A Night in Kellum Hall

As we rounded West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee and went through the main gate at Florida State, I had two dueling emotions - elation and sadness at the same time.  The excitement of starting a new phase of your life but sadly reflecting on who and what you had left behind - my beautiful Etta and my mother who tried to make me a society maven like her.  Just 10 hours earlier I was still in my room that I had lived in since I was a toddler and now I was going to spend the night in a new place with new people.  I knew I would be home for the holidays and summer breaks, but I would miss not seeing them every day.  

My father pulled the red Corolla in front of Kellum Hall as a Resident Assistant name Chad asked my name and if I had my room assignment.  I pulled out my paperwork and smiled at my dad because the road to getting here had been perilous.  My ability to see the dead had made a normal childhood all but impossible and even as we drove from Atlanta to Florida, we had encountered ghosts from the past - Klansmen who needed to be banished to the hell they had sentenced others to in their lifetime.  Needless to say it was a long drive physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  It was also 8:00 pm so check-in for the day was coming to a close. 

Chad told me that the dorm was co-ed but the girls' floors were on the top and the boy’s floors were on the bottom.  My father immediately asked if there was room in Jennie Murphree which was known on campus as the Screaming Tower of Virgins.  Thankfully it was full with a waiting list – no doubt for parents who wanted the illusion that their daughters would still be untouched after four years at a state college.

We started to bring my suitcases and boxes upstairs to the ninth floor.  The smell of slight mildew, sweat, stale beer, and hormones hung in the air as we waited for the elevator.  “Sugar Bear, you’re sure you’re ready for this?” my father said with an enormously concerned look on his face.  “Dad, I’ll be fine – besides the Wilsons are right next door and have been here a week already –they can give me the lay of the land.”  He relented I think still secretly hoping that I’d decide against staying so he could drive me back.  I was his oldest – his baby girl and the guilt of leaving my mother when I was six always weighed on him.  He would see me every weekend, at school functions and for holidays but he knew it wasn’t the same.  Then when he got remarried and had two more daughters – the tightrope of trying to be all things to all the females in the family got tighter.  God forbid we ever started having our menstrual cycles together. 

I had known the Wilson sisters since kindergarten when we met fighting off a racist ghost who was not keen on an integrated school being built in his land – a place that the local KKK had once used for rallies.  The Wilsons were the first black girls to attend the school which didn’t sit well with a few people both living and dead but we managed to form a strong bond as a result of that adversity.  Besides my father thought the world of them and it was the only way he’d let me go to FSU rather than the University of Georgia which was just 40 minutes away.  

So here we were – my dad and I put together the room – or my half of it which was a bed, a dresser, a small closet, a desk, and a mini-refrigerator.  The bathroom was a few doors down with shared toilets and showers.  It was still a week before school started but the bulk of the rush parties for sororities and fraternities had taken place.  Most of what was going on now was small get-togethers, the impromptu Tide slide (when the guys in a dorm wing get the floors all wet and soapy and then slide bare-assed down the hallway – it is way more stupid than it sounds if you can believe that) and ice water socials where potential sororities invited you to see them.  You had to wear white and drink ice water like a proper young lady – which definitely was not for me.

“Hey, Miss Sophia – how about I go back to my hotel and I pick you up for a late dinner at Chez Pierre?” my father asked like a was a real lady who deserved a fancy dinner.  I actually would have been happy with pizza and a can of Coke but it was my last night with my dad before the college part of my life started.  “Of course daddy – see you in an hour?” I asked and hoped I’d be able to find a decent dress and shoes among all the suitcases and boxes.  I got my shower caddy together with a towel, soap, shampoo, face cleanser, and moisturizer.  I walked out into the hallway which had young women and men coming and going.  It seemed strange that I could shower and just about anyone could walk in on me- but then this was what dorm life was all about.   

I started the steamy shower and made sure the curtain was closed on my first sultry summer night in North Florida, only to have a chill catch me by surprise.  Something seemed off as one of my floormates walked in with her roommate.  “I really don’t want Dexter over tonight – he’s weird.  I’d just like to hang out in the lower lounge, watch TV and eat pizza.”  “C’mon,” her roommate begged “He’s been really nice to me and I’d like to try that game he was talking about,” countered the other girl.  
“Okay, but by 11 he needs to be out – promise me Cynthia.”  “Fine Lynnette – but try to be nice to him.”  The two girls went into their respective stalls, took care of business and left.  I finished my shower, dried off and put on my robe making sure no one could see me as I ran across the hall to my own room.

I found a simple skirt and tunic top and some flats and finished putting on my make-up.  I went downstairs to wait for my dad who was let into the lobby by a couple of girls who gave him the once over and declared him "super cute" for an older guy as they grabbed a few more girls to go to a frat party.  We left arm in arm and frankly I didn't care if anyone thought I was nerdy for wanting to hang out with my dad.  

We got to Chez Pierre at 9:45 pm just in time for the last seating.  The Maitre D' recognized daddy and set us at a nice table by the window.

