TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 310

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 310
warning...adult content



~
Back inside the house, Ghost poured himself another cup of coffee, got his meds out, and swallowed them all with his first big gulp of the hot liquid. He massaged his left temple, and Steve could see that his eye was twitching, already. He knew Ghost was more upset than he was letting on, and didn't want to upset him further by continuing the conversation.

"Come here, babe, I'm not mad at you," he said, wrapping his arms around Ghost. "I get what you're saying. Terry's our friend, and we're not cutting him off just because he went off the deep end." He kissed the top of Ghost's head. "Ok? You going back to bed for awhile?"

Ghost sniffled and nodded. "Yeah."

Steve watched him, as he slowly went down the hall. He still didn't want to see Terry anytime soon, or anybody, for that matter. He began cleaning up the kitchen. Afterwards, he went out to sit on the couch. He tried to watch TV for a little while, but couldn't work up any enthusiasm for it. Picking up a paperback, he tried to read, but after a page or two, closed the book.

"I'm so bored," he said aloud. He wanted to talk to Ghost...he needed to talk to Ghost...and not have all these serious discussions. He just wanted everything to be normal, again. He missed the jokes and laughs they used to have, but he knew Ghost had not been happy for a long time...even before their trip to L. A.

Sure, they'd had some good times along the way, but only for that short time, then Ghost would get quiet, again. That was one reason he'd had it in his head, that to make Ghost happy, it would be best if they went their separate ways. Maybe not forever, just for awhile, to find out what made them happy, and feel alive again. But, it had backfired, and now Ghost was blaming the omen for their dissatisfaction.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, and clawed at his scalp, scratching it, and tousling his hair. The thoughts in his head didn't go away, though. He sent up a random prayer to whoever might hear it.

"Please help us get right, again. I'm so tired of never knowing if we're up or down, anymore."

Getting off the couch, Steve walked down the hallway, just to peek in at Ghost. He wouldn't wake him. Opening the door a crack, he was surprised to see that Ghost was awake, sitting in bed, writing in his journal.

"You're still awake?" Steve asked, then felt stupid. Of course he could see that Ghost was awake.

Ghost nodded. "Come on in. I'm just writing stuff."

Steve sat down on the bed. "What kinda stuff?"

"Just stuff that happened lately, and trying to find some lyrics of some sort. I haven't in awhile, and now, it's like I forgot how to write a song," Ghost said.

"Yeah, I should play my guitar more often, too," Steve said. He went to get it, then strummed a few chords, getting the feel of it again.

Ghost wrote a few words, as they came to him, and hummed a sequence of tones, off and on, that Steve would replicate on the fret board.

"How did we get here?" Steve asked. "How are we changed now?"

"I feel it in my bones, in my head, in my heart," Ghost said, writing down the words. He then looked up, meeting Steve's eyes. They smiled, knowing this would be "Lost Souls" newest song.  Steve kept picking out notes, and Ghost wrote more words, and then they were done.

This...this was normal. This was what was missing...their lost souls back in harmony, again. They had been tested...been through the fire. They had been broken apart, but now were forged together even stronger, because of it.

They were Lost no longer.

~

This fan fiction story has come to an end. I appreciate everyone who has followed along,  visited, read, and commented on it. Hope you've enjoyed it. :)


I am going to be setting up a Word Press Blog for this story only. I'll be posting it over from the very first. I will leave a notice on this blog, when it is up and running.

I would like to invite you to follow on the new blog.

Here's a few songs that I feel goes along with the story of Steve and Ghost. Enjoy!

~
Peace, Love, & Writing

 

 

 

 

 

"TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE" ... # 309

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 309
warning...adult content




~
After Ghost had slammed out the back door, Melody went to look out. "He's going out to the old cemetery."

"He'll be back," Steve said. He reached for more bacon, and continued eating breakfast. "This sure is good. Y'all better dig in." And, so they did, but no one felt like making small talk, now. The only sounds were the clinking of their forks. Steve finished first, chugging his glass of milk last.

"Very nice breakfast. Are y'all leaving now?" He looked back and forth between Linda and Melody. "You can see we're not dead or anything."

Linda shrugged. "I should be getting back to the kids," Linda said. "You want to come, or stay here?" she asked Melody.

"I'm going with you."

"Well, we're gonna just chill out here for a couple of days, lay low ya know. We'll let Terry cool off, or whatever. I don't really want to run into him anytime soon," Steve said.

"Yeah, me either," said Linda, "but, I'm sure we will, and I may just let him have it. In fact, I know I will. He can't go pulling his gun out, threatening y'all, or anyone else like that. I don't care who he is." She went to get her purse and car keys. "Ready?" she asked Melody.

Melody nodded. "Yep, and Steve, tell Ghost I love him, and well...go out there and see about him. I don't like leaving like this, when he is so upset, but y'all need some alone time."

"I will," Steve said. He walked with them out to the car. "Don't worry about us. We'll be ok, and we'll see y'all in a few days." He watched them drive away, then got his jacket. He poured some hot coffee, with cream and sugar, into a thermos, then went out to find Ghost.

Crunching through the dried pine needles on his way to the cemetery, Steve made his way to his and Ghost's usual sitting spot. Sighing, he slowed, as he saw Ghost leaning against the old gravestone. It pained him to see the bruises on Ghost's face, knowing why he'd gotten them.

