Ghostly Plea

Poppy

Ashlyn was asleep when Bella and I returned to the room. She was completely still. She would have looked like she was dead if her eyes were not moving rapidly under her eyelids. If I were not haunted by the spirits of the dead, it would make me scared. But because I am, I'm merely worried.

Bella was terrified though. She wanted to wake Ash up, to make sure she was okay. I said she was fine; she was probably just in REM sleep. That was two hours ago. It is now midnight and I'm not asleep. If the house never rests, I'll never rest. I'm currently staring at the lady in the rocking chair. She still hasn't noticed me, and I'm not sure if she ever will. She continues to rock back and forth back and forth, never stopping. Bella's asleep. She took one of my sleeping pills. I usually take them because without them I would feel my family's auras, and never be able to sleep.

I want to be always fully aware here though. I need to see and feel everything. Around eleven Geoffrey came into the room. I pretended I was asleep so he would continue to do what he came here to do. I was curious. Now I watch him, an hour later still here, staring at Ash as she sleeps. He tries to caress her face, but his hand goes right through. She shivers every time he tries. He whispers things too, but I try not to listen. The lady in the rocking chair I learned is Eliza turner. Liam's wife. She doesn't pay any attention to Geoffrey.

I want to yell at him to leave Ashlyn alone. But I can't, and I won't. If he knows I'm awake he'll lash out. He's not mentally stable. He could hurt her if I say something. And for now, he seems content to stare at her as if he was her father. It's disturbing. He gives her an air kiss to the cheek and whispers,

"Come back to me. Please," And he leaves.

I wait for a moment after he leaves, until I sit up in bed. I climb down the bunk bed ladder and look at Ash. Her aura feels slightly off again. But as soon as I detect anything it's back to normal. I glance at Bella, making sure she's asleep and walk quietly past Eliza. I walk across the hall and softly knock on the boy's door, seeing if anyone's awake. Whintle answers.

"Hey," He whispers softly. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Yeah," I whisper back.

"Me either. I was gonna head downstairs, you want to come?" He doesn't wait for me to answer and just starts walking down the hall. I follow.

Sitting on the sofa, an awkward silence fills the air. "Why couldn't you sleep?" He asks. I know I shouldn't answer. Geoffrey told me I shouldn't tell anyone how I can see the ghosts. He said if Liam ever found out he would stop at nothing to kill me. But Whintle might understand. A ghost was in him after all.

"The house never sleeps, so I'll never sleep." I tell him simply. He nods his head as if he understands.

"You can see the ghosts all the time? You can't turn it off or something?" A laugh escapes my lips, and he smiles nervously.

"No, I've never been able to turn it off." He looks at me as if I have grown two heads.

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since I was a small child I've had this talent-"

"To see ghosts?!" He whispers shocked.

"No, to see people's energy." He stays quiet waiting for me to continue. "I can tell if people are good or bad, by their auras."

"Auras? How does mine look?" He's taking this way better than I thought. The only other person I have ever told this to was my mom. I've never even told my sister, Violet.

"Yours is light, like the sun. It feels like hope and positivity. There's more to it than that, but that's the best I can explain it. When you were taken over by Liam, your aura changed drastically. It turned dark and oozed like thick tar. Malice was tangible in the air. It was horrible."

"So that's how you knew how to save me. You could tell I wasn't the same because of my aura."

"Yes."

"I understand." No one can understand what I can see. I'm about to tell him this when he continues.

"I can feel him." I look at him questioningly. "Liam. I can feel him trying to take over again. I can feel him when he's close to me in the house. It's like phantom pains."

"That's awful, I'm so sorry. It's bad enough I have to go through it, but now you too. You don't deserve it."

"You don't deserve it either Poppy." He looks me in the eyes.

"I have to," I whisper. "If I don't deserve it, why would hell curse me with this 'gift'?" I say disgusted. "I must have done something truly evil to have this brought upon me."

"I don't have to see auras to know yours is pure Poppy. You're as good as anyone can get." He smiles, takes my hand and squeezes it. I blush, as I stare deep into his Honey eyes.

"AHH!" I high pitched scream echoes throughout the house.

"Bella!" Whintle and I shout in unison.