Arc II, Chapter 53: The Séance Part Three

Arc II, Chapter 53: The Séance Part Three

The flashback changed.

I saw a young Jedediah alone in the schoolyard. Another child, whom I could assume was a bully, was skulking around the yard. He had all the telltale signs: a mean look, rolled-up sleeves, and a small posse. Jedediah was alarmed. He wandered off, looking for safety. He was in a utility closet of some kind.

Of course, when he emerged later, the bully was right there waiting for him.

In my life, it was like everyone knew where I was. I could never understand how that could be. My brothers didnt share my observations. They loved being the center of attention but I sought solitude, and that was something no one would allow.

He was slowly learning that everyone in town knew who he was. He couldnt hide, and he couldnt be alone in a crowd.

That same bully must have been a favorite tool of Carousels because moments later, in another memory, I saw him chasing young Jed into the woods, where Jed came upon a grisly scene that looked like some large animal had attacked a group of vagrants.

Their bodies had been gnawed on by the look of things. What was more, they were moving. As soon as Jed saw the first twitch, he turned and ran, only to be caught by his bully. He might have gotten beaten just then, but even the little jerk who had been chasing him didnt know how to react to his frenzied look.

I ran to the police and told them everything. I was so worked up they eventually sent officers to look for the men I had seen, he said, clearly still haunted by the memory. They said there was no one there. One of the officers looked at me and said, Your friends must have been pranking you, kiddo. There were footsteps leading away from the scene. Footsteps I knew what I had seen. Still, I developed a profound fear of the woods. That was particularly troubling no matter which direction you try to go in Carousel, youll find a forest eventually. I was trapped.

The flashback jumped forward. He was older, wore a tux, and was sitting alone at a wedding venue while a large group of well-dressed people enjoyed the festivities.

My brother Carlyles wedding is where I met Harriet. I saw her across the room and it was like I knew her. I had forgotten what Silas Dyrkon had said for the most part. It had all faded to nothing but a generalized feeling that something was wrong in the world. When I saw her for the first time, I didnt even think about my growing suspicions the whole night. She stole my heart and told people I had stolen hers

Watching the older, deader Jedediah Geist relay this information sent pangs through my heart. He was in great pain to tell us this.

They conspired for so many years to force me to go along with their grand schemes. All those years of the stick, all it took was the carrot. I decided that I didnt care if there was some strange conspiracy. I didnt even conceptualize it as a conspiracy then. I only knew the cold stillness in the eyes of those who worked together to force me into traps. When I was a young man, the Geists were not dying off yet, but we each experienced in our own time horrifying things. Off-putting things. Death. Carnage. We were always on its periphery. The rumors of witchcraft and ghouls felt so possible to us. Our friends would go missing. That group of dead vagrants in the woods was not the last I would see. Our fate had not found us yet, but it was circling.

I saw it all: various people who must have been Geists, a young woman who survived a slasher at a slumber party by hiding under the bed, a man swimming fearfully while being stalked in a lake by a gigantic creature whose shadow lurked just below the murky depths, and Steven Geist with a girl in the back of his old-fashioned car when she started coughing up needles.

It was normal. We assumed everyone had these experiences. It never hurt us. We were nothing but observers of others' misfortunes. We were mocked if we complained. Besides, our real problems were the townsfolk. The odd misfortune could be chalked up to bad luck. The tabloids, though, the rumor mill, started to talk about us as if we were the cause of everyone elses misfortune.

A montage of news headlines came through, alleging the Geists were crooks, corrupt, or even devil worshippers.

It was strange. We were at once reviled and simultaneously hailed as the town's leading family. My father practically became a mascot. They loved him. The legends might not have been flattering, but they did love to spread them. As this continued, it was time for me to marry. Everyone said so, and my love for Harriet had only grown, but as I contemplated this, I knew I would have to ask the question of whether she was in on it. I had never seen the cold, knowing stare from her before as I had seen from the conspirators. I hoped that she was real. The memory of Silas Dyrkon was pushed away until the time to propose ticked closer and closer. I was starting to make some real money at one of my fathers businesses. My life was coming together. Still, I couldnt shake my suspicions and just enjoy it all.

