The Guardian Angel

Chapter-26: James

I looked at Leah, whose face had frozen with what the old lady had just said. She'd then later walked away, muttering to herself. Old ladies and their gossips, we couldn't even know how much of what she said was true. I examined her face again, worried. It was blank and emotionless, devoid of the joy and splendor from our time earlier. I covered her hand with mine as I drove back home, trying to provide some kind of solace in this whole fucked-up shit show.

"Hey. We'll figure it out, alright?" I said, despite having no idea what to do.

She shook her head lightly. "Do we want to?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"I don't think anything we find will be for the better. Do you think it'll be?"

I shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. I have no idea what to make of all this."

Nodding, she turned her head away again. I drove us back home, mind still reeling from all the sudden information. Once we headed inside, we were literally pounced upon by Stephen and Jess. The latter happy seeing us together and the former.... Frowning. And that was putting it lightly.

"Where were you guys?! You had us worried!" Jess asked, though she looked all but worried. Leah just collapsed onto the sofa, curling up. I explained all that happened so far. My death, how no one except her could see me as me, our weird dreams, how we think my parents were connected with her dream.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Jess exclaimed, making a T with her hands. "You're saying... you're James."

"Yes. I don't think I introduced myself by another name."

"The one who died on TV?"

I frowned. "In Afghanistan. But yes, the one who died."

"What the fuck. How..." She started.

"We don't know, I don't know, no one knows!" I was losing my patience with her. This wasn't what was important right now.

"She knew?" Jess asked, pointing at Leah, who was still curled up on the sofa but now with a blanket draped over her. The sight really worried me.

"Like I said, she is the only one who can see me as I was before. I have no idea what you guys see me as."

"This makes as much sense as a pig and a horse having a baby." Stephen grunted from his place at the table. That.... was a very weird way to put it. But I had no time to worry about him.

Jess ignored him and continued, "What does Leah have to do with you and that house anyway? Even if all this dream shit is true, even with the most remote chance, what does she have to do with all this?"

I shrugged. "I wish I knew."

"I think I do." Leah croaked from her curled up position. "I'm not sure. But I think I do."

"What is it?" I asked. She shook her head at me.

"Not until I find out for sure."

"And how do we do that?" Stephen asked, annoyed. Seriously, the guy didn't have too many emotions.

"I think I know how. Let's go." Leah jumped to her feet, grabbed the car keys and set off towards the door. I locked the door in a haste, following the other three to the car.

"Where are you going?!" Jess exclaimed. Leah climbed into the car wordlessly with all of us following after.

She punched in public library into the navigation and drove.

"Aaah!" Jess' scream erupted through the car as Leah took a sharp turn. "Stephen! You useless moron!"

"Not my fault! Leah's driving like a maniac!" More screams as she took another turn. "Who let her drive?"