Authors Note: For this chapter, I have written a few phrases in Italian, but made sure the phrase is clearly translated in one way or another shortly after it's used. Also, I used Google Translate to do this, as I don't speak Italian. So I apologize if the Italian isn't perfect. :)
Chapter 32: Getting Closer to Hell
"Save him..." Emily pleaded, then disappeared.
"Emily, wait," I said quietly, taking a step toward the water, hoping she would reappear, but she didn't.
"Shorty? You okay?" Aaron suddenly asked from behind me.
I looked back at him.
I had promised Cheryl if I saw Emily in any way, that I'd at least tell Aaron, and considering the message she just gave me, I decided to keep my promise.
"I just saw her..." I said softly.
"Emily?" Aaron asked.
I nodded.
"Did she say anything?" Aaron asked, looking concerned.
"'Only you can save him'..." I said, quoting Emily's remark. "I asked her who she was talking about, but all she said was 'Save him' and then disappeared..." I added.
Zak, up near the main building now, had no idea of what had just happened.
"Come on guys! Let's go!" Zak called.
I looked at Aaron with worry on my face.
"I have a bad feeling about this Aaron..." I said.
Aaron hesitated, then sighed a bit.
"He'll go in there whether we go or not," Aaron said.
I knew he was right and took a bit of a deep breath before Aaron and I started walking toward the building.
"She could of easily meant me, Billy or Jay..." Aaron said.
I made a face in the darkness.
"Very reassuring Aaron..." I mumbled, as we continued walking.
~*~*~*~*~
"What were you two doing?" Zak asked when Aaron and I had finally caught up with him.
"The battery in Ali's camera suddenly died, I replaced it for her," Aaron quickly replied.
I was stunned.
Why is he lying for me?
I hesitated, but then decided to speak up. I didn't want to lie about it, and I didn't want Aaron to get in trouble because of me. However, even though I decided to speak up, I chose not to use Emily's name, in case this discussion made it into the episode.
I wasn't ready to for all the details of my family to be released to the public – even though this episode wouldn't air for a while yet.
"I saw my sister standing over the water," I said softly.
Zak looked at me, surprised.
"Did she say anything?" Zak asked.
"That only I 'can save him'...but she didn't elaborate," I replied
Zak stayed silent for a minute, as if he were thinking about Emily's message.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing we have you with us," Zak said, looking into my camera, acting easy going for the audience. He then turned and ducked down to enter a hole in the fence surrounding the ruined building.
"Watch the fence guys," Zak said, as he stepped through the fence.
Aaron looked at me.
"Told you," He mumbled, then carefully followed Zak through the fence.
I sighed and reluctantly followed Aaron, putting my free hand in Aaron's hand that he held out to help me through.
I had never wanted to smack Zak in the back of his head so much in the entirety of me knowing him.
~*~*~*~*~
We walked slowly through the dark, empty, decaying rooms - filming every corner, every tiny space, looking for any signs of paranormal activity.
Zak kept asking questions, but we weren't getting much in response, other than the occasional small noise here and there.
Earlier in the day, I had used Google Translate on my iPad to translate some key questions - that the guys often used during lockdowns - from English to Italian, and had memorized them as best as I could.
I decided to give it a shot.
"Ce qualcuno qui?" I asked.
I managed not to laugh when Aaron and Zak whirled around and looked at me as if I were a ghost.
"What the heck Shorty?" Aaron asked.
I chuckled and shrugged innocently.
"I looked up some questions on Google translate earlier today," I said.
Zak smiled at me, probably for the first time in the past two months.
I was thankful for the darkness as I felt my face flush.
"Well aren't you a smart cookie," Aaron said, grinning at me.
"Not to mention sexy sounding cookie," Zak said, somewhat teasingly.
I thought I was going to die of embarrassment, right then and there.
Emily, are you sure you hadn't meant I'd be the one needing saving? I thought.
Aaron laughed and looked back at me.
"Alright, well you lead with the questions then Shorty," Aaron said.
Oh great.
I walked forward a bit more and repeated my question.
"Ce qualcuno qui?" (Is there anybody here?) I asked.
Suddenly, there was a very loud bang from the room behind us.
We all whirled around to look at the doorway.
"Holy shit!" Zak exclaimed, as he walked over toward the door.
"That was loud bro!" Aaron said.
"Aaron, give me the Mel-Meter," Zak said.
Aaron opened a pocket on the vest he was wearing - which was covered in pockets he used to carry our smaller pieces of gear - and took out the Mel-Meter.
He handed the Mel-Meter to Zak who turned it on and started scanning the room.
The Mel-Meter is used to detect rapid changes in the Electromagnetic Fields in the air, which spirits are said to give off. It also has the ability to detect changes in temperature.
I had kept silent, still surprised I had actually asked a question in a language I wasn't fluent in, and had seemingly gotten a response.
"You didn't tell the spirits off by mistake, did you Shorty?" Aaron teased.
Zak and I both laughed.
"No, I asked if anyone was here," I replied.
"Ce qualcuno qui?" Zak asked, stepping into the room while holding the Mel-Meter out in front of him.
Okay...I understand the sexy part... I thought to myself.
"What other questions do you know?" Zak asked, as Aaron and I followed him into the room.
I scrambled around in my brain.
I was a little uneasy when I had asked my next question, but went ahead with it anyway, thinking of the doctor who had reportedly killed a bunch of his patients before killing himself.
"Sei un assassino?" I asked.
Almost immediately after I finished talking, we all heard - with our very own ears - a very deep, raspy voice.
"...yes..."
"Oh my god!" Aaron exclaimed.
Zak looked at me, absolutely thrilled.
"What was that one?" Zak asked.
"Are you a murderer..." I translated softly.
I was starting to regret doing this.
"Do you know how to ask them to use our energy?" Zak asked.
I reluctantly nodded.
"Usare la mia energia," I said.
Once again, we all heard the same deep, raspy voice that had spoken just moments go.
"...want...Zak..."
Zak looked stunned, but didn't look nearly as freaked out as I was.
Suddenly, I saw him place his hand against the wall and close his eyes.
"Are you alright bro?" Aaron asked, moving closer to him.
"I feel like the energy is being sucked out of me," Zak said, opening his eyes.
My brow narrowed.
I didn't like that I had asked whoever was here to use my energy, but was going after Zak instead.
Zak looked at me, still resting against the wall.
"How do I ask it to attack me?" Zak asked.
No way in hell...
"I don't know," I lied.
"Yes you do, tell me," Zak replied.
I figured trying to lie again wasn't an option.
"No Zak," I said.
"Ali-" Zak started.
"No!" I said, the turned and walked into the nearest room I could find, not knowing at the time that I would later regret the decision.