The Institute ~Completed~

Chapter Thirty: Ghosts

Kaleb follows closely behind Cotton. Careful not to be seen. He was told to follow her but she had other ideas. She knew he was there l

"Come with me." Cotton whispers as he bumps into a tree. She giggles. "How did you know I was there?" Kaleb asks as he recollected himself from the hard hit. "Well you're not exactly the quietest stalker in the pot." Cotton says as she walks up to him. "Yeah I know I guess that's what I get for being the son of a loud man." Kaleb laughs. Cotton felt a playful vibe from him. He seems to perfect to be Ace's son or that's exactly what makes him perfect. Something about Kaleb made Cotton want to be with him all the time. "Do you trust me?" Cotton asks him with her big grey eyes staring at him, like a lost puppy but she had a happy gleam in her eyes. "Yes I do. Do you trust me?" Kaleb asks stepping closer. "I oddly enough do." Cotton says breaking the space between them. It's been a year since she came back to Jessica and Jake, she had just turned eleven. Kaleb was only a few years older than she was. So what was the point in giving up this chance with a boy she found likable. "Then can I kiss you?" Kaleb asks with a smile. Cotton couldn't resist. She nods with a smile. He leaned in and took her by her chin. She lifts herself up so he wouldn't have to been down to far. As soon as her lips and his touched, everything felt magical. It was like no one could break em apart. The forest was spinning by the time the kiss ended. "Not bad little one." Kaleb smiles. "I think your better." Cotton presses. "No I don't think so." Kaleb shakes his head. "Why not?" Asks Cotton.

"You were my first kiss." Kaleb whispers. Cotton's eyes lit up. She knew what she had to do. "Kaleb could you help me with something?" Cotton asks. "Anything." Kaleb says. "Then come with me." Cotton says and takes his slightly bigger hand in hers. As soon as she and him stepped into the clearing that was between the camp and the main part of the forest, a shiver ran down both of their spins. "Why does this feel so strange?" Kaleb asks. That's when something brushed past her. She looked down to see a ghostly looking little girl. Kaleb saw her to but she was to faded to him then she was Cotton. "Um Cotton are we seeing the same thing as each other?" Whispers Kaleb. Cotton just nods. And that's when three more strange presences were standing behind them. Kaleb and Cotton both turned around to see a family. A ghostly mum, a ghostly dead, a ghostly little boy and the little girl. "You can see us?" Asks the little girl. Kaleb and Cotton both nod. "This means there's still hope." The little girl says to her parents. "What do you mean? These are just a couple of children." Says her father.

He had visible scars across his left eye. He didn't look to happy. He seemed stressed beyond stressed. He must have died under a lot of stress and pain. Something about him screamed military. Or maybe it was the hat her wore. Or the suit he hand on. He looked like an officer for the army or perhaps the navy. "Children who actually see us?" Says the little boy. He had bruises around his eyes and mouth. He had a white cast on his wrist. And a hole in his head. He must have died because of the trauma and the gunshot wound in between his eyes. "Our names are Cotton and Kaleb." Cotton spoke. The mum spoke. "Your parents were wonderful people Cotton." She looks like she was a military nurse. But a gigantic wound laid across her neck. They all looked murdered, except for the little girl. She seems like she died some other way. "I know. How do you know them?" Asks Cotton. "Lockett was my sister. Key was my brother in law." She smiles. Cotton knew of her biological mothers sister. She remembered something about Lockett's sister and many others die of a tragedy. Her name was Arabella. Arabella kept to herself for the most part. She had two children named Josiah and Josie. Josie was the first to die, she was thirteen. She passed away from a head injury that was caused by faulty steps. Her husband died during the wars. His head was cut open. It explains the scar across his left eye. Arabella was murdered brutally by someone who got away. Josiah the youngest who is only six years old, died earlier this year. He was bullied at the orphanage he was staying in. He was supposed to be adopted by a family but no one came for him. He found a gun in the Head mistress's desk and right between this eyes he shot himself.