We both smiled as he handed us our menus - looking at each other across the table was really the first quiet non-road trip moment that we'd had with each other all day.   I had learned so much about my dad and had so much to say but found myself trying to keep it together so as not to ruin our last dinner before I was an official college student.  "Daddy - I - really --thank you for today - for telling me --" I started to say just as our overly chipper waiter came over.   "Hey folks - welcome to Chez Pierre - my name is Denny and I'll be your server this evening - may I interest you in a glass of wine, sir?"  The moment was broken and my dad went into his usual nice guy mode - ordering wine for him, a virgin Margarita for me and some escargot as an appetizer and chicken for dinner.  It seemed ironic that just four hours earlier we had been fighting ghostly Klansmen who were also abolitionists in Cordele, Georgia but here we were in Tallahassee having drinks and snails.  

"Sugar bear - let's not tell your mother about this afternoon- I'm pretty sure she'd freak out and be upset that I never really shared with her that I had - that I could see ghosts,"  he said quietly looking down.  I knew she blamed him and me for the end of their marriage - Daddy for bailing on her and me for seeing ghosts and spilling the secrets they told me at the family reunion.  

Denny returned with our drinks and appetizer and we talked about regular college stuff just like any other father and daughter would do.  I had always wanted these normal moments but they always seemed to allude me.   We finished dinner around 11:30 pm and Daddy dropped me off at the dorm.  "See you tomorrow for lunch before I leave, Sugar Bear," he said and gave me a huge hug as I got out of the car.   I smiled - still fighting my emotions but not letting on how lost I felt.

I walked past the student lounge that smelled of Budweizer, cigarettes and pizza.  There was an episode of Saturday Night Live playing in the background.  I walked up to my dorm room and saw that the Wilson girls has there door ajar next door. I knocked as Joy was getting a piece of pizza out of the delivery box.  "Sophia!!"  she squealed and we hugged each other.  "Sophia?" asked Grace as she came into the room holding her shower caddy.  I gave her a big hug and felt like I at least had a piece of home to keep from being too lonely.  They noticed my attire and asked if I had a hot date already.  "No, I went out to dinner with my Dad," I replied to which Grace commented - "Well it was a hot date - you're father is smoking!"  "Ewew - that's my dad but apparently he's been getting the once over from a few girls tonight."  I sat on Grace's bed as I grabbed a slice of pizza even after the big dinner I had just eaten.  Snails just didn't hit the spot like pizza did.  

"So how have things been so far?" I asked wiping tomato sauce from the side of my mouth.  "Actually, not quite as wild as I would have expected, but we've been staying away from the frat parties," explained Grace.   "Bullwinkle's Saloon is pretty cool - you can get cheap beer there and the dance floor is fun.  Best of all, you can walk to it easily from here.
We'll take you -" Joy continued but stopped mid-sentence when we heard a young woman scream.  "What the hell?" I said as I looked down the hall.  A gray haze was settling around a room two doors down.  The haze was not from cigarettes or pot, but was being given off by a less than friendly entity.  I saw some kids pile out of the room as the woman continued to scream.  

The Wilsons and I ran down to see what was going on.  As we looked in the room, there was a terrified girl sitting on the bed sobbing "A demon, a demon tried to get me!" she screamed.  Grace and Joy looked at me and I tried to focus in on what she was seeing. The dense haze was trying to cover up the entity but I saw that it was emanating from a Ouija board.  "Jesus Christ," I thought to myself, "I really hate when people use these things - nothing good ever comes of it."   

"Cynthia - for God's sake just calm down!" said a girl whose voice I recognized as Lynnette from earlier.  I remembered they were talking about a guy named was Dexter and he was pretty easy to pick out.  A guy who was looking nervous and smoking cigarettes rather than trying to reassure this poor young woman.  Grace leaned into me - "I know you wanted a fresh start but is there anything you can do?"  I looked closer at Cynthia and while her eyes looked wild and glassy - l realized that some of that might have been drug induced. 

"Has she taken anything tonight?" I asked trying not to accuse anyone of using drugs but they got my drift.  The collective unease of the room got stronger.  "Dexter gave her something - I don't know what it was," said Lynnette who was so upset she was shaking.   Cynthia lunged off the bed and grabbed me  "They are saying you can help - please help me," she sobbed and became limp.  "I'm calling Father Fetcher from the church down the road," said one of the girls who lived across  the hall.  "Yes, do that please," I said quickly. "Dexter what did you give her?" I commanded realizing I'd have to take matters into my own hands until someone with more experience arrived.  Dexter just looked down and didn't say anything as he took another drag off his Malboro.  "Dammit, answer me!"  "It was just one hit of acid - it shouldn't have done this," he replied nervously.  

Great - hits of acid while playing with a Ouija board - how f*cking stupid was that?  No wonder Lynnette was not crazy about him.   The entity started to move towards Cynthia.  "Get back!" I yelled at the apparition and the group moved out of the dorm room thinking I was talking to them.   "Claire would you go into my dorm room and get the rock salt that is in my big suitcase?" I said quietly to not to alert this thing as to my intentions. 

