Blind Step Part 4

"What wait but the sign says for the psychic mystics and spiritually gifted, what do you mean were not here to be psychics"

Persisted Rebecca in annoyance.

"Oh that sign is just clever word play, creative words that grab your attention but in truth there just empty words"

He took another long swig of his drink.

"We don't read minds, we don't see into the future we don't do.... well more like can't do any of that comic book movie shit"

[Well if we can't that seems like less fun] thought Anya.

"Well if your telling us all the things we can't do then what can we do, if we aren't here to be psychics then what are we here to be"

Rebecca was clearly agitated as if she was clearly being lied to this didn't seem to be the same girl who was joking with Anya not that long ago she just seemed so serious.

"I was getting to that were more like guides, counselors"

The two young women's faces were confused by this statement before they had time to process this he continued on

"Centuries upon centuries we've gone by many names some accurate and many not.

[Centuries] both thought but never uttering a sound.

"We currently go by ushers"

[Ugh ushers].

"And are job is to help the spirits of the dead pass on"

Laughter, laughter erupted but not from all three them or from the two women but from one person Anya, Anya was bursting at the seams laughing harder and harder even more then she did when she was with her mom. Tears filled her eyes it was the best most genuine laugh she had in years.

"Tell me Miss Chesterfield"

Said Peters in a very calm and measured voice.

"What so funny, I'd think a young woman who encountered actual occurrences would be the last person to laugh "

It took a moment for Anya to register what he had just said though small snickers and giggles seeped she was able to get out.

"What... wait... what occurrences"

Peters sighed.

"The interview child when you told me about your spine tingling moments I was verifying your story"

The chuckles were all but gone and a look of realization hit her. Anya had for gotten all about the cases she gave him she had thought he was just on his phone not doing a background check. Peters leaned over grabbed the laptop and set it on his lap. As he logged in he said.

"There are three types of people in this world those with there eye open, those with there eye squinting and those with a permanently closed eye"

Another strange comment with no context it was like a trend today, Peters would shoot things out in the universe leave it out there and let it marinate in the air even if it is lost on his listeners.

"You my dear are in the middle, both of you are"

As he said that he turned his laptop around screen now facing Anya and Rebecca and both leaned in to read. An article was on the screen it read that an electric shortage burns down apartment complex several injured.

"What are we looking at"

Questioned Anya.

"A result of your chills"

Peters turned the laptop hit a few keys and turned it back around. What was now displayed on the screen was a obituary the name read Bernadette Wallaby and next to the name was a picture of an old woman.

"Do you recognize the woman in this photo Anya"

She payed more attention to it she scanned the picture up and down she stared so long that Rebecca turned and looked at her. But for the life her Anya didn't know the face of this woman.

"Sorry I don't know her"

"Well you should, because she was your next door neighbor back in Florida"

A perplexed look hit Anya's face.

"Back in Florida"

"Yes you said that when you lived in Florida at the Shady Springs Tower there was a moment when you felt a chill for a whole week correct"

Anya couldn't speak she just nodded her head, he continued.

"Miss Wallaby was an only child she was unmarried no children, she lived alone and she died alone that chill you felt was her spirit. Those with potential like yourselves with your squinted eye may not be able to see the full picture but a blurry image with fuzzy colors doesn't make you blind. You couldn't see her but you felt her presence"

Anya soaked in the information she could now vaguely remember the woman now she saw her every now and again maybe a hello here and there but that was all they did.

"Ok so the old lady pasted away then why did you show us the complex having a accident"

Rebecca spoke up.

"Because she was the one who caused the accident"

"But she was died"

Anya managed to say.

"Yes you are correct and there wasn't a usher to help here transition in time. As I said she lived alone she had no loved ones no one at all and her spirit sat there looking at her rotting corpse, she simmered stewed and then she began to distort"

"Distort"

Both girls said.

"Yes you see"

He shifted in his chair.

"We are to help the dearly departed pass on to the other side to next stage of there existence, what every that might be Heaven, Hell Valhalla the spirit world whatever is for them beyond the vail of this world. Us ushers are to help them reach it but not every job is easy and perfect"

Peters began to rub his eyes.

"And this job is no different you two need to know"

He held his head down.

"You have potential but this is still dangerous work"

"How"

Came a voice and when he lifted his head back up and it was Rebecca.

"How did the dead lady do it how did she destroy the apartment"

Peters regained himself and finished explaining.

"Negative emotions over a considerable amount of time changes a spirit warping them.

"Distorting them"

Spoke Rebecca.

"Yes and a distorted spirit is like a raging beast they attack and harm anything, anyone in there presence is so strong that the can negatively affect the living world"

"So ushers I suppose are to help spirits of dead people to help them pass on to prevent them from becoming distorted and harming living people"

"Correct and when a spirit has become distorted the only course of action is to destroy it"

Everyone was on the same page but Anya she was lost and confused, she wanted to laugh to scoff but she couldn't it was because of the atmosphere. They were serious Mr. Peters was serious about his lessons and Rebecca was taking it all in [none of this can be true] Anya thought [this has to be a joke]. And as if reading her mind Peters interrupted her thought.

"If you to are still on the fence about this then return tomorrow, tomorrow I will give you the proof you need, today was just a introductions had to start you off with hard pill to swallow but if your willing I'll see you tomorrow class is dismissed"

Rebecca and Peters both rose as she went toward the coat rack he headed to the hole in the wall only Anya the one who felt like she wasn't in on the joke remained seated. She wanted to say a lot but all she could say was her final question of the day.

"Sir what happens tomorrow"

Not even turning around he responded.

"Well tomorrow I will be opening your third eye"