The family was meant for death as far as it seems. Cotton, grandparents on both sides were outgoing people. Her father's parents died on a cruise. The ship got caught on a gigantic reef in the Atlantic Ocean and the captian tried to pull the ship out. It costed everyone on board their lives, they were frozen by the time the rescuers got there. Only one person survived the sink and that was a little girl that no one knows her whereabouts. She disappeared from the sight. Her mother's grandparents, well her grandmother died of cancer and her grandfather passed away of old age. The only people alive from Cotton's bloodline was Axel, her cousins, and their parents. This family wasn't meant to live. The proof was in front of Cotton's eyes. "Your Arabella?" Smiles Cotton. "Yes I am. You were their little girl, didn't my sister have another child?" Asks Arabella. Cotton nods. "Yes, he's sorta dead now."

Kaleb hadn't known of Cotton's brother, then it hit him, Axel was the older son. But he doesn't look like he was recovering to good. After all Kaleb has been in the hospital for almost a year and six months. "Nonsense child, he will survive. He's got a sister by his side besides, he doesn't fear death." Arabella softens up. She must have been a wonderful woman. Josie smiles. "We should have met before. I'm sorry you didn't get to meet me."

Cotton smiles. "No worries princess."

"Kaleb you've turned out quite like your father. Back in the day, I knew Ace. He was a good man." Says Arabella's husband. "You knew my father?" Kaleb asks. He's never met anyone who knew Ace in his younger days. "Yes before he became corrupt." He replies sadly shaking his head.

"I think he has good intentions just in the wrong way." Cotton says. She didn't want Kaleb to hear bad things about his father. "Yeah hopefully you and your brother can change it." Arabella smiles.

"Um yeah, well I think me and Kaleb should get back home. It's getting late and my mother will be freaking out if she knew I wasn't with her." Cotton says but before she could even turn, Arabella grabbed her arm. "Tell your mother, the baby will be just as great as you are. Tell your father, he will need to teach the baby what a father should. After all, they didn't get much time with you.'' Arabella smiles.

''Will do.'' Cotton promises.

"Good luck." The family says to them as they leave.

"You to!" Kaleb and Cotton both say.

... The whole camp was so quiet ... Not a soul aroused from their sleep. "We should get you back to the hospital." Cotton whispers considering there could be anyone lurking about. "But I don't want you to go home alone." Kaleb touches her semi-cold cheek. He was warm but Cotton felt the cold was more soothing then the heat. "I am not going home. I'm going to go check on my brother." Cotton says.

"Okay let's go." Kaleb picks her up and quietly walks to the hospital. They open the creaking doors but no one was in the hospital. The patients were heavily asleep. Lou was in his room asleep and the nurses were down in their sleeping chambers as well. "What room is your brother in?" Kaleb asks. "22." Cotton replies. Kaleb knew exactly where that was. It was next to 23 which was his room and it was sadly near the morgue. "Here ya go." Kaleb says. She opens the door. Still holding Kaleb's hand. "What's wrong?" Kaleb asks. "I haven't been the best sister to him. He wouldn't be hurt if it hadn't been for me." Cotton says. "No I think that was someone's fault for walking in front of his bike." Says Lou.

"How the hell do you do that?" Kaleb says trying to recollect himself. "Yeah!" Cotton says. Lou laughs. "You don't think I'd sleep during the night do you?"

Kaleb tilts his head. "Yea wouldn't everyone be?" Cotton giggles. "Well no. Apparently you two are." Lou says with a slight smile. As to what he knew what was going on. "Sorry." Kaleb says. "No no no. If anything this one needs to get away from her family. And you need to get out of this hospital." Lou says.

"I knew you were gone. I usually check on everyone during the night. You weren't in your room so I figured you were out for a walk but seeing your with Cotton it wasn't alone." Lou continues since no one said anything. "Yea that's what I did." Kaleb went along with it. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone." Lou says. "Go on visit with your brother." Lou opens the door so Cotton could get in. She let go of Kaleb's hand she looked back and smiles. Kaleb smiles to. Lou felt the chemistry rise by the minute. Lou closes the door as Cotton sat in a comfy chair next to the window and Axel's bed.

"Kaleb, you should get some sleep." Lou says as he walks away.

Kaleb nods and gets in his room. He walks to the Window and looks out it. She's mine isn't she. He asks himself. At the same moment a shooting star passed by, Cotton and Kaleb both made wishes.

Let us be together. They whispered.