Dead Dawn

Chapter five: Dream Chaser

I had that dream again. I was submerged without vision. A could walk but also swim. The ground was wherever I wanted it to be. I looked around, maybe by studying this place I'll learn more about my situation. Ever since I met the Aiuchi family everything, I've known about being a ghost has been put to the test.

"Perhaps it's a test from God? Would things be like this if another family moved in?"

As I slept the silhouettes of a man and a woman walked past me drawing my attention from the floor and as I lifted my head I snapped back to reality. The sight of Au staring at me sent me into an immediate state of shock.

"Can you possess me?"

"What?"

"Can you possess me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't think ghosts can do that."

"So, you've tried?"

"Of course not!"

"Then you don't know!"

"I guess not"

"Then do it!"

"Stop staring at the ghost like that!" Interrupted Otto tossing an old schoolbag to her, a schoolbag she failed to catch. A school bag that flew directly at me phasing through my head and landing on the couch.

"So, are you in the bag, or is the bag inside of you?" asked Au causing Otto to burst out laughing.

As he recomposed himself, he asked "Why don't you save that curiosity for school?"

"I have some time before I have to leave!" responded his eager daughter

"No. You don't."

"I do if I run! Anyway, Kazumi! What are you going to do while we're gone? You'll have the house to yourself for the first time in a while, right? You better not start getting excited for me to leave!"

"Go to school or I'm going to walk you there myself!"

"Okay, I'm off!" She said before picking up her schoolbag and jetting out the door. I'm not sure why but it looked like that was more than enough to break her curiosity. I let out a quiet laugh before closing my eyes to go back to sleep. All these swamp dreams are more tiring than being awake

"Any plans for the day?" Asked Otto ignoring my obvious need for sleep

"Sleeping in I guess" I responded with a monotone voice

"Is that all? You won't make it in the real world if you sleep in all day.

"Real world? You don't think about the things you say do you?"

"Oh yeah, sorry I kind of forgot."

"It's fine, I stopped taking you seriously a long time ago"

"Your words cut like knives Bounded Spirit."

"I'm going upstairs, see you when you get home from work."

"Before you go, I have a request for you," he said, bringing my retreat to a halt

I wanted to ignore him, but it's not like I was doing anything else

"What is it?" I responded

"If you clean up the house, I'll give you 20 dollars for each room"

"Really? Ok then, that's all you had to say."

And with a wink, smile, and slam of the door, Otto was gone for the next 12 hours or so hours. And I got to my cleaning, completely forgetting about my sleepiness.