The Apparition || Bad Omens || Noah Sebastian

Chapter four

Noah drummed his fingers on the edge of the computer, staring at the screen with no clear idea where to begin. The thought of searching online for "how to help a ghost pass on" felt ridiculous, but he had no other options. Ruby watched him, floating silently beside the bed, her expression perpetually caught between anger and sadness. Noah couldn't ignore her, but he couldn't continue living like this either.

"Alright," he finally said, opening the browser. "Tell me more about yourself. Maybe there's a clue in your life that can help us understand why you're still here."

Ruby drifted closer, sitting — or rather hovering — a few inches away from him. "I was a teacher," she said, her voice softer than usual. "At an elementary school. You know, one of those tough neighborhoods where the kids have more problems at home than in class."

Noah nodded, skipping over the fact that he already knew that; he'd lost count of how many times he'd read articles about her disappearance. He started a search in the local newspapers to find more news about Ruby, but his fingers froze halfway. "Go on," he said, looking into her dark eyes that now reflected a faint melancholy.

"I loved those kids. Despite everything. And I helped the families too. A lot of them were struggling financially, barely able to put food on the table. I tried to do what I could, taking the kids on field trips, buying school supplies when the parents couldn’t afford them." Ruby paused, her gaze lost in a memory Noah couldn’t see.

"And your parents?" Noah asked, trying to figure out if there was a connection.

"They were proud of me." Ruby smiled bitterly. "They always supported me, even when they knew my job was a losing battle. But now... now they're devastated. They can't accept that I'm gone like this, so suddenly, during a concert."

Noah frowned. “Wait. Maybe there’s something to that. Your parents can’t let you go... and neither can you.”

Ruby stared at him, reflecting on those words. “Maybe. But what could I do... I’m dead, Noah. Even if I wanted to, I can’t do anything for them."

"But maybe I can," Noah said, closing the computer. "Maybe the first thing we need to do is help your parents find peace. If they can let you go, maybe you’ll be able to move on too."

Ruby looked at him intently. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Noah stood up, energized by the moment. "I want to talk to them. Tell them what happened that night and... I don't know, maybe help them find some answers. I’m not good at this kind of thing, but if there’s a chance I can help you, I have to at least try."

Ruby seemed surprised, but also relieved. For the first time, her face softened. "I don’t know if it will work, but thank you. Maybe you’re right. Maybe the problem isn’t just mine... maybe we’re all stuck."

"Do you still know their address?" Noah asked, grabbing his phone to find a way to contact them.

"Yes," Ruby said, pointing to a neighborhood just outside the city. "They still live there. But... I’m sure they won’t want to see anyone. They’re very private."

Noah frowned but refused to be discouraged. "It doesn’t matter. I’ll find a way to talk to them. And maybe I won’t be able to make them feel better, but I can at least try to give them something. Maybe not answers, but... peace, if that’s what’s needed."

"They would appreciate that," Ruby whispered.

"Perfect. Then let's go." Noah grabbed a shirt and felt a cold wind brush his arm.

"It’s night, Noah," Ruby said faintly.

"Right, then I..." Noah suddenly found himself acting awkwardly in his own bedroom. "I’ll go to sleep, then."

"Sure," she said.

He sat back on the bed, this time pulling the sheets over himself uncertainly. "Could I ask you to... yeah, if you could turn off the light and let me sleep, please?"

Ruby smiled tenderly and turned off the lights without moving a muscle. "Goodnight, Noah. And thank you for your help" she said, slowly fading away and leaving the room in an eerie silence.

The next morning, Noah grabbed his car keys and left the house. The early morning air was fresh, but not enough to lift the oppressive weight he felt in his chest. He drove aimlessly for a few minutes, trying to organize his thoughts, before setting the destination on the GPS. Ruby’s parents' address wasn’t far, but it felt like an endless distance.

Arriving in front of their house, he stopped for a few seconds, staring at the closed windows and the overgrown garden. He took a deep breath, then got out of the car, walking towards the front door. Every step felt heavier than the last. He didn’t know what he would say; he didn’t even know if this was the right thing to do. But he had to try.

He knocked on the door, his heart pounding in his throat. He heard slow footsteps approaching from inside, then the door opened slightly, revealing a middle-aged woman with a weary, grief-stricken face. She had to be Ruby’s mother.

"Yes?" the woman asked in a low, almost hesitant voice.

Noah took a deep breath. "Hello, my name is Noah Sebastian. I was there the night Ruby... when everything happened. I know this might sound strange, but I’d like to talk to you about her. I think... I mean, I believe it might help us both."

The woman looked at him for a long moment, then, with a slight tremor in her voice, said, "Wait here a moment." She closed the door, leaving him alone on the porch.

Noah found himself staring at the wood of the closed door, as the weight of the moment hit him like an avalanche.