A/N: I made up the term "empath medium", and any and all information pertaining to it should be disregarded as false, due to the fact that, as far as we know, the term doesn't exist.
Death to spiders!!!!!
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She returned to her own time, in the real world, wearing a whale-boned corset covered in lavender lace and a full-bodied skirt with satin sashes around the middle of it. She liked the effect it gave her, but she needed to get it off. Save it for Halloween, maybe. She took it off and stashed it in an old trunk that had been in the asylum since before it burned down, and which she'd kept there, and forgot about it.
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Over the next few days, she visited the local public library and stayed there from opening till closing. Besides reading every interesting book she could find for pleasure, she also did a lot of research, looking for information on empath mediums.
Not surprisingly, the term didn't come up in too many computer searches she did. She found out a lot about ordinary mediums, however, which wasn't what she was looking for. She had been able to speak to the spirits of the dead since age 4. Mediums were nothign new. She wanted to know what empath mediums were.
Finally, on her fourth day in the library, she found the term hidden away in an ancient book, covered in dust and hidden in the stacks.
She brought it to a table near the one place she knew she wouldn't be bothered; near the encyclopediae. (A/N: I think that's plural for encyclopedia... not sure, so review and plz correct me!)
She opened the book, and right away, she noticed that it was very, very old. The publish date said "Royal Britain Publishing House, Copyright 1876".
She turned to the third page or so, which was the first chapter. It was titled "what is an empath medium".
She sat there for hours, reading the whole thing. Empath mediums were like mediums who, when they got old enough, were able to project themselves astrally into the minds of the dead to help them move on and pass over where they belonged. They did this by being able to affect the memories of said dead spirites and help them understand why they are in purgatory. She got a surprise when it came to chapter 12.
"Dangers of being an empath medium... crap," she muttered. She read on.
"Being an empath medium means that you have the ability to affect objects and, possibly, peple, in the past memories of the spirit. Thisd means, in short, that you are also able to talk to the people in this past memory. THIS, YOU MUST NOT DO, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Talking to people in the past lives of the dead people you help could jeapordize you, the empath medium. "
"Hmmm... I wonder if the dead nurse counts..." she mutterd. But to her surprise, the book mentioned that next.
"Some people or events in the past memories you may experience may not actually exist, or may not have actually happened. It is up to you, the empath medium, to ask the person you are trying to guide. If in fact the memory or person didn't exist, this is what we call a signal. Usually, a signal appears when you are ready to become and empath medium and embrace your abilities, or whenever your seperated astral self is trying to tell you something. You must pay attention to these signals. It is vitally important, as your astral self knows things about your physical self that your brain does not."
AJ finshed the chapter and read on about other things, like :
While the empath medium's astral self is seperated from your body, to others, your body appears as if in a coma, or as if one dead, while you still have a pulse.
While seperated from your body, your astral self always knows where to find your body.
Don't go looking for people to help. They will be naturally attracted to you, and seek you out.
Sighing, AJ looked up at the clock. It was almost time for the library to close.
She gathered the rest of the books she wanted to take out, along with the ancient one about empath mediums, and brought it all up to the checkout desk.
"Library card, please," said the attendant.
She gave it to her, and she scanned it. She de-sensatized the magnet on the spine of the DVD she'd taken out.
"You behave," said the woman, as if AJ were a miscreant child who had a habit of causing trouble. AJ rolled her eyes only when she had turned her back put her items in her old school bag.
She drove home in the rental car Andrew had loaned her, pondering the information she'd read.
It looked like she really was an empath medium.
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So far, she had avoided the Asylum, and she had done it on purpose, until she could get a better knowledge of her new abilities. She guessed she had been forced into her duties early when she accidentally went with Ryan into his memories of the past, because she read later on in the book she borrowed that typically, empath mediums came into their abilities at a much later age, usually 40-50.
She also did a lot of housework around Lance's, because it quickly got dusty and she had nothing else to do. The food in the pantry would tide her over for the next three months if she was careful, and she had no idea how she would survive without her job. She wanted to do nothing else except be caretaker for the old Asylum.
She got a letter in the mail two days after checking the book on empath mediums from the library.
Puzzled because she never got mail from here in England, she opened it and read it.
