Ghost Story

Chapter 8

Instead of the white room like last time, this room was gray. There were shelves lined with books and dark green chairs. When she found herself there, Killian was already there, waiting for her.

"Love," he said happily. He stood up and embraced her in his arms. Emma gladly hugged him back.

"Killian," she whispered. "What you did was so bad."

He smirked. "Aye, but I couldn't let him think he was right."

"James and Jackie have always been this way." She pressed her ear to his chest and was surprised to hear a steady beat. "Your heart. It's beating."

"My soul isn't going anywhere."

She smiled and pulled away. There was a beautiful smile on his face. His eyes were filled with admiration. "Thank you for protecting me today."

"I couldn't just let my girl get hurt, could I?"

She laughed. "That is so weird."

"Many people have lived in that house, Emma. I've heard and seen a lot. I've chased a lot of people out too. I'm glad that your family is normal. I finally have a friend."

Her smile suddenly dropped. "You know you can't stay, right? You have to move on."

He sat down and pulled her down with him. "I don't want to. I want to stay with you." There was a pleading tone in his voice. "I haven't felt anything since Milah, Emma." He rolled up his sleeves and showed her scars on each arm. "I did that to myself after she died."

Emma grabbed his arm and pulled it to her. Even the thought of Killian hurting himself brought tears to her eyes. "Oh, Killian."

"I'm falling in love with you, Emma. I don't expect you to love me back. I'm dead! There wouldn't be any growing old together or having a perfect family. None of that. I don't want you to love me back because if you did, it would be so much harder to leave you."

Emma shut him up with a kiss. She pressed her lips hard on his. He kissed back with as much fierceness as he got. She started to become dizzy and groaned. She pulled away and grabbed his hands. Their foreheads were pressed up against each other's, and they were both breathing heavily. She didn't say anything else as she started fading away, but all of a sudden, she was ripped out of her perfect dream. "No!" She yelled and sat straight up. She looked around the room and saw her dad standing over her. He had a concerned look on his face. "Sorry, Dad."

"Were you having a nightmare?" He asked, sitting down on her bed.

"No, it was a really good dream actually." She rubbed her hand over her face. "What are you doing up here?"

"James, Jackie, me, and your mom wanted to take you somewhere today. It seems like you have just been hanging out up here in your room."

"Yeah. It does seem like that, huh? Uh, where are we going?"

"That would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it? Just get dressed. Anything will do."

She nodded and David kissed her on the forehead before leaving the room. She fell forward onto the bed and buried her head in the blankets. "I don't want to go," she groaned. She heard two knocks and she turned onto her side. "I want to stay here with you." She grabbed her phone and turned on the recorder.

"I'll be fine."

"I'll be back. I promise." She turned her phone off and grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom. "Don't even think about coming in here!" She laughed, knowing that Killian would definitely give her her privacy. Once she was ready, she went downstairs, and saw her family sitting at the table, waiting for her.

"Ready to go?" David asked as he stood up.

"Yeah, now can you please tell me where we are going?" She asked.

"You'll see when we get there," James said and got up too. Everyone went to the door and James and Jackie went out to their car while Mary Margaret went down to hers and David.

"Let's go, Em," David said and held the door open for her.

"Just go down to the car. I'll lock the door."

"Okay," he nodded and Emma watched as he went down to the car and got in the driver's side.

She turned around and took a deep breath. "Bye, Killian. I'll be back as soon as I can."

There wasn't a response, and it made her wonder if he was mad at her. She shut the door behind her and went down to the car. She fastened her seatbelt and looked up at her house. Up in the window that was in her room, she saw a faint, see-through man. The curtains around Killian were moving, as if they were blowing in the wind. He was looking down at her and she gave him a small smile, hoping he could see her. She turned her attention down to her phone as they pulled out of the driveway. Three hours later, they returned back to the house. They went out bowling, Emma winning one out of four games. They all had a good time, but Emma was excited to come back home.

"Today was so much fun! Thank you," she exclaimed when everyone got up to the porch.

"You're welcome, Emma," Mary Margaret said and kissed her head.

"I remember a few years ago when I first started dating your uncle, we went out bowling, and I got four strikes in a row," Jackie said.

Emma rolled her eyes, knowing her aunt wouldn't see in the dark. "I've gotten three, but never four."

"You might be able," Jackie said.

David unlocked the door and everyone went in. Emma went right up to her room and plopped down onto her bed. She sighed and shut her eyes. A large bang had her sitting up straight. She looked over and Killian's journal that was on her desk was now on the floor. "I'll read some more tomorrow. I'm really tired now." She felt cold air next to her, and a light touch on her cheek. She smiled and hummed. "Night, Jones."