The Ghostly Past

Chapter 43

The ice had been too thin, precariously and supernaturally created by the spirits who seemed confounded by this turn of events. Jess plummeted like a stone into the darkness of the water.

Kim screamed, running down to the water's edge with Leo. Ryan stared, as if turned to stone, his face slack with shock.

Clara, who was closest, did nothing. Like Ryan, it was if she was weighted down. She felt almost distant from the screams and shouts of the others. It was too late now, the ghosts seemed to whisper, pressing in on them on the dock. Jess would drown. Clara may as well end it now, send her soul on for the next cycle.

The sounds seemed muted, movements clumsy, like a video put into slow motion. Leo was on his stomach, spreading his weight out as he crawled across the ice. Kim was shining a light ahead of him.

"Can you see her?" Leo was yelling.

"Nothing." Kim replied. "Wait. There!"

Jess's head broke the surface, coughing and spluttering before going back under.

"I'm coming!" Leo shouted to her, "Ryan, Clara, do something!"

"I..." Ryan stammered out. "But you're supposed to hate me."

"I will hate you to the end of my days if you let her drown!" Leo hissed vehemently, "Now hurry up!"

She's gone, the ghosts said. She's dead. End it!

The knife cut into her neck, deeper. The blood began to pour down. It was burning, the colour bright, distracting almost. There was a stinging sensation, but it didn't hurt that much, Clara acknowledged.

There was such a lot of it.

"But I took Jess. I hurt Max and Clara."

"For heavens sake, Ryan. I forgive you for it all. There's nothing for us to fight over any more." The ice cracked precariously beneath him and he froze as Jess broke through the surface again, clinging onto the side of the ice.

Something changed on Ryan's face and he climbed from the dock, sliding quickly to where Jess clung with the last of her strength.

They were pulling her out, carefully, steadily, the two men, as close as brothers. Clara watched, detached, as Jess's torso emerged from the freezing water, shuddering and unable to speak on the surface of the ice.

Clara lurched sideways, her world tumbling out of focus for a moment, her knees thudding against the wood of the deck.

Leo, Ryan and Jess were struggling their way towards Kim at the side. "Sometimes no one gets what they want." She heard Leo say sadly.

He was free. So were Ryan and Jess, James and Max. They had all freed themselves from the curse. And in her efforts to save them, she had put herself into its path.

With the others free, the malicious spirits were crowding her, surrounding her on the dock, whispering. She was losing so much blood already. It would take nothing now, only the smallest of taps with the knife to finish it.

She was so tired.

"Clara." Max's voice was gentle. When had he gotten there? He was crouched not far from her, his face white with pain.

"Stay back."

"It's time to drop the knife." He told her. "It's over. You saved everyone. Now save yourself."

"I can't." She was shivering. "I can't live like this."

"They're making you say that." His voice was soft, but urgent. He crawled closer, so close that he could reach out and touch her. "You have to be strong. Remember who you are. You are not Dorian. You are Clara Fitzroy."

He shuffled closer again. Her hand was shaking with the effort of not cutting herself. His hand reached out slowly, touching her cold cheek. He was so warm.

"Max..." Her voice was weak, "I'm scared."

"I know." His face was close to hers. His hand had drifted to the knife, clasped around her own fingers. "Just focus on me."

He kissed her. His lips were whisper soft, pressing against hers. Her eyes closed, breathing him in. For a moment, she felt completely safe. As he broke away, he pulled her hand away from her neck, pinning it against the damp mossy wood of the dock and gave her a broken smile.

There was a roaring in her ears as she smiled back at him, and released the knife.

In that moment, there was a ripple in the air, a burst of energy that flew in all directions, originating from Clara. The spirits looked to the sky and vanished as it passed, in a twinkling of stars. The ice of the pond melted in an instant, the fog clearing to reveal a cloudless starry night.

"You did it." Max breathed. He looked out of focus.

Clara gave him a wavering smile before her body lurched and darkness veiled her vision.

There was sound and movement all around her. Voices were talking nearby. "...got to get it stopped, Max, or she'll bleed out before the ambulance arrives."

"How's Jess?"

"Kim got her to the car. She'll be warmer there." James's voice was saying, right next to her ear.

"Ambulances are on their way." Leo called out.

Clara forced her eyes open. She was lying on her back, cradled in Max's arms. "What's going on?" She whispered. Someone was pressing something against her neck. She reached up, only to have her hands knocked away.

"Oh no you don't." There was relief in Max's eyes as he met her gaze. James was above her too, the one holding something to her neck. "You need to try and stay awake, alright?" Max squeezed her hand. "You've lost a lot of blood."

"So have you." She murmured.

"True." Max replied. He looked as bad as she felt. "But I at least have bandages and didn't almost sever an artery."

"Help is on the way." James forced a grin.

"Is everyone else alright?" Clara asked.

The men exchanged a glance. "Jess is a bit rough but she'll be fine. We're all going to be fine in the end." James answered. "Thanks to you. You did it, Clara! You broke the curse!"

"No." She shook her head weakly, causing both men to lunge for the jumper pressed against it. "We did it. All of us together."

She could hear sirens in the distance, wailing. "Yes, we did." Max smiled. "Now stay still. Ambulances are on their way."

Lying in Max's arms, she felt peaceful. It was over.

As flashing lights and torches approached, and voices shouted out for them, she felt as if she were in her own private world of calm. The curse was broken, and for the first time in centuries, everyone would live.