Haunted

Chapter 1: The living dead

People die every day. There are many reasons for why someone has to die. Most people die of old age, some might have contracted an illness, others are taken from this world during a car accident... There are many more reasons, but I won't go into too much detail.

Although many people pass away every day, some aren't disappearing right away. Even though this isn't something many people know of, some of the recently deceased can wonder on earth for a short period of time, if they have something they need to get done. They can't disappear before reaching their goal. They need to get this off their heart. Then, they'll finally be able to go to heaven or wherever they'll end up.

This is the story of how I lost my best friend.

Laura and I had known each other since preschool. We instantly became best friends and spend every free minute of the day together. It was funny, how much we did together considering our overly different personalities. As time passed by, we made new friends. Laura became interested in horror movies and creepy games and stories. I on the other hand, refused to grow up. Watching kids shows and drawing is what I spend my time with.

But even when Laura would go out to spend the night at clubs or bars and I stayed at home, we always had time for one another. We used to have lots of sleep-overs and movie nights. But after sometime, I felt as if she was avoiding me on purpose. She avoided talking to me and reacted awkwardly when I planed a movie night. It was unexpected. She seemingly neglected me and went out with her friends almost every night, until one day, when she never came home.

I heard that some kids dared her to go to a haunted house. When the others scared her, she ran outside and got hit by a car. It was a hit and run and to this day, nobody knows who killed her.

But she reappeared. She came back to me. I remember it clearly. It was already getting cold outside and my mom came to pick me up after school, like she did every Tuesday. Normally she would bring Laura home as well. I told her that she didn't come to school, but she already knew. At that time, I didn't think too much about not getting a text from her. I thought she might have had a hangover. I planned on coming by her house later that afternoon, but my mom told me about her death.

I remember not accepting what she had told me and locking myself into my room. I couldn't think, couldn't eat, I cried my eyes out that day. And then she showed up. She stood there, in the middle of my room, watching me sob into my pillow.

I felt a faint touch on my shoulder and when I looked up, I saw her caring expression and my sorrow seemed to grow vastly. At first, I thought I was hallucinating, given that only I could see her (as I found out later) but I wasn't. There was a reason that only I could see her. I found out why later on.

"Laura?" I asked, my voice barely audible, but she heard. She always listened so closely. Instead of a response, I got a dear hug. It was more than comforting right now and it was only then that I realised that I needed it badly. As I felt her warmth, I couldn't help but cry. It felt off, not like hugging should feel like, or how I remembered it to be like. I didn't know if I cried because I was overwhelmed by happiness or sadness. I was so glad to see her again, but deep inside I knew, it wasn't her. It was not the same.

After I had calmed down a bit, we sat down and talked. She vaguely told me what had happened the other night, how she had died. She trusted me and said only I could help her complete something, so that she could afterwards move on and disappear. I didn't want her to vanish, but I wasn't the one making the decision. Besides, I just wanted her to be happy.

I felt confused and overwhelmed by the situation but as I came to my senses, I noticed that something was out of place, missing. After a brief moment, I could tell. Her necklace was was gone. Since we were little, we wore those friendship necklaces around our necks which were shaped like a broken heart. Both pieces would fit together perfectly if placed next to each other and become whole. We treasured our necklaces as a token of our friendship, so it was odd to see Laura not wearing hers.

But before I could even ask her why she wasn't wearing it, she gently took my hands into hers and looked at me in an uncomfortable kind of way. "I need to tell you something. Anna, I...I lo..." she started but couldn't continue. She noticed my glances to her collar bone and quickly made the necessary connections. "I lost my necklace" she finished off. I could see the pain in her eyes. It has always meant so much to her.

"I thought so, but don't worry. If this is necessary for you to ascend to wherever you go after death, then I'll gladly help you find it." I tried cheering her up. "Do you remember the last time you saw it?" I asked. "I know that I wore it yesterday..." Laura responded. "Alright. The first place we ought to search would be your room then." I decided and got up. I grabbed my coat that I had tossed on the floor and walked outside. Laura remained in my room for a bit longer.

"I'm such an idiot! Why didn't I tell her?! I guess... I am afraid...of losing the one and only person, who I've ever loved." Laura mumbled to herself. "Are you coming or what?" I asked oblivious of what had occurred in the time that I was gone. When I saw the sorrow in her eyes, I lay my palm on her head and told her: "Don't worry, we'll find that necklace, I promise. I know how much it means to you."