Orange Red

Ghost Hero

"I don't really know where it started, or even if I am the only one with this...creation. Maybe there are more just like me, hiding. Not knowing what is happening to them, not knowing if they are going insane or not. I guess it makes sense to start when I got it back...when I got...'her' back..."

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Seven months earlier.

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Lyle looked down at the small paper bag in his hand. It read 'Belongings' on it in bold black letters. He let the bag sit on his desk and tightened his tie. He looked at the wall to his right. It was covered in letters and notes, all pinned or taped. All variations of "We're sorry for your loss." Just a wall of condolences. Lyle never really realized why he wanted to collect all those letters. He just did. He kept reading them now and again. Some of the words made him weep, some made him smile, he liked to read how Joecilyn had affected these people's lives. He looked back at the bag. "It's today or never" Lyle thought to himself. He reluctantly undid the glued seal on the bag and opened it. He hadn't felt his heart beat this fast in a long time. He never really read the contents sheet that came with the bag. It didn't matter to Lyle. Joecilyn was not coming back, that was all that mattered to him.

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He turned the bag over and let the contents slide down onto his desk. He saw an unused train ticket. A broken bracelet in pieces, a folded note, and a silver ring. Lyle stared at the note for a second "She loved to make little notes about everything." He smiled and opened the note and saw a doodle of a half moon. Under the drawing it read "No one ever tells the moon how pretty it is, yet it always bestows us with its beauty and we fable it."

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"A ghost hero" Lyle thought to himself as he read the note. Lyle used to always talk about the great men in history that no one remembers, men that changed the way we live, men whose discoveries and inventions made it possible to have long healthier and more comfortable lives. Men who made science into the field that we appreciate today. Men who didn't care about recognition, but about humanity. He always called them 'Ghost heroes.'

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Lyle put the note down and picked up the ring. On the inside of the ring it read "JoLy." Lyle sighed deeply. One year ago today he had bought and gotten the ring etched. The outside was a braided pattern of intricate silver fibers. It wasn't a fancy ring, but it always showed its shine in subtle ways. Just like the way Lyle preferred it. Lyle thought to get the ring preserved in a glass casing. He turned the ring a couple of times in his hands and decided to wear it one last time. He put it on his left ring finger and slid it down. It felt a bit unusual. It was a lot warmer than he had had expected it to be. He turned the ring in its place on his finger. He didn't feel like taking it off. He decided to wear it for the day. He was about to look back at the remaining contents of the bag when his phone started to ring. Work was calling him, Lyle put the rest back in the paper bag again. He picked up the documents he had prepared and left his office.

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The sky was already dark as Lyle left the gigantic office complex, heading for the parking. He entered the lot and suddenly heard the sound of a gasping breath come from his right. He immediately turned and saw and empty place. Confused he look about and he heard the same breathing voice again. He turned about and could still see no one. "Lyle" it said. He turned around, now with fear coming over him.

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"Where is this voice coming from?" he thought worriedly as he now started to pace quickly towards his car.

"It's me Lyle, down here" it said. Lyle looked down and saw nothing. "I am going mad...?" Lyle thought to himself. "No Lyle" it said. Lyle reached his car and quickly got inside, he closed and locked the door and put his hands on his ears.

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"I'm sorry Lyle"​

"What is this? How are you saying...who are yo...where are you?"​

"I'm right here Lyle" it giggled "Don't worry"​

"Right where!" he raised his voice.​

"Calm down Lyle, you're fine, it's me, look at me"​

"Look where, I can't see anyone anywhere"​

"Look closer, get your hands off your ears"​

"How can you see me? Did you put cameras in my car?"​

"No Lyle, please trust me, don't you remember my voice"​

Lyle stopped for a second and thought to himself "No, that's not the voice, it can't be"​

"Yes" it said.​

Lyle started to panic "It can hear me think" he thought.​

"This is not a trick Lyle, don't be afraid, please. It really is me, let me explain"​

"How are they transmitting into me head" Lyle thought to himself as he looked around frantically in his car.​

"No one is transmitting anything Lyle, it is me, Joecilyn"