The Other Side: A Short Story

6

2:37 A.M.

"Thomas? You up?"

Something touches me. My eyes shoot open. I'm expecting to see what got me in the basement, but it's just my mom. I check the clock and it kind of feels like the last couple of hours were only a wild dream. I must've fallen asleep on the couch waiting for something to happen. I'm dazed, but not that dazed to know my night was real.

"I hope you didn't drain the batteries," Dad says as he checks his recorder I left on the table. "What were you up to?"

I did it, didn't I? I really did it.

"Looking for ghosts?"

I did my first-ever ghost hunt!

"Heh. Going to answer? Or, are you still asleep?"

I get up, stretch, then I fetch both devices. "I'll bring it back," I say, referring to his recorder.

Dad doesn't question why. I shuffle down the hall, heading back to the door on the right. I place my camera and Dad's recorder on my desk. I make sure they're off for now. I should get some sleep since it's a school weekend, but I'm not tired after what I went through.

How can I sleep after that?

Who needs sleep anyway?

With a smile on my face, I go back to my art and end my night just like how I started it.

Good job. Proud of you.

I use this time to think about my first time.

Place:

The Cooper House – Exeter, RI.

Evidence:

The apparition of a shadow arm in the basement by the workbench.

That shadow couldn't have been me. My hands were full. I had the camera in one and the recorder in the other. It would take a third arm to reach around and grab me by the left shoulder. An outside source isn't possible because cars don't reflect downstairs.

I can't debunk this shadow.

Another thing I haven't gotten out of my head is the EVP.

..."Leave him...he's a goner."...

Again, this can't be me. Who else is here? I can't debunk it at all.

Conclusion:

Yes. I'd say self-explanatory.

Honestly, I can easily say that my house has ghosts tapping around, but I'm left with more questions than answers.

Why? Who's with me? What about other places that are like mine? Can I really do this?

Tell your friends!

I grab my phone and send a text to C.J., who's probably asleep.

Thomas: Come over tomorrow. It's time to be doers!

TO BE CONTINUED...