"Dear Ms. Dunbar,
We are pleased to inform you that we have recovered the will of Mr Lance Stone, and he has named you beneficiary of several assets.
This, in the main, is very simple. You must attend a mandatory meeting at the Law Offices of Edward Smith,along with all others Mr Stone's will states. If you need directions, you will find them enclosed. If you have any questions, please call...
We are sorry for your loss, but hope that what you will recieve eases your pain. Please be there tomorrow, October 21, 2006."
That was it. It gave an address and the phone number, but that was it.
"Dearborne road... " she muttered. That was the address listed on the letter. She had no idea where it was.
She set the letter down and remembered that Lance's original will was still upstairs in his locked drawer. She supposed the government had a copy.
The phone rang, making her jump.
"Hello," she said.
"Hey, luv."
It was Havoc.
"Oh, hey Havoc," she said, relieved. She had thought it would be someone official.
"Why so down? I called with intent to ask you to a birthday party, but you don't sound up to it," he asked, sounding concerned.
"No, no, I'm ...fine. I just got a letter in the mail. From some law office or other, about Lance's will," she said.
"Oh,"
Then, "Well? D'you want to come? It's next week, Halloween," he said.
"Oh, crap, I forgot, it's almost Halloween... that's my favorite holiday, too... I guess Id better get out my red contact lenses and stuff, huh?" she said, excited about the upcoming holiday.
Halloween always made her feel so alive. As if every mythical horror creature and legendary monster was no less real than herself, and she could meet whatever she wanted to. It was the one day of the year she could believe, however secretly, in the things that other adults didn't believe existed. (A/N: That's exactly how I feel)
"So you'll come?" he asked.
"Yeah, of course. Where are you planning on having it?" she asked.
"Well, uh... Actually, I was hoping to ask you if we could have it in the Asylum... just the front room, mind you," he said quickly.
AJ thought about it seriously for a moment. She thought it might work if she could make a deal with Ryan.
"Sure... if you could come over with me and help with the decorations. I didn't know your birthday was Halloween. Lucky," she accused, teasing.
"Sure, but my parent's are gonna be out of town, and it won't be anything special... just six or seven people... you sure it's ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's great! I think Lance would be happy... back when he inherited it, it was what he intended. You need a ride?" she asked, getting excited just thinking about it. She hadn't had much to be happy about lately, especially where her new ability and Ryan was concerned, but this was something she was actually looking forward to.
"Yeah, that'd be great... hey. If you get me a present, I can get you a week's worth of free rentals," he joked. She laughed.
"Only if they're comedy," she said back.
"Great... you know where I live, right?" he asked.
"Yeah. What time and day you want to do this, then?" she asked.
"Um... I dunno... today's tuesday? How about next wednesday, around 12:00?" he asked.
"Sure... I'll be there. And you better mean it about the free rentals, buddy." she teased. He chuckled.
"About anything free, I never lie. A man who lies about free stuff makes enemies. See you wednesday," he said.
"Bye," and she hung up.
She stood there, her hand still on the phone, and looked around.
It looked like she had a party to plan as well.
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Later that day, she drove down to the asylum in the rental car and parked right up in front of the double doors.
Upon entering, she was nearly knocked over by a hyperactive Ryan.
"I knew you could help me move on... I'm ready, I want to go! Please, help me..." he said, cocking his head to the side.
She put her hands up to ward him back a couple feet, and shut the door behind her.
"I found out what an empath medium is, and it means I'm supposed to help people like... like you move on and pass over. I got this book from the library, and it told me everything. But I have a question," she said, getting right to the point.
"Anything," he said.
She paused a moment, looking around, already mentally deciding where she would hang the orange and black streamers for Havoc's party.
"I have a friend who's having a birthday party next Friday. We planned to throw it here, and invite some of his friends over. I wanted to make a deal with you," she said, looking him straight in the eye.
"A party? With a boy? Are you sure he's just a friend?" he accused. AJ sensed an agry outburst coming on, and said ""Yeah, he works at the local movie rental place, and it's his birthday Halloween. He's just a friend,"
Ryan seemed to think about it a minute.
"I assume you want me to butt out and mind my own business?" he said in a suave voice.
"Actually, yes. In return, I'll help you move on," she said.
