Laconic » a.i

0.7

//cooper//

We showed up outside Annie's house and stared at the front door from across the street. Michael's hand was still held loosely in mine as we all did nothing but look over the front of Annie's house. Finally, Luke spoke up.

"Alright, it's all you, Cal." he said, patting Calum's back.

"What?" he gasped.

"You're the only one who's alive," Michael said, "and Cooper can't go because she pulled that stunt this morning."

"Just go knock on the door and ask if she's seen Ashton," Luke ordered, shoving him across the street.

He began walking, turning around a few times to glare back at us.

Luke disappeared instantly, Jeremy following after.

"How?" I groaned.

"Jesus." Michael grumbled, pulling me to him. I looked down and saw my body fading away.

I looked next to us to see Luke and Jeremy still. Luke began walking across the street before sitting down on the lawn under a tree. The rest of us followed behind. I sat next to my brother, leaning my head on his shoulder. Calum knocked on the door and shoved his hands into his pockets as he waited.

"What are you doing?" someone wondered from behind us. We all whipped our heads around to see a girl with brown hair just passed her shoulders. Her emerald eyes looked between Calum and the door. "Why would you want to talk to anyone in there? You're lucky they're out."

"What?" Calum quizzed, pulling his eyebrows together. "Doesn't Annie-"

"Annabelle Reagan, yes," she nodded. "And Mrs. Marco and her daughters. I'm assuming you're new around here? You don't want to mess with them. They're weird."

"I thought the Reagans lived here?" Calum inquired, pointing behind him at the house as he walked toward the girl.

The girl shook her head, "Annabelle moved here a while ago."

"What? That can't be possible..." Michael whispered to himself.

"Why not?" Luke wondered.

"She's come back to that house since I've been visiting her." he replied, his voice still full of confusion.

"Can I ask who you are?" Calum asked.

"Emily," she replied. "I live a few houses down. And you are?"

"Calum," he replied, sticking his hand out for her to take. "Calum Hood. I'm actually looking for someone that's not Annie Reagan -- well, it's multiple people."

"Then I'd be happy to help." Emily said with a smile.

"Have you seen a girl that looks like me, and a tall boy with curly blond hair? He usually wears bandannas and sunglasses, he doesn't talk...?"

Emily nodded slowly and my heart sped up. I saw Jeremy and Luke both lean forward while Michael raised his eyebrows, "I saw a girl with tan skin and dark hair like your's walk in here a couple times over the passed few months. Is she your sister or something?"

"Yeah, actually," he nodded. "Um, do you happen to know how often she comes around?"

"Not too often, honestly," she shrugged. "Couple times a month, maybe."

"Do you know where they could be right now?" he asked. When he saw the look on her face, he clarified, "I mean, like, the people that live here?"

"No," she replied in a tone like she didn't care if they ever came back or not. "You ask a lot of questions, by the way."

"Sorry." he gave a nervous laugh.

She shrugged, "It's alright. But uh, do you mind if I ask a weird question?"

He gave her a warm smile, "No, go ahead."

And then this Emily girl did the most unexpected thing: she pointed over to the four of us sitting on the grass and asked, "Who are your friends?"

"How can she see us?" I whispered to anyone who would answer me.

"The only way is-" Luke broke off, staring sadly at the girl looking innocently at us.

"She's dead." Michael said.