Lost Shadows

C4: Gone

I have officially gone insane. I refused to listen to anything James said after the whole "Apryl, you can save the world" fiasco. It's been a couple of days and he hasn't popped up again, so maybe I did in fact imagine the entire thing. Maybe I was dreaming, maybe I still am.

Chloe and I are sitting on my bed with my music blasting, well Chloe's actually hanging upside down over the edge of the bed painting her fingernails, but that's hardly unusual.

"What about Scott?" She asks.

"No."

"Michael?"

"No."

"Dylan?"

"Definitely not."

"Well there has to be someone!" She huffs.

"Nope."

She rolls herself over awkwardly so she's facing me, "the bonfire's next week, we have to find you someone to go with, Apryl."

"No we don't. I don't even want to go."

"It's because of that handsome James guy you told me about, isn't it?"

"No, Chloe, I just don't think I want to go." I have too much going on, I'm going insane remember?

I haven't told Chloe about the night in the kitchen. I've barely spoken to her since it happened. Whenever we're together I just let her fill silence with her conversation and rambling. I'm sure she'll get sick of talking at some point, but it's Chloe so who knows? She's currently trying to find me a date for the annual bonfire that's being thrown next week, but I'm still stuck on the fact that she's actually making me go.

"Come on, it'll be fun! It's our last year of high school, we gotta make memories, Apryl, we're not going to be young forever you know."

"Yeah yeah, I've heard it a thousand times, Chloe. It still doesn't make me wanna go." I complain.

"But you have to go," she argues, "I never made you go any other year, but this is your last chance before we get out of here."

"Let me think about it, alright?"

"Yes!" She squeals in excitement.

"But this doesn't mean I'm definitely going."

She nods her head in acknowledgement, but it's evident she's still completely hooked on the idea that I'm going.

"You know what I'm gonna go make us some sandwiches, I'll be back up in ten."

She nods and turns her attention to one of her magazines. I shake my head at her and smile, making my way down the stairs and to the kitchen. I grab the bread and open the fridge in search of some sort of filling. After quite a bit of rummaging, I settle for ham and tomatoes. I stand up and close the fridge, only to see James standing behind the door.

"Holy- what the hell are you doing here?" I gasp out, "you can't just pop out of know here and scare me like that."

"I'm sorry for frightening you, Apryl, but it was important that I saw you," he apologises, his green eyes urgent.

"Well, what was so important that you had to half scare me to death?" I question, setting the ham and tomato on the bench.

"They're coming."

"Whose coming?"

"The ghosts. They want your power, they do not want you to close the door."

"Right. Ghosts want my power, I have to close the door to some other supernatural world and now they're coming to what, kidnap me? Steal my magical ghostly powers? Kill me?" I realise I'm yelling, I take a quick glance at the stairs, thankful Chloe can't here anything with the music so loud.

Suddenly there's a loud bang and James' eyes snap towards the front door. The windows begin to frost up and I blow out a breath, watching the mist swirl in the air front of me.

"What was that?" I whisper. The music stops and everything goes silent.

"Apryl?" Chloe calls out from upstairs.

"We have to go. Now." James takes my arm and leads me towards the back door.

"Wait! What about Chloe?" I counter.

"They won't go near her. It's not her they want. Bringing her would only put her in more danger."

"Are you sure?" There's another bang at the door.

"I promise, they won't touch her." His cold hands hold me by the shoulders and his eyes bare into mine, my only instinct is to trust him.

I nod slowly and let him pull me towards the back door. Suddenly the door slams open and the walls and ground freeze over. A tall woman steps, or rather floats through the door. Her hair is matted with grease, her hands with blood and her eyes with death. Her body flickers as she comes closer.

"James Walker, should have known I would find you here. Protecting the Gray girl I see. Always the hero it seems." Her voice high and taunting. She turns her attention to me, giving me a once over, "And this must be Miss Apryl. Isn't she a pretty one," she smiles wickedly, revealing a set of yellow teeth.

James steps in front of me, blocking me from the ghost's view.

"What is it that you want, Raven?" James asks.

"Oh sweetheart, you already know what I want. Just give me the girl and I'll be on my way," she says almost cheerfully. She wipes her bloody hands on her stained white gown before extending one out, as if in a peace offering.

"You know I can't do that." James remains protective.

"Well either you give her to me or I'll have to take her."

"Try as you might, you're not getting her."

Ravens face contorts into a scowl and she swoops towards us, but James is quicker. He spins and pulls me into his arms and before I even have time to cry out, we're gone.