TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
100th installment
warning...adult content
~
Ghost peered through the glass door of the drugstore, but it wasn't open. He decided to walk around town, for awhile, taking in the fall air, the beautiful colors of the trees, and the pumpkin decorations on people's doorsteps. No stores were open yet. He figured he could go see Kinsey, but didn't really want to wake him. Kinsey kept late hours at the club, and usually slept in. He passed by the hardware store, and saw the 'veteran's club', as they were referred to, out on the porch.
"Hey, Ghost, where ya going? Come sit a spell," one of the men invited.
Ghost was relieved to have somewhere to go, so he greeted everyone, and sat on the porch steps.
"Why are you up so early, anyway?" another man asked.
"I gotta get my pictures done, over at the drugstore, but they aren't open," Ghost explained
"Is that the graveyard pictures, I heard tell about?"
"Yeah, we got some pretty good ones, I think," Ghost said.
"Steve treating you ok, these days?" the man asked, for everyone.
"Yeah, we're fine," Ghost said, not wanting to get into a discussion about it.
"Well, we're here, if you ever need us Ghost...remember that."
"I will. Guess I better go...see y'all later," Ghost said, getting up to leave.
"Sure thing," said the man.
Ghost went back to the drugstore to wait. He could hear the men's thoughts loud and clear, though. They still didn't trust Steve.
The store finally opened, and Ghost left his memory card there, to let them print out everything on it. Now he had to wait some more. He hated waiting. He walked on down to Terry's shop. Maybe he could talk to Steve and Terry awhile. The closed sign was still on the shop's door, but Steve's car was around back. He guessed Steve was either in the back of the shop, or at Terry's house, there behind the shop.
He just stood in the parking lot, turning in a circle, to decide which door he was going to knock on. Steve was inside Terry's house. They were talking, when Terry pointed out the window.
"There's Ghost. What's he doing?"
Steve looked, then shook his head. "Probably conjuring up spirits," he said.
They watched Ghost a few minutes. "Guess I better go reel him in," Steve said, as he went to the door.
"Yeah, I better get over to the shop, anyway," Terry said.
"Ghost!" Steve hollered, as he went outside. "What's going on?"
Ghost opened his eyes, and grinned. "Nothing's goin' on. I was trying to find you."
"Did you get your pictures, already?"
"Not yet. They have them, but it'll be awhile, I think...he said come back later. So, can I hang out here?"
Steve looked over at Terry, "Ok?"
Terry nodded, then opened the shop door.
~
Terry began his office work, while Steve got the register ready. Ghost wandered around, looking at the CDs and old vinyls. There was a bin of old cassettes, too, and Ghost found their tape. The only one Lost Souls? had ever made.
"Hey, look, Steve...it's us."
"Yeah, that's us, all right...right in the obsolete, bargain bin," Steve said.
"That's sad, Steve. It's still good though. Maybe we should put it on a CD, now. Hey, maybe we could make a new one, too...with more songs on it. We got a bunch more."
"Maybe you're right, Ghost. It's been a long time since that first one. I'll check into it," Steve said.
Ghost continued to look around, starting to get bored. . "Hey, Steve...remember that time Terry almost shot me? It was right in this here shop."
"Hey, Steve...are you listening?"
"What is it, Ghost? I'm busy here."
"I don't know, I'm bored," Ghost said, sighing.
"Well, go find something else to do...go see if those pictures are ready."
"Guess I will. See ya later, I'm gonna go home after I get them."
"Ok, later..." Steve said, as he went back to work.
Ghost walked back down the street. Maybe Kinsey's up by now, he thought...so he tried the door. It was still locked. He went around back and looked up to Kinsey's window. There was a light on. He knocked on the back door, until Kinsey opened it.
"Ghost, what in the world? Why are you banging on my door so early? I'm just getting my first cup of coffee."
"Hey, Kinsey, can I come in? I'm bored. I've been in town forever, already."
"Why?" Kinsey asked, as he led the way inside, then poured himself and Ghost some coffee.
"Because Steve made me get up early, and the drugstore wasn't open."
"O-k..." Kinsey didn't think this made much sense, but was hesitant to ask more, knowing if Ghost got started, he go on and on.
"Yeah," Ghost began, anyway, and told the whole morning's events, leaving out no details. "So, can I wait here?"
"I'll let you stay, Ghost, but I have work to do. You can do some chores around here, too." Kinsey said.
"Like what?" Ghost asked.
"Like sweeping or washing dishes. Either one...you choose," Kinsey said, heading for his office.
Ghost just decided he'd write on the wall, first. He pulled out a marker and looked for a blank spot. He saw the older message from Nothing, but didn't want to write anywhere near it. Most of the areas he could reach, were filled up. He looked up...plenty of space near the ceiling. He found a ladder, back in the storage room, and set it up.
Climbing up, made him think of climbing trees, so he drew a big tree, with lots of bare branches. On each branch, he wrote the name of someone he knew, that was living. He drew falling leaves for people no longer alive, in this world. In between the branches, he drew blue birds, carrying messages to the people. The messages told how he knew them...how everyone was connected.
He was engrossed in his project, and didn't hear Kinsey come in. Kinsey just stood there, watching. "An artist at work," he thought. It was fascinating to kind of get a peek into Ghost's brain. He'd had a small taste of that once before...Ghost's bedroom. He sighed. He loved this strange kid.
Ghost seemed to have finished, and was just sitting on top of the ladder, staring into space. Kinsey kind of got the meaning of the drawing. The falling leaves were all people that had passed on, but on the last leaf was written, 'Nothing'.
He was confused. Looking at Ghost, closer, he could see tears on his face, partially hidden by his long hair, hanging down, as he bent his head. Was this what he thought it meant? Was Nothing dead now, too? His heart began beating faster. "I don't want to know..." he thought. "I don't want to know, but I'm afraid I'm going to find out."
Kinsey couldn't look away, and the incident with Steve and Ghost came back to him. Did they actually believe Nothing was a vampire...and did they kill him?
Ghost hadn't moved, but knew Kinsey was there, and what his thoughts were. He'd figured it out. He knew he shouldn't say anything. He knew Steve would be mad. He also knew that there was no way he could keep the words in, any longer. Not from Kinsey...and not from admitting to himself, too, the horrible truth.
"We had to, Kinsey," was all he said, then sobbed. "We had to...we had to.." over and over.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, and Writing
Monday, December 8, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE...(ninety ninth installment)
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
99th installment
warning...adult content
~
Steve was scrounging around in the refrigerator to find something to eat. "Guess I'll go in to help out Terry, in the shop, tomorrow. I guess I still work there...sorta. You got any plans?"
He found bologna, cheese, and bread, and put them out on the table. Ghost made himself a sandwich, too.
"Well, if you'll drop me off in town, I'll get the pictures printed out, then I can get started on the book," Ghost said.
"Ok, you gonna hang around until I get off work, or what?" Steve asked.
"Maybe, but when are you coming back home?"
"I don't know, Ghost...whenever I get ready to."
"Ok, well, guess I'll just get the pictures, then walk back here. I don't want to run into Trevor and Zach, ya know."
"Oh, I still have some of that smoke Terry gave me...ya wanna go out back?" Steve asked. He was done eating, already.
"Yeah, just let me finish this, then I'll get my jacket. It's getting cold out."
Steve went to get his own jacket, and the weed. "Ready?" he asked as he came back to the kitchen.
"Does it look like I'm ready?" Ghost asked, through a mouthful of food.
"Well, bring it with you, c'mon," Steve said, as he threw Ghost's jacket over the chair.
They made their way by moonlight, down the path, to the graveyard. Leaning up against their usual headstone, Steve lit up, took a long toke, and passed it over to Ghost.
"Ahh, I needed that," Steve said. "I've been all tensed up.
Ghost leaned his head back, to look at the moon. "It'll be a full moon in a few days...ya know, it always is at Halloween."
"Yeah?" Steve asked, looking up, too.
A slight breeze blew some dry leaves around in a little whirlwind.
"Listen..." Ghost said, as he sat up.
"What is it?" Steve asked.
"Shh...it's kinda a scritching sound." Ghost turned his head back and forth to better sense where the sound was coming from. Then he grabbed Steve's arm, almost knocking the joint out of Steve's fingers.
"Watch it, Ghost!" Steve said, frowning.
"It's Nothing!" Ghost whispered.
They both stared at the back of the graveyard, which was in almost total darkness. Only when the breeze ruffled the tree branches, did slivers of moonlight filter through. The shadows seemed to writhe around.
"Do you still hear it?" Steve asked.
"No, but I swear I did, Steve. I don't see anything though, and I don't sense anybody trying to talk to me."
"Shit, Ghost...it's probably just from smoking. You're imagining things," Steve breathed a sigh of relief, and settled back...his pounding heart, slowing down.
"Yeah, guess so," Ghost said.
"Well, if you hear it again, I'm outta here."
They stayed awhile longer. A fog began to form, making everything damp.
"I gotta go in, Steve, my butt's getting wet from sitting on this grass," Ghost said. His teeth began chattering from the chill.
"Yeah, let's go in." Steve stood up, holding out his hand to help Ghost up.
Ghost kept looking out over the graveyard. "Maybe we should go check...see if he's trying to get out."
"Are you crazy? There's no way in hell we're going over there, Ghost. Not tonight, anyway." Steve picked his way through the crosses and R.I.P markers, and back to the house, Ghost close behind.
Immediately on entering the house, Ghost went to change into sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt. He grabbed a blanket, and came out to sit on the couch. Steve did the same, after fixing them both a bowl of cereal. He flipped on the tv.
"What'cha trying to find?" Ghost asked.
"Something...anything..." Steve always complained about tv reception. They were too far out to get cable, and so they didn't often even turn on the set. He flipped through the three channels they could sometimes get, finding static on one, a horror movie, that kept fading in and out, and the local news on the third.
