Chapter 3 ( Lonely ... )

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by olinaaamo

by olinaaamo

Mitchell’s head was spinning as he came back to his room. But he did not have time to think. The tune from Nicole’s phone started almost at once.

‘‘Save your kisses for me - save all your kisses for me ... ‘’

Mitchell went to grab the phone, then stopped short. This was too much. Just because someone was sending texts, that didn’t mean he had to read them, did it ?

But it might be important, He had to see.

Still, his hand shook a little as he opened the phone and read.

Do I get a thank you? It’s lonely here, Nick. Still waiting for that kiss ... Kate.

Mitchell dropped the phone as if it had bitten him. It landed on the carpet at his feet. After a moment the glow of the screen faded. There was only a plastic case, with metal and wires and a clever chip inside. A mobile phone couldn’t be hunted. Or could it?

He forced himself to pick it up again, slid off the back casing, then flipped out the SIM card and the batter, That should fix it

‘’ I must be going crazy’’, he though, ‘’ to be scared of a phone’’

But the memory of that face in the mirror was still with him. Either he really was going crazy, or else - or else that had been Kate.

All at once, Uncle Dylan’s terror made sense. Nicole could have scared Uncle Dylan into giving him that money, all right. If Nicole was a ghost.

That was too much for Mitchell. He had to get out of the house - go to town - see some mates. Anything to take his mind off what was happening. He remembered the $20 notes in his pocket. He even had cash now. Plenty for the bus.

No.

He would walk after all.

He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash. He was quick about it. Every time he looked in the mirror, he knew that something else was hovering in the bathroom beside him. Something solid , or not so solid, just behind him. It was human size, with a smear of red where its mouth it’s mouth should be.

But when he looked right at it, there was nothing to be seen.

Mitchell walked to town. He saw his mates, Lucas, Samuel, Helen and Minerva. But they wanted to talk about Nicole, of course, and the way she died. He should have known there would be no escaping it. They drifted down the High Street afterwards, but that was worse. Past the shops they went, the four of them: Lucas, Samuel, Helen, Minerva and Nick. But reflected in every shop window he saw a sixth person walking, someone at the edge of the group - a girl. Why did no one else seem to see her?

He made for home, staying well away from the shopping streets, and keeping his eyes on the pavement in front of his feet.

‘‘That phone of yours has been going off all day,’’ said his mum, as he came through the front door.

‘’ I forgot to take it with me,’’ mumbled Nick. He thought she was talking about his own phone.

‘’ It’s been annoying your uncle. He’s not himself today.’’

‘’ I’m sorry’’

‘’ That’s OK, love,’’ said his mum. ‘‘But where did you get that awful ring tone??

Save your Kisses For Me ? That was already naff when i was young.’’

Mitchell ran to his room, and grabbed Nicole’s phone. The battery and SIM card still lay beside it. The phone should be dead - should stay dead. But there were 20 unread texts waiting for him. He flipped open the lid and read again ...

Where’s my kiss, Nick? I’ve been so lonely!

... so lonely ...

I’M SO LONELY! I WANT YOU -NICOLE.