Jessica Borden had a weird family tree, one she tried her best to hide or ignore but it wasn't always easy. People hear her last name and constantly asked her if she was related to the ax wielding murderess Lizzie Borden. She would laugh and say no but it wasn't true. She was indeed the great great granddaughter of the infamous killer. A fact that didn't sit well with very many people when they found out the truth. So every couple of years she would pick up and move again. Which is what brought her to her current predicament. She could stay and deal with the whispers and stares, or she could go back home to Fall River. Back to where people saw her grow up and knew she wasn't a crazy person. But that wasn't something she really wanted to do. Her mother had turned it into a bed and breakfast. She stayed in the attic not really wanting to socialize with anyone, she left that to the property manager. They gave tours and capitalized on the property's gruesome history. They even had, from what Jess understood to be a very popular paranormal TV show, do an investigation. It was apparently one of the shows highest rated episodes.

Jess never watched it. She knew what was in that house. She had grown up there. Felt the energy change from one moment to the next. Seen eyes stare at her from the shadows, heard the growls and hisses in the dark when they had never even owned a pet of any kind. As soon as Jess was old enough she left and never looked back.

Her decision was made for her, she received a call ten minutes later informing her that her mother had been found dead inside her home, it appeared she was killed with an ax. But all the doors were locked from the inside. The police were stumped. Jess' felt like an icy hand was twisting her insides, followed immediately by guilt. It was supposed to be her, not her mom. That's why she never wanted to go home. Her great great great grandfather was waiting for her...

Jess crumpled to the floor sobbing. Her hound mix, Leo padded into the room and sat in front of her and cocked his head as if to ask 'why are you leaking?' Jess grabbed hold of him and cried harder. She didn't know what upset her more, that her mother was dead or that she had to go back to that hell hole. Literally.

While she sat on the floor her cell phone rang again. She didn't recognize the number so she let it go to voicemail. When the unknown caller left a message Jess checked it in case it was the detective that supposed to get in touch with her. It wasn't. It was the property manager offering to buy the Borden Bed and Breakfast. She said she had been saving since she started working there and she wanted to meet in person if Jess was interested in selling, to talk about the price. Jess huffed and sat up a little straighter, she didn't care if the woman only had 30 dollars, Jess would sell it to her. She certainly didn't want a house where a countless number of her ancestors had been slaughtered or had killed themselves. That crazy woman could have it.

After calling the airline and getting a straight flight from Arizona to Massachusetts Jess packed a bag and went to bed. The next morning after arriving at the airport and putting Leo into his crate and making sure he was alright she sat down to wait for her flight. Once again a number she didn't recognize flashed across her screen. Deciding that it could be the woman who wanted to buy the house again, Jess answered. She was surprised to hear a deep male voice at the other end of the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, uh is this Jessica Borden?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"My name is Zak Bagans, I wanted to talk to you about buying your house."

"What makes you think I have a house to sell Mr. Bagans?" Jess asked annoyed. How'd this guy even get her number?

"Well this is a little awkward to be honest, your mothers murder is all over the internet, and I have reasons to believe that her murder may have been caused by something that cant be easily explained."

Jess nearly dropped the phone. She thought the same thing but she wasn't going to tell that to a complete stranger.

"Why do you think that Mr. Bagans?"

"Because ten years ago I led a paranormal investigation of you childhood home and we got some alarming evidence of a demonic presence in that house. A lot of it was so insane we didn't even show our producers. We kept it a secret. Some of it even concerns you."

"Wait, your producers? Excuse me if I seem rude actually, no, don't. My mother just died and you're telling a demon may have killed her. Who the fuck are you?" as Jess sat there waiting for his response she heard her flight be called to board over the loudspeaker.

"Look buddy, I have to go. I have a funeral to arrange."

"Your mother was a lovely woman Jessica, I'm sorry she's gone." He hung up. Jess felt the tears threatening to erupt from her eyes again and shook her head vigorously. She had things to do and it would be very counter productive if she broke down in the airport and missed her flight.

