Alastor and Charlie were not sure what they wanted to do with the children. They weren't certain that the children would be safe staying with them while they were looking into what was happening in their house and at first they considered sending the kids to stay somewhere until this was settled but they didn't know anyone trustworthy enough to watch the kids. In the end they decided to keep Aaron and Carrie with them. They called the school and said that they both needed to be kept out school because they had chicken pox, as for Alastor's work Bill agreed to cover for him until things were sorted out.
The supposed professionals the couple called arrived at 1:00 am in a very old van that looked really banged up and when Alastor first saw them he doubted their abilities. Aside from Vaggie, they didn't really look professional. Especially Husk who wore a faded shirt with stains and could use a good shave. Or at least that's what Al thought.
"Mr. and Mrs. Devalcourt?" Vaggie asked them.
"Yes." Charlie answered.
"Hello I'm Professor Vagatha RamÃrez. I am the parapsychologist you called." She introduced. "These two gentlemen are my associates, Anthony Gianelli my camera man and technical producer."
"Call me Angel." He said.
"And this is Husk Talanov our transportation and equipment handler."
"You folks got any booze?" Husk asked.
"Excuse me?" Alastor asked.
"Booze. You got any of that?"
"Husk!" Vaggie glared.
"Um I don't mean to sound presumptuous but you all don't really look like scientists." Alastor said. "And furthermore we have children and we would prefer not to expose them to people who behave in certain way."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Husk asked getting defensive.
"Callate idiota borracho!" Vaggie snapped.
"Vaggie for the millionth damn time! I don't speak Spanish!"
"I said be quiet you drunk idiot."
"Bitch! What gives you the right to-"
"Angel, silencio mode."
"I'm on it." Angel then slapped a piece of duct tape over Husk's mouth.
"Mr. and Mrs. Devalcourt I apologize for Husk's surly behavior." Vaggie said. "And I completely understand your skepticism but I can assure you both that I am certified and that despite Husk's lack of manners he's perfectly harmless."
"What exactly are you going to do?" Charlie asked.
"I plan to conduct a serious investigation of the strange disturbances taking place in your house. I'm going to determine if it is the work of paranormal activity and if so, what kind of paranormal activity."
"There's more than one type?" Alastor asked.
"Yes. The paranormal is extremely complex and built with different levels of activity. Some activity is so minor that it's barely noticeable and some is so strong that it can be very fatal."
"Fatal?" Charlie said getting nervous. "What do you mean fatal? This...Whatever this is, it can't kill us can it?"
"I can't say for now but I promise you that this investigation will be conducted throughly. But before we begin I would like to ask you some questions."
"What is it you want to know?"
"How much are you paying us?" Angel asked only to receive a painful hit from Vaggie's elbow. "Ow!"
"No. For starters we'd like to know what members of the house hold are involved and what are their ages?"
"My husband and I, we're both twenty-six. There's our son Aaron, he's eight. And we have our daughter Carrie who's six."
"Has there been any publicity about the strange events?"
"No."
"Can you be reasonably sure of not letting any get started?"
"That's the last thing in the world we want." Alastor said. "We haven't even gone to the police. We're too afraid that if we tell them about this they'll think we're crazy and take the kids from us."
"Do we have your permission to search every corner of your house and property? We won't go through any of your personals."
"Yes."
"Do we have your permission to use our equipment here?"
"Is any of it illegal or dangerous?"
"No."
"Then yes."
"Is it reasonable to ask you all to keep this just between us? If your neighbors or anyone else knew of this it could cause alarm so I believe it would be best if this investigation was kept secret until further notice."
"We won't tell anyone." Charlie said. "If people asks your distant family members visiting."
"That can work. Alright just allow us to set up shop and we'll get down to business."
"What about our children? Will they be a hinderance?"
"Not at all. We don't mind children but don't let them touch anything. Our equipment isn't dangerous but it's very fragile and expensive."
"Is there a place in the house where we can put everything?" Angel asked.
