Psychic Science, page 3
Down the road, Agatha Dorsett sat on her front porch—feeling like she was being watched. She closed her eyes and tried to get a visualization of what was happening. She sighed, knowing that her time was drawing near.
She stood up slowly and turned to look at her home. She wanted to remember every detail. She’d had such a good life here. She wished she was able to call Caleb, to tell him more, to tell him to be strong. She wanted to be able to say goodbye. She held that thought close and turned around just in time to see a drooling beast approach her porch and howl loudly. It was the last sound she heard.
7
Caleb’s phone was blowing up. He couldn’t keep up with all the messages. Strange beasts were roaming through town. Rabbits, coyotes, even a deer with patchy fur, sharp claws, and purple foam around the mouth had been spotted. They seemed to attack anything, from mailboxes and windows to small pets like cats and dogs. It seemed unbelievable, but they had even tried to bite a few residents. Not only were they scary and aggressive, but they were destroying people’s property and damaging objects all over the town. Caleb got most of the calls because people thought maybe he could find out what was going on and he could report about the dangers.
Some townspeople sent him video clips. He viewed each clip carefully. Several people in town filmed different animals throwing themselves at objects or chasing after smaller animals. He tried to decide which of the clips were the best to post on his channel. It was hard though, because in all the videos, the animals exhibited similar behaviors, had the same mutations, and all seemed to be entering the main part of town from the same direction.
All of a sudden, Caleb realized something big. They all came into town from the west. They were coming from the direction of the sinkholes. Could that be the source of the problem? He decided to text Anna.
Caleb: Hey Anna. Have U heard about the animals?
Anna: yup.
Caleb: I’ve been watching videos . . . I think the source could be the sinkholes. Is that even possible?
Anna: I don’t know how
Caleb: Come with me. Let’s go check it out.
Anna: Don’t know if that’s a good idea, but ok. Meet you at 5 at school. I’ll drive.
8
It all seemed so strange. The weather was beautiful and sunny, but there was a heaviness in the air. Clouds looked full of fear and uncertainty. As they drove through town, evidence of the storm seemed to be everywhere they looked. Some tree branches still littered the road, and household items were strewn about. Mailboxes had blown over. There were scrapes and claw marks on doors and on cars, proof that something was clearly wrong with the animals roaming in town. Gentle animals turned into aggressive beasts. Birds were attacking one another. Squirrels were ripping out their own fur.
“I hope I’m wrong, but it seems that the animals come into town from the same direction,” Caleb said.
“I can’t imagine what happened,” Anna said as she shook her head.
As Anna drove slowly down the main road, a coyote ran next to the car. It looked normal, no weird markings or changes.
“Look, Caleb! A coyote. It looks like it’s headed straight for the sinkholes.”
She drove at a snail’s pace until they approached the location of the sinkholes. Anna put the car in park.
“Anna, what is that?” Caleb asked as they stared in the direction of the sinkholes.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
They watched as purple mist rose around the sinkholes. They could see puddles of goop on the ground. The coyote slowly made its way into the mist. A sad howl filled the air, followed by a ferocious barking sound. Then, the coyote emerged. Changed. Its claws had grown long and pointy, clumps of hair were missing from all over its body, and a purple foam dripped from its large fangs.
The coyote leapt forward, all four feet forcefully landing on the hood of the car. It leered at Caleb and Anna through the window. As it stared into the vehicle, the coyote-beast pawed and scratched at the windshield. Its sharp claws digging into the paint, making a horrible scraping sound. It howled and barked. Purple slime dripped from its fangs as it bit at the window, trying desperately to get to Anna and Caleb. Anna’s hands clutched the steering wheel. She was afraid.
“Caleb, what do we do? It’s going to break through the glass,” Anna yelled.
Caleb leaned over, honked the horn, and shouted, “Go away! Get out of here. Get!” Caleb covered Anna’s head with his arms. “Brace for the worst in case the glass shatters!” The car rocked back and forth.
