{"id":33,"date":"2024-08-09T03:33:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T03:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/?p=33"},"modified":"2024-08-24T16:37:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-24T16:37:25","slug":"energetic-insanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/zcu\/energetic-insanity\/","title":{"rendered":"Energetic Insanity"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Timelines' Retrospection<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Michell\u2019s stomach felt heavy as the car sped down the interstate. The guardrail whizzed by and blurred into a sound barrier wall, then back, both punctuated by bright electrical energy from the streetlights. The occasional sound from the wipers seemed to coincide with the changes, giving the entire scene a dreary, rhythmic feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have a bad feeling about this.\u201d She sighed and rested her head against the window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her mother sighed. \u201cThat\u2019s what you said last time, and sit up. The seatbelt will not work if we were to get hit by some idiot.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know Dad is a ticking time bomb.\u201d Michell straightened up and pulled on the seatbelt to untwist it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I thought too, but it\u2019s been, what, almost five years now?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was pretty upset that we didn\u2019t get too many calls. I think the only reason he wasn\u2019t stable before is because he didn\u2019t have a focus. The clients are his focus when I\u2019m there.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs he still dragging you to scam people?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not exactly a scam, mom.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her mother glanced over at her and scoffed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople scare themselves witless.\u201d Michell could almost read her mother\u2019s mind. \u201cThey call us, but they know it\u2019s fake. It\u2019s on our website. We explain everything.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe way your father talks about it, you would think the people who call really believe it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, some do, and I try to let them down easy. People want to believe in something.\u201d Michell propped her feet on the dash. \u201cI told dad the fad is fading, so maybe he will find something else. Or maybe we\u2019ll just have a few calls, but it won\u2019t matter anymore. I won\u2019t have to stay at his house next summer if I don\u2019t want to.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake your feet off the dash, Michell.\u201d Her mother\u2019s voice wavered a little. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her mother stared straight ahead, her eyes glistening with the reflections of the passing scenery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could.\u201d Michell sighed. \u201cI could stay home another year.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Her mother\u2019s stern voice surprised Michell. \u201cI want you to go to college as we planned.\u201d She in her breath and held it for a moment. \u201cI\u2019ll just miss you, that\u2019s a \u2014\u201d Her voice cracked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell never knew what to do when someone gets emotional. So she turned towards the window in time to see her mother take the exit. She waited until the traffic light changed before speaking again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI decided not to dye my hair.\u201d Michell tried to change the subject. \u201cWell, the kids at school think I did, and they say it\u2019s cool.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe other kids like the black streaks?\u201d Her mother cleared her throat. \u201cSo you aren\u2019t getting picked on by them anymore?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I still get picked on for \u2018seeing ghosts.\u2019\u201d Michell used finger quotes. \u201cI think they\u2019re backing off. Maybe because I own it now.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMental illness isn\u2019t exactly a bragging right.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell did her best not to glare at her mother. It wasn\u2019t even a mental illness, she thought, but there was no point in arguing. Her mother didn\u2019t believe that she could \u201csee\u201d energy. Instead, her mother brought her to the therapist, who diagnosed her with schizophrenia. They put her on medication, but it made her depressed and angry all the time. Her therapist soon retired, and the new one took her off the pills, citing the side effects of depression and psychosis as the reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was this new therapist who helped her deal with the bullies at school. He was definitely better than the last one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot brag. Make fun of it first. They can\u2019t make fun of me if I already joke about it myself. It kind of takes the wind out of their sails.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh,\u201d her mother said. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever mind,\u201d Michell muttered. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it.\u201d She pulled her fingers with her long hair and checked the ends. Her hair used to be completely pale blonde. Sometime during Christmas break, black strands showed at her roots. By the end of the school year, she had more black hair than blonde. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The familiar surroundings took Michell out of her thoughts. The sight of her father\u2019s driveway brought out a long sigh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMichell,\u201d her mother said. \u201cI know your father has his problems, but he really does<\/em> love you.\u201d She paused for a moment, still gripping the wheel. \u201cIf he had gotten the help he needed, we would still be together.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letting a rush of air out of her nose, Michell nodded. Her father never hit either of them, but when a six-foot-six hulk of a man starts to throw things around and flip tables in a sudden rage, it was scary. Her mother insisted on therapy, but he refused. After another random rage episode, her mother took her to a shelter and filed for divorce. Neither one of them remarried, perhaps hoping to get back together someday\u2026 Or at least that\u2019s what Michell wanted to believe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know.