Ghost didn't look up, as Steve approached, but Steve knew Ghost heard him. He sat beside Ghost, poured a cupful of coffee into the thermos lid, and handed it to Ghost.

"Here...brought ya some coffee," he said. Ghost took it, taking a large swallow. Steve leaned back, waiting for Ghost to say something first, but he took a few more gulps of his coffee.

"Why do you do that?" Ghost asked.

Steve glanced over at him. "Huh? Do what?"

"You know, tell me how I should feel, how I should act. I'm capable of knowing that on my own. Maybe it don't match up with yours, but I do have feelings, Steve...good one, bad ones, or sad or mad ones...all the time, on my own. You keep telling me which one I should be feeling."

"I know you do," Steve said. "I don't get it, though, how you could be ready to kill Terry one day, and the next you're making excuses for what he did, like it was no big deal."

Ghost shrugged. "'Cause it's over. It's already done, and that won't change. We can hold onto what it was and be mad forever, or we can try to understand why it happened, and then move on...it's done." He paused for a minute.

"Nothing good comes from thinking about it over and over...and, Steve, Terry is our friend. Something was making him crazy, and we'd be wrong to end it, when nothing actually happened."

Steve frowned. "What the hell, Ghost? Nothing happened? Were you off in la-la land when all this nothing happened? Look at yourself Look at me...even Terry...nothing happened? You gotta be shittin' me." He shook his head.

"What I meant was...we're not dead," Ghost said.

"You're right, we're not dead, so let's all just go get an ice cream sundae to celebrate," Steve said. "Every single one of us...a toast to not being dead...just beat up and being confused, and hating on everyone, and maybe even possessed by the boogyman. Hell yeah, let's go round 'em up. I'm paying." Steve took a breath.

Ghost stared hard at Steve.

"What? What are you doing?" Steve asked. "Stop staring at me."

"Shh...be quiet...I'm trying to hear what you're thinking, why you're being mad at me," Ghost said.

"Fuck off...leave my thoughts alone. If you want to know something, just ask," Steve said, as he backed away a bit from Ghost.

Ghost shrugged. "Ok..." He broke off his gaze.
"Well?" asked Steve. "You gonna ask me something? Huh? Oh, you wanna know why I'm mad at you? It's 'cause you are acting like it was all a big, fat nothing last night. So what if it was this omen thing, whatever that means. It don't change the fact that Terry was off his rocker. I know he wasn't really wanting to kill us. Something went wrong and he snapped. But, damn, he could have done it...for real...then woke up to reality again. But, then it would have been too late...for us." He sighed. "Don't you see that?"

"Yeah, sure, of course I do, but it didn't happen." Ghost said. He stood up, brushing off the pine needles. "I'm done talking about it, now. I'm getting a headache. I'm going in. You can be mad at me some more, just keep it to yourself, ok?" He picked up his backpack, heading for the house.

Steve muttered, "Yeah, well quit reading my mind, then." He followed Ghost into the house.

~
Next part coming soon!


Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 308

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 308
warning...adult content






~
As Steve and Ghost refreshed themselves under the warm spray from the showerhead, they could feel the tension and pain from the night before leaving them. Gently lathering up with shampoo and soap, they cleansed their wounds. Their hands gliding through the slick bubbles on their bodies, they were overcome with the need to bring some happiness and pleasure to each other. Loud in their abandonment of lovemaking, they cried out in pleasure and pain.
~
In the kitchen, Melody smiled, hearing them. She was happy they were together again, and was dying to know what happened. Terry had scared them so bad with his words this morning. Surely, it wasn't as bad as he'd said. She finished the large breakfast she'd been making, then went to join Linda out on the front porch.

"Well, it's ready to eat," she said, as she sat down on the swing beside Linda. Sipping her fresh cup of coffee, she gazed out over the clearing in the yard.

"Any sign they're up, yet?" Linda asked.

"Um-hmm, they're up and in the shower, and are having loud...fun...in there." Melody laughed.

Linda grinned. "You don't say?" She laughed, too. "That business Terry was talking about, well, that scared the shit outta me. I was afraid to even come out here, ya know?"

Melody nodded. "Me, too, but I still want to know what really happened."

They sat there a few more minutes, listening for any more sounds coming from inside. "I hear them. Let's go in...it's time to eat," Linda said.

Back in the kitchen, they found Steve looking a little confused.

"Hey, you're up," Linda said.

Steve whirled around, looking startled. "What the hell? Y'all are here? God, you scared me. I was just trying to figure out how this food got cooked."

"Oh, Steve, you hurt yourself," Linda said, seeing his bruised face. "What happened?"

"It's nothing, Sis. I just fell down is all, but you're gonna freak when you see Ghost's face," he said. They could hear Ghost coming down the hallway.

As Ghost walked into the kitchen, the girls gasped, not at the cuts on his face, but because he was completely naked.

"Oh, shit," he said, frozen for a second, before running back down the hall.

Melody and Linda looked at each other, then burst out laughing. "Oh, my God...Did you see that?"

"It's ok, Ghost, come back," Linda said.