Just when it looked like the coyote was going to break through the window, it jumped down and took off toward the town. Caleb let go of Anna. Her heart raced. Finally, she released a long sigh.
“Are you okay?” Caleb asked Anna.
“I’m fine. But there is something I have to do and you aren’t going to like it. I’ve got to collect some of that purple sludge. If I can test it, I might be able to figure out what it is,” she said.
“I think that is a terrible idea. What if another monster comes along?”
“You’ll just have to scare it off. We have got to try to figure out what this stuff is if we want to be able to control it.”
“I’m going to repeat what I said. This is a terrible idea.”
“Look in the trunk of the car. My golf clubs should be there. Grab a club in case you need a weapon to defend yourself,” she told him. “I’m not sure it will do us any good, but at least it’s something.”
Anna gathered her equipment to go collect some of the slime. She tied a scarf around her mouth and nose to prevent breathing in the mist. Then she took a deep breath and marched away from the car.
As she was collecting the slime, she heard a wail that was half scream and half cry. A figure appeared from the mist. The figure looked almost like Bobby, the star of the baseball team. But he did not look human. His blue eyes had turned purple. Bobby spent a lot of time in the sun at baseball practice, so he always looked tan. But now, his skin was paler, almost translucent. His face was expressionless. Anna had never believed in zombies, but standing right in front of her was a zombie. It walked right past Anna’s car and headed back toward the town.
After the zombie was far enough away from her, Anna ran back to the car.
“What just happened?” Caleb asked as she jumped in.
Before she could answer, there were more cries, more wailing. And several other people emerged from the mist, changed, just like Bobby.
The zombies began shuffling toward the car.
“There are more!” Anna yelled. She tossed the slime specimens into the back seat.
She started the engine, hit the gas, and sped away from the zombies.
9
Anna couldn’t believe what she just witnessed. What caused Bobby to turn into a zombie? When did the other townspeople enter and what in the world happened to them? Why was this happening? Why? Why?
“We have got to keep people away from the mist,” Caleb said.
“You have to broadcast. Tell your followers to stay away. They will listen to you. They trust you. People need to be warned and they need to stay indoors for safety.”
“Come on the show with me. Let’s talk about what we saw.”
“I’m not even sure what I saw,” Anna said. “But, okay, let’s do it.”
Anna drove to the high school. It was hard to think clearly about all of this. None of it made any scientific sense. Not the psychic prediction. Not the animal behavior, and certainly not people changing in front of her eyes. This was bad. Really bad.
“Cover your nose and mouth with this,” Anna said, tossing a windbreaker to Caleb. “Don’t stop running until you get to the office door.”
Beating on the office door, Anna yelled, “Open up! Help! Let us in!”
“We’re trying to fight the zombies!” Caleb yelled.
The night janitor, Mr. Gee, threw open the door. He waved his hands at them and said, “Get in, get in. There are zombies all over town!” After helping them get inside, he locked the door behind them.
Anna and Caleb ran to the studio. Once they entered the studio, Caleb prepared the lights and sound for the broadcast. He handed Anna a headset and put one on himself. Then he tested the audio and video feed. Anna took a deep breath, and Caleb turned on the camera.
“Hey there friends, fellow students, and followers of the bizarre. It’s me, Caleb Henderson, and have I got a story for you. But, first, let me introduce my guest. Most of you know her as our local science expert and president of the science club, but if you don’t know her, meet Anna Campos. Anna and I just came back from a scary adventure. I don’t recommend it to anyone. Based on the number of calls and messages you all have sent, I’m thinking that most of you have probably seen the unusual beasts roaming around town. Patches of missing fur, sharp teeth, long claws, strange howls and barks. These beasts have been on the loose in town, attacking both human and non-human targets. Only minor injuries have been reported so far. That is until now. It seems that some of our neighbors and friends are also showing signs of strange behavior. Anna and I witnessed people coming out of a purple mist down by the sinkholes. People are not the same after breathing the mist. They look and act like zombies. Will they become aggressive like the animals? Let’s hope not. In order to stay safe, please stay indoors. I repeat, please stay indoors. Anna, anything to add?”