\u201d Michell\u2019s throat tightened. She got out and opened the back door to grab her stuff. \u201cMaybe I\u2019ll find a new scam -er \u2014 I mean a way to make money legitimately to keep his focus.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her mother scoffed and rolled her eyes. \u201cJust stay out of trouble.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always do,\u201d Michell said. She wanted to add, \u201cUnless Dad drags me down with him,\u201d but she didn\u2019t want to worry her mother more than she already had. \u201cI\u2019ll miss you for three months.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her mother\u2019s facial expression softened. \u201cI\u2019ll miss you too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She barely made it through the front door with her padded laptop case, duffel bag, and sling-bag backpack before her father nearly ran her over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBack out you go,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have two clients today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan\u2019t I just put my stuff into my room?\u201d Michell tried her best to not sound like she was whining. \u201cI really don\u2019t like going to clients before I settle\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust take what you need and leave it by the door.\u201d Her father\u2019s voice grew deeper as he spoke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell knew better than to argue with him. She groaned softly, but her father must have overheard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou very well know I use the money we make to pay for you. Now get your stuff and let\u2019s get going.\u201d He grabbed her arm and gave her a little shove. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the first time he grabbed her like that, and it took her by surprise. She glanced up at his hulking figure and then did what she was told. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least I don\u2019t have to clean right now, she thought as she grabbed her sling bag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father was a little neglectful with the housework and didn\u2019t seem to care if Michell cleaned or not, but she couldn\u2019t concentrate with all the clutter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father got into the driver\u2019s seat of his 2000 Ford Ranger and sat back, hesitated for a moment before starting the truck. Slipping into the passenger side, Michell pulled out her phone. It wasn\u2019t until the engine revved hard a few times when she stopped scrolling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uneven energy came from the engine. Her father\u2019s knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. Pulling himself forward, he mouth a few words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs there a problem?\u201d Michell brought her phone down slightly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever mind,\u201d her father muttered. He shifted the truck into reverse and backed out onto the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a few moments, the energy in the engine stabilized. Michell went back to her phone, trying to ignore the growing pit in her stomach and the sense of foreboding that shadowed them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you always on that thing?\u201d Her father asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m reading a book,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m getting a jump on my required reading list for next year.\u201d Michell almost turned her phone to show him, but remembered that he was driving. \u201cI can show you later. The school had been talking about making everything electronic, including textbooks.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father just shook his head. \u201cWhen I was a kid\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I know.\u201d Michell straightened up on her seat and adjusted her belt. \u201cSome kid kept cutting your lock, so you had to carry your books everywhere, including the half-mile walk from the bus stop. \u2018Kids these days are so weak.\u2019\u201d Michell chuckled. \u201cIt\u2019s cheaper for the schools to do it this way. They can update the books quickly, and they don\u2019t have to worry about logistics. Saves taxpayer\u2019s money in the long run.\u201d She chuckled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like she had hoped, it ended the conversation. Her father didn\u2019t like politics, but he was also very against government spending. Or it would seem like it when he talked about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She set her phone on her lap and stared out of the window at the passing trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was at four years old when she first saw \u201cenergy blobs.\u201d Initially, her parents considered her a cute four-year-old engaging in typical four-year-old behavior. As she grew older, her mother and maternal grandmother would tell her she needed to grow up, or people would think she was crazy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The topic of taking her to therapy caused frequent arguments between her parents. It would get heated, usually ending with her father raging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A guilty feeling mixed with the foreboding. Both therapists kept telling her that her parents\u2019 divorce was not her fault. Still, it was her weird quirk that seemed to start the fights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time they got to the first client, it was almost dark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit early,\u201d Michell said. \u201cThey rarely come out until after midnight.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think this one is electromagnetic energy related.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father always believed her. By the time she was in third grade, she had learned to meter her reaction to the sights, only to tell her father when he was in a good mood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawyer wanted to appeal the ruling, but once her father started this business, she told the lawyer to drop it. It had kept him out of trouble, and it helped that someone actually believed her, even though he exploited it a little. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The energy hit Michell hard as she stepped out of the car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDefinitely electromagnetic.\u201d Michell shut the door. \u201cI wonder if there\u2019s a lot of iron ore below the house.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally? You feel that already?