"The living room has the most space." Alastor said. "Follow me."
Alastor directed them over to the living room and the group began to set up a video camera, a computer, a device that measured waves, some specially designed lighting. The children watched them with the uttermost curiosity.
"Is that a video camera?" Aaron asked watching Angel get the device ready.
"Yep." Angel answered.
"Cool. You know I've always wanted to use a video camera."
"Oh really?" Angel replied uninterested.
"Uh-huh. Can I use it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know how to use it."
"Could you show me?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have time to."
"Why?"
"Because I just don't."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"I have a question. Why don't you leave me alone? Can't you see I'm busy here?"
"Aaron stop bothering that man." Charlie said.
"That's a man?" Aaron said gesturing to Angel's pink attire and primp, fluffy hair style. "I thought he was a very ugly woman."
"Hey!" Angel cried insulted.
"Aaron!" Charlie scolded.
"Well look at him. How could I not mistake him for a woman? He's even wearing jean nate like Grandma Isabelle used to."
"I am not a woman." Angel said. "I just happen to be a man who's in touch with his feminine side. Is that a crime?"
"I am so sorry about him." Charlie said placing her hands firmly on her son's shoulders. "You know how kids are."
"Just keep yours away from me when I'm trying to do my job."
"Of course." She turned her attention back to the boy. "Aaron what these people are doing is very important. They can't get distracted, so please try to stay out of their way honey."
"But I'm bored."
"Why don't you take your sister outside and play with her?"
"Fine."
Outside it was very sunny and warm which was the perfect climate for children to play in. Aaron was tossing the baseball Gabriel had given him, up and down while counting how many times he could catch it with just one hand. Carrie sat underneath a tree and started brushing the hair of her favorite doll.
"Your hair is so pretty Emilia." She told the doll. "But I think some flowers would make your hair even prettier."
Carrie stood up from her spot under the tree and went down to the edge of the sidewalk where violet flowers grew seasonally.
"These are perfect. They're the same color as your pretty dress."
Carrie was just about to pick one when a shadow fell over her and she sensed a familiar, unsettling presence. She turned around to see the strange man who had approached her at school the other day. He gave her that same smile that made her feel so uncomfortable.
"Hello again." He said.
Carrie clutched her doll nervously.
"So nice to see you." He told her. "What a pretty doll you have there. Do you mind if see her?"
Carrie shook her head slowly.
"Well that's okay. I understand how a precious a doll is to a little girl. They're like a special friend right?"
Carrie began to back away from him slowly. For a moment he looked as if he was going to grab her but luckily Aaron had seen them and he quickly ran to defend her.
"You again?" He said. "I thought I told you to stay away from my sister!"
"My goodness young man you have such awful manners." The man said. "Tell me, do you speak to your mother that way?"
"This is private property. You can't stay here."
"Why so defensive? There's nothing to be afraid of."
Aaron pulled Carrie behind him. His plan was to run and bring her along but suddenly he found himself unable to move his feet. Almost as though they had become glued to the ground.
"I'm warning you." He said to the man. "If you don't leave I'll call my parents and then they'll call the police."
"Now there's no need to get the police involved." The man said. "I'm not going to hurt you or your sister. I just want to talk to you two."
"Mom! Dad!" Aaron began to shout.
"No, no, no. None of that."
"Mom! Dad!"
"They can't hear you."
"Mom! Dad!"
"Aaron?"
Alastor stepped out of the house upon hearing his son's voice. The boy suddenly regained the ability to move his feet and he along with his sister immediately ran into the safe arms of their father.
"Aaron what's going on out here?" Alastor asked him.
"That man out there was talking to us and he wouldn't go away when I told him to."
Alastor followed the direction in which Aaron's finger pointed and that's when he made eye contact with the strange man. He had a smile on his face but his eyes were completely hate filled. It was almost like he despised Alastor for just being alive. Viewing him as the very bane of his existence. But Alastor didn't know this man. He had never seen him before in his entire life. Right?