Jess jerked awake when the plane touched down. Her head was a little fuzzy from all the champagne she'd been plied with being that she flew first class (it was the only direct flight from Phoenix to Fall River). She got up to retrieve her carry on bag and discovered that she couldn't reach it. Stretching up on her tip toes and trying again she felt a hand on her shoulder, she whipped around ready to tell whoever it was to back off, she could do it herself, but her words died in her throat.

"Need a hand?" The guys was tall. Like over six feet tall. And built. Jess couldn't help but notice his strong arms, they seemed to be trying to bust out of his tight black T-shirt. His eyes were an intense dark blue, and when Jess looked deep enough she saw something there. Like the ocean, constantly turning and roiling and at any moment could erupt into chaos. The guy blinked and smiled down at her. Jess nodded in response to his question and looked at his t-shirt to distract her from his eyes.

"Reaper Wear huh? That's a little morbid don't you think?

"Morbid is my job Miss." he replied with a small smile handing her her bag. She shrugged the comment off not sure of what to make of it. Was he a mortician or something? Because he looked more like a male model.

"Thanks um?"

"Zak."

"Well thanks Zak, I'm Jess by the way. I uh... got to go get my dog."

"So do I, mind some company?" he asked shyly

"Oh. I'm not sure where it is."

"I am. I know this airport like the back of my hand." he held his hand up. Jess noticed a tattoo on one of his long fingers.

"I'm not very familiar with this airport, or flying my dog across the country." she was surprised this guy was as nice as her was gorgeous.

"You don't travel much I'm guessing." he queried as he and Jess made their way from the blacktop into the airport itself.

"No I do, I just prefer to drive. The germs on planes are insane, not mention the whole crashing thing." Zak chuckled, Jess liked the sound of it.

"So Zak, what brings you to Fall River, business or pleasure?" she asked trying to make small talk.

"Pleasure is my business." When Jess looked back at him blankly he blushed, realizing what he'd said.

"No! That came out wrong. My business is my pleasure. I'm here on business-" His explanation was cut short by crowd of screaming people with what looked like protest signs.

"What the hell is that about?"

"No idea." Zak answered walking faster and kind of ducking his head.

"Uh you can duck all day Sasquatch, you're still hard to miss." Jess told him trying to keep up with his long strides. He ignored her comment and walked even faster as they got closer to the crowd of people. Jess noticed that some of signs there were pictures, pictures of Zak, some had his name on them with hearts and things like "I would love for you to lock me down!" They were mostly teenage girls, all wearing Reaper Wear t-shirts just like his. Jess slowed down and grabbed at Zaks arm.

"Hey,hey slow down. What are all these people here for?" he looked embarrassed.

Then it clicked in Jess' head. Zak. Lock down. Reaper Wear. Screaming Fans. This was the guy from the tv show. The one that had investigated her house, who'd called her before she got on the plane. She stopped dead in her tracks as reporters with cameras came over and started bombarding Zak with questions.

"Zak, why are you back in Fall river?"

"Is it true another person was found hacked to death in the Lizzie Borden house?"

"Zak! Who's the girl?"

It was too much for Jess, her knees started to buckle and her head felt faint. The airport started to swim before her eyes. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was Zak's chest as he picked her up, held her to him, and ran from the reporters.

—

Zak was concerned for the frail girl he met on the plane. She seemed to be so soft. He'd noticed her immediately in the airport in Phoenix, he didn't know why though. She didn't seem to stand out to anybody else, he'd checked. Her long black hair was tied back into a low ponytail and tumbled in a thick wave down her back and hung just above her hips. Her skin was a light tan olive color but this was Phoenix after all where people lived in the sun all year round with no escape. She was curvy, with nice a butt he noticed. A sweet, heart shaped face with big hazel eyes, rimmed by thick black lashes. Full pouting lips. She was gorgeous. But she didn't show it off like the girls in Vegas that he was used to. She wore a simple army green trench coat over a grey hooded zip up sweater, faded jeans and combat boots. One carry-on bag, she traveled light.

