Ghastly

Ghastly 3

It never even worked, not like I wanted it to. The ouija board that is. It was how it all started. I was being stupid, as always, and I got the idea into my head that if we used a ouija board I could talk to mom again. I could say my final goodbyes, the ones I never had a chance to say to her, and I could be at peace. That plan never worked out though. Ouija boards don't work, and even if they did, as soon as she died she had moved up to the angelic realm so there was no use in trying.

The only thing the experience with the ouija board did was send out a signal to all the nearby spirits, both good and bad, saying there was a person with psychic abilities out there who didn't know how to work them. It told them all right where I was and how emotionally damaged I was as well. And I kept sending that signal out. After the ouija board didn't work I read up on a host of different ways to speak with the recently deceased. I would get home from school, do all of my homework as fast as I possibly could, then I would pour over all of the library books I took out on the subject. After I ate dinner, I would attempt the stuff I read about and, of course, nothing happened. Nothing that I could perceive just then.

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After looking me over for any injuries a few times, dad had made me drink two glasses of water while he made me box mac and cheese. It reminded me of when I was sick as a little kid. He would take a day off work to watch me. He always made mac and cheese from the box for lunch "because he can't cook and wanted to make me something edible." I can't remember exactly when he stopped doing that. When did I stop being a child and start being a teen? I shook the stray inquiry out of my brain as I burned my tongue on the cheesy sentimentality. He made me drink another full glass of water once I finished, and with one final hug, sent me to bed.

I sat in my room, surrounded by the five unscented candles I had acquired in my efforts to summon my mom. The candles were lit, and I sat cross legged in the middle of them. It may have been a fire hazard, but I no longer cared about my safety. The window was open anyway, blowing in the bitter night air.

I heard tree branches scrape along the siding of the house as I recalled the incantation to summon a spirit. I kept the likeness of Rene in my mind as I uttered them in a hushed tone. My already cold room became frigid as she became visible. My breath puffed out in a striking cloud, but I no longer felt the cold. Rene's warm smile made me feel like it was once again June, and we were out running by the beach.

"Jordan, hello." She said, in a voice much airier than I remembered. The spectral realm seemed to do that to people. In all of the time I spent talking to people in that realm, they all spoke in a silvery voice, like not just their physical form was transparent, but everything else about them, as well.

"I don't know where to start. I know that I want to get that thing stuck in a demon's trap, but I need to figure out it's name first and then I need to find out how to get it into the trap." I ran a hand through my shaggy hair. It was at an awkward length, not at my chin, but below my ears; It made me look pre-pubescent.

"Well, I don't know why you're asking me. I know what you know. Go to the shop, or summon Edith. Ask someone who actually knows stuff," She tossed a braid over her shoulder.

"Edith moved up, and the shop is closed tomorrow," Edith was a spirit who helped me out when I first discovered my abilities. She was a kind old lady who, when she was alive, was skilled at divination. She pushed me in the direction of the shop; she had started it up before she died back in the 80's.

"Then break into the shop! Isabelle is going to be there anyway. She likes you, she'll want to help." I imagined she was rolling her eyes. Isabelle was in her late 30's and the current owner of the shop. Everytime she saw me, she ruffled my hair and told me I needed to eat more.

"I don't know if that's a good idea... We'll see in the morning." Rene was already becoming less and less opaque.

"Please do it, Jordan. I don't like it here. I want to move up soon," And on that heartbreaking note, her wispy form because invisible to me.

I let out a despondent sigh, as I blew out the candles. I sat in the dark for a moment, reveling in its peacefulness. I carefully picked myself up and stepped over the candle to turn on the light. As I gathered then, I took note of the the wax melting down the sides of the candles. It wasn't anything special, but the way the it cascaded down the side like rain of a car window made me feel a little more hopeful that I might be able to help Rene move up. I placed each one in their designated place on my bookshelf before I allowed myself to sleep.  

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Author's note: I've been writing much shorter chapters for this story. What do you guys think? Are they better shorter or should I beef them up more?