Chapter 20: First Lockdown

An hour later

We had arrived at a small town outside of Goldfield earlier in the afternoon.

I had slept soundlessly the rest of the trip. I had been grateful for no nightmares.

Zak had woken me up.

"Ali. Wake up doll, we're here," Zak said softly, gently stroking the side of my face.

I woke up with a bit of a start, but then relaxed when I saw Zak.

I smiled sleepily and stretched out my arms.

"I'm sorry, I hadn't meant to sleep that long," I replied, voice still heavy with sleep.

Zak was smiling as if he was looking at the cutest thing he'd ever seen.

"Don't worry about that. Billy was fine driving the rest of the way," Zak replied.

I smiled.

"Alright," I replied, handing Zak back his hoodie.

"Jay and Ashley have gone to check us in. We'll take everything up to our rooms for now. There's a great steakhouse down the road we want to take you to for dinner," Zak replied.

Even though Goldfield was only a little over two and a half hours drive from Las Vegas, the GAC had booked a motel for us.

The guys knew from experience that all they wanted to do was crash after a lockdown. I had a feeling I would be the same way.

"That sounds good, I'm starving," I replied, stepping down out of the SUV (with Zak's help, always the gentlemen), and stretching out my stiff arms and legs.

Zak smiled.

"Good, after that, we'll held to the Hotel, it's only about 20 minutes away. We'll place the flowers we brought for Elizabeth, and then meet up with our interviews, and get all our gear setup. We'll start the lockdown at midnight," Zak explained.

"Alright, sounds good," I said.

"Are you okay...? From earlier?" Zak asked warily.

I nodded.

"I feel fine," I answered honestly.

"Good," Zak said with a smile.

"We're all checked in!" I heard Ashley call out, as she and Jay walked toward the second SUV they had driven.

We all started unloading our personal luggage and gear and lugged it up to our rooms in the small, two storey motel.

After everyone had moved into their respective rooms, we all had some time to hang out and relax.

I took some time to write in my journal about the experience I had had at the gas station. I wrote down every detail I could remember, no matter how scary it was. I even did quick sketches of the "normal" Emily apparition I always saw, and the "scary" apparition I had seen today.

I still felt horrible for lying to Zak about it, but I figured he had been right. It had probably just been due to stress and lack of sleep.

There was no need to worry him more than I already knew he was.

Before I could ponder on it more, there had been a knock on the door, and then Ashley's voice telling me it was time to go to dinner.

Zak had told me earlier to wear whatever I would be wearing for the investigation, because we probably wouldn't have time to change afterwards, unless there was an absolute need to.

I had decided on a pair of black jeans, and a black baby doll tee, that had white angel wings printed on the back, and a pair of black boots. Because it was still fairly warm out, I had my hair up in a messy style bun. I also had Zak's necklace around my neck.

When I had first put it on, I wasn't sure whether to leave it outside of my shirt, or to tuck it under my shirt. I figured since this wasn't a real episode, it would be fine to leave it out. Aaron, Billy, Jay and Ashley had all seemed surprised to see me wearing it, but hadn't commented on it.

We all went to the steakhouse down the road, and the staff had remembered the GAC, so not only was our meal delicious, there was plenty of stories to be shared, with plenty of laughs.

Just as I thought we were to start getting ready to head out, the guys and staff surprised me with a white, ghost shaped cake that had "Good Luck Alicia!" written on it in chocolate icing.

I had almost started to cry at the sweet gesture.

The staff all came over, one at a time, wishing me luck and sharing their own experiences with the Hotel. It was a lot of new information to take in, but I think I had done a pretty good job at remembering most of it.

After we had finished our meal and thanked the staff for their hospitality, we made a quick stop back at the hotel to load up the SUV's with the cameras and other equipment we'd need for the night.

Normally, Ashley wouldn't come along for this part. She only did still photography for the episodes. But since it was my first time, she wanted to be there to support me.

I was thankful for that.

After loading up the vehicles, we all piled in and drove the twenty minute drive to Goldfield.

Upon arriving, we met up with Red Roberts, the current owner of the hotel.

The guys introduced me and Red to one another. He seemed friendly, and, like everyone else I had met here so far, wished me luck.

A member of the GAC production crew arrived at the hotel in a truck that was to be used as nerve centre. Once parked in front of the hotel, the driver got out of the cabin, said "hi" to Billy and Jay, and unlocked and pushed open the door.

Billy, Jay and Ashley immediately got to work setting up nerve centre, while Zak, Aaron and I got some static x-cameras and headed inside to set them up.

After the three of us got the equipment setup inside the hotel, we brought some fresh flowers and stuffed teddy bears to room 109.

I stopped dead in my tracks in the hallway.