"Wait...stop there!" Ghost said. The newscaster was reporting a missing person. "They're talking about Nothing!" Ghost looked at Steve.
"Crap...that Zach...he's done reported him missing, I'll bet. Well, we don't know nothing about it, ya hear me, Ghost?"
Ghost nodded, and turned the tv off. "This just gets worse and worse. What if they make us take a lie detector test, Steve?"
Steve snorted, "That's not gonna happen. Nobody suspects us of anything, so why would they do that? I'm tired of thinking about it..I'm going to bed."
Ghost stayed up a little longer, trying to push his mind into the near future, hoping to see what was going to happen, but it wasn't working. "Too much smoke in my brain," he muttered, as he went on to bed, too.
~
CHAPTER 18
Zach and Trevor were back at the house on Violin Road. Trevor was trying to draw in his sketchbook. Zach was practicing a song, and doing rock star poses.
"What does this one look like, Trev?" he asked for the millionth time.
Trevor glanced up. "It looks good, Zach. All your moves look good, 'cause you're so cute," he smiled.
"C'mon man, I'm not trying to be cute. I'm supposed to be rad, like aaggh!" He made his hands into horn shapes.
Trevor laughed, "Well, ya got that part right, but you're still cute."
Zach smiled, "I know." He went back to his song.
"Hey, Zach, what do ya think happened to Nothing? He's still missing. Nobody's heard from him."
"I know, but something may turn up, now that we reported it. I kinda feel bad about saying this, but...well, I hope he gets found and all, but, he's kinda weird. I don't think we need him as our manager, anyway. I can do all that stuff, ya know."
Trevor nodded in agreement. "Well, if he shows up, you can tell him to get lost, again, how 'bout that?"
"Ok, I will," Zach said. "I still think Steve and Ghost know something about it. I plan on talking to them, next time I see them. Aren't they supposed to play at the club this Saturday night?"
"Oh, yeah, guess we better go check them out," Trevor said.
~
Monday morning, Steve actually got up early. "C'mon, Ghost," he said, as he went in to wake him. "Are you going with me or not?"
"I'm going...or I'm gonna be going...when are you going?" Ghost asked.
Steve rolled his eyes. "I'm going when I finish getting ready...so get up."
"I need coffee," Ghost said, as he burrowed deeper into his blankets.
"Then get up and get it. I've got a couple more things to do, then I'm leaving...with or without ya," Steve said, as he left the room.
Ghost dragged himself down the hallway, yawning. "Why ya wanna go so early, anyway?"
"Because I don't want to be late, and you always make me late," Steve said. "You going like that?" he asked, when he saw what Ghost had slept in...just his oversize tie-dyed t-shirt and knee socks.
Ghost looked down at his clothes. "Yep, does it bother you?"
"No, but you might not want to go flashing the whole town," Steve laughed.
"Fine, I'll get ready," Ghost said, as he took his coffee back to his room.
"Hurry up!" Steve hollered.
When Ghost came back out, Steve was already in the car, revving the engine, listening to how it was running. "Gotta get a tune-up, soon, " he said, as Ghost got in the car. He had his second cup of coffee in his hand, and it sloshed over and onto his jeans.
"You're a mess, Dude," Steve said. He drove down the gravel drive, and onto the dirt track, toward the main road.
"Slow down, Steve," Ghost said, as more coffee spilled on him. Steve was hitting ruts, making the car jolt.
"Just hang on, we'll be at the road in a minute. Did you get your camera?"
"Camera?" Ghost asked, then remembered. "Oh, crap, I forgot it. You have to go back, Steve."
"You're joking, right? It's not in your backpack?"
Ghost felt around in the bag. "No, it's not here...go back."
"Dammit, Ghost," Steve said, but turned the car around to go back to the house. "Go get it, then."
Ghost set his coffee on the dash, and ran back to get his camera. Steve closed his eyes, and leaned his head back, taking deep breaths.
"Ok, I got it, we can go now," Ghost said, getting back in the car.
"Are you sure?" Steve asked, then started the car again. This time they made it all the way into town. Steve dropped Ghost off at the drugstore, then went on over to the Whirling Disc.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
99th installment
warning...adult content
~
Steve was scrounging around in the refrigerator to find something to eat. "Guess I'll go in to help out Terry, in the shop, tomorrow. I guess I still work there...sorta. You got any plans?"
He found bologna, cheese, and bread, and put them out on the table. Ghost made himself a sandwich, too.
"Well, if you'll drop me off in town, I'll get the pictures printed out, then I can get started on the book," Ghost said.
"Ok, you gonna hang around until I get off work, or what?" Steve asked.
"Maybe, but when are you coming back home?"
"I don't know, Ghost...whenever I get ready to."
"Ok, well, guess I'll just get the pictures, then walk back here. I don't want to run into Trevor and Zach, ya know."
"Oh, I still have some of that smoke Terry gave me...ya wanna go out back?" Steve asked. He was done eating, already.
"Yeah, just let me finish this, then I'll get my jacket. It's getting cold out."
Steve went to get his own jacket, and the weed. "Ready?" he asked as he came back to the kitchen.
"Does it look like I'm ready?" Ghost asked, through a mouthful of food.
"Well, bring it with you, c'mon," Steve said, as he threw Ghost's jacket over the chair.
They made their way by moonlight, down the path, to the graveyard. Leaning up against their usual headstone, Steve lit up, took a long toke, and passed it over to Ghost.
"Ahh, I needed that," Steve said. "I've been all tensed up.
Ghost leaned his head back, to look at the moon. "It'll be a full moon in a few days...ya know, it always is at Halloween."
"Yeah?" Steve asked, looking up, too.
A slight breeze blew some dry leaves around in a little whirlwind.
"Listen..." Ghost said, as he sat up.
"What is it?" Steve asked.
"Shh...it's kinda a scritching sound." Ghost turned his head back and forth to better sense where the sound was coming from. Then he grabbed Steve's arm, almost knocking the joint out of Steve's fingers.
"Watch it, Ghost!" Steve said, frowning.
"It's Nothing!" Ghost whispered.
They both stared at the back of the graveyard, which was in almost total darkness. Only when the breeze ruffled the tree branches, did slivers of moonlight filter through. The shadows seemed to writhe around.
"Do you still hear it?" Steve asked.
"No, but I swear I did, Steve. I don't see anything though, and I don't sense anybody trying to talk to me."
"Shit, Ghost...it's probably just from smoking. You're imagining things," Steve breathed a sigh of relief, and settled back...his pounding heart, slowing down.
"Yeah, guess so," Ghost said.
"Well, if you hear it again, I'm outta here."
They stayed awhile longer. A fog began to form, making everything damp.
"I gotta go in, Steve, my butt's getting wet from sitting on this grass," Ghost said. His teeth began chattering from the chill.
"Yeah, let's go in." Steve stood up, holding out his hand to help Ghost up.
Ghost kept looking out over the graveyard. "Maybe we should go check...see if he's trying to get out."
"Are you crazy? There's no way in hell we're going over there, Ghost. Not tonight, anyway." Steve picked his way through the crosses and R.I.P markers, and back to the house, Ghost close behind.
Immediately on entering the house, Ghost went to change into sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt. He grabbed a blanket, and came out to sit on the couch. Steve did the same, after fixing them both a bowl of cereal. He flipped on the tv.
"What'cha trying to find?" Ghost asked.
"Something...anything..." Steve always complained about tv reception. They were too far out to get cable, and so they didn't often even turn on the set. He flipped through the three channels they could sometimes get, finding static on one, a horror movie, that kept fading in and out, and the local news on the third.
"Wait...stop there!" Ghost said. The newscaster was reporting a missing person. "They're talking about Nothing!" Ghost looked at Steve.
"Crap...that Zach...he's done reported him missing, I'll bet. Well, we don't know nothing about it, ya hear me, Ghost?"
Ghost nodded, and turned the tv off. "This just gets worse and worse. What if they make us take a lie detector test, Steve?"
Steve snorted, "That's not gonna happen. Nobody suspects us of anything, so why would they do that? I'm tired of thinking about it..I'm going to bed."
Ghost stayed up a little longer, trying to push his mind into the near future, hoping to see what was going to happen, but it wasn't working. "Too much smoke in my brain," he muttered, as he went on to bed, too.
~
CHAPTER 18
Zach and Trevor were back at the house on Violin Road. Trevor was trying to draw in his sketchbook. Zach was practicing a song, and doing rock star poses.
"What does this one look like, Trev?" he asked for the millionth time.
Trevor glanced up. "It looks good, Zach. All your moves look good, 'cause you're so cute," he smiled.
"C'mon man, I'm not trying to be cute. I'm supposed to be rad, like aaggh!" He made his hands into horn shapes.
Trevor laughed, "Well, ya got that part right, but you're still cute."
Zach smiled, "I know." He went back to his song.
"Hey, Zach, what do ya think happened to Nothing? He's still missing. Nobody's heard from him."
"I know, but something may turn up, now that we reported it. I kinda feel bad about saying this, but...well, I hope he gets found and all, but, he's kinda weird. I don't think we need him as our manager, anyway. I can do all that stuff, ya know."
Trevor nodded in agreement. "Well, if he shows up, you can tell him to get lost, again, how 'bout that?"
"Ok, I will," Zach said. "I still think Steve and Ghost know something about it. I plan on talking to them, next time I see them. Aren't they supposed to play at the club this Saturday night?"
"Oh, yeah, guess we better go check them out," Trevor said.
~
Monday morning, Steve actually got up early. "C'mon, Ghost," he said, as he went in to wake him. "Are you going with me or not?"
"I'm going...or I'm gonna be going...when are you going?" Ghost asked.