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell nodded, and they headed towards the door. It swung open as her father raised his hand to knock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, thank God you\u2019re here!\u201d The owner said. \u201cI\u2019m Roland Appleton.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m Will Hayes, and this is my daughter, Michell.\u201d Her father held out his hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roland nodded and shook it. He then stepped aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease come in.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strength of the energy was so powerful, Michell could barely focus. \u201cIt\u2019s in one place, isn\u2019t it?\u201d She looked down the hallway. \u201cIt\u2019s coming from that direction.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cY-yes,\u201d Roland said. \u201cThat\u2019s correct! You know, I\u2019m renting the place in exchange for helping with some research. S-so I have no idea what\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell followed the energy until she reached an enormous terrarium-like room, complete with a few short trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWould you like for me to get the lights?\u201d Roland asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell held up her hand and shook her head. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of electromagnetic energy here, isn\u2019t there?\u201d She turned to Roland. \u201cI bet you are sensitive to it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cW-what?\u201d Roland stammered. \u201cYou think I-I\u2019m crazy, I Kn-now what I saw!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that moment, the energy shifted, which didn\u2019t surprise Michell. The sun was now below the horizon, and like the atmosphere, objects and the air became deionized. A figure formed in the far corner of the room, shifted as it looked like it was looking for something, then moved across to another part of the far wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s there! You see\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell held her hand up again and studied the figure. \u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shadow didn\u2019t react. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it were an actual spirit,\u201d Michell said, \u201cit would have responded.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shadow faded in and out slightly, still at the far wall. Then it reached up slightly before returning to its original shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know those old cassettes?\u201d Michell asked Roland. \u201cOh, and Videotapes!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUm, yeah,\u201d he said. \u201cMy parents had some when I was a kid.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like that,\u201d Michell said. \u201cAnd you and I are like cassette players.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roland furrowed his brow and opened his mouth for a moment, then closed it. He scratched his neck and shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe electromagnetic energy is high here. It ebbs and flows. When it\u2019s high, people who are sensitive pick up a recording of sorts.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The figure \u201cwalked\u201d towards them and fizzled out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe strongest point is at the far end of the room. It wouldn\u2019t come as a surprise if it\u2019s really a recording of you, Mr. Appleton.\u201d Michell smiled. \u201cAlthough it could be someone from a hundred years ago. It\u2019s difficult to tell. You can turn on the lights now.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI, uh, huh.\u201d Roland put his hand on his face. \u201cSo that could have been me when I went over to check my plants?\u201d He dropped his hands and reached behind him. The room lit up to reveal an impressive indoor garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe. It\u2019s not fully defined.\u201d Michell tipped her head to the side and studied the strange small blue sunflower-like plant where the entity first appeared. \u201cI\u2019m surprised, given how strong the energy is here.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo what do you do exactly?\u201d Her father stared wide-eyed at the room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m a botanist,\u201d Roland said proudly. \u201cI work on hybridizing plants.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a pretty blue sunflower.\u201d Michell motioned towards the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, yes,\u201d Roland said abruptly, and he stepped in between Michell and the view of the plant. \u201cHow about you follow me to the kitchen for a coffee or some tea, and I\u2019ll send you the funds?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They finished up and headed towards the next house. It wasn\u2019t as far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis one\u2026\u201d Her father pulled into the driveway. \u201cThis guy seemed to be very desperate. He said he thinks his stepson is possessed or something.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t do exorcisms, dad.\u201d She knew encountering a demon was dangerous enough. She certainly didn\u2019t want to make one angry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can just look, though, right?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell knew it wasn\u2019t really a question. With a sigh, she opened the passenger door, feeling the underlying energy that the Earth gave off and the electrical energy that came off the overhead wires. The Wi-Fi buzzed in and out sporadically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure they can afford to pay us?\u201d Michell closed the car door. \u201cThey can\u2019t seem to afford a decent router.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat means nothing, and you know it.\u201d Her father chuckled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They headed towards the house, and her father rang the doorbell. A woman answered it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan I help you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell was a bit confused, and she glanced at her father, who just stared at the woman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs this the Rigdon residence?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, yes, and can I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The woman scowled, pulling her lips in a wrinkled circle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA Bobby Rigdon had called us\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBobby?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The woman turned her head and called over her shoulder, \u201cBobby, did you call those crazies after I told you not to?!