Free Spirit

Only The Good Die Young

Shadows followed wherever I went, I knew they were out there looking for me. I'd narrowly escaped death on more than one occasion now and the spirits don't take kindly to that kind of mishap. I'd left the hospital long ago, they stitched me up and sent me on my way. The ghosts must have thought I would be at death's door, ready for them to drag me off, but I survived, as I always do.

I know they're angry now, I can feel the ferocity they're coming after me with. They want me, and one day they may get me but I plan to put that off for as long as humanly possible.

Wait, what was that?

I run through what looks like a deserted market square, all stalls closed up for the night. A gleaming blur flits across my vision- they're here. My spine tingles so badly, I feel a shudder shake my body. At least seven of them have surrounded me. I curse loudly. I'm going to have to fight my way out. I clench my fists, watching a young guy with a handlebar moustache, wearing top hat and tails, sauntering towards me.

"Come willingly, you hornswoggler and we will not make your demise as grotesque as it ought to be."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah because using stupid words is going to make me say, 'oh sure, take me now, I'm entranced by your language.'"

I snorted, trying to keep all of them in view. The young guy didn't seem impressed by my manners, like he'd never been talked back to before.

"You will come at once!"

"Nah, I don't think I will."

I dashed for an opening between a man and a woman, both of whom looked to have died in the renaissance. I skidded by their legs, feeling a hand brush past my hair and the next second I was being pulled by my collar. I glared up at the man, twisting my body up until my foot connected with his gut.

He grunted and let go, I rushed to my feet and turned to find the renaissance woman standing in front of me. The other ghosts were advancing, I had to move fast. I dropped to my feet and kicked her legs out from under her. She fell to the side with a thump, I smirked and ran through the opening she left.

Winding through these seemingly endless streets again. I knew they were following, I was tired and didn't know how much longer I could go on. I rounded the next corner to be met by a children's playground; I would have to cross it to leave the town quicker. I hopped the fence and jogged around the equipment, not bothering to look behind me because I knew what I'd find.

The playground was eerie, the swings creaked of their own accord, or was it?

I picked up my pace and began to sprint, hopping the other fence and seeing the edge of town. Suddenly, a face stepped out of the darkness and I sidestepped just in time to avoid a two handed axe slicing me in half. I glowered at the tall, bearded man in plaid and ran in the new direction, attempting to find a different way out of this town.

Another fiendish spirit appeared in front of me, this time I didn't think twice and slammed my shoulder into their torso, tackling them to the ground. I forced myself up, rubbing my shoulder and kept running. I wasn't going to be herded by these fools. There had to only be a few streets left, I just wanted to see open spaces, I was tired of dark streets with their potential for being attacked at every turn.

I could see the end of the town. I was almost there when three ghouls appeared directly in my path. There was no way I could fight them all and get to where I wanted to go. My only option was the church to my left; I had my reservations but little choice. I made a beeline for the wall surrounding the gardens and climbed over, dropping into a thorny bed of roses.

I picked my way through, ignoring the scratches I received and headed for the back of the building. I just needed to get around the three ghosts and I'd be out of the town, into the openness beyond. I reached the end of the old stone church to be met with a sight that chilled me to my core. A graveyard sat between me and my escape.

Great, just great!

One of the worst places I could have possibly ended up. I gritted my teeth and braced myself for what might come next. I ran flat out, weaving between the graves as I headed straight for the far wall. I could hear stirrings, the rustling of spectral bodies, they knew I was here and they were sending reinforcements. I just had to focus on reaching the other side, while tall sculptures of angels stared down at me, chastising me.

But, the wall was within reach, I grabbed at the top and scrambled my way up. About to swing my legs over when something grabbed my foot. I looked down to see a ghoul, less corporeal than the others yet somehow more terrifying, with enough grip to hold onto my foot. I kicked out with my other, hitting it in the face. It fell back and took me with it, pulling me back to the ground with a loud thud.

I kicked out again, forcing the thing to let go of me. But it was too late, more of them had arrived, their ghastly wails lifted the hairs on my arms. They were swarming around me, I couldn't count how many there were. It was a sea of gleaming blue bodies, all of them reaching through the darkness to claw at my body. I huddled against the wall of the cemetery, kicking out at the groping hands.

The sudden sound of quiet, high pitched laughter echoed from behind the line of ghouls. A small pale face began to form through the blue haze, making its way slowly towards me. The ghouls stopped their grabbing and let the newcomer pass through them. I wish they hadn't, I wasn't ready for this one.

Her wide, translucent eyes stared at me with an evil glint, her ragged pigtails hung limply as did the doll she trailed behind her. She drew closer, the cruel laugh that escaped her mouth made my blood run cold. She twirled a kitchen knife in her tiny hand, stopping an inch from my face.

"Do you like puzzles? I do. I think you'd look good as a puzzle."

The little girl's high voice set my teeth on edge, I had dealt with ghosts most of my life but this was truly the worst thing I'd ever endured. I knew my life was over, I couldn't fight my way out of this. I had no options left to me, my time had finally run out.

"Any last words?" The creepy little girl asked, tilting her head to the side with a delicious grin on her tiny face.

I was about to make a snide comment, ready to go out on a high note of my own choosing when seemingly out of nowhere, a glowing hand appeared through my chest. I stared wide-eyed at it, it stuck a middle finger up at the little girl, grabbed me by my shirt and pulled. I felt a growing pressure and suddenly, I was standing on the other side of the wall. I was spun around to face a tall man with greying hair and stubble; he wore a brown leather jacket, jeans and a baseball cap.

He was grinning from ear to ear, his blue eyes crinkled and his mouth was full of pearly white teeth.

He leaned down and whispered. "Only the good die young... follow me."

And without explanation he ran for the edge of the town. I thought he had to be crazy. But, I regularly saw ghosts who constantly wanted to kill me, so who was I to judge? I ran as fast as my feet would take me, following the strange man who had saved my life. Taking my death defying stunts up to a total of three, oh the spirits were going to love that.