Claire left quickly so it was just me, Grace, Cynthia and Lynnette in the room.  Cynthia's body felt like it was burning up and she was sweating profusely.  "This is more than a bad acid trip," I thought to myself as the plastic pointer on the

Ouija board started to move in it's own.  Lynnette started to get hysterical and I could see that Grace was freaked but true to her name she told Lynnette that I was an expert on ghosts and had the situation handled.   "Who are you?" I asked trying to get a name so that it could be banished.  The plastic pointer spelled out the word "DIE".   The room got darker and colder and the entity was feeding off of Lynnette's fear.  "Okay, everyone out but me and Cynthia - please," I said not sure what I was going to do.  Just as they left, Claire showed up with the rock salt at the same time that Father Fetcher arrived.  He was a young priest - probably in his 30's with dark wavy hair and a slim build.  He had his priest collar on and a small suitcase which I hoped were his tools as a demonologist to help get rid of this aggressive entity.

"Hey there - I'm Father Fetcher - "  "Get out," said Cynthia in a very masculine voice "You and your ways are not welcome here."  Claire threw me the zip lock of rock salt and then left quickly.  Father Fetcher looked a little shaken.  "They were playing with a Ouija board and taking hits of acid," I explained hoping that might update them quickly.  "Were you playing the game as well?" he asked irritated and fumbling with his case.  "No, I'm was out with my dad but I'm a -I can see-" I hesitated and then Cynthia said, "They are saying Sophia can see spirits - please let her help me!" 

Cynthia passed out again but then quickly came to and had a strange look on her face.  The haze that was around the board had now moved over her.  The door slammed by itself which startled both me and Fr. Fetcher.  "They told us in seminary that this could get really bad - "  The soda cans on the table started to shake and fall on the floor.  "F*cking A - it's a dorm room with a f*cking Ouija board and people doing drugs.  Don't they know that entities like this are hanging all around us and this sh*t just invites the evil in!" stated the angry Padre.  I had to admit - I liked a priest who knew how to curse under pressure.

"Cynthia-I am Father Eugene Fetcher of St. Thomas More - I'm here to help you - try not to be afraid.  You're having a bad trip right now and seeing some very bad things - but the power of Christ can help you."   The bed started to shake and Cynthia started to whimper.   I could see the demon hovering - he had a red blood stained face that looked like a human skeleton with large teeth and black hair.  "Father, he's right over her.  I have some black rock salt - do you need me to use it?" I whispered but the demon looked my way and started to move it's mouth slowly.  "That sounds a little pagan to me but I've never done this before so I'm open to anything.  Does it work?" he whispered back.  "It banished some Klansmen ghosts earlier today with my dad," I replied matter of factly.  "Wow, so you have some experience - that's great.  Cool - cool.  Um, I'll pull out some oil and holy water with my bible and you -" He was cut off when his briefcase went flying and the items scattered to the ground.  "Shit!" we muttered at the same time.  

Cynthia's back started to arch and her mouth started to open - the entity was floating over her and the evil mist started to flow into her mouth.  "If we don't do something soon, she will be possessed," I said urging him to act quickly.   He crawled over to where the briefcase was and grabbed the vials of Holy water and oils.  Cynthia grabbed one of my hands and pulled me towards her - her face now a combination of bloody skeleton and her own flesh. I could not get her icy hand to let go and it looked like she was going to bite me with her teeth which were now fangs.  The room got colder and darker and I started to shiver. 

The heat of Cynthia's breath felt like it would scald my hand if it got any closer.  I reached into my pocket and ripped open the baggie of rock salt.  I threw it into the face of the demon/Cynthia.  She howled and let go my of hands to rub her eyes.   The room started to shake like we were in an earthquake and the Ouija board went flying.  Father Fetcher found the vials of holy water and oil which were broken - he cut his finger on the glass as he took the fluid off the floor and sprinkled them in her face as well.  He took a deep breath and spoke in an commanding voice: "Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."  

I kept looking at the demon which was got smaller while the prayer was being said.  Suddenly, a big blue light with a sword appeared.  An abbess opened up in the floor and the blue light which now appeared to be an angel pointed his sword to the darkness.  The diminished demon struggled to stay in this world but the power of the sword was too strong and he let out an unholy moan as he was sucked into the unknown.  The floor quickly closed and the room shuttered.  The angel looked at me and Father Fetcher.  He nodded and then looked up to the sky as he disappeared leaving a trail of blue and white light.   

Cynthia's body started to relax and she came to.  Father Fetcher as was covered in sweat and his once white collar was gray.   "Did you see any of that?" I whispered still trying to comprehend it all.  "I caught a little blue light in the end but you'll have to tell me all about it," he said smiling.  The lights in the room got brighter and the room felt like a normal temperature again. "We make a pretty good team, are you Catholic?"  "No, Episcopal," I replied.  "Close enough," he retorted and we both started laughing.  "Sorry about the cursing - being a priest is still pretty new and I can have a bit of a mouth," he said holding the small cut on his finger.  "No worries, you're secret is safe with me," I replied.  

