I spent the next few hours trying to find information about vardogers, but the websites about it were sparse. The most they ever said was that it was a Norwegian folklore about spirit predecessors, but gave no further information.
My eyes started to drift close and I fought sleep as much as I could, but not even the coffee could combat my bone-weary exhaustion. I was starting to feel delirious from lack of sleep, my mind becoming lethargic as my body protested the absence of respite. I promised myself I would just let my eyes rest when I laid my head on my folded arms on the desk.
I could smell something burning, but I couldn't see anything in the pitch black of night. Dry leaves were crunching under my feet, the only sound that I could hear besides my own breathing. I could almost make out the silhouettes of trees as I fumbled around, holding my hands out as I tried to navigate through the woods solely by touch.
Something whizzed by me, narrowly avoiding grazing me, and I jumped back, crying out with pain when I tripped over a tree root, falling down and slamming my right knee against a rock. I immediately silenced my cry. I didn't know why, but I knew I had to keep quiet. Or else they would hear me.
I carefully got back up and continued maneuvering my way in the dark with my hands. I could see a faint light in the distance so I made my way towards it. The smell of burning became stronger as I got closer, the light becoming brighter and illuminating the forest around me in an eerie glow. I walked faster, now being able to navigate by sight.
I instinctively slowed down as I almost reached the light, my step growing softer, not wanting to be detected.
I covered my mouth with my hand to smother the gasp that threatened to spill from my lips when I came upon the scene. Three figures were standing above a fire ablaze on the ground. Their backs were to me but I knew instinctively who they were. It didn't make it any less shocking when one turned to speak to another, and I saw Simon's profile.
"How much longer?" he asked.
Claudia turned to him, a grimace on her face. "That's not for me to decide."
The third figure moved around to the other side of the fire, now facing me. Sarah's face was so familiar, yet so cold and foreign. She looked down at the fire by their feet with a sneer. I froze when her gaze lifted, looking straight at me.
"Company's here," she announced in a taunting voice. Claudia and Simon whipped around, locking eyes on me. Claudia stepped forward and I got the first good look at the fire they had been circling. Fear and revulsion swept through me when I realized it wasn't just the flames that were dancing wildly, casting shadows and light against the dense thicket of trees. There was a body in the flames, twitching and jerking as the fire engulfed it, each spasmodic thrust bowing the body at an unnatural angle. The person being burned alive was fighting, trying to escape the fingers of scorching flames.
I felt myself start to tremble, my mind rebelling at the sight before me. Claudia was still walking towards me, and I knew I should turn and run the other way. But I was transfixed by the flames, unable to look away, yet sickened by what I saw. I realized the burning I smelled was the burning of flesh. The burning of a life.
"Just let go," Claudia murmured, her eyes burning bright. "Aren't you tired, Caitlin? Just let go. Then you can rest."
Claudia's gaze was hypnotic and I felt myself sinking into myself at her words, tension leaving my body. She was right. I was so tired. Physically and mentally drained. All I wanted to do was sleep. Rest. If only for a moment.
Claudia glided closer and closer, her eyes never leaving mine. It was hard to fight her steady gaze, her seductive words.
"Caitlin." A whisper went through my mind, as soft as a breeze. I jerked in response, not knowing whether it was coming from outside of me or if it was in my mind. "Caitlin, remember who you are. Remember where you came from."
Claudia was almost upon me and I backed away, the voice shaking me out of my dream state. But it was too late. Claudia grabbed me by the shoulders, her fingers digging into me with painful force. I cried out as her grip tightened, her fingers feeling like they were going to sink into me and tear into my skin.
Suddenly, it was no longer her fingers that were tormenting my flesh. My whole body was on fire, hundreds of flames licking at my skin, searing pain engulfing my entire body. I opened my mouth to scream, but the flames were merciless, suffocating me. Consuming me. I was mindless with pain so acute and sharp that I prayed I would lose consciousness. Faces swam above me, and I realized with violent clarity that I was the one Claudia, Simon and Sarah were watching being burned alive.
My body bowed in shattering pain, and finally the screams escaped me. I screamed until my throat was raw, until the smell of my own flesh burning and the sizzling of skin being scorched off my body was too much, and sweet merciful blackness enveloped me.
I sat up with a gasp, my heart thundering in my chest as I fought to catch my breath. I could almost feel the flames flickering against my skin and I rubbed my arms reflexively. I cursed myself for falling asleep, surprised that I could see the glimmers of morning through the window.
I could still vividly remember what it felt like to be burned alive, the excruciating pain that didn't seem humanly possible to bear. I shuddered at the thought. This was no mere dream, but I didn't know what it meant. Was I foreseeing my own death? Aunt Brenda had said her vision was of me being burned alive. Was this what she had seen?
I went downstairs, hoping that Marie and Cecelia had returned during the night, but I wasn't surprised when nothing but an empty house greeted me. I had a feeling I was truly alone now. I knew I needed to go back to Aunt Brenda's house. I was convinced the key was in her journal. I just needed to find it.
I had no appetite but I made myself eat another sandwich, washing it down with more coffee. I grabbed Lenore's keys and drove to Aunt Brenda's house. I tentatively entered it and quickly checked all the rooms, relieved when I found them empty. I paused to stare at the blood stain on the living room carpet. A myriad of emotions went through me, but the dominating one was anger. I added Lenore's name to the list of those I would avenge.
I started the search again in Aunt Brenda's bedroom, although I had turned it upside down yesterday. I walked on the floorboards, putting pressure on each plank to see if any were loose. It would be an unexpected hiding spot for a journal.
I almost gave up when a floorboard right next to her dresser shifted when I pressed my foot against it. I dropped to my knees, my hands eagerly scrabbling at the wooden plank, trying to force it up.
I was so focused on my task that I was taken completely off guard when I heard the front door downstairs creak open.
Chapter Five
My first instinct was to jump up and run, but I knew I needed to remain completely still. I didn't want to make a single sound to alert the intruder of my location. The person was being silent as well, knowing that someone was inside because of Lenore's car sitting out front in the driveway.
I cursed myself for my carelessness, the car an announcement to all things evil that I was here for easy pickings. I strained to make out any sound, but all I could hear was my heart thudding against my ribcage.
I rose slowly and walked softly and methodically to the closet, picking up a heavy wrought iron lamp along the way. I didn't know what to do besides hide with a weapon, ready to bludgeon anyone who opened the closet door. I just hoped that the intruder was human.