Chapter 39
Nolan's at the house, finally. He's supposed to talk about the interesting things he found out about. Of course, he looks— not necessarily bad, but definitely not great.
They're sitting at the dining table, Kat's holding the camera, and Nolan... well. His hair is ruffled and his eyes are darker than usual. He hasn't shown an ounce of humor or sarcasm quite yet, and to say the least, Sunshine is worried. He can hardly look at the camera.
"What was up with that voicemail, Nolan?" Kat asks suspiciously.
"Oh, well, I was uh—" He clenches his fingers together and his voice is softer and rougher than usual. Sunshine doesn't like this. He shrugs his shoulders back and hesitates. "Admittedly, I was a little over-emotional."
Sunshine nods.
"A little?" her mother remarks.
"Um, yeah, um, but— that's okay, y'know? People, people make mistakes, hormones, angst, uh." He clears his throat.
"You blame that on hormones, really?" Sunshine raises a dubious brow at Nolan.
"Uh, listen, I'm not— I'm not trying to cause any ruckus or anything, I just, uh— I just, I just don't know exactly what's going on... right now." He frowns and appears to be very serious. "You know?"
"No," Kat huffs. "Fill us in. What are you talking about?"
"Explain yourself," Sunshine says.
"It's, it's not— it's more difficult to process uh, with tables and chairs and... candles." He glances at the candles and rocks sitting in a long white plate. He picks up one of the rocks. "Stones, uh—"
Sunshine rolls her eyes.
"—the point of what I'm getting at is that I, uh.."
She nods impatiently.
"Am hearing— things."
Sunshine narrows her eyes. "Okay."
"Sometimes," Nolan goes on, "and, it's not that—" He grits his teeth, like he's trying to say something but doesn't want to tell them, "—and I want to, to make sense of them."
"Like you're— like, explain, you're hearing... voices..?" Kat questions.
"Yeah. I want to understand what they're saying. And I— I can almost—" He tilts his head, "get it, I just wanted to make sure when I left the message that you were okay, because, sometimes... they talk about— you."
Sunshine raises her brows. "The voices in your head talk about me."
He bites the inside of his cheek and looks at her. "Yeah."
She looks confused. "Okay.."
"I just— wanted to make sure that you were okay, and that you would remain okay, and I just wanted to— I just want to help." He looks down.
Kat sighs. "Okay, well I know one thing that'll help." She eyes Sunshine. "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
She puffs out a breath. This whole thing is coming full circle, just like Uncle Tommy said. "Possession test?"
"Oh yeah."
Nolan glares at the camera then it drops to confusion, like he doesn't exactly understand what they're insinuating. "Wait, what?"
"Do you have it still?" Kat asks.
"Yeah," she grunts.
"What's, uh— what's a possession test..?"
"Get excited," Sunshine says sarcastically, "it's real fun."
"All you have to do, Nolan, is write stuff down— write down what Sunshine says, okay? It's really easy."
Nolan picks up the pen and creases the paper. "It's like a— spelling—?"
"It's not spelling, no."
"No." Sunshine snorts. "Just... just a couple stuff, promise, it's really easy." A pause. "You ready?"
Nolan nods seriously. "Uh, yeah. Just, um— what do I— okay, go, sorry."
"First line," Sunshine begins, "To this world's end."
Nolan takes a lot of effort into the paper, muttering the words as he writes them down with ease. He doesn't seem possessed, but the whole voices thing is weird, and so are the random, cryptic things he's saying. Sunshine's been around a possessed person to know that it's better safe than sorry.
He looks up at her.
Sunshine straightens as she continues to read from her phone. "Okay, next line— I am me, and me alone."
Kat tries to eye his handwriting with the camera, but he covers up the words. "You're not gonna let me see, are you?" she grunts.
"What— what is the criteria for passing this test, exactly?" Nolan raises a brow.
"Next line," Sunshine says sharply, "With faith—" She inclines her head toward the paper when he hesitates.
"Just write it down, Nolan," Kat mutters.
He does so, but his hand begins to shake with each stroke of the pen.
"And, last line— I cast out all who possess me."
Nolan begins writing the line, but his hand strains as he does so. He gasps softly and pushes his chin into his shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut, but turns back and vigorously continues.
And... he finishes.
Sunshine swipes the paper from him and eyes it suspiciously. "Other than it's written very neatly, um, yeah. You passed."
