Cursed

26

Yuri's head snaps up, "You can create a forcefield too?"

I shake my head, "No. Zack is super strong, and I...can see the dead, and make them visible, and talk to them."

Yuri smiles weakly, "So you'll protect her secret?"

I nod, "Of course."

I turn back to the girl. I need to get her to bring her forcefield down. It comes out about a foot around her.

I sit down in front of it, looking at her. "What's your name?"

She doesn't look up but says shyly, "Angelica."

I look over at the woman, "What's your name? Do you know how to get her out of here?"

She looks at me, smiling softly. I hear Yuri say to Zack, "Who's she talking to?"

I look back, confused and point to the woman, "Her." I say.

Zack and Yuri exchange confused looks and I realize. She's dead. "Oh," I sigh.

The woman says, "I'm Lillian. I'm Angelica's mother. Yuri's wife. He's right, I want you to save our daughter."

"It's your wife, she's looking after Angelica," I say without looking back at Zack and Yuri.

"You're lying," Yuri growls. I take a life ball out of me and press it into Lillian's chest. Yuri gasps. He runs over to her, flinging his arms around her. She smiles wide, wrapping him in a hug. "Take care of her," she whispers.

"Don't go." He begs.

"I have to. But I'll always be watching. I can't move on into eternal rest until I see that you two are okay. You are my unfinished business."

"I'll never be okay."

"You will. You'll do what's best for our baby. I know it. I need to go now, Shay needs you to get our baby to lower her shields. You need to get her out soon, you know it."

He nods and reluctantly lets go of her. She walks over to me and nods. I pull the life ball from her chest. She mouths thank you to me and sits back down to watch her family.

I look to Yuri, "Can you talk to her or something?"

He doesn't look like he even heard me. I sigh and turn back the little girl. "Angelica"

She looks up slightly, but still looks terrified. "Mommy, they killed mommy."

I bite my lip, "I know baby. But, you don't have to be scared or upset. You see, I'm like you. I have special abilities that no one else has, just like you."

This seems to get her attention slightly, "Really?"

I nod, "Yes. I can see the dead, well, the dead that has unfinished business. And your mommy, you are her unfinished business, so she's still here. I can see her. She loves you so much, she can't move on until she sees that you're okay. I can let you see her, so you can say goodbye to her. But not right now. If you want to see her, I need you to lower your shields so we can get out of here. Can you do that for me?"

She shrugs, "I can't control it." She wipes a tear from her cheek. My heart swells for her, because I know exactly how she feels. I had the same problems that she's having now. "I know. I know it's hard. But you're such a big girl. I know that you can do this. I can help you."

She shakes her head, "I can't. Not without mommy. She used to help me, but she's gone."

I nod, "Your mommy is right next to me. And I can hear what she says to me. Do you know what she's telling me right now?"

She shakes her head, I can see I have her full attention now. "She's telling me that she's sorry you got taken. She's sorry you had to watch her die. She's sorry that she died. She didn't want to leave you, and she wants you to know that if she had a choice, she never would've left you. Ever. You are her world. She loves you so much, and now she needs you to let me help you. I'm going to get you out of here."

She nods and I place a hand on her shield, saying, "Take a deep breath. The biggest one you can get. Now hold it. Think about the happiest memory you can find in your head about you and your mom. Got it?"

She nods, still holding her breath. "Good," I say, "Focus on it. Now breathe out. Slowly."

She breathes out and my hand goes through the barrier. I sigh in relief. Angelica smiles at me. I offer her my hand and she takes it. We stand up and I look over to Yuri. He still looks dazed at the loss of his wife. I sigh and turn to Zack, "Can you try and get him up? We need to get out of here."

He doesn't say anything but nods. I lift Angelica into my arms, placing her on my hip. She puts her arms around my neck and cradles her head into my shoulder. She whispers, "What now?"

I smile, "Now, we get out of here so we can go home."

She nods against my chest, "That sounds like a good idea."

I chuckle, "Yeah. It does."