Guardian

chapter ten

Austin let me stay at his place for a while. I was so grateful- and here I am now playing with a Ouija board. I know I must look absolutely ridiculous but I needed to test my theory. Austin was right beside me with a curious look. God I must look like a complete idiot. "Hello...?" I asked. Nothing happened. "I really don't know what I'm doing so if you could not make me look like an idiot..." I mumbled. The planchette didn't move. I sighed. "Is anyone there?" I held my breath.

The planchette moved.

I couldn't believe it; I'm not crazy! Or maybe I am... The planchette moved to the space marked 'yes'. I looked up at Austin who had wide eyes. "A-are you following me?" Slowly, the planchette moved to the 'yes' space again. I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath. "W-who are you?"

There was a long pause before the planchette moved to the letters v, i, c. "V, i, c,... wait, you don't mean... no that's impossible...Vic? As in Vic Fuentes from school?" I asked completely shocked. Once again the planchette moved to the 'yes' in front of me. Why would Vic be haunting me? This makes no sense. I had never once talked to him before. What does this mean for the afterlife? I was never a religious person, but I guess this means there's something after death.

Panic was starting to take over my body. My hands were shaking and my breath was beginning to hitch. I knew this feeling and it wasn't pleasant at all. I closed my eyes, but it didn't work. All of the oxygen was being sucked out of the room. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Startled I turned around to see Austin. I had pretty much forgotten he was there. "Hey man, it's going to be alright. Just breath okay? In and out." His voice was very soothing. I tried taking a deep breath. "That's right, in and out." It took several minutes but having someone there to sooth me worked. "See? Air is good." he chuckled. I couldn't help but crack open a smile.

I had more questions for Vic. After a long pause I asked "Why are you following me Vic?" Nothing happened, the planchette wouldn't move. I took a deep breath and tried again. "Seriously man, why are you following me?"

I heard a noise behind us. Austin and I turned around to see a pencil moving in thin air, scribbling on a piece of paper that laid on a desk behind us. I don't know what my face looked like but I'd guess that all the colour had drained from it.

The pencil finally stopped. Slowly I stood up and walked over to the desk to read what the paper said.

I saw you walking down the same path I did. I don't want you to hurt yourself.

Tears threatened to fall down my face. I crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it in the trash. "I don't want you to follow me!" I yelled. "Please! Just... leave me alone."

I was crying now but I didn't care that Austin was watching. Moments passed and nothing happened. Was that it? Did he leave? The pencil lifted up again and spelled out the words: I'm sorry. And the pencil dropped to the floor.

Austin and I waited 10 minutes in silence, but nothing happened. "That's fucked up dude," Austin said finally breaking the ice. All I could do was nod. As I stood up to go to the spare bedroom I was staying in, I noticed that the planchette was pointed at 'goodbye'.

I got on my bed and just laid there. I don't know what to think about this. A senior who committed suicide was following me around in his afterlife. But... why? Why me? I'm not special at all. Why would he care about me? Nobody cares about me. He said he didn't want me to hurt myself. He threw the knife away. Why? That was such a personal moment. I was suddenly embarrassed that he had seen me so weak. I should have died that night. Why didn't he just let me die? It would have been a hell of a lot easier. Instead I'm here living in Austin's house, a man I barely know, who is far too kind. Is Vic going to leave me alone forever now? How am I supposed to react to this?

I looked over at my clock. 3:08 a.m. Had I really been laying here for that long? Time seemed to be making a habit of getting away from me. Everything is just so confusing. Sighing I turned to my side and closed my eyes, even though I knew I wouldn't get any sleep.