On the sixth day Oliver faced his demons for the first time. The demons were screaming for him to stop, telling him to heed Dyers warning. For the love of Jenny desist.
Oliver had played the tape that was simply labelled, ‘Julianne’. It had a small x after her name. He had found it by accident, concealed in a comedic manner in the foot of an old slipper that Oliver thought had been left in the holdall by accident. Oliver watched the tape accompanied by a half full bottle of liquorice sambuca.
When the image opened across the widescreen TV Oliver was confronted by the vision of Dyers wife. Julianne was clearly the mother of Jenny, some years older but it could have been Jenny with longer hair and wearing clothes that were now back in fashion.
Julianne spoke into the camera, “Okay I am recording Robert John Dyer, my gorgeous husband being crazy, with an experiment that had eaten his sanity for the last few years. He had agreed to stop the research before the birth of our daughter, but she has problems, regression problems. So, reluctantly we are opening up the research once more, we want to help Jennifer if we can. I have to keep an eye on him though, to make sure it is as safe as can be, he is a bit, maverick shall we say.”
Off camera Oliver heard Dyer retort, “I heard that.”
“I thought you were regressing?” Julianne asked.
“I am, but I can hear you, are you filming me?”
“Just about to sweetie pie,” Julianne moved from in front of the camera.
The camera jerked and turned to reveal Dyer in the same chair where Steven had previously sat. Dyer was hooked up to an intravenous pump, his eyes were rolled back but he appeared relaxed and in control.
“Okay, where are you?” asked Julianne.
“I am looking out from behind the eyes of a young soldier, his uniform I think, though my history is atrocious, is about early nineteenth century. Around me are other infantry, my troop is one hundred or so we are all ready to march. I can hear, feel the weight of the gun on my arm. Smell, we all smell pretty fowl. Christ this is incredible, what have I unlocked?” Dyer had a serene look of delight across his face.
One bad edit later and Julianne appeared in the chair where Dyer had sat. She too was attached to the syringe drive, with the infusion line administering agent 42A intravenously. She was inclined back and laying in a trance like state.
“Are you sure you checked Jennifer?” Dyer asked from off camera.
Julianne’s reply was withering, “Yes I did check our baby. She is fast asleep, we swam for nearly two hours today and she loved it.”
“Where are you?” Dyer asked.
“You should stop worrying, this is wonderful. I was with a nightclub singer, I don’t know nineteen thirties? Beautiful voice, great stage presence.”
Julianne breathed in and gently turned her head from side to side.
“And now?” Dyer asked, he had an uncertain impatience in his voice.
Realising the significance of the tape Oliver sat forward, he was tired but not so exhausted to miss the importance of the tape he watched.
Julianne paused, then with a small intake of breath spoke, “I’m just slowing down now, selecting, there. I am in the kitchen, where I was before, of an eighteenth century grand farmhouse. Looking out from behind the eyes of the old maid, she is very busy and very fat. This is incredible.”
Dyer spoke, his voice wavering with anxiety, “Julianne, I think that is probably enough, this is only your second time, three visits in one session is more than I would advise. I think you should come back now.”
“Just a few minutes more,” Julianne said, “Mmm the bread smells so delicious. If I could taste just a little piece.”
Oliver watched as Julianne’s finger tips moved slightly.
Dyer increased his tone to desperation, “Julianne, stop, do not try to control your host, I told you we do not know enough.”
Julianne was free with her experience, “Relax Bobby, I am not trying to move, it’s just the bread looks so nice, I am sure she would sneak a taste, she is a big lady.”
Julianne moved her whole hand. Her skin immediately paled further and a blue static fizzed around her fingers.
Dyers voice was fearful and commanding, “Do not move under any circumstances, Julianne, Jesus Julianne, your skin, it’s too pale, too much static, stop now.”
Dyer almost barked to instruct Julianne to stop.
Oliver poured and downed a shot of Sambuca.
Julianne’s eyes closed and furrowed, concern etched on her face “Oh god, she’s ill, this cook woman, she’s sick”
“Do not move, just come back,” Dyer instructed for the second time.
“Look I’ve told you I am keeping really still, only watching. I think she’s collapsed, it’s making me dizzy. What should I do now?”
Oliver watched fixed on Julianne’s image, her body was tightening, her skin fading, he recognised the state from what he had seen in Jenny. Julianne did not speak but from her taught lips he heard ‘Help me, help’.
Oliver heard Dyer mutter ‘what?’ at the unearthly utterances from Julianne’s closed mouth. Dyer rushed forward knocking the camera on one side. Julianne’s image was removed from view and replaced with a vision of the back of Dyer, wearing a doctors white coat, standing at the foot of the chair in which Julianne was sat. Oliver could not hear Dyer’s words but knew he was desperately trying to save Julianne from her deteriorating situation.
Julianne could not be seen but Oliver heard her scream as panic set in “I can’t see anymore, okay I’ll come back, how do I do it again, I can’t see, I’m not sure what to do now, oh god please don’t let this go wrong. What? Okay, no I’m still here, god I feel hot and sick, pull me back please, please HELP ME.”
Oliver took a further shot of Sambuca. On the screen Dyer reached forward as Julianne screamed. A shrill sickening scream. Blue electric light flashed in front of Dyer casting his figure into shadow in front of the camera lens. Dyer threw up his arms to protect his face from the intense blast. The camcorders focus was confused by the changes in light and the image blurred. Dyer stood still with soft vapours rising around him.
Pathetically he said one word, “Julianne.”
Dyer staggered back from the chair and though the image was blurred it was clear for Oliver to see. Julianne was no longer there.
26.