Lynnette, Claire and Grace came running in.  "Hey, are you all okay?" Claire asked.  "The floor was shaking."    Cynthia opened her eyes and they looked normal again.  "What happened?" she asked thankfully not remembering anything about the spiritual attack and noticing that there was a priest in her dorm room.  "Oh my God, did I sleep through Mass?"   "No, but I will be confiscating this Ouija board in the name of the church and burn the damn thing.   Hear me now all of you- I never want any of you to play this game again.  You have no idea what you are working with and bad sh-- I mean -- really bad things can happen," said Father Fetcher catching himself.  "Make sure you get plenty of sleep the next few days and eat healthy raw foods," the Padre advised as he put a band aid on his cut finger.  We cleaned up the room quickly and packed up the brief case just as Cynthia was falling back to sleep.  "Keep an eye on her for the next 24 hours just to make sure she's okay," I said as we left.  

Fr. Fetcher, Joy, Grace and I walked down the hallway as Chad the RA ran up.  "Hey, is everything okay up here?  We heard screams and like this side of the building was shaking."   
"We're fine," Father Fetcher replied. 

I noticed that Dexter was standing in the hallway, still smoking and not making eye contact with anyone.  "I am not going to turn you in this time, but if you even try to spell the word 'acid' I will see to it that the powers that be will make your life a living hell," I said directly and quietly.  Dexter looked at me and nodded.  He put out his cigarette and walked down the back stair well.  

"Do you have a place for me to burn this?" asked the priest who didn't want to have the Ouija board near him any longer than he had to.   "We have an incinerator in the basement - do you want to throw it in there?" Chad replied.  "That works," replied Fr. Fetcher.  

"Hey, would you like to have lunch with me, Joy, Grace and my dad tomorrow?  He'd be very interested to meet you," I asked hoping the good Father would say yes.  "Of course Miss Sophia, I'd love to talk to your dad and congratulate him on raising such a smart and capable daughter in so many ways," he smiled and then went off with Chad to burn that God forsaken game.

I got back to my room and the day mercifully came to an end. I was bone tired and exhausted and hoped the rest of the week would be quiet.  I also wondered how things would be since I was now "outed" as a medium at least for the girls on this floor.  But those thoughts quickly gave way to sleep which I was in dire need of. 

I woke up the next morning around 11:00 am - not in my bed at home like the day before but in my new home for the next four years.  The phone rang as I struggled to figure out where it was.   "Hey Sugar Bear, how was your first night in the dorm?" my dad asked.  "It was interesting - I met a priest and learned a new prayer," I replied sweetly not wanting to worry him.  "In fact he's coming to have lunch with us," I mentioned casually.  "A priest - will a Rabbi also be joining us?" my father joked.  I laughed and realized how much I would miss seeing him but we had bonded on this trip in a way I could not have expected.  "Hey daddy, I really love you - you know that right?" I said suddenly.  "Sugar bear, I love you too. So much.  I'll see you and the Wilson girls soon," he said with his voice breaking.  I hung up the phone realizing that although I was on my own for the first time I had friends and people who loved me so I would never be truly alone.  

The Demon went down to Georgia

The first time I saw Nicki Lynch I was half drunk at Clairvoyant-Con steeped in a self-induced haze to drown out the hundreds of ghostly voices which always seemed to be calling me.   I didn’t want to do something as cheesy as a psychic convention but back then I didn’t have much choice – Jess had just left me and he was asking for a hefty sum in the divorce settlement.  Rather than stay home and drink myself into oblivion, I took it on the road and did some questionable conferences just for the money. 

So there I was at my own forum – feeling that familiar buzz that made the other worldly chatter fade into the background.   I saw this fresh faced teen-age girl tentatively raise her hand and ask me a question.  “I think I might be a sensitive and I wanted to know what it’s like to be a medium,” she stood there beaming because she finally got the courage to ask me a question.   And how did I reward her bravery?   I started a tirade about how it sucked to be me – to talk to dead people all the time and never get a break.  She sat down defeated.  I had taken the wind out of her sails.  She looked down unable to make eye contact with anyone.  I wanted to apologize on the spot but then a redneck called me a fake at my own fucking forum so I beat the shit out of him in front of my audience and was quickly escorted out of “Clairvoyant Con.”  Click here to see the video of what happened.

I later found out that Nicki had never really recovered from our run-in and thought about giving up on being a psychic forever.  Bob the Atheist Ghost intervened by hacking into my Amazon account and sending a $1,000 gift card to her family to enjoy for the holidays as a peace offering.  He also set up a Skype meeting to break the ice before we finally met in person. 

For the record – Bob doesn’t know he’s dead.  He doesn’t believe in the afterlife and goes along doing what he used to do which was computers and science.  So even as a ghost, he can manipulate computers because that’s what he believes he can do.   Some ghosts can do that – especially ones who are strong willed or in such strong denial that they think they are still alive and only certain people like me have the “intelligence” to connect with them.

