Zak pov

Concentrate! God Damn it, concentrate!

I was mad with myself for what had happened up in the bedroom between myself and Riley. I wasn't mad with her, but I was with myself, for getting carried away in the moment and almost making a pass at her. 

The situation we were both in would have certainly played a large part in it, having her afraid for her nieces, sister and for herself for being in this house. Making a move on her when she was at a heightened emotional state would have not only been wrong, but unprofessional and predatory-like. 

Sighing quietly, I look across the garage which we had converted into our nerve centre, to find her sat with Dakota on the cases playing around with the thermal camera. It warmed a deep part of my soul to see her smile and laugh, to know that despite being afraid that she was also enjoying herself. It was as though we were a rollercoaster... A paranormal rollercoaster.

I smile when our eyes meet, and don't miss the pink hue across her cheeks that have been there since our earlier encounter. My attention turns to Dakota, who is doing everything in his power to make her laugh and put her at ease, as feeling in my gut turns, I can see that he is doing just that. I'm too long in the tooth not to recognise the bite of jealously inside me, but I know I have nothing to worry about, Dakota and I go years back, he wouldn't step on my toes should anything happen...

"You're quiet." Aaron notes sitting on the plastic lawn chairs we had hijacked from the back garden. 

"Am I?"

"You know full well that you are. What's going on?"

I shake my head "It's nothing."

I could tell him what happened, but then that would hinder our performance for the rest of the night. Perhaps I should tell them that I witnessed a change in the only woman in this garage. How she went from afraid to fighting me for a spirit box and using strength I didn't know she even possessed..

The side door to the garage opens, revealing Billy who looks straight at me. "Zak, can I have a word?"

I get up instantly and follow after him, down the front lawn and to the end of the drive. "What's up Bro?"

"Is she wearing protection?" He asks.

I nod "One of my rosaries, why?"

He looks down at his feet as he shuffles "I know you both were doing a little more than arguing..."

I pause, waiting for him to continue, wondering if my chance to confess would happen now. Would I even need to tell the guys what happened? It wouldn't be their business anyway, but there is a potential for myself or Riley to be used against each other. I wouldn't say Riley was my weakness, nor I hers, but I care about her welfare whilst being inside this lockdown.

"I'm not here to pry," Billy says. "I'm just here because I want you to hear something I got on the recorder.. Something I think you will want to hear."

I look down to his hands as he pulls out the recorder and presses play. 

"I was directly beneath you both, I could hear you both arguing but nothing more. I didn't hear a dime, which could be construed as paranormal, not until I came out here to review it. I had left my earphones in the car so.." He trails off as the voices begin to come through of myself and Riley. Amongst our shouting and thumping, there was voices.

"Pain."
"Blood."

"What the fuck?" I frown, taking the recorder from Billy to stop and rewind it, before listening to the same voices again. "Is that saying pain and blood?"

Billy nods. "I also can't help notice the change of her voice, Riley's that is. I know it's through a floor and there are buffers of sound but it deepens, it's more angry.."

"Is it?" I ask knowing full well that he is right. I had noticed it in our scuffle, as well as her strength. 

"It also says a name... Bro it's not any of ours. I have a suspicion and I hope I'm wrong. I've sent a recording to Jay."

"What does it sa-"

"Zak?!" Aaron calls making my head turn to the garage. "It's Riley.."

Both myself and Billy exchange a look before rushing back up the drive and into the garage where the guys are stood looking at the monitors.

"Where-"

"Bathroom." Dakota answers instantly. "She said she was feeling a little sick and then she..." He pauses as the sound of her being sick comes through.

"Shut it off." I tell them heading towards the house. "You guys all take a break, Aaron go cook yourself a burger or something."

They all get up and head to the door whilst I step through the connecting door and into the house. Having stopped the lockdown, I have no issues turning on lights as I walk through the house and up to the bathroom. Leaning against the door, I knock gently, surprised when the door gives way. I find Riley leant over the toilet, head in her hands breathing slowly. 

"You okay?" I ask stepping in and parking my butt on the edge of the bath. 

