Lost Souls by J. Bishop (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📗

disarray and sputtering about how the man in the mirror wouldn’t let her be. The man continued to appear and accuse her, and she didn’t know what to do. And then that morning, in the bathroom, she’d seen a woman with him, and they’d both pointed at her. She’d run out, terrified and confused, convinced she was hallucinating, and if Mason couldn’t do something, she’d have to see a doctor. Either that, or move.

Mason tried to reassure her, went back into the bedroom, and studied the mirror. The room’s window shades remained closed, the only illumination coming in from the light shining from around the edges. The bed was unmade, and the room untidy. Suitcases sat along the wall, and the closet was open. Half of it was empty, but the man’s clothes he’d seen before still hung in the same place.

Mason had to consider the possibility that whatever tragedy had befallen this woman was causing her visions. Guilt could create a number of symptoms, and he worried that he might have to ask Serita to call that doctor, or at least suggest counseling, but he’d have to see first if the man in the mirror had indeed returned, and if he was truly the source of the problem.

After sitting for several minutes, he’d had no success in his attempts at contact. Deciding to try the other mirror, he stood and entered the attached bathroom, and stared into it. It was slightly smeared and he grabbed the hand towel to wipe it. The mirror popped and Mason realized it was a medicine cabinet. He opened it. Several pill bottles were lined up on the shelves, along with over-the-counter allergy medication. Eyeing the bottles, something pricked at him, as if he’d seen something out the corner of his eye, but couldn’t make it out. Deciding not to pry further, he closed the mirror, and went back to staring and waiting. Nothing happened, though, and he returned to the bedroom, where he tried again with the larger mirror. Sitting silently, he was about to leave when familiar tingles began to travel up his arms. Opening up, he listened.

Like before, a male presence emanated and a voice echoed in Mason’s mind. Help her. It’s not her fault. The voice had said the same on his previous visit. “How can I help?” Mason asked aloud. The mirror began to turn a misty gray, as if it was fogging up. “What is your message?” he asked.

Help her. She needs help.

“Who needs help?” asked Mason. “Serita?”

The mirror clouded more, and Mason watched it swirl, and then slowly, the fog began to take shape. “Who are you?” asked Mason.

The tingles grew, his skin chilled, and the room turned frigid. Mason rubbed his shoulders. “What do you want me to know?”

The fog turned dense. Mason’s reflection twisted and contorted. A man appeared in the mirror, his face pale, and with a garish wound in his head.

Mason froze, not sure he was seeing properly. The man staring back at him was Chad Howard.

**

Anxious and worried about Mason, Trick raced to Michelle and took her arm. “Where does Shay live?”

“What?” Michelle tried to pull away. “What for?”

Valerie stepped closer. “What’s going on, Trick?”

“I need her address. Right now.” Trick squeezed harder. “Because if you don’t give it to me, you’re looking at accessory to murder, Michelle.”

“Wh…What?” asked Michelle.

“Trick, what is wrong?” asked Valerie.

Trick pulled Michelle close. “My partner is on his way to Serita Avery’s house, not knowing what he’s about to walk into. Give it to me. Now.”

Michelle stammered. “Shay would never─”

“Now,” yelled Trick. He mentally calculated in his mind how long it had been since he’d talked to Mikey and in his gut, he realized it was too long. Mason didn’t have much time left, if any.

“It’s in my phone,” Michelle yelled back. “I’ll get it.” She pulled her cell out of her robe pocket, and accessed the address with trembling fingers. “Here.”

Trick let her go. “Find out where we’re going, Valerie. I have a call to make.” He grabbed his own phone, and punched the button for Mason.

**

Mikey double-checked the address, and pulled into a vacant lot. Large trees with heavy branches and thick leaves encircled about an acre of land and the driveway was almost completely overgrown with grass growing through cracks in the cement.

For the millionth time, she second-guessed herself, knowing she was breaking her promise to Mason, but didn’t want to lose this opportunity to talk to Shay. She pulled in and parked under a canopy of tree branches, and wondered why Shay wanted to meet here, but assumed she needed privacy. Her anxiety over the phone had been acute, and Mikey hoped Shay wouldn’t change her mind and not show. Mikey had promised she’d head straight there. Holding her phone, Mikey surveyed the area. It was quiet, and the lot was big enough so that the nearest neighbor would likely not even know a car was there unless they drove by and looked.

Feeling antsy, but keeping an eye out for Shay, she did what she’d been thinking about during the drive and texted Mason, telling him where she was and giving him the address. Maybe if he was finishing with Serita, he could join her here. Based on her rough recollection of Serita’s address, she didn’t live too far away.

After sending the text, she tapped on the steering wheel, checked the time, and almost jumped in her seat when her phone rang. Not recognizing the number, she realized it was a business call which had forwarded to her cell since she and Mason were out of the office. Mikey answered. “You’ve reached SCOPE. How can I help you?”

A woman replied. “Hello. I’m looking for Mason Redstone. This is Daphne Stewart.”

Mikey recalled Daphne as being Chad’s assistant and the woman Trick and Mason had spoken to at Chad’s office. “He’s actually in a meeting, but I’m his assistant, Mikey. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Well, I suppose,” said Daphne. “He asked me