Steve rolled his eyes. "I'm going when I finish getting ready...so get up."
"I need coffee," Ghost said, as he burrowed deeper into his blankets.
"Then get up and get it. I've got a couple more things to do, then I'm leaving...with or without ya," Steve said, as he left the room.
Ghost dragged himself down the hallway, yawning. "Why ya wanna go so early, anyway?"
"Because I don't want to be late, and you always make me late," Steve said. "You going like that?" he asked, when he saw what Ghost had slept in...just his oversize tie-dyed t-shirt and knee socks.
Ghost looked down at his clothes. "Yep, does it bother you?"
"No, but you might not want to go flashing the whole town," Steve laughed.
"Fine, I'll get ready," Ghost said, as he took his coffee back to his room.
"Hurry up!" Steve hollered.
When Ghost came back out, Steve was already in the car, revving the engine, listening to how it was running. "Gotta get a tune-up, soon, " he said, as Ghost got in the car. He had his second cup of coffee in his hand, and it sloshed over and onto his jeans.
"You're a mess, Dude," Steve said. He drove down the gravel drive, and onto the dirt track, toward the main road.
"Slow down, Steve," Ghost said, as more coffee spilled on him. Steve was hitting ruts, making the car jolt.
"Just hang on, we'll be at the road in a minute. Did you get your camera?"
"Camera?" Ghost asked, then remembered. "Oh, crap, I forgot it. You have to go back, Steve."
"You're joking, right? It's not in your backpack?"
Ghost felt around in the bag. "No, it's not here...go back."
"Dammit, Ghost," Steve said, but turned the car around to go back to the house. "Go get it, then."
Ghost set his coffee on the dash, and ran back to get his camera. Steve closed his eyes, and leaned his head back, taking deep breaths.
"Ok, I got it, we can go now," Ghost said, getting back in the car.
"Are you sure?" Steve asked, then started the car again. This time they made it all the way into town. Steve dropped Ghost off at the drugstore, then went on over to the Whirling Disc.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE...(ninety eighth installment)
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
98th installment
warning...adult content
~
"Hey, Steve, are we gonna do a show, soon?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Kinsey said we could next Saturday," Steve said.
"Well, we should go over our songs, before then. Which ones this time?"
"We have those new ones, so those, I think would be good," Steve said. "Then some we know everybody likes."
"Ok, I'm gonna try to remember the new ones," Ghost said, and began singing, trying to remember the words.
~
As Steve pulled into the parking lot, at the thrift store, Steve asked, "Ya sure ya want shoes from here, Ghost? We can get new ones if we want to, now."
"I know, but I like this store. Things are already broke in...not all stiff and new. And besides, I like to give them a new home, with me. Somebody got mad at them, and gave them away, so they're sad."
"That's weird, Ghost," Steve said. "Clothes don't feel sad, or anything else."
"How do you know, Steve? Can you feel what they feel?"
"No, I can't, and I don't think you can either."
"Well, maybe I can, and maybe I just want to save them from being thrown out."
"Ok, fine...let's go find some things to save, then," Steve said, rolling his eyes.
They went in, and began to look around. They were in no hurry. Ghost found some canvas sneakers he could write on, and some cool looking Ugg boots, just his size. Steve checked out the t-shirts with funny sayings on them. He came and showed Ghost one he'd found.
"What do ya think of this one?" Steve asked, holding it up. The front was printed with the logo of the tv show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". He laughed, "This one I've gotta have."
"That's not funny, Steve, put it back."
"Nope, I'm getting it, and wearing it Saturday night," Steve said.
"You want to draw attention to what happened?" Ghost asked.
"Nobody knows nothing about there being real vampires in town," Steve said, "and this is just from a silly tv show."
"Sure, then go ahead...see how many people ask about it," Ghost said.
"Ok, I will," Steve said, then went back to find more shirts.
Ghost looked through the miscellaneous bins, and found a couple of patches to sew onto his Army jacket. He then wandered over to find Steve, still looking through the t-shirts.
"Did ya find anything else?" he asked.
"Yeah, a couple, and this here one's for you." Steve held up a soft, long-sleeved shirt with the logo of another tv show on the front. This one was printed, "Ghost Adventures". Ghost grinned, "I like it."
They looked over the camping equipment, but felt like they had enough, for now. Steve found a few books to add to his collection, though.
"Well, ya ready to get some lunch?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, maybe we could get that pizza, now." Ghost agreed.
So, that's what they did. They enjoyed their afternoon..no stress, no worries...
~
Back in Missing Mile, though, things were not so peaceful. Trevor and Zach stopped into Terry's shop, and also into the club, asking about Nothing. They found out that Nothing and Steve had argued, right before Nothing left, and that Steve left right after. They were not liking what they heard.
"We need to go out to Ghost's house, to talk to Steve," Zach said. "He lied to us this morning...or at least didn't tell us the whole story, ya know."
So, they drove out to Burnt Church road, leaving Terry and Kinsey with information to gossip about. Terry called Kinsey, as soon as they'd left his shop.
"What do you make of it," Terry asked.
"I don't know, but I told you about the other night, right?" Kinsey said. "Steve was going on about Nothing being a vampire. Craziest I've ever seen him. Now, Nothing comes up missing...doesn't sound good, Terry, doesn't sound good, at all."
Terry nodded, "Well, Nothing is pretty strange...maybe he just flaked out...took off with all the money, and left Trevor and Zach to fend for themselves. Wouldn't be the first time we all got screwed by a manager, ya know," he shrugged. "Me, it don't matter that much...the money. I got enough. I just like playing in a band. But, those two kids, they need it. Damn shame, if that's what happened," Terry went on.
"I know," Kinsey said, "but something's fishy about it. They went out there, to see Steve. Guess we'll hear what happens."
"Yeah, guess we will at that," Terry said.
~
Zach drove down the road to Ghost's house.
"Where's his house?" Trevor asked.
"I heard it was down at the dead end of Burnt Church road. That's what we're on right now. Guess we'll see it when the road ends," Zach said.
"Do you think it'll be creepy? I mean, Ghost is kinda weird...maybe he has a haunted old house."
"How should I know, Trev. Couldn't be much creepier than your house," Zach said.
"Yeah, but we're used to our weird things, and they don't happen as much now, anyway," Trevor said. "I always thought I had to stay there, but you didn't have to." Trevor looked over at Zach.
Zach smiled, "I knew I had to, as soon as I met you. I didn't know about the house until later...then I didn't care. I was staying wherever you were." Zach took Trevor's hand, squeezing it.
"I'm glad you did, Zach, it just wouldn't be the same without you."
They came to the end of the road and stopped.
"It has to be here somewhere," Zach said, looking around. "This is the end of the road. All we can do is turn around and go back; there isn't any other road."
"Yeah, that's weird, already...a road that goes nowhere..except a Ghost's house," Trevor said.
Zach gave Trevor a look, "Dude, you're getting all spooked, and it's not Halloween for another two weeks."
"Well, where is it, then?" Trevor asked.
All they could see were pine trees, and vines...a wall of greens, yellows, and oranges of the fall vegetation on either side of the road. Driving slowly back in the other direction, Trevor pointed out a narrow, dirt path, they'd missed the first time.
"Look, is that a road, or trail, there?" Trevor said.
"Where?" Zach looked closer, then stopped the car. "Oh, yeah, now I see it..kinda by that crooked tree,.but can a car even go down there?"
"Well, you can try, or we can walk, but Steve has a car...he gets to their house, somehow." Trevor said.
"Ok, I'll try it," Zach said, as he pulled onto the dirt path. The tree limbs scraped the sides of the car. "Hang on, I'm going a little farther up here. If I don't see a house soon, I'm turning back."
They did come upon a small opening, that was relatively clear of trees. "There it is, Zach," Trevor pointed to the house, and the gravel drive. "It doesn't look very scary," he said. "It's old, but just a house, right?"
Zach pulled up in front of the house. They sat there a minute, staring at it.
"I don't see Steve's car anywhere. Maybe they're not home," Trevor said, ready to leave.
"Well, come on, let's go see, first," Zach said, as he got out of the car.
"Uh, now it's getting creepy, Zach," Trevor said. He'd stopped, when he saw the warding off star painted on the porch, and the metal, gargoyle door knocker.
"Well, we're here...we're not gonna back off now," Zach said. He grabbed the ring that hung down from the gargoyles nose, and knocked on the door.
Nothing happened. Zach shrugged, then knocked again.
"Let's go, Zach. They're not here."
"Just a minute...I'm going around back, first...just to see what's back there, c'mon," Zach said, then started off around the side of the house
The back yard looked pretty normal...a garden plot, going to seed, a few pumpkins, a scraggly tomato plant, it's leaves dried up...only a couple of left over tomatoes hanging on. There was a wheelbarrow, and a water hose nearby. The ground was muddy around the porch. Scanning the far back yard, through the trees, Zach spotted the old Civil War graveyard.
"Look at that!" He grabbed Trevor's arm.
"Oh, my God! Let's get outta here...that's enough. I've seen enough, Zach."
They ran back to the car and started laughing, as they locked all the doors. "Get us out of here, Zach. That's just too unreal...Ghost lives in a graveyard!"
They headed back down the dirt path and onto the main road. Just as they came to the road leading to Missing Mile, they passed Steve and Ghost, heading home. They didn't know it was them, though...they'd never seen Steve's car before, but Steve had seen Zach at the wheel of his own car.
"Ghost...that was Zach and Trevor. They were at the house. I'm turning around...gonna ask them why they were snooping around out here." Steve said.
"Wait, Steve," Ghost said. "Let's check the house, first. They probably just left, when they found out we weren't home...and besides, they're gonna ask about Nothing."
