The Spirit Who Loved Me: Spirit Whispers Book One (20 page)

Chapter 25

I heard a
loud bang against the locker next to mine, and I jumped what felt like a mile high. Fisting my hands next to my sides, I turned around ready to give David, the mousey brown haired boy whose locker was situated next to mine, a not too pretty piece of my mind. I stopped short when instead I laid eyes on flaming auburn hair, and blue eyes brimming with an anger so fierce I felt like they were burning a hole straight through me. I took a step backwards, pressing up against the cool metal lockers.

“What the hell, Krystal? You’ve been avoiding me! And I’ve been trying to call you—I know you know, because I’ve left messages with your mama.”

“Well…I…I,” stuttered. I felt so bad, the guilt sitting heavy in my stomach. I watched as she took me in, lingering on my unkempt hair, baggy jeans and tee. Despite my resolve Monday morning, I had found myself actually lacking the gumption I needed to get the conversation with Tammy and Malcom out of the way.

“And where have you been for the past two days? I haven’t seen hide nor hair of ya and neither has Malcom.”

“I’m sorry, Tammy. You have to believe me. But really, I am sorry.” I shrugged. “You know how I can drag my feet when I don’t want to do something.”

“Well, yeah, but what does that have to do with me or Malcom?”

“Actually,” I gulped. “It has a lot to do with you. More than I’d like, truth be told.”

“Well, spill it.”

“I think it might be better if we all sit down together and have a talk.” I felt my insides twisting at the thought.

“Krystal, I’m sure things aren’t nearly as dire as you’re making them out to be.” She leaned over and gave my arm a quick squeeze. “How about lunch time?”

“That’d be okay. We just need to make sure it’s private.” We started off down the hallway towards our respective homerooms.

“So where have you been hanging out at lunch these days?” She asked.

“The library.”

“We looked for you in there. We didn’t even see you.”

“I was hiding,” I mumbled under my breath. “Um, in the back.”

Tammy shook her head, her curls springing about her face. “This must be good.” She paused in front of my homeroom door. “Later.”

I gave a pathetic wave in return, and I watched her as she walked off. Whispering softly, I said, “No, Tammy. I’d go with really, really bad.”

“Well, so much
for private.” I looked around at the packed Courtyard, where apparently, many of our fellow students were also taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather. “Maybe we should hit the Commons.”

“It’s so gorgeous, though,” Tammy whined. The stern look I gave her hushed her quick enough.

“Let’s go back in and wait for Malcom.”

We stood guard outside of the double doors at the Entrance/Exit of the cafeteria. I stared at the silver metal handle bars, and realized I’d never look at those doors the same way again.

The surprise and confusion on Malcom’s face when we all but jumped on him had Tammy laughing in hysterics and me almost swimming in sloppy joe. I couldn’t help but laugh too, but the heaviness of my task didn’t allow me the freedom to let go quite like Tammy. I helped Malcom right his lunch tray, which for reasons such as this, was supposed to stay within the confines of the cafeteria. I figured if the worst thing we ever did was eat our lunch out of the Cafe, then we were doing good as or better than most our fellow peers.

“Kris, where ya been, girl?” Malcom asked.

“Just lying low, taking some time to think some stuff through.” Dragging my feet, I added in my head, the most relevant answer, but still, kept it to myself. “It’s nutso outside, so how about we find us a quiet little corner?”

I steered us over to the farthest corner in the Commons. There was a window where Malcom could rest his lunch tray and our food, plus we could also stand guard, blocking the view from any nosy teachers happening by. We had plenty of privacy since so many kids were outside. The only other kids in the Commons were the diehard foosball players, and even their numbers were lower on this nice Indian summer day.

“So about tomorrow…” I stopped when I saw the crushed look on Tammy’s face. “I’m not cancelling or anything, but you should really rethink going. Seriously.” I gave my friends a moment to absorb the news.

“Why?” Tammy dragged out the syllables.

“I really don’t know how to say this.” I looked over to Malcom. “You might find this hard to believe, even after what happened at your house. But. But, since my grandmother passed away, I’ve started seeing and hearing things most others can’t.” I looked Tammy and Malcom both in the eye. I knew Tammy was aware already, but I couldn’t judge Malcom’s reaction, his face perfectly expressionless. “Malcom, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I just didn’t know how. And I’m not going to pretend I do now. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

“You knew about this already?” Malcom asked Tammy.

“A little bit. I had suspicions back when we went to your place the first time. Do you remember on the recording? Krystal asking us if we could hear it?”

“No, can’t really say that I do.”