So here I was on a dark, steamy Georgia summer night meeting Nicki again in person in a haunted forest near a subdivision.  We were there to do an investigation so I could gage her skill level.  I wanted to still feel like it was safe for a relative neophyte to work with the undead because a medium of my stature was there to mentor her.  

I had placed some citron candles near the location sightings to help entice the ghosts but from a practical level – it kept the mosquitoes away.  I tried to get a read on the location.  I breathed slowly and quietly.  I could hear the sound of the brook near-by.  I could see a few flashes of things that had happened in these woods – some good and some bad but I tried to keep my mind open and relaxed for whatever and whoever might want to contact me.  I felt lazar focused and relaxed which is the way I like to go into these investigations because tension can throw my readings off big time.  But my peace started to turn to irritation – my breath started to get short and my blood pressure was rising.  I opened my eyes and quickly rolled them up to the heavens.

“Hey Princess – what’s shaking? Is Nicki here yet?” asked Bob like a child waiting for their favorite baby sitter to arrive.  Bob’s glasses slid slightly down his nose and he pushed them back quickly.  Some ghosts hold onto the familiar – for Bob it was his glasses, plaid button up shirt and khaki slacks with loafers.   His gray hair was always a bit unkempt and he had a hard time with boundaries.  For instance he would ask me questions anytime – anywhere – even in the shower.   He also annoyed the other ghosts because he’d try to explain them away as some sort of Jungian or Freudian personality arch-type of his own psyche.  In his mind, Bob was not dead and this ghost-like existence he was in was just a long existential dream – one in which I was supposed to help him “wake-up” from.  By far, he has been the hardest ghost for me to help move to the next level.

As analytical as Bob could get – he also wanted to be truly helpful and solve problems.  So he felt a sense of ownership since he had fixed my transgression with Nicki and got us together over Christmas.   As indirectly sweet as that was – I really wished he had stayed back at my place playing Dungeons and Dragons on-line.   Ghosts can be greatly influenced by other spirits.   An apparition can literally be “jumped” and manipulated by another entity just like a human can be taken over by a demon.   Bob’s disbelief put him in harm’s way and it was impossible to tell what might happen if he met up with the wrong kind of ghost. 

“Sooo- what are you going to say when you see Nicki in person– “ nudged Bob.  “I’ll know what to say when I see her,” I responded trying not to let my annoyance show.  Just then a young voice said “Hi Miss Sophia.”  I turned and saw a beam of light in the dark woods.   It was Nicki and she was literally beaming because we were meeting in person – no Skype, no Clairvoyant Con – just the two of us – well the two of us and Bob.   “Nicki – it’s so good to see you!”  I said giving her a genuine but uncharacteristic hug.   She hugged back and then Bob piled on and hugged the both of us.   “Okay, this is the good stuff,” he said proudly “brought to you by me.”   Nicki smiled back – she could see and hear Bob.  Her wavy blond hair caught the moonlight and she seemed just as sweet as the first time I had seen her.  Even with all the crap that came down on her as a result of the video that someone shot of us at Clairvoyant-Con and posted on YouTube – you could tell she was still an optimist – still trusting in the good in everyone  - even me and Bob.  I really hoped that we would not misplace that trust.

 

“Okay sweetie,” I started  – “ I wanted you to help me with this case because apparently it’s a teenage ghost according to the people who have seen her and maybe she might be open to someone her own age rather than –“  “Rather than someone who is old enough to be her mother – I mean really – what teen would want advice from someone that old?”  said Bob matter-of-factly.  He then realized how that sounded.  “Oh, wait – you’re not old to me but to a teen – you’re ancient.  To me – you’re smoking hot in all the right places –“  Nicki started to laugh.  “Okay, Bob, enough- you’ve made your point,” I replied realizing I really needed to get another lock for my bathroom door – one that would keep out ghosts.  

 

The air started to get a little cooler and I saw Nicki shiver slightly.  “Are you okay?” I asked feeling a little unsure myself since I usually did investigations alone and I didn’t want to put her in harm’s way.  “I’m okay, Miss Sophia but I think there’s something that does not want us here.”  I had to agree – the sense of tranquility I had before had now been replaced by a sense of oppressive dread.  We heard the plants around us start to shake even though the air was still and there was no wind to stir things up.   Nicki’s head started to bend back and she let out a gasp.  “Something just pulled my hair really hard,” she said trying to keep her voice even.  “It’s okay, I’m here – “ I replied trying to calm things down.  “You girls are just imagining things – there’s no such things as ghos-“ Bob started but then stopped half way through.  

His eyes started to get big and he stepped back.  I looked in the same direction and saw what looked like a demonic head in the trees.  It’s face was dripping black blood and the eyes were gone-  just black sockets.  There were horns raising from its head and and it’s mouth was moving like it was making some sort of incantation.  “Okay this is bad –this is really bad” -  I said getting ready to grab Nicki and make a run for it. 

