Ghost and the Writer

Tia

August turned his eyes towards the door and headed there, the previous smile had been erased.

The soup was almost done, so Mandy chose to remain by the stove. It was a pity someone interrupted. Wasn't that the first time August smiled just now? It seemed almost elusive. Perhaps she was imagining it.

August meanwhile simply reached for the door, opening it. Yet, as soon as the door was open, someone fell on his chest. A head shorter than August, wearing a hooded cape.

"Help--" Came a weak girl's voice.

"Tia?!" August straightened her posture, holding her by the shoulders to see her face.

The girl looked feverish. Her breathing was hot, her green eyes lacked focus and her blonde hair stuck to her forehead.

"My back--" she mumbled, standing only because August was keeping her firm.

Hearing those words, August immediately started taking off the girl's clothes.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen Mandy only heard August's voice, his tone made her curious enough to put the lid on, turn the heat off and float towards where he was... Mandy carefully peeked.

And there August was, having pulled off the upper half of a girl's clothes-- only her bra remained. The door was still open, the girl's expression was dazed and her cheeks were flushed red.

"WHA--??!!" Mandy raised her voice in shock. Despite looking so... passive, as soon as a girl appeared August was already... already...

"Bring some cold water and knife! Fast!" August gave an order as he turned the feverish girl on her stomach.

Mandy was snapped out of her misunderstanding as soon as she saw the girl's back. There was something... on it. A festering black wound, oozing purplish liquid from it. Black veins spread out from it, covering the girl's shoulder blades.

Cold water and a knife! Rang in Mandy's confused mind and she rushed to the kitchen, got a huge bowl, turned the tap on.

Meanwhile, August got up and pulled on the outer door, having them fall shut. He turned on the light. His face displayed worry and fear. But rather than dwelling on his feelings, he rushed towards the room and pulled a leather suitcase out from under the sofa, then returned.

As he laid down the case right next to the girl, Mandy returned with the bowl and knife, floating them down on the other side from the case. The ghost's eyes were wide. There were many questions she wanted to ask but refrained for now.

August took the knife first and cut the strap of the girl's bra, having it fall on the sides. He was careful not to touch anything with his skin. Then he took the bowl and splashed half of the contents on top of the black wound, not caring that the water made the floor wet and dirty.

"Cold!!..." The blonde girl shivered, raising up a bit. It seemed like she had almost passed out just now, but now she cast an accusing look at him.

"Don't bite your tongue," August said as he opened the case, taking out a vial with silvery liquid inside.

Tia gasped and leaned down, closing her mouth. Her reaction revealed that what would come next would be worse than being splashed with cold water.

Mandy floated a kitchen towel over, taking it in her hands, yet before she could start gathering up the water on the floor, August put out a warning. "Don't touch it with hands."

Mandy nodded, floating the towel down. From that, she reasoned that the black goo, whatever it was - could hurt her.

As soon as the silvery liquid reached Tia's back, she stifled a scream. The wound started to bubble up like there was acid poured on her back. First, the wound itself bubbled up with red foam, then the veins on her back popped as they bubbled up too. The girl kept stifling screams.