No. But anything that scares you this bad has to be evil. And prayers … why do prayers make them go away?
There was a long pause before David responded.
Dan, you said prayers keep them away?
Yes? Why? And I’m not a guy, I’m a girl; Danielle, Dani for short.
A girl. I didn’t realize … I don’t think you should call them alone. No. I know you shouldn’t call them alone! Dani … I do think that you might be in danger. I’m going to give you my phone number. I want you to call me now. Call me now!
Dani was so afraid now that her hands shook, and when the phone number appeared she wasted no time calling it. David answered on the first ring.
“Hello, Dani?” He spoke quickly. He had a curious southern accent that seemed to be at odds with his Emo-Goth appearance.
“Yes, David. It’s me,” she said, terror causing her voice to sound small.
“God, you are a girl. Sorry I didn’t put that together. Look, I’m not afraid of the Shadows that I’ve seen. I’ve talked to them. If you want, Dani, I’ll talk to yours for you.”
Dear God, she had was actually talking to someone not afraid of them, not afraid to be haunted by them, someone that has spoken to them before and was willing to communicate to them. “Yes!” She almost yelled. “Yes, please, David. Please!” Relieved tears wet her eyes.
“It’s okay. It’s okay now.” His words were soothing. “Sweetie, when … how much longer?” She knew what he was asking, how much longer before time was up. She tried to stop her tears but they weren’t going anywhere.
“About two more weeks. They stopped coming about 4 weeks ago.”
“Dani, look, I can speak to your Shadows but if I call them, only mine will come. You’ll have to call them-”
“I can’t!”
“I can be there if you want. Don’t worry. If you want I’ll be right there with you and you won’t have to do it alone.”
“But … won’t they paralyze you?”
“No.” He seemed surprised.
“Well, they always paralyze me, I can’t even call out.”
He didn’t speak for a few moments. “I don’t really need words to speak to them. Look, I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I’ll scan my driver’s license and send it to you, you can give it to the police or whoever. Okay? But I want you to come down to Louisiana.”
She was wiping her eyes. The least of her worries is that David would turn out to be a mass murderer. “I want to come down. If you can help me then I’ll do what it takes.”
“I just don’t want you to do this by yourself.”
“David, what is it that has you suddenly scared?”
“That they respond to your prayers.”
Chapter Four
It took Dani two days to get the money together and to complete the arrangements for her trip to Louisiana. She sold some jewelry and pawned other stuff. She would leave on Thursday and arrive in Baton Rouge Friday, which would give them the weekend to resolve this.
Dani and David talked over the net or by phone each day as she prepared for the trip. Even though their friendship had developed because of the Shadow People, it was not the only topic of conversation that they engaged in. They had a lot in common despite the fact that she was a Midwestern black girl and he was a southern white guy, and despite the fact that she didn’t have one tattoo and he was covered in them. She asked him about them and he explained that art was his life and he didn’t mind using his body as the canvas.
Dani began to learn that David was both smart, and a little shy. He didn’t mind sharing his knowledge but never wanted to come off as a know-it-all. They were becoming friends and David explained that he believed that people who attract the unknown were drawn to each other. He didn’t make it seem sexual in the least, but his words came out a little embarrassed … and perhaps even hopeful. Hearing them made her feel safe and secure.
She believed his words, too. She and Patricia were a perfect example; they had been drawn together by some mysterious connection and their friendship had been deeper than any she’d ever had. But it was beginning to feel the same way with David. She found herself putting all of her hope in his hands.
“Hey. Are you sure you’re okay about coming down?” He asked one evening.
“I’m okay with it as long as you are,” she replied shyly.
He blew out a relieved breath. “Good, because I have to admit that I’m anxious to meet you.”
She smiled. “I am too.” She hadn’t shared a picture of herself and he hadn’t asked for one. “You do know that I’m black, right?”
“Yep.” He responded. “And this is still the south. I’m ashamed to say that there are still places that remain clueless.”
“A bunch of rednecks won’t scare me after all that I’ve seen.”
“Good to know. And I’ll be at the bus station waiting for you so you won’t be alone even for one minute. Okay?”
“Okay.” She felt safe; truly safe for the first time in many years.
Thursday night she hopped on the bus with fear tinged anticipation. It would be a long ride and she didn’t want anything to appear; whether it be the screaming voice or the Shadows. So she brought plenty of NO-DOZ and planned to drink coffee at each rest stop.
David had offered to allow her to stay with him. He’d offered with great embarrassment, but explained that it was really the most reasonable arrangement. He needed to be present when she slept. And besides, he lived in a big old rambling house, alone since his father’s death, which happened when he was seventeen. Dani accepted with no qualms. She hadn’t spoken of her dream as a teenager about him. But Dani already knew that he was beginning to feel something for her that was equal to what she was feeling for him.
The bus ride was long and tedious. She couldn’t risk talking to him on her cell phone and killing her battery while she rode the bus. The long hours without talking to him truly caused her to realize that she was rapidly developing feelings for David. At the rest stop she called him just to hear his country voice, coming from that Emo face.