"Oh, yeah...I don't know what to say about that anyway...not yet, at least. We better get the story straight...and you better keep your mouth shut, Ghost. You almost blabbed the whole thing, this morning. You just pretend you don't know anything about it," Steve said.
"But, Steve...I do know."
"Don't start with that 'I can't lie' shit, Ghost. This is one time you might have to. So, if you just keep quiet, then you won't be lying...'cause you won't be saying anything...understand?"
"Yeah, Steve, I understand. I'll be quiet...I won't say anything."
They pulled up to the house. Looking around, Steve said, "Well, looks ok...go check around back...I'm going in."
After checking out the inside of the house, Steve opened the back door, "Hey, see anything out there?" he hollered to Ghost.
"Not really...just muddy footprints. Guess they were back here, too."
"Not much to get excited about, I guess...we'll just leave it as it is then, for now, anyway," said Steve.
Back inside, Ghost asked, "Do you think they'll be back?"
"Don't imagine it'll be tonight."
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
98th installment
warning...adult content
~
"Hey, Steve, are we gonna do a show, soon?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Kinsey said we could next Saturday," Steve said.
"Well, we should go over our songs, before then. Which ones this time?"
"We have those new ones, so those, I think would be good," Steve said. "Then some we know everybody likes."
"Ok, I'm gonna try to remember the new ones," Ghost said, and began singing, trying to remember the words.
~
As Steve pulled into the parking lot, at the thrift store, Steve asked, "Ya sure ya want shoes from here, Ghost? We can get new ones if we want to, now."
"I know, but I like this store. Things are already broke in...not all stiff and new. And besides, I like to give them a new home, with me. Somebody got mad at them, and gave them away, so they're sad."
"That's weird, Ghost," Steve said. "Clothes don't feel sad, or anything else."
"How do you know, Steve? Can you feel what they feel?"
"No, I can't, and I don't think you can either."
"Well, maybe I can, and maybe I just want to save them from being thrown out."
"Ok, fine...let's go find some things to save, then," Steve said, rolling his eyes.
They went in, and began to look around. They were in no hurry. Ghost found some canvas sneakers he could write on, and some cool looking Ugg boots, just his size. Steve checked out the t-shirts with funny sayings on them. He came and showed Ghost one he'd found.
"What do ya think of this one?" Steve asked, holding it up. The front was printed with the logo of the tv show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". He laughed, "This one I've gotta have."
"That's not funny, Steve, put it back."
"Nope, I'm getting it, and wearing it Saturday night," Steve said.
"You want to draw attention to what happened?" Ghost asked.
"Nobody knows nothing about there being real vampires in town," Steve said, "and this is just from a silly tv show."
"Sure, then go ahead...see how many people ask about it," Ghost said.
"Ok, I will," Steve said, then went back to find more shirts.
Ghost looked through the miscellaneous bins, and found a couple of patches to sew onto his Army jacket. He then wandered over to find Steve, still looking through the t-shirts.
"Did ya find anything else?" he asked.
"Yeah, a couple, and this here one's for you." Steve held up a soft, long-sleeved shirt with the logo of another tv show on the front. This one was printed, "Ghost Adventures". Ghost grinned, "I like it."
They looked over the camping equipment, but felt like they had enough, for now. Steve found a few books to add to his collection, though.
"Well, ya ready to get some lunch?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, maybe we could get that pizza, now." Ghost agreed.
So, that's what they did. They enjoyed their afternoon..no stress, no worries...
~
Back in Missing Mile, though, things were not so peaceful. Trevor and Zach stopped into Terry's shop, and also into the club, asking about Nothing. They found out that Nothing and Steve had argued, right before Nothing left, and that Steve left right after. They were not liking what they heard.
"We need to go out to Ghost's house, to talk to Steve," Zach said. "He lied to us this morning...or at least didn't tell us the whole story, ya know."
So, they drove out to Burnt Church road, leaving Terry and Kinsey with information to gossip about. Terry called Kinsey, as soon as they'd left his shop.
"What do you make of it," Terry asked.
"I don't know, but I told you about the other night, right?" Kinsey said. "Steve was going on about Nothing being a vampire. Craziest I've ever seen him. Now, Nothing comes up missing...doesn't sound good, Terry, doesn't sound good, at all."
Terry nodded, "Well, Nothing is pretty strange...maybe he just flaked out...took off with all the money, and left Trevor and Zach to fend for themselves. Wouldn't be the first time we all got screwed by a manager, ya know," he shrugged. "Me, it don't matter that much...the money. I got enough. I just like playing in a band. But, those two kids, they need it. Damn shame, if that's what happened," Terry went on.
"I know," Kinsey said, "but something's fishy about it. They went out there, to see Steve. Guess we'll hear what happens."
"Yeah, guess we will at that," Terry said.
~
Zach drove down the road to Ghost's house.
"Where's his house?" Trevor asked.
"I heard it was down at the dead end of Burnt Church road. That's what we're on right now. Guess we'll see it when the road ends," Zach said.
"Do you think it'll be creepy? I mean, Ghost is kinda weird...maybe he has a haunted old house."
"How should I know, Trev. Couldn't be much creepier than your house," Zach said.
"Yeah, but we're used to our weird things, and they don't happen as much now, anyway," Trevor said. "I always thought I had to stay there, but you didn't have to." Trevor looked over at Zach.
Zach smiled, "I knew I had to, as soon as I met you. I didn't know about the house until later...then I didn't care. I was staying wherever you were." Zach took Trevor's hand, squeezing it.
"I'm glad you did, Zach, it just wouldn't be the same without you."
They came to the end of the road and stopped.
"It has to be here somewhere," Zach said, looking around. "This is the end of the road. All we can do is turn around and go back; there isn't any other road."
"Yeah, that's weird, already...a road that goes nowhere..except a Ghost's house," Trevor said.
Zach gave Trevor a look, "Dude, you're getting all spooked, and it's not Halloween for another two weeks."
"Well, where is it, then?" Trevor asked.
All they could see were pine trees, and vines...a wall of greens, yellows, and oranges of the fall vegetation on either side of the road. Driving slowly back in the other direction, Trevor pointed out a narrow, dirt path, they'd missed the first time.
"Look, is that a road, or trail, there?" Trevor said.
"Where?" Zach looked closer, then stopped the car. "Oh, yeah, now I see it..kinda by that crooked tree,.but can a car even go down there?"
"Well, you can try, or we can walk, but Steve has a car...he gets to their house, somehow." Trevor said.
"Ok, I'll try it," Zach said, as he pulled onto the dirt path. The tree limbs scraped the sides of the car. "Hang on, I'm going a little farther up here. If I don't see a house soon, I'm turning back."
They did come upon a small opening, that was relatively clear of trees. "There it is, Zach," Trevor pointed to the house, and the gravel drive. "It doesn't look very scary," he said. "It's old, but just a house, right?"
Zach pulled up in front of the house. They sat there a minute, staring at it.
"I don't see Steve's car anywhere. Maybe they're not home," Trevor said, ready to leave.
"Well, come on, let's go see, first," Zach said, as he got out of the car.
"Uh, now it's getting creepy, Zach," Trevor said. He'd stopped, when he saw the warding off star painted on the porch, and the metal, gargoyle door knocker.
"Well, we're here...we're not gonna back off now," Zach said. He grabbed the ring that hung down from the gargoyles nose, and knocked on the door.
Nothing happened. Zach shrugged, then knocked again.
"Let's go, Zach. They're not here."
"Just a minute...I'm going around back, first...just to see what's back there, c'mon," Zach said, then started off around the side of the house
The back yard looked pretty normal...a garden plot, going to seed, a few pumpkins, a scraggly tomato plant, it's leaves dried up...only a couple of left over tomatoes hanging on. There was a wheelbarrow, and a water hose nearby. The ground was muddy around the porch. Scanning the far back yard, through the trees, Zach spotted the old Civil War graveyard.
"Look at that!" He grabbed Trevor's arm.
"Oh, my God! Let's get outta here...that's enough. I've seen enough, Zach."
They ran back to the car and started laughing, as they locked all the doors. "Get us out of here, Zach. That's just too unreal...Ghost lives in a graveyard!"
They headed back down the dirt path and onto the main road. Just as they came to the road leading to Missing Mile, they passed Steve and Ghost, heading home. They didn't know it was them, though...they'd never seen Steve's car before, but Steve had seen Zach at the wheel of his own car.
"Ghost...that was Zach and Trevor. They were at the house. I'm turning around...gonna ask them why they were snooping around out here." Steve said.
"Wait, Steve," Ghost said. "Let's check the house, first. They probably just left, when they found out we weren't home...and besides, they're gonna ask about Nothing."
"Oh, yeah...I don't know what to say about that anyway...not yet, at least. We better get the story straight...and you better keep your mouth shut, Ghost. You almost blabbed the whole thing, this morning. You just pretend you don't know anything about it," Steve said.
"But, Steve...I do know."
"Don't start with that 'I can't lie' shit, Ghost. This is one time you might have to. So, if you just keep quiet, then you won't be lying...'cause you won't be saying anything...understand?"
"Yeah, Steve, I understand. I'll be quiet...I won't say anything."
They pulled up to the house. Looking around, Steve said, "Well, looks ok...go check around back...I'm going in."
After checking out the inside of the house, Steve opened the back door, "Hey, see anything out there?" he hollered to Ghost.
"Not really...just muddy footprints. Guess they were back here, too."
"Not much to get excited about, I guess...we'll just leave it as it is then, for now, anyway," said Steve.
Back inside, Ghost asked, "Do you think they'll be back?"
"Don't imagine it'll be tonight."
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE...(ninety seventh installment)
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
97th installment
warning...adult content
~
"Here, this is as close as I can get it, Steve," Ghost said, as he returned with the wheelbarrow.
