necromancer• enoch o'connor

4

———

after walking for a while and listening to the two "rappers" marlene had somehow gotten lost in the fog.

she happened upon the house.

destroyed but in some twisted way, a beautiful sight, nature having taken it over. she could imagine the bombs that would have taken the home, burning.

"such shame. it was a beautiful home in its prime"

the wallowed voice almost startled her, "i'm sorry that you hadn't a chance to bring him here. although it appears i also missed that opportunity." the two chuckled together.

she looked over at his slightly transparent form, "you think he can do what you could?"

abe nodded, "i do, he may even be stronger."

marlene knew he couldn't stay for long, ghosts having limited time in the overworld.

"i'll watch over him. i'm sure they will too."

the ghost nodded slowly fading with a smile on his old face.

she smiled, but she saw something. or someone out of the corner of her eye. it moved quick, then stopped. stared back at her. then, she noticed it was a boy, dressed in old clothes, pristine and not muddy.

his eyes widened as she stared directly into his eyes.

she shouted slightly, testing a theory, "i don't suppose you know of any peculiar happenings in this area?"

"can you... can you see me?" the boy asked.

marlene raised a brow, "i asked a question."

"yes, this particular peculiar event involves you being able to see me." he replied.

she took a step forward, "would you mind if i came over there? it's a tad inconvenient to have to shout." when the boy nodded she stepped up towards him, but was surprised to find him completely opaque.

"are you not a ghost?" she questioned, sounding silly even to herself.

"i'm sorry? that's not the case no. i'm meant to be invisible." her eyes widened. this was the invisible boy abe had spoken of, except here she could see him.

marlene chuckled, "peculiar indeed. i'm marlene. i don't suppose you're from the loop."

"millard nullings. i am yes, however i am a tad weary. i don't know you very well." millard replied, looking around as if for something else, maybe a hollow.

it was as if he had been so distracted by her being able to see him, that he hadn't considered she may be a wight bringing along a hollow to kill.

"rightfully so, i'd say. you best get going then, i've got to find my friend." marlene shook his hand and waved him off.

soon enough she heard the muttering of jacob portman, "jake! have you finally made your way here?!" she shouted.

she heard him shout back, running up, covered in mud and probably animal shit, "how did you-" jacob stopped his face falling at the bombed house.

"i'm going to see. someone may still be there."

before she could stop him jacob had run off toward the house.

she sat on her knees in the grass and just listened to the nature.

buzzing of flys and a breeze floating through. the island was peaceful here and if she could, marlene would build a house and live here for the rest of her peculiar life.

——

jacob returned after fifteen or so minutes, dejected and quiet.

marlene simply hugged his side as they walked, keeping him from collapsing. by the time they'd exited the fog the sun was going down and any people that were outside were streaming home or to the bar.

they met up with frank in the dining area of the tavern, were he was, supposedly, working on his book.

jake sat down swiping his fathers beer and sipping. immediately he spit it out, "oh my sweet lord, what is this? fermented motor oil."

franklin laughed, "just about, it's not like american beer. not that you'd know what that tastes like, right."

"absolutely not" jake replied winking, as marlene swiped it next, not even flinching at the taste, "this isn't even the worst i've had."

"sometimes i forget you aren't from the states marley." frank commented, "so how was it?"

they went on to tell him the story, leaving out some parts, like marlene getting lost, and the two rapper kids leaving jake on his own.

marlene left shortly after the conversation became personal, knowing how the two could get.

once again she collapsed in her bed, hardly able to contain her excitement of confirming the loops existence.

———