Page 67 of In Her Bed
“Diiiiiaaaannnnaaa.”
Relief washed through her—Zephyr was there, waiting.
“Zephyr?”she called, her voice small in the darkness.
“Come to me, Diana.I’ve been waiting.”
Relieved, she moved on downward in the dark, Zephyr’s voice encouraging her every step.
Diana also heard a subtle crackling that reminded her of...radio static.In all their previous communications, Zephyr’s voice had been clear, resonating directly in her mind.But she reminded herself that meeting a spiritual entity in physical form was unprecedented in her experience.
She reached the bottom of the stairs.Her outstretched hands touched nothing.She’d worked in this basement for two years, but in the absolute darkness, nothing was familiar.Her sense of direction faltered.
“Where are you?”she asked.
“This way.”The crackling words came from her right.“Follow my voice.”
Diana turned, taking small shuffling steps.The concrete floor was uneven beneath her feet.Something small skittered past—disturbed by her presence.
Finally her foot struck something solid—a wall.She moved her hands across it, feeling the smoothness of painted cinderblock, until she found the edge of what must be a doorframe.
“Yes,” the voice confirmed, seeming to come from just beyond that door.“You’ve found it.The place where it all began.”
The broadcast studio.Where she’d first channeled the Midnight Voice.Where listeners across the region had tuned in to hear prophecies and warnings, cosmic truths and spiritual guidance.
Her hand found a doorknob.It turned easily in her grip, and the door swung inward.The small studio had once contained their broadcasting equipment—a mixing board, microphones, recording devices.But now, nothing was visible in the darkness.
“Come in, Diana,” the voice said.
She stepped forward, across the threshold.
The door slammed shut behind her with a force that couldn’t have been natural.Diana spun around, heart pounding.
“Zephyr?”
“Tell me the message,” the static-ridden voice interrupted.“Tell me what the cosmic voice revealed.”
Cold fear washed through Diana as she realized that he voice was coming from a speaker in the room with her.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she cried.
“The cosmic voice spoke to you.It shared secrets meant only for the worthy.Now tell me what it said, if you value your life.”
***
Kevin Barrett stood in the dark hallway outside the studio.He had just slammed the door shut, trapping the Midnight Voice where she’d once broadcast her wisdom to the world—the same room where, years ago, she’d deemed him unworthy.
His hand tightened around a hand-held radio, its plastic casing warm against his palm.He raised the radio to his lips, pressing the talk button to broadcast his words to the receiver that was inside the room with Diana.He’d rigged the radio inside so that it transmitted her voice whenever she spoke.
“Diana?”
Her response was shaky.“Please, let me go.Whatever you want—”
“What I want,” Kevin interrupted, “is for you to think.To remember.Does my voice sound familiar to you?From some other time, perhaps?”
The radio crackled with silence.Kevin could almost see her inside the studio, trying to place his voice among the countless listeners and callers she’d encountered over the years.
“I...I don’t know what you mean,” she finally answered.“Should I recognize your voice?”
