The Ravaging in Between (The Reanimation Files Book 3) (16 page)

“I’m not sure. Tielle wasn’t able to tell me exactly what it means that part of my soul is missing. Except that I shouldn’t be alive, but I seem to be good at defying odds lately. All I know is I seem able to avoid fatal injury, which is never a bad thing.”

“Unbelievable.” Micah shook his head. “That’s…this is…”

“A lot to digest, trust me, I know. I am still trying to get a handle on it myself.” I hadn’t mentioned the part about where tidbits of my reanimation power were because Micah worked closely with Tielle, and I didn’t want this getting back to her before I was ready for her to know.

Micah blew out a breath and ran his hands through his hair. The silence stretched on for a while before he finally looked at me again.

“We found something,” he said. “Which was what I really came over to tell you.”

“What did you find?” I was happy for the change in subject.

“I told Tielle what you’d said about the ghosts absorbing another ghosts. She wanted verification on your information, but I told her to just trust you on it. Once I convinced her, she went back to the runes that had been used to try and draw the ghost energy out of the victims. She had a team of dead witches spend the afternoon analyzing the ghost energy, and it turns out there’s a reason why the ghost energy absorbed from those people couldn’t be used to track down the crossover ghosts. It’s because the energy drawn off of them wasn’t from one ghost but several.”

“Interesting,” I said. “Makes sense now that we know that the crossover ghosts have been sucking up other ghosts. So all those different ghost energies get mixed up in the crossover ghosts, then channeled to Harvey and the others.”

“Exactly,” Micah said. “They’re chock-full of energy from different ghosts. Which could be why none of our attempts at getting that energy out of them are helping. We don’t have the knowledge on how to release multiple strains of ghost energy from a body. Especially a non-para.”

“Shit,” I said. “So the more these crossovers absorb, the more stuffed the victims get, until their bodies literally can’t contain it anymore and they die.”

“Which is why it’s so important to round these ghosts up,” Micah said.

“I asked Carlos to continue monitoring them. When he has a real time lock on one, he’ll tell me, then I’ll relay the information to you. Then you can tell Tielle and have the PTF close in. But they will need the big guns for these guys.”

“We’ve realized that,” Micah said. “We’re taking steps to make sure the Task Force officers are prepared.”

“Great. So just keep your phone handy.”

Micah nodded, and we just stared at each other for a few moments. I felt as though the weight of our issues was pressing against us, and it was more likely that we would break than find the strength to overcome it.

Micah came over and took my hands. “Thank you for your help,” he said softly. “We’re dealing with a lot, I know, but Selene, I can’t help but feel as though you and I are moving further and further apart.”

I knew exactly why that feeling prevailed. “Have you forgiven me, Micah? For killing myself? Have you let go of that pain and anger? Can you look at me without thinking about it?”

Micah went still, and didn’t immediately answer. “I’m trying,” he finally said. “Every day. It’s hard, but I am fighting through it because I want us to be us again.”

“And I don’t know if we can be.” I looked into his eyes, even though it was hard to hold his gaze. “The things pulling us away from each other are not minor things. They’re chasms that are swallowing us up. I want us the way we were too, but we can’t force it. And right now it’s even harder because of everything else that’s going on. We need to be in a place where we can make each other a priority and focus on making things better, and we don’t have that opportunity right now. We have long-gone ghosts back on the streets wreaking havoc, plus your work with the Rune Development Department is time-consuming and a further wedge between us.”

“So what are you saying, Selene? You want to just give up on us? After everything, you don’t want to do whatever it takes to save us?”

“I want to feel like my heart is where it needs to be in order to try and save us,” I said. “And right now it isn’t. Maybe once this is cleared up, once I can truly relax and put this horrible year behind me, maybe then. I walk around feeling like my head is going to explode half the time from all the things I have to deal with. It isn’t easy to prioritize our relationship amid everything, and like I said, I don’t want to force it. I need to come to terms with my choices. I died, Micah, and before that…I killed someone. Your uncle. I haven’t even had time to think that through.”

