Chapter 3
When I wake up I see the sun high in the sky through the window. It must be noon. Aunty is sitting next to me filling some paper work out on a chewed up clip board. After Aunty finishes signing the release forms, she walks over to a desk and hands the hospital receptionist the clip board.
"Sorry for your loss," the receptionist tells Aunty and hands her a mortuary business card. Aunty looks down at the card, grief stricken.
I walk over towards the desk. I thank the receptionist and lead my aunt out by the arm. We make our way to Aunty's red Nissan. We sit on her faded zebra seat covers a while, letting the night's events sink in before we drive off from the hospital parking lot.
The drive home is quiet. Neither of us says a word. As I look at the trees quizzing by, I notice how dull and lifeless they look. I suddenly feel sad all over again, but we're home now.
I get out of the car and I am tired and drenched from a the tears. Each tear, a scream I want to let out. I place a hand on top of the car door, reluctant to go inside. Uncle Tony was one of the only people in my life that truly cared for me. I never thought it was possible to feel lonelier than I do in this moment.
My aunt and I stayed home from work and school, seeing as we're emotionally jacked up right now. We're high very distant at the moment. I can only imagine how Aunty must feel. Pa was the love of her life. Losing someone you love so much is like losing a part of yourself.
I take deep breath and follow my aunt into the house. She goes straight for her room and closes the door. I plop myself on the little blue couch in the living room. I stare at the ceiling trying to make sense of the funeral soon to come. Turning in my side in a state of depression, I use my arms as a pillow under my head. I feel a cold metallic object fall in my hand and realize that I am still wearing the charm Mr. Huey gave to me yesterday.
I look down at the serpent's white eyes and feel oddly energized. I'm still wearing my clothes from yesterday but I don't care. With all the strength left in my body I decide to get up from where I lay on bed and start running out the door. I don't know where I'm going, but I don't stop. I'm in the woods. The trees and wind slap at my face as I dash through the field. I run until there are no more tears left to fall and I collapse from exhaustion.
Suddenly, I see something, a light figure passing through the trees. I move closer, now far from the trails.
"Hello," a voice pipes from behind.
I jump and my heart skips a beat. I turn around to see a ghostly being. I stick out a hand to touch the apparition but it erupts into a fog. A little dizzy now, the world spins and I fall. The light leaves and all I see is black.
*******
As I return to consciousness, my eyes struggle to open. The earth is moist beneath my fingers.
"What happened?" I whisper to myself trying to get up. I put a hand to my throbbing head and squeeze my eyes. Everything's a little fuzzy and as I recall what I'm doing in the woods. Oh yeah! Pa's gone and I'm lost in the woods. Great! This week just keeps getting better.
I fall to the earth on my back again, not wanting to get up. But then I hear something that sounds like light footsteps in the damp leaves.
I try to ignore it but then a hard voice rings in my ears. "Run! Leave at once! Go! Run! It's not safe!" the voice frantically yells.
I try to make sense of what is going on but all I can manage is to get up and start running again. My legs feel like jello as my weight presses down on me.
Still confused about what happened, I never stop until I get to my bed and lock the door behind me. I pull the sheets over my head and pray for the voices to stop yelling.
YOU ARE READING
Ghostly Love
Teen FictionGemma "Gem" Atkins, a junior at Creek Side High School in Del Haven has her world turned upside down when her Uncle Tony passes away and she finds herself in the thick of the woods after running away from her fears. But, here deep in the woods Gem m...