314 Book 2 by A.R. Wise Read Free Book Online

“All of this equipment is dead.”
    “You said something about kids,” said Aubrey as she wiped a tear off her cheek. She’d been complaining about her eye since they were in the van, leaving Widowsfield. “What do you remember?”
    “It’s all muddled,” said Alma. “But I know there was a group of kids, all around ten or eleven years old. They said something about a witch – about following a witch. They seemed scared, but malicious all at the same time. I don’t know how to explain it. It was like they were happy about what was going on, but sad that it had to happen.”
    “Well, I’ve heard enough,” said Jacker. “I don’t give a fuck if I ever remember what happened back there. I’m headed home. Who’s coming with me?”
    “Wait, wait, wait,” said Stephen. “Let’s be smart here, guys. We just experienced a real life, paranormal event. We can’t just walk away from this.”
    “You’re right,” said Jacker. “I’m planning on driving full speed away from it.”
    “Amen,” said Aubrey.
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” said Stephen as he moved to stand in Jacker’s path. Their hefty driver did Stephen the courtesy of not pushing him out of the way. “Just hold up, big guy.” Stephen put his hand on Jacker’s chest as he tried to diffuse the tense situation. “Let’s just take a breather and talk this through.”
    “No, Stephen,” said Rachel. “They’re right. We need to get out of here. We can go back to Branson and just try to sort all of this out. We’ll get your equipment working and then fi gure out what our next move is.” She went to her husband’s side and put her hand on his shoulder, helping to avoid any confrontation between him and Jacker.
    Stephen was frustrated, and was about to respond, but Rachel quickly added, “What good would it do for us to go back there with a bunch of broken equipment? If we can’t even film anything, then shouldn’t we worry about fixing that first?”
    Stephen was reticent as he considered her argument.
    “You know I’m right,” said Rachel. She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him on the cheek before tousling his hair. “Come on, ghost detective. Let’s go back to the hotel and get our bearings.”
    “Okay,” said Stephen finally. “You’re right.”
    Aubrey coughed as she walked back to the van’s side door. The cough started as a response to a nearly insignificant tickle, but then strengthened until her body shook from the force. She steadied herself against the side of the van and hunched as she continued, as if something had nearly choked her.
    “What’s her deal?” asked Rachel with no attempt to hide her disdain for the young bartender.
    Alma realized that Rachel didn’t remember the conversation they’d had about how Aubre y wasn’t interested in Stephen like Rachel had suspected when the blonde girl showed up to accompany them on the trip. Alma and Rachel had spoken after the group had entered Widowsfield, and now those memories were lost to the reporter.
    “Are you okay?” asked Alma as she stood beside Aubrey. That’s when she saw blood on Aubrey’s fingers. “Oh my God. What’s the matter.”
    Aubrey fell to her knees as the coughs turned to wretches. She heaved, and her right arm began to spasm. Alma gripped her wrist, but the girl’s arm shook with incredible strength, flinging out of Alma’s hand and slamming again and again into the gravel.
    “Holy shit,” said Rachel.
    “Is she having a seizure?” asked Stephen, emerging panic evident in his tone.
    “Honey?” asked Alma as she tried to grab the girl’s hand. “What’s happening?”
    Aubrey shook her head violently, flinging droplets of blood against the white van’s side. Then her coughs turned to vomit, but it was as if the only thing in her stomach was white foam, speckled with bright red blood. Her arm continued to shake, but was independently violent compared to the rest of her body.
    “Help me hold her,” said Alma as