Seeing Ghosts

Revealing Secrets

There was someone in the past that was like me? "You found something saying that?" He nods. "Yes. Come sit down."

I follow him into the living room. Dad is sitting there too. Denny and Ellen are looking through some papers that are scattered around. "What did you find?"

Theo nods. I sit down. "We were going through some old texts. Ginger and I got them from a ghost that was passing through. He was from a long time ago, and he collected old manuscripts and such." I nod.

He continues. "In this one, it talks of a man. He was known as the Ghost King. Mainly because he could see and interact with ghosts. Something no one else has ever done. He was widely respected and well known. As he was incredibly powerful, many people also feared him."

He could interact with ghosts? "One day, Ghosters of the time came before him, they wanted him dead. Before he died though, he told them that one day, another like him would be born. The ghosts would sense it before anyone else, and this one would be more powerful than he. He swore that this person would exact revenge on the Ghosters, and that this person would not rest till they were all vanquished." I frown.

"You think it means me?" Theo shrugs. "It would make sense, right?" I think about it. "I guess so. That would explain why they wanted me dead even before I was born, and why they tried to kill us in the womb. As well as why they thought it was Herm. After all, the last one was a man, they may have thought he was saying that he'd return himself." Dad nods.

"Although, Herm was born only hearing ghosts, we believe that was a side effect of the poison. Why would it not kill us, and only do that?" Dad looks at me. "Actually, it probably wasn't a side effect. He probably got that from me."

I frown. "You?" He nods. "Yes. I was born hearing ghosts. The only one in my family." I stand. "Wait! That means, you knew I was telling the truth all along?" He sighs. "Yes. I could hear them every time they spoke to you. Growing up, my parents made me pretend I was normal. It carried over into my adult years."

He looks away. "I never wanted to make you two feel left out, but I couldn't find a way to tell you either. I'd also heard about Ghosters before you were born. So, I heard some ghosts saying that the doctors wished to harm you. I didn't let your mother take the drink given her."

I nod. "So we weren't really poisoned. When the woman ghosts scared me at the other house, you could hear her? You told mom I'd grow out of imaginary people." He nods. "I tried to convince your mother that you were fine. She never really believed in ghosts, Fay, or anything like that. Until they attacked our house."

"And the ghost children? You heard them asking us to play when we went to take pictures. That's why you told us to take a few, then we could go?" He nods. "Yes. I also convinced your mother to allow the two of you to go back."

It does make a little sense. "But why? Growing up, I believed that the only one I could trust and count on, was Hermes. We would have felt less alone if you'd have said something. Even if you just said you believed us, not having to say you could hear them too." He looks down. "I know, I'm sorry."

  I sigh. Even if he'd said something, it wouldn't change anything that's happened. I look at him. "That means, you could hear Hermes? After he died? At home, you could hear him. Why wouldn't you say anything? Didn't you want to talk to him?" He looks down. "I did, but by that point, there was no point. Maybe, if I'd have said something before. And maybe, if I'd have gone with you two, instead of letting you go alone, he'd still be here."

  Graden walks in and waves a hand. "Sir, Hermes and I talked, a lot. I also said that I wished I was there, and that maybe I could have done something. But he was mad. He told me that if anyone else were there, it would have made it worse. It was already hard with Eres, but if anyone else close to him we're there, it would be harder. He knew that Eres would be able to see and speak to him after, but not anyone else."