I then saw a young female ghost who literally seemed to be trapped behind the demon faced tree.  She looked like someone out of a 1980’s MTV music video.  Her hair was a vintage bad perm and her red jacket looked like it had large shoulder pads.   She seemed to be about 14 or 15 and looked scared.  I was trying to determine if she was indeed a child ghost or if this was some type of trick this demon was playing (many times demons pose as children to gain your trust).   Nicki started running towards the girl out of instinct rather than waiting for my cue.  “Nicki – no you don’t know if she’s – “ I  saw the girl start to run toward the both of us – I reached out to Nicki to try to stop her. “Seriously?  C’mon ladies it’s just a teenage girl – how dangerous could she be?” spoken by a person who had never really experienced a hormonal adolescent female either living or dead.  “Bob,” I replied, “just keep your mouth shut – I mean really stop talking.”  “Hey you can’t silence me and that devil face in the trees – that indicates that my personal demons want to come out but are held back by my ‘Tree of Life’ – they are in a constant battle for balance.   You have to read between the lines or you’ll never get me to ‘wake-up’,” Bob said with his fingers in air quotes when he said the words “wake-up.”

 

I caught up to Nicki who was face to face with the teenage ghost.  The poor thing looked legitimate.  I could tell that she had died from a drug overdose in these woods.   “Miss Sophia, she took some bad pills and wanted to change her mind, but someone wouldn’t let her make it out alive,” said Nicki with tears in her eyes.  It’s tough learning the back story on these ghosts and not getting affected but our job as mediums was not to get too involved and help them move onto the next level.  “I know Nicki – it can be tough to feel their emotions but we need to protect our feelings –“ I started and once again was interrupted by Bob.  “Oh, sweet suffering Jesus, (who I don’t believe in by the way)  this is why you woman have a hard time being taken seriously in business – too many emotions,” said Bob in such a condescending tone that I nearly smacked him.  “Woman can be leaders of entire countries– Margaret Thatcher has the brass balls to prove it!” said the young ghost who I was instantly impressed with.  “Hey you need to respect your elders young lady- “ Bob fired back figuring that would be the end of that.  “You have to earn my respect asshole!” she retorted.  I had to admit I was beginning to have some genuine admiration for this ghost. 

 

Nicki let out a nervous giggle and asked the girl her name.  “I’m Lara Pembrook.  I’m sorry that the demon showed himself.  That generally doesn’t bode well for the people who see him,” she said sadly.  “How did you end up here?  Why did you take your life?”  I asked while also keeping an eye out for the demon.   

 

Lara took a deep breath and started to shake.  Having to tell or even relive the time of death is very traumatic for ghosts but it’s the only way I could help her.  “I was there the night that Samantha was killed just a few miles from here – in a creek.   Allison made us confront her when we thought she was cheating with Allison’s boyfriend.  Things got heated and Allison threw a big rock at Samantha’s head.   There was blood everywhere – but she might have lived.   Allison freaked out and made us put Samantha’s body into the deepest part of the creek and weigh it down with rocks.   We then tried to pretend like nothing happened even when all the missing person stuff hit the news and the police questioned us  – “   “That’s so horrible - I’m so sorry – “ said Nicki who was quivering.  “I would see Samantha’s parents at church – devastated and praying to for a miracle.  I wanted to tell them the truth but Allison told me if I went to the police – she and the other kids would say it was my idea and that I threw the rock.   I just couldn’t live with myself anymore so I came here to – to – “ her voice trailed off and she looked exhausted.   “Nicki – you said someone would not let her leave – was that demon?”  I asked knowing the answer- I wanted to see if Nicki did too.  “No, the demon made her want to commit suicide but it was Allison that found her and could have saved her but Allison was so afraid of what could happen if she told the truth that she just Lara overdose rather than trying to get help,” Nicki said quietly with tears coming down her face.  “This is the saddest thing I’ve ever heard Miss Sophia.”   “The police found me a day later.  I wanted to find Samantha’s ghost and tell her I was sorry – but the demon would not let me leave these woods – he marked me and I was his now,” Lara finished quietly. 

“Wow, this Allison sounds like a real bitch!” pronounced Bob hoping to join in and be part of the group.  I looked over at Lara who started to laugh – “You’re right asshole – she is a bitch!”  The four of us started to chuckle but it was cut short by the sound of an evil bellow through the woods.

“Good God,  (I don’t believe in that either) what was that?” Bob asked as he ducked behind me and Nicki.   “That’s the demon – he doesn’t like me talking to people and now that you know my story – you might not make it out either,” Lara said realizing that she might have just sealed our doom.

