Chapter Twenty-Two
The next couple of days after the ball were frighteningly quiet. Marietta wasn’t around much and I wondered where she disappeared to for hours at a time. When I did see her, the darkness appeared to be much less significant, almost muted. I knew it didn’t mean things were over.
Actually, I got the feeling Catherine was laying in wait, letting me think I was safe. She enjoyed toying with me.
I knew better than to relax. The necklace Margaret gave me never left my neck. Whenever I was close to Marietta I tucked it away. I didn’t even want to think of what would happen if Catherine saw me wearing it. I knew I was playing with fire but I didn’t feel so alone when I wore it.
One afternoon, Jason and I were sitting in one of the parks near our house. The many squares of green space dotting the historic part of town gave us plenty of private places to hang out. When the city was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, there were originally four squares whose main function was to provide space for military maneuvers. Over time, as Savannah grew, more and more were added and today there were twenty-two squares. They were one more thing that made Savannah so unique.
We sat there for a couple hours and I ran lines with Jason for the intense ending they were filming later that night. It was fun and comfortable, and safe being with him. Isaac, the bodyguard assigned to Jason, kept to himself. I was glad we hadn’t needed him yet but I knew it was only a matter of time before that part of Jason’s life collided with our budding relationship.
He didn’t give me a chance to feel awkward about our kiss, which I was thankful for. It surprised me how much I’d changed in the couple of months since I met him.
“I think I’m finally getting used to this heat. It forces you to slow down. I’ve decided this slow, lazy lifestyle appeals to me.” Jason brushed my hair out of my face. “How are things at the house?”
I shrugged. “It’s been okay. Marietta’s been suspiciously absent which makes me more nervous. I need to figure out how to fight this thing.”
“What do you mean, fight it? You can’t be serious.” Again, I suspected he didn’t understand my feelings or my need to see it through to the end.
“I’m very serious. What else should I do, ignore it and run away? I’m the one left to finish this.”
Jason stood up and started to pace in front of me. “Well, can’t we bring in a priest or exorcist or something? There has to be someone you can get to help. This thing already tried to kill you once and I won’t lose someone else I care about.”
I walked over to him and put my hand on his cheek. “Who? Talk to me, Jason.”
He looked at me with such a huge well of sadness behind his eyes. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself.
“My brother,” he began softly. “We were on our way to go snowboarding. I grew up in Colorado and learned to drive on icy, snowy roads. I remember him talking about how much he hated being a freshman in high school. I was a sophomore and had already gone through it so I was giving him advice. Then, some stupid country song came on the radio. We were laughing and singing along to it.
“No matter how many times I go over it, I can’t pinpoint what went wrong. I wasn’t driving fast or recklessly but an oncoming car drifted into our lane. Trying to avoid it, I lost control of the Suburban and hit a patch of ice. We rolled and the car came to rest with the passenger side crushed into a tree. I tried to get Dylan out, to wake him up but he never came to. I never got to tell him I was sorry.”
I held him as he cried. Instinctively I knew this wasn’t something he shared with most people. I understood loss but nothing like what he’d experienced.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “I’m sure he knew and I’m sure he doesn’t blame you.”
He pulled back and wiped his eyes before laying his forehead to mine. “I tell myself that constantly. We were close and deep down I know he understands but it doesn’t stop me from questioning everything that happened that day. I only had my license a couple of months but my parents trusted me, letting me take the car that day. We lived half an hour from the ski hill. I’d already made the trip twice that month.”
“What happened to the other driver?” I asked. Most of the details of the article I read were pretty hazy.
“The driver never stopped and they never found him. I remember wanting to feel some kind of justice, even though I believed most of the blame was on me.”
“Blame and guilt are funny things. Even with Mama dying of a brain aneurism and Daddy of a heart attack, I wondered if it was my fault. Could I have been a better daughter? Did they love me too much? We imagine there’s something we could have done different even in an impossible situation.”
“I know.” Jason sighed heavily. “The last couple years I’ve come to terms with the fact it wasn’t my fault but there’s still guilt. I will always have guilt. And I will always second guess everything about that day.”
“I think it’s only natural, Jason. So did you leave Colorado to get away from everything?”
“I had to get away from there. The memories were too much so I managed to graduate early and started over in LA the minute I turned eighteen. I got a job pretty quick and I guess the rest is history.”
“Is this why you’re so interested in the paranormal? Because you want to find out what happens after?”
“Yeah, when I first learned we were going to be filming here I thought I’d finally have a chance to find out more about what happens when you die. Is Dylan still back home or did he move on? All I want is some answers.”
“It’s kind of why I started investigating. Whatever my capabilities are as far as sensing things, I still want to know more about my parents. One of the things I’ve learned is the answers aren’t always out there. I’ve done everything I possibly can to contact my parents and I’ve never felt anything, not even a twinge.”
“The logical part of me realizes it’s something I’ll never find out. It doesn’t make me stop though. You’ve shown me more than I ever imagined and it helps learning about spirits and their world. That’s why I don’t want anything to happen to you. What you’re dealing with is dangerous.”
I sat back down on the bench. I knew he wanted me to be safe but the reality of the situation still loomed before me.
“Jason, you have to understand, I cannot get on with my life the way I want until this is finished. There’s a reason Catherine’s here now and I can’t let her win.”
Once again, he sat beside me and hung his head. After a couple seconds passed, he looked at me and said, “I realize how important this is to you, that isn’t lost on me but I’m not going to let you do it on your own. Whether I help you or someone else, you won’t be alone. Maybe I can call one of these paranormal groups, set up a meeting. I’m more than happy to use my money or so-called fame to help.”
“You can try but I don’t think even you could get a meeting right away.”
“Wanna make a bet? Just watch and learn.” He pulled out his iPhone and began typing in some information. When I leaned over to peek, he hid it from me. After a few more minutes, he placed a call.
“Hi. Magnolia Paranormal Society? My name is Jason Preston and I’m in town this summer filming a movie. Yeah, that’s me. I was wondering if I could set up an appointment to talk to one of your investigators. I think it would help me be better prepared for this role.”
As he listened, he winked at me and I rolled my eyes.
“Actually, would you be available today? I was hoping to get this done as soon as possible. I have a big scene coming up and want to get it right. Perfect, yeah I can find it. I’ll see you there.” He ended the call and said, “And that is how it’s done.”
“I can’t believe it was that easy. It must have been a woman.”
“What exactly does that mean?” He pretended to look innocent.
“You know what I mean. You have to be aware of your effect on the female gender. My bet is you talked to a girl who just answers the phone. She found out it was you and is going to pretend to be an investigator. Simple.”
“You’re pretty sure of yourself aren’t ya? We’ll just wait and see.” Jason stood and pulled me up with him. We approached his bodyguard, Isaac, hand in hand. “The investigator is meeting us in an hour.”