Chapter 3: Revelations

The day after their intense meeting at The Brew House, Emily couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over her since the hostage situation. Jack's words about paranormal activity and her potential connection to it echoed in her mind, creating a dissonance with the normalcy of her college routine.

She sat in the university library, trying to focus on her textbooks, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the previous day. Across the table, Lisa flipped through notes with more enthusiasm than focus, occasionally stealing glances at Emily.

"You seem distracted," Lisa finally remarked, closing her notebook with a snap.

Emily sighed, pushing her books aside. "I can't stop thinking about yesterday. About what Jack said."

Lisa leaned forward, her expression serious. "Do you believe him? About the paranormal stuff?"

Emily hesitated, unsure of her own beliefs. "I don't know what to believe anymore. But there's something about Jack... He seems so sure."

Mark, who had been engrossed in a thick volume of psychology, looked up with curiosity. "You think he's onto something?"

Emily nodded slowly. "Maybe. I mean, I've been having these strange dreams lately. And yesterday... It felt like there was something else there, something we couldn't see."

Lisa's eyes widened with intrigue. "What kind of dreams?"

Emily recounted the recurring dream she had been experiencing—a dimly lit room with a single flickering light, a pervasive sense of being watched, yet never seeing anyone or anything tangible.

Mark rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Dreams can be reflections of our subconscious. Maybe there's a reason you're having them now."

Before Emily could respond, her phone buzzed with a message from Jack.

Jack: Hey Emily, I've been doing some research on The Brew House. Can we meet later today? I might have found something.

Emily glanced at Lisa and Mark, a mix of apprehension and curiosity stirring within her. "Jack wants to meet. He thinks he's found something."

Lisa grinned mischievously. "Looks like we're diving deeper into this paranormal rabbit hole."

Later that afternoon, Emily, Lisa, and Mark met Jack at a small café near campus. The place was quiet, providing a sense of privacy for their discussion.

"Hey, Jack," Emily greeted him, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "What did you find?"

Jack took a seat opposite them, his demeanor serious yet eager. He placed a folder on the table and opened it, revealing old newspaper clippings and handwritten notes.

"I've been digging into the history of The Brew House," Jack began, pointing to a headline from decades ago. "It turns out this place has had numerous reports of strange occurrences—unexplained noises, sightings of figures in old-fashioned clothing, even reports of objects moving on their own."

Lisa leaned closer, her eyes scanning the clippings. "Ghosts?"

Jack nodded. "That's one theory. The café is built on land with a history of tragedy—a fire that claimed several lives in the late 1800s. People have long speculated that the spirits of those who died here still linger."

Mark raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Do you really believe in ghosts?"

"I believe in evidence," Jack replied calmly. "And there are too many consistent accounts from credible witnesses to ignore."

Emily traced her finger over an old photograph of The Brew House, its façade unchanged over the decades. "So, what does this mean for us?"

Jack folded his hands on the table, his gaze focused. "I think there's a reason why you were drawn to The Brew House, Emily. It's possible that you have a sensitivity to paranormal energy—a gift, if you will."

Emily's heart raced. "You mean, like a psychic?"

Jack hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Not exactly. But sometimes, certain individuals are more attuned to spiritual energies. It could explain your dreams and the feelings you've been experiencing."

Lisa looked intrigued. "So, what's next? Are we going ghost hunting?"

Jack smiled faintly. "Not exactly. But I do want to conduct a more thorough investigation of the café. See if we can capture any evidence of paranormal activity."

Mark leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "How do we do that?"

Jack pulled out a small device from his bag—a digital recorder with additional sensors. "This is an EVP recorder. It picks up sounds and voices that aren't audible to the human ear. It's one of the tools we use to detect paranormal activity."

Lisa grinned mischievously. "Sounds like fun."

Emily felt a mix of apprehension and excitement. "What do you need us to do?"

"I need you to keep an open mind," Jack said earnestly. "And be observant. If there's something here, we'll find it together."

As they left the café, Emily felt a surge of determination. She wasn't sure where this journey into the unknown would lead.