In Fear's Embrace (The Hunters' Legacy - Book 2)

Chapter 9

            Not answering phone calls and ignoring text messages was quite a good strategy, which her friend apparently decided to use as well. Jay wondered if it was the answer to her breakup with Bryan, or if Mel herself had something to hide. It worried her and irritated her immensely. ‘She can’t avoid me forever!’ She thought defiantly as she did the hundredth pump. Anger fueled her even more, so she decided to make another hundred – fifty on each hand. She was nervous and frustrated with Melanie’s silence.

            And there was a strange anxiety that woke her up at four in the morning. She dreamed, she was absolutely sure of it. But she did not remember about what or who. She was not even sure if she saw anything at all. She woke up suddenly, sweaty and terrified. She felt overwhelming fear, but at the same time she was irrationally aware that it did not belong to her. It was not she who was afraid.

            Then who? And why did she feel it as well? She was sure that those emotions did not come from her brothers. She was able to recognize their vibrations without mistake. Always and everywhere. Did they feel it too? Could this fear, so real, almost tangible, have a greater range? Could it reach her brothers? She will have to contact them. ‘Think rationally!’ She rebuked herself. ‘It’ll be enough if you call Jess, he’s closest. And only if he felt something contact Christian and so on.’ Arranging an action plan has always helped her calm down.

            Because she could not fall asleep again she put on her favorite training clothes (three quarter leggings, sleeveless T-shirt and trainers) and she went to the home gym. She did a quick warm-up and entered the treadmill eagerly. With each mile she increased the pace, and when her lungs were almost on the brink of endurance, everything eased down. The fear suddenly passed. It just disappeared. As if it had never been there. Confused and exhausted, she turned off the device, and then fell to her knees fighting for every breath, trying to forget about burning pain and trembling muscles.

            ‘What the hell was that?!’ She wondered frantically. She had to admit to herself that she had recently allowed herself more freedom. She did not need her metaphysical shields at her father’s house and by lowering them she could read the emotions of the household better. Sometimes vibrations from the outside reached her. Power brushes. However, she did not expect such a sudden rush of feelings. ‘It was damn unpleasant!’ She admitted silently. Unwittingly she raised her shields to avoid further, potential and unexpected attacks.

            After a quarter of lying on a cool floor, she struggled to her feet and approached the small fridge for water. In one gulp she emptied the bottle halfway. She glanced at the wall clock, and then looked around. It was half past five in the morning and with a smile on her face Jay decided that it was the perfect time to train. That was why she turned on the music and started with bellies, squats and finally push-ups. When she finished she switched to yoga. ‘God knows that I need complete relaxation. Maybe mediation will help?’ She wondered when her father entered the gym.

-          Good morning! – He greeted her with a smile. – I was hoping that I could make it before you for once.

-          I can go somewhere else if you wish. – As far she did not take into consideration that John might not want her company.

-          You don’t disturb me. – He felt offended.  – But my male pride suffers because of you!

            She changed her position and looked at him, surprised. He laughed honestly.

-          Isabo also got up early and was always in the gym before me! I’m ashamed that I’m too lazy to get out of bed a little bit earlier! – He chuckled.

-          You’re working. – She pointed out. – You often lie down after two in the morning, or later. You have to recover somehow, and sleep is the best. – She summed up.

-          Since you know what time I go to bed, it means you don’t sleep too much either. – He said resentfully.

-          So what?! – She asked rebelliously. – Are you going to watch me? Cause I’m not going to comply with the set sleeping hours! – Not knowing why she felt a rush of irritation.

-          I’m not going to control you. – He backed off a bit.

-          I’m sorry. – She controlled herself. – I didn’t sleep well. A nightmare woke me up and I couldn’t sleep.

-          And that’s why you’re torturing yourself? – He asked gently.

-          Exercise helps me to get rid of unnecessary tension. When I practice I relax. I get out of here completely exhausted, I can barely get in the shower. – She explained, sitting in the lotus position. – But then a turn of one hundred and eighty degrees follows! Endorphin level jumps to the upper limit. I get such a kick that I have energy for the whole day. – She stretched and reached for the water. – So when I need full batteries for the night, I also exercise in the afternoon or evening. That’s how it works! – She assured him as he looked at her with slight doubt.

-          You’re right. – He admitted finally. – Exercise actually stimulates, but to give a kick?

-          First you have to start. – She said with a sneer because he was still leaning on a stationary bike.

-          Very funny! – He reached for the remote and turned on the TV hanging on the wall to listen to the news.

-          Have a nice sweating! – She said and headed for the door. She stopped abruptly and looked at the receiver as the journalist reported gruesome events.

            “The police do not reveal the name of the victim because the good of the investigation, but we managed to get some details. The woman lived in New York for two years and worked in one of the bars in the center. Traces left at the crime scene clearly point to r**e, and since the victim was not robbed, the police suspect that the murder was done by accident. Perhaps the girl tried to call for help and then the attacker killed her. It has not been established yet whether there were any witnesses to this macabre crime. It is known, however, that the girl died around four-five in the morning when she was returning from work.”