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell groaned loudly. \u201cDad, maybe we should go.\u201d Michell had a feeling that this was going to get bad pretty quick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo!\u201d her father said and then took a breath. \u201cNo, we\u2019ll stay here until we figure this out.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The woman\u2019s eyes flitted between Michell and her father. Her expression softened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bobby appeared behind his wife. \u201cThey\u2019re not crazies, Kelsey. And you know we have a problem.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh c\u2019mon,\u201d Kelsey said, \u201cI can\u2019t understand why you believe in that nonsense.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause dishes just happen to jump off the counter\u2026\u201d Bobby glanced at Michell and her father standing there. \u201cJust give us a minute.\u201d He closed the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The muffled argument continued through the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell looked at her father and saw his veins protruding from his neck. She felt a pit form in her stomach. \u201cMaybe,\u201d she said quietly, \u201cmaybe we should\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d Her father stuck a finger in her face. \u201cWe only got two clients this time. No one else called.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome call during the summer.\u201d Michell shook her head. \u201cI really don\u2019t need much. We can manage.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The door opened to reveal Bobby. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I\u2019m going to have to cancel.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Michell\u2019s father shouldered the door open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDad!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExcuse me?\u201d Bobby now sounded indignant and moved to block him but froze when Michell\u2019s father pulled out a gun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDad!\u201d The pit in Michell\u2019s stomach was now a lump in her throat. Her voice sounded to0 high to be her own. \u201cDad! No!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bobby put his hands up and backed in. Michell glanced over at Kelsey, who glowered at her father. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe drove an hour and a half to get here,\u201d her father said. \u201cI am not going without finishing the contract. Michell, do your thing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI, uh\u2026\u201d Michell glanced at what she perceived to be their son, sitting on a chair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMichell!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI, okay.\u201d Michell took a deep breath. \u201cI will just do a walk through the rooms just to see what\u2019s there\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot all of the rooms,\u201d the son said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, all of the rooms,\u201d Michell\u2019s father demanded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not necessary,\u201d Michell protested. \u201cIf it\u2019s nearby, I\u2019ll see it. I can just walk down the hall.\u201d She glanced at Kelsey, hoping the woman picked up on her fear. \u201cLet Ms. Kelsey show me?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlright, go on.\u201d Her father nodded towards the hallway, still holding his gun on Bobby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelsey motioned to follow her, and they went down the hall to the room on the end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have a phone back here?\u201d Michell whispered, just in case her father could still hear them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy do you think I brought you here?\u201d Kelsey grabbed her phone off the table and began dialing. \u201cthe cops will arrest you, too, you know.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s for the best. At least maybe my father can get some help now.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou think he has a mental illness?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe therapist said that he was bipolar, but when he was told that, he refused any help.\u201d Michell\u2019s voice quavered. \u201cIt was about that time when my mom thought it best to get a divorce.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took a deep breath in a weak effort to stabilize her voice. \u201cBecause my father never hit me, the judge thought that my mother was just trying to take me away from him. Even though I\u2019ve said it myself that he would rage.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelsey nodded with the phone to her ear, then tightened her grip on the phone. \u201cYes, there is an armed man with his daughter in my house.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you find anything yet?\u201d Her father called down the hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d Michell called back. \u201cBut it\u2019s still early.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelsey hung up the phone and set it back on her nightstand as if she had never had it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d Michell avoided eye contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cYou still try to scam people.\u201d Kelsey crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe contract and our website say it\u2019s for entertainment purposes only. Let\u2019s go to the next room before my dad gets suspicious.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They move to the next room that looked like an office. There was nothing there, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut people believe this garbage, and you take advantage of it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople want answers to what goes bump in the night. It\u2019s usually electromagnetic energy, and people who are sensitive to it will sometimes hallucinate. I try to explain that to them in more\u2026\u201d Michell paused, \u201cin a not so \u2018you\u2019re just crazy\u2019 way.