Steve hollered, "Put some clothes on, Dude." But, he was grinning, too." He looked at the breakfast food that was ready. "Well who's hungry?" he asked, and began filling his plate with eggs, bacon, and biscuits.

Linda and Melody busied themselves with filling glasses with milk, and trying to keep from giggling.

Ghost re-appeared, and tried making a joke about it, but the girls could tell he was still a bit embarrassed. "Here, sit down and eat," Melody said, handing him a full plate. She whispered in his ear, "Don't worry about it; we're all family here."

He shrugged. "I know, but I sure didn't know y'all were here."

"I didn't either," Steve said, coming to the table with his plate. "They scared me, too. Anyway, why are y'all here? I mean, you can be here any time ya want, but...why are you here?"

Linda and Melody took chairs at the table. "We came to see if y'all were ok," Linda said. "Terry told us what happened, and we were afraid he'd killed y'all."

"That fucking asshole, he pulled a gun on us, for real...and shot the damn thing," Steve said. "Lucky for us he's terrible at shooting a gun. I don't know what he was going on about, but I'm done with him. You don't go threatening your so called friends with death, and then go back to normal after that...uh-uh, no way."

"We can't not see him, though," Ghost said. "He lives in town."

"Well, we sure as hell don't have to have anything else to do with him," Steve said.

"What if that was part of the omen, too...then, what?" Ghost asked. "If he was being made to do that, we can't just leave him alone to deal with it."

Steve frowned. "Ghost, I know that, but damn, can't you be angry at what he did...at least for a day or two...teach him a lesson...don't mess with us. I mean, we could be dead now, for real dead, omen or no omen."

"I can be mad," Ghost said. I have this to show for how fucking mad I was at him last night." He pointed to his face. "And, I hated him...I hated him, and I tried to kill him...to kill him when he was driving over here to kill you." He was breathing hard, now. "I tried to wreck the car. I...I would have died before I'd let him kill you. Steve. So, don't tell me I don't get mad." He glared at them all. Pushing back his plate, he got up from the table. "I can't eat, not now. My mouth hurts." He left the kitchen, heading down the hallway.

They were all shocked at Ghost's outburst. "I'll go see about him..." Melody began.

"No, wait," Steve said. "I started it, and I'm glad he did get mad. We all should be. Just let him be for awhile."

Ghost came back through the kitchen, then, with his backpack and jacket. He grabbed a biscuit off the table, then stomped out the back door, letting the screen slam behind him. He'd not said another word to them.

~

Next part coming soon!



Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 307

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 307
warning...adult content




~
Steve breathed a sigh of relief that Ghost was back home, and alive. He snuggled closer to Ghost, hugging him from behind.

"Ghost, are you awake?" he asked, and pushed Ghost's hair back a bit, and kissed his neck. "Ghost?" he whispered, again. Ghost stirred, making moaning sounds.

"Can you hear me?" Steve asked.

"Mmm, Steve? I don't feel good," Ghost mumbled.

"I know, I don't either," Steve said. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry for last night, Ghost. I didn't mean it. I don't know why I said those things; I...it wasn't normal...like something just took over me. I can't explain it. It wasn't what I wanted to say at all." He paused a moment. "Do you hear me? Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

Ghost nodded. "I know..it was the omen that did it. It was making you say those things...see those things." He turned over toward Steve.

"Oh, my God, you're hurt," Steve said, seeing how Ghost's face was this morning, after Terry had hit him. "He reached up to cradle his face in his hands. "Oh no...did I do this to you...please, please don't let me have done this."

"No," Ghost whispered. "I...I couldn't help you, Steve, back there at the beach. I knew something was happening. You were saying things you didn't want to say, and seeing things. I felt it too, but there wasn't anything I could do to stop it." He choked back a sob. "It hurt so bad to hear you say those things, Steve, and then you wouldn't even look at me."

Steve hugged him. "Oh, babe, I'm so sorry." He gently rocked them back and forth. After a few minutes, he asked. "Why did it happen, and who made it happen? I don't ever want that again...ever."

"I don't know why, or who," Ghost said. "but, I think maybe it was some kind of test...to show us what it would be like if it was real...if we were apart someday."

"But, who? And, how did they control us like that? Was it some bad, evil thing that wanted to torture us...like one of those demons?"

"Steve, I don't know, and now I'm scared. What if it is one? What if there's more...and...and...how can we know if it's really us doing it, or this...this entity making us say mean things?" Ghost's voice rose higher, the more upset he became.

Steve could tell he was on the verge of a panic attack, and he had to try to calm him, or he feared a seizure would happen. "Ghost, listen to me. Let's not think of all the 'what ifs', ok? That is making it worse, before anything even does happen. C'mon, let's forget about it for now. We need to get up and get some coffee, and eat. We'll feel better, ok?"

He'd been rubbing Ghost's back the last few minutes. Ghost nodded, and his breathing was returning to normal. "Ok, first we have to get in the shower," Steve said. "You have to wash your face. Have you seen it?" Ghost shook his head.

"Who did this to you, and why?"

Ghost shrugged. "It was Terry."

"Terry? Oh, now I remember. He brought you back here and, was there a fight?"

