Expelled Souls

A shattered calm

Ivy’s eyes widened as she took in the figure’s familiar features. It was Noah Harrison—the boy whose death had shaken their school. The realization struck her like a lightning bolt. She was in a hospital bed, unable to move or touch her mother, and Noah was here, somehow guiding her through this surreal experience.

“Noah?” she finally managed, her voice trembling. “Is that really you?”

He nodded, offering a small, reassuring smile. “Yeah, it’s me. I know this is a lot to take in. But we’re in this together.”

Ivy’s heart ached at the sight of him. Despite the eerie circumstances, there was something comforting about Noah’s presence. “So, what happens now?”

Noah looked around the hospital room, then back at Ivy. “We’re kind of stuck here. We can’t leave the hospital, but we can explore it. And there’s a lot we can do, actually. Come on, I’ll show you.”

He floated effortlessly through the door, and Ivy hesitated for a moment before following him. As she crossed the threshold, she felt a strange sense of liberation. The world beyond the hospital seemed a distant memory; right now, her reality was confined to these walls, but Noah’s calm guidance made it bearable.

Noah led her through the hospital’s corridors, showing her their newfound abilities. They flew gracefully through the hallways, soaring past bewildered nurses and doctors who remained oblivious to their presence. Ivy marveled at the freedom of floating above the ground, feeling a sense of weightlessness she had never known before.

“This is incredible,” Ivy said, her voice filled with awe. “I never thought I’d be able to do something like this.”

Noah grinned. “It’s pretty amazing, right? We can do a lot more than just float. Watch this.” He floated up to a ceiling-mounted light fixture and made it flicker on and off with a playful flick of his fingers.

Ivy laughed, a sound of pure joy. “You’re right. This is awesome!”

Noah demonstrated how they could pass through walls, effortlessly gliding through the barriers that once confined them. Ivy followed, her heart racing with exhilaration. They moved through walls like they were made of mist, emerging into different rooms and discovering new parts of the hospital.

“I’ve always wanted to see behind those doors,” Ivy said, peeking through a small crack in a door. “I can’t believe we can actually go there.”

Noah nodded. “It’s one of the perks of being a ghost. We can explore places that were previously off-limits. Just be careful not to spook the staff too much.”

They found a small room filled with dusty furniture and old medical records. As they floated through, Noah picked up a dusty old book and waved it in front of Ivy. “Look at this! It’s like a time capsule.”

Ivy leaned in, curious. “What’s it about?”

Noah flipped through the pages. “It looks like old hospital records. Some of these documents are from decades ago. I wonder if there’s anything useful in here.”

As they continued their exploration, they stumbled upon an abandoned lounge on the hospital’s upper floor. The room was filled with dusty furniture and forgotten magazines. Ivy and Noah decided to make the room their own, rearranging the furniture into a cozy hangout spot.

“This place is perfect,” Ivy said, dusting off a worn-out couch. “We can come here whenever we need a break from exploring.”

Noah settled onto the couch, looking around with a sense of satisfaction. “Agreed. It’s like our secret hideaway.”

They spent hours in the lounge, talking about their lives and dreams. Ivy found herself opening up to Noah in ways she hadn’t expected. “I’ve always wanted to travel,” she confessed, her eyes distant. “See new places, experience new things.”

Noah’s expression softened. “I can relate. I used to dream about traveling too. I wanted to see the world beyond this town.”

Ivy looked at him, her voice tinged with sadness. “It’s such a shame that your dreams were cut short.”

Noah sighed, his gaze drifting to the window where the rain pattered softly. “Yeah, it feels like everything was taken away from me. I was about to start college, maybe even study abroad. It’s like I never got a chance to begin.”

Ivy’s heart ached for him. “I’m sorry, Noah. I can’t imagine how hard that must be.”

He looked at her, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability. “Thank you, Ivy. It helps to talk about it. I’ve been so focused on trying to understand what happened to me that I didn’t realize how much I needed to talk.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, the gentle hum of the hospital’s machinery providing a soothing background. Ivy took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace in Noah’s presence. “You know, even though we’re in this strange situation, I’m glad I have you here with me.”

Noah squeezed her hand gently. “Me too. It’s nice not to be alone.”

Eventually, the exhaustion of the day began to set in. Ivy and Noah floated back to the abandoned lounge, the soft glow of the moonlight casting a gentle light over the room. They settled onto the worn-out couch, holding hands in a gesture of comfort and connection.

“This is nice,” Ivy said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just being here with you.”

Noah smiled, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of contentment. “Yeah, it is. I’m glad we have this moment.”

They leaned against each other, their hands entwined, finding solace in each other’s presence. The rain outside had stopped, leaving behind a calm and quiet atmosphere. The rhythmic patter of the rain had been replaced by the soft murmur of the hospital at night.

As they drifted off to sleep, their connection deepened. The world outside seemed distant and irrelevant. In the quiet of the abandoned lounge, with their hands still clasped together, Ivy and Noah found a moment of peace and intimacy amidst the uncertainty.