Ghost (First Edition)

Chapter Fifteen

Nathan

***

The boy slipped into the bathroom, desperate for the toilet. He made it a few stumbled steps into the room, hands fisted in his crotch when he saw them. He knew who the boy was lying sprawled on the cold, tiled floor.

Luis.

He was deathly pale and seemed to be hardly breathing. His eyes were closed.

The boy got down next to Luis, forgetting his need to pee as fear ran through him. he took Luis's hand—it was still warm—and checked for a pulse. It was so faint he hardly felt it. He stood up and backed away towards the door.

"I'm going to get you some help!" He said before leaving at a run.

***

Nathan's phone buzzed as he got into the car. He took it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. The message came from Luis. Nathan felt his stomach drop as that uneasy feeling intensified. He opened the message and read it. Three words. Three simple words.

Nathan, I'm sorry.

Nathan's blood ran cold. He read the message again and again, his sense of dread growing with each read. He looked up at last when Mary entered the car. "Mum, step on the gas," his voice was tense.

Mary chuckled. "You're not going to be that late, Nathan," she said as she slipped the key into the ignition.

"Mum!" Nathan yelled, his voice now desperate, "I think Luis is trying to commit suicide!"

Mary stopped laughing. "Why do you think that?" She asked, uncertain.

"He sent a message saying, 'Nathan, I'm sorry'," Nathan couldn't keep the fear from his voice. He won't do it... he can't do it.... Please!

Mary got a strange look on her face and started driving.

"Mum, what's wrong?" Nathan asked, noticing her expression. It wasn't serious, it was something else he couldn't distinguish.

Mary looked determinedly at the road ahead. "I had a friend years ago. My closest friend. She was suicidal too. I woke to a message one day before school—the exact same message. I was too late to save her, I will not let you be too late for Luis."

Nathan hadn't known that about his mother, it made him see her in a new light. the wailing of sirens cut through the air like a cold knife, and Nathan sat forwards, hands gripping his seat till his knuckles turned white, his heart beating cold fear through him. "Luis..."

Mary stepped on the gas, and they sped down the main street, houses and people flying by in a blur of colour. When they pulled up out the front of the school, an ambulance was already there, red, and blue lights flashing. Students watched from the classroom windows, their faces masks of shock, curiosity, and concern. Teachers were behind them, trying to usher them back to their seats.

Nathan flew out of the car in time to see Luis—as pale as death, oxygen mask covering his face, and the source of the stares—being pushed on a stretcher and into the back of the ambulance by two paramedics.

"Luis..." Nathan breathed as the doors shut with a bang and the ambulance's engine started. "Luis!" Nathan yelled, bolting after the ambulance as it sped away from the school and down the main street.

"Nathan!" He heard Mary call after him, "Nathan, wait!"

Nathan didn't stop, didn't wait. "Wait!" He called at the ambulance, throwing out his arm to try and wave it down. "Luis! Luis! Wait—" He tripped on an uneven slab of pavement and fell, landing hard on the concrete as the ambulance turned the corner and vanished from sight.