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dark energy passed by the window. Michell kept her face steady as Kelsey\u2019s intent eyes fixated on her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell always thought that one day, the FBI would show up at their doorstep. Knowing this, she had rehearsed a story that might get them off her back. She never dreamed they would come for her because of her father\u2019s anger issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m a functioning schizophrenic. Most of us hear voices, but some of us see or feel what looks like energy balls or morphing lights. They tried to put me on medication, but it made me angry and depressed and suicidal. Since I can function somewhat normally without the meds, they took me off. My therapist is doing some research, and we both figured out that I see more \u2018energy\u2019 balls when there is a lot of electromagnetic energy. I\u2019m supposed to keep a journal with me when we go out to these clients so that he could use them for the book he\u2019s writing. He was going to pay me royalties for my journal entries.\u201d Michell sighed. \u201cNow I\u2019ll have to use the money for bail.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cI never thought my father would snap like this.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Kelsey\u2019s shoulders relaxed. \u201cI, um, I can talk to the police. They might go easy on you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a commotion in the other room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPolice!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not loaded!\u201d Michell\u2019s father\u2019s voice carried down the hallway. There was a loud thud. Her father cursed loudly, and she could hear the cops yelling at him to stop resisting. At one point, there was a fizzing in the air, and her father grunted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelsey quickly left the room, and Michell waited with her arms to her side. Her father\u2019s voice moved from the living room to the outside, and the commotion carried through the open window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have no idea what you are up against, do you?\u201d A voice sounded like it was next to her ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019d be right,\u201d Michell murmured, and she could hear maniacal giggling that seemed to travel out through the window behind her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cops walk into the room with their guns drawn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s unarmed!\u201d Kelsey said from around the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell put her hands up. The cop pointed his weapon away from her and towards the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTurn around and put your hands behind your back.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell obeyed. Cold steel cuffs clamped down on her wrists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They walked outside, and immediately her father began yelling at her. \u201cIt was you! You did this!\u201d Like a dog that was just let off the leash, he lunged in her direction. Three cops tackled him before he could get far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t,\u201d Michell said weakly. \u201cI just.\u201d She cried. \u201cNo.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on.\u201d Another officer guided her towards a cruiser. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comforting energy emanated from him, causing Michelle to look up. He returned her stare with a crooked smile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be okay.\u201d He guided her to the open police car door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the cops\u2019 flashlights passed over them, giving Michell a glimpse of his hazel-green eyes, dark auburn hair. His skin was noticeably pale, similar to her own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She sat down in the back seat with her feet still on the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust sit tight until we get this sorted out.\u201d The cop left her field of vision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beside the door of the house stood the stepson, who stared at her with an unnerving grin. Beside him, a ball of light energy appeared and transformed into a human figure. Sporting an identical smile as the stepson, it enveloped the boy in a warm embrace, its energy blending with its possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hollywood depicts demons as grotesque-looking creatures or dark shadows. In Michelle\u2019s experience, it wasn\u2019t the case. The first time she saw one, she was twelve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had started out as a ball of light and then morphed into a humanoid blob of sorts, then into a fully human form of a child her age. He knew of her parent\u2019s pending divorce, and had used it to convince her to run away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can take care of yourself,\u201d he had said. \u201cYou have a special gift. Leave, and I will help you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michell had felt uneasy, and she walked away. When she went back into her room, the entity was gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She pulled her feet into the car and turned away. Perhaps it will go away this time, too. At that moment, a wave of fear washed over Michell, but it wasn\u2019t coming from her. The cop was back, and he faced the house with his hand on the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou see it too?\u201d She whispered without thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nodding, he faced her. \u201cLet\u2019s take you to the police station, and we\u2019ll get things sorted out there.\u201d His voice wavered a little as he glanced over his shoulder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d Michell had to ask, trying to stifle her excitement to know that someone was like her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He glanced again towards the house. \u201cAshton Kimball. You don\u2019t talk to them, do you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I try to avoid them when I can.\u201d Michell brought her legs into the car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood.\u201d He closed the door and leaned through the open window. \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Timelines' Retrospection<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Paranormal investigators run into trouble when one of them snaps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[12],"tags":[17,15,16,10],"series":[13],"class_list":["post-33","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zcu","tag-arrest","tag-ghosts","tag-paranormal","tag-shorts","series-timelines","post-preview"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/energeticInsanity.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33\/revisions\/35"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zherosha.com\/elusive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=33"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}