Author’s Note: For LeavesOfTheLilly. This is for you because you’ve read my story all this time, because you comment on every chapter you read and, most importantly, because you’ve enjoyed it. Thank you. :)
I sighed, wondering if there was a way of getting the ghost to leave. Then, a sudden thought occurred to me and I wrote ‘when did you die?’
‘JUNE 1876’. Just as I thought. The man had been dead a long time and he hadn’t even realised.
‘Then your killer is dead’. There was silence. I waited, waited for the next message for many long moments then ‘THAT CAN’T BE. HE ISN’T HERE. I WANT HIM HERE.’ The mirror shook slightly and I took a step back as the ghost wrote more ‘I WANT TO SEE HIM. I WANT TO SEE HIM WITH MY OWN DEAD EYES. I WANT TO KNOW.’ I bit my lip as the mirror stopped shaking. What was I meant to do now? ‘I’ll make you a deal. You leave here, leave Charlie alone and you can see your dead murderer.’
‘IF YOU CAN DO THAT, CHILD, I’LL NEVER COME BACK AGAIN. I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE BOY.’
“Alright, listen up Mr. Ghost, I’ve got a preposition for you.” I said aloud, tired of writing on mirrors. The mirror shook in understanding. “Here’s what we’ve got to do...”
I went back up the stairs and into the living room where Charlie was waiting, his face pale. “It’s ok. He’s going to leave soon.” I said matter-of-factly.
“What?” Said Charlie, confused “what did you say?”
“Well, you see he’s been dead since 1876 so his murderer will be dead too. He didn’t understand how because he wasn’t a ghost so I explained that he’s moved on to wherever people go after death. Either that, or he’s a ghost somewhere else. Right?” Charlie nodded to confirm what I’d said “so I made a deal with him-“
“You don’t make deals with the dead, Lily. They have nothing to lose.”
“It was my only option and I think he’ll stick to it. Just listen,” I said as Charlie opened his mouth to speak “so the ghost downstairs wants to know if his murderer is a ghost. I said we’d find out for him. If he’s not a ghost, he’ll go to the other side to find him.”
“So...what’s the deal?”
“If we find out if his murderer is a ghost then he’ll leave us.”
“How do you know-“
“Because he wants revenge. He’s going to go and find him isn’t he?
“So, if his murderer isn’t a ghost, he’ll go to the other side and if he is then he’ll go to find him?”
“Yes.”
“But, Lily, he’s bound here. He can’t go anywhere. He would have gone sooner if he could. Some ghosts are bound top places, that’s why you get haunted houses.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” I said, brushing Charlie off. “So, can you?” Charlie frowned and thought for a minute.
“Yes but give me your hand.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have enough energy to look alone. I’ll have to borrow some of yours.”
“Alright,” I said, taking his hand. We sat in silence for a few minutes. Charlie looked as if he were asleep but, really, he was miles away asking ghosts whether they knew who this person was. It was strange to think that, at that moment in time, Charlie’s soul was somewhere else and his body was just a shell. Then he jolted awake and a huge wave of tiredness swept over me. “So?” I said weakly.
“He’s not a ghost.” Said Charlie “definitely not a ghost.”
I went back down into the cellar to see the ghost and tell him the news “your murderer isn’t a ghost.” I said “he must have crossed over.”
‘THANK YOU’ appeared on the mirror ‘I WILL GO NOW’. Then the room went cold and I waited for a few moments when the mirror began to shake. Then a crack appeared along its surface. ‘I CANNOT GO. WHY CAN I NOT GO?’ I could almost feel the sadness in the air, the longing. The anger of being locked up for so long. The hate. He wanted to leave now, after all this time, and he couldn’t. I chewed my lip and said “I’ll be back.”
“Charlie!” I said running up the stairs and into the kitchen.
“What is it?” He said, probably thinking something had happened.
“The ghost can’t leave.”
“What? Why?” Charlie ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“I don’t know, I thought you might know.”
Charlie frowned “well, he should be able to. A lot of ghosts don’t go because they have ‘unfinished business’ in this case, revenge. But if the person who he wants isn’t a ghost...he should be allowed to cross over. Then he can finish his business there. He wants to go, doesn’t he?” I nodded “well, that’s not it then. You have to want to go you see.” Charlie swallowed and stood up “I’m going down to see him.”
“You don’t have to-“
“I do. Some ghosts can’t get over on their own. He won’t try anything now if he wants the help. I’m sure of it.”
In the cellar Charlie and the ghost stood facing each other, holding hands. Well, if it was possible for a ghost to hold hands. It looked scary yet strangely peaceful at the same time. Charlie backed away after a few minutes, a look of terror on his face. “What?” I said, worried.
“Your murderer,” he said to the ghost “he isn’t dead.”
“But he must be!” I couldn’t understand it, nobody could be alive after all that time.
“He’s lost.”
Author’s Note: Sorry to leave it there everyone, but I couldn’t resist. I just thought it would be the perfect way to leave it. Well, perfect for me anyway :) So, thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed it. I’d love to hear what you think.
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My Nightmare Just Became Real
Fantasy15 year old Lily has a normal life, a best friend and doesn't do too badly at school. She's never had any trouble sleeping before until...the nightmare. A recurring nightmare that refuses to leave her alone and taints her sleep. She's not sure what...