"Ok, it'll do, I guess," Steve said. "Now, hold on to the handles, so it don't tip over, and I'm gonna roll this off in there."
He did, and it landed mostly in the wheelbarrow, with just one edge hanging over the side. Steve came down off the porch. Ghost began wheeling the uneven load down the path toward the graveyard, almost tipping it over a couple of times.
"I'm sweating to death, Steve, and these gnats are sticking to me," Ghost said, stopping to slap at them.
"I know, me too, but we're almost to the back, now. Did you get the shovel?"
"The shovel? Crap, I didn't even think of it," Ghost said.
Steve rolled his eyes, "Well, here...take the flashlight, and go back and get it. I'll keep going the last part over there."
When Ghost returned, he sat down next to Steve, to rest. "It's gonna be daylight, soon...how fast can you dig?"
"It's gonna take awhile, I think. You're gonna do some too, ya know," Steve said. He wiped sweat off his face. "I'll get it started."
They took turns digging, and finally figured it was deep enough. They rolled the wheelbarrow over, and tipped the bag into the hole. As they finished shoveling dirt over it, they pulled some branches over the whole thing, hoping it was hidden.
"That's it, then. Let's go back to the house. I've got to hose down the porch." Steve got up to leave.
They made it back, just as the sun was rising. Steve got the garden hose, and squirted the blood off the back porch, while Ghost chunked his shoes in the trash barrel.
"I'm going in, Steve...gonna light the sage, then get in the shower. I feel filthy."
When he was done, Steve took his turn getting cleaned up. The house smelled fresh again, and felt cleansed, but they were both exhausted.
"I'm so tired, Steve,and I'm hungry. But, I don't feel like I should be happy about eating, ya know?"
"What are you talking about?" Steve asked. "We're still here, and we're lucky to be alive."
"But, Nothing was alive, too...and now he can't eat, or be happy anymore."
"Stop thinking like that, Ghost. It don't help. We just need to forget it and do our best to survive...to live for as long as we got, and be happy about it."
"Yeah, guess so," Ghost said. "So, what can we eat, then?"
"I don't know..ya want to go get pizza?"
Ghost laughed. "Steve, it's morning, and I want pancakes."
"Oh, yeah...well, let's go to the diner. They'll be open already."
~
When they drove up to the diner and parked, Ghost said, "I feel like everyone is staring at us. It's like they know what we did."
"Shut up, Ghost. They don't know anything...and if you keep talking about it, somebody might actually get suspicious and find out."
They found a booth and ordered their breakfast. The diner was filling up with customers, this early Sunday morning. Some said hello. Ghost and Steve tried to look normal, even though they both were feeling conspicuous. Then Ghost looked up, as the door opened again.
"Steve," he whispered. "It's Trevor and Zach."
"So what?" Steve asked.
"So, maybe they'll ask where's 'you know who' , and have we seen him...that's what," Ghost said.
"Well, just be cool, ok? Don't give anything away."
Their breakfast arrived, and they ate quickly, keeping an eye on Trevor and Zach.
"Steve, they're coming over here," Ghost whispered, again.
"Hi, guys," Zach greeted them. "Did y'all like the show last night?"
"Yeah, it was good...and loud," Ghost said.
"We saw you leave early, thought maybe you didn't like it or something...?" Zach asked.
"No...I mean yeah...I liked it. Just I was getting a headache. I mean, not from y'all's music...just...I needed to go home 'cause..." Ghost kept on, until Steve kicked him under the table.
"Good to see ya, then," Steve broke in. "Looks like y'all's food is ready."
"Yeah, man...see ya later," Zach said. He and Trevor went back to their table.
"What was that, Ghost? What was all that crazy talk you were doing?"
"I don't know, Steve...I couldn't stop."
"Well, watch yourself. Just keep calm, and think before ya go blabbing everything, ok?" Steve said.
They finished, eating, then headed for the door. Ghost went on out, and before Steve could pay and leave, Zach motioned him over to their table.
"I was wondering, Steve, did you see Nothing, after we left last night? He was supposed to come by, but he never showed up," Zach said.
"Uh, yeah, I saw him," Steve said. "He was in the office. I was at the pool table, when he came out. Guess he left..I didn't see him after that."
"Well, ok..." Zach said. "If you do see him, tell him we're looking for him."
"Sure, will do, Zach," Steve said. "Later, man..."
~
Ghost was already in the car, waiting on Steve. "What took ya so long?" he asked.
"It was that Zach dude. He wanted to know if I'd seen Nothing. I told him I saw him leave, that's all."
"Oh, man, what are going to do, now? Was that all... you just saw him leave?" Ghost asked.
"Yeah, Ghost...only before he left, he made some wisecracks, and I told him to leave you alone, if he knew what was good for him. Then he left. Then I came home, and there he is biting you.,..well you know the rest."
"Damn, Steve, how many people saw you yell at him? They'll know you were the last one to see him, and you were mad."
"Well, so what? That's all they know...nothing after that...don't worry about it."
"Yeah, that's what you always say. I'll try, but now we gotta worry about the others," Ghost said.
"Are you still feeling them...like they're coming here, like soon?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, I can feel them, but maybe not so strong. It's like they got lost, or sidetracked or, I don't know. Nothing said they were mad at us, and wanted to kill us, but that they were stupid and useless, too. So I'm not sure now."
"So, we just wait around...never know when they'll show up? That's just great, Ghost."
"No, I'll know for sure, if they get very close. It just isn't right now."
"Ok, then...guess I'll have to trust your 'feeling' then, huh?"
"Yeah, guess so," Ghost smiled.
Steve started the car. "I need to get outta here for awhile," Steve said. Let's go into Raleigh...look around or something."
"Ok, I need to get some new shoes, now, anyway," Ghost agreed. "Can we go to that thrift store we were at before?"
"Sure, Ghost, anything to get our mind off stuff here."
So they headed down the highway.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
97th installment
warning...adult content
~
"Here, this is as close as I can get it, Steve," Ghost said, as he returned with the wheelbarrow.
"Ok, it'll do, I guess," Steve said. "Now, hold on to the handles, so it don't tip over, and I'm gonna roll this off in there."
He did, and it landed mostly in the wheelbarrow, with just one edge hanging over the side. Steve came down off the porch. Ghost began wheeling the uneven load down the path toward the graveyard, almost tipping it over a couple of times.
"I'm sweating to death, Steve, and these gnats are sticking to me," Ghost said, stopping to slap at them.
"I know, me too, but we're almost to the back, now. Did you get the shovel?"
"The shovel? Crap, I didn't even think of it," Ghost said.
Steve rolled his eyes, "Well, here...take the flashlight, and go back and get it. I'll keep going the last part over there."
When Ghost returned, he sat down next to Steve, to rest. "It's gonna be daylight, soon...how fast can you dig?"
"It's gonna take awhile, I think. You're gonna do some too, ya know," Steve said. He wiped sweat off his face. "I'll get it started."
They took turns digging, and finally figured it was deep enough. They rolled the wheelbarrow over, and tipped the bag into the hole. As they finished shoveling dirt over it, they pulled some branches over the whole thing, hoping it was hidden.
"That's it, then. Let's go back to the house. I've got to hose down the porch." Steve got up to leave.
They made it back, just as the sun was rising. Steve got the garden hose, and squirted the blood off the back porch, while Ghost chunked his shoes in the trash barrel.
"I'm going in, Steve...gonna light the sage, then get in the shower. I feel filthy."
When he was done, Steve took his turn getting cleaned up. The house smelled fresh again, and felt cleansed, but they were both exhausted.
"I'm so tired, Steve,and I'm hungry. But, I don't feel like I should be happy about eating, ya know?"
"What are you talking about?" Steve asked. "We're still here, and we're lucky to be alive."
"But, Nothing was alive, too...and now he can't eat, or be happy anymore."
"Stop thinking like that, Ghost. It don't help. We just need to forget it and do our best to survive...to live for as long as we got, and be happy about it."
"Yeah, guess so," Ghost said. "So, what can we eat, then?"
"I don't know..ya want to go get pizza?"
Ghost laughed. "Steve, it's morning, and I want pancakes."
"Oh, yeah...well, let's go to the diner. They'll be open already."
~
When they drove up to the diner and parked, Ghost said, "I feel like everyone is staring at us. It's like they know what we did."
"Shut up, Ghost. They don't know anything...and if you keep talking about it, somebody might actually get suspicious and find out."
They found a booth and ordered their breakfast. The diner was filling up with customers, this early Sunday morning. Some said hello. Ghost and Steve tried to look normal, even though they both were feeling conspicuous. Then Ghost looked up, as the door opened again.
"Steve," he whispered. "It's Trevor and Zach."
"So what?" Steve asked.
"So, maybe they'll ask where's 'you know who' , and have we seen him...that's what," Ghost said.
"Well, just be cool, ok? Don't give anything away."
Their breakfast arrived, and they ate quickly, keeping an eye on Trevor and Zach.
"Steve, they're coming over here," Ghost whispered, again.
"Hi, guys," Zach greeted them. "Did y'all like the show last night?"
"Yeah, it was good...and loud," Ghost said.
"We saw you leave early, thought maybe you didn't like it or something...?" Zach asked.
"No...I mean yeah...I liked it. Just I was getting a headache. I mean, not from y'all's music...just...I needed to go home 'cause..." Ghost kept on, until Steve kicked him under the table.
"Good to see ya, then," Steve broke in. "Looks like y'all's food is ready."
"Yeah, man...see ya later," Zach said. He and Trevor went back to their table.
"What was that, Ghost? What was all that crazy talk you were doing?"
"I don't know, Steve...I couldn't stop."
"Well, watch yourself. Just keep calm, and think before ya go blabbing everything, ok?" Steve said.
