Escort For The Witch - стр. 31
She was standing right behind me and I was looking at her reflection staring back at me!” Sabrina paused to catch her breath and continued. “I turned around but she was gone. I thought it was just paranoia or a hallucinations – just the product of my exhausted brain. But soon it happened again. And this time, the vision was much clearer. Then I started hearing Alex’s voice. And I swear, there are other voices too, but I can’t make them out. They… they mumble something, but I don’t understand. It’s madness. ”
I smoked silently, unsure of how to tell her that everything that was happening to her was neither madness nor paranoia, nor the product of twisted imagination. I couldn’t find the right words to adequately explain this. Now I knew why she had glances crazy look in her eyes sometimes, strange, erratic gestures, and mood swings. It was Michelle, accompanied by Alex. And they clearly frightened her.
“Jack,” Sabrina called out softly, “do you think I’m going crazy? ”
I tried to gather my thoughts and even shook my head, hoping for some enlightenment that would help piece together the puzzle. However, everything only became more tangled.
“You say you can hear Alex’s voice,” I ignored her question.
“Yeah…” Sabrina still sounded uncertain.
“What does he say? Or what is he trying to communicate?” I knew Alex’s character well and was sure that Grandpa would never dream of scaring his granddaughter for no reason, especially now that he was dead.
“He also comes to you during the day now?” I pressed further.
“Lately – yes. And he says something about me being different, that I shouldn’t listen to them and never, under any circumstances, believe what they say. Also…”
She paused and glanced at me sideways.
“Yes?” My patience was wearing thin, and it must have shown.
“He said I should be around you and Eric,” she said, staring at me intently, as if trying to read my mind. A faint glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes, hoping that I would be able to unravel the mystery of her strange visions. “That only you know
the truth and can help me deal with it ,” she continued, leaning forward as if afraid to miss something important. “What does that mean? What truth and who is he talking about?”
I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her expectant, cautious gaze on me, stood up, and started pacing the room. I mentally thanked her for not bringing up that brief conversation she had had with Eric when he was still drinking, namely what he had said about me doing the job better than him.
“I, I don’t know,” I said a near-truth. “And the pain?” I glanced at her stomach.
Sabrina hesitated for a moment, then looked out the window again.
“It only hurts when I try to ignore it.”Ì stared at Sabrina in bewilderment, not believing my ears. Could such a thing really be possible?
“So? ”
“Well… I pretend not to see. I try not to notice. I think pain is how she’s trying to get my attention. ”
I now watched Sabrina’s every move intently. Genuine shock reflected on my face.
“Can she physically affect you? ” I whispered in horror.
“Yeah, maybe,”
“So that means…” I started, “in the kitchen then and then today…”
“Yes. But when you or Eric are around, something changes. She can’t get too close and it doesn’t hurt as much as when I try to ignore her,” Sabrina fell silent and tucked her legs under her.