He had watched her for a good ten minutes while she checked her white and brindle spotted hound into the crate and made sure he was okay. Whispering soothing words to him through the bars of the crate. Promising to take him straight to the park when they landed. He found it funny because he'd just said same thing to his dog Gracie. He watched as the woman stood up and walked away frequently looking back over her shoulder at her dog. . Zak stared until he could no longer see her. His friend Aaron noticed him staring and elbowed him on the ribs.

"Remember Christina Zak." he grinned knowingly at him. It was true, Zak had a girlfriend, but a guy could look right? Shaking himself out of the stupor the girl had induced on him he remembered he had other stuff to worry about. He had to find a quiet place to call Jessica Borden.

Zak also noticed when he boarded the plane he walked right by the raven haired beauty and his heart kicked into high gear. The whole flight he kept trying to come up with reasons to talk to her but couldn't come up with anything that didn't sound creepy or stupid. So when he stood up at the end of the flight and saw she was having trouble getting her bag he seized the opportunity to talk to her. She seemed to be a little stand off-ish, Zak wondered if he was being too friendly, or if she recognized him from the show and was star struck. After she broke eye contact with him she seemed fine. She actually didn't seem to know who he was. Thrilled to be treated like a normal person instead of a celebrity, he was happy to show her where to pick up her dog, and completely ignored the look Aaron gave him as he walked off the plane with her right past him. Then Zak noticed the crowd of fans. He'd forgotten about them.

When the reporters started asking questions and Jess fainted Zak just reacted. He scooped her up and ran to find her dog.

—

When she came to Jess felt a wet slime coating her cheek. She sat up abruptly and everything started to spin. She felt a hand on her back steadying her. The slimy feeling was caused by Leo who was lying next to her licking her face. She sat up a little straighter and found that the hand on her back belonged to Zak.

"Don't you have fans to attend to ?" she spat at him.

"So you do know who I am." he asked with frown, startled by her cold tone.

"Sort of. I've never watched your show. You called me a few hours ago, before I left Phoenix." He looked at her like she was crazy.

"Maybe I should properly introduce myself." Jess stood up from the concrete floor and dusted off her jeans. Zak jumped up when she stuck out her hand.

"Hi I'm Jessica, Jess, Borden." He took her hand and shook it looking completely astounded. When his hand made contact with hers, a shock went through her whole body, then flashes through her mind like a movie montage. Zak running down a dark hallway and screaming for someone named Aaron, Zak looking through a camera screen and exclaiming about how he had seen a shadow figure, Zak playing with a white collie shepherd mix, Zak jumping when someone yelled snake Him crawling through dust and dirt underneath something it might have been a house. Zak kissing a beautiful blonde woman. And with these images came emotions any and every emotion he was having at the time the memory was made. She could feel his fear, his excitement from the first few memories and his joy when he was playing with the dog. Then came the most recent memory that he had an emotional attachment to. It was an image of her back in Phoenix when she was checking Leo into his crate. She felt his affection for her for the way she was comforting her dog. Felt how he felt that she was beautiful, perfection in a way.

Jess let go of his hand and stumbled back. She hated the way that when she came into contact with certain people he could see different parts of their past. It didn't happen all the time. Only when the person she touched had gifts of their own. Jess snorted, she wondered if this reality TV fame whore even believed half of what he was selling people on his show. But then remembering the emotions tied to his memories she knew he did. She assumed he already knew he was sensitive. If he knew about her gift he would probably piss himself. Wanting to see how he would react, Jess glanced around and casually asked,

"So where is Gracie?" Zak just smiled.

"I know you're psychic Jess." Now it was Jess' turn to be surprised.

"How?"

"I'll tell you later after we get to where we're staying."