"Deal!!" he said eagerly, almost immediately.
"That means no pushing, hurting, killing and or otherwise maiming any of the guests, no matter how slutty they may or may not look. Got it?" she said dangerously.
"Yes, yes, anything. I'll be in the basement like always. Happy?" he snapped.
"Conent." she said, smiling.
She went back out to the car and drove back to Lance's, her work for the day completed, and got into bed and slept.
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The next morning, she got dressed and prepared to go back to the library to return the books she'd borrowed. She'd read all she needed to, and she didn't really care about the rest. She'd only gotten them to convince the librarian she was only interested in the theory of empath mediums.
She pulled on a floor length black velvet dress, complete with quilted black satin, of the type used to line coffins with, and black ribbon lacing up the bodice. It wasn't really suited to the environment, but it was all she had left clean. She needed to do laundry.
When she walked into the library to return her books, she saw Andrew kicked back in a chair, his face in a book on martial arts.
She pretended he wasn't there, placed the books on the front desk and immediately immersed herself in the juvenille fiction section.
She found a book on dragons that looked interesting (name of author excluded due to that list on the login site of authors who'd rather not have fans write fics on their books ) and another book by Bruce Coville that she had liked as a child. She took them both down and snuck a glance over at Andrew. He was looking at her out of the corner of his eyes.
Faking all pretense, she sighed and walked over to his table. He lowered the book and smiled at her.
Leaning one hand on the tabletop, she said "Waiting for me?"
"No, I was reading a book on martial arts. The fact that I met you here is total coincidence." he said in a cocky tone of voice.
AJ stared at him, one eyebrow raised, and smirked what her friends back in the states called her "trademark" crooked smile.
Andrew stared back for a moment, then rolled his eyes playfully.
"Alright, alright, I was waiting for you. I thought you liked books, so I thought I'd run into you sooner or later. You caught me," he admitted. He looked her outfit up and down and raised a questioning eyebrow.
"It was all I had clean." she explained.
They stood in silence for a moment before AJ broke it.
"My friend is having a birthday party next Friday. Do you want to come? It'll be at the old BorehamWood Asylum," she invited him on a whim.
Andrew looked surprised and smiled.
"Yeah, actually, I would! Should I come dressed up?" he asked.
"Hell, yes! I will be, anyway..." she trailed off, suddenly remembering the old fashioned dress she'd come back in from Ryan's false memory.
"Cool. I'll have to buy a costume, then. See if you can spot me," he grinned, getting up and closing his book.
"I guess I will. Bet I see you before you see me," she said. Why the hell was she flirting with this guy? That wasn't like her! For some reason, it just felt right.
"Bet you won't. I'll see you Friday," he said. She watched him check out his book and walk out the door.
She got up, checked her books out as well, and drove towards Havoc's place. He would know where Dearborne Ave was.
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"Hey, I didn't think the party was until next Friday, I guess you decided to gimme my present early," joked Havoc when he answered the door. Of course, he was talking about her dress.
She rolled her eyes.
"You wish. I was just wondering if you could direct me to Dearborne Ave. They found Lance's will and they're gonna read it in, like an hour. I'd like to get there early." she said.
Haavoc looked at her with wide eyes and laughed at her.
"You'd want to get there early, it's about half an hour away!" he exclaimed, giggling.
"So you know where it is?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said, shrugging. "My mom used to take me there for visits with my dad when he still had visiting rights." Havoc's parents had gotten a divorce several years earlier.
"Great! Can you show me the way, then?" she asked.
Havoc looked behind him, and AJ followed his gaze. His mother was behind him, doing dishes. Havoc was AJ's age, about 18, but he still lived with his mother.
"If you're gonna go somewhere, take the laundry with you, it needs to be washed, Havoc," she said, not paying attention.
"Uh, mom, it's my friend AJ she needs me to show her the way to Dearborne Ave. I can do it on the way back, if you like," he offered.
"Fine. The baskets are in the living room," she said, still not paying attention.
Trying not to giggle at him, she waited until he had loaded all four laundry baskets into the back seat of the rental car and they both got into the front.
Next stop, the laundromat!" she joked.
Havoc laughed and punched her on the arm, and they were off.