“Who are you?”
“I am your spirit guide,” she whispered.
“My guide?” I repeated her words, curious.
She nodded and her smile deepened.
“W-What is that?”
“I am your protector, your counselor. I will help you make decisions,” she explained.
“You will?” I asked, wondering where she’d been my whole life.
“I have in the past,” she leaned in, “but you also have free will to do as you choose.”
I shook my head. “Why couldn’t I hear you before?”
Sylvia’s expression became serious. “Liv and Becca…” she broke off and shook her head. “They kept me from you.”
My eyes grew wide. I knew what that meant, but I still wanted to know. “Why, are they bad?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “And I am so relieved your mother and father got you out of that house. They saved you, you know.”
Her words hit me like a thousand falling bricks and my eyes welled with tears. “They—they do care about me.” I whispered, mostly to myself.
Sylvia hesitated, but I knew, even at eight years old. My parents regarded me as a hardship, a product of anxiety and regret. “They just don’t understand your gifts,” her face softened as she moved closer, taking a seat at the foot of my bed. “But the longer you’re away from Liv and Becca, the clearer things will become,” she said, redirecting my attention.
“They made me believe they were my friends…” I trailed off.
“They brainwashed you, Elise. Do you understand what that word means?” she asked, her tone motherly yet tinged with anger.
I nodded, not fully understanding its definition, but more how she associated the word.
“The damage they have caused,” she paused, closing her eyes for a moment. “It may take some time for you to trust your abilities or spirit again.”
She saw me hesitate as I shook my head. “But I-I trusted you.”
“That’s completely different,” she quickly replied. “I have been with you since you were born. You knew me instantly, even though you had never seen me until now,” she let out a breath. “Liv and Becca,” her brows rose slightly, “how did they make you feel at first?”
I knew what she was asking.
“I don’t know, I mean, there was something not right about them.” I stopped, remembering the sudden chill I was picking up from them on that first day. “I think I might have already had a feeling,” I looked away, ashamed. “But they wanted to do the things I wanted to do and play the things I wanted to play,” my eyes went back to hers and she smiled, nodding her head understandingly.
“You must always, always trust your instincts, no matter what,” she explained. “Evil can take many forms and now you have witnessed it firsthand. It is up to you to recognize the difference.”
I nodded my head. “I-I don’t feel them anymore.”
“You’re right. They’re not here,” she broke off, locking eyes with me. “But you must stay alert at all times, from now on, you must protect yourself,” she patted my leg, and her expression became more serious. “Liv and Becca, they won’t give up that easily and eventually, they will figure out a way to find you.”
Gulp.
“They can leave the house?” I whispered and swallowed hard.
Sylvia stayed silent, not changing her expression. Her lack of words only confirmed my question. They were so close they almost had me. Liv and Becca would have killed me and taken my soul to their dark, nefarious world.
From that moment on, I knew they would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
My soul.
“Now you understand,” Sylvia held out her hand and I took it. “In the meantime, you will learn how to properly shield yourself.”
I looked up at her confused. How will I learn that?
“I will teach you,” she chimed in, somehow reading my thoughts. “You know I can hear what you’re thinking,” she raised a brow.
“You can?” I asked, fascinated.
“Of course,” she simply replied. “We can both talk to one another without speaking, I will teach you that as well,” she moved closer. “There will be times we’ll need it.”
***
Sylvia was true to her word and relentlessly taught me techniques on how to protect myself, my surroundings, even the people I loved. We practiced communicating telepathically, over and over until I got the hang of projecting my thoughts successfully back to her.
All of the lessons took place during the night since my daytime hours were spent being constantly monitored by nurses or having to attend meetings with one shrink or another. None of that mattered, though. I was finally getting the help I needed.
Before long, my confidence grew, and my abilities began to sharpen. I learned from past mistakes and how to better handle myself in stressful situations. I finally had the courage to ask my parents what I wanted instead of the other way around. It was a new kind of freedom, and my life would forever be changed. Turned out, Hillbrand Psychiatric Hospital was the best thing that could have happened to me.
Chapter Four
The day I arrived back home, Mom and Dad walked into the house ahead of me, oblivious that I was already hesitating. I couldn’t help it. The foreboding sensation was back, pricking at the pit of my stomach, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to face them.
Liv and Becca were waiting…
Taking a tentative step forward, I crossed the threshold through the front door. I gasped when a crashing wave of dread and anger slammed my chest as though I had walked straight into a steel wall. It was painful and I took a few steps back, my hand searching for something, anything, to steady my trembling legs. Liv and Becca weren’t playing around they were angry, that much was blatantly clear. Did they somehow blame me for leaving?
“You are strong, your abilities have sharpened. Liv and Becca can no longer block me from you.” Sylvia whispered in my head.
I automatically looked down the hallway, past the staircase. Mom and Dad had already made their way to the kitchen and were talking. They hadn’t noticed any of it, and for the first time in my life, I was thankful of their disregard.
I nodded in Sylvia’s direction, transparent at my side, and took a deep breath. I was going to have to buck up, or maybe it was her giving me the courage to keep going. The only thing I did know was, I would never have to face them alone ever again.
Fast forward to the present…
I blink, still staring up at the ceiling as I pull my thoughts away from the past.
The man who lives in that apartment, the same gorgeous, unreadable man who glanced up at me with his piercing green eyes—could he have created the portal? Did he willingly or accidentally lead Liv and Becca back to me?
It’s a total mystery, he’s an enigma, but I do know without a doubt, something isn’t quite right with him, either.
***
Hours pass before I can relax enough to fall asleep. By the time the alarm buzzes for the fifth time, I slam the snooze button, rubbing the side of my face.
Ugh.
I feel groggy, and my body is achy, like I’m hung-over. I’m not in the habit of opening my abilities all at once. I need to hydrate and take some ibuprofen before work. God, I wish I could call in sick, but that’s not going happen. I pride myself on being dependable.