"Where 'we're' staying? What do you mean?"

"Well you're going home I imagine, and I'm going to stay at my favorite B&B in Fall River and unless I'm very much mistaken, its the same place." Jess just stood and watched as Zak turned and walked off towards the exit. Deciding she had no other way to her place she grabbed Leo's leash and stalked off after Zak. When her turned and saw her following him he laughed.

When they got outside Jess saw a white van cordoned off by yellow caution tape and guarded by two police officers. She assumed it was to help keep rabid fans at bay. Zak ducked under the tape and waved for Jess to follow. When she reached the tape an officer stopped her.

"Nope. You stay back here." Jess stopped and turned to go back the way she came.

"It's alright, shes with come on." She heard Zak call to her. Feeling like a fool she turned around again and ducked under the tape ignoring the officer and pulled Leo with her.

Upon entering the van she saw it was full of camera equipment. Also there were four other people as well. All males. Which meant with her, Leo, Zak and Gracie, it was a tight fit. Jess squeezed in next to a guy with a shaved head and goatee. He moved closer to the window and extracted his hand from underneath a heavy black duffle bag and held it out to her.

"Hi, I'm Aaron. That's Nick, Jay,Billy and you met Zak already." He smiled warmly at her.

"Jessica Borden."

"No fucking way!" He exclaimed his brown eyes going wide, mouth hanging open like a bullfrog. Jess raised her eyebrows at Aaron at the same time as a rubber dog bone flew from the front of the van and hit him in the face.

"Dude, what the hell?" Zak reprimanded from the front seat.

"Sorry, just kinda slipped out. Did you know it was her when you were staring at her in Phoenix bro?" Aaron just couldn't stop saying the wrong the thing. this time it was Nick that threw something at him. It was a Powerbar.

"Dude, shut up. Do you have absolutely no concept of bro code? Or just a filter on your mouth in general?" Jess couldn't help but giggle, for being big TV stars these guys were so normal. It was like watching a bunch of sixth graders on field trip.

—

Zak wanted to strangle Aaron. The guy had absolutely no tact. Zak wasn't the smoothest talker but he'd learned after ten years of interviewing people how to act accordingly. Apparently Aaron had learned nothing.

Still in shock at finding out who Jess actually was Zak stared out the windshield as they made their way through town to the Jess' house. He really didn't want her to go back there but it's not like he could tell he was going to stay in her family home but she couldn't because it was too dangerous. She had to know better than anyone what was in that house. That's probably why she was never in Fall River, and with a sinking feeling in his stomach he remembered why she was there in the first place. Her mother's murder. So that was why she passed out when the reporters were asking questions. She was obviously still working through the fact that her mother was dead. It made sense now. Another guilty stab in his stomach occurred when he thought maybe Jess would let them investigate to see what happened. No. That was too much to ask of anyone after one of their parents just died. But Zak couldn't help thinking from a paranormal investigators perspective. If her mother died in such a sudden and violent way there was a good chance her spirit was still in the house. Trapped and confused. A lot of people would be concerned about the living after a death, helping them heal and move on. Not Zak he wanted to help the souls of the departed. They were the ones he wanted to help move on. Nobody should be trapped in the place they died. Especially if that death occurred violently and at the hands of someone else.

Evil entities were a different story all together. Zak didn't care what their stories were really, if they could find out during an investigation that was great. It had never really happened though. What he wanted to know was why they wanted to stay and hurt people. He thought a lot of it had to do with the fact that they were scared of being judged for the sins they committed in life. They didn't want to go to hell, so why not stay in the place they know. Often Zak wondered if constantly contacting the dead was a possible and sin. Disturbing their rest, putting his crew and friends at risk just because he had to know what was out there, if there was something more after we died. Nick and Aaron were happy just proving that ghosts were real. Zak wasn't. He needed to know if there was more.

A low pitched bark brought him out of his thought coma, it wasn't Gracies' bark