Wait for me...

Chapter 10: I guess it's a blessing that we're always so damn late

Chapter 10: I guess it's a blessing that we're always so damn late

I’m far away from them now. In a place where it just may be safe. Or it may bring even more danger. The store was dark when I entered. The place was covered with shelving, displaying candles, books and strange artefacts. Balanced on the counter at the back of the shop were many different kinds of gemstones and bookmarks.

Holding one of the red gemstones in my hand, I turned it over to see a black ruin inscribed into the stone. Running my fingers over the surface, I felt a sudden jolt go through my arm. It seemed… strange. But after being haunted for weeks on end, nothing should seem strange anymore. But this was different. It was cold to touch and felt like ice, yet the strangest part was I could feel it rushing up my nerves. Like molten lava pouring through my veins, it coursed through my system, burning away my every thought. What was it doing to me? What is this? What-

“Drop it,” a soft voice whispered from behind m “Drop the stone.” Spinning around, the stone clattered to the floor. There was nothing. Only shelves full of strange artefacts from even stranger origins. I glanced around the bookshelves, packed neatly with books standing side by side, like soldiers about to march into a battle, with their covers touching and their spines sticking out. Yet there was still no one. The place was empty and lifeless. Apart from me and a few little spiders, making their own little webs in the darkest corners of the room.

“Who’s there?” I asked, “Who are you?”

“You know who I am.”

Alarmed, I spun around to face the right this time. I swear I heard that voice right next to me. There was nothing but a slight sound. The light airy sound of laughter, resounding through the air. No one was standing next to me. By now, you’d think I’d gotten used to all this madness. But nothing stops your heart from pounding out of your chest when you feel something cold breathe down your neck. Nothing at all. You can only pretend you don’t feel it, like it was just a figure of your imagination. But you know it’s real anyway.

Slowly, I started making my way towards the door. I didn’t want to get in more trouble with spirits and ghosts. I even had my own ghost haunting me I didn't want another. I needed to escape this damp, dark lit shop.

Just as I was stepping in front of the door and into the light streaming through, a small smoke figure girl danced in front of my face. Her mouth moved and she appeared to be whispering words to me, soft sweet words. Yet all I could hear were the sounds of crashing waves and the slight smell that came just before a storm. Holly. I shook my head, about to just walk past the smoke figure girl, when she opened her mouth and laughed. It was that laugh from before. A light lilting, cheery and just… wonderful.

“You were the voice?” I whispered at it, “Were you the one speaking to me just then?”

The smoke figure girl shook her slightly and drifted backwards, towards the darkness of the shop, just as she disappeared from my line of vision, she beckoned towards me with a small grey hand. Hesitantly, I followed her. Step after step, I approached the darkness once more. And as I walked through to the back of the shop, the darkness swallowed me. It grew darker and darker, until the only thing I could see where the smoke girl’s eyes. Eyes the same colour as the burning embers of a dying fire.

As she led me down a staircase, her shape was growing fainter and fainter. Then stopping at a door, she turned around and vanished slowly, waving and smiling as she disappeared. Her job was done. There was no reason for her to stay any longer.

I pushed against the door and it opened ever so slowly, creaking as it did. There was a small wooden table and two chairs. And sitting on one of the chairs, was a girl who looked slightly younger than me. She had long blonde hair and pale blue eyes.