Whispers from the Unseen: The Therapist's Table

The cold, sterile walls of Dr. Evelyn Carter's office were her sanctuary, a haven from the chaos of the world outside. She had been a therapist for nearly two decades, a professional with an uncanny ability to listen and heal, but today's appointment was different. It was as if the air itself was charged with an unseen tension, a premonition of the events to unfold.

Sitting across from Dr. Carter was a young woman, her name was Eliza. Her eyes were hollow, the remnants of sleeplessness etched around them, her face a canvas of emotions barely contained. Eliza had come to Dr. Carter after experiencing a series of terrifying visions, visions that seemed to pull her into a world beyond her own.

"You're here because you've been seeing things?" Dr. Carter's voice was soft, a gentle invitation for Eliza to begin.

"Yes," Eliza's voice trembled. "I've seen my grandmother, she's been here, in this office. She tells me things, things I can't ignore."

Dr. Carter leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "And what has she told you, Eliza?"

Eliza took a deep breath, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. "She says she needs help. She's trapped, and she's asking for me to free her."

Dr. Carter's mind raced, searching for explanations. "Is there any history of mental illness in your family?"

Eliza shook her head. "No, nothing like that. My grandmother was always healthy. She died peacefully, in her sleep, five years ago."

The therapist's brow furrowed. "Then these visions must be the result of stress, perhaps a coping mechanism for some trauma you've experienced."

Eliza's eyes darted around the room, as if she were searching for a hidden truth. "I don't think so. She's real, Dr. Carter. I can feel her presence. I can almost touch her."

Dr. Carter's heart began to race. The supernatural had always been a subject of debate, but the case of Eliza was unlike any she had encountered. "Eliza, I want you to know, there are no ghosts. These visions are not real."

But Eliza's conviction was unshakable. "I know they're real. I've seen her hands, Dr. Carter. Hands that belong to my grandmother, but they're... cold."

The therapist's hand found Eliza's, offering a silent reassurance. "We'll explore this together, but for now, let's try to understand your dreams, your fears. It may help us uncover the root of these visions."

Over the following weeks, Dr. Carter and Eliza delved deeper into the young woman's past. They spoke of her childhood, her relationship with her grandmother, the moments that shaped her life. But no matter how far they searched, they could not shake the feeling that something sinister was lurking in the shadows.

One evening, as Eliza shared a particularly vivid dream, Dr. Carter noticed something odd. "Eliza," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "your grandmother's hands, they were on your mother's grave, weren't they?"

Eliza's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

Dr. Carter explained her theory. "If your grandmother is real, then she must have a connection to your mother's death. Perhaps she's trapped there, unable to move on."

Eliza nodded, a look of dread crossing her face. "You're right. She was murdered. My mother was killed in a car accident, but there were no witnesses. It was suspicious, Dr. Carter. I always felt like someone knew something, but I didn't know who."

Dr. Carter's mind raced. The connection between the two events was chilling. "If your grandmother is trapped, then we must find a way to set her free."

Eliza's eyes filled with determination. "I'll go to the grave. I'll talk to her, and I'll figure out what we need to do."

Dr. Carter nodded, her heart ached for the young woman. "Be careful, Eliza. We don't know what we're dealing with here."

The following day, Eliza stood before her mother's grave, the cold, damp ground beneath her feet. She reached out and touched the headstone, feeling the rough stone in her hands. "Grandma," she whispered, "I'm here. Tell me what we need to do."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, she felt a sudden chill, as if a breeze had blown through the air. "Eliza, it's me," her grandmother's voice was faint, almost inaudible, but it was clear and unmistakable.

"Grandma, I can hear you. What do we need to do?"

"I need something from the past," the voice continued. "Something that belongs to your mother. Find it and bring it to me."

Eliza searched the grave, her fingers brushing against the earth, feeling for any sign of an object. Finally, she felt a small, hard object buried beneath the surface. She dug it out and saw a locket, its surface etched with the names of her mother and father.

"This is it," Eliza said, holding the locket to her chest. "What do I do with it?"

"Return it to me," the voice echoed. "Return it, and I will be free."

Eliza nodded, her heart pounding. She made her way back to Dr. Carter's office, the locket clutched tightly in her hand. The therapist looked up as she entered, her eyes filled with concern.

"Eliza, you're back," Dr. Carter said, rising to her feet.

"Yes," Eliza replied, her voice trembling. "I found it. I brought it back."

Dr. Carter took the locket from Eliza's hand, examining it closely. "This is your mother's locket," she said, her voice tinged with emotion. "It's beautiful. Why does your grandmother need it?"

Eliza's eyes filled with tears. "She says it's the key to her freedom."

Dr. Carter looked at Eliza, a mix of compassion and determination in her eyes. "We need to return this to her. If it's the key, then it's the only way."

They returned to the grave, the night air cold and damp. Eliza approached the headstone, her hands trembling as she placed the locket upon it. "Grandma, we've done this. You're free now."

A sudden gust of wind swept through the graveyard, causing Eliza to stumble. She looked up, expecting to see her grandmother standing before her, but there was nothing there. The wind subsided, leaving behind an eerie silence.

Eliza turned to Dr. Carter, her eyes searching for confirmation. "It worked, didn't it?"

Dr. Carter nodded, her eyes reflecting a sense of relief. "It appears so. But we must continue to monitor your condition, Eliza. These experiences can be traumatizing."

Eliza nodded, her expression one of gratitude. "Thank you, Dr. Carter. You've helped me more than you know."

As they made their way back to the car, the therapist turned to Eliza, her voice filled with concern. "Eliza, I want you to promise me something."

Eliza looked at her, her eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and curiosity. "What is it?"

"Promise me that if you ever feel another vision, another presence, you'll come to me. We'll deal with it together."

Eliza nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of what she had experienced. "I promise, Dr. Carter."

They drove away from the graveyard, the locket resting in Eliza's purse. The therapist glanced at it, her mind racing with the implications of the event. For the moment, Eliza's grandmother was at peace, but the questions remained. Who had killed Eliza's mother? And what other secrets were buried in the past?

The night was long, and the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but Eliza knew she had a new purpose. She would uncover the truth, and in doing so, she would also find a way to set her own spirit free.