“So I’ll ask you again,” Micah said, voice soft. His hold on my hands had tightened. “What are you saying?”

My chest felt tight, like my heart was going to implode. “We should take a break. Give each other some space.”

“Space.” Micah was trembling. I felt numb. I hadn’t thought the conversation would end up here, but I realized this was a talk we’d needed to have. Trying to juggle our burdens while only having spare moments for each other was not working. It was what led to this feeling we both had about being miles apart. I didn’t want Micah out of my life in any capacity, but for us to really have a chance at overcoming our setbacks, we needed time to come to terms with things on our own. It hurt like a son of a bitch to say all these things though.

“We can’t avoid seeing each other, I know that. But let’s take the pressure off fixing us, OK? For now.”

Micah was quiet for a while, and his grip on my hand never lessened. Finally, he looked at me, leaned in, and kissed me. My body warmed at the touch of his lips and it almost broke me to the point of saying
“fuck it
,
”
but I didn’t. I had to be strong about this if we were really going to have a chance.

But God, his lips, so soft and warm and as tantalizing as they had ever been, felt so good pressed against mine
…

“What would it take to bring you back to me?” Micah whispered when we broke apart. His hands cupped my face and he’d pressed his forehead against mine. Tears splashed onto my hands and I didn’t know if they were mine or his. “What would it take, Selene?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I…I don’t know if it’s as simple as that.”

Micah pulled back enough to search my eyes with his. “I love you,” he said. “And I will give you space even though it kills me to do so.”

“Micah…” He kissed me again, then let go of my face and grabbed his messenger bag.

“I am not giving up on us, Selene. I will do whatever it takes to bring you back to me. I swear it.”

I don’t know what I would have said to that because just then my phone beeped and it startled both of us. I picked it up to check the message, which was from an unknown number. Once I read the text, I realized it was from Carlos.

“Carlos has spotted one of the crossover ghosts,” I said to Micah. “On Liberty Island, of all places.”

“I’ll let Tielle know.” He was already pulling out his phone and heading to the door. He stopped and turned to me, but there was nothing more for us to say right now. So I just offered a little wave, then he nodded and left. I guess that meant the break was official.

I felt hollow. Part of me wanted to crawl into bed and have a good cry over all this, but tears would do me no good. This was what was best for us right now. I just hoped that things would get better. Somehow we had to dig our way out of the lies and personal decisions that devastated each other.

Once again, I needed to clear my head. Last time I’d gone for a run, it had helped once I forced myself to stop thinking about the things I needed space from. Plus, it would also help me work on getting my physical strength back because I didn’t think my doctors would accept violent altercations and explosions as acceptable strength training. I freshened up, threw on some warm workout clothes, and headed out for a run with the setting sun.

* * *

I jogged to my neighborhood park, then proceeded to run a few laps around it. The crisp, fall air on my face was a welcome contrast once I started sweating, and the longer I jogged, the better I started to feel, as though with every step my body was getting stronger. My upbeat music also helped, motivating me to keep pounding the pavement when I felt like stopping and running off to the nearest coffee house for some hot chocolate.

Around the middle of my fourth lap, I sensed that I was not alone. I had been the only one running around the park, and I still appeared to be, which was why the feeling that I was being watched was particularly unnerving. I slowed my run so I could have a better look at my surroundings. It was full nightfall, but there were numerous streetlights providing ample light. Still, the area was kind of quiet with only the occasional car driving by or person walking past, so I felt uneasy.

I soon realized that it was the presence of a ghost I had picked up on.

And then the ghost presented itself. I stopped running abruptly when I saw a male ghost step out from the shadows of a tree several yards ahead. But he wasn’t alone. Another male and a female also appeared. They all wore energy runes. From the sinister looks on their faces, I was sure they didn’t want to ask me directions to the nearest ghost agency.

“Selene Vanream,” the female said. She was petite with an unremarkable face, and brown hair that was the recipient of a bad haircut when she was alive. One of the males was stocky, dark-skinned and bald, and the other was tall and lanky with dark eyes and hair.