 

The woods started to get stone cold – like the kind of cold in winter when there is no wind but just ice everywhere.  Nicki started to get scared – “I don’t want something bad to happen here Miss Sophia, I promised my mother I’d be okay,” she said shivering.  I held her tight and looked into her eyes.  “I know and I should have given you more of a primer before our investigation but I honestly didn’t think it would get this serious.”   “Yup, dream wise – this is pretty fucking bad –“ Bob stated.  “Okay, Nicki – at the point that the demon comes close to us – you need to pull out this vile of salt and throw it in his face.  I’ll use the holy water and to sanctify the ground.   I have the 23^rd Psalm – which can also nullify the demon long enough to free Lara and get all of us to safety,”  I said feeling pretty confident with my plan. 

 

The bellowing continued and sounded like it was getting closer.  The grass started to move on its own and the pace of the steps got louder.   There was a loud groan and then it got silent.   I looked around – Nicki was close to me and looked scared as did Lara but they seemed unharmed.

 

Suddenly Bob’s icy hand grabbed at the front of my shirt and he pushed me down hard.  “So, you thought you could get rid of me – didn’t you Princess?”  Bob’s eyes had a weird look in them - it was obvious that the demon had jumped him.  My heart started to race as I struggled to get up.   “Miss Sophia!”  Nicki screamed trying to find the vile of salt that I had given her.  “You two thought you could banish me from these woods – an old drunk medium and a neophyte – rather ambitious wouldn’t you say?   I’ve been here for hundreds of years – through the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, lynchings.   I’ve made good people do very bad things but nothing they didn’t really want to do it’s just that the fear of God kept them from doing it.  But I freed them from that – it was only the fear of me they had to worry about.  It’s not lost on me the irony that a medium who talks to the dead might be the next one to haunt these woods.”  I finally got back on my feet but Bob grabbed me by the throat and started to push me against a tree. 

 

“You don’t have to do this Bob – I know you’re in there,” I said trying to coax him out so he could take control.  “Are you really trying to reach that Atheist twit?   The non-believers – the ones that trust logic over everything else are the easiest to manipulate,” he tightened his grip on my throat and it was getting harder to talk.   “Look, you need to leave this place once and for all – you don’t need to do this,” I said barely able to get the words out.

 

“Leave Miss Sophia alone,” Nicki said as she threw salt in Bob’s face. “Table salt, really?!  Now that is a bit insulting – it stings a bit but nothing I can’t handle,”  Nicki started to say the 23^rd Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want –“ but the demon just laughed.  “That is so text book. You women are so simple minded and weak – you go on a few websites and think you can vanquish me?   You are nothing more than slaves to your emotions and hormones –weepy and bitchy when that time of the month rolls around. But in just a few minutes after I kill the both of you- you will be slaves to me and not your hormones or menstrual cycles!” the demon started to laugh at his own quip. 

 

“Oh no you didn’t.  You pathetic asshole!  I’m not going to let you kill them – even if it means I’ll never get out of here!”   “How dare you defy me,” the demon shot back, “if you were smart instead of an emotional little harpee, you would join with me and kill them – then I might go easy on you.”  “I want to be free from you - from all of this and I don’t care what I have to do to get it,” she then brandished a tree branch like a sword and hit him over the head.  Stunned, he stumbled back.

 

“Nicki – close it now,” I shouted hoarsely.  Nicki grabbed the copper wire that was nearby as I started to run out of the semi-circle that we had created around the tree with iron nails and wire.  Her hands shook as she tried to close it and she kept on dropping the spool of wire.  It began to dawn on the demon that we were ensnaring him.  He started to crawl towards the opening.  Lara tried to push him back towards the tree with the branch.  He grabbed my leg and started to pull hard. “Get back here you bitch,” he howled.  I pushed forward trying to help Nicki close that gap before he could escape.  My hands reached the iron nail and closed the circle just as he was about to pounce.  “No!” he howled loud enough to make the trees shake.

 

Once the circle of cooper wire and iron was closed – the demon couldn’t walk outside of it.  Nicki grabbed Lara and they ran to another safe spot – a circle of rock salt which would keep any other bad spirits away from them.   I kicked the demon back and jumped outside of the copper circle.  I ran over to the girls.  “Are you both okay?”  “Yes, Miss Sophia,” said Nicki, “I did just what you told me.”  “But what about Bob?” asked Lara afraid that he would be part of the woods forever.

 

“Yes, what about Bob?” said the demon who was still in Bob’s ghostly body.  “You destroy me, you destroy him.  And since he’s an atheist, there will be no redemption.   Let me go and he has a chance.”   “I knew this might happen and I was willing to make that sacrifice – “ I said sadly.  “Miss Sophia, no not Bob, we can’t leave him here!”  Nicki begged.  “No, Miss Sophia, I can’t let you do this,” Lara cried.   The demon smiled.  “You see Sophia, you can be the good guy and let Bob exist as a ghost or kill his soul and leave him in all consuming darkness for eternity – it’s up to you.” 

 

“I’m – I’m so sorry – goodbye Bob –“ I said with a tear running down my face.  For a second – the demon’s eyes changed and I could see Bob standing there – “Hey don’t Sophia – please – “ I hesitated for a moment then threw black salt in his face.   He let out a yell and fell to his knees.  Nicki wimpered.  “Girls please look away,” I shouted.

