Visible Ghosts

32

Victor POV

Two black metal gates stare back at me. Sang didn't send me a passcode to get in. Beyond them I catch a glimpse of their house, a two story with a wraparound porch and an attached garage. Moss covers some of the trees giving the place a southern gothic feel with its bright white siding and blooming pink roses bushes. I glanced at the package I had carefully wrapped, two white boxes stacked on top of each other with pale pink ribbons, tied neatly into a bow. Maybe I should have included a gift card? What if she wanted to buy music or some games? My fingers start tapping restlessly against the steering wheel. There's no intercom to call up to the house and my anxiety starts to skyrocket when I think of calling Sang back. What if she gave the phone back to Raven?

To my relief, another gray BMW pulls up behind me. Mr. Blackbourne gets out and looks down into my window. "Mr. Morgan, is everything alright?"

Rolling down my window my hands loosen on the steering wheel, "Sang didn't send me the passcode to get in, perhaps she sent it to you?"

Mr. Blackbourne's lips twitch downwards for a second, "No, Miss Sang forgot to mention a passcode. Shall one of us call her back?"

"Er, Yes. That's a good idea. I can do it." I pull out my phone and dial Raven's number. It rings until the dial tone starts and asks for a voicemail. I hung up without saying anything. "She didn't answer. Isn't Dr. Green here? I can call him."

"He's most likely asleep, Miss Sang tried to wake him up and failed earlier." Another twitch of Mr. Blackbourne's lips. My own eyebrows furrow, this is more emotion I've seen on Mr. Blackbourne's face for some time. Normally, his face is passive, the only time I'm able to notice changes is when I pay close attention to his eyes.

"I'll try anyway." The day was starting and even for a September morning it was starting to get unbearably humid out. Dr. Green's phone doesn't ring, just goes straight to voicemail, must be dead. I tell Mr. Blackbourne as much and he stares pensively at the house in front of us.

The squealing of brakes has me getting out of my car and standing next to Mr. Blackbourne as a black truck screeches to a stop right before it hits Mr. Blackbourne's vehicle. Axel jumps out of the truck, a frown covering his face.

"The hell are you two just parked here for? I almost hit you!" He storms over to us, his clothes are messy. He missed a button of his shirt and his dress slacks are wrinkled. His normally pulled back hair is hanging around his face.

"Miss Sang forgot to send us the passcode to get in," Mr. Blackbourne informs Axel without backing down from Axel's intense energy. "We were trying to call to receive one but have yet to get an answer."

"Oh." Axel says as he brings a hand through his hair. In that moment, it's as if he realizes as much he's not put together and pulls his hair back into a low ponytail, securing it with a black band around his wrist. "I have the code, I'll input it."

He swerves around the both of us and beelines for the little metal box. After a moment, the gates start to swing open. I hop back into my car but Mr. Blackbourne steps closer to Axel and asks him a question before he gets back into his own car. Whatever they say is lost to me, as I press forward excited but nervous to see Sang.

The driveway has a black SUV sitting into front of the garage, so I decided to park next to it. Owen parks behind me and Axel pulls around the circle that is closer to the front door. I grab Sang's new laptop and phone along with my laptop bag before heading towards the front door. Axel has already knocked and is waiting, Mr. Blackbourne and I join him when the door swings open to reveal Zane. He's wearing a blue apron and is covered in flour.