“Well, I was pressing Krystal about it, and when she slept over for her birthday I saw her up having a bona fide conversation with empty air in the middle of the night.” Tammy chuckled. “I guess she kinda had to tell me something, then.”

“I tried to get outta this,” I said. “I told them…I told them I didn’t want any part of this,” I shook my head, my voice wavering.

“You did?” Surprise filled Tammy’s face, her voice incredulous.

“I did. I told them I wanted to live a normal life and do normal things.” My body trembled. “But they won’t let me go,” my voice finally breaking, a tear sneaking past my resolve to hold them back even as they built.

“Who’s they?” Malcom asked.

“My grandmother. And some big to do angel I don’t know.” I looked into Tammy’s face as she grabbed onto my shoulders. “Abel and this, I don’t know what you’d call him….like a spiritual teacher? They tried to talk that angel into letting me be free, but it didn’t work.” The gravity of my fate seemed to punch me right in my stomach.

“I don’t understand. If you don’t want to do this” Tammy wiggled her fingers in midair, unable to find quite the right word. “Then there shouldn’t be anything else to it. Right, Malcom?”

“Absolutely.”

I shook my head. “No, you guys don’t understand. There’s like this whole contract thing I can’t get out of. And if I don’t do it…Abel said,” my voice cracked further as the tears finally brimmed over. “Abel said I’ll basically be,” I cleared my throat, “taken out. Know what I mean?”

Malcom and Tammy shared a look of utter confusion. My frustration at their lack of understanding stopped my tears at least, and I steeled myself with sheer will.

“If I don’t do what’s in my contract, I’m gonna die, you guys.” My friends stared at me like deer in headlights.

“Baaaahhaaaaa,” roared Tammy suddenly. “Oh. My. God. Kris, you really had me going there for a minute.”

I looked over my shoulder. The foosball players were all looking our way, trying to see what the fuss was all about before returning to their game.

“For goodness sake, Tammy, would you hush?” I hissed. “And G. D. it, I’m not joking.”

“Seriously?” Tammy’s asked as she stopped laughing.

I threw my hands out in front me, narrowly missing Malcom’s face. I winced, and he did too. “Who jokes about something like that?” They didn’t answer me, and I figured I’d better get down to the real business before we ran out of time.

“So tomorrow is Halloween. And I don’t know what’s going on exactly, but Abel, my Spirit Guide,” I added for Malcom’s benefit. “Said it was super important I be there at the Devil’s Tramping Ground tomorrow night. There is concern our” throwing as much sarcastic venom as I could muster into my next words, “blessed peers may cause some trouble. Which I don’t doubt in the slightest. They’ve been playing around with a,” I lowered my voice, “Satanic bible. I have to get it, and hopefully, burn the thing in the bonfire before they do something really stupid.”

“Sounds easy enough I’m in.” Tammy volunteered. She playfully elbowed Malcom, “What about you?”

Malcom stared at me for what felt like minutes but was surely only long seconds. “Krystal Abagail Haggart, I’ve know you my whole life. I would go to the ends of the Earth for my family. You are more than my friend, you’re my family. You don’t have to worry, I’ll be there.”

“Alrighty then, it’s settled.” Tammy patted Malcom on the shoulder and gave me a sympathetic glance. “I’ll pick ya’ll up tomorrow night, and we’ll all ride in together. What time?”

“Sounds like a plan. We’re supposed to be there ‘bout 8 o’clock.”

“I can’t wait,” Tammy gushed. “This is going to be so much fun.”

“Whatever you say,” I mumbled.

Chapter 26

Time always flies
when you’re having fun—and apparently time also flies when you’re facing a dreaded event with all your heart. The minutes should have passed slowly, like molasses, given the sheer number of times I looked at the clock during the day. Instead of time clicking a minute at a time with every glance, instead it was five or ten if I was lucky.

I jumped, startled as Tammy waved a hand in front of my face putting an end to my pondering. “Did you even hear me?” she asked with attitude.

“No, I’m sorry, just thinking.” I looked out the car window, amazed when I realized we were already sitting parked in Malcom’s driveway. I noticed a pair of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles running across the street off to the next house in line to Trick or Treat, their parents trailing behind; flashlight beams cutting through the darkness as they walked.

Tammy gave me a sideways glance. “Hey, are you okay?”

I closed my eyes as I sucked in a deep breath, blowing it back out my nose. “Yep. Let’s get this done.”

Every step felt heavy somehow, and I trudged up the front steps behind Tammy. I resisted the urge to kick the rotting jack-o-lantern with its glaring grimace of a grin, mocking me: I know what you don’t know it seemed to scream at me.

Malcom swung open the door before Tammy could get a knock in. He must have been waiting for us.