"Steve, he was gonna kill us. He was gonna kill you, and I was trying to stop him. Then he hit me, 'cause I was crazy, Steve. I couldn't, wouldn't let him kill you. And he was gonna kill me too, cause I wouldn't let him. He had his gun...don't you remember? He shot at me, but missed." Ghost took a deep breath.

"Oh, yeah, how could I have forgotten all that?" Steve said.

"And, you fell off the porch, too. That's why your face is hurt. You were trying to save me." He sighed. "Well, we saved each other, I guess."

"Yeah, we did, Ghost, and I'm glad we did."

They eased out of bed then, and hobbled across the hall to the bathroom, to take their shower.

~


Next part coming soon!



Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 306

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 306
warning...adult content 




~
As Linda and Melody looked into Ghost's bedroom, they could tell they were both asleep in the bed. Nothing looked wrong, and both of them were breathing, at least. Melody caught sight of Ghost's face, though, and sucked in her breath. There was blood around his swollen mouth, and the dark shadows around his eyes were turning purple and black. She could see scrapes on Steve's face, too, all down his cheek and chin.

"Oh, my God, should we wake them up?" Melody asked.

"No," Linda said. "We'll just wait here until they wake up on their own. C'mon..." she motioned for Melody to follow her into the kitchen. "I'm calling Kinsey. He needs to know how things are here. See if you can fix us something cold to drink. I'll be outside." She made the phone call, as Melody was looking in the refrigerator for ice.

""Kinsey, it's Linda. They're ok...still asleep."

"Thank God," Kinsey said.

"Yes, but they look just as bad as Terry did...all beat up."

"Damn, what a mess," Kinsey said. "I'll tell you what, Linda, I just don't know what to say or do any more. I'm about ready to wash my hand of the whole thing...the club, this town, and everybody in it. I want to retire and enjoy a few years, ya know." He cleared his throat. "I've seriously considered handing over this place to Steve and Ghost, but when they keep getting into crap like this, well, I don't think they can, or would be able to take on the responsibility. I mean, look at them, Linda. They can barely take care of their own selves." He sighed.

"I had no idea, Kinsey," Linda said. "I do see what you mean. I hate to say it, but you're right to be worrying about it."

"Aw, well...I'll see how it goes for awhile longer. I'm not quite done with this place, yet," Kinsey said. "Y'all gonna stay over there for awhile?"

"Yes, I thought we would, at least until they are up and moving around. Do you mind keeping the kids awhile longer? Are they at least getting along with each other?"

"Oh, they're fine. I just looked in on them," Kinsey said. "If they get bored, I'll put 'em to work." He laughed.

"Sure, Kinsey, and thanks again," Linda said. Going back inside, she joined Melody in the kitchen.

"Hey, where's my cold drink?" she asked.

"Oh, right here. I thought you'd be right back in, sorry...I should have brought it to you," Melody said.

Linda took a long drink of the iced tea. "Ahh, no problem. What are you doing?"

"I'm making coffee and some breakfast for them. I think they'll be getting up soon, and will be hungry," Melody said. "I think I heard them rustling around in there."

"Good idea. Make enough for us, too, ok?"

Melody continued cracking eggs, and buttering toast. Linda didn't know quite what to do with herself. She didn't want to wake them up, and Melody had everything under control in the kitchen. Pacing around, for a few minutes, she looked at the books in the book case, the shabby furniture, and the old wood floor, with years of use showing a path between rooms.

Parts of the house had been rebuilt, after the hurricane, and it showed. She looked out the living room window, pushing aside the yellowed lace curtain. These haven't been changed since Miz Deliverance was alive... Shaking her head, she sighed. She knew her brother had had it pretty hard all these years, living here in Missing Mile with their father. Then, here in this house with Ghost...well...he'd done the best he could, she thought. Still, she wished things could have been different.

She went out the front door to sit in the porch swing. It was so beautiful this time of year, the beginning of summer. She breathed in the afternoon's sun warmed air. There was a hint of wood smoke coming from somewhere. The solitude out here was intoxicating. Having lived many years in the big city of L. A., she relished this quietness. The old porch swing squeaked, as she swang slowly back and forth. The rattle of dishes, and the smell of bacon frying, were the perfect background for peaceful living. She closed her eyes and dozed off.

~
Steve had been tossing and turning in the bed for a few minutes. He tried not to wake up, because he could feel a headache coming on, but the throbbing behind his eyes was getting worse. As he surfaced a bit closer to being fully awake, his thoughts kept intruding... why is my head hurting...why is my face so sore...what happened here last night? As bits and pieces of the nightmare that was the night before came back to him, he opened his eyes, trying to re-orient himself. He saw the glow-in-the-dark stars up on the ceiling. Ghost's bedroom...Ghost! "Ghost," he said aloud, and his heart lurched in his chest. He began to remember...the beach, the break-up, the frantic call to Terry, and the gun.

His heart skipped a beat. Reaching over to Ghost, he pulled off some of the piled up blankets. There...there he is, and he's breathing, thank God...

~
Next part coming soon!



Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 305

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 305
warning...adult content




~
When Kinsey asked Terry to tell him exactly what had happened the night before, Terry took a few moments to gather his thoughts. Frowning, he looked down at the tabletop. He'd been going over everything in his head all night long, but now, to say it all aloud to Kinsey, he wanted to get it right.

