Paranormal Stories of Warren High

Chapter Two

Turning the key in the lock to his apartment, Ned slipped inside. "I'm home!" He called, even though he knew no one was there to respond back. Tossing his backpack on to the couch, he sank into its cushions, once more cracking open the book he'd been reading.

What had caught his eye was the title, "Paranormal Mysteries." While the book itself wasn't bad by any means, it certainly wasn't very good either. Most of their 'eye-witness testimonies' were bogus and vague. They didn't really ever go into details about what they had seen, nor did they even show appropriate emotions. He knew that if he'd witnessed the ghost of a dead relative he'd be a bit more gloomy than excited at the prospect. It was because of people like this that Ned kept to himself.

He felt that people often wore masks, not literally of course, but in the sense that everyone was far too concerned with what other people thought of them. Honesty, he felt, was the best policy. If his directness hurt the feelings of others, well that was their problem, not his. His thoughts went back to the girl, Laura she'd said her name was. He still couldn't believe that such a cute girl was ever picked on by the school, though I suppose it goes to show that looks aren't everything.

There was something bothersome about the way she'd stared at him as they were leaving. Even as he was walking home he could feel her piercing gaze on the back of his neck where his fur had stood up. It was because of this that Ned had such an interest in her. Something was different, but he just needed to discover what. But he'd do that later, for now he only wanted to lay on his couch and read through his mediocre book.

But as often happens when reading a book, Ned's eyes began to grow heavy and before long he was snoozing gently. As he fell deeper and deeper into sleep he could see images flashing before his mind that caused him to toss and turn.

He felt himself tumbling through the darkness of his mind, until he landed with an impossible gentleness. As he tried to clamber to his hind paws, his eyes rose to see a frog high in the air playing one of those antique gramophones. "Excuse me!" He called out to her, taking a step closer. "Where am I?"

She said nothing, only continuing to turn the crank. But even as she did, no sound escaped from the wide floral tube. Ned took another step, but as he did she seemed to stay exactly as far as she was before. He was certain she had not moved, but still she remained just as far from him, even as he began to sprint towards her as fast as his paws would carry him.

He didn't know why he was so desperate to reach her, just that it was important he do so. When at last, his lungs burned so much that he collapsed on all fours, he knew he couldn't reach her no matter how hard he tried. "Please." He begged her. "Tell me who you are! I need to know!"

"She is one of the Major Arcana." A voice explained behind him. Turning, he was shocked to see Laura, standing before him a bland expression on her face. "Specifically she is number twenty: Judgment." Ned was shaking as he stared back up at the emotionless frog in the sky, continuing to crank her musical device. "It's really a beautiful song." Laura commented, causing Ned to frown.

"What song? It's not playing anything. Laura, please tell me what's going on." He couldn't even begin to understand. Who were these people that plagued him? Why was it that only they could hear the sounds but he could not?

"You cannot hear her because you are not listening." Laura's monotone voice came again, pulling Ned from his thoughts. "Judgment is the representation of being called to action. But you are not listening, so you are not receiving the call."

Ned closed his eyes tightly, trying desperately to hear the music that was supposedly coming from the instrument. But he couldn't hear anything but the high-pitched creaking of the lever as she rotated it. "I still don't hear it." He whispered as tears ran down his cheeks. "I don't understand...what is it she wants from me?" There was no response. "Laura?" His eyes cracked open to find he was now laying in his living room. His book lay discarded on the ground beside him.