"I- I don't know. I don't feel too good." She moans.

"Talk to me."

"I was talking to Dakota.. He's a real nice guy."

I nod. 

"He uh- he was showing me the thermal. When I..." She trails off shaking her head. 

"When you what?" 

"I can't say it." She whispers shaking her head. "I can't..."

"Tell me. When you what?"

"Zak please.." She begs. 

"When you want?!" I snap, finding myself losing patience with her. 

"When I wanted to crush his head like a grape! I could see myself doing it! I almost grabbed him, I couldn't stop myself!"

My heart drops hearing the pain in her voice over having such thoughts. "It's oka-"

"It's not okay!" She shouts looking over to me. "This is not okay. I feel... I feel awful! I wanted to hurt him Zak, really hurt him. It makes me feel sick!" 

I watch as she turns her head back to the toilet and her body heaves. Pushing up off the bath, I go to the bathroom basin and fill up the small glass with water before going to her side and holding it out for her. 

"This is so embarrassing.. How many times have I gotta throw up in front of you before you go away?" She mumbles. 

"At least a few more." I answer making her smile slightly. 

"You feel anything? You know, with your superpower?"

Biting the inside of my lip, I contemplate my answer, wondering if I should tell her that I've felt rage, lust, hatred, jealousy, emotional and drained. 

"A little, yeah." I answer. 

"Why has this never affected me before? The feelings in this house, it feels different." She says sitting back against the wall and taking the glass from my hand. 

I sit myself against the bath, opposite her. "It could be a bucket load of reasons.. One being that the spirit had the energy of the girls to use, another could be that you've blocked a lot of this out."

"Any more?" She wonders. 

"The fact you've opened your mind and are trying to contact the spirits is ano-" I pause as she rubs her neck. I shoot forward and grasp all around her neck before looking on the floor. 

"What?"

"The rosary is gone.. How long has that been off?" I ask getting up to get a better look. 

Riley is on her feet instantly, patting around her body before looking at me. "Uh. Excuse me..."

"Why?" I get my answer when she sticks her hand down her top and feels around. 

"Not in the boob area. Shit!" She hisses before leaving the bathroom. 

I follow her out, watching as she too puts on the lights in the house. Making a beeline for the twins bedroom, Riley turns on the light and stops in the doorway, causing me to hit into her back. 

"What's up?" I ask laying a hand on the base of her spine. 

"Um.. I think you're gonna be really pissed off." She says turning slowly. 

"What? Why? Is it broke?" I ask. 

Sure the rosary was expensive, but it's not irreplaceable and I know a real good jeweller who can fix it up. 

Riley steps aside slowly, showing the twins room, my eyes land on the bedding which has been removed from the beds, and the clothes strew across the floor. Before they land on a doll, sat on the chair next to the small table.

"What the fuck.." I breathe grabbing Riley's wrist when she goes to step into the room entirely. 

She shoots a look over to me, showing her emotions clearly on her face. I want to be strong, to show that I am not afraid, but here I am, 10 years in the paranormal field, unsure if I want to investigate any further or leave the house instantly. 

"Zak?" Her voice is gentle and soothing, her hand is small, warm and soft as it slips into mine. "This isn't good, is it?"

I shake my head slowly. 

"It's not possible for this to just happen, either." 

I shake my head again. 

The rosary chain was a clasp, although it was oversized, there would be no way that it could fall off in our scuffle and land where it landed. If it would have broke off, it would be in the ample cleavage of Riley right now...

Not around a Dolls neck.

"So um... Fun fact." I say keeping my eyes fixed on the doll. "I'm afraid of dolls."

"You have an entire room at your museum." She says. 

"Well it's all about facing them, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"I'm not facing this one, not yet." I tell her pulling her a little closer to me. 

I can smell the coconut on her skin and the freshness of her hair as we both stand together, almost huddled like penguins.

"The camera lead has been taken off. There will be no video.." She says disappointed. 

"I'm not sure that is a bad thing." I answer. "I'd be having nightmares for days if I had to review it back and see all this happen."