"Let's see...I got a call from Steve. I was sound asleep, and it took me a bit to figure out what he was going on about. I mean, he was raving about Ghost, and then he must have fell down, or something, and he started crying and begging..." Terry shook his head. "He was a mess. I finally got a few words in, and I asked him what was wrong, and why wasn't Ghost at home with him. He told me they had a fight. Well, that put me on alert, Kinsey." He looked Kinsey in the eye.

"I came right out and asked him, did he hurt Ghost, and he admitted it to me. He said he broke up with him, was all. Then I said ok, I'd come over here to get Ghost. Well, when I got here, I found out Ghost's wrist was broken, or sprained, or something. Anyway, he hollered when I woke him up, so I knew something wasn't right. Did you even know about that, Kinsey?" Terry asked.

Kinsey shook his head. "Terry, I didn't even know Ghost stayed the night, and I didn't hear a thing. I just found out when Linda told me this morning."

"Well, you must have missed the thunderstorm, too."

"Yeah, the power was off, I think," Kinsey said.

"It was when I was here," Terry said. "Anyway, I told Ghost that Steve had hurt him for the last time, because I was going to kill him. That's when Ghost went off on me. I sure as hell wasn't going to bring Ghost out there to Steve, now, for God's sake, to be with him again, no way. So, I left here, got my car, and started out, but Ghost followed me, and I almost ran over him out in my driveway...knocked him down with the car, but he got back up, and wouldn't move from in front of the car, so I hauled him in, and all hell broke loose." He stopped, looking at Kinsey. "And that is the honest truth, right there, that and what I already told y'all happened." He rubbed his face. "I'm done, Kinsey, for real. I've had enough of those two, and all the damn drama."

Kinsey leaned back in his chair. "The girls...what are they gonna find, when they get out there? You sure they both were alive when you left? Maybe you just forgot you killed them?" He stared Terry down.

"Yeah, I'm sure...at least when I left they were. Both of them laying in a heap at the bottom of the porch steps."

"Ok, but damn it, Terry...you lost your mind taking a gun out there."

"Yeah, I know, but I swear I was gonna kill them both, I was so fucking mad." He shook his head. "I've been up all night going over it, and over it. I gotta crash, Kinsey." He stood up to leave.

"You know," Kinsey said, "if you'd have hurt either one of them, I'd have no problem taking you out, believe me on that. I'm dead serious, Terry."

"I know," Terry said, then headed out the back door and to his house.
~
Kinsey went up to check on the kids. All was fine, and they were watching cartoons on the TV. He brought Stevie and Mandy each a juice box, and banana muffins, then left them to it.
Down in his office, he tried to concentrate on work, but couldn't focus on anything. He hoped Linda would call soon, and let him know something.
~
On the way out to Burnt Church Road, Linda and Melody were frantic. "Why is this happening?" Melody wailed. "Please let them be ok. Linda, are they ok? Is what Terry said true?"

"We're about to find out," Linda said. "Let's hope for the best...and the truth. Melody, I hate to say this, but steel yourself. I mean, I think they are fine...I did talk to Steve, but just in case...oh, God, just in case...ok?"

They were driving down the long dirt road going up to the house, now. Then, pulling up in the gravel drive, Linda shut off the car's engine. Everything seemed quiet, and normal. There was no one on the porch, and no obvious signs of a fight.

"Ok, let's go in," Linda said. They started to walk up the steps, when Melody stopped, grabbing Linda's arm.

"Wait...look there, it's blood." She pointed to some red smears and blotches still visible, in spite of being rained on. Their eyes growing big with concern, they clasped hands to go up to the door. The screen was closed, but the main wooden door was wide open, which seemed odd. Stepping cautiously inside, they felt the hot, stagnant air in the house. Humidity was high, this afternoon, and there was no fan or air conditioning in the house.

They didn't see Ghost or Steve in the living room or the kitchen, so they walked slowly down the hallway, past Steve's closed bedroom door. They saw that the door to Ghost's room was open.

Hearts beating fast, they looked in.

~
Next part coming soon!


Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 304

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 304
warning...adult content




~
"Yeah, in here, Terry," Kinsey hollered, as he heard Terry come in through the back door of the club. Terry came into the kitchen, going directly to the coffee pot, for a mug of coffee. He then pulled up a chair, to sit with Kinsey, Linda, and Melody. He'd had cup after cup of coffee at home, staying awake all night, and now felt jittery on top of being exhausted.

Kinsey eyed him, seeing how rough he looked this morning. "What happened to you? Did ya pull an all-nighter? You look like something the cat dragged in." He chuckled.

With bleary eyes, Terry looked at all of them, there at the table. "Yeah, something like that," he said. He lit a cigarette, blew smoke up into the air, then shaking his head, he said, "I want to tell you two gals something. Both of your brothers are psycho. I've suspected it for a long time, and last night...well, it's official. They are the most messed up mother fuckers I've ever known, and I've known plenty." He stopped, as Linda and Melody both began defending Steve and Ghost. He let them run on for a few minutes, then held up his hand to stop them.

"Ok, you've said your piece, done the sisterly thing, now I'm saying mine." He paused a second, pointing to his arms and face. "You see these scratches here? You see this bite mark? You want to see the bruises? That's all from Ghost." He heard them all gasp.

