TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
84th installment
warning...adult content
~
Kinsey wished he could do something to help, but of course that was impossible. Then, he did hear a voice asking Ghost if they could help, but Ghost just wailed that he needed Steve. Another voice was heard, possibly an airport employee, or security, trying to ask Ghost what the problem was. There seemed to be a crowd of onlookers surrounding him now.
He could hear Ghost saying things like, leave me alone...go away...my head hurts so bad it might explode...I want Steve to come back. He heard Ghost saying no, no, no...I have to wait here, I can't leave, as another person urged him to come with them. When Kinsey couldn't hear any more commotion, though, he figured Ghost had been taken somewhere, but he could still hear people talking among themselves, saying ... dirty hippie...he said he was going to explode something...is he retarded...shouldn't be left alone...is he ok?
No one noticed the phone lying on the floor. Kinsey finally hung up his end. There was nothing he could do. He didn't even know where they were. Ghost was taken to a holding room, where he was to be questioned, and because he was mostly incoherent by now, a medic was called.
Meanwhile, the gate personnel had gathered Ghost's belongings, and noticed the phone. The line on this end was still open, but no one was on the other end, by then. Trying something, the lady hit redial, hoping whomever they were, would answer.
And, Kinsey did answer. She explained who she was and asked if he knew the person that they'd taken away. Kinsey told her who Ghost was, and that he had some problems, but was no threat to anyone, and that he was traveling with Steve, who was somewhere in the airport. They needed to find him, because that's one reason Ghost was so upset. The lady said she'd make an announcement, and thanked Kinsey for the information.
~
As for Steve, he was lost. He'd found a place to get food, but the line was long, and it was taking forever, so he went to another place...same thing. After trying two more food outlets, he finally was able to order something to eat. As he left, he realized he was all turned around. He didn't know which direction to go, now, so he started down one hallway, but nothing seemed familiar. He backtracked and tried another way. He didn't remember how far he'd walked, or even the gate number they'd been at before. He was starting to get worried; he knew how Ghost could be, being left alone so long.
He kept going off in different directions, and every time would think he'd gone too far, and double back. Finally, he asked a clerk, who pointed out the general direction of the boarding gates. He knew he needed to hurry, he had a strange feeling he could hear Ghost crying out for him. Then, there they were...he figured he'd see Ghost when he got to the right place. He went from one end to the other..."Where the hell is he?" He just stood still then, and tried to breathe, looking confused.
A gate clerk noticed, and had heard the bulletin about them looking for a guy that fit the way Steve looked, so went over to talk to him. "Are you Steve?" she asked.
Steve spun around. "Yeah, where's Ghost? Am I in the right place?"
"Oh, thank goodness I found you. I have to let them know." She used her two-way radio to call in. "Come with me...we have your friend in a private room."
Steve followed, thinking why were they holding Ghost...it must be worse than I thought.
In the room, after they heard Steve had been found, they told Ghost that Steve was on his way. The shots the medic had given him were taking effect, and he was almost nodding off, but still tearful. "Steve's coming?" he asked. His vision had cleared a little, so he tried focusing on the person's face, now that he wasn't blind.
Just then, the door burst open as Steve rushed in. He was so relieved to see Ghost. Going to him, he knelt down, grabbed Ghost in a big hug, and kissed him. "I'm here, Ghost. I'm here. I'm sorry I took so long...I got lost, but it's ok now. Are you ok? What happened?"
There were a few raised eyebrows from the group of people in the room, but they were happy these two had been reunited.
"Hey, Steve," Ghost said, "I was scared you weren't comin' back 'n now I'm ok...I got shot, and I feel better now. I called Kinsey, and he said you were coming back...and I'm still hungry, and sleepy, too." He laid his head on Steve's shoulder, and drifted off. Steve eased him down again, onto the cot, and smoothed Ghost's hair from his sweaty forehead.
He looked around the room at the people staring, and he started saying thank you to them, for taking care of Ghost, but he couldn't finish. He started sobbing, himself, at the relief he felt, and to ease some of the tension he'd had. The people were surprised at this turn of events. They'd all seen plenty of drama before, at the airport, but this really touched them like none before.
The medic came over to see if Steve needed anything for himself, but Steve shook his head. "Just thank you for helping Ghost...and is he going to be ok?"
"Yes, he'll be fine, probably sleep awhile. Y'all can stay in this room. I'm pretty sure you missed your plane, though. We'll help you take care of that, later, and find your baggage."
"Ok, I'll just stay with Ghost until he wakes up, then," Steve said, as he pulled up a chair beside Ghost, and squeezed his hand.
The airport workers had left, and the medic started asking questions, for the forms he had to fill out. Steve told him the main information, about Ghost and himself. Then the medic asked more personal questions. He was curious about why Ghost was the way he was.
Steve explained some about Ghost having his skull cracked open at least twice, and it had definitely caused a lot of his problems. How his brain injuries had maybe made it so his mental age didn't quite match up with his real age, and that he was vulnerable and naive in lots of ways...but that he was genius in other ways. He didn't mention Ghost's psychic abilities. He did tell about their singing, and songwriting. They talked a bit more, and the medic said Ghost would probably be awake in a couple of hours. Other people came in to check on them.
Steve dozed off and on, and then remembered Ghost had called Kinsey. He called him back, just to let him know what had been going on. He knew Kinsey would be busy at the club, and wouldn't have time to talk very long.
"Hey, Kinsey...just wanted to let ya know we're both ok, now," he explained everything.
"Steve, why don't y'all just come on back home, now?" Kinsey asked.
"I'll have to talk to Ghost first, Kinsey. I think I'm about ready to, but I'll see what he says. We'll let ya know, soon."
~
And so, Steve waited for Ghost to wake up. When he did, he was groggy, and asked Steve, "Where are we? Are we in the desert yet?
"Not yet, Ghost. Do you remember what all happened to you?"
Ghost thought a minute, "Uh...you were lost, and I was lost without you, and...there was too much noise. Then I went to the desert...and did you come, too? Now I don't know where we are." He looked confused.
"I think you just dreamed part of that...the desert part, anyway. We're still at the airport. We never got to go on the plane, and...maybe we should just wait until another time? I'm kinda wanting to go home for awhile, ok? What do you think?"
Ghost frowned, then said, "Well, I promised you I'd go on a plane, but...guess it don't have to be today. I kinda already seen the desert, so if ya want to, we can go home. Maybe next time we'll do the plane thing, ok, Steve? I'm kinda tired." Ghost closed his eyes, as he squeezed Steve's hand.
"Ok, Ghost, that's what we'll do then, as soon as you get cleared to leave, we'll head back to Missing Mile."
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
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