Legacy's Ghost

Episode 8: I Choose You

I almost don't believe it when the Ghost sits down.

I rub my eyes, blink, and look at him again.

I can't see his face very well. Of course, I think that's normal for the Ghost.

I squint, trying to see if I can distinguish any features in the shadows of his hood, but I don't look for long.

I know he's watching me and it makes me nervous wondering what he's thinking of me. Why is he here?

I look away biting my lip. Should I say something? What exactly should I say? Hi how you doing? I haven't seen you around here before? How about the meteor showers?

I taste blood in my mouth, and realize I bit my lip too hard. I press my lips together and turn to him. "Hi?"

His voice is deep. Deeper than I expected it to be. I don't know what I exactly expected, but when he says, "Hello" I blink several times.

I've only seen him a few times. Usually ghosting down the hall in the middle of the night. He keeps to himself. I never see him socializing. And people usually seem to shy away from him whenever possible. He's scary, yet mysterious, even I knew that as an outsider.

The silence stretches between us for several minutes until he finally says, "I hear you're the new ghoul."

I nod. He came to talk about this now? While I'm in the hospital?

"I thought you decided who the new ghoul would be?" I ask, tilting my head and squinting.

His long gloved fingers flex where they're resting on his legs. "I do. But Edmond makes the final decision."

"Did you recommend me?" I ask, raising my brows. Another kernel of hope stirs inside me.

He's silent for a long time.

I start to fidget with my blanket. Did he hear me? Do I need to ask again?

Finally, he sighs and says, "No."

My stomach drops. The kernel of hope stills, shrivels, and its dust blows away on an imaginary breeze. Not even the Ghost wants me. The only other outsider of Legacy colony.

I look away, focusing on my hands, noting how my hands are almost as white as the bleached sheets of my bed. "Then why are you here?" I whisper.

"Because I saw what you did in the cavern."

I furrow my brows and look up at him... or at least were his face should be. "You did?"

I hadn't seen him. Normally I'm completely aware of my surroundings. Where had he been?

The hood nods. "I was there both times you stood up to Rigel."

I fist my blankets, trying to stop the trembling in my hands. A shiver of awareness shoots up my spine. I thought I'd been good at blending in, but this guy is hits master levels. Shaking my head, I say, "I didn't stand up to Rigal. He's too big."

The hood shakes his head almost imperceptibly. "Not outright. But I saw your protecting Trina. I saw you step between her and Rigel to keep her safe." He leans closer, making me lean away, wariness warring with intrigue. "Sometimes the best offense is to come in from the side where they aren't expecting you, instead of head-on."

He pauses and leans back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. "Do you know why the ghoul position has been open for so long?"

I shake my head.

"I was waiting for the right person to come along. It takes a certain personality to do what I do, to step away from society for the sake of their survival. But I think Edmond had you pegged all along. It just took me longer to see it. To truly see you."

The hood nods. "I think you'll be the perfect ghoul for the TAGs."

My mouth drops open, and I'm sure my eyes are as big as saucers. Warmth rushes through my body and I smile up at him, whoever he is. "Th-thank you."

The hood shakes his head. "Don't thank me just yet. You've only been a ghoul for one day and you're already in the hospital." He rests his gloved hand on my hospital bed's railing and leans closer again.

This time I don't lean away. I bite my lip and swallow, feeling that kernel reappear inside my chest, the vines of hope twisting and vining around my heart and up to my brain, taking root in my soul.

Until the Ghost says, in his deep, bone-shaking voice, "This job is more of a curse than a blessing. It'll be the hardest thing you ever do in this life."