Kat nods. "Okay, you passed, no big deal."
Nolan sighs and pushes himself back into the chair, eyes still dark.
Mom Mode again. "Hey, what's goin' on? You're obviously freaked out about something more than just... voices."
He bites his lip and his gaze flickers from Kat to Sunshine, almost in a nervous manner. He did pass the test, but he's clearly not completely here.
He continues to glance between them and eventually leans back, crossing his arms. "All right." Nolan looks down. "I haven't— been— completely honest with you guys."
Sunshine frowns.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Silence.
"Okay..." Kat and Sunshine say together.
Nolan blinks slowly and hesitates.
"Is it a... long story?" Sunshine mumbles.
"No," he says softly, voice growing slightly louder as he leans his elbows on the table. "Yeah, so, this isn't the first time— uh— the voices have been a thing... for me..." He frowns. "I mean I— I didn't want to— I don't like telling people." His voice breaks. "Because you tell someone that you hear voices, and they think you're crazy."
Kat sighs. "Yeah..."
Sunshine just nods, trying to understand what he's getting at.
"Crazy's dismissive," he continues. "I don't want that. But—" He clears his throat, "But you guys are my friends, and I think you should know. Um, when I was— for as long as I can remember, I've... heard things. And saw things."
Sunshine exchanges a glance with her mother.
"That people didn't necessarily see or understand, um, and words were thrown around, like— schizophrenia, uh, hyperactive attention— delusions— crazy." His voice goes quiet. This seems to really bother him. "But— I'm okay. And I could see things that I'm pretty sure hadn't happened."
Sunshine's heart spikes. Wait, what now?
"And it was rough for a long time, and my parents... I got sick, and I, uh, I went to the hospital and I was treated with things I don't remember the names of, and—" He clenches his jaw. "I kept getting sicker, and it hurt, really bad. And— I— went to sleep for a while."
Kat stumbles over her words. "What, like— like a coma?"
Nolan doesn't look at either of them. "Yeah."
"Wow... okay.."
He finally looks up and searches their faces for disappointment, but finds none. It relaxes his tension just slightly, but it's definitely still there.
"Okay.." Kat sighs, tone worried. "Nolan, when did all this happen?"
"It was like... a decade ago, I think. I would've been... 19, at the time."
"What?" Kat mutters.
"But I'm fine," he tries to shrug off, "and I think that there's a reason for this, and I just— gotta focus."
"Y— you would've been what?" Sunshine finally asks, eyes narrowed. Sorry, did she hear that correctly?
"Like, how old?" Kat adds.
Nolan shushes them and clenches his fists.
"Nolan," Sunshine tries.
"Yeah," he responds, trying to smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"How old would you have been?"
"I was about 19." He shifts in the chair and rises to his feet. "I've..."
"Okay, so like, you just were sick?" Kat continues.
Sunshine nods, wondering why he's standing up. "You just got sick? Like..?"
"Huh?" he asks as he rounds the table, breathing heavily and shaking. He leans on the kitchen counter. "No, uh... what?"
"How long ago did you get sick?" Sunshine presses.
Nolan looks out of the window, breath hitching. He turns back to them. "I, I gotta—" He points with his thumb toward the front door. "I gotta run. I gotta run, I'll be— I'll be back, uh..."
"Where are you going?" Kat stands as well, clearly worried for him. Something isn't right here. Nolan's acting very strange.
"Nolan?" Sunshine asks, concerned.
"I'm gonna— see you guys— later, okay?" He swiftly turns and anxiously leaves, slamming the door behind him.
"Okay..." Kat mutters. She looks at Sunshine incredulously. "Okay, what was that?"
"I don't know," she sighs, stressed.
"Okay, didn't he just say he was 19 ten years ago?"
Sunshine nods slowly.
Great.
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Two days later, Sunshine's finally gotten a hold of Nolan. A pain in her ass, really. They talked for a little while about shoes, but aside from that, he said he would be bringing over a paranormal expert on Sunday.
Yeah, hopefully that goes better than last time. Jeez. That had been... awful. What a joke. It had to have been a joke, right? Seriously...
But, y'know. Shoes. Nolan. Expert dude. Pretty sure that's everything, so— slides covered. Cool. Awesome.
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It's 6:30 on a Sunday and Nolan said he was going to be here with the— paranormal expert dude— but of course he isn't. Nolan is late. Wow. What a shocker. She's still hoping it goes better than last time.
