Don't Touch by Elise VanCise Page A

cup from the counter then
poured her some water from a bottle in the fridge. She was trying
to breathe normally before she hyperventilated. He held the cup and
she took it her fingers brushing the back of his hand.
     
    She looked into his eyes surprised that he
was as frightened as she was. He was scared she had seen too much
that it would harm her. She held on to his emotions the concern and
something else she wasn’t sure of. The cold water helped bring her
back to earth. Thomas knelt beside her rubbing her sleeved arm.
“Take slower breaths, sweetheart.”
     
    Nodding she pointed for the notebook on the
coffee table. Thomas handed it to her carefully. He didn’t want to
touch a pen so he handed her the whole cup. Ryan wrote everything
down. As the ink flowed her heart slowed and the emotions subsided.
The vision she knew would be there for a while. It was there to
stay.
     
    When she was finished she pushed the pad away
and kicked the lipstick across the room. Her voice a bit shaky.
“Sorry, I just need it to be far away from me. No wonder I was a
babbling fool for weeks afterwards.”
     
    Jackson rubbed her shoulder. “You didn’t know
what it was then, or how to prepare for it.”
     
    Thomas was careful to bag the lipstick and
pull her writing out of the book. “You may have given us just
enough information on the location. We might be able to start
narrowing down areas to search.”
     
    Jackson could see she how badly shaken she
was. His heart ached for her. They stayed with her for another hour
as she calmed. Ryan put on a front that she was fine. He put a hand
on her sleeved arm. “You sure you’re going to be alright
tonight?”
     
    She smiled weakly. “I’ll be alright.”
     
    When they left she ran to the shower turning
on the hot water with just enough cold not to get burned. Ryan
stood under the spray and let the heat run over her body. Though
her skin was red from the high temperature she shook chilled to the
bone. Only when she pruned did she get out.
     
    Ryan fell asleep watching television. She
didn’t want to dream, but she was so drained from the day and the
rush of so many emotions. It started out pleasant. Hiking on the
Ocala Forest Trails with her sister.
     
    Amber was chattering away, telling her about
another new boyfriend. It was like old times as they chatted and
laughed. Then they ran into a trailer. Without a second thought
Amber went inside. Ryan begged her to come out as screams echoed
through the trees and blood sprayed the windows.
     
    Jumping up yelling Ryan looked around. “A
dream, just a dream.” She was laying on the couch in her living
room. She grabbed the phone dialing.
     
     
    Glancing at the clock as the phone rang
Jackson expected it to be work calling in these wee hours of the
morning. “Prince”
     
    It was Ryan’s shaking voice he heard. “I’m
not okay.”
     
    Within minutes, he was on his way. He could
tell she had been crying. They should have never left her alone. He
could see her standing in the open door waiting as he pulled
in.
     
    Jackson ran up the steps and wrapped her in
his arms. Walking her in and closing the door he held her close.
Trying to let her know he was there to chase away the evil. Sobbing
Ryan curled into his lap like a frightened child. Her heart was
pounding like a rabbit against his chest. He kissed her hair and
asked. “Can you tell me what happened?”
     
    Thinking only to hide from the visions she
buried her face in his neck. Taking comfort in the warmth of his
skin. “I feel like an idiot, I had a nightmare. I just keep seeing
it over and over. The first time I was the victim. I could feel the
blade tear its way under my skin, the way my body tried to hold on
to the steel as it was pulled out only to come back.”
     
    He cradled her stroking her hair. “This time
was different?”
     
    “Yes, I was terrified. I pushed myself out of
Jillian. I watched it though, knowing it was already done. I know
that girl’s