The Damned Soul: Light Within

Chapter 13: Fitz

I've become obsessed. I'm losing sleep and my mental state wasn't there. But at least I still had the last bit of sanity to admit I was sliding back into the dark days.

"Who is she?" Bowman asked, making me jump. "She's a looker."

I quickly closed my laptop, defending Calli's honor.

"What do you need?" I snapped, not really caring about the respect I was supposed to show him. But he didn't seem phased.

"There was a disturbance a couple nights ago in Willows Park. Sources tell me you were there." he said.

"Yeah, why?" I asked curiously.

"Come to my office during your break." he ordered before disappearing out the door.

Yeah, because who cares about whether or not I actually want a break.

When lunch rolled around, I dragged myself to his office to find his door open, but blinds drawn as he sat on his computer. Some of the afternoon sun peeped through the cracks of the blinds and lit up all the floating dust particles in his office.

"Close the door." he said.

I huffed and reluctantly did as I was told and sat in the chair in front of his desk.

"Do you believe in the supernatural?" he asked me.

Huh? I didn't expect that kind of question.

"Why do you ask?" I said.

"That little encounter at the park didn't spark any interest?" he asked. "Any strange activity or strange people catch your eye?"

My heart was pounding as I was trying to decide whether or not I should tell him. He smirked at me and turned his monitor to face me. There was a picture of a beautiful girl with long blonde hair, milk white skin and sky blue eyes. It wasn't Calli, but look eerily similar.

"Her name is Corina." he said sincerely, like he was in love. "Isn't she a sight?"

I nodded, amazed at the change of character he portrayed. "How did you get such a close shot?" I asked.

"I hire photographers with a certain set of skills." he chuckled.

I looked at him confused.

"Why do you think I keep you on staff?" he smirked.

"I have no idea what you mean." I said still confused.

The smirked didn't leave his face. I was starting sweat bullets "You don't think I've done a thorough background check on you?" he said leaning back in his chair. "Tell me, how is Monica Stanford doing these days?"

I completely froze. I've locked that name from my mind for a long while, till now.

"Hey, it's all good, man." he said. "Don't sweat it."

"How did you get that information?" I choked, pale as a ghost.

He leaned towards me, arms crossed on his desk with a mischievous aura about him. "We have the same itch, you and me." he said. "the public just gave us a bad name."

"Stalkers." I whispered as he nodded.

A chill went down my spine as the thought of Bowman and I sharing a similarity crossed my mind.

"I just call it ambition." he said.

"How do you know of this girl Corina?" I asked.

He let out a big sigh. "I saw her a couple of times by this mansion that was said to be haunted. When I was in your position, I went there to get confirmation about the hauntings because I believe it would have made a great story." he said. "That's when I saw her."

As he was telling me the story, his whole character changed. He was acting like a love obsessed teenage girl.

"Night after night, I went back in hopes I'd get at least a glimpse of her." he continued.

I was at the edge of my seat.

He stopped and glanced at me. "I presume you know what I mean." he smirked.

I let out a nervous cough and got up to pace around.

"The girl on your computer. I've seen her before." he said. "One night I got close enough to the mansion I managed to sneak a peak into their living area."

I sat back down, questions filling my head.

"Who is she?" I asked. "Why can't I find any information on her?" I was starting to get excited.

"You wouldn't be able to, I tried." he said. "but we can slowly learn more and more about them."

"Where can I find this mansion?" I asked now focused on finding about my Calli.

Bowman chuckled. "Determined now, are we. I'll give you the location, only if you come back with evidence of supernatural stuff."

I didn't need to beg, because he knew I'd do anything for it at this point.

He understood my need.

He understood my itch.