Piney Pointe [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 9 - Ghosted

July 14, 2011, 9:21 pm 

Zack's POV

I look down at the body. My body. Screaming and crying draws my attention away from the bloody table, and I look over to see George, the source of the noise. 

I run over and shout, "George! George! I'm okay, I promise! Stop crying!" 

But he looks right through me as if I'm not even there. Suddenly, the full realization of what happened hits me like a bus. 

I'm dead. I'm a ghost. I'll never be able to communicate with Adam, Owen, or George ever again. 

I don't even try to stop the tears as they run down my face. 

"It sucks, doesn't it? Knowing your friends are going to leave you to rot here, while they get out as fast as they can."

I whirl around in shock, having forgotten that Nick was still here. 

"Y-you can see me?" I sniff through the tears. 

Nick looks at me in shock, then he is laughing so hard that he has to lean on his knees for support. When he is done he says, "You mean that you never realized that Sebastien, Kevin, and I are spirits?" 

"Well, I was a little too focused on excruciating pain!" I growl out while what he just said sinks in.

"I'm sorry, kid, but like I said, Sebastien has a job for you." 

He's not sorry. "Oh? And what is this job?" I ask, just barely hiding my mocking tone. 

"Follow me," Nick says, turning around and walking out the door. 

"Hey! Aren't you going to release him?" I shout, gesturing to George. No reply.

I shrug and head back over to my friend. I reach for the ropes to untie him, but my hands go right through. 

"Dammit," I mutter. "George, don't worry, I'll be back," I whisper, even though he can't hear me.

I run out into the hall towards the stairs, knowing that every second that passes Nick is more likely to notice I'm missing. 

I have to find Adam or Owen. They can help. 

I burst out of the stairwell on the second floor and head for the room I share with Adam. Suddenly, I hear faint shouts of alarm and assume that it has been realized that I'm in the basement no longer. I don't have much time. I flat out sprint for the room. I don't even bother with the door handle and just walk right through the closed door.

Sitting on the couch is my best friend and his brother. Adam's eyes are rimmed in red as if he's been crying, and Owen is trying to comfort him. 

"Guys!" I shout, running up to them. "You've gotta help me! George's tied up in the basement and I can't get him free!" 

They don't even look up.

I walk up to Gee and try to slap him in the face. My hand just goes right through his skull. He does nothing, as if I am not standing there. I back away, crying. 

"Pay attention to me! Can't you see that I'm hurting?! Just look at me!"

Nick pops up out of nowhere, inches from my face. "You're gonna pay for leaving," He growls. 

"Just leave me alone," I cry, hysterical. "What have I ever done to you to deserve this?!" 

"Zack, Zack, Zack, I've told you time and time again, Sebastien has a job for you," Nick says. "Now come on." 

He grabs my shoulder and suddenly we are somewhere I don't recognize, but I assume it's the basement. Nick forces me down in a chair and quickly secures me with metal chains. I struggle to escape, but oddly, my 'go through stuff' power is failing me. 

"It's iron. There's no escaping that bad boy," Nick says with an evil smirk.

Then Sebastien walks through the door. Clapping his hands together once, he shouts almost gleefully, "Well, here he is at last! The famous Zack! How are you?" He asks me.

"Well, It'd be nice if I had a little wiggle room," I reply snarkily.

"Sorry, no can do. Can't have you running off."

Trying to keep my hatred for him at bay, I ask Sebastien, "So, Nick said you have a job for me?"

"Yes," he responds.

I look at him expectantly, wanting to know exactly what he wants me to do.

After a minute, Sebastien says, "You are going to be Nick's assistant, and you are going to do whatever he or I tell you to."

Nick looks at him sharply, as if he didn't know about what Sebastien just mentioned.

"What if I refuse?" I ask, rebellion flashing in my eyes.

"If you help us, we'll help you master ghosting, and your friends will stay," Sebastien starts.

Nick finishes for him, "But if you don't, they'll leave. George will leave. Owen will leave. Adam will leave. Oh, and we'll make your 'life' hell."

A pang of sorrow hits me when Adam's name is mentioned.

"What's ghosting?" I ask, trying to keep my mind off of my best friend.

"It's our term for ghost powers. Communicating with the living, changing your appearance, stuff like that," Sebastien tells me.

I can communicate with the living?

"Zack," Nick says slyly. "Remember when Adam couldn't see you?"

A single tear runs down my face as the memory pops up in my mind.

"We can help you make him see you again," Nick whispers in my ear.

A shudder ripples down my spine at his close proximity.

"F-fine. I-I'll do it," I mutter, wanting nothing more than to have the feeling of being with Adam again.