Emmy went straight to the master’s bedroom and fished a suitcase and several bags from their destroyed cabinet. She stuffed half of the suitcase with Matt’s and her clothes then went to Jean’s room.
The relative tidiness of the child’s room compared to anywhere else in the house only served to make her more anxious. Emmy stuffed Jean’s clothes in the suitcase too. She almost wanted to lie down on her daughter’s bed. Everything was where it should be, nothing was out of place.
She shook herself out of it and looked around to find the child’s toys and coloring books. These, she stuffed into one of the bags. Lastly, she found Jean a set of clothes to change to then called her.
“Jean honey? Can you come over here please?”
She called again when Jean did not answer. Seconds later, she heard her approaching footsteps.
“Jean, let’s get you changed, we’re going out.”
“Where?” Jean asked, standing in the doorway.
“Oh, nowhere, and everywhere. We’re having a day out!” Emmy said, making stuff up on the fly.
The girl continued to just watch Emmy as she folded more of her clothes.
“Jean!” She called her out. “Get changed now.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“Yeah? We’re all going out. Do you want to be left here? Alone? You want that?”
“No.” The girl answered meekly.
“Then change now, please. Use these.” Emmy pointed at the side of the bed where she placed Jean’s clothes.
Jean approached the bed, took the clothes, and marched back to Gina’s room to get changed in her bathroom. Emmy followed. She scavenged the contents of the cabinets for Gina’s clothes and stuffed them inside the space in the suitcase. After setting aside a set of clothes for Gina, she went to wake her up.
“Honey? Wake up.”
Emmy shook her daughter lightly by the shoulder. She noticed that the bruises on Gina’s arm had begun to turn a dark violet.
“Mom? What? Owww!”
Gina winced when she tried to turn on her side. Emmy was reminded of the gashes and welts on her daughter’s back.
“Mom? Why does- why do… Mom!”
“We’ll talk about this later honey. I need you to get changed. We’re going out now. Your dad is waiting.”
The urgency and concern in Emmy’s voice caused the child to stare with a bewildered expression but she obeyed. Emmy helped her get up. The look on her daughter’s face almost made Emmy cry. She knew Gina had questions. Emmy could not even begin to imagine how she would start explaining to her daughter. Gina sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her mother’s arms.
“That’s why we’re going out.” Emmy said, hoping Gina would leave it at that for the moment.
“Mom what happened to me? To you?”
“Honey, really, I will explain later. Let’s not worry your sister for now, please?”
“Everything hurts.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Can you stand?”
“I- I’ll try.” Gina answered, her voice hinting that she was not satisfied with the answer.
Emmy helped Gina get on her feet.
“Try walking. Slowly.”
Her daughter took slow steps at first then gained confidence. Emmy noticed a little stiffness to her movement, indicating that Gina had, at the very least, sprained muscles. Jean came out of the bathroom all changed. Emmy went inside the bathroom to grab a towel, wet it, and wiped Jean’s face while gesturing to Gina to head in and change.
While waiting for Gina, Emmy went back to the master’s bedroom to find her phone and her keys. The trio went down together.
Emmy felt increasingly relieved, like a boulder was lifted from her shoulder. Soon, they will be out of the house and perhaps, perhaps that is all it would take for them to be able to rest. Even for just a day.
~0~
“Yeah man?” A sleepy voice on the other end of the line answered.
“Hey so listen, I need something done really quick.”
“Ugh, what time is it?”
“Doesn’t matter. I need something checked into.”
“Is this about Jayren?” Jon asked. “Because if it is, I’m telling you Cain, I can’t find anything.”
“No, no not that. I don’t think we’ll ever find anything about her.”
“Yeah? How do you figure that?”
“It’s just a feeling. It’s not important now. Listen, do you have a pen and paper with you?”
“Jesus man! It’s too early. Sorry, sorry. Just an expression. Mind telling me what’s this about while find something to write with?”
“Will it be enough if I say it might blow up your channel?”
“Yeah? Well now I’m awake. Why’d you not start with that? Hit me.”
“Alright, take this address down.”
Cain dictated the address slowly, making sure Jon got all of it.
“You want me to scope the place or something?”
“No. We’re going there. I need you to find anything you can on the land or its surroundings as soon as you can.”
“Standard stuff?”
“Yeah, and anything that might add to it. This case is weird.”
Jon paused, Cain heard him smacking his lips.
“Coming from you, that does not inspire confidence. I’m assuming you want me to bring all my equipment.”
“Yes. After you search for anything that might help.”
“Listen man, you know I got your back. But if you’re not sure, if you’re calling it weird. I don’t know. Maybe tell me about it? Your stuff is not standard ghosthunter drama. I want to be sure.”
“We don’t have time Jon. I have to call Father Ramirez next.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me? Christ! You don’t have approval? Nobody’s signed on this?”
“If my leg’s not being pulled, I don’t think the family has time for that.”
“I’m still not going unless you tell me what’s it about.”
“There’re too many things going on, Jon. That’s why it’s weird.”
“Read it from your list then. I know you got one.”
“Fine.”
Cain retrieved the notes he took from the call with Matt and started reading everything he wrote down, including his thoughts.
“Jesus! Sorry.” Jon exclaimed. “It sounds like a perfect storm but paranormal.”
“I told you. The house is new. They just moved in. There is nothing to indicate there were other buildings there before, or so he says.”
“What does your gut say?”
“That it’s weird. And urgent.”
“And your training? Your books?”
“No definite hits. Whatever is causing it, it’s powerful.”
“Shit. Never heard you talk like this before Cain. Alright, alright, I’ll see what I can find. Pick you up at like ten? Eleven?”
“As soon as you can. And thanks Jon. Appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it. Call you back in a bit.”