The Ghost of Our Past (ON HOLD)

Death

Someone was murdered.

Kiera tried to let the sentence sink in but it still felt unreal. How many murders has she faced before?

None.

She was still in her room, sunlight already streaming through the window blinds. She had tried to sleep but every second her eyes closed, irrational fear took over.

The killer is behind you.

Open your eyes before it's too late.

Patty is looking out for you? What can she do?

Her eyes would open and she would sit up in a cold sweat. Patty never left her room, pacing back and forth, stiffening
whenever she heard the smallest sound. It was Patty's wariness that frightened Kiera.

"A nurse was killed. Poisoned by God knows who. Tell your family now." Patty had explained curtly. Kiera snuck out and went to the front desk and immediately dialed the number.

She had never called her family before. Not after they left her. Not after they had treated her like a mental patient. But she still missed them. And she wanted to leave the instution.

No one was nearby. All staff had been ordered to report to the head. Still, Kiera looked around, drumming the counter nervously with her fingertips.

Her uncle had been unpleasantly surprised when she called him. His voice was gruff and unfeeling. "What is it? It's nearly pass my bedtime." Kiera glanced at the small digital clock on the counter.

9:15 pm.

"Uncle Hank. A nurse was poisoned and she's dead now." Kiera whispered, pouring every bit of the terror she felt into her voice. From the other side, she heard her aunt's calling.

"Who's that, Hank? Is it that salesman again? Tell him we don't need his darn fancy contraptions."

There was a pause. Kiera saw in her mind's eye Uncle Hank closing the mouth of the phone and mouthing words to Aunt Jackie. She imagined her aunt step back nervously like how she always does when she's confronted by something unpleasant. There was a rustle and her uncle was back on the phone.

"What's going on, Kiera? Don't you play games with me or I'll-"

"Please, Uncle Hank. I'm okay now." Kiera interrupted, crying now. "I'm so scared. No one knows who did it! What if the culprit doesn't stop? Please, get me out!"

Silence. Kiera felt Patty's eyes in her, staring intently. Her stomach clenched, hardly believing that her own family would abandon her again.

Kiera burst out, "I'll go for therapy, I'll go to the special class. No, send me to Social Services! You can't make me stay here when I'm already-" Kiera gave a loud sob, tears streaming down her cheeks.

A soft voice spoke into the phone."Kiera?"

"Aunt Jackie?"

Where is Uncle Hank? Please don't tell me he ran away-

"Your Uncle Hank's going to sort this out. Wait for him, okay dear?" Her aunt's soothing voice said again.

Kiera closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. "Okay." She held the phone to her ear even after her aunt placed the phone down, listening the beep beep beep. She smiled waterily at Patty and mouthed okay.

Party nodded, a tight smile on her face. They had walked back to her room silently, Kiera unsure what to say and Patty refusing to say anything.

It was already past eight and the breakfast bell still hasn't rung. Kiera rubbed her tired eyes and pulled the bedclothes to her chin, hoping to drift to sleep this time.

Moments later, her shoulder was being shaken, someone hissing urgently.

"Wake up! Are you trying to get everyone in trouble?"

Kiera opened her eyes into tiny slits and caught the sight of a furious nurse. The nurse impatiently hauled Kiera up by shoulders and dragged her off the bed.

"Get your sorry ass up," she snapped. "Of all things to do, you just had to-!"

Kiera struggled against the nurse's strong grip while Patty hovered around helplessly, looking as furious as the nurse.

"I didn't do anything!" Kiera protested as she was dragged across the room and into the corridor, trying to claw off the massive woman's hands. She tried to stand and ended up slipping on the waxed tiles. Patty pulled Kiera up and held to her carefully until the nurse finally stopped.

Patty's bewildered face mirrored Kiera's feelings as Doctor Violet stood outside her office with arms crossed, waiting for Kiera. A look of distaste crossed her face which was quickly smothered with a smile.

"Thank you, Nurse Kirk. Kiera, there's someone waiting for you."

Kiera shook the hands off her and followed the psychiatrist, heart beating with anticipation and hope.

"Well, Kiera. Here you go." Doctor Violet stepped aside to reveal the visitor. Kiera stepped forward, ready to greet her uncle. When she saw who it was, she stopped at her tracks and her words died on her lips.

"Who are you?"