The First Glance

Chapter IV

Natalia waited for the man to walk back to his investigation before appearing once again. As she did she snuck under the police tape and looked back to the scene.

"I'll be sure to attend the funeral..." She whispered as one of the guards turned around. Natalia spun around as if she'd been talking to someone. "Scat!" Yelled the guard as Natalia ran off, her breathing picking up.

She hadn't ran in years, it felt...terrible! Her lungs were caught, her head was spinning. How could people do this for a living? It hadn't looked that hard when she saw people do it on the boardwalk! Natalia didn't think of stopping to catch her breath at all, remember she hadn't really done anything in a few years. As she spotted the broken fence next to the 'Radio Shack' just off the boardwalk, her body hit something...no...someone!

"I'm sorry! I-I didn't-" She looked down, trying to avoid the persons eyes; looking down at her own bare feet. "It's alright there lass!" She remembered that accent...him! "Or should I say, Ghost Girl?" He said with a smug grin on his face. "Wh-wha?" Asher held out his hand to help her up, Natalia hesitated before taking it and standing up. "So, what's yer name? How long have you been dead?" Asher's accent seemed a lot stronger than before, they way he pronounced his 'E's' was a very long and strong tone. "Well, it's Natalia..." The Irish boy pointed to Patrick and Patrick nodded. "Natalia Brown? Well, heh I shouldn't have phrased that as a question, I mean- I already know that's you. My dad is a professional paranormal investigator and knows the paranormal activity in this rubbish town like the back of his hand!" He was an egocentric, she'd give him that. "Well...yes actually. A-are you going to..." Natalia gulped, "expose me as to who I really am?" Asher and Patrick looked at each other with a chuckle. "No, ghost or girl I'd never expose a lass as pretty as you Natalia." Asher said, a small smile appearing on his face as Patrick jabbed him in the ribs. "Aw cute, how'd you even ma-" Asher frowned at Patrick and he backed off. But Natalia, she just stood there like a little lamb, lost and confused. "Yeah well, it's been nice talking to you boys! I-I'll go. You don't want me near you anyways, bad stuff is bound to happen!" She said frantically looking around. "No wait, don't go. I wanna learn more about you!" Asher said, a crimson red crawling up the back of his neck. Hmm...ever since they'd found out she was a ghost they'd been- or- Asher had been hitting on her a little bit. "Oh! Really? I guess it wouldn't hurt..." Natalia looked at the night sky and nodded. "As long as you guys want to listen." "We will listen! Right Patrick?" Asher looked at the boredom in Patrick's eyes, but Patrick nodded nonetheless. "Alright then, take a seat I guess?" Natalia said in more of a question then a statement. Asher and Patrick took a seat and Natalia cleared her throat, finally something was going right!

Natalia talked for hours as Asher listened, Patrick had fallen asleep for awhile and occasionally awoke, just to go back to sleep. Natalia felt happy spilling her life to someone who'd listen, nobody had really asked before and she wouldn't force it upon others to listen. To her, her life wasn't as interesting as it seemed. Asher stood up glancing at the sleeping Patrick on the bench. As Natalia finished talking she took a heavy breath.

"Wow, that's some tough stuff you've been through." Asher said, looking at Natalia with newfound respect. "Yes, I guess so." Natalia now felt very comfortable around Asher now, she couldn't say the same for Patrick but hey, better one then none. There was a long silence and Natalia's eyes widened. "No...you have to get away from me!" She began breathing heavily and looking around, darkness was surrounding them. "Natalia, you okay-?" "Just go away!" She yelled pushing him away. Asher stumbled backwards and blinked. "What's wrong?" He asked as Natalia's eyes began to water. "Y-you're gonna..." Asher stepped closer to her and kneeled to her height. (Considering she was sitting on the bench still) "What?" He questioned, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Y-you're-you're g-gonna..." She let a small hiccup echo from the back of her throat. "...die..." Natalia said, burying her head in her hands. "Ahah...you're joking?" Asher muttered as Patrick shot up from his sitting postion. "I heard 'die' and there's a ghost there! Let's go man!" He said grabbing hold of Asher's wrist. "Dude, wait." Asher said staring into Patrick's eyes coldly. Patrick sighed, letting go of his wrist and Asher waltzed back to Natalia. "Don't you see? I-I'm not su-supposed to talk to a-anyone!" She said looking down. "Natalia...c'mon, lets just-" She looked up with her eyes glowing in the darkness. The teal color flooded her eyes and dripped down her cheeks. "I-I'm so sorry..." She said stepping towards Asher as he stumbled backwards his eyes widening. "No...Natalia get ahold of yourself!" He said taking a step towards her, Patrick pulling him back, but with too much force. Asher tripped and began to stumble backwards towards the broken fence of the boardwalk. "Asher! Dude looke behind you!" Patrick yelled lunging towards him. "Wait wha-" But Asher didn't get to finish his sentence before tripping off into the water.

Asher felt like hands were pulling him under the water, he could've sworn he heard chains rattling. "Pat...rick! H-lp!" He said through slurred speach. Asher put his hand on the wooden plank of the boardwalk and heaved himself up. "Patrick!" He yelled feeling nails claw at his ankles as if beckoning him to drown. "Dude! I got you!" He heard a voice above him, but the voice didn't match the face. Dark skin, t-teal eyes?! "NO! Natalia-" Asher coughed as she pushed his head under the water. "-N...talia! You don have to do it!" He said, his knuckles turning white from the pressure he put on them to hold on. "Oh? You're only saying that because it's your life at stake!" Asher shook his head, pulling himself up as she continued talking, the teal dripping down her face. "I'm the killer! Did you care about the other people that died? NO! No you didn't! You were just there! You just care cause your life's at stake!" She yelled as Asher slowly inched his way towards Patricks body lying on the ground. "Pa-Patrick?" He questioned, turning him onto his stomach seeing his mangled insides. Asher held back tears and gasped. He almost threw up as well, it was disgusting. "P...Patrick..." He said placing his hands over his chest as they bounced once they hit the courpse. Asher turned to Natalia seeing a black heavy-built figure loom above her. "Natalia watch out!" He said, jumping towards her, as they both went tumbling off the boardwalk. Asher waiting for the water to smack his face.