            The rest of the information dissolved somewhere in the air. Jay did not even listen to her father’s comment that citizens could no longer feel safe. Her thought swirled like a swarm of hard-working bees. ‘Who was that girl?’ She wondered. ‘Were those her emotions that I felt? Was her fear chocking me in my sleep and then preventing me from regaining my balance? If yes, then why?’ She knew that this case would not leave her alone. So she said goodbye quickly and rushed to her room to search a bit. ‘But first a hot shower!’ She decided because she did not know why she felt incredibly cold.

***

            She allowed herself not only for a long, relaxing shower. Before rummaging, she went into the kitchen for a breakfast. Mrs. Morgan was bustling among the pots and chattering happily while preparing the omelet and squeezing fresh orange juice. Though Jay let the housekeeper pamper her a bit, she did not change her habits and now she was eagerly preparing bacon and toasts. She listened to the maid’s chatter with great pleasure, and when her father came into the kitchen, she realized that she felt at home here. It was an extremely pleasant discovery.

            As they ate, on the small TV set in the kitchen, they heard again the shocking news about the death of the young woman. The reporter, with some regret, talked about a twenty-one-year-old girl dreaming of performing on Broadway. About a girl whose life was interrupted in such a cruel way and her dream would never come true. The terrified Mrs. Morgan immediately began to chase her for lonely going out into the city and jogging alone while it was still dark outside.

-          It’s unthinkable for a young girl from good home to roam the city alone! – She said indignantly.

-          Mrs. M. – Jay tried to calm her down. – Please don’t worry about me. I’m tough enough and I can defend myself. Besides! – She added when the housekeeper wanted to attack again. – I’m not roaming the city, I’m jogging. In the parks and surrounding forests. If I’m in the mood. – She shrugged her shoulders.

-          Can you hear that, boy?! – She looked reproachfully at John.

-          Yes I can hear. – His stoic calmness and the fact that he did not look up from the newspaper made the housekeeper even angrier.

-          And of course you’re not going to do anything about it! – It was rather a statement than a question. – Shame on you John William Tyler! Not only that you have no influence on your own daughter and you can’t look after her, but you also hide your head in the sand! – Although she tried very hard to look menacing, she did not achieve the intended effect at her three and a half foot.

-          I’m sorry Mrs. M. – He said in a repentant tone, avoiding her look so that she would not see the happy flashes in his eyes.

-          And you my miss! – She turned to Jay, who was barely able to control her amusement. – Don’t you dare to wander at night until the whole thing is cleared up and the killer is caught! – She threatened Jay with her plump finger. – I’m serious!

-          Okay Mrs. Morgan. I promise. – Jay was barely serious.

-          The world is falling apart! – She murmured to herself when she was leaving the kitchen to take care of laundry.

-          Don’t say anything! – She said stressing her words with a wave of her hands. – The very fact that she used your full name and called you ‘boy’ made me almost snort with laughter. – She laughed shortly, honestly. – Is she always like that?

-          Don’t you remember? – He asked with a slight regret. – Mrs. M. has always loved to rule and holds us all with a hard hand. And at the same time she lets O’Malley think he’s the one who cares about everything.

-          Fascinating! – She said and came to the coffee machine to pour herself some coffee. After some reflection, she took a bottle of water, an apple and a plate of nut cookies baked by the housekeeper. – And now excuse me, but I’m going to work.

-          On what? You still have holidays. – He noticed.

-          I’m preparing a project for Danny. – She lied lightly. – Have a nice day, dad! – She added, smacking him on the cheek and she left.

            She went straight to her room. She sat comfortably on the bed with the laptop. She also prepared a notebook, because she always took additional notes apart those done on computer. She found reports from the crime scene. There was a lot of it, because each station sent its crew there. She watched every material until she caught all the important information and details.

            She knew the name of the victim. She knew where she came from, where she now lived and worked. But despite this, after several hours of strenuous mental work, the information she received did not tell her anything and she still had no answer to the basic question.

            The thought that she should call her brothers and check if they felt something strange last night, was quickly pushed away. Jay decided to call them only if it will be absolutely necessary. All in all, she left her hometown not only to protect Bryan. Her mother had some mission for her and she was ready to find out what is that, but she did not want to involve her brothers. Isabo clearly stated that it will be very dangerous and Jay did not want her brothers to be chased after.

            Besides, she supposed that they would have called her if received any disturbing signals. Meanwhile her phone was silent. She had no missed calls, voice or text messages. She could focus on finding any connection between her experience and the young girl, who died in the early morning.

            Was it Susanne Jamison who sent her the signal? Was it her fear that she felt so clearly? She did not have much choice but to go to the bar and follow her energy. She had to do it quickly, because the aura of the dead has the unpleasant habit of evaporating rapidly. So she got up, packed the necessary things to a bag and went to the kitchen to inform Mrs. M. that she was going out for a while.