour, the asylum was too big to cover everything in one go. We decided to stick to the first floor that night, then go to the second floor tomorrow. Then, we’d check out the basement area and top floor after that.

We tried not to spend more than two or three days investigating a location, but some investigations took longer depending on the size of the place and the level of paranormal activity. My gut told me Lockton would require a full week. Maybe longer. Valentina wanted answers about the asylum, and Julian wouldn’t rest until he found them.

We placed a camera in the main lobby, where people had reported hearing voices, then placed a few motion detectors and trap cameras that turned on when they sensed sound vibrations—the latter ones were good for capturing footsteps.

As I was placing a camera in the hallway, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I looked around the darkening corridor, feeling as if someone was watching me. Chills prickled along my arms, and I rubbed at them. I left the hallway and found Julian and Paxton near the entrance.

“Cameras are all set up in the hall. The rooms with reported activity are covered.”

“The trap cams and thermals are good to go too,” Julian responded.

“Awesome.” I clapped my hands together once. “We shouldn’t keep the ghosts waiting, then.”

Julian and I started in the main reception area and introduced ourselves to whatever ghosts may or may not be there, and then I did an EVP session.

Paxton studied the room as I asked questions, as though expecting something to appear.

“Did you get any answers?” he asked as we left the room. Paxton was two inches or so taller than me, probably right at six foot if I had to guess. Trying not to be too loud, he had bent his head down toward mine as he spoke.

“Maybe,” I said, my body tingling at the tickle of his warm breath on my cheek. “We won’t know if we caught anything until we review it later. Sometimes the voices are too low to hear with human ears, but the devices can pick them up.”

“Sorry for my questions.” He frowned. “You’d think I’d be more familiar with all of this.”

“No need to be sorry,” I told him. “We both work in the paranormal field, but we do completely different things in it. You inform people about the haunted history of places while Julesand I try to directly communicate with any entity that may beinthose places.”

“Like reading a book and writing one,” Julian said. “Both require an understanding of language, but writing delves deeper whereas reading is more surface level.”

I stared at my brother before glancing at Paxton. “Yeah, I don’t know about all that. Books aren’t my thing. Replace thekwith ab, though, and I can get on board.”

“For fuck’s sake, Sky,” Julian muttered.

Paxton laughed though. “Can’t say that, uh, books with twob’s have ever appealed to me.”

I nearly ran into the wall.

Up until then, I’d been crushing on him but hadn’t made a move. While I’d wondered if he might’ve been into guys, I hadn’t known for sure. Was that his subtle way of telling me I had a chance?

Not the time for that, I reminded myself. More so, reminded Little Skyler. Because he’d perked his head up and needed to go back to sleep for a while.

“Do you want to try?” I asked Paxton, holding up the EVP. We’d walked farther down the hall on the first floor while Julian followed us with the camera. Other cameras were positioned throughout that would give footage of the three of us.

Even in the dim lighting, I noticed Paxton’s sudden spike of nerves. “I wouldn’t know what to say.”

“You know this place better than we do,” I said. “Just use that knowledge to guide your questions.”

“All right. It’s worth a try.” Paxton stopped walking, and Julian and I halted in place beside him. I handed him the recorder, and he hesitated as he glanced around. “Good evening. I’m Paxton. Um. Is there anyone here who’d like to communicate with us?”

A short pause followed his words.

“You may have seen me before,” he continued. “I guide groups through here every weekend in October.”

“Sky,” Julian whispered before nudging my arm and jerking his head at the screen. “Look at this.” He had switched the camera to thermal, and at the end of the corridor, a cold spot had appeared. Like something was peeking around the corner. “It showed up when he mentioned the tours.”

“Stay on that line of questioning,” I told Paxton. “I think we’re getting something.”

Paxton, more confident now than before, nodded. “Does it upset you when people tour the building?” A pause. “My apologies if so. We mean no disrespect.”

The spot inched closer, like a cloud of smoke drifting across the floor.