I'm ashamed to admit that I almost jump out of my skin when Riley laughs. "Oh what a funny little thing."

My blood runs cold as I slowly take my eyes off the doll to find her letting go of my hand and stepping into the room. She sits on the bed, hands clasped at her mouth with excitement on her face.

"R-Riley?" I stutter. 

A small humming begins from her, causing me to press the emergency button on the radio, it's silent my end, but a loud annoying beep comes through the other walkies until it's turned off. 

"It's wonderful." She says before looking at me. Her eyes are glassy, darker and the sweet smile has been replaced with a sinister grin. "Do you like it? I made it for you."

"Who are you?" I ask cautiously. 

She laughs. "It's me, silly. I'm Lizzy."

"L-Lizzy? Is that short for Elizabeth?" I ask hearing the guys come into the house downstairs. 

Riley sits forward, widening her eyes "It is. But you call me Lizzy. You're not afraid?"

I shake my head. "Trying not to be."

"Goodie. It's playtime. Come and join me for tea." She beams jumping up and going over to the drawing table. 

Gulping, I etch into the room, looking at the doll with crayons pushed into it's eyes and Riley who isn't Riley anymore. I try to judge the distance between myself and the camera, when I catch movement in the hallway. 

Worried, I lift my hand to stop Aaron coming in. He motions to the camera and urges me to reconnect it.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Riley asks before giggling.

"S-sure. I- I can deal with tea." I answer, pulling a smile before moving closer to the camera when she looks away. 

My heart thuds as I slowly push the lead back in and look to Aaron who nods and creeps back downstairs. Leaving me alone, I sit on the end of the bed, away from the spontaneous tea party, I've been thrust into. 

"Why are you here?" I ask making Riley look up. 

"For tea, silly."

Taking a breath, I decide to change tactics, break a few eggs to make an omelette and all that..
"Stop bullshitting me you little bitch. Who the hell are you really?" I growl. 

Riley's already grinning leer grows wider. "I want to play a game."

"I'm not interested."

Riley pauses, closing her eyes before giggling "She is a fighter. I can hear her.. In here." She says tapping her skull with a finger.

"What is she saying?" I ask.

"That is not important.. What is, is me. Having some tea."

I lift my chin up. "You're not a little girl, you're a demon. I feel the energy, the static... You're ramped up from those rem pods from downstairs."

Riley nods. "I am. Juiced up and ready to play. Question is, do you want to play? Or do I drive a pencil through her eye?"

"I'll play." I answer sliding off the bed and onto the floor. Unable to comprehend the pain Riley would be in or the idea of her honey eyes being ruined.

"Goodie. You can sit next to Penny, don't mind her. She didn't want to play and you know what happens.." Riley smiles before picking up the plastic tea cup and sipping on it. 

"You're not a little girl. This is all a game, I want to know why you're really here.." 

She sets the tea cup back down before folding her hands together. "I've been here a very long time."

"How old are you?"

"Tsk. Tsk. You never ask a lady her age. " Riley answers, wagging her finger at me. 

"How did you get here?" I push. 

"I-" She stops and holds her throat. "Stay quiet or I'll do something you'll regret." She whispers.
Her head tilts to the side as if something is weighing it down. "Don't push me, Riley.."

"Riley, I-" 

She whips her head back, as the veins in her neck begin to stand out, her face turns a shade of red and I'm about to shout when she sits forward and looks at me. 

"Riley?" 

"Zak? I'm really tire-" She trails off her as her eyes roll and body falls sideways, off the small chair. I shoot out and grab her before head hits the floor. 

"Riley? Riley, answer me." I demand, shaking her in my arms.

She grumbles before a snore leaves her body,  leaving me to slump back against the chest of drawers. I hold her against me and remove my rosary  from the vandalised doll to place it around her neck. 

Once that is done, I pull off the radio from my belt. "Zak to Aaron."

"Go for Aaron." He answers back. 

"You get that?"

"Sure did bro. It was scary as shit."

I glance down at Riley, asleep on my lap. "Make the call.."

"Loud and clear."