“Who’s asking?” I took my headphones out and shoved them and my phone into the carrying belt around my waist.

“Ain’t no one asking,” Baldy said. “We already know who you are.”

“That’s great. I don’t know who you are, but that’s fine too. So you three have a good night.” I wondered if these three ghosts were new or crossovers. No way to tell without asking them questions I was sure they wouldn’t take the time to answer.

In true Selene fashion, I had not brought my rune gun with me. I didn’t think I’d need it while out for a run. I should know by now that I’d need my rune gun even if I was just going to the damn bathroom.

I took a step back and they took one forward. I did it again, and they did the same. I stopped and sighed.
Another ghost attack? Really?
This was the last thing I needed. I was tired from my run and wanted to go home.

“What do you want?” I asked. “I’d ask if I did you wrong while you were alive, but I don’t even know who you are.”

“I’m Vivienne Cha—”

“Shut up!” Baldy said, nudging her. “Why the hell would you tell her your name?”

“Sorry,” she muttered, then resumed trying to look menacing. I almost laughed out loud, but had to keep in mind that I appeared to be in a dangerous situation.

“So I didn’t do anything wrong to you—”

“Oh, you’ve done plenty wrong,” Tall Guy cut in. “And now you’ve got to pay.”

“What a generic bad guy statement,” I said dryly. I don’t know if I was too wired to be scared, but I found myself more annoyed than anything that there was a blockade between me and home.

“Come on,” Vivienne said. “Let’s just do what we’re supposed to.”

My eyebrows rose. It sounded like they were here at the behest of someone else.

Interesting. And not good.

They advanced on me and I realized that now was the time to run. So I ran.

The trio started shouting and cursing as they pursued me. I dug deep, found whatever energy I had left, and put every ounce of it into running for my life. I ran into the park and had to deal with obstacles like benches and trees while I tried to get away. My wannabe attackers were relentless, and they were catching up.

I was tired to begin with, and the odds of three against one were not in my favor. Especially since they were ghosts and would not get tired. My throat burned, my chest was tight, my breath gasping. Sweat beaded my forehead and trickled down my back, but I kept running. The park was huge and I had run far into it, so now I really wished I would come to an exit and make it to a more populated area where they might hesitate to attack me.

It was no use wasting energy calling for help. There was no one around to hear me.

They were catching up and I was running out of steam, which was evident by the number of times I stumbled and almost face-planted the ground. The ghosts were coming after me like they were ravenous lions and I was the only antelope left in existence. Panic surged through me when it became evident that I was not going to win this chase.

Especially when I tripped and fell. The wind was knocked out of me so I could do nothing but lay there stunned. When they caught up, they made sounds of triumph. I shakily rolled onto my back and looked up at them. I tried to sit up, but only succeeded in getting halfway there until my limbs decided they no longer wanted to be my friends after all the running and falling. I couldn’t blame them.

“Couldn’t have asked for it to work out better,” Baldy said. It was then that I saw that he was holding a knife. All three of them were.

My eyes widened, and if possible, my heart started hammering even more.

No. Fucking. Way.

I struggled to my feet, and while I did so, Tall Guy advanced on me. I squared off with him, sore in every muscle of my body, but not prepared to get a taste of his blade. Tall Guy had no more cliché lines for me. He lunged, holding the knife out, but just before he reached me, I ducked and wrapped my arms around his waist. I threw my weight forward and we went crashing down. This time it was less jarring since he took the brunt of the fall.

He was unhappy that I hadn’t just stood there and gotten stabbed, and started thrashing. I grappled with him, trying to get the knife from him, but his wild swings were making it impossible since I also had to focus on not getting slashed.

He kneed me, causing me to detach and move back. With most of my weight off him, he quickly sat up and lunged at me with the knife. I moved to the side, grabbed his arm, and twisted it. He snarled, but didn’t drop the knife. Before he could get his arm free, I used my free hand and yanked his energy rune from around his neck. I fell through him and quickly rolled into a crouch. Now that he was intangible, he was no longer a threat. One down, two to go.