Free The Ghosts Of New Orleans (A PARANORMAL RESEARCH AND CONTAINMENT DIVISION (PRCD) CASE FILE) by Terri Reid Page B

open to another unprepared attack?”
    He shook his head. “Yeah, but
you’re not entirely sure that she’s going to be safe in your controlled
situation.”
     “I’ll be a lot safer than if I’m
caught off guard again,” Eloise insisted, “At least this way perhaps we can
learn more about the person who is behind all of this.”
    He paced the perimeter of the small
common area and rubbed his forehead. Finally, he turned and faced Eloise.
    “Do you really want to do this?”
    Eloise nodded definitely. “Yes. Yes
I do.”
    Paul shook his head and sighed.
    “Fine, let’s do it. Sally, tell me
what you want me to do.”
    Sally slipped off the desk and
slowly examined the room.  Finally, she turned to Eloise and said, “I think
this chair is the best place, unless of course you would be more comfortable in
your bed?”
    Eloise shook her head. “More
comfortable for what?”
    “Well,” Sally explained,
nonchalantly. “In order to be safe on your journey, you need to be rooted to us
at the base camp.  So, basically you need to be in Paul’s arms throughout the
experiment.”   
    “Well, in that case,” Paul paused
for a moment as if he were reflecting on the choices, “I really think it ought
to be the bed.”
    Eloise swung around to argue with
him and saw the grin on his face. She shook her head and turned back to Sally.
“The chair. Definitely the chair.”
    Eloise stood and Paul sat down on
the chair.  Then Eloise sat tentatively on the edge of the chair next to him.
    Sally shook her head.  “No, sorry,
that’s not going to work,” she explained, “You need to be grounded to him – not
on the next continent.  Climb into his lap and put your arms around his neck. 
And Paul, put your arms around her and hold her tight.”
    Eloise moved hesitantly onto Paul’s
lap.  She laid her hands timidly on his shoulders.  Paul placed his arms around
her in a loose hold, trying as hard as he could not to actually touch her.
    Sally looked up to the ceiling and
swore.  Then she marched over to Paul and Eloise.
    “Okay, this isn’t a blind date or
the prom,” she said harshly, “I realize on certain levels you are uncomfortable
with this, and I’m okay with that.  However, I never run an experiment with
half-assed participation, so either you’re both with me, or you’re both not.”
    She walked across the room, sat on
one of the stools and folded her arms across her chest. “Paul, Eloise is going
back to the beach. She will be met there by a monster who wants to drown her. And
Eloise, do you remember the laughter, how it felt?  Do you remember the fear? 
Do you remember the water washing between your legs? Paul is your link, your
only link to survival.”
    Paul pulled Eloise closer against
his chest.  His arms tightened around her and he laid his head on top of hers. 
Eloise buried her head against Paul’s chest and wrapped her arms tightly around
his neck.  She could feel his breath against her back, warm and comforting.
    “Better,” Sally said, “much better.
Okay, Eloise I want you to try to remember what happened just before your last
episode.”
    Eloise turned her head toward
Sally, “We were talking about Lalaurie and madness.  Paul said something about
the holocaust.”
    Sally nodded, “And you said that is
wasn’t madness it was evil.”
    Eloise felt hazy for a moment. Then
she shook her head to clear it.
    “What just happened,” asked Sally.
    “I was dizzy for a second,” Eloise
said, “But it’s gone now.”
    Sally looked at Paul. “Loosen your
grip.”
    “What?” Paul asked in disbelief.
    “You’re holding her too tight – she
can’t go.  Loosen your grip.”
    Paul looked down at Eloise, lying
in his arms.  “I’m having a real hard time with this,” he said softly, “Can we
look for another way?”
    Eloise shook her head. “No, I’m
afraid that this is the only way.”
    Paul nodded slowly. “Okay, but
before I loosen my grip, I want to make sure that