Oliver Brown holds the gift of seeing spirits. After losing his grandmother, he neglected the purpose of his ability, and soon after, lived a ghostless life.
But when Oliver's younger sister is discovered murdered in the woods, he desperately wanted...
No amount of knowledge had prepared Leah for this hollow existence. The numbness and emptiness were all-consuming, pressing into her like an unseen weight. Anger still pulsed within her, but the whispering trees and the cool hush of the forest dulled its edge, soothing her in ways she hadn't expected.
The day was warmer—she supposed—but the warmth never touched her skin. Her gray eyes lifted toward the sky, once a canvas of wonder where she had traced playful shapes in the clouds. Now, the sky stretched dull and lifeless, just like everything else.
Lowering her gaze, Leah stared at the pile of crisp brown leaves, knowing all too well what lay hidden beneath them. A sudden noise shattered the silence, echoing through the trees. Her head snapped to the right, her senses sharpening as she tried to pinpoint the source.
The sound grew nearer. A blur of movement. Then, from between the bushes, a brown dog burst through, barking wildly before skidding to a stop just in front of her.
"Duke! What is it?" a man called, his voice slightly winded as he followed after the dog. He came to a halt, doubling over to catch his breath. As he exhaled, a puff of smoke escaped his lips in the crisp air. The dog stared at Leah, ears perked, head tilting from side to side.
"Can you see me?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Duke's ears twitched, and he let out a whimper, his body stiffening at the sound that only he seemed to hear. Leah's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. So, he could see her. She crouched down, studying the animal with curiosity. Duke yelped and took a hesitant step back.
"Duke!" the man called again, irritation clearly creeping into his tone.
Leah reached for a small twig, though she knew she could never truly grasp it. Still, she made a show of tossing it into the pile of leaves. "Fetch," she said, watching the dog's reaction intently.
Duke hesitated only a second before lunging forward, his ears flapping against his head as he dove into the pile. The leaves scattered around him, briefly swallowing him whole as his brown fur blended into the earthy tones.
"Oh, not again," the man groaned, straggling forward in long strides. As he reached his dog, something caught his eye—a stark contrast against the brown hues.
A strip of white fabric peeked through the scattered leaves. Frowning, he grabbed Duke by the collar, pulling him back before tying the leash securely to a nearby stump. The dog whined, pacing anxiously as his owner returned to the mysterious fabric.
With careful fingers, the man began brushing away the layers of leaves and twigs, each movement revealing more of the white cloth. A sense of unease crept up his spine. The fabric wasn't just discarded trash. It was wrapped around something—someone.
His breath hitched. Gingerly, he pulled at the cloth, but it refused to give way easily. Bracing himself, he cleared away more debris until he could finally lift the sheet. Then, he saw her.
A girl, her body eerily still, skin nearly as pale as the fabric that covered her. Her lips were a shade of deep, unnatural blue. Faint purple bruises stained her skin, blooming across her arms and legs like faded ink stains. Long brown hair, stiff with frost, lay fanned beneath her, strands partially tangled in the undergrowth.
But it was her eyes that sent a jolt of terror through him—glassy silver orbs staring blankly at the sky as if forever locked onto something just beyond reach. A delicate gold locket rested against her bare chest, the chain thin and fragile. It shimmered faintly in the dim forest light.
The man staggered back, losing his balance as he fell onto the damp earth, a strangled gasp ripping from his throat. Duke barked wildly, the sound cutting through the forest like a warning, a desperate cry to anyone who might hear. The trees carried the echoes, stretching the moment into something unreal.
Leah watched it all unfold, an eerie calm settling over her. They had found her. And now, all she had to do was wait.
With a final lingering glance, she faded from sight, leaving the man and his dog truly alone in the silent woods near the Bellamy River.
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