The Ghosts Of New Orleans (A PARANORMAL RESEARCH AND CONTAINMENT DIVISION (PRCD) CASE FILE) Read Online Free Page B

going woman,” she
replied, “I’ve been Baptist all my life – like my momma and her momma before
her.”
    Eloise nodded.  “I should have known just by looking at you,” Eloise
said, and watched as Elizabeth calmed down a little.
    “Of course, you all know that someday you are going to get your final
reward.  Because of your good works and the kindnesses you have shown, someday
you are going to go to Heaven,” Eloise said, “Isn’t that right?”
    “Uh-huh,” the crowd responded.
    “And that is the ultimate reward, that place... in Heaven, where you can
see your loved ones and where you can bask in the glory of God.”
    “Amen,” someone shouted from the crowd.  The others in the crowd joined
in agreeing.
    “And when He comes again in glory – what will be the sign?” she asked.
    “A light from the sky,” Elizabeth called out, “A light from the sky!”
    Eloise smiled and nodded. “Yes, a light from the sky,” she repeated,
“Look around you - can you see that light in the sky now?”
    Eloise watched as the spirits before her looked heavenward and turned
around until they were all focused on a particular part of the evening sky.
    “Glory be,” Elizabeth whispered, “The time has come.”
    “Yes,” Eloise said, “The time has come for all of you.  Follow that light
and go home.”
    Elizabeth turned back to Eloise, who could feel the force of the woman’s
spirit.  “Well we ain’t going nowhere without you,” she stated.
    Eloise could feel the pull on her body.  She knew that the natural
inclination of any spirit was to go to the light and, with such a large group,
there was always the danger that their combined power would be too much for her
to withstand.
    Eloise stepped back and smiled at Elizabeth.  “As much as I want to go with
you, I can’t,” she explained, “There are more people like you who I have to tell
about the light. It’s not my time, Elizabeth. Not yet.”
    Elizabeth nodded and smiled. “Lizzy,” she said, “all my closest friends
call me Lizzy.”
    Eloise felt a lump in her throat. “Lizzy. Thank you.”
    She watched as the group, led by Lizzy, walked down the beach.  Then
slowly, they moved into the sky and circled until it was their turn to enter
through the passageway.  After about ten minutes, all of the spirits had faded
from sight.
    She smiled, wiped the trace of a tear from her face and started to turn
when suddenly she couldn’t move.   Although Lizzy’s force had been powerful,
this unseen force was at least ten times more potent.  Eloise understood
immediately, she was being attacked.
    Instantly, Eloise remembered her training and started to breathe deeply,
meditate and not allow fear to enter her thoughts.  She could hear the worried
cries of the Marines in the distance, but she couldn’t answer them. She
pictured Andy in her mind – playing on the beach and building a sandcastle. 
She pictured his sweet smile and scattered freckles. She continued to breathe
deeply – in and out, concentrate.  She concentrated on the joy she felt when he
ran up the beach.  The feeling of peace when she knew he was with his
grandparents. The little tracks of his feet in the sand.  Andy building the
sandcastle.  But even as she pictured the sandcastle, Andy’s face melted away
and in its place was the face of the villager on the beach. 
    She concentrated on her breathing – in and out, deep and smooth.  The man
was staring out to sea again.  But his eyes were no longer kind. They were
angry and glaring.  And when he turned to her, he was covered with maggots that
crawled in and out of the gaps where his face used to be. His lips were drawn
up in a macabre smile and from them came a sound that caused Eloise’s blood to
run cold.  The same sinister laugh she had heard in her dream.
    Eloise gasped aloud and fell to her knees in the sand. The laughter
echoed in her head and fear ran through her body.  The laughter increased in
intensity and