The Apparition || Bad Omens || Noah Sebastian

Chapter eight

The door of the house closed with a dull thud behind him, and Noah found himself once again in the cold air of that winter morning. His breath came out in small puffs of steam, while inside, he felt like a storm was brewing. Jen’s words had hit him like a punch to the gut: That whore was sleeping with my husband.

He couldn’t believe it, didn’t want to believe it.

He walked slowly towards the car, where Ruby was waiting for him, still invisible but somehow present, like a shadow beside him. The tension between them was palpable, yet there was also a strange stillness, a brief pause amid the chaos.

When he finally sat in the driver’s seat, closing the door with a weary gesture, he felt Ruby become more tangible. Her voice reached him, low and almost fragile.

"It’s not true. I would never have done something like that."

Noah didn’t respond immediately. He rested his head against the steering wheel, trying to piece together the puzzle that seemed to grow more confusing. His heart was pounding, not just from the revelations, but from the pain he sensed in Ruby.

The specter slowly materialized beside him, like a light mist taking shape. But this time, there was something different about her: the usual irony had vanished, replaced by a vulnerability Noah had never seen before. He looked at her, and for a moment, he was overwhelmed by a tenderness so intense it almost disarmed him.

"Noah," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "you believe me, don’t you?"

He raised his gaze, meeting Ruby’s translucent eyes. Even though she was a ghost, at that moment, she seemed more human than ever. Her fears, her doubts, everything was written on her face. And he knew: Ruby wasn’t perfect, but she would never do something so destructive.

"Of course, I believe you, but do you believe in your memories?" his voice was firm, sincere. "By the way, that’s not the issue. The issue is figuring out what the hell is going on here. Everything seems more complicated than I thought."

Ruby closed her eyes, a nearly imperceptible gesture, as if she were trying to hold back tears, or perhaps memories that continued to flood her mind.

"It’s all so confusing, Noah. I… there are things I can’t remember, parts of my life that are just a black hole. But I know I would never have hurt that family. Michael was important to me. The only thing I wanted was to help."

A long silence followed. Noah tried to absorb everything she had just said, while Ruby seemed lost in her thoughts.

"We can’t stop now," he said finally. "Not until we’ve found the truth."

Ruby looked at him, and for a moment, a faint smile touched her lips. There was an understanding between them, a closeness that transcended the absurd situation they found themselves in. They were two lost souls, bound by an invisible thread woven from mutual understanding and tenderness.

"You know," Ruby began, trying to lighten the mood, "you’re not that bad as an amateur detective. Sure, you’re slower than I thought, but at least you haven’t gotten yourself killed yet."

Noah laughed, a genuine sound that broke the heavy atmosphere. "You think? I didn’t know I had talents beyond singing."

Ruby smiled, amused, and for a moment, she seemed like her old self again, with that sharp sarcasm and mischievous grin that had characterized her from the beginning. But there was something new, too, a softness that hadn’t been there before, a vulnerability that made her more real, more accessible.

"You know," she continued, "I didn’t think you’d go this far for me. I mean, I guess being tied to a ghost wasn’t exactly in your life plans."

Noah glanced at her affectionately, then turned his gaze back to the road. "No, it wasn’t. But you know what? I don’t regret it. If this helps you find peace, then it’s worth it."