 

I then pulled a sage stick, matches and some herbs that I had hidden under a bush.  I lit the sage stick which was mixed with copal, rue and angelica and made the sign of the cross over him.   His body started to shake and an unearthly moaning filled the forest.  “For the record – I knew that regular salt and 23^rd Psalm would not work – they were a diversion but this stuff is the real deal.  It seems like a bunch of emotional females are finally the ones to take you down.”   The demon started to back away from the smoke but could not escape it.  I started to recite the 91^st Psalm.  “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.   I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress - my God, in whom I trust’…”  With each line, the demon got weaker and weaker.  By the time I uttered the last lines, “Because he loves me says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation,” the demon let out one last groan and exited Bob’s ghostly visage.

The three of us stood in the forest looking at the tree where the demon had been and saw only Bob laying under the tree – not moving –not doing anything.  “Is Bob, is he gone?” Nicki asked choking back sobs.  “I think so, Nicki – I didn’t want this to happen but I couldn’t let another person get hurt by that demon,” I said feeling more sad about Bob leaving then happy that the demon was banished. Lara looked sad as well.  “I’m sorry he had to go – that asshole was beginning to grow on me.”   We all started to laugh and cry at the same time. 

“Hey stop with the asshole stuff, okay? I know I can be a little hard to take,” said Bob who was getting up slowly from under the tree.  “Oh my God, Bob!” I said happily which surprised me more than anyone.   “Bob, you’re okay!” said Nicki.  “Sure why wouldn’t I be – hey what’s with the copper circle thingy?”  he said not remembering what had just happened which was probably for the best.  “Not much Bob, we got rid of that personal demon and now we need to send Lara on her way.”  I bent down and undid the copper wire so Bob could walk out.   “You mean I can actually leave the forest?” Lara asked wondering what to do with herself.  “You can – you can ascend up to heaven if that’s what you want to do.”  “I do, but I have to apologize to someone first,” Lara said, “then I’ll be able to walk into the light.”    We gave her a hug and she slowly faded out of the forest with a big smile on her face.

“Do you think she’ll find Samantha and tell her how sorry she is?” asked Nicki.   “I think that’s the first thing on her to-do list,” I replied feeling relived that the night was over.  “Nicki, did you know about all this stuff?” asked Bob pointing to the smudge stick, the wires and iron nails. “Well Bob, Nicki and I had conversations that you were not privy to on Skype.  She needed to be prepared for anything that happened,” I replied.  “Sooo- how did she do?” Bob asked feeling like the metaphysical match maker.  “She passed with flying colors – I think she will make an excellent medium,” I said giving Nicki another hug.  

“Okay, but I thought tonight was more about my feelings of inadequacy as far as relationships go which was one of my personal demons.   I managed to get you two to work together – so wouldn’t that mean that feelings of emotional demonization should subside and I should wake up?” Bob asked hopefully thinking this was the tail end of his dream and still not grasping that he was dead.  “Maybe you still have a few more lessons to learn,” I explained quickly.   “Can we hurry this lesson stuff up, I’m pretty sure the Dragon Con Convention is in the next couple of days and I’m supposed to go as Mr. Spock,” Bob said hopefully.

“You’re funny and kinda weird, Bob,” Nicki chuckled.  “You have no idea kid!” Bob replied also laughing.  “Bob, why don’t you go back to my place – I got this new game called Savage Kingdoms – it sounds pretty challenging and way better then Dungeons and Dragons –“ I suggested hoping he’d finally leave the forest.  “Sure thing – you’re coming back after you drop Nicki off, right?”  “Yes, Bob – I’ll see you later,” I assured him and he faded out.  

“He’s never going to get it is he?”  Nicki asked feeling sorry for him.  “I tried to get him to be there when they discovered his body, but I think he was afraid of the truth.  But for right now, I’m stuck with him and frankly he does keep me on my toes,”  “He’s a handful alright,” Nicki quipped.  “That he is Nicki, that he is,” I laughed.

“Now, the first rule of being a medium after a night like tonight – we ground with lots of junk food –  Dairy Queen – my treat!” I said suddenly feeling famished and in dire need of a hamburger, fries and a Blizzard.  “You can call your Mom and ask her to meet us there.  And when you talk about this – let’s just leave out the demon part and just say we got Lara to go onto the next level,” I suggested knowing that her Mom would freak is she knew her sweet daughter had a run-in with a demonic presence. 

“Yes, Miss Sophia, I’d like that,” said Nicki.  We got into the car and started to drive out of the forest.  There was a bright light and for a nano-second we saw Lara laughing as she sped up to the sky.  We both looked at each other and smiled.  “Bob was right Miss Sophia, this is the good stuff.” 

Sophia Gardeen is a nationally recognized medium and is currently working on the show Ghost Wanderers for the Supernatural Channel.  She also makes on hell of a good butterscotch blondie.   For more info - go to ghostwanderers.com .