They finished, eating, then headed for the door. Ghost went on out, and before Steve could pay and leave, Zach motioned him over to their table.
"I was wondering, Steve, did you see Nothing, after we left last night? He was supposed to come by, but he never showed up," Zach said.
"Uh, yeah, I saw him," Steve said. "He was in the office. I was at the pool table, when he came out. Guess he left..I didn't see him after that."
"Well, ok..." Zach said. "If you do see him, tell him we're looking for him."
"Sure, will do, Zach," Steve said. "Later, man..."
~
Ghost was already in the car, waiting on Steve. "What took ya so long?" he asked.
"It was that Zach dude. He wanted to know if I'd seen Nothing. I told him I saw him leave, that's all."
"Oh, man, what are going to do, now? Was that all... you just saw him leave?" Ghost asked.
"Yeah, Ghost...only before he left, he made some wisecracks, and I told him to leave you alone, if he knew what was good for him. Then he left. Then I came home, and there he is biting you.,..well you know the rest."
"Damn, Steve, how many people saw you yell at him? They'll know you were the last one to see him, and you were mad."
"Well, so what? That's all they know...nothing after that...don't worry about it."
"Yeah, that's what you always say. I'll try, but now we gotta worry about the others," Ghost said.
"Are you still feeling them...like they're coming here, like soon?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, I can feel them, but maybe not so strong. It's like they got lost, or sidetracked or, I don't know. Nothing said they were mad at us, and wanted to kill us, but that they were stupid and useless, too. So I'm not sure now."
"So, we just wait around...never know when they'll show up? That's just great, Ghost."
"No, I'll know for sure, if they get very close. It just isn't right now."
"Ok, then...guess I'll have to trust your 'feeling' then, huh?"
"Yeah, guess so," Ghost smiled.
Steve started the car. "I need to get outta here for awhile," Steve said. Let's go into Raleigh...look around or something."
"Ok, I need to get some new shoes, now, anyway," Ghost agreed. "Can we go to that thrift store we were at before?"
"Sure, Ghost, anything to get our mind off stuff here."
So they headed down the highway.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Monday, November 24, 2014
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE...(ninety sixth installment)
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
96th installment
warning...adult content
~
Back at the club, Steve was winning a few games against R. J. The band had finished their set for the night, and everyone was just hanging out, playing games, and drinking beer. He hadn't seen Zach or Trevor in awhile. He supposed they'd gone home, already.
He did notice that Nothing was over talking to Kinsey, wrapping up band business. After a few minutes, Nothing came over to talk to Steve.
"What'd'ya want?" Steve asked, frowning.
Nothing looked him straight in the eye, and said, "I told you I was leaving, but I have to stay. The band is counting on me, and I have friends here. I never had that before. And, I heard from Twig and Molochai...they're planning to come after Ghost, for killing Zilla. I have to try and get control of them again, so they won't hurt y'all."
Steve stood up to his full height, glaring at Nothing. "Fuck you, Nothing. We don't need your kind of help. You stay the hell away from Ghost, and tell those other two I'll kill them, just like I'll kill you. One wrong move, Nothing...you're history...I'll make sure of that. You may not be as much of a blood sucker as Zilla, but you suck people dry anyway, with your innocent look, and your poor little me scam. Evil comes in all types. You can fool some, but not me, and not Ghost." Steve took a step toward Nothing. "Count the days, Nothing...count the hours until you're no more. Now, get outta here...I can't stand to look at you." He slammed down the pool stick, onto the table with a loud crack.
Nothing jumped, and actually hissed at Steve. Steve could see that he'd filed his teeth into sharp points.
"You don't scare me, anymore," Steve laughed in Nothing's face. "Now, go on."
Nothing turned and left the game room. This confrontation pretty much broke up the party atmosphere, and people started gathering their belongings, and leaving. Steve had another beer, and seethed. Some asked him what that had been all about, but he just waved it off as nothing to worry about.
Then, he remembered that Ghost was home by himself. "Shit, I gotta go home," he said to no one. He was a little fuzzy headed, from the beers, but managed to get out the door and into his car, without too much trouble. He sat there a few minutes, trying to clear his head. The parking lot was deserted, and so was the road leading out to the house. He started the car, and drove slowly down the dark road.
~
Nothing had left, after talking to Steve, and had planned on going out to Trevor and Zach's house, on Violin Road. He needed to give them their part of the money they'd earned for the night. He had good intentions for that to happen, but deep in thought, he wasn't paying attention. So, when he stopped walking and looked around, he was right in front of Ghost's house. There was a light on, so he figured Ghost was still up. Maybe they could talk some more.
He went up the porch steps, and knocked at the door. When Ghost didn't answer, Nothing had no trouble jimmying the lock...and then, he was inside. "I shouldn't be here," he thought to himself, as he silently glided down the darkened hallway. Coming to Ghost's bedroom, he pushed open the door.
His breath caught in his throat, as he looked at Ghost lying there, asleep. He wanted him. He wanted him more than anything he'd ever wanted...ever since he'd first heard Ghost sing on that tape from years ago. He'd led all the trouble right to this house...all because of his need for Ghost...for his friendship, maybe, and then for his love.
But, things had gone so terribly wrong. Now, could he maybe have a small chance of making things right? Could he make Ghost see how much he meant to him...now that they were alone?
He quietly moved to the bed, and knelt down. He breathed in the scent of roses and molasses, and yes, blood. Blood pulsing through Ghost's veins, alive and rich.
"I'll just take a tiny taste," he thought, as he bent over Ghost's lips and kissed him. He parted Ghost's lips with his own, and tasted Ghost's spit...then, he wanted more, and began nuzzling Ghost's neck, right where he could feel the vein throbbing to the beat of Ghost's heart.
Ghost was slowly coming awake, still dreaming of Steve, and he moaned, "Steve, you came home."
Nothing paused, at hearing Steve's name. He could feel his jealousy rising...to know that Ghost would always love Steve, and never himself. He took a little nip into Ghost's neck. One sharp tooth drew blood, and he licked at it.
Ghost came fully awake, now. "Nothing! Get the fuck off me," he said, as he pushed Nothing away.
Nothing fell back, but came at Ghost again, and they began to struggle against one another. They did not hear Steve's car drive up. They did not hear Steve, until he banged open the door, and started yelling.
He charged at Nothing, and ripped him off the bed, and Ghost. Landing up against the wall, Nothing whined, "I just wanted a little taste of him...I didn't hurt Ghost."
Steve roared back, "What did I tell you, you motherfucker. You don't listen too good, do ya?"
He grabbed Nothing, throwing him against the other wall.
Remembering the guns he'd put under his pillow, Ghost yelled out, "Steve!"
Steve looked around, seeing Ghost, eerily calm, holding his gun out to him. He took it. Ghost nodded and flipped the safety off his own gun. Steve did the same.
"No, no...I'm sorry, Ghost...I'll leave now! Don't kill me," Nothing pleaded.
But, Ghost pointed his gun at Nothing, and so did Steve...and they fired at the same time. Nothing's head exploded in a mass of blood and brains. They'd both hit their target.
They stared at what they'd done. The silence after the gun's firing, was profound. There was no more head. Nothing's body slumped against the wall, blood splattered everywhere.
Their ears still ringing from the gun's blast, they waited in stunned silence. "Well, guess there's no coming back from that," Steve said, as he turned to Ghost.
Ghost was still staring, breathing hard. In the dim light, Steve could see that tears were running down Ghost's face. They were dripping down, mingling with the blood that was still running down his neck, onto his shirt.
"Ghost, you're bleeding...is it bad?"
"No, I don't think so," Ghost said, but then he began shaking from the shock of what had happened. He dropped his gun to the floor. His knees buckled, but he managed to sit back on the bed. He had still not taken his eyes off the destruction of Nothing...it was being seared into his brain.
"Stop looking at it, Ghost...it's over." Steve begged him to turn away.
Ghost closed his eyes, and said, "It's not over, Steve...they are coming. I can hear them, and they're close."
"Who's coming?" Steve asked.
Ghost turned his face up to Steve, and Steve could see it in his eyes. He knew who.
"How long?" he asked. "How long do we have to get ready?"
"I don't know, but soon...Steve, what are we gonna do? What are we gonna do with..." Ghost pointed to what used to be Nothing. "He didn't turn into dust, like the others."
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it...I'll get rid of it, ok?"
Ghost nodded.
"If you feel like you can help, ok, but if not...that's ok, too. Just go out on the porch. I'll clean up in here."
Ghost got up and walked to the doorway, trying not to look, and trying not to step in the blood. He went out to the kitchen, put some water on to boil, for some calming tea. He was still dazed...his mind whirling. He couldn't even feel himself walking, as he gathered up garbage bags, and a bucked of hot, soapy water, to take in to Steve.
"This is so gross," Ghost said, as he came back to his bedroom. He handed the bucket to Steve, then went back to finish the tea.
As Steve began to pick up pieces of Nothing, he was reminded of the last time he'd had to clean up Ghost's bedroom. That time, it was Ghost's blood he was wiping up. He shuddered.
He'd heard the screen door squeak open, as Ghost went out to the porch. He could hear Ghost humming a sad tune. "He'll be ok," he reassured himself.
The garbage bag was getting full, and heavy with gore. "Where am I supposed to get rid of this at?" he asked himself. He stopped in the bathroom, to wash his hands, before going out front to talk to Ghost.
"Hey," he said, as he sat down in the swing.
"Are you done?" Ghost asked.
"Almost...just...what do I do with it?"
Ghost thought for a minute. "Guess you can bury it in the graveyard...out behind the house. No one ever goes there but us. No one will ever see or know anything."
