Skin & Death

7- Ghosts

Sorry it's been forever, I'm trying to update everything now.

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CHAPTER SEVEN

SPECIAL CURSE

KENT'S POV

I was just sitting in my room reading a book when I got this really bad feeling. The feeling I get whenever I think about last year. But it was stronger. I felt like I needed to call Peyton right away. I've learned to trust my instincts when it comes to these things, so I put the book down and grabbed my phone. I scrolled to her name and clicked call. It rang twice before she answered in a panicked tone.

"Hello?" I swear I heard some very eery voices in the background.

"Peyton? Peyton whats wrong? Is everything alright?" I asked.

"Please, can you get to my home as quickly as you can?" her voice begging. I jumped up and ran to my car.

"I'll be there in 5 minutes." I got inside and started the engine.

"Please hurry." I heard her mumble before the phone went dead. I sped so much in the neighborhood I'm surprised that the cops didn't see me. I reached the old house where a single light coming out of the upstairs window. I knocked on the door, but there was no answer, so I opened it, seeing how it was unlocked. I found the stairs and ran up to the only room that was lit, and opened the door. Peyton was on the floor in a corner holding her hands over her ears. I rushed over.

"Peyton, are you okay?" I asked. I tried to grab her hand, which was uncovered for the first time, but she just jerked her hands away.

"No, don't touch me." she insisted.

"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." I tried reaching for her hands again, but she shrunk back.

"No, don't. I will hurt you." she cried. I didn't really understand, but I couldn't just leave her alone.

"I don't understand, how would you hurt me?" I asked. She shook her head in defiance.

"Please, I don't want to anymore, it hurts so bad. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." she mumbled through sobs. I sighed.

"I'll go get you some water." I left to get some from her kitchen, taking one last look at her crying self.

PEYTON'S POV

I felt so bad for Kent, he was only trying to help. But I was too concerned about his own life than to let him touch my hand. But I craved a touch of comfort more than anything. I've basically been shut out from any comfort or sympathy, and it hurt. I grabbed my gloves while Kent was getting water and slipped them on, trying to regain my shield. Wiping my tears away, sitting on the bed, and waiting for him to return. The door opened and he came in with a glass half way full of water.

"You doing alright?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah, thanks. Sorry, I had a breakdown for a minute, but I'm fine now." I reassured. He didn't look convinced.

"Peyton, what happened before I arrived?" he asked. I looked away and shook my head.

"Nothing, just a bad dream."

"I don't believe that."

"Really, Kent. I'm fine, you don't have to worry."

"Peyton, you can't lie to me."

"I'm not-"

"Stop it!" he snapped. I shut my mouth and froze. He sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry I yelled, but it's impossible to lie to me, it just frustrates me when people continue to do it."

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"Don't be, I understand why you're doing it. But believe it or not, telling the truth helps."

"I've believed that for a long time, but every time I tell the truth I end up digging myself into a deeper hole." I said. He sat next to me on the bed and looked at his hands.

"I killed someone, that story in the yearbook was me. I killed Damion, accidentally. I didn't realize the gun was loaded when he came bumping into me." he confessed.

"Why did you bring a gun to school anyway?" I asked.

"Because my friends started to call me a whimp, they dared me to bring it to prove otherwise. I was stupid and made a mistake that cost someone their life. I can still remember his face when the bullet went into him. That look haunts me every night, I honestly don't think I deserved to be in jail for that short of time, I felt like I deserved the death penalty for what I did. But the judge took pity on me, my mother said it was a blessing. But it felt like a curse, cause now I have to go to that school known as the boy who killed the favorite.

Damion was set for the world you know. He had massive scholarships, the best colleges asking for him, he even won the heart of the girl I had a crush on. He was perfect, I have lived on food stamps my whole life, my parents still were paying off loans, and after high school I have to go straight to work to pay off the loans they got to pay for my crime. Damion had it all, and I ripped it away from him in one simple mistake. Honestly, I sometimes feel like he is still around. I mean the Dream team acts like they can see him, and sometimes I believe that they do. That he is still here. But I have to tell myself that he's not."

"Why?"

"Because the idea of him still being here and not in a better place makes me feel worse. I need to move on and try to make up for it the best I can. I try to befriend who I can, try to help people, I wish I could be a doctor actually. I want to help people who are in that position, on death's doorstep."

"I wanted to be psychiatrist. Now I am settling for cubicle office type jobs." I stated.

"I know you may have ghosts haunting your past that hold you back. But the only way you will get over it is if you stop dwelling on it, and forgive yourself. The ghosts are only your imagination." he said.

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"Peyton, I'm not gonna ask you about your past unless you want to talk about it. But trust me on this, they will disappear if you allow yourself to move on. Just dwell on that for a little while." he got up and moved to the door. "I'll see you at school, Peyton." with that he left. I took off my gloves and looked at my bare hands. What if this could go away? If only it was that easy. I sighed. Damion wasn't my problem, I had to focus on me. It is about time that I did.