Ghost of You

Thirty Nine

Stevie was hanging her washing outside on a bright sunny afternoon, Lindsey had gone back to work and she was keeping herself busy

Suddenly she noticed that the sun had gone, and it was eerily cold, she breathed out and could see her breath in front of her

"That's strange..." she said to herself, before a sharp pain shot through her stomach, making her double over

"Vanessa?" She called, her breath catching in her throat, another sharp stab came

"Vanessa?" She called desperately, and she appeared

"Oh my god, Stevie honey! What's wrong?"

"I need you to stop with the stomach pains..." she laughed nervously

"Stevie...I haven't got any pains...what you're experiencing isn't me." Vanessa said worriedly

"Then..." she screamed when another pain hit her, this time feeling like it was tearing her middle open, from one side to the next, suddenly Vanessa's stomach started to hurt, much the same

"Stevie...please stop..." she cried, clutching her middle

"I..." Stevie tried to speak but he couldn't. The pain grew in intensity and she was terrified of losing this baby. Her son was a miracle, possibly even a fluke. "I'm scared"

"I know...Stephanie, go get your son." Vanessa gave her a firm look before being consumed with pain once more.

Stevie clutched her stomach and entered the house. Items were floating in midair, the fireplace was churning, the fire raging, and furniture was flipped on end. She climbed the stairs, and in tears, she reached her son's room. Suddenly the door slammed and  she heard her son screaming and crying behind it. He was scared and she had the primal urge to get to him at all costs.

"Uh-uh" a voice said. Vanessa appeared upstairs and she knew instantly who it was.

"Show yourself, Josephine!" Vanessa shouted, clutching her stomach.

"Hey there!" Josephine appeared, to Stevie and Vanessa's shock, holding Noah

"How are you doing that?!" Vanessa said scared

"I'm a lot stronger than you my dear, I've had years and years to manifest, the evil side is always stronger than the good thanks to your little mirror." She smiled evilly

"Put my son down you Bitch!" Stevie screamed

"I'd be carful if I were you, considering I'm the one holding him and you aren't." Stevie kept her mouth closed, terrified for her child

"Vanessa, still carrying my husband's bastard I see." She gestured to the large bump

"Yes I'm pregnant with our child, and I'm going to make sure you are sent away forever!" Vanessa told her sternly

Josephine looked intensely at her sister, Vanessa suddenly screaming and sinking against the wall, her dress starting to bleed red

"Stop it! Go away!" Stevie screamed at Josephine

"As you wish dear." She smiled before disappearing, Noah going with her

"No!" Stevie screamed, tears falling down her cheeks. She felt lost, looking toward Vanessa who was clearly just as scared as she was. Stevie knelt down and knew she could do nothing. Her voice hoarse from tears, she called for Fletcher.

He appeared, eyes full of concern. "What happened here?" His voice boomed through the walls and shook the ground.

"Fletcher...my sister...our baby" He reached out to touch her.

"I still feel her. You're going to be alright."

"Promise me you'll save her"

"I will, I promise"

"And Noah...she's taken him. Stevie is..."

"She shouldn't be under this kind of distress."

"My son is gone and I...I need Lindsey..."

"Why was the baby left unattended?"

"I had a monitor but she..."

"It's not her fault" Vanessa said weakly.

"She can't be trusted Stephanie, you need eyes and ears on your child the entire time."

"After your history, you can't talk to me about watching children!" Fletcher gasped, not believing she would ever say such a thing

"Fletcher I'm sorry...I didn't mean it..."

"Forget it." He said, a tear falling down his cheek, he turned back to his girlfriend who was struggling to keep her eyes open

"Baby, stay with me, keep your eyes focused on me!"

"I'm so tired fletch, I'll only close them for a minute..."

"No, you need to keep them open and on me!" He held her face and made her look at him

"I need to find my son..." Stevie said out of it

"I need you to stay with me..." Vanessa cried, trying to reach for Stevie

"I'm sorry Ness, but my child is real and more important right now...I'm sorry..." Stevie said regretfully and stood up, running down the stairs to phone Lindsey

Stevie phoned Lindsey, completely inconsolable. Not understanding a word but understanding the emotion, he rushed home. Stevie went back to Vanessa and Fletcher, wanting to help in any way she could. Vanessa closed her eyes and Fletcher panicked.

"Come back, Vanessa. Please, we need you, that baby needs you."

"You should go" Fletcher told her.

"I know I made a mistake by saying what I did but I love her too and I want to be here." The man looked at her, watching tears stream down the woman's face.

"Fine" he said.

"Thank you" Stevie was grateful but nervous for her friend. "Come on, Vanessa. Stay, stay..." Fletcher stoked Vanessa's cheek, causing them to both disappear.

"No, no, no!" Stevie sobbed hard, falling onto all fours "Come back..." Both Fletcher and Vanessa were gone, and no matter how much Stevie was calling them, they weren't coming back

Lindsey rushed through the front door and raced up the stairs to his wife's cries, seeing her on the landing, inconsolable

"Stevie! Oh my god, Stevie what's going on?!"

"Noah! Josephine took Noah! And then she did something to Ness, and she started bleeding...she's gone Lindsey..." she clutched onto him

"What do you mean she took Noah?!"

"She appeared holding him...then she vanished and he did too." Lindsey quickly rushed into the nursery, where Noah was fast asleep in his crib

"Stevie, he's in here..."

"What?!" She ran in and saw him "Did you not check in here?" Lindsey asked

"No...I just assumed..." she cried, picking Noah up and holding him tightly.