Chapter 15

At my words, Ashley gazed at me questioningly, raising an eyebrow.

"Brice shouldn't have threatened this sick-o," I told her. "He heard him and basically told me to tell Brice to bring it on."

Ashley did a double-take at my words. "He heard? What do you mean, he heard? How is that even possible? I mean, I know he can view through you, but you're telling me he can hear through you, too? What the hell is this guy?"

I lifted my shoulder, shrugging. "Hell, Ash, I don't know. But if he could mess with my head when I was dying, God knows what else he is capable of using me for, and honestly, the thought scares the shit out of me."

Ashley nodded. "You should be. Christ, I see now why Brice is so fucked up over this shit."

I began pacing the room. I hadn't lied to Ashley. The more I became aware of this bastard's abilities, the more frightened I became. He could see through me, hear through me…could he possibly even control me in some manner, too? That possibility is what scared me the most. I needed help, to learn if it is possible, and turning to Ashley, I stated, "Ash, I need to find someone who knows about this kind of shit. Someone who can answer my questions. We can't just guess at this shit."

"What? Like, find someone on the internet?" she questioned.

"Any better suggestions?" I asked. "I don't know what else to do," I concluded.

Ashley nodded. "I hear ya. This shit is fucked up."

I paused for a moment, thinking, then murmured, "You know, when all this first started, back when I was fifteen, I did a lot of research at the library. I still have all the notes I took in a drawer."

"Well, I would say that is where we need to start," Ashley returned.

I nodded in agreement. "I know it's late, but can we go out there tonight? I really need to get those notes. Oh, and he said something along the lines of 'The hummingbird's nest contains poison'? What do you take from that?"

I could tell Ashley was thinking over the message. "The hummingbird's nest contains poison," she murmured, repeating the words. "I would say, we need to figure out who the hummingbird is before we can figure out the nest and what kind of poison he's talking about."

My thoughts turned pensive. "I wonder if he's possibly referencing something in a book?" I expressed, voicing my thoughts aloud.

"It’s possible," Ashley agreed. "I really think we need to go get your notes, Ry. They might help us to figure it out."

Without another word, we both went back to my room and grabbed our purses. I eyed Ashley as she pulled her shoulder holster and gun out of hers and began slipping it on.

Catching me watching her, she shrugged. "You really should do the same. Who the hell knows where this fucker might be."

I couldn't argue with her logic as she was right. After pulling on my own holster and gun, we began making our way back downstairs and at the sound of our feet hitting the steps, Brice stepped out of the solarium where he had hidden for the last half hour and peering at us, he asked, "Where are you two going?"

"I need to get some things from my place," I informed him.

"Not without me you aren't!” Brice objected.

I gave a shrug. "Suit yourself."

~~

Within minutes the three of us were crammed in the cab of Brice's pickup and headed toward my house. After Brice had made his declaration of going with us, he had disappeared up the stairs and into his bedroom, reemerging minutes later looking like fucking Rambo. He had a rifle in his hand, a knife strapped around one calf, a shin holster, and a pistol on the other calf, as well as a sling of bullets strapped across his chest.

Ashley and my eyes both bulged, then Ashley snorted before commenting sarcastically, "Jeez, Brice, ever heard of overkill?"

Brice simply shrugged. "I told you, I'm going to kill this bastard, and I'm going to use whatever means necessary to do it."

Ashley just shook her head, then turning away she headed toward the front door.

Before I had been able to follow suit, Brice's hand had wrapped around my arm, holding me in place as he snarled, "Why aren't you vested?"

"Oh my fucking God, Brice, chill. This fucker doesn't shoot his victims remember? He's a slice and dice!"

"What if in your case he deviates? You know as well as I do he is escalating!" he growled.

I let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, he is Brice, but not in that way. And he is not going to be held up in my house waiting on my return. Jesus, Brice." Then shaking off his hand, I turned and headed out the door.

~~

As we pulled up before my home, the smell hit us before we even climbed out of Brice’s pickup, and beside me, Brice breathed, "Fuck!"

"No, no, no! The fucker didn't!" I hissed.

Ashley, already pulling her gun, pushed open the passenger door, then sliding off the seat, she remarked, "Oh yes, I believe he did."

I followed Ashley out the passenger side as Brice pushed open the driver's door, then after climbing out, we met at the front of the pickup.

"I'd rather you not see whatever this bastard has done inside your home, Ry, but I'm sure as shit not leaving you out here alone. Plus I don't figure I could keep you from coming inside anyway," Brice remarked.

"You got that right!" I assured him.

"Okay, then let's do this," was Brice's only response.

As we advanced slowly toward the house, our weapons out and sweeping the area, we stepped up onto my porch, then after crossing its width, Ashley and I stood to one side as Brice opened the door. The smell intensified with the action and I felt my stomach heave, but swallowing convulsively, I moved after Brice when he stepped through the entrance and into my home.