Ghost [Niall Horan]

Chapter 15

"Honestly, that was.... it. You know? It was 'it'. Perfect. Wow" Niall praises every second after we leave the music room.

"Niall, thank you" I tell him again.

"Honestly, that was beautiful" he says again.

"You've already said that" I laugh. He studies my face and a smile stretches across his face, beautiful. God, he's beautiful. We keep walking through the empty hallways. It's kind of creepy, but the real creep happens to be my friend; so why fear? The only sound is of my shoes hitting the mosaic floors. The echoes fading occasionally into the air as I walk further;  Niall by my side. I go on until I realize Niall is not walking by my side. I turn around and he's just standing there with a terrorized face.

"Niall?" I ask.

"I feel..." his already pale skin has lost all the colour. He literally looks white. White as in fully white.

"What do you feel? You alright?" I ask, sensing fear.

"I feel the presence of another soul" he says looking at me right in the eyes.

"Is that a bad thing?" I dare to ask.

"The soul has been separated from the body just now" he continues. My mind runs wild with the thought of possibilities.

"Where are you getting at?" I hold my breath.

"You need to get out of here" he says. It comes out more like an order.

"But why?"

"Just go" he shouts. I study him. "You know where the door is." Maybe, something's really wrong. I jog to the hall's way out. Passing the library and the store room in the process. As my eyes meet another, I stop my stampede. The scene catches me off guard. My hands get sweaty,  I'm shaking. A blood curdling scream escapes my mouth. I need to run but my feet won't carry me. It's like the scene in front of me had tied me down. I'm a hostage. Fear settles heavy on my shoulders. Never had I imagined I'd have to be a victim to witness such a scene. At that very moment, I was questioning human morals. The mind of a human can order every nerve of the human body to commit such a sin? It was at the very moment quite a mystery as I wanted to find and know reasons for the horrifying non-picturesque scene in front of me.

"You stupid person, run" I heard Niall's voice from behind me. It was as if his voice had unlocked my senses and my legs immediately carried me away. I ran. I ran until I felt like my chest would explode. I stop as I realize I was half way about to reach home. I was far away from my school grounds. Niall was there. He'll be alright. I take in large gasps of air. I hadn't realised I was crying as well.

I walk to my house slowly scared, afraid, terrified, whatever you call it. I get to my room and sit on my bed. The scene replayed on my mind. The way Mr. Johnson had Miss Gina's neck in his hands. The way miss Gina's eyes were wide open but there was no life and then Mr. Johnson lay her on the ground. Her skin had lost colour and she looked so sickly blue. When Mr. Johnson's eyes met mine, it read pure fear. He was caught committing a crime. A sin. He was seen committing a murder and that to by my petty soul. How easy is it to take a life. How fragile is a human life? I felt like a different person. My soul has been stained. Miss Gina was young and my music teacher, I had a great adoration for her.

A slight cracking noise makes me snap my head up as I get into my defensive mode.

"Now you have borderline paranoia" Niall says as he enters through the window.

"Niall, I have to tell someone" I say.

"You can't" he says gravely. "At least, not now."

"It's bloody murder. I can't keep mum. If I don't speak up, I'm going to burst" I exaggerate. Well, it's true.

"Now is not the time" he speaks.

"Niall, I can't" I start to weep. "Is he going to come after me?"

"Most likely" he says, plainly. My tears heavily cascade my face.

"Niall. I'm scared" I speak incoherently.

"Hey, hey. Ava, don't. Ahh, don't cry. I can't even comfort you" I hear him sigh.

"Niall, my soul's stained. I'll never be the same person again."

"God, the twist of events. Why don't you freshen up and have some sleep?"

"Niall, I can't sleep just after I've witnessed a murder and when there's a chance that the murderer might come for me. And you ask me to keep mum about this whole thing" my speak octaves higher than I usually do.

"Hey, don't you say you're scared. And don't you dare lose your sleep worrying about things you shouldn't" he says seriously.

"How can I not?" I look up to him, only to see a blurry Niall and feel a phantasm coolness in my room.

"Because, I'm going to look out for you. I'm going to protect you" he says slowly. His eyes show honesty and sincerity. The way he looks and his spoken words somehow make me feel serene. I replay his words in my mind like they are my only solace.

"As long as I'm here, no harm can ever touch you" he continues.

"Promise me?" I clear my throat.

"I promise" he gives me a saddened smile. "I wish I could hug you."

"I wish you could, too" I agree.

When you breathe next to me, I know I'm alive.

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