Chapter 40
Before calling Maddie, Carol felt a sense of urgency building inside her. Her son's pain was still fresh in her heart, and she had to act fast to make sure his path to vengeance didn't lead him into deeper darkness. The first thing she did was reach out to the relevant authorities, alerting them to the incident that had caused her husband's death. She knew the officials would be involved, but she wanted to ensure the wheels of justice started turning as soon as possible. The idea of leaving any stone unturned was unacceptable to her, not when there were demons to be hunted.
After hanging up, Carol took a deep breath and turned to her phone again, dialing a number she knew all too well. Maddie, her old college friend, was someone she could count on, but the tone in her voice when she answered the phone immediately told Carol that something was off.
"Maddie, can I have some of your time?" Carol asked, her voice steady but laced with urgency.
"Sorry, Carol, but I'm quite busy at the moment. You can ask Jazz for anything. Sorry," Maddie replied quickly, and before Carol could respond, the line went dead.
Carol stared at the phone for a moment, her eyebrows furrowing. It wasn't like Maddie to cut a conversation short without a good reason. Carol knew her friend well enough to understand that she must be in the middle of something important, possibly dangerous. Still, she didn't feel discouraged. This was just another challenge, and she was used to them.
With a sigh, Carol put the phone down. Jazz, then. It made sense. The young girl was part of the ghost-busting team, and while she didn't have the experience of Maddie, Carol knew that Jazz had an incredible head on her shoulders. She had a direct line to the supernatural world, and if there was anyone who could help her understand how to protect Dash, it would be Jazz.
"Let's see if she knows anything more," Carol muttered under her breath as she composed herself.
Her thoughts, though, weren't solely on revenge or vengeance. As she prepared to meet with Jazz, she couldn't help but reflect on her responsibilities as a mother. She loved her children fiercely, and no matter how strong she appeared, she couldn't ignore the deep concern she felt for them. Her children's futures were at stake, and Carol wasn't blind to the fact that Dash and Kori wore their tough exteriors to hide their inner vulnerabilities. Despite their outward bravado, both were deeply affected by the loss of their father, even if they didn't show it.
She had seen how Dash had been struggling to shoulder the weight of the world on his shoulders, believing that strength could solve everything, while Kori buried her emotions beneath a calm demeanor. Carol could tell both of them were breaking under the strain, and it was up to her to keep their foundation strong.
With a sigh, Carol grabbed her jacket and prepared herself for the conversation ahead. As much as she wished to protect her children from the harsh realities of the world, she knew that wasn't possible. There would be no more pretending that everything would be okay. She had to prepare for the worst, for the fight ahead. And to help Dash, she needed to understand the process, the supernatural forces that he had become a part of. It wasn't just about training or vengeance; it was about keeping her family safe. The very last thing she could afford was for her children to become orphans.
She wasn't going to allow her children to face this alone. Not when she could help.