"What...what are you talking about?" Melody asked.

"He attacked me," Terry said, as he stubbed out his cigarette. "Yeah, I came over here in the middle of the night, because your psycho brother," he looked at Linda, "called me, yelling and blubbering that he was gonna kill himself if I didn't bring Ghost home to him. He was drunk as a skunk, let me tell ya. Anyways, I come over here to get him, and he goes and freaks out. I'm telling ya, he was possessed by the devil. I swear it." He stopped, as Melody yelled.

"Liar! You're making this up. Ghost would never..."

"Hold on lady," Terry said. "I don't lie about something like that. I was there. I was attacked. And, guess what? I knocked the shit outta him. He was trying to wreck us in the ditch, then he kept coming at me. Then, when we got out, the other one, Steve, came after me. Shit, all the trouble I get for doing them a favor."  He lit another cigarette, and gulped some coffee.

"Another thing...ya might as well hear it from me...I came this close to killing both of them. I had my gun right up side Ghost's face, and he just growled...yep...growled at me, and tried to bite me again." He took another drink of coffee, sloshing some of the hot liquid out onto the table, as his hands shook.

"Well, the gun went off, but missed him. Then Steve came at me, and I was about to pull the trigger on him too, but the bastard was so drunk, he tripped over Ghost and face planted down the steps. I figure they deserve all the misery they can give each other, so I left it at that. They got lucky this time." He shook his head. He was done talking.

Kinsey, Linda, and Melody were stunned. No one spoke for a few seconds.

"Where's the gun, Terry?" Kinsey asked.

"I locked it in the safe," Terry said.

"We have to go out there," Linda said, getting up from the table. "Kinsey, keep an eye on the kids. We're leaving." She and Melody took off out the back door.

Narrowing his eyes, Kinsey asked, "You making that shit up?"

"Swear to God, just like I said, Kinsey," Terry said. "Ghost just freaked out on me." He got up to get more coffee.

"Something doesn't add up," Kinsey said. "Ghost was settled in on the couch in there, then you come in and he goes berserk. There's something you're not saying, Terry. Spill it..."

~
Next part coming soon!


Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 303

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 303
warning...adult content





~
The next morning, Kinsey came down stairs to start the coffee brewing in the kitchen. As he got to the hallway, he was surprised to see the back door standing open, and the floor sopping wet from the rain. Frowning, he looked around the parking lot, then seeing nothing unusual, closed the door. He'd get the coffee going, then mop up the hallway. In the kitchen, though, he saw the little light on the coffee maker was blinking, and the microwave clock was blinking, too, 12:00, over and over.

"Hmm, electricity must have gone out last night," he said. He re-set everything, then went to get the mop from the storage closet. As he came back by his office, he noticed the door was open. That was odd, he thought. He always closed it at night. Going in, he saw the flashlight laying on the floor, still on, but the batteries were almost used up. Nothing else seemed out of place. He checked his petty cash box, just in case, and it was fine, still locked.

Taking the mop toward the back door, he began the clean-up. He had no idea of the things that had gone on the night before.

Just then, Linda came down stairs, hoping for some coffee. Seeing Kinsey, she hollered, "Good morning."

"Hey, morning Linda," Kinsey said, looking up. "Coffee should be about ready in there. I'll join you in a few."

She poured herself a cup, then, taking it into the office, where she turned on the little TV to watch the morning news. She made herself comfortable on the couch. A few minutes later, Kinsey came in with his own cup of coffee, and they chatted about this and that, the beach trip, and how the kids were now watching cartoons upstairs. Melody came in, then, still in her robe and fuzzy slippers.

"Is Ghost up yet?" she asked.

"No, haven't seen him," Linda said.

Kinsey looked back and forth between the two girls, confused. "What...did Ghost stay over last night?"

Linda and Melody told him what had happened, and that Ghost and Steve had gotten into a bad fight, so Ghost had stayed here.

"Yeah, in the back room, behind the stage," Melody said. "I'll go check on him." She came back a few minutes later, to report him missing. "He wasn't in there, and I'm getting a bad feeling that something happened." She looked at Kinsey and Linda for answers, but neither of them had any ideas.

"Did y'all hear any noise down here last night?" she asked.

Kinsey shook his head. "No, I didn't even hear the thunderstorm. The electricity must have gone out, though, because all the clocks were blinking this morning. I did find a flashlight left on, here in the office."

"Well, maybe Ghost got up in the night, and came in here?" Linda asked.

"Aw, crap...the door was left open, too. I'll bet he went out," Kinsey said. "I hope he wasn't sleepwalking...no telling where he'd be by now."

Melody jumped up, heading for the stairs. "We have to find him."

"Wait, maybe he walked home," Linda said. "I'll call over there, just in case." She followed Melody upstairs.

Melody had thrown on some clothes, and was about to go looking for Ghost. "Wait, hang on a minute," Linda said. Let me call over there first." Punching in their number, she heard it ring, and ring. "Come on...come on...answer the damn phone." Finally, Steve answered.

"Hello?" he mumbled, having just been woken up.

"Steve, this is your sister. Is Ghost out there with you?"