Anna thought for a moment and looked directly into the camera. “Please. I know this sounds unbelievable, but it’s all true. There is a mist that is unsafe to breathe. You must avoid it at all costs. Stay in your homes. Keep your windows closed. Lock your doors. Keep yourself, your families, and your pets indoors and safe until this problem passes. Please. Listen to us. Stay away from the purple mist and stay away from the sinkholes.”
“You heard it from the expert. Stay home. Stay indoors. Stay safe. We will report back as soon as we can with more information. Be safe, friends! We’re out!”
“We have to get the word to the local news teams. Maybe the police can put up barriers or blockades to keep people away from the sinkholes until we can figure out what is happening and how to stop it.”
“I’m on it, Anna. Calling the police and the news now. And I’ll update my pages too.”
Once the warning had been broadcast, Caleb closed up the studio. Anna reached out and grabbed Caleb’s hand and held on tight as they walked out toward her car. Once outside, they walked in silence. Anna wondered what to do and planned what the next steps might be. The parking lot looked deserted. Deep in thought, Anna almost missed a math teacher, Mrs. Carp, walking toward them. Maybe not walking so much as plodding slowly. Her eyes had the purple hue and her skin was pasty white. She looked like she was in a daze. They froze.
“Caleb, hurry.”
Anna pulled Caleb behind a bush. They waited and watched as the teacher slowly walked through the parking lot. Mrs. Carp didn’t seem like she had a purpose or a specific direction. Instead, she wandered through the parking lot and stopped outside the front entrance to the school. She just stood there, staring.
“Caleb, let’s go. Now,” Anna whispered.
Anna pulled Caleb out from their hiding place and they rushed over to her car.
“Look on the ground.” Anna pointed to a small patch of purple goop, almost like a trail behind the teacher’s path. “I need to collect some of that stuff so I can analyze it.”
“Don’t get any of it on your skin.”
She grabbed her bag from the car. Then she carefully put on latex gloves and pulled out an overly large cotton swab and a small jar. Scraping as much of the goop as she could gather, she put the sample in the jar. She tightened the lid. Then she took out another jar and dropped the cotton swab and the latex gloves into it for safekeeping. After she finished, she ran back to her car. Caleb was waiting in the passenger’s seat.
“Now, we can try to see what we are dealing with,” she said.
10
Anna dropped Caleb off at his house and went home. She lay awake for a long time that night wondering what the purple stuff could be and why the people and animals changed. She wished she had more equipment at home to test the substance tonight, but she needed the lab. After rolling around uncomfortably for a while, Anna threw the covers off her legs and went to the window. She just needed to think. Looking into the night sky might help her to relax. Then she heard the otherworldly sounds.
When she opened the curtains and pulled them to the side, she could see the street from her window. She was instantly alarmed at how many zombie people could be seen just wandering. There were howls and shrieks coming from the strange beasts. She watched in horror as one of the smaller beasts sunk its teeth into the leg of one of the zombies. It seemed like the zombie felt nothing. It just stood there while the beast drew blood. She put her hand over her mouth and gasped loudly. Panicking, she began to shake. Was it possible that one of these beasts might get into her bedroom? Anna wasn’t taking any chances. She looked around her room frantically and got the idea of barricading herself in the room. Then she grabbed the edge of her bookcase and pulled it to block the window. She grabbed her desk chair and wedged it under the doorknob and piled books high on top, hoping it would keep any intruders out. Deciding she felt safest leaving the lights of her bedroom on, she crawled back into bed and pulled the covers up under her chin.
Where were her parents?
Anna: Mom! Are you home?
Anna: DAD! Where are you?
Minutes, then hours ticked by. No response from either her mom or her dad. Had they turned into zombies?
The next morning, Anna awoke to a frantic knocking on the front door.
“Mom! You home? Mom! Are you going to get that?” Anna yelled from her room. “Dad, can you hear me?”
