A Rose's Thorns

Chapter 15, Ghosts and Ice Cream

Rosaleen’s PoV

After gaining permission from the new homeowner I approached the gift basket, opening it and rummaging through it my eyes looking through it curious and unsure.

After a little while, I yelled out in a shocked triumph as I pulled something from the basket that didn’t quite belong in said basket.

“What did you find Petal?” Ryder asked next to me, making me jump out of my skin and spin on him. His eyes looked at the box that had intricate designs carved in my small hands. I bit inside of my lip as I opened the box showing the small light bones of a bird and many other little critters.

My eyes narrowed as I began to understand the situation, ‘Someone summoned a spirit or something and it's mad…’ I thought, as we turned to the woman my eyes focusing on her, then I shifted my eyes to the shadow being, it was watching me calmly knowing I saw it, the being didn’t react just floating there.

“You can see it too can’t you?” The woman asked, my eyes shifted her again as she nodded gently to the being.

“I can hear him. He talks to me sometimes, but I know he can’t stay… As much as I want him to…” She said looking in the general direction of the shadow being unable to actually see it.

“Your husband?” I asked and she nodded firmly, her eyes warm and sad as she smiled sadly tears brimming her eyes as I nodded in understanding.

“We have two other people we need to talk to…” I said softly and she nodded, sniffling slightly as she led us back to the front door.

As we stepped out of the house and out the front gate, I scratched my neck slightly thinking deeply trying to understand what I just witnessed.

“Petal?” I heard Ryder call out, his voice sounded distant as I stopped walking, turning slightly and looking at him. He was pointing at the next witness sitting on the front porch, and it clicked remembering the boy’s picture in the file.

I stepped back towards the gate, but before I could get through the gate a hand grabbed my arm gently stopping me and I looked up at Ryder confused and he studied my face.

“Something is bugging you, isn’t it. What’s wrong?” He asked my brow raised as I looked at him, trying to think of something to say to let him know I was okay.

“I am fine, I just wasn’t expecting this outcome.” I admitted my eyes flicking between his just now realizing how close we were, I could see the slightly darker fleeks in his eyes with the proximity we were and I cleared my throat.

“I… I am fine, let’s just keep going.” I said, stepping back now, gently removing my arm from his hand. He wasn’t hurting me, I just needed to breathe. I was trying to keep myself composed.

I stepped past Ryder. He didn't stop me this time, my eyes were on the boy and now the shadow that sat next to him had an actual form this time. It was the boy's father, my eyes saddened as the man looked up at me not saying anything just watching me.

“Hey Kiddo, what’s your name? Can my friend and I ask you a few questions about your dad?” I asked, the boy looked up, his eyes watching me quietly. I frowned confused as I sat down next to him now.

“Ry, can you check if his mother is home? Maybe we can speak to her about this… I don’t wanna traumatize him or make him uncomfortable.” I said softly and Ryder nodded as he stepped past me, patting me on the head gently as he walked by.

“So… Did you and your dad play catch?” I asked, boy was still looking at me, his eyes tired and slightly red as he was oddly silent.

“Can you hear me?” I asked my brows scrunched together worried, the boy shook his head slightly. My suspicions were confirmed this boy was deaf.