Ghost Betweens (19 page)

They neared the ghost and the family when dozens upon dozens of tiny knights in shinning armor leapt out into their path. They were joined by just as many hovering pixies, each a quarter of the size of the two-foot tall knights. There was no verbal threat, but it was clear that neither the knights nor the pixies would let them pass. The man, the father, belonged to the ghost.

Josh would not let this stand. He grabbed Whisper's hand and built up their power, ready to throw whatever it took to burst through these evil protectors. Before they had the chance, each and every one of the fantasy characters disappeared. In their place stood Zach and Kendra, both wearing long-hooded black robes. He wasn't glad to see them, but this was better. He and Whisper could run around them.

Zach and Kendra pushed out their hands, and Josh found himself further back. The eighteenth hole now lay far in the distance, but the ghost was closer than ever to the man. Whisper stood still by his side, tears streaming down her cheeks. No, he wouldn't let this end. A bow appeared in his hand, and an arrow lay in a quiver on his back. His only experience with a bow and arrow happened a few years back in PE at Groves Jr. High, and that had only been for a week. Nowhere near long enough to hope to be competent with the weapon.

It didn't matter. He knew he could make the shot. What's more, he knew the arrow would pierce the ghost and stop it from killing the man.

As he moved to nock an arrow into position, Whisper held up a long wooden staff. The bright green glow of magic coursed through it. Good. If he missed, she wouldn't. He smiled at her, but was met with a frown. An intense look of hate filled her eyes, and he gasped, afraid for a second that whatever magic she wielded was meant to end him. No, that wasn't right. They were together in this, even if she didn't like him anymore. That thought, her not wanting anything to do with him, hit almost as hard as the thought of the man dying. He couldn't allow either to pass.

He pulled back on the bowstring, lined up his shot, and let go. He expected Zach or Kendra to impede his shot, but they didn't. The arrow flew true. It was only halfway to the target, but no doubt it was a bulls-eye. Everything stopped and went dark. He blinked hard and found himself at the farm. Whisper stood beside him. Hundreds of ghosts surrounded them, and though they weren't invisible, the spirits paid no attention.

Josh wanted to move, see what was going on, but there were too many ghosts around. Something was happening. Something big.

As if on cue, the ghosts in front of them parted, opening up a viewing lane to the main event. Up on a rickety wooden stage in front of the farmhouse stood Zach and Kendra. The demon loomed behind them. Everything about her looked too big, but together it all fit. She'd grown to over eight feet tall, and her beauty magnified, as did her evil. Josh could feel it from where he stood. It overpowered any feelings he had amongst the ghosts.

Zach and Kendra, so smug, so confident around the demon in the past, now wore looks of horror. Josh wasn't sure yet what was happening. He glanced at Whisper, wondering if she'd even look at him. She did, and he read the same confusion on her face. At least she didn't glare back at him with hate.

He wanted to voice his questions. He wanted to scream out at Zach, at Kendra, and, hell, even at the demon. Words wouldn't, couldn't, come. He tried, but nothing. Whatever was going on, he and Whisper were mere observers.

The demon raised her hand, and the ghosts cheered as if this were some sort of rally. Her fingers grew into sharp talons, shedding all form of humanity. She ran a claw across Zach's cheek. He didn't cry out, but a trail of blood traced after her nail. Kendra's eyes went wide with terror, but she didn't try to escape. Maybe if she did, it would shock Josh out of his trance. He'd be able to jump up there and save them. Save them like he hadn't saved the father at the miniature golf course.

The demon moved away from Zach, who now wore a serene smile, and stood behind Kendra. She didn't squirm out of the way, but stood there, looking like she might pass out from fright. The demon moved the same claw across her face, drawing a ribbon of blood like it'd done to Zach. Kendra's mood turned to acceptance, and her face morphed into a smile.

The demon went into some sort of trance and spoke in tongues. Zach and Kendra stood motionless, the smiles still etched on their faces. The ghosts surrounding the stage also didn't move, and though Josh tried to stop things, he might as well have been watching a movie.