"What did he say he knew about?" Kat asks.
"He said he was, like, an expert, super knowledgeable in all the Luiseach and... and the war, and.. paranormally-ness—"
The front door flies open and startles both women. Sunshine snaps her head to the side to see Nolan flying through, slamming the door shut. He stands rigid, anxiously staring at both of them, like he just ran over a person and needs a place to crash for the night.
"Oh. He just. Let himself in," Kat groans.
"Hey, Nolan..." Sunshine mutters optimistically.
He breathes heavily, stumbling back. His voice is soft and quiet, but the terror is clear. "Is he here?"
"You said you were bringing him!" Sunshine says.
"Why isn't he here yet?" he asks himself, pacing back and forth.
Kat is surprised. "Wait, he didn't come with you?"
Nolan walks past Sunshine and into the living room, arms raised to cover his eyes with his hands stressfully. He whimpers and wipes his palms down his face. "Listen," he says, voice breaking, "to me, guys— I— I know now."
He drops his hands and looks at them. "I know n—" He winces and scrunches his face, like he's in pain or something terrible is happening. He clenches his hands tightly. "Stop!" he yells to no one in particular.
"Woah, calm down, what—?" Kat touches his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
He cries out.
"Nolan?" she presses.
He breathes out. "I— I—" A knock on the door catches everyone's attention. "—saying to me..."
He trails off and Kat moves to get the door.
"No, don't—"
"What, Nolan, Nolan," Sunshine tries, but he's not listening to her.
"Shh, shh, Kat." Nolan leans against the door and faces her mother, serious. "Give me one minute," he pleads.
Kat shakes her head. "What, you— he's here, what?"
"It's him," he says slowly, appearing to be absolutely petrified.
"What's him?" Kat demands.
A man tries to peer through the front door window.
Nolan sobs and clutches his face desperately.
"Okay, just—" Kat is cut off.
"No, no, if you—" He presses his body next to the wall, breathing heavily.
"Let's just hear what he has to say, okay?"
"Nolan!" Sunshine growls. What the hell is wrong with him?
"He's here, let's see what he has to say, okay?" Kat repeats, attempting to calm him down.
"Nolan!"
"I just— I need—" He lowers his hands and his gaze widens. "I need you to trust me, one time, please...!"
"I trust you," Kat soothes, "I trust you all the time, Nolan, go sit, okay? Just sit down, okay? It's all right!"
"Nolan, just sit." Sunshine glares at him. He backs away, breathing growing heavier and heavier.
"Hi, I'm sorry about that," her mother says as she opens the door. "Hi, I'm Kat."
"Hi, Kat," the man says professionally, shaking her hand. He's wearing a black shirt with a dark gray overcoat, short black hair sweeping over his head.
"Nice to meet you, come on in." Kat motions him inside and steps back.
"Nice to meet you." He looks at Sunshine and smiles.
Oh, HELL no!
"What are you doing here?" Sunshine asks in a low and exhausted voice, brows furrowing.
"Sunshine," LeMaster laughs.
"Wait, you guys know each other?" Kat asks.
"I'm glad to see you're still alive," he breathes.
"What, still alive?"
Sunshine scoffs.
"I— I know, I'm sorry, um..." LeMaster holds his hands together and looks at Sunshine. "I wanted to let you know, uh, I've been apologizing—"
Nolan is muttering furiously and painfully somewhere in the living room.
"—to everyone I've, I've served before. I realized there was a lot of— errors— in my ways, and I've reformed, I've shaved my beard, uh, removed my tattoo, and fired my guru, and I'm sorry for being so condescending the last time we interacted, I'm, I'm really just here to help." He nods. "Hello, Kat."
"Okay..." her mother nods slowly. "All right. Okay?"
Sunshine sighs. "Sure," she snaps.
"May I?" LeMaster asks.
"Yeah," she says coldly.
"Thank you, Sunshine." He steps into the home and they all turn to see Nolan writhing on the ground, leaned up against a white beam in the living room. He laughs dangerously when he sees LeMaster.
"Nolan," Sunshine says disapprovingly.
He leans his head down and Kat crouches in front of him, "Hey, Nolan, you have to calm down. Okay? He's here now, he can help—"
Nolan wipes his tears. "I'm trying so hard to— Kat— Kat—"
Kat turns away and looks at LeMaster. "Can you do anything when he's like this?"