“Come on in,” he said as I passed him, ever the gentleman holding the door open. “I’m waiting for my parents to come back with Candace, then we can go.”

“You got candy duty again, huh?”

“Yeah. You remember few years back don’t ya?” he asked.

I nodded in reply. That was the year their house and two cars got egged all to hell while his folks had taken Candace trick-or-treating, and Malcom had spent a few hours with us at Tammy’s while we watched a couple horror flicks.

“How could we forget?” Tammy laughed. “Ug, that was so nasty.”

A creaking sound came from behind me, and at first I ignored it, but the creaking came faster and more loudly. I saw Malcom wrinkle his forehead. He could hear it too, despite the endless chatter coming from our friend. Carefully, I turned around and peeked into the living room.

Back and forth, back and forth the White’s rocking chair creaked and moaned. Any faster and it would tip over. I had a guess about who our guest was.

“Cyndy?” I asked in a whisper.

The answering giggles confirmed I was right. Before my eyes, I watched her body begin to solidify. Lights flickered in the room as she pulled the energy necessary to take form. Looking as lovely as ever, she dangled her legs as she continued to rock, her golden honey curls bouncing all about.

Krystal Haggart, I would be careful if were you.

“I kinda planned on it, but thanks for the advice.” I went ahead and spoke out loud for Malcom and Tammy’s benefit seeing his folks weren’t around.

Cyndy stopped rocking
. Oh, I don’t think you know the danger you’re truly in. Abagail is keeping you in the dark, but I want you to see the light so you’ll be prepared. I’ll be around tonight if you need me, all you have to do is ask.

“Okay. I appreciate it.”

And Krystal? One more thing. Keep a close watch on your friend there, won’t you?

I looked over my shoulder at my friends. “Which one?” I turned back around, but Cyndy had vanished.

“Typical,” I muttered under my breath.

“What’s that?” Tammy asked. Color sat flushed high on her cheek bones in her excitement, and I sighed warily.

“They only tell me enough to scare the crap outta me, but never enough to actually be helpful.”

“What else did she say?” Malcom, unlike Tammy, was worried; I could see it in his face. At least he was taking the situation seriously.

“Like I said, nothing terribly helpful.” I looked up to the ceiling. “Sorry, Cyndy. Basically, we’re walking into a situation more dangerous than I’ve been led to believe.” I had known already though from the dread pulsing through me with every beat of my heart. “She said to watch out for a friend, but she didn’t say who.” I shook my head as Malcom’s family walked in through the front door.

Candace shouted when she saw us and ran up to me, jumping up into my arms in a bear hug.

“Oh, my! Who could this beautiful princess be?” I feigned surprise as I looked over her made-up face.

“Oh, Krystal! It’s me, Candace. I’m just dressed up as Ariel. Look,” she held up her hand for me to admire. “Mama painted my nails too. Don’t they look pretty?”

“Smashing, darling,” I laughed. “Well, you’re the loveliest princess I ever laid eyes on, that’s for sure.”

Candace leaned in as if to hug me tighter and whispered in my ear, “Be careful, Krystal. I love my brother. Please bring him back home for me.”

I pulled back so I could look into her face, her eyes brimming with innocence, surprised at how grown-up she sounded. A chill ran through my body, I could feel goose bumps rising on my arms and legs. I nodded, and whispered back, “I promise.”

My answer earned me a brilliant smile and a kiss on the cheek.

“Better get going,” Tammy said, tapping me on the shoulder. “I’ll be waiting in the car.”

“Okay. Ready, Malcom?”
 

He nodded and pulled on his leather jacket. He grabbed handfuls of Halloween candy, stuffing them into his pockets. “Gotta keep my energy up.” He hugged his parents and Candace. All the while my stomach was twisting in knots. I felt burdened with responsibility to bring him home to his family.

“Good bye,” I called to the Whites as Malcom pulled the door closed. “Look, Malcom, maybe you should stay home tonight.”

“Girl, I’ve got your back,” He gestured in Tammy’s direction as she started her Civic. “That one will lead you straight into danger.”

“You do have a point,” I replied, and Malcom put his arm around me, steering me to the car, sure to an outsider we looked like a couple.

I settled my butt in the backseat so I could zone out and think without Tammy asking me a million or so questions. “Hey, know where we’re going, Tammy?”

“Heck yeah, out near Harper’s Crossroads. Been to the Tramping Grounds a few times by myself to take pictures and do a little research and stuff.” That was news to me, but I figured I wouldn’t press her about it, all things considered.

We peeled out of the drive, and I couldn’t help but steal a backwards look at the White’s house, certain that for better or worse, my life was never going to be the same again.