After a few moments of the chant, the demon put her hands behind both Zach and Kendra, though from Josh's angle, it didn't look like she touched them. She yanked up, and their shimmering souls floated above their heads. Though their physical bodies never changed, and the goofy smiles remained plastered on their faces, Josh knew the souls floating above were really them.

The demon again fell into a trance. Josh focused all his energy into rushing up onto the makeshift stage to save the day, but he still couldn't move an inch. Neither could he turn to Whisper so they could touch to ignite their powers. Worst of all, when he failed at all of that, he couldn't even muster a yell to bleed out some of his frustration.

To the delight of the spirits around the stage, the demon snapped to. She reached up, grabbed Zach's soul, tore it to pieces, and tossed the small chunks out to the ghosts. It rained down like confetti, and the spirits devoured them. The same thing happened with Kendra's soul. Josh could do nothing but watch.

Once all traces of their souls were consumed, the demon coughed, spit, and choked. Was this some sort of karma? Would she drop dead so soon after killing his friends? While it would solve that problem, it wouldn't bring back Zach or Kendra.

Instead, the demon spit up a dark, translucent mass. Her soul? She gripped both sides and ripped it in two. She lobbed the halves above Zach and Kendra's husks, and plopped lifeless to the ground. The black souls swirled as if they were being sucked down a drain, and then disappeared into the bodies.

Zach and Kendra stared out at the cheering crowd, their eyes pure evil. She was now them. His two best friends were dead and gone. The ghosts rushed the stage and fed on the flesh of the oversized demon, who shrunk as they vacuumed out her remaining power.

Josh's eyes popped open, and he screamed. He struggled out of his sheets and blankets, which had tangled up on him, and sat up in bed. He let out another screech as a figure sat with him in bed. It was the glowing ghost he'd sensed earlier.

"Don't be frightened. I mean you no harm." Its voice, silky smooth, filled his mind, not his ears. He couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, which was strange since every ghost he'd seen prior looked like they did in life.

"I apologize for invading your dreams and forcing you to endure those horrors, but it was necessary. That is what is in store for your two friends if you cannot stop the demon. I do not need to show you the future of your world if you fail to stop this evil, do I?"

He shook his head and glanced towards his door. Surely his mom would burst in any second to check on his screams.

"She slept through it," the ghost said. "I made sure of that. No need to upset her."

Josh nodded. Good. But the ghost hadn't answered the most important part of this. "How do we stop it?"

It gave him a knowing smile but didn't answer. Instead it faded away, with a parting, "Good luck. We're counting on you."

He slumped onto his back, his breathing heavy. He almost reached for the phone to call Whisper, but didn't. It could wait until morning. He glanced at the clock and saw it was just after two. Though he guessed she was up now, too, no need to chance it in case she hadn't had the dream. Or maybe the ghost was off to give it to her now, and he didn't want to wake her during it. He'd email Mr. Baxter first, anyway, in case she wouldn't talk to him. At least Mr. Baxter could get through to her with facts.

Josh closed his eyes, figuring sleep wouldn't visit him again that night, but he was out almost immediately. Thankfully no more dreams came.

Josh finished his email to Mr. Baxter. He'd waited until early afternoon to write it because he wanted to see if Whisper would call. She didn't, so he sent it off.

He informed Mr. Baxter about the debacle at the miniature golf course, the man dying, both sets of dreams, how he couldn't move or speak, and about the ghost that caused them. Being a Sunday afternoon, he wasn't sure how soon he'd get a reply, so he opened his history book to get a jump on reading for the week. Less than ten minutes later, Mr. Baxter's reply came.

"I'm sorry you two had to see the man die last night. I've seen it myself, and it isn't fun to witness. It'll look like a heart attack to everyone who studies it--no one will learn about the ghosts from this. Don't blame yourself. There was nothing more you could have done. I've already told Ms. Douglas this. When you talk to her next, make sure you both realize that. It's true.

"As for the dream, I believe the first part, the miniature golf course that transformed into a forest, was an actual dream. That was your subconscious working through your experience. Don't read anything into it. The next part, the bit at the farm, was the ghost-created vision. Or dream, if you're more comfortable calling it that. You're not the only one who had it, though I'm sure that doesn't surprise you. Ms. Douglas also emailed me with her description, and it matches yours exactly. And mine. Yes, I had the same dream, though I was quite a ways behind you. They brought me along to watch, though I wasn't graced with the presence. Or, if I was, I slept through it.