Room 109…that flashed through my mind earlier…

"Are you okay doll?" Zak asked from inside the room, after having placed his vases of flowers.

Aaron had just set down some stuffed teddy bears.

"You look like you've seen a ghost…ha!" Aaron said, at a lame attempt at a joke.

Zak gave him a look, but I laughed quietly.

"I'm fine," I said, walking into the room, and gently setting down my flowers and stuffed teddy bears down amongst the others.

"You sure?" Zak asked.

I nodded.

"Yep, just a little nervous," I said.

Zak rubbed my back soothingly before standing up, and then offering his hand to me to help me up.

I took his hand and stood up.

"You'll be okay. Let's go do the interviews," Zak said.

I smiled and nodded.

"Sure," I replied, as I followed him and Aaron out of the room.

You should tell him…I thought to myself.

Zak had booked three people to interview, and after doing introductions, he suggested I do the interviews, for practice, and to use the opportunity to learn how to deal with my social anxiety while being filmed.

Once again, the three people I had talked to congratulated me at the end of the interviews and wished me luck.

I thanked the three of them.

All of the well wishes and congratulations made me feel welcome, and a little less anxious. Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad after all.

Zak had also seemed pleased with my interviewing skills.

"You did a great job doll," Zak said, smiling at me, as we walked back toward nerve centre, carrying our cameras.

"I did?" I asked, looking up at him.

I had been nervous throughout the interviews. Afraid of messing up, or saying the wrong thing.

"You did. You were a natural," Zak said.

I smiled.

"I don't know about that," I replied.

Zak smiled back at me.

"I do," Zak replied. "I know a good thing when I see it," Zak said slyly.

I smiled and felt my face flush as we continued walking back toward nerve centre.

Roughly two hours later

I can't believe what I'm about to do, I thought, standing in the truck, leaning against the wall.

Within a few minutes, at midnight, we would be locked in the Goldfield Hotel until 6 in the morning.

I was nervous and on edge.

I kept thinking about my encounter with Emily…or whatever it was, at the gas station earlier in the afternoon. I had started to wonder if she was once again trying to warn me about something. Maybe she had taken on that horrible appearance to try to scare me.

Well, scare me she had, but I was still going through with this lockdown. I needed answers.

I looked at Billy, Jay and Ashley, who were sitting at a table with a large monitor, broken down into four different squares, showing the views of four different cameras Zak, Aaron and I had set up earlier in the hotel.

Billy and Jay were both doing last minute tests on video and audio of all the equipment. Ashley helped out if they needed it.

I watched the monitor, looking at the four different screens, as if expecting to see something. Nothing was happening in any of the screens, at least, not yet.

Zak and Aaron appeared at the back of the truck.

"We're all set," Aaron said.

Zak and Aaron had been having a last minute conversation with Red, the man who would be locking us inside.

Zak stepped up into the truck.

"Everything good guys?" He asked Jay and Billy.

"Everything's up and running," Billy replied, looking back at Zak.

I then noticed that Billy, Jay and Ashley had turned to look at me.

"Good luck Ali," Jay said.

I smiled.

"Thanks Jay," I replied.

"Don't forget, even if you feel alone in there, we're with you," Billy said, motioning to the monitor, audio equipment, and walkie talkies, all designed to record our every move and keep us in contact with each other.

I smiled at the reassuring thought and nodded.

"I will, thanks Bill," I replied.

Billy smiled.

Ashley stood up from where she was sitting, walked over to me a gave me a hug.

I hugged her back.

"Good luck Ali. I know you'll do great," Ashley said.

I smiled.

"Thanks Ash," I replied.

She pulled back from the hug and smiled at me.

"Girl power!" She teased, holding her hand up toward me in a fist.

I laughed.

"Girl power!" I replied, forming a fist with one hand and doing a "fist bump" with her.

She grinned.

"Women," Billy muttered jokingly.

Ashley smacked him in the back of the head.

"Ow!" Billy exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head.

Jay was laughing.

I laughed as I turned to walk toward the back of the truck, but Zak stopped me.

He was looking at me intently.

"Are you feeling okay?" Zak asked softly.

I nodded.

"Nervous…but fine," I replied softly.

More like terrified, I thought.

Zak rubbed my arm gently.

"You'll be okay," Zak said softly, although I had the distinct feeling that he was trying to convince himself of that as much as me.

I smiled reassuringly.

"I know," I replied.

He smiled slightly then walked to the back of the truck and hopped out. He then turned around and waited for me.

I walked over to the back of the truck to meet him, and I felt him put his hands on my waist and held onto me as I hopped out of the truck.

"Thanks," I said.

He smiled and nodded, then proceeded to pick up my camera and handed it to me. He picked up his own camera and then looked at Aaron and I. Aaron was already filming us.

"Let's go," Zak said, and lead the way up to the door, where Red was waiting.