Steve wiped the sweat from his forehead, as he stared out across the dark yard. "Ghost, are we really murderers? Does it count, if the ones we kill are vampires... or even half vampires? Are we half murderers?" He kept rocking the swing faster, back and forth. "I mean, it's kinda like squishing a bug, or swatting a fly, don't'cha think?
"Maybe so, Steve. That's what I think, too." Ghost took a few moments, then sighed. "You know, I talked to my grandmother about it."
"You did? When?"
"Not long ago...when we got the guns."
"What did she say?"
"She said we had to do whatever had to be done, and don't hesitate to save ourselves," Ghost said. He took Steve's hand, and looked into his eyes. "I asked her to send us courage to be able to do that. I think she did...tonight, Steve."
Steve smiled, "Me too, Ghost. And, I still feel like I have some left...do you? I mean, for the next round?"
"Yeah, I have enough," Ghost said, "I have to." He looked up into the heavens, sprinkled with stars.
They sat out there in the night for a while longer, the swing slowly stopping it's rocking.
~
"Guess it's time," Steve said.
"Ok...I'll help ya drag it out there," Ghost said.
They went inside and stared at the full bag.
"Did ya find the..."Ghost asked.
"Uh-uh..there wasn't nothing left of Nothing's head," Steve said, as he gagged on those words.
Ghost shivered, as he looked around the room, hoping he wouldn't see a piece of skin or bone, or an eyeball, laying around, that Steve had missed.
"I don't think I like my room, anymore. Bad things keep happening in here," he said.
"Well, we're not gonna switch," Steve said.
"Guess I'll have to do a sage cleansing, then...clear out the bad stuff."
Steve agreed. "Well, let's do this." He and Ghost grabbed hold of the garbage bag, and began dragging it down the hallway, toward the kitchen, and back door.
"This sucker's heavy...please don't let it rip open," Steve grunted.
Ghost stopped pulling. "No, that wasn't a joke," Steve said, when Ghost gave him a disgusted look.
Catching their breath for a minute, Steve said, "Ok, here's the plan. I'm thinking we'll drag this out the back, and you know that old wheelbarrow, out by the garden? Well, we'll use that to roll him out there...way in the back. Then...uh, dig a hole and dump it in, then cover it up."
They were at the back door, now. Steve propped open the screen, and they tried dragging the bag onto the back porch, but were having trouble.
"Ghost, can ya...just get behind there, and push it. Gotta get it over the door frame thing, here."
Ghost reached out to push. "Ewww, Steve it's all squishy...I can't do this."
"Well, shit, use your foot then, if ya don't want to touch it," Steve said. "I'm pulling on this end...I need you to push."
Ghost put his foot against the bag, and it finally went over the door sill. "Oh, God, Steve...it came open...it's leaking!" He hopped around, shaking his foot. "It got on me, now I have to throw these shoes away."
"Would ya stop freaking out, Ghost? It's just a little bit. I need you to help...go get the wheelbarrow, and bring it right up next to the porch here, and I'll push it over and in."
Ghost went out to the garden, wiping his shoes on the grass, as he went.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
96th installment
warning...adult content
~
Back at the club, Steve was winning a few games against R. J. The band had finished their set for the night, and everyone was just hanging out, playing games, and drinking beer. He hadn't seen Zach or Trevor in awhile. He supposed they'd gone home, already.
He did notice that Nothing was over talking to Kinsey, wrapping up band business. After a few minutes, Nothing came over to talk to Steve.
"What'd'ya want?" Steve asked, frowning.
Nothing looked him straight in the eye, and said, "I told you I was leaving, but I have to stay. The band is counting on me, and I have friends here. I never had that before. And, I heard from Twig and Molochai...they're planning to come after Ghost, for killing Zilla. I have to try and get control of them again, so they won't hurt y'all."
Steve stood up to his full height, glaring at Nothing. "Fuck you, Nothing. We don't need your kind of help. You stay the hell away from Ghost, and tell those other two I'll kill them, just like I'll kill you. One wrong move, Nothing...you're history...I'll make sure of that. You may not be as much of a blood sucker as Zilla, but you suck people dry anyway, with your innocent look, and your poor little me scam. Evil comes in all types. You can fool some, but not me, and not Ghost." Steve took a step toward Nothing. "Count the days, Nothing...count the hours until you're no more. Now, get outta here...I can't stand to look at you." He slammed down the pool stick, onto the table with a loud crack.
Nothing jumped, and actually hissed at Steve. Steve could see that he'd filed his teeth into sharp points.
"You don't scare me, anymore," Steve laughed in Nothing's face. "Now, go on."
Nothing turned and left the game room. This confrontation pretty much broke up the party atmosphere, and people started gathering their belongings, and leaving. Steve had another beer, and seethed. Some asked him what that had been all about, but he just waved it off as nothing to worry about.
Then, he remembered that Ghost was home by himself. "Shit, I gotta go home," he said to no one. He was a little fuzzy headed, from the beers, but managed to get out the door and into his car, without too much trouble. He sat there a few minutes, trying to clear his head. The parking lot was deserted, and so was the road leading out to the house. He started the car, and drove slowly down the dark road.
~
Nothing had left, after talking to Steve, and had planned on going out to Trevor and Zach's house, on Violin Road. He needed to give them their part of the money they'd earned for the night. He had good intentions for that to happen, but deep in thought, he wasn't paying attention. So, when he stopped walking and looked around, he was right in front of Ghost's house. There was a light on, so he figured Ghost was still up. Maybe they could talk some more.
He went up the porch steps, and knocked at the door. When Ghost didn't answer, Nothing had no trouble jimmying the lock...and then, he was inside. "I shouldn't be here," he thought to himself, as he silently glided down the darkened hallway. Coming to Ghost's bedroom, he pushed open the door.
His breath caught in his throat, as he looked at Ghost lying there, asleep. He wanted him. He wanted him more than anything he'd ever wanted...ever since he'd first heard Ghost sing on that tape from years ago. He'd led all the trouble right to this house...all because of his need for Ghost...for his friendship, maybe, and then for his love.
But, things had gone so terribly wrong. Now, could he maybe have a small chance of making things right? Could he make Ghost see how much he meant to him...now that they were alone?
He quietly moved to the bed, and knelt down. He breathed in the scent of roses and molasses, and yes, blood. Blood pulsing through Ghost's veins, alive and rich.
"I'll just take a tiny taste," he thought, as he bent over Ghost's lips and kissed him. He parted Ghost's lips with his own, and tasted Ghost's spit...then, he wanted more, and began nuzzling Ghost's neck, right where he could feel the vein throbbing to the beat of Ghost's heart.
Ghost was slowly coming awake, still dreaming of Steve, and he moaned, "Steve, you came home."
Nothing paused, at hearing Steve's name. He could feel his jealousy rising...to know that Ghost would always love Steve, and never himself. He took a little nip into Ghost's neck. One sharp tooth drew blood, and he licked at it.
Ghost came fully awake, now. "Nothing! Get the fuck off me," he said, as he pushed Nothing away.
Nothing fell back, but came at Ghost again, and they began to struggle against one another. They did not hear Steve's car drive up. They did not hear Steve, until he banged open the door, and started yelling.
He charged at Nothing, and ripped him off the bed, and Ghost. Landing up against the wall, Nothing whined, "I just wanted a little taste of him...I didn't hurt Ghost."
Steve roared back, "What did I tell you, you motherfucker. You don't listen too good, do ya?"
He grabbed Nothing, throwing him against the other wall.
Remembering the guns he'd put under his pillow, Ghost yelled out, "Steve!"
Steve looked around, seeing Ghost, eerily calm, holding his gun out to him. He took it. Ghost nodded and flipped the safety off his own gun. Steve did the same.
"No, no...I'm sorry, Ghost...I'll leave now! Don't kill me," Nothing pleaded.
But, Ghost pointed his gun at Nothing, and so did Steve...and they fired at the same time. Nothing's head exploded in a mass of blood and brains. They'd both hit their target.
They stared at what they'd done. The silence after the gun's firing, was profound. There was no more head. Nothing's body slumped against the wall, blood splattered everywhere.
Their ears still ringing from the gun's blast, they waited in stunned silence. "Well, guess there's no coming back from that," Steve said, as he turned to Ghost.
Ghost was still staring, breathing hard. In the dim light, Steve could see that tears were running down Ghost's face. They were dripping down, mingling with the blood that was still running down his neck, onto his shirt.
"Ghost, you're bleeding...is it bad?"
"No, I don't think so," Ghost said, but then he began shaking from the shock of what had happened. He dropped his gun to the floor. His knees buckled, but he managed to sit back on the bed. He had still not taken his eyes off the destruction of Nothing...it was being seared into his brain.
"Stop looking at it, Ghost...it's over." Steve begged him to turn away.
Ghost closed his eyes, and said, "It's not over, Steve...they are coming. I can hear them, and they're close."
"Who's coming?" Steve asked.
Ghost turned his face up to Steve, and Steve could see it in his eyes. He knew who.
"How long?" he asked. "How long do we have to get ready?"
"I don't know, but soon...Steve, what are we gonna do? What are we gonna do with..." Ghost pointed to what used to be Nothing. "He didn't turn into dust, like the others."
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it...I'll get rid of it, ok?"
Ghost nodded.
"If you feel like you can help, ok, but if not...that's ok, too. Just go out on the porch. I'll clean up in here."
Ghost got up and walked to the doorway, trying not to look, and trying not to step in the blood. He went out to the kitchen, put some water on to boil, for some calming tea. He was still dazed...his mind whirling. He couldn't even feel himself walking, as he gathered up garbage bags, and a bucked of hot, soapy water, to take in to Steve.
"This is so gross," Ghost said, as he came back to his bedroom. He handed the bucket to Steve, then went back to finish the tea.
