Ghastly

Ghastly 6

School was always a bore, but since Rene died, it was just a waste of time. Even though I felt there was no point, my dad thought one week was enough time to thoroughly mourn, and I should get back to school to get my mind off it. It was a nice thought, but when you see the person you're mourning every day, the mourning process is disrupted to say the least.

Nevertheless, there I was. Using the time that should have been dedicated to cracking the next riddle to instead find 'x'. All around me, people apologized for my loss in that artificially sympathetic way people do: invading my personal space with shoulder pats and hugs.

"I can't believe she's gone! I mean she was so nice, and happy. This is terrible," I was engulfed, non consensually, into a hug from some girl in my English class.

"Thanks, I guess..." I shrugged her hand off my shoulder. I silently stared at her until she left

Rene was always the people one. I never knew what to say to anyone, I guess. I opened my notebook to where I had written the next riddle. Class hadn't begun and I was using the time I had to try to make some headway with this riddle. I tried the method I used last time for the riddle, writing under the poem, Stuff in the ocean, that didn't start there.

All I could think was garbage. I knew practically nothing about the ocean, I mean, the entire state I lived in didn't border the ocean; I've never been, or wanted, to go to the ocean, so all I know is from school and movies.

I impatiently tapped my pen on the paper, willing myself to think of something. I would probably try and summon some navy spirit once I got home. Boats. I added to the small list.

"Hey, I..ah.. I heard about your friend. I, well, I didn't know her, but for anyone that young to, umm, die... I'm sorry, you're probably sick of people you don't even know coming up to you about her," I heard a deep voice mumble. I slowly glanced up at the person addressing me. His dark brown eyes were downcast, avoiding making contact with my own; he continuously shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Sorry, you don't even know me. I'm Rowan," He held out his freckled hand.

"Jordan," I shook his hand, I didn't want to be blatantly rude, and I was fairly certain if I didn't shake his hand, he would have a panic attack. He was in no way in his comfort zone talking to me. I let go of his mildly clammy hand and refocused on the riddle, willing him to go away.

"H-hey, what's that for?" Rowan asked, pointing at the poem.

"This?" I blurted out the first lie I could think of, "It's in this book I'm reading. It's a bunch of poems that are a certain item, and you have to figure it out." I waved my hand dismissively.

"Do you mind if I take a look?" He asked, his face turning a red to match his hair.

"Go ahead. Tell me if you figure it out," I started to hand him the notebook, but then the start of class bell rang. "Or I could just do this," I ripped that page out of my notebook and handed it to him. I had the poem memorized anyway.

"Thanks. I will." He scampered off to his seat. All the help I could get, I guess. I didn't even know how many ingredients there would be. I zoned out for the entire class, having no idea what this next ingredient could be. Something red from the ocean, that isn't initially from the ocean. My brain hurt from thinking too hard.

After an eternity, the end of class bell rang. I threw all of my things into my bag and strode over to Rowan who was taking his time to make his bag organized. He didn't seem to notice me until I cleared my throat.

"So I think I figured it out," He said, still avoiding eye contact.

"Really? That's great. I can't figure this one out; I was about to skip it. What did you get?" I tried to sound casual.

"I think it's red sea glass. It is a thing that comes from the ocean, but doesn't start out there, and it's old and red." Rowan smiled sheepishly before shoving the sheet of paper into my hand and running off.

I started to say he didn't need to give it back to me, but he was already outside the classroom. I opened the neatly folded paper to find he had scrawled a note in it.

I know this poem was an important ingredient in what I'm not sure. The voices (They won't say who they are or how they know what they do) won't tell me what it's for. They told me to go talk to you, and I would think I was crazy hearing this, but they tell me things I would have no idea about if they were made up. I hope you believe me. I know Rene was killed by a demon, and you will need my help with something in the future, but I don't what with. By the way, I have a piece of red sea glass if you need it. I know it's really rare. I grew up in Maine and my mom almost cried tears of joy when I found it. --Rowan

Below that he wrote his phone number. This couldn't be a prank. How could it be? No one would know to say any of this stuff. As I walked to my next class, I pulled out my phone and typed out a message.

'Hey, I believe you. I don't know how anyone could make that up, or why they would want to. How soon could you get me the sea glass?--Jor'

I got a reply about halfway through my next class.

'It depends on how soon you need it. Like I said idk what youre doing exactly. I could get it to you tomorrow unless yould rather it tonite--Row'

I told him tonight would be great and we set up a time to meet at a park near both of our houses. The kid seemed a little strange, but I think he had a good heart. He was willing to hand over something apparently so valuable to a virtual stranger just because it would help them out with some vague task.

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I threw the spellbook into my bag, and yelled to my dad I was going to go on a walk to get some fresh air. I slid on a pair of black sneakers and began walking towards the mettingplace. By the time I got there, Rowan had already arrived and was sitting on the bench, fiddling with something in his hands.

As I approached, he glanced up. "Hi, umm, hi,"

I sat down next to him and pulled out the spellbook. "I figured you would want to see how this works exactly," I opened to the page that had the ingredients for the spell. "See, right now there's only two ingredients because before this, I only solved one. Once we put the sea glass on the book, assuming it is the right ingredient, the next poem will show up."

Rowan nodded and held out the smooth, red glass to me. I delicately placed it on the cover of the book. For a second, I though Rowan was wrong, but then the cover seemed to bubble as the sea glass slowly sunk into the book. Cool wind that wasn't there before blew around us.

I opened back up to the spell page to see the next poem. "Darkness is what this thing shows, yet light is what it needs. Its sibling is what love is true, still he is not a weed. To death he is a charcoal coated friend, adorning those who faced a bitter end." I read to Rowan.

"I-is that the next ingredient?" Rowan asked.

"Yep. Thanks for the help. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," I stood up. Today, I almost let my guard down. I didn't want Rowan to think we were friends, because if we became friends, the demon would try to use him against me so I wouldn't be able to destroy him. I was already terrified for my father and Isabelle, I couldn't let anyone else get close to me.   

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Author's note: So... It's doubtful more than one or two people are even reading this, but if you are, hi. What do you think? Please I live for criticism