Page 29 of The Unseen
Shock rolled through her as the bed began to shake and the windows began to rattle, thumping so hard she thought they were going to shatter. A shrieking noise filled the air, and fear pooled in her stomach.
Rachel grabbed the covers and pulled them over her naked body. “What—what is happening?” she said into the empty room.
Looking out from beneath the canopy, she could see the crystal chandelier in the center of the room shooting back and forth. The faucet in the bathroom suddenly exploded with gushing water, then turned abruptly off, turned on again, then off.
The lights flickered, then went off, flashed on again, went off, and then back on. Her fear mushroomed into terror. The chandelier began to circle, spinning faster and faster. The bedroom door swung open and slammed closed.
A whimper escaped her throat. She heard movement, felt the air thicken with some powerful force. The hum of energy filled the air.
Leave her alone! Francois’s command rang with authority, deep and strong, harsh with warning.
She felt a rush of air as he moved toward the threat. The bedroom door swung open and slammed loudly closed. The dresser drawers shot open, spilling the contents onto the floor.
Mine! the voice shouted.
Get out! Francois demanded.
A sound like thunder rolled across the bedroom, a violent warning.
Footsteps raced toward the door, which swung violently open; then the steps shot out into the hall.
Another pair of footsteps followed, heavier, a man—Francois.
The door shuddered on its hinges, then slammed shut, and the room fell silent.
Shivering, with shaking hands, Rachel clutched the covers up to her neck. She thought it must be the woman Francois had wanted to punish the first time he had come into her room. Who was she? Was it someone he had loved?
Rachel’s thoughts returned to the female ghost or spirit—whatever it was—and the terrifying moments she had just experienced.
Her heart was still racing, her breath sawing in and out of her lungs.
Her throat tightened. She tried to swallow, but the muscles in her neck were cutting off her air supply.
No longer was it fear, but the disease from which she suffered. Her head was spinning. She prayed she wouldn’t black out.
A knock on the door focused her attention. She tried to speak, but it came out more of a moan.
An instant later, the door burst open and Josh rushed into the room. “Rachel!” He ran to her bedside. “What’s going on? Are you all right? What can I do to help you?”
When she whimpered and lay immobile on the bed, he pulled out his cell and called 911. Rachel closed her eyes and willed her body to relax. Usually, the episode would pass, but she could never be sure.
“Just take it easy,” Josh said. “An ambulance is on its way.”
She managed a faint nod and lay as still as possible, her breath sawing in and out. A few seconds later, she heard Nicole and Lucas rushing up the stairs.
Her niece ran into the bedroom. “Aunt Rachel!” One look at her pale face and labored breathing and Nicole understood what was going on. She hurried to Rachel’s bedside. “Just lie still.”
She took hold of Rachel’s hand. “We were almost home when Josh called.” Nicole flicked him a grateful glance.
“Ambulance should be here any minute,” Josh said.
The pressure in Rachel’s chest lessened. She dragged in a deep, sluggish breath of air. “I had … an episode.” She patted Nicole’s hand. “It’s … easing. I’ll be all right in a minute. It’s … almost over now.”
“I heard noises,” Josh explained. “Saw the light going off and on in Rachel’s room. I used the key to the front door Lucas gave me and let myself in. Rachel was in distress when I found her.”
“It’s ongoing,” Rachel said. Which was true, and all the explanation they were going to get. No way was she mentioning Francois or the woman or the terror she had felt. “I just … I need some sleep and I’ll be all right.”
“The EMTs will be here any minute.” Lucas stood near the open bedroom door. “Just take it easy until they get here.”
“I don’t want … to go to the … hospital,” Rachel said. “This … happens sometimes. I’m feeling … much better now.”
“We’ll talk to the paramedics,” Nicole said. “See what they have to say.”
Red lights flashed through the windows. The ambulance had arrived. Josh went down to let them in, then continued with his duties outside. A young EMT and an older paramedic hurried upstairs into the bedroom to examine her.
Half an hour later, satisfied she was no longer in danger, the men—at Rachel’s insistence—deemed her well enough to stay home.
As the ambulance turned around and rolled back down the lane, Rachel felt the strain of her worry and fear. Exhaustion settled in and her eyelids felt heavy.
Standing next to the bed, Nicole stared down at her. “I’ll be spending the rest of the night in the room next door, and don’t even think of arguing about it.”
“Fine,” Rachel said, too tired to resist. Nicole spotted her white nightgown tossed over the chair, but didn’t mention it.
Nicole said something to Lucas, who kissed her cheek as she herded him out of the bedroom and closed the door.
Nicole grabbed the nightgown and helped her put it on, plumped her pillows and pulled up the covers.
“Something happened to bring all of this on,” Nicole said. “What was it?”
“I had a bad dream, that’s all.”
“A bad dream.”
“Yes.”
“Fine. If that’s the way you want it, we’ll leave it at that—for now. If you start feeling ill again, I’ll be right next door.”
“I just need some sleep.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
Rachel nodded. As good as she was going to get, considering the disease that weakened her more every day. Add to that, her encounter with a vicious ghost.
“If you’re sure you’re all right, I’ll see you in the morning.” Nicole leaned over and kissed her cheek, then left the bedroom and carefully closed the bedroom door.
For a while, Rachel could hear her moving around in the other room, but before long, the room fell silent.
Rachel prayed the malicious spirit wouldn’t return.
She thought of Francois—and her heart twisted. Perhaps he had returned to the woman. Perhaps he loved her. She wondered if she would ever see him again.