Free Slash (Novella I) by Kevin Anthony

first.
    He dropped his bags before the stairs. “Yep, there’s definitely a spirit here.”
    Sidnee instantly felt watched and her privacy invaded. “How long before it’s gone?”
    “ It’s hiding at the moment, but I know it’s here. I can feel it in my bones.” Levi got down on his knees and placed his ear against the floor. “This spirit is old and smart; it knows when to show itself. The process of eliminating this spirit won’t be a short one, but it rarely ever is. If I have to face it, I must be here when it decides to show itself again.”
    “ Wait, what?”
    He stood to his feet. “I’m moving in until it moves out.”
    “ Is this some kind of scam to get away from the trailer parks?”
    He laughed. “No, this is normal procedure, though it is nice to be away for a while.”
    “ Especially from your grandmother I would guess.”
    “ She’s overprotective. She’d rather have me live with her and work in her pawn shop all my life.”
    “ How much will this cost me?”
    He shrugged. “The standard rate is about four hundred a week.”
    “ I have spare bedrooms upstairs.”
    Levi grabbed his bags. “You have to promise me one thing though?”
    “ Yeah, anything, as long as you do your job properly.”
    He winked. “I don’t want you watching my ass as I walk upstairs.”
    Sidnee’s cheeks grew red as she rolled her eyes. He was a flirt, she didn’t mind.

Chapter 10 - Tea
    MT depleted the little savings she and her mother had for a bus trip to the coast of Carolina. After a two hour bus ride they arrived to the city of Draper. The air was thinner, the people wore less clothing and the pine trees and cloudy sky they accustomed to back home were replaced with palm trees and sunny weather.
    “ This isn’t home,” Fran said as stared blankly into an empty bus station vending machine. “It’s hot.”
    MT took off her mother’s cardigan and stuffed it into her purse. “I know. We’re here to get you help though.”
    “ I want to leave.”
    MT grabbed her mother’s hand. “We will as soon we visit somebody.”
    MT used a public phone to call a taxi. They were taken to the downtown area of Draper and arrived at a shop called Tatu’s. The business was located between a sub restaurant and a loan shop. Tatu’s infrastructure was rundown: cracked windows, webbings, and rotting wood. A cardboard sign with the word ‘Open’ hand written on it hung from a nail on the front door. MT held on to her mother’s hand and led Fran inside of Tatu’s.
    MT shut the shop door and faced a crowded room of antique furniture, used musical instruments, rusting bicycles hanging from the ceiling and statues that reminded her of artifacts that should be pictured in a history book. She coughed and fanned dust from her face as she approached the checkout counter located toward the back.
    MT tapped bell placed on the cluttered counter. “Hello?”
    “ Levi you will suffer for ignoring my calls,” An elderly woman shouted into a phone as she exited from a backroom.
    “ There’s much madness in this place,” Fran whispered under her breath.
    The shop worker slammed her phone on the counter. “Hello, I’m Tatu.”
    MT motioned at herself. “I’m MT and this is my momma, Fran.”
    Tatu snapped her fingers and pointed at them. “You called. I remember the names.”
    MT nodded. “Yes. I was told you might be able to help my mother. I think she’s gone mad.”
    Tatu scoffed. “You think? It takes one look to tell this woman is not right.”
    “ Don’t talk about her like that.”
    “ I’m just being direct; beating around the bush won’t fix her. So, why come to me? Why not a doctor?”
    “ Because the doctors only prescribe pills and therapy that leads to the same results.”
    Tatu shook her hands and rolled her shoulders. “I could feel the madness emitting from her.”
    “ Is there anything you can do?”
    Tatu pulled at a strand of hair on her sharp chin. “Hmmm, maybe tea.”
    “ I did not