Angel of Light (A Zak Bagans Story)

Chapter 16: Shocking News

I laughed again.

"That's hilarious," I replied.

Gracie just stood there, looking pleased with herself and still wagging her tail.

"I know," Zak replied, laughing still himself.

Then his expression changed.

He looked like he had something on his mind.

"You okay?" I asked.

Zak smiled a bit.

"Yeah. Um, just unsure of how to share some news with you," Zak answered looking at me.

I suddenly felt like the world had dropped out from underneath my feet.

Zak must of seen something in my expression, because he reached over with one hand and rubbed my arm a bit.

"It's not bad news. Well, I guess it depends," Zak said.

I watched him nervously.

"Have you seen any of our investigations at the 'Goldfield Hotel'?"

I sifted through my memories of the episodes I had seen.

"Is that in the ghost town in Nevada?" I asked.

Zak nodded.

"Yes...I saw when you went there expecting to investigate another building, but saw the owner of the hotel. It was Aaron's first time being there. I also saw when the three of you went back again," I said.

Why was he asking me this?

Zak hesitated briefly.

"The network and production crew want to make sure you're able to handle an investigation," Zak started. "Why they decided to wait until one week before we start filming Season 10, I have no idea. But they want us to investigate there next week." Zak added.

I stared at him in shock.

I hadn't expected this.

Zak rubbed my arm soothingly again.

"It's not meant to be an offence to you. They just want to make sure you're 'capable'," Zak said, making quotes with his other hand. "Their word, not mine," Zak added.

I was still in shock.

I thought I had two more weeks to prepare myself for this. Now that time was suddenly cut in half.

"It's not going to be an investigation for an episode. At least not now. It's just meant to be a test run," Zak said. "I'm sorry to spring this on you...I only found out this morning. They didn't like my opinion much," Zak added.

His opinion...he must believe I'm capable, I thought.

That meant the world to me.

I noticed now that he was tense again, afraid of my reaction.

I gathered my thoughts.

"I'm not mad. And I guess I can understand their point of view. I'm just surprised...I thought I still had two weeks," I explained. "And for my first investigation to be there..." I trailed off, more memories from the episodes coming back to me.

Poltergeist activity. Bricks and wooden boards levitating off the ground and being thrown across the room. Rocks being thrown at people. One rock hitting Nick in the back. One rock hitting Zak in the foot and bouncing off it, clear across the hall...

Zak slapping a camera out of Aaron's hand...

Oh my god...

I felt my panic kicking in.

How could the network spring this so suddenly? And to send me to that environment for my first time in a lockdown?

There's no way. Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?

I bowed my head down a bit, hiding my face in my other hand, trying to keep my panic and self doubt hidden from Zak.

He saw right through me.

"Hey..." Zak started softly, leaning toward me and sliding his hand down my arm to take my hand in his. "You'll be okay. We'll get through it. I'm not going to send you to the bad areas in that place," Zak added.

I took a deep breathe and forced myself to look at him.

"You have too," I said softly. "Otherwise, I'll just look like a weak new member to the team..." I added.

Zak frowned and didn't say anything.

He knew I was right.

I looked ahead of me at the waterfall and stared at the cascading water, gleaming in the sunlight.

Is this what Emily had been trying to warn me about?