Jed was in tears as he spoke.

I needed a test, and I had been planning one for many years. I had only delayed it because I didnt want to know the truth. I went to a travel agent in town. She could sell vacation packages to Snowblind, Lake Crescent, the Lost Oasis, or any number of places. I searched through them and asked if there was a package to an island resort. They offered beach packages, but nothing so remote that couldnt be reached by train or small aircraft. I wanted something on the other side of the world. My plans to travel had always been cut short by one thing or another.

I saw in the flashback that the travel agent shook her head at his request.

Then I told her the one set of words that I knew would change things. I knew in my heart. She had the cold, knowing look, and I knew she was one of them, one of the conspirators. I said, Such a shame. I was hoping to propose to my girlfriend on an island resort. Are you certain you have nothing like that?

Her eyes went cold and moments later, she said, As a matter of fact, we did just make a deal for an island package like the one youre talking about. Its so new I almost forgot about It. I made the purchase, and deep down, I knew what it meant. Carousel is a ball of yarn that unravels in the direction you pull the thread. I heard that somewhere; I dont know where. Still, no amount of good sense could get in the way of a young heart full of love. I decided to go forward with the trip.

Her, he said. Strange young woman. She knew about the traps. She knew that one bad interaction could lead to your doom. She claimed she had seen one and lived through it. I told her she could only do that so many times. He laughed.

Back on track. The woman who knew about storylines. Was she a player? A Paragon? We needed to find out.

Did she have the cold knowing look? I asked.

He shook his head. In my mind, I saw the flashback to her face. She had dark hair and eyes. She might have been thirty at the oldest.

I didnt see it, he admitted, But its never too late for them to reveal it. They can keep it hidden for a long time. I wish I could have helped her.

The flashback took over. Most of the clips from before didnt have sound. This one did.

~-~

I think some people plotted to kill off the Geists, the woman said. They did something, summoned something, a man, I think. He tried to kill everyone at a factory. He wanted to burn it up, but I managed to warn them. It was a Geist factory.

I read something about that, Jed said to her. There was a fire. You must have been a child then.

No, she answered excitedly. This was like the day after the Centen she started to say, This was almost a year ago. This trap was the fire at that factory. The trap was in 1984. I know that sounds crazy, but I swear. When I managed to get everyone to evacuate, I thought I had saved everyone, but now Im not sure. The Geists that were there ended up dying anyway.

Jed eyed her incredulously.

Even if I believe you, he said. How could I help? The entire town had had a silent conspiracy against us my entire life. Ive never been able to do anything about it.

This wasnt like that, she said. I get what you were trying to say before about conspiracy, but thats not what Im talking about. These were normal people. They were not being silent. I heard them talking about it. They were disappointed that everyone survived, almost scared even. They hated you guys for some reason. I think they are the ones who killed the rest of you off. But not you. They didnt hurt you. I just want to know why. If you have any idea why you were left alone for so many years after the others were burned up one after another, it could help me figure out how to save my sister.

Jed raised an eyebrow. Your sister?

The woman took a deep breath.

The same thing that attacked your family back in 1984 attacks the Centennial tomorrow. It kills my sister. I cant prevent it. I need to learn how to beat whatever he is. I dont know why it wouldnt attack you. It seemed to have tracked down every other Geist.

Jedediah got quiet.

The flashback faded for a moment as Jed spoke.

Of course, there was nothing to tell her. I couldnt say why I was spared. I didnt know.

But the flashback betrayed him.

I saw a glimpse as he spoke. I saw him in his house some years earlier. He wasnt alone. There was another man there, a man I had only recently seen.

It was Silas Dyrkon.