The Ghost of the Lake

Chapter 18

We entered through the back door and shut it without looking back. We both lean against the door.

"Opal, was that...," he starts to say but then pauses. He didn't need to continue. I knew what he was talking about.

"Yeah that was the ghost," I say shakily. I was shaking so badly. My body would probably measure a 7.3 on a Richter scale like the earthquake in Nepal. The ghost had seemed dangerous at the time.

Leo just stayed quiet. Outside it was pouring and thundering really loudly.

***

Rue and Jackson arrived twenty minutes before I was to leave for swimming practice. He wasn't very happy when he found out that I was alone with Leo.

Shortly after Leo and I saw the ghost, the lights came back. Leo stayed with me keeping Balto and I company, while Reu arrived.

When Reu got over the fact that Leo was here with no one else around, I told him how Nelly was at the hospital with May and that Leo had arrived at the house because he had seen the ambulance and wanted to know if everything was okay.

I also told him that the lights had gone out and that Leo had kept Balto and me company while I was alone.

"Well you had a rough day, Opal," Reu said when I had finished my story

"Yeah really rough," I say.

"Well then we better get Leo home and get you to your practice," he says.

"Thank you sir," is all Leo said. I guess he hadn't thought what would happen when Reu came home.

I went into my room, leaving Leo, Reu, and Jackson downstairs having a nice chat about how nice Leo had been coming over to see if everything was alright, while I got my bathing suit on. I put on some shorts and a shirt over my bathing suit. I grabbed my backpack that had my towel in it, and went into the bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror. The bruise on my forehead was still visible, but the color had decreased.

I check the time, 4:48, twelve minutes before I have to swim a mile a again. I rush out of my room and down the stairs.

"Alright Reu, I'm ready," I say as I reach the bottom of the stairs.

"Okay then let's get out of here because this place is haunted," he jokes. I look over to Leo. If only he knew.

He grabs the keys and we walk out the door. Leo rides shotgun, at Reu's suggestion. Jackson and I ride in the backseat.

"What time was May taken to the hospital?" Asks Reu.

"I didn't check, but I think it was about ten," I answer.

"What happened to May?" asks Jackson.

"She slipped, fell, and hit her head. She is in the hospital right now," I say.

"Is she okay?" he continues.

"I don't know, Jackson. I didn't go wit her to the hospital."

"What were you doing when Leo came over?" Reu asks.

"I was watching the news with Balto," I reply.

"Opal, I don't mind that Leo was there. The thing that bothers me is that you opened the door when no one is at home. Next time it could be someone else."

I bow my head down in shame. "I'm sorry it won't happen again. I was just curious."

"I hope it won't. Haven't I ever told you that curiosity killed the cat?"