As Steve began to pick up pieces of Nothing, he was reminded of the last time he'd had to clean up Ghost's bedroom. That time, it was Ghost's blood he was wiping up. He shuddered.
He'd heard the screen door squeak open, as Ghost went out to the porch. He could hear Ghost humming a sad tune. "He'll be ok," he reassured himself.
The garbage bag was getting full, and heavy with gore. "Where am I supposed to get rid of this at?" he asked himself. He stopped in the bathroom, to wash his hands, before going out front to talk to Ghost.
"Hey," he said, as he sat down in the swing.
"Are you done?" Ghost asked.
"Almost...just...what do I do with it?"
Ghost thought for a minute. "Guess you can bury it in the graveyard...out behind the house. No one ever goes there but us. No one will ever see or know anything."
Steve wiped the sweat from his forehead, as he stared out across the dark yard. "Ghost, are we really murderers? Does it count, if the ones we kill are vampires... or even half vampires? Are we half murderers?" He kept rocking the swing faster, back and forth. "I mean, it's kinda like squishing a bug, or swatting a fly, don't'cha think?
"Maybe so, Steve. That's what I think, too." Ghost took a few moments, then sighed. "You know, I talked to my grandmother about it."
"You did? When?"
"Not long ago...when we got the guns."
"What did she say?"
"She said we had to do whatever had to be done, and don't hesitate to save ourselves," Ghost said. He took Steve's hand, and looked into his eyes. "I asked her to send us courage to be able to do that. I think she did...tonight, Steve."
Steve smiled, "Me too, Ghost. And, I still feel like I have some left...do you? I mean, for the next round?"
"Yeah, I have enough," Ghost said, "I have to." He looked up into the heavens, sprinkled with stars.
They sat out there in the night for a while longer, the swing slowly stopping it's rocking.
~
"Guess it's time," Steve said.
"Ok...I'll help ya drag it out there," Ghost said.
They went inside and stared at the full bag.
"Did ya find the..."Ghost asked.
"Uh-uh..there wasn't nothing left of Nothing's head," Steve said, as he gagged on those words.
Ghost shivered, as he looked around the room, hoping he wouldn't see a piece of skin or bone, or an eyeball, laying around, that Steve had missed.
"I don't think I like my room, anymore. Bad things keep happening in here," he said.
"Well, we're not gonna switch," Steve said.
"Guess I'll have to do a sage cleansing, then...clear out the bad stuff."
Steve agreed. "Well, let's do this." He and Ghost grabbed hold of the garbage bag, and began dragging it down the hallway, toward the kitchen, and back door.
"This sucker's heavy...please don't let it rip open," Steve grunted.
Ghost stopped pulling. "No, that wasn't a joke," Steve said, when Ghost gave him a disgusted look.
Catching their breath for a minute, Steve said, "Ok, here's the plan. I'm thinking we'll drag this out the back, and you know that old wheelbarrow, out by the garden? Well, we'll use that to roll him out there...way in the back. Then...uh, dig a hole and dump it in, then cover it up."
They were at the back door, now. Steve propped open the screen, and they tried dragging the bag onto the back porch, but were having trouble.
"Ghost, can ya...just get behind there, and push it. Gotta get it over the door frame thing, here."
Ghost reached out to push. "Ewww, Steve it's all squishy...I can't do this."
"Well, shit, use your foot then, if ya don't want to touch it," Steve said. "I'm pulling on this end...I need you to push."
Ghost put his foot against the bag, and it finally went over the door sill. "Oh, God, Steve...it came open...it's leaking!" He hopped around, shaking his foot. "It got on me, now I have to throw these shoes away."
"Would ya stop freaking out, Ghost? It's just a little bit. I need you to help...go get the wheelbarrow, and bring it right up next to the porch here, and I'll push it over and in."
Ghost went out to the garden, wiping his shoes on the grass, as he went.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
Friday, November 21, 2014
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE...(ninety fifth installment)
TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
95th installment
warning...adult content
~
Zach and Trevor came over to the stage to set up. Terry and R. J. had come in and were back in the office, talking to Kinsey. Trevor had seen Steve and Ghost crying, and wondered why. He'd talked to Zach when he went back to find him...told him to try not to come on so strong, but then he felt like a hypocrite, telling Zach this. He himself wasn't any better at making friends. They both had a lot to learn about how to get along with other people.
"We're both just a couple of social misfits, Zach," he'd said. "You talk too much, and put your foot in your mouth, and I don't talk at all. Jeeze, they must think we're weird."
So, they began getting things ready on the stage, as they sneaked glances at Steve and Ghost, who finally walked over. "Hey, man...didn't mean to go off like that...sorry," Zach said.
Yeah, it's ok, I guess. It just took us by surprise, that's all,"Steve said. Ghost and Trevor said nothing. "So, have a good show, then, we'll be here," Steve said, then led Ghost back toward the bar. They grabbed a beer, and talked to Terry and R.J. a few minutes.
"What do ya think of the new band members?" Terry asked. "Wait'll ya hear us."
"Guess we'll stay awhile and find out. Kinsey told us a little about them," Steve said. "You ever tell them we used to be scared of their house?"
"Oh, man, I tried to, but it didn't seem to bother them. Said the house was fine, and they seem to like it out there," Terry shook his head at the thought of it. "Well, gotta get up there...ya ready, R. J.?"
R. J. took his beer with him, as he and Terry went back to the little room, behind the stage.
"Ok, guys," said Kinsey, "I'm opening the door in ten." He bustled around doing last minute checks.
"You ready for this, Ghost?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, guess so...but, I might want to go home early. I still have a funny feeling about Nothing."
"You think he's here...or breaking into the house?" Steve asked.
"Oh, he's here, Steve," Ghost said, looking toward the office. "He's back there doing his manager stuff." He hesitated, a second. "There's something else, though, that's trying to get in my head. Some kind of unfinished business...like he needs to tell us something." He closed his eyes, concentrating. "I can't get it, yet."
"Well, go ask him, then. Tell him we don't want no more surprises." Steve started toward the office.
Ghost stopped him. "Not yet...not here."
"Ok, but this has to be settled before he leaves town...if he really does," said Steve.
~
The doors were open, now, and the place was filling up. Kids of all kinds, from teens to college age. They headed for the arcade room, and the pool table, and ordered Kinsey's soup of the day. All were waiting for the music to begin. The band was tuning up...R.J. was talking with Calvin and hitting a few bass notes, Terry was randomly hitting his drums, and Zach was just standing at the mic stand, smiling at Trevor, who was front and center.
Steve and Ghost greeted friends, and waited along with everyone else. Finally, they were ready...and they were loud. Starting with some of Terry's original songs, they had the crowd on their feet. Gumbo played a variety of genres, a mix of old, new, country, and pop, Then, as they got further along in their play list, they did rock, and some strange sounding music for the goths.
Zach was a dynamo on stage, striding from one side of the stage to the other, putting his all into his performance...and he did sing good. He drew in the crowd, right along with him.
"Not bad," Steve yelled at Ghost, trying to be heard above the amplifiers. Ghost agreed, but didn't look all that into it. He was still worried about Nothing.
Steve decided to take advantage of the empty pool table, while everyone was dancing out on the floor. Ghost walked down the hall to the office. He opened the door. Nothing was sitting behind the desk.
"What else, Nothing?" Ghost asked. "There's something else you're not telling us."
Nothing nodded, "Yeah, but I didn't want to tell you in front of Steve.
"Go on, then what is it? I can sense it's not good."
"It's, well...you know, I really like you and Steve. I'd never want anything bad to happen to you. I hated all that...before. I was so confused, and just finding out who I was..and what I was. And then, hooking up with my father, like that, out of the blue." Nothing stopped, remembering how it had been.
"After that, I didn't know what to do. Twig and Molochai were devastated, useless. They took off. I didn't hear from them for a long time. I just wandered around, but nothing was right, anymore. I tried to be like them, you know...all vampire, but my human part kept me from doing too much damage. Then I tried to forget about that, and just be all human. That didn't work out very good either.
So, I figured I'd just end it all, and tried to kill myself," Nothing shook his head. "But, I guess vampires can't really do that. I'd feel like I was dead, but then I'd be alive again. I know it sounds crazy. Anyway, I just came back here, because it was familiar. But, you weren't here to give me any advice. That's when I met up with Zach and Trevor. They seemed ok, so we started hanging out at Terry's record store. Then, everything seemed to be working out better for me, for all of us really. I had friends, real friends, for the first time." He looked up at Ghost, hoping he'd understand. "So, I really don't want to leave. I feel like I'm finally doing something right...and this is home to me now. But, I already promised you and Steve that I'd leave."
Ghost started to say his piece, but Nothing stopped him with one more reason he should stay. "Another reason, is that I feel like I should stay, kinda as a protection for y'all. I heard from Twig that they're still mad that you killed Zilla, and they're looking for you...and they know where you live. So...if I can stay here, I can probably keep them from killing you, again." Nothing was finished with what he had to say. "Ghost, please convince Steve... I'm not the bad guy here, ok?"
Ghost thought about what Nothing had said. He had a point, but could he even believe his story? "But, Nothing...you kinda are the bad guy, at least partly, because it was you that led the others here...right to my house. Ya remember? That's what started all this, and why it ended the way it did. I don't think I can ever forget that fact, and I know Steve won't."
Nothing closed his eyes and nodded. "I know, but please try, ok?"
Ghost shrugged, and said, "I'll tell Steve what you said. I can't promise anything, though."
"Ok, I'm still staying, at least tonight, anyway. You'll let me know tomorrow?"
"I'll talk it over with Steve," Ghost said, then turned and left the office. He didn't know how he was going to tell Steve, but this was getting too complicated and out of control for him to figure out by himself. He needed Steve. He needed to go home. He found Steve still playing pool, and watched him for a few minutes.
"