LeMaster sighs. "Well, I— I don't mean to be rude, I, I understand that he's having an emotional encounter, but it is affecting the energy—" He widens his arms, "—of the space, and it's interfering with my perception."
"Nolan," Sunshine harshly snaps. He's crying like a little girl. He's not even hurt! "Stop! Okay? Can you just chill?"
Nolan breathes, looking forward.
"Get up."
"Th— th— thank you, Sunshine," he mutters, pushing himself up using his palms, back sliding against the wooden beam.
"Sit, okay?"
"I'm sorry," Nolan murmurs.
"Okay, so.." Kat turns to LeMaster, who nods. "Where do you wanna start, do you..?"
"Well, let's just start with, uh, this space." He places a hand on the lamp, thinking. "It's a normal temperature." He then touches the desk and spreads his hand over the items on top. "These are healthy candles."
He turns and moves his hands in circles. "This room is clean." LeMaster moves into the kitchen. Nolan is standing behind Sunshine like a little girl.
"Do you want— actually, Sunshine's room is upstairs, do you wanna... see that?"
"Absolutely, I do," LeMaster agrees, nearing the base of the stairs.
Sunshine whips around when he comes even closer. "Nolan, what? Ow!"
"Sunshine," he says, looking at her.
"What?"
"Sunshine—" His voice lowers. "Sunshine, do you remember when we first met?" He has a small smile, but it's pained and terrified.
"Okay, yeah," she says, bored.
"I was— I was just the Creepy Guy?" He smiles. "Remember that?"
"Yeah." Sunshine huffs out a laugh. "You kinda are, right now, being the creepy guy."
His brows push together, eyes wide. "I said I was here to help you."
"Yeah, I— remember, I was there—" He clutches her arm like she's his only lifeline. "You're hurting my arm," she mumbles, annoyed.
Nolan lets go and straightens up.
"What?"
"I'm gonna keep you safe, Sunshine," he vows, nodding to himself.
"Okay..?"
He unzips his black leather jacket and fishes around the inside pockets, narrowing his eyes.
"Nolan." She doesn't like LeMaster, but going upstairs with them is probably a better idea than hanging around down here. "What are you..?"
He pulls out a silver gun.
"Nolan!" she whisper-yells. "Nolan, what the hell— Put it away." He doesn't make a move to, holding it in his left hand. "Nolan!"
"Let me show you down here," Kat says from the stairs.
Nolan shifts in his place, looking into the kitchen, avoiding her eyes.
"Nolan!" she tries again. Why isn't he listening to her? He's crazy!
When they reach the bottom floor, Nolan stuffs the gun in his jacket.
"Nolan, just— stop! Just put it away, Nolan!"
He leans against the wall, tightly hugging his arms around his body.
"Nolan."
He looks at her and smirks, winking.
"Nolan, seriously."
Kat and LeMaster reach the living room and she eyes her daughter and Nolan. "You okay?"
LeMaster swipes his hand over the arch between the kitchen and the living room.
"Mom—" She side-eyes Nolan. "Come over here, Mom."
"What's wrong?" She walks up to her.
"I'm just... not comfortable.."
LeMaster tries to follow them but Nolan pushes himself off the wall, standing in front of him. He pulls out the gun and points it at LeMaster's head.
"Nolan!"
"What are you doing?!" Kat exclaims.
LeMaster spreads his arms out, eyes widening.
"I— know— who you are now!" Nolan laughs darkly, hand shaking with the gun.
"Nolan, put the gun away!" Kat snarls, then whispers to Sunshine, "is that a real gun?"
"I don't know..." Sunshine murmurs, standing behind Nolan.
"I— I am LeMaster—" he tries.
"You've been scarin' me for a long time, and I'm not scared of you anymore, you understand?" His voice raises and breaks.
"Uh, I— I don't understand," LeMaster stammers.
"Nolan!" Kat growls.
"It's you," Nolan snaps, glaring at LeMaster. "It's you!"
"Nolan!"
Nolan breathes in. "You're the one who's been causing all of this— I don't know if it's all you, but you're there!"
"Nolan!" Sunshine says louder.
"What?" he says, facing her.
"Can you stop?" she whispers. LeMaster's hands are on his head — he's not dangerous! "What are you doing?"