"Yeah, he's here...why?"

"Oh, thank God. We thought he went sleepwalking or something. We couldn't find him." She paused for a second. "Everything ok?"

"Mm-hmm, guess so. We were asleep. I'm going back to sleep," Steve said, and he hung up the phone.

Linda stared at the phone. "Well, he's ok; he's at home, and Ghost is there. He said all is ok, and they were sleeping."

"Oh, good," Melody said. "Do you think they really are ok, now...I mean after that fight and all last night."

Linda shrugged. "I don't know. Guess we'll have to wait until we see them," she said. "Go down and tell Kinsey, while I check on the kids. I'll be down in a few minutes."

Melody did tell Kinsey, then poured herself another cup of coffee. She sat the table, there in the kitchen, drumming her fingers. "Something still don't feel right, Kinsey," she said.

Kinsey nodded. "I know. I don't know what we're missing, but there's bound to be more to this."

They heard the back door slam open, then heard Terry holler, "Hey, anybody up?"

~
Next part coming soon!


Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 302

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 302
warning...adult content




~

Ghost grabbed Terry's arm, trying to make him stop driving. The car fish-tailed, almost going off in the ditch.

"God dammit," Terry yelled, turning the steering wheel, bringing the car back under control. Shaking and pulling his arm away from Ghost's grip, he finally broke free. But, Ghost came at him again, grabbing his hair, and hitting him hard. Terry had one hand on the wheel, but managed to reach up, yanking on Ghost's hair, pulling him off of him, once more.

It didn't last long, as Ghost continued scrabbling at him, so Terry elbowed him away, this time, hitting Ghost 's face, splitting his lip open against his sharp, broken tooth. Blood splattered out of his mouth, as he shouted, right up in Terry's face.

"Stop...stop the car, Terry." He sprayed drops of blood on Terry's face and shirt.

"You fucking maniac," Terry hollered. "No wonder Steve has had enough of you...get the hell off me."

"No...I'll kill you before you ever kill Steve," Ghost said.

By this time, they were on the long dirt road leading to the house. It was soaked and muddy, and the car almost got stuck, spinning the wheels, and sliding sideways, just before gaining traction again, there on the gravel driveway. Terry managed to brake, and cut the engine, even as Ghost kept hitting him, wherever he could.

As Terry reached for the door handle, Ghost shoved him hard into it. He felt his pistol fall to the floor-board, but managed to grab it in his left hand. Pointing it right in Ghost's face, he yelled, "Back off, or I'll pull the trigger, Ghost...I swear I will."

Ghost stopped for only a second, his blood splotched face, and hair mere inches from Terry's. He was breathing hard, his hot breath fogging the windows. Then, he growled, low in his throat, as he tried to bite Terry.

"He's possessed by the devil..." Terry thought, as he dodged Ghost's teeth, and managed to open the car door, and falling sideways out onto the gravel. As he fell, the gun went off, the noise shattering the night, the bullet going up into the air. Stunned, they both gasped.

Then, scrabbling up, Terry jerked Ghost out of the car, dragging him up onto the porch steps, where he shoved Ghost down.

"Steve," he yelled. "Steve...here's your fucking boyfriend. Ya hear me in there?"

Frowning at the noise, Steve opened the door. "What the hell, Terry?"

"I came here to kill you for hurting Ghost, but I changed my mind. I'm killing this psycho instead," Terry yelled. "If ya got something to say, better do it quick." He pointed the gun down at Ghost, who tried to crawl away, but Terry stomped on his back, laying him flat.

Steve charged, but stumbled over Ghost, falling face first down the steps. Terry jumped out of the way.

"God help ya, you both deserve each other," Terry said, shaking his head. He turned, went back to the car, and sprayed gravel and mud, as he careened down the muddy road.

Steve, still reeling from the alcohol, pulled himself up. Ghost lay there trying to catch his breath, staring up at the sky. 

"Ghost?" Steve asked. "You ok?" When Ghost didn't answer, Steve reached down, pulling Ghost up. "Let's go in...it's raining again." Leaning on each other, they went slowly up the steps, letting the screen door slam behind them. They made their way down the hallway to Ghost's bedroom, where they both collapsed onto the bed.

They remained there in each other's arms the rest of the night.
~

Terry made it back to town, driving up to his apartment in back of the Whirling Disc record store. He shut off the engine, and just sat there, staring out at his front door. He was shaking all over. Glancing over to the passenger seat, he saw his gun lying there. He didn't want to touch it. Breathing deep, to calm himself, he couldn't stop his racing mind. What had happened tonight kept playing over and over, ending with his pointing the gun in Ghost's face...not once, but twice.

"God help me...I was this close...this close to pulling the trigger and killing Ghost," he said aloud. "And Steve, too. What the hell happened out there...what started it all?" The scenes began to replay again. Finally he reached for the gun, and slid out of the car. His knees feeling rubbery, he made it to his front door, and went inside. He didn't sleep at all that night.
~

Next part coming soon!

Peace, Love, & Writing

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE ... # 301

TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
# 301
warning...adult content




~
"Hey," Terry hollered into his phone. "Is that you, Steve? Hello?" He was still half asleep, and confused, but kept on yelling, as he could hear Steve making noises. Finally, Steve heard him, but he'd dropped his own phone, when he fell. He could hear Terry, somewhere in front of him, so he felt around in the dark, until his hand brushed against the phone.

