I lean against Nolan, letting his presence slow the sobs. The tears can't bring my friend back to life, they can't fix the world's problems, and in fact, they can't do a lot of things. The back of a sleeve wipes away the remaining wetness, and I look up into Nolan's eyes. His slow, soft smile brings a mirroring one onto my face. I tilt my chin up to thank him, when I am suddenly aware of how close we are.
I push myself away, sitting up of my own power. Still, it seems my heart is trapped in a race and my stomach is held upside down. Using logic as a lifeline, and a cleansing breath, I begin to organize the facts.
"So, what do we know?" I ponder.
"My father is a farce." Nolan offers. I cut daggers into him with my eyes. He holds his hands up in a mocking show of surrender. "For real? Well, we know that I was murdered at that party nine years ago after I killed someone in the accident." He says it with such an objective tone that I feel my own emotions balancing the situation. Total collapse threatens in my face, my eyes and mouth frowning.
"Oh, Ad, it's alright, really. Come on." he pleads.
"I don't know how you do it. Having to go through being poisoned to death again, I mean, it's just that I couldn't bear it." I explain. Nolan pushes his gaze past me, gaining in his eyes a distant look.
"I had to come to terms with what happened a long time ago, even if I couldn't remember the exact details of the event." He nods, almost to assure himself, but I bob my head gently along with him. Pain flares in my chest, despite his soothing words. It seems that these days I just can't escape the emotional rollercoaster that is my life.
"If you are okay with it, then I'm okay with it." I say. "Now what we have to do is begin more research on the car accident. Then I'm going to question my mother, while you follow around your father. Afterward, we can assemble a guest list from that party and rule out suspects. Following that, we can-"
"Adalia! Look outside." Nolan urges. Out the window is a sidewalk scene washed in muted tones of the night. A park across the road bears shadows as a testament to the time. My shoulders sag.
"I had no idea it was that late." I remark.
"It is late. It is also the weekend. Go home, use the rest of your Saturday night to relax. I have some things to take care of. I'll meet up with you later, okay?"
"Okay." With a slight lifting of the mouth, Nolan fades gradually from view. He's off to do whatever it is that ghosts do with their free time. I feel like crying out for him, begging to join in on the crusade. The hitch being that I know I must let him go, and that things meant to be are never gone for long.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A day later I am sitting cross-legged on my bed. A laptop is open and ready in front of me, a list of Nolan's classmates blinking on the screen. Beside me is a list of the cross referenced names. Their according photos, found on the computer, are those of the people at the famed dinner party.
I write down another name, when a bright pain splits my head. A familiar tang fills my mouth. Standing at the far side of the room is a properly dressed spirit with a full head of black hair.
"My life," he groans, "was never complete, but you, you can help me." His odour wraps itself around my nose, pulling my attention from my task. Focusing my thoughts, I continue to scroll, but the ghost is everywhere. He is in my sights, my mind, my nose. I can not block him out. I am receding back into myself, undoing the work Nolan has done to pull me from my shell. I put my hands to my face and tuck my knees in tight. There is no reason, nothing rational that can remind me that I am in control.
YOU ARE READING
The Hades Test
Paranormal"My name is Adalia Kritant, and I can see, feel and communicate with ghosts." Adalia has lived her life with a curse: the ability to see and hear the dead. It has caused her to miss out on the joys of life. Friendship, happiness and love have elude...