The house was quiet. No sign of her parents. She checked her phone. Still no response from her texts.
“I’m coming,” Anna called out. “Just a minute.”
She dressed quickly in jeans and a T-shirt and took down the pile of books from the chair. She moved the chair out of the way and opened the door, peeking her head out and pausing to take a quick look down the hallway. It looked clear, so she hustled down the stairs and looked out the front window. A woman Anna had never seen stood on the porch. Dressed in a brown suit jacket and matching pants, the woman looked professional but also a little out of place. And she looked very nervous. Anna opened the door a crack.
“Hello,” the woman said. “I’m looking for Anna Campos. Are you her?”
“Yes, I’m Anna,” she replied, relieved that the person on her porch was not ghostly pale and had dark brown eyes instead of purple.
“Hi, Anna. I’m Dr. Sarah Ebright. We had a meeting scheduled for this morning.” Dr. Ebright looked uncomfortable and kept glancing around as she stood on the porch.
Anna opened the door wide. “I am so sorry, Dr. Ebright,” Anna said. “With all the craziness going on in this town, I completely forgot that you were coming.”
“I heard the news about the after effects of the storm on my way into town. It seemed, well, it seemed made up. Like a prank or fake news. I thought there had to be a reasonable explanation for what was being reported. But, then, I saw the zombies . . .” Her voice drifted off.
Of all the times for a college interview, Anna thought. Then, to settle her anxiety, she told herself that it was time to act like a professional scientist. Facts, objective facts. Time to remain reasonable and, above all, rational.
“Can I get you a cup of tea, Dr. Ebright? It sounds like you could use one,” Anna said. Then she turned, locked the door, and slid a heavy coffee table in front of the door for added safety. As Anna pulled the curtains closed, she tried to sound calm. “This should help keep us safe and protect us from them.”
Dr. Ebright sighed in relief. “Tea would be lovely, thank you.” Dr. Ebright cleared her throat and asked, “Where are your parents?”
Biting down on her lower lip, Anna tried to hold back a cry, “I . . . I don’t know.”
Anna went to the kitchen. Dr. Ebright followed her and sat down at the kitchen table. While making tea, Anna described the details of the strange storm that rolled through town, followed by the events surrounding the sinkholes and the mist. She talked about the changes to people and to the animals. She couldn’t believe what she was saying to the professor.
Dr. Ebright listened closely.
“After the incident with the zombies on the street, I saw news reporters everywhere. They had on gas masks, like the ones you see in old sci-fi movies. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many microphones, cameras, and news vans,” Anna said.
Anna went on to describe Caleb’s visit to the psychic and his ViewTube reporting. “What do you think, Dr. Ebright? What should we do next?”
Dr. Ebright took out her phone. She typed furiously for a few minutes, and then looked at Anna.
“Okay, here is what I think. We need some serious brainstorming. I just messaged a friend of mine who happens to study paranormal activity. I hope you don’t mind, but I invited her to your house.”
“That is great,” Anna said. “What else do we do?”
“Call your friends. Is there anyone in the science club that might be able to join us? Who lives close by? I think we are going to need a team of people to figure out how to handle the mist, the people, and the animals who have seemed to change.”
Anna nodded and said, “On it.” She texted Caleb and a few members of the science club.
Anna: EMERGENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!! MEET AT MY HOUSE.
She paused and then texted again.
Anna: But ONLY if you can get here safely. WATCH OUT FOR THE ZOMBIES!!!!
While they waited for the rest of the team to arrive, Anna and Dr. Ebright turned on the news. It was strange to see the reporters telling the news while wearing gas masks and hazmat suits. They reported from the school, from the diner, from the football fields, and from the front yards of different residents of the town. Anna was sure Caleb would be excited because some of the reporters were joined by paranormal investigators. They, too, seemed to be on every corner. While the number of people visiting could help spread awareness of the problem, Anna thought about something else. More people could mean more infected people breathing in the mist. Then they would have more zombies. Would the protective gear be enough to keep them safe? She shook her head. What were they going to do?