"Look at him," Nolan sneers, "he's not even in the mirror."
"I— I— I think that—" LeMaster stammers.
"What?" Kat gapes.
"He's not even in the mirror..." Sunshine turns to the one hanging above the couch, eyes wide. "Nolan." Her throat goes dry. "Neither are you."
Kat begins to tremble. "What?"
"Just—" Sunshine turns back to Nolan, who's staring at them, looking confused and anxious.
He whips to LeMaster. "What are you doing?!" Nolan demands.
"I—"
"Stop it! Stop it!" Nolan screams, moving forward slowly.
"Nolan," Kat says, trying to soothe him in any way possible.
What. The. Hell. Is. Happening?
LeMaster bows his head. "Violence is not the answer, uh, let us— let us take a moment—"
"Shut up," Nolan seethes, voice low and cold. It grows louder as he nears closer. "Shut up!"
"No! Nolan! Look!" Sunshine points to the mirror.
"Put it back!" Nolan continues to yell, "put it back, please!" He nears the two women again.
"You don't want this on your karma," LeMaster stutters. "I assure you."
"Put it back."
"Put what back?"
"Put it back!" Nolan presses his finger closer to the trigger. Sunshine's wondering how she hasn't passed out yet.
"I— I will, just tell me— tell me what you want me to do."
"Nolan," Kat says softly.
"Nolan!" Sunshine growls.
"Put the gun down." Kat shakes her head. "Why isn't he listening to you?"
Nolan begins to cry. "I'm a good guy."
LeMaster nods hopefully. "You— you're a great guy—"
"I want to help," he sobs.
"Nolan! Just stop," Sunshine begs, growing aggravated. "Nolan!"
"I'll do anything," LeMaster pleads.
"Get—" Nolan hangs his head, wiping tears away with his free hand.
"Nolan, we're fine," Kat stresses.
"You're the bad guy," Nolan spits through his teeth, glaring at LeMaster.
"No one's the bad guy." LeMaster's voice shakes. "We're all good guys here."
"I'm good."
"Nolan. Nolan, listen to me. You don't want to do this."
"I'm not scared of you anymore," he seethes.
"There's nothing to be scared of. We're just gonna set the gun down—" LeMaster continues.
"Nolan," she says. He turns to look at Sunshine and smiles a little, nodding. He whimpers and turns his head back to LeMaster. "Nolan—"
He fires. Sunshine, Kat, and LeMaster scream, the bang filling their ears and knocking around their heads. Sunshine staggers but Kat manages to hold on to her. Everything is muffled for a moment, the world bright lights around her, until it all comes racing back.
Nolan's fired the gun at least five times. They're both screaming at him to stop but he doesn't. LeMaster holds on to his chest and slides down to the ground, groaning painfully. He slumps face-down on the kitchen floor.
Kat begins to sob. Sunshine is too shocked and horrified to say anything.
Nolan drops the gun and looks around. "Right," he mutters. "Right." He sits down and seems to be— to be calm, calmer than someone who just killed another person should be.
"Nolan," Sunshine whispers. "What did you do?"
He doesn't respond.
"Honey, we need to call the cops," Kat cries.
"I don't— Mom, I don't know!"
"You— no— we have to call the police, where is your phone?"
"I don't know!" Sunshine exclaims.
Kat screws her eyes shut and points toward the kitchen. "I think it's in there. You need to go get the phone!"
Sunshine is staring past her, wide-eyed. "Mom."
Kat turns her head to follow her daughter's gaze, and she stops crying. LeMaster is standing, seemingly taller and angrier than before, eyes dark.
LeMaster laughs menacingly, taking slow steps forward. "We do not fear you, little girl," he booms in a demonic voice. It fills the entire house. "Your powers are nothing compared to ours. There is no escape. We will strike down on you with all vengeance of the seventh world!" His hands raise to his sides. He's standing too close to them, but what can they do?
"And burn your soul with all the fire of hell!" he yells. LeMaster quickly stomps towards them and Sunshine screams, ducking away from him.
Nothing touches her.
She turns and the front door is swinging open. LeMaster is gone.
"Nolan?" she whispers, turning to where he was sitting on the couch. He isn't there, either.
What the hell just happened.
holy wowza this chapter was so long and took about 2-3 hours as well but it was so freaking worth it and fun anyway yeah i love nolan and lemaster is vv scawy ;w;
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