The Haunting of Crescent Hotel by Lara Bernhardt

Author:Lara Bernhardt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Admission Press

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

So few people ever asked about her past. Even during appearances, interviewers tended to skim over the basic, known facts and ask about current gossip and investigations. She couldn’t help but feel suspicious of Sterling’s motives.

She read his spectrum again, this time sensing an almost overwhelming surge of compassion from him. Unexpected. Worried she would probably regret sharing, she took a deep breath.

“It wasn’t one instance. Really a lot of things. I figured out at a pretty young age that I saw things and heard things that other people didn’t. Whispers, glimpses of shadows, images of people in mirrors. Little things I couldn’t really understand and didn’t know other people didn’t experience. Then I started noticing the funny looks. Kids at school decided I was crazy. My mom thought I had an imaginary friend. My dad thought I had a bad habit of talking to myself. I can remember overhearing their concerned conversations, debating if I needed professional help. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but I could tell they were upset about me. I realized they didn’t know I was responding to actual things I heard.”

“Did they ever take you to someone for evaluation?”

She eyed him. “You think I’m crazy, too?”

“Not crazy. But some conditions result in hearing voices and can be controlled by medication.”

She scowled. “I’m not schizophrenic. And no, they didn’t take me to see anyone. I could tell it bothered them and learned to be quiet about it. They decided I’d grown out of it. But I’d been labeled crazy at school and never shook that general opinion. Once a crazy, always a crazy. No real friends to speak of. No one to talk to about anything.” She took in his exquisite physique. “I doubt you ever experienced that.”

He shrugged. “I had friends, sure. But I wasn’t the most popular guy either. Contrary to what you may have heard, magic tricks don’t impress everyone. Although . . . what’s this?” He reached behind her ear and produced a square of dark chocolate. “You’re so sweet, you make your own line of candy.”

She laughed and accepted the chocolate. “I’ll bet that one is always popular with the ladies.”

“I won’t deny that one usually at least got a first date. But we were talking about you. Don’t change the subject.”

She unwrapped the chocolate and popped it in her mouth. The rich, deep bittersweet goodness melted over her tongue. She noticed Sterling smile his approval. “Chocolate for breakfast. What a terrible influence you are.”

“Ah, live a little. Life is short. You and I both know that. So, back to what happened in the house.”

“Slave driver,” she teased. If she was honest, sharing the story actually felt good. “Most of the things I saw or heard were shadows or residual phrases. I learned to go about my business and not let them bother me. But we had something in our house. Something dark. He was different. Active. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t aware of him. I sensed him all along.

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