The Study Room

The Study Room
Sarah's POV

Elena collapsed to her knees directly in front of me.

"Elena!" She fell, and I grabbed her. She was breathing rapidly, and her skin was freezing.

"Sarah," she muttered. "There's a problem. Susan did not simply pass away. She gave someone else her authority.

"What do you mean?"

I heard footsteps running toward our soundproof room before Elena could respond.

I said, "Someone's coming."

Elena staggered to her feet. "I am unable to... I destroyed Susan because I expended too much energy. I need time to heal.

Just outside our door, the footsteps ceased.

Then I heard a familiar voice. Detective Martinez was the one.

"Detective Chen? Are you inside?

Elena was seated against the wall with my assistance. I whispered to her, "Stay here."

I opened the door after unlocking it. Martinez and two campus security officers were standing in the hallway.

"We heard screaming, Detective Chen. "Are you alright?"

Elena was so pale that she appeared see-through when I turned to face her again.

"We're all right. had a minor mishap involving some equipment.

Martinez pushed into the room, past me. Her eyes widened at the sight of Elena on the ground.

"What happened to her?"

"She passed out. I believe that blood sugar is low.

However, Martinez had turned away from Elena. She was gazing at the heap of yellow dust where Susan had been.

"What is that, Detective Chen?"

I frantically tried to think of an explanation. "Antiquated literature. When we moved them, they fell apart.

Martinez touched the dust while on his knees. Her finger was covered in yellow powder when she raised it.

"It doesn't appear to be book dust."

Elena's voice was too weak to be heard when she tried to speak.

Martinez inquired, "What did she say?"

I inclined myself toward Elena. "We must locate Tommy," she said. "Now."

Martinez brushed the yellow dust from her hands and got to her feet. "Detective Chen, I believe you should explain everything in detail to me."

The lights went out once more at that point.

However, they did not return on this occasion.

Elena gasped in the dark. "She's not gone, Sarah. Susan is still present.

"That isn't feasible. You ruined her.

"No," Elena muttered. "I ruined her body. However, her spirit is present in the room with us.

From the shadows came Martinez's voice. "I see nothing, Detective Chen. "Where are the light switches?"

I searched the wall but was unable to locate any switches. It was pitch-dark in the room.

Then my blood froze when I heard something.

Laughter.

Susan's laughter suddenly came from everywhere.

"Did you truly believe it would be that simple?" Susan's voice reverberated all around us. "Did you think that destroying my physical form would make me stop?"

Elena got to her feet with difficulty. Susan isn't human, Sarah. She was never.

"What is she?"

"Something that thrives on death and fear. Something capable of leaping from one body to another.

Now Martinez's voice trembled. "What are you talking about, Detective Chen? To whom are you speaking?

Susan's laughter increased in volume. "Detective Martinez is a bad guy. She is unaware of what she has entered.

I searched in the dark until I came across Elena's hand. The temperature was extremely low.

"Can you fight her, Elena?"

"Not in this manner. I'm not strong enough."

Susan's voice was drawing nearer. "You wasted all of your energy on my phony body, Elena. The true me can now complete the task I began.

"What do you want?" I yelled into the night.

"I want Elena to see me murder everyone she loves." Let's start with Detective Martinez.

Martinez screamed and I heard it.

"Martinez!" I yelled. "Where are you?"

No response.

"Sarah," Elena muttered. "Martinez's body has been taken over by Susan."

"How is that possible?"

Susan is more than just a murderer. She has a possessive personality. She is free to rule over whoever she desires.

Abruptly, the lights returned.

Martinez stood by the light switch, but her face was not looking right. She had the same vivid yellow eyes that Susan had had.

In Susan's voice, Martinez said, "Hello again, Sarah."

I drew Elena along as I retreated toward the door.

"I know you're in there, Martinez. "Fight her!"

Martinez shared Susan's laughter. "Detective Martinez is no longer able to hear you. She is confined to her own thoughts, observing everything but having no control over it.