"Terry," Steve croaked out, then coughed, as his stomach roiled, almost making him sick. "Terry, find him. Tell him I didn't mean to hurt him again. Make him come back."

Frowning, Terry asked, "What the hell, Steve...what's wrong? I don't know what you're talking about...slow down."

"Ghost...I need him...and I'm drunk...and you have to go get him," Steve said.

"Where is he? Are you at home?"

"Yeah, and he's at Kinsey's, unless he's gone. Please don't let him be gone."

Then, it registered what Steve had said...that he'd hurt Ghost again. Terry immediately remembered that other time when Steve had hurt Ghost.

"God damn you, Steve, if you went and hurt Ghost again, you're a dead man. I will personally do it myself," Terry vowed.

"Just go find him," Steve said. "Tell him I'm sorry, and bring him back here, please."

"Oh, I'm gonna find him, but I sure as hell ain't bringing him back to you, you bastard," Terry yelled. He then hung up the phone.

"No...no...wait," Steve cried into the phone, but it did no good.

~
Terry scrabbled some jeans and boots on, threw on a jacket, and ran out the door, immediately getting soaked from the rain. He didn't really notice much, as he ran down the block to Kinsey's place. He'd remembered to take his keys to the back door, and unlocked it as fast as he could. Standing just inside the hallway, he thought it odd that there was no noise, no lights, no sign of anything wrong.

He wondered where Ghost could be, if he was actually here in the club. First, he looked into the office, and then the bar area, but nothing was out of the ordinary. Looking up to the apartments upstairs, he didn't want to wake everyone, if he didn't have to. Then, he remembered the back room where there was a big couch. He'd slept there many times, himself.

He opened the door slowly, not knowing what condition he'd find Ghost in, if he was even there at all. The room was totally dark, as there were no windows, and the electricity was still out. He strained his eyes, peering into the depths of the room, toward where he knew the couch was located. Taking small, shuffling steps, he worked his way over, hands out, feeling for anything he might bump into.

Then, as his knees touched the couch, he whispered, "Ghost? Are you here?" Feeling around lower, his hands touched something soft...a blanket he figured. Poking some more, he felt an arm. "Ghost..." he said aloud. He gripped Ghost's arm, and shook him. Ghost screamed in pain and shock.

"It's just me...Terry...it's ok...wake up, dude."

Ghost sat up, holding his arm to his chest. He could feel his wrist throbbing now.

"Dammit, we need some light in here," Terry said. "You awake...you ok...are you hurt?" Terry asked in Ghost's direction, as he still couldn't see him.

"I'm awake," Ghost said through gritted teeth. "My wrist hurts, that's all, and you scared me."

"Come on, let's go out to the bar. At least there's a window. Do you have any idea where a flashlight or candles are around here?" Terry asked.

"In the office, I seen some," Ghost said. He reached out until he found the edge of Terry's jacket, and pulled himself up. They carefully walked out into the main room, then down the hall. The thunder and lightning were still crashing outside, and they could see where they were in the bright flashes.

In the office, Terry rummaged around in the desk drawers, finally finding a flashlight. He flicked it on. Ghost sat on the office couch, watching Terry.

"Ok, here's the deal," Terry said. He sat in Kinsey's swivel chair, behind the desk. "Steve called me. That's why I'm here. You wanna tell me what's going on?"

Ghost shook his head, and looked down at the floor.

"Why are you here, instead of at home?" Terry asked.

Ghost shrugged. "'Cause Steve hates me. He told me to go away. He wouldn't even look at me no more." He began sobbing.

Terry narrowed his eyes. "Did he hurt you?"

Ghost didn't answer.

"DID HE HURT YOU? ... GOD DAMMIT, ANSWER ME."

Ghost nodded. "Yeah, but he didn't mean to. It was the omen that did it."

Terry stood up, pushing the chair back hard against the wall. "He's dead. I'm getting my gun. I'll tell you when it's over," Terry said, and stomped out the door of the office.

Ghost was too shocked to say anything. It had happened too fast. He heard the back door open and then slam shut. "Wait...wait..." he screamed. Stumbling as he ran down the hall, he yanked open the door, but Terry was gone.

Thunder crashed again, and lightning lit up the parking lot. Ghost flinched as the cold rain stung his skin, but he splashed through ankle deep water, as best he could, down to Terry's house. "Oh God, oh God...I have to stop him..."

Just as he came to the corner of the building, he saw Terry getting into his car, and backing out. "Stop..." Ghost yelled, as he closed the gap, reaching the driveway right in front of Terry's car. As the car rolled forward, Ghost slammed his hands down on the hood, feeling pain shoot up his wrist and arm.

"What the hell?" Terry yelled, as he braked hard, throwing Ghost off, and onto the pavement. He jumped out, pulling Ghost up. "Get in the fucking car," he yelled, pushing Ghost ahead of him. "

"Don't shoot Steve...don't kill him," Ghost screamed.

"Shut the fuck up," Terry yelled back. He kept driving down the rain slicked highway.

~

Next part coming soon!


Peace, Love, & Writing