Mind Over Mask

2. Angie

"So when are you going to tell her about me?" Maurice purred.

"Shut up," I muttered, with Arya safely out of earshot.

"Or me?" Dahlia asked. And suddenly all of the voices in my head were asking when they'd be introduced to the new girl.

"Everyone stop talking!" I snapped. "I'm not telling her about any of you. At least for now. We have no idea if we can trust her."

"I think your heart's already made up that decision, Angie," Maurice said, holding back the laughter.

So, I can talk to ghosts. Dahlia was the first ghost I saw, and she's stuck around since then. But Maurice was my best dead-but-not-really friend.

"It's going to be hard talking to us if your new guest stays any longer," Maurice said, his tail brushing the desklamp. "You know, considering that she can't see us..." his voice trailed off as he licked his paw. Did I mention that he was a cat?

"You think I don't know that?" I hissed. "It's okay she won't be here for long, I just have to quickly read her and she'll get out of here."

I also have minor mind-reading powers, which no one besides the ghosts knew about. I surprised myself by how willing I was to show Arya my secret powers.

"Have you already read her mind?" Dahlia asked.

"No," I said sternly, not offering more of an explanation. She has to give me permission. I'm not that strong of a reader — I can only hear the thoughts of blabbermouths who can't seem to shut up about themselves. Like Dahlia.

I heard the click of a door closing, and knew that meant Arya was coming back to the shop. I nodded to the ghosts so they knew not to interrupt me, and they seemed to understand. Everyone but Maurice drifted to another spot in the house.

"You ready?" I asked her, noticing that she was wearing the same clothes she walked in with. "You could've grabbed some clothes you know."

"I'm ready," she said, seemingly ignoring what I had just said. She was determined to get her powers back, whatever they were.