I was trying to help Elena walk, but she was getting heavier. "You must run, Sarah."

"I won't abandon you."

"You must. Martinez's police experience is being used against us by Susan. She is skilled at using weapons and fighting."

Martinez drew her firearm and aimed it at us.

In Susan's voice, she uttered, "Now this is interesting." "Sarah is just a human with a gun, and Elena is too weak to use her powers."

Martinez was quicker than me as I reached for my weapon.

"Detective Chen, stay put. I want to cherish this moment.

Elena attempted to move ahead of me, but she was too weak to do so.

Martinez smiled evilly at Susan and said, "Elena, all those people you've saved over the years." "You've stopped all those killers. And you can't even keep one detective safe now."

Elena then did something I had never seen her do before.

Suddenly, I could see what she was seeing when she grabbed my hand.

I could see Martinez's true spirit wailing for assistance while imprisoned inside her own body.

I could see Martinez encircled like a snake by Susan's sinister spirit.

I also noticed something else. A means of assistance.

"Could you give me some of your power, Elena?"

"What?"

"Just a tiny bit. Enough so that I can battle Susan without endangering Martinez.

Elena looked into my silver eyes. "This has never been done before, Sarah. I have no idea what will happen to you.

Martinez was approaching us while brandishing his gun.

"I don't care. Do it .”

Elena touched my forehead with her icy hand.

My whole body ached as if lightning had struck me.

Then, however, a remarkable event occurred.

Suddenly, I was able to see things I had never seen before. I could see Martinez's trapped spirit radiating fear. The evil darkness of Susan was visible to me.

And I knew exactly how to take them apart.

Elena fell flat when I got up.

I said, "Susan," and my voice had a new tone. more powerful.

Martinez halted his stride. "That isn't feasible. You're only a human.

"Not anymore."

Silver light emerged from my fingers as I extended my hand toward Martinez.

Susan began to scream as the light encircled Martinez like a rope.

"No! This is impossible! You lack the authority.

"I do now."

Susan's dark spirit was wrenched from Martinez's body as I tugged with the silver light.

Martinez fell to the ground, breathing but not conscious.

Susan's ghost hung in midair like a smoke-and-rage shadow.

Susan growled, "Sarah, this isn't over." "I have pals. Allies you never would have imagined."

"Where is Tommy?"

"Discover for yourself."

Susan's ghost bounded for the door and vanished through the wall.

Beside Elena, I collapsed to my knees. She was grinning, but she was hardly conscious.

"How are you feeling, Sarah?"

I examined my hands. The faint silver light still glowed on them.

"Different. Quite different.

Elena had concern in her silver eyes. "I gave you power, but it won't last long. An hour, perhaps.

"That's alright. It was sufficient to keep Martinez alive.

"You need to know something about what just happened, Sarah."

"What?"

Elena's voice was growing softer. "We connected when I gave you my power. enduringly linked.

"What does that mean?"

It implies that you will always have the ability to perceive the paranormal. even after you take away my power."

I assisted Elena in sitting up. "Is that bad?"

Elena's odd silver eyes were fixed on me. It implies that you are no longer completely human, Sarah. Additionally, Susan's pals will be able to sense that.

My phone rang before I could find out what she meant.

Unknown figure.

I responded over the speaker.

"Detective Chen," said a man. "I have your nephew. And I am aware of what you have just become.

Elena's eyes widened in terror.

"Go to the old Riverside Bridge if you want to see Tommy alive once more. alone.

"Who is this?"

"A long-awaited encounter with the first human to successfully connect with Elena's power."

The line died.

Elena used what little strength she still had to grab my arm.

"Don't go, Sarah. It's a trap.

"I must. It's Tommy.

"You're not getting it. They wanted more than Tommy, whoever that was. They desired for you to connect with my strength.

"What are you saying?"

Tears welled up
in Elena's silver eyes. "I believe that this entire situation was prearranged from the start. The murders, Susan, everything. Someone attempted to coerce me into giving you access to my power."

"Why?"

"Because they can now manipulate me by using you.”