Minerva's eyes flew open, the feeling of anxiety that she had experienced was back and was much worse. The voices were now demanding that she come to the woods now and leave "the man" where he was because he would know where she went and that was just fine. All of the voices were clamoring in her head at the same time but there was a new one and this one identified himself.
"My name is Aaron Richards; I am lord of the house and woods."
Even with the racket going on in her head, Minerva recognized the name and began to think that she had really gone crazy but there was more to what he said.
"You are to ignore all voices with the exception of mine, Dwight's and Sadie's. Go to sleep now."
She did fall asleep in Dwight's arms before he had the chance to return the favor of making love to her. Minerva realized right before she fell asleep, that the voices were gone and while she slept she didn't hear them either but now they were back with the addition of one.
"How am I supposed ignore all of the voices except for one?" she murmured to herself.
"Minerva? Are you in pain again?" Dwight asked sleepily.
"No but...."
"Don't tell..." A voice, the woman's said softly but firmly.
"But what?" Dwight asked.
Minerva hesitated and tried to speak again.
"Dwight, I...."
"Do not tell him!" Another voice demanded. This time it was a male who spoke.
Dwight sat up when he saw how anxious Minerva was.
"Minerva, sweetheart, look at me." Dwight said.
Minerva looked at him helplessly and then whispered, "The voices, they won't stop."
"What voices?" Dwight asked concerned.
"Say no more!" the woman's voice demanded.
Minerva put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes, "Shut the hell up!" she moaned.
Dwight took her into his arms, held her and began talking to her about everything and anything; she wouldn't be able to tell him anything until she had calmed down so there was no point in asking her about the voices.
Minerva drifted back into an uneasy sleep to the sound of Dwight's voice.
******
Aaron stood in front of Wilcox who had finally backed up a step only to be pursued by Aaron. Wilcox looked around frantically for some support but got none. Aaron saw that he was about to disappear but stopped him.
"You will stay where you are as will the rest of you."
The remaining spirits tried to vanish after Aaron gave his order and became panicked when they couldn't. Millicent looked over a Sadie, her eyes filled with regret and pity but mostly anger.
"You are supposed to be my friend." she hissed at Sadie.
"I am your friend but you've turned your back on all that is good. Look at what you did and what you doing now, what did Mr. Aaron's woman do to you that you want to help these men? Millie, what happened to you?" Sadie asked.
"He loves her and she is in our way."
"I don understand." Sadie said but was beginning to.
"You could help us you know." Millicent said, "Just imagine being able to.... Never mind, you're too goody-two shoes for that. You've always been too afraid to break the rules even if it's for the good, look at you, even now you could tell him what he needs to know but you won't and do you know why? It's because you're too afraid of what the higher ups will think of you. You like knowing that they think that you are so perfect because you swallow whatever they tell you without question and you follow the rules and obey like the good little soldier."
"Be able to do what?" Sadie asked ignoring the obvious jibes for the time being.
"Never you mind but if I were you, I'd start looking for another place to live." Millicent replied.
Sadie stared at her, "Millie, what are you doing?"
*******
Minerva stirred in Dwight's arms, the voices for the moment quiet. Now was her chance.
"Dwight, we have to leave, we have to go back to the house! Don't ask me why because I don't know but we have to go now!"
"Minerva...."
"Now! Please we have to go." Minerva insisted as she sat up and tried to get out of bed.
Dwight held her in place even though she struggled to get away.
"Let me go!" Minerva said as she fought against him.
"Minerva, calm down and talk to me." Dwight said not letting her go.
He was alarmed, the woman that he was holding wasn't the calm assured woman who had spent the day alone and hurt in the woods, and she mentioned something about hearing voices. Maybe she wasn't as strong as he thought she was but he really didn't believe that. Something had her frightened and they weren't going anywhere until she told him what it was.
Minerva forced herself to take a deep breath and to calm down. The voices were still quiet so Minerva spoke quickly.
"We're not safe here, there's something in the woods that wants me, us to come back. I know that I'm not making sense but the house, we have to go there."
"But that's close to the woods." Dwight said and then hesitated; sometimes the safest place to be was close to the enemy. "These voices, what are they telling you?" he asked.
"You believe me?" Minerva asked relieved not answering the question.
"I believe you." Dwight said, "But can't we wait until morning?"
"NO! Now, I don't know or understand why but we have to get to the house before it's too late." Minerva said once again trying to get away from Dwight.
"What are the voices saying to you?" Dwight asked again.
"What difference does it make? They want me to go back to the fucking woods! Now take me to the house or I'll walk!" Minerva replied.
Reluctantly, Dwight helped Minerva dress and then helped her to the car. As he helped her into the car, he heard a soft, seductive voice in his head.
"Bring her here to us."
Dwight shook his head as if he was trying to clear it and closed the car door. As he walked to the driver's side, he heard the voice again.
"Bring her now even if you have to drag her here." the voice said.
