The Ghostly Past

Chapter 40

Dorian. It felt right when Max said it, but the other two were absolutely silent, staring at her as if they'd never seen her before. "That's impossible." James said. "Oliver was Dorian. He died!" His eyes were suddenly swimming with unshed tears.

"The cycle started when Oliver came to town." Leo pointed out, though his eyes searched her face, as if looking for someone familiar in her eyes.

"Actually my interview for the Academy was the same weekend Oliver arrived." Clara answered. "You were wrong about Oliver. It's why I survived the ghosts, why they seemed to follow me, why I saw visions of people I'd had no contact with." She gave them a watery smile, "It was me, all along. I was your friend."

James stood, and wrapped his arms around her tightly. She leaned into his embrace and as she pulled away looked into his eyes. They were the same as ever, and yet to her, it was as if something, someone, ancient was peering back at her. For a moment, she felt warm.

"We as good as killed Oliver." Leo had closed his eyes, distraught.

"There will be time for blame, and for grief." Clara told them. "But not now. Now is the time to go and end this curse once and for all." She pocketed the knife, pulling out her phone and calling Kim. "Kim, it's happening." She said briefly. "We need you. Jess's house. As soon as you can."

"Why are we fetching Kim?" James asked. "Leo has a car."

"Because Kim loves Ryan." Max pulled himself onto his feet. "And she'd do whatever it takes to save him."

"If anyone knows where he's taken Jess, it'll be Kim." Clara nodded. "I'd still like to call you an ambulance, Max." She slipped her hand in his. "You've done your part."

"Not a chance." He grimaced, "Not until it's over."

Kim was only minutes away, pulling up, ghosts scattering as she burst through the door with her torch. "What is happening?" She almost yelled, eyes bulging at the state of the room. "This house is swarming with ghosts. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get in." She was shivering in her long black trench coat. "This place looks like a war zone."

"Ryan's taken Jess." Clara answered. "Neither of them are in their right minds. None of us are, except for Max. He's free now until the next cycle."

"I don't...I don't understand." She looked around tremulously, "You're all injured." Her eyes drifted between Leo's bandaged arm, Max's bloody side and Clara's throat.

"I'm fresh as a daisy." James piped up.

"Kim, listen. We need to know where Ryan would go."

"Why should I tell you?" She snapped, clearly emotional. "You'll hurt him! Leo will kill him for taking Jess. You're better off letting them go!" She started to cry.

Clara grabbed her, shaking her shoulders. "It's not about that! I'm not going to let anything happen to Ryan! But he's not in his right mind and he could hurt Jess or himself. Do you understand that?"

Kim nodded, for once speechless.

"Where is he, Kim?" Max staggered over. Clara wrapped an arm about his waist for support and he smiled at her gratefully.

"We call it the lake, but it's just a pond really. It's on the forest drive. He used to go there when he needed to think." Kim said quietly. "We used to go there together. It's worth a shot."

"Thank you." Clara forced a smile. "Let's go."

"You can't stop me coming." Leo said angrily.

"I know. We're all going." Clara left the house with Max.