The Legend Of Ghost Bear

The truth

I couldn't believe it. What was this that I was witnessing? Was this the Ghost Bear I grew up with?  "Sparky, what happened in there?" I frantically grab his shoulders, turning him to face me. He glances down to my eye level and smirks. "I thought you were relentless when it came to empathy. Guess not." He brushes me off and keeps walking. Soon enough, he jumps over the gate, and heads back to his house.

I follow his lead, but decide not to go back to his place. Instead, I head to the town for something to eat. The streets are filled with blowing traffic. Businesses are huge with elegent outlines to their physical outlook. Inside. . . .abandoned. Some at least. Most of them are filled with laughter and music.

I stop at a small coffee shop called The Brew. It's small to say the least. With only four booths and seven tables, it would make someone who hates small spaces cringe. Maybe collapse. At the wooden counter was a girl, with a menacing look on her face as she stared at her phone. She was pretty, with brown hair in a pulled back fish tail tucked under a cap. She was wearing a white t-shirt under a grey apron with a name tag reading Hailey. She looked about in her twenties. She glanced up to meet my gaze. She puts her phone away and straightens her posture.

"You look new, what can I get you?" She says after a small moment of silence.

"You could say that I am. Just a smoothie please. I don't care what it is. Just surprise me." I smiled. And she returned the grin, I think she liked the challenge because no later than I placed the order, she finished it.

"Dig in." Is all she says, she doesn't even ask for payment. Which I found somewhat weird.

I sip at the drink and make my way around the streets of what is GhostVille. I guess they renamed it after the infamous showdown with the Bear and the traveler. Like I told Sparky earlier. The town was gearing up for Halloween,  which was weeks away. Stores were themed with Dead Bear stickers in honor of Sparky. Gravestones, skeletons, and pumpkins  lined the streets.

Leaves were scattered here and there. People gave me weird looks, but I didn't mind. If they treated me like this, and I'm being honest, I am scared for how these people will treat the tourists when it comes time for Halloween.

"Watch where you're going, girl." A gruff voice breaks me from my thoughts. Whatever. I keep walking until I find myself at the town's historic center.

What am I Doing here? My mind and body seemed to separate. One part was leading while the other was observing.
I pass by the attendant at the front desk, by nerds, and parents alike. Until I'm in front of a six foot statue of Sparky. . . .in Bear form at least. One side of his face was torn off. Exposing his skull. Below it was a tiny plaque.

HERE is where Ghost Bear resides. . .or where he should reside. No one really knows when he was born. But one thing is for sure, people have sworn to have seen his Ghost on Halloween and midnights. Beware: IF YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITH THIS BEAR. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT RUN. INSTEAD. Walk calmly away from the Bear, do not turn your back on this Bear. Or it will attack. As what some have said. Most people that have come into contact with old Sparky have either gone missing, or admitted themselves to a nearby hospital.

Why are they giving Sparky such a bad image? It was never his fault that he died. He was given an unfair match. The guy had a gun. He didn't.

"Amari, what are you doing here?" A warm, soft paw lands on my shoulder, and on my right, his chin.

"Sparky?! What- You know what, I'm not gonna even ask. What matters is that you get out of here. If people see you-"

"No need, doll, you see. Along with being Ghost Bear I can choose if I want to be seen by others." He reassures me.

"Come on, let's go back. You won't believe what I got!" He chirped. He doesn't really give me a choice to walk, instead he grabs me from my waist, and  we race out of the center, faster than Flash.

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