Through Heaven and Hell (Ghost x Toast)

Chapter 17 ~ An Ill Return

November 4th, 2013

Rain poured down heavily from the darkened, cloudy sky as Johnny Toast tried valiantly to focus on writing drafts for his book. It had been 4 days since Ghost disappeared, and there was still no sign of him. A total of 29 bodies had been found over the past 4 days, all believed to be the work of Jimmy Casket. People had once again started locking their doors and staying inside, but Jimmy seemed unstoppable. He attacked in both the day and the night, striking out from hidden alleys, bushes, and corners. The only solution seemed to be staying indoors 24/7 until he disappeared into the shadows, but it was impossible to discern when exactly his reign would end.
As the rain pounded and splattered onto the roof, Toast turned his computer off and instead decided to read a book by the light of a candle. The electricity had been cut off, yet Toast's computer had still functioned in the darkly lit home. Toast lit some candles and put glass containers over them to prevent the flame from burning down the house before he grabbed a book off he shelf and opened it. Shuffling through the old, worn, yellowed pages, Toast put on a pair of reading glasses he had bought years ago and began to read. The sound of the rain splattering onto the roof dulled his thoughts, and eventually lulled him to sleep.

Toast was eventually woken by a hard and repetitive knocking on the front door. Tired and confused, Toast opened the door and stopped in his tracks.
Johnny Ghost, soaking wet from the rain, walked inside and closed the door, never venturing further than the welcome mat. "Can you get me a towel, please? I'm cold and I might be sick."
Toast, in shocked silence, nodded and grabbed two towels, wrapping Ghost in them. He prepared a hot bath for the shivering man, who gladly accepted the offer. As Ghost closed the bathroom door, Toast went back to his book, too shocked to properly concentrate.

"Hey, can you fix some tea?" Ghost asked. "I could... if we had a gas stove." Toast replied. "Want me to go out and buy hot cocoa?" Ghost shrugged. "If you really want to brave this storm then go ahead."
Toast gathered up a rain coat and jacket, then braved his way to the car and drove off. Meanwhile, Ghost dried himself off and snuggled below his warm blankets that Toast had washed, and quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.

When Toast returned, Ghost was asleep. Toast gently woke him and gave him cocoa and hot soup, which he gladly took. Toast sat on the edge of the bed, and asked whether Ghost remembered leaving his spot decorating, to which Ghost shook his head. "I just remember decorating one second, then waking up the next in a dark alley not too far from here." Ghost ran a hand through his tangled, damp hair and sighed. "I wish I could remember just once. Just one time." Toast smiled sadly and put a hand on Ghost's shoulder. "I know you do sir. I'll just have to keep an eye on you, make sure you aren't left alone for long until you get better." Ghost smiled and nodded, and Toast got up and left the room. Ghost fell asleep soon after and left Toast to his thoughts.

November 5th, 2013

The sky remained dark all throughout the day, as rain continued to pound on the roof and pavement. Ghost had been right in saying he was likely sick: he had developed a cold and had been coughing madly the entire morning. Toast gave him gingerale for his upset stomach and sore throat, and Toast even set up right outside Ghost's room so as to limit the time it took him to run to Ghost whenever he needed something. A bucket had been placed by Toast on the floor, next to Ghost's bed. He occasionally threw up, moaning in discomfort as he rolled back and forth in bed. Toast hated seeing his best friend in such agony, but he knew he was doing as much as he could for the ailing Ghost. Around noon that day, Ghost fell asleep, and the house was silent, rain still pouring outside. The forecast said it would likely stop raining by the 7th, but to expect more rain that night and even on the 6th. Toast finished what he was typing on his computer and made himself some food. As he sat back down, he decided to focus on doodles for his book instead of drafting it. As he doodled, the pounding of the rain dulled his thoughts and he drew freely, humming softly to himself as the storm outside raged on, and as Ghost slept peacefully in the next room.

I think my English 1 Honors class is paying off, I'm using more imagery now XD
Also, I'm gonna see how many chapters I can get out by my birthday. My goal is to Chapter 18, maybe even Chapter 19! I will be busy this weekend though, so I'm gonna try to write some more before then. Baiii!!!
~ Liz

Also I noticed VT characters rarely ever get sick- it's strange (But then again what isn't strange in VT)