I silently took a deep breath as I followed him, Aaron trailing behind me, up to the front door.

I heard a voice to my left.

"You can't do this!" Emily said.

I looked to my left quickly, there was nothing there.

"You alright Ali?" Aaron asked from behind me.

I blinked a few times before nodding.

"I'm fine, let's do this," I said, following Zak into the hotel.

Aaron walked in after me and turned back to the door.

"Good luck, see you in the morning," Red said, before shutting the door and locking us inside.

Aaron in turn locked the door from the inside, so no one could follow us inside.

"Turn the lights off," Zak said.

I switched my camera to night vision mode.

Aaron flicked the switch, and the lobby went pitch black, both Zak and Aaron disappearing into the darkness.

I did my best not to panic.

One hour later

Zak, Aaron and I had been investigating for a little over an hour, without much results so far.

Thankfully, Zak as usual, had taken lead, and the three of us had stuck together.

All I had really done so far was film, which I was glad for. I hadn't wanted to be sent off on my own right from the start, especially once I realized just how dark it was in the hotel.

If I hadn't had the night vision mode on my camera, I would have been walking around blind. There was a light on the camera we could turn on, but obviously that was in a "must need" only situation.

I did my best to keep the basic concept of the hotel layout in mind, from when the three of us had come in earlier in the afternoon to pay our respects to Elizabeth.

Now, as we walked around the second floor of the hotel, Zak was using a Spirit Box to try to contact any spirits who might be around. Asking them about the rock throwing from past investigations.

Again, we weren't getting any activity at all.

I could tell Zak was getting frustrated, and I couldn't blame him. With all the activity they had here in the past, how could it be so quiet here now?

I was beginning to wonder if it was me.

Don't be so silly, I told myself.

But it was the only thing different.

It didn't make sense to me. I had paranormal experiences with Emily fairly often, I had that strange encounter earlier in the day, and I had heard Emily just before we came in. So I couldn't see how I could be some sort of "brick wall" preventing the paranormal from interacting with us.

Zak's voice distracted me from my thoughts.

"I think we should try splitting up," Zak said, looking at Aaron.

I felt bad about Aaron being sent off on his own in this place, but I knew he was used to it.

"How about you go down to the basement with a Spirit Box?" Zak suggested.

Oh boy.

The basement is where Zak and Nick had gotten video of the bricks and wooden boards moving on their own.

Aaron stared at him, but then held a hand out for the spirit box.

"Fine, but if I yell for you guys, you better get your asses in the basement," Aaron said.

Zak chuckled as he turned off the Spirit Box and handed it to Aaron, although his chuckle could barely be heard, with the mask he was wearing over his nose and mouth.

With his asthma, and years of breathing in dust, black mold, and other dangerous air pollutants, he had to take precautions now.

"We will," I said, regardless of what Zak was thinking about Aaron's remark.

If I started hearing bricks and wooden boards flying around, I'd probably go running for one of them anyway.

Aaron smiled and walked back down the hall and started down the stairs.

Zak looked at me.

Oh no.

He was going to send me off alone too.

You have to get used to this, suck it up, I thought.

"Would you mind going to room 109 and try contacting Elizabeth again? The PX device is in there, and you have a recorder?" Zak asked.

I nodded, taking a recorder out from my pocket.

"I'll go," I said, trying to sound much braver than I felt.

But to be honest, I was terrified.

It was room 109 again. Had I had some sort of psychic vision earlier? If that's what it was, why did I experience that awful pain in the side of my head…

Zak nodded, although I could see in his eyes he was worried, but he also knew we were filming footage that might someday see the light of day. He couldn't be a human shield for me all the time during investigations.

"Alright…be careful. I'll be on this level if you need me," Zak said.

I knew he was saying more than he normally would.

I smiled at him and nodded.

"See you in a bit," I said, taking a flashlight out of my pocket, turned it on, and started down the stairs.

Zak's Point of View

I watched as Ali walked downstairs and then turned the corner, and she disappeared from view.

I was worried and on edge.

I was afraid having Alicia in here would open her up to darker forces of the paranormal world, and I didn't want to expose her to that.

But I couldn't keep her by my side at all times either, or that would just give the audience the impression she couldn't handle it.

I knew Billy would look after her, I had asked him to keep a special eye on her and immediately let me know if anything came up.

But I kept flashing back to her experience earlier in the day at the gas station.

Some man, telling her she shouldn't be here, and then proceeding to hurt her.

Had it somehow been Wingfield? The very thought of him doing anything to Ali like he had done to Elizabeth, made my blood boil.

I sighed inwardly as I adjusted the mask on my face.

I got my mind back into investigation mode, and headed back to the spot where a rock had been thrown at my foot the last time I was here.

Time to taunt some spirits.