"I found it strange at first that neither of you could decide if the ghost was a man or a woman, either in voice or appearance. Then it came to me. I thought it inexplicable, but it makes sense. I believe it wasn't a ghost at all, but an angel. I don't know what religious views you hold, Mr. Hart, but it doesn't really matter. You seem to have little trouble understanding we're facing a demon, so I'm guessing this revelation won't come as a shock, either.

"You two are important individuals, an important team. This is true not only for humanity, but with the celestial beings, as well. Maybe more so. They need to care where souls go after they die in this realm. As Ghost Betweens, you and Ms. Douglas hold not just a key, but an entire doorway. From what I understand, they can't get involved directly, which is why it wouldn't give you the solution. But just showing what will happen is help enough. I'll find the answer, or one of you two will come up with it. Have no fear. We'll talk about it tomorrow after school.

"As I said earlier, the man's death was neither of your faults. Talk to Ms. Douglas. Make sure she understands that. Make sure you understand it yourself. And thank you for the detailed accounts of everything that went on yesterday. It helps in my research greatly. I'll see you tomorrow."

That was it. Though Mr. Baxter still didn't have the solution for ridding the world of the demon, he at least put on a show of saying he would soon. At this point, that was good enough for Josh.

He sighed. No use putting this off any longer. He needed to call Whisper. He wanted to go over to her house, gather her up in his arms, and apologize, but he was afraid she wouldn't see him, let alone let him hug her. He hoped she'd even talk to him on the phone.

The phone rang three times, and he contemplated leaving a message. He guessed she saw it was him calling and was letting it go through to voice mail. Maybe he'd not leave a message and call back later to see if she'd pick up then.

Before he had to make the choice, though, she answered. "Hello, Joshua. How are you today?"

So that was how she was going to play this--formal and polite.

"Hi, Whisper. I was just calling because of the dream. I emailed Mr. Baxter, and he said you had it, too. The one where the demon sacrifices Zach and Kendra."

"Yes, I had the dream. I'm sure we'll be able to stop it from happening, though. Mr. Baxter seems to have a lot of confidence in his books and our abilities."

"Did he tell you he thought that ghost from last night was an angel?"

"Yes. It felt like a ghost to me, but it makes sense since I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. I've had no problem telling them apart in the past."

"Yeah, I know. It's weird. It makes sense, though. I mean, we're facing a demon, so why not have angels helping us, right?"

"Yes, I suppose."

He waited a second to see if she'd expand on her thoughts, but she didn't. The dead air made him want to apologize now, if just to fill the silence.

"Hey, Whisper, about last night. I just wanted to . . ."

She cut him off. "Goodbye, Joshua. I'll see you tomorrow."

"No, wait."

"Goodbye, Joshua." This time she hung up.

He set his phone on his dresser, and then sat on his bed and cried. Boy, if the guys at school could see him now, he'd be the laughing stock. Last night was allowed. But today? He couldn't help it, and he couldn't stop. It was a mixture of everything, from Zach and Kendra taken from him, possibly forever, to that guy dying last night, to not knowing how this would all end. But most of all it was the hurt he caused Whisper, his one true love. They were Ghost Betweens. Mr. Baxter had said that meant a special bond, and he ruined it. For that he couldn't forgive himself. He lost track of how long he sat there and sobbed.

*****

Although their in-house suspension was over, neither Zach nor Kendra showed up for school. Josh had a pretty good idea that they were at the farm with the demon. After last week he'd grown accustomed to not having Zach with him most of the day, and he only usually saw Kendra at lunch anyway, so he wasn't missing them that much. Not that he wanted to see either of them in their current state anyway. No, today he missed Whisper.

Teachers noticed him not paying attention, but since he normally did a good job in the classroom, he had a feeling they let it slide. It probably wouldn't last tomorrow, but he was glad for the break today. He'd see Whisper after school, and they'd get things figured out one way or the other. He knew which way he wanted it to go, but he didn't know about her.