“Hello?!” He said anxiously.
She chuckled. “Okay, are you alright?”
He seemed to relax. “Just getting anxious. I can’t wait to see you Dani. I mean, I hope—I guess I shouldn’t have said that-”
“I can’t wait to see you either. I’m excited about that.”
“Okay. You should arrive in three and a half hours. Do you want me to bring you something; food-?”
“Coffee. That’s all I’m going to need.”
“Ahhh. You didn’t sleep on the bus, I gather?”
“Right, I don’t want them coming while I’m trapped on the bus.”
“Good idea.”
It was bright and sunshiny when she finally stepped off the bus and set foot in Baton Rouge. She paused to look around. She’d never been to Louisiana before. It was hot; the type of hot that felt like a coat of steam had encased her body. She headed for the bus terminal and saw David standing at a distance, expectantly watching each passenger. And then his eyes rested on her and settled there. Yes, he’d found her on his own.
They walked to each other. “Hey.” He said with a hint of a smile on his face. “Welcome to Louisiana.”
She couldn’t help it, she put her arms around him and hugged him. He accepted it happily, his own arms enclosing her securely against his thin body. Several people began to look at them and she remembered his words; this is the South and some people are clueless. Well they could just go to hell because this is the man that she would love and today he was saving her life!
She was the first to step back and he was indeed tall and thin. He was so handsome that at first she had to wonder how it was that he had no girlfriend. But if Louisiana was truly a different world than the one that she lived in up in Ohio, then his many tattoos and the spacers in his ears and bars piercing his brow would probably seem freakish; not to mention his leather riding gloves in the dead of summer.
> Other than this, he appeared just like any other guy wearing jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers. He looked her up and down and didn’t seem disappointed.
“Hi.” She responded to his earlier greeting.
“Hi.” He said again. “Let’s get you some coffee and some food. I hope you like southern cooking. There’s a place up the road that has the best soul food.” Her stomach began to grumble after her steady diet of fast food over the last few weeks.
The food was indeed good and she probably embarrassed herself by having seconds and then a big slice of cake for desert. But David kept up a steady stream of conversation and didn’t seem to think anything of it. He was telling her about the recent rains and how he’d been unable to go out into his back yard because he was afraid he’d get bit by an alligator.
She had been overwhelmed with stress relieving laughter. She could not imagine having to worry about getting bit by an alligator in your own backyard. The most she had to worry about was a field mouse getting into the house or the random possum that found its way into the yard. She thought fondly of her mother and for the first time in ages she wasn’t sad remembering her.
David picked up the check and she felt bad that she’d ordered seconds. He drove an old Ford pick-up. It had seen better days but he didn’t apologize about how beat-up it was. At least he had one and she didn’t. They reached a house that sat back off the road. It was wood and brick and could use a paint job. But again it was his house and at least he had one.
“I’ll show you to your room.” He said. “The house is kind of old, but I did clean it up.” He gave her a sheepish smile. It was indeed old but Dani could clearly see David’s touches despite some of the out dated furnishings. It felt comfortable.
The bedroom he showed her to wasn’t large and it was sparsely decorated. But it was clean and the bedding lay freshly folded at the foot of the twin bed waiting for her to make up herself.
David helped her make the bed and he made to leave her to relax but the idea of him leaving her alone made her feel slightly nervous.
“Um, do you care if I tag along with you?”
“Not at all.” He gestured to the adjoining door. “I gave you this room because it has a private bathroom. I use the bathroom that’s at the end of the hall. My bedroom is right there.” He pointed to one of four closed doors that flanked the corridor.
She nodded and then excused herself to use the bathroom. A few moments later they reconvened in the hallway.
David led Danielle down to the TV room. It was a room that had a comfortable couch sheathed in a worn blanket. The television was a hulking big screen but Danielle froze when she saw the couch. Her eyes scanned the room quickly. She’d seen this room before. It was always strange when Dejavu and reality collided. And it was happening now.
David saw the strange look on her face.
“Are you okay?” He asked. He reached out and took her hand, mistaking her look for reluctance or dislike. In fact it was the opposite. Dani wanted to fall into his arms and be engulfed in his protective aura.
She squeezed his hand. “I’m okay.” Then he understood her look instantly and closed the space between them, reaching up to cup her face.
“You are so beautiful, Dani. I’m so happy that you came in to my life.” He leaned forward and kissed her very gently, his leather gloved hand cupping her face lightly.
He led her to the couch and kissed her again. This time he groaned out her name. “Dani … if you want me to stop-”
“I want you David…” he groaned again and his tongue slipped between her lips.
“I didn’t … I wasn’t expecting this.” He paused to give her a sincere look. “You understand that this isn’t the reason that I asked you to come. I didn’t even know you were a girl. I just want to help.”
“That’s why I want you.” She slipped her hands beneath his shirt as she caressed his chest. Her fingers met his pierced nipples. She wanted to see his chest. She knew that he would be covered in beautiful tattoos. He ran his hand lightly over her breasts.
“Dani…” he groaned. His words, his groans, all of it caused her to burn with desire that was uncharacteristic of her. Dani gripped the back of his neck and kissed him wildly, her tongue forcing its way into his mouth. David gripped her tightly, pulling her to him, his hands moving between them to explore the crotch of her jeans, rubbing her gently through them.
“Am I moving too fast? I can stop-?” He asked. She responded by reaching down and unzipping him. She her hand into his pants, discovering that he wore no underwear and that he was already erect. He shuddered and groaned and then his mouth smashed against hers and his hands moved under her shirt where he gripped her breasts, kneading them insistently. She tugged at his clothes and he paused long enough to sweep off his shirt and to kick out of his shoes.
Dani quickly followed suit, standing long enough to shimmy out of her jeans and kick out of her shoes. She quickly pulled off her shirt and bra and David watched her with large lust hooded eyes with his hair falling into his face in an unruly manner and his dick hard and pointing straight up.
She climbed back onto the couch and then leaned forward to kiss him, her hand finding his cock and wrapping around it. She began to work him and David’s back arched and he cried out before placing his hand over hers and slowing down her stroke. He reached out, once her speed slowed, and stroked her pussy finding that she was wet and ready.
When he entered her, Dani’s eyes fluttered close and she thought; ZERO. This was the moment…the countdown that had begun when she was just a child had finally become reality.
Chapter Five
DANIELLE!
Danny jumped up, tried to scramble up and away but hands held her and she almost screamed before she heard David’s voice. She’d fallen asleep on the couch soon after making love. And then the voice had come, screaming her name.
She settled down, her eyes still big as she looked around the room. There was a soft light issuing from the lamp but she kept trying to see into each darkened corner.
“It’s okay.” David was holding her.
“Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
She gave him a crestfallen look. He hadn’t heard…
“Someone screamed my name David. You didn’t hear it?”
“I was asleep too, honey. I didn’t hear anything. Was it them?”
She relaxed into his arms and he hugged her to him tightly. “I…I don’t know. It’s not the same. I always feel them coming. But this is…”’
“What?” He asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s them.”
“Is it male or female?”
“I don’t know. And I don’t recognize it.”
“Is there malevolence in it?”
“There is definitely anger in it. It’s like … they are angry at me.”
David gathered her into his arms and nuzzled her face. And then something occurred to her that suddenly terrified her.
She was falling in love with David. That meant that there was one person other than her that could die.
The next day, Dani was fortified with what she needed to do. She’d dropped the ball with Mama and Patricia but she would not lose David just when he had entered her life.
During breakfast he explained his plan. That night she would call them--at midnight. “Midnight is a very powerful time.” Despite what had happened the night before, Dani had slept soundly in David’s arms. They had moved upstairs to his bed where they’d made love again.
The bacon and eggs that David had prepared for her suddenly lost its appeal and she shivered. David instantly reached out and ran a comforting hand down her arm.
“Hey, after tonight, this should all be over. Okay? So don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
They spent the day driving around Louisiana. She had a lot of fun with David and wondered if she could see herself living here. Some people did indeed give them stares but whether that was because they w
ere an interracial couple, or if it was because he was tatted out was unclear.
They made a stop at magic shop and David picked up candles. While he talked to the shopkeeper she roamed around the store, curious about all of the items before her. Everything had a meaning and a purpose and it was all so mysterious to her. She could have spent hours there exploring. She looked over her shoulder at David. He and the shopkeeper were staring at her.
She wondered what they were talking about. Their heads had been together for a long time. She felt something sweep past her and Dani looked around quickly, expecting to see someone coming or going. She didn’t see anyone. Her eyes rested on a white candle that set pushed onto a crowded shelf. It was big and reminded her of those candles that a Mexican friend of hers burned. The ones at her friend’s house always had a picture of the Virgin Mary on it.
For some reason she felt compelled to pick it up--strange because for the life of her she hadn’t remembered it being there before. Danielle picked it up and was just about to bring it to her nose to smell when a searing pain shot through her hand and she screamed and dropped the heavy candle. It was as if she had touched fire, only more intense then even fire; it felt as if she had been branded!
David and the shopkeeper came running. Dani was holding her hand against her body.
“What’s wrong?!” David tried to take her hand but she wouldn’t let him. “Let me see. Did you cut yourself?”
“No.” She grimaced. “Burned.”
The Shopkeeper gave her a curious look. “Let me see.” Reluctantly she handed him her hand. He had reached out for it, and then suddenly withdrew it before touching her. “What did you do?!”
David took her wrist. “Dani…”
She looked down at her burned palm.
“Dani! How did you do this?!” David asked in a voice filled with alarm.
She yanked her hand from his grip and examined the burn feeling panic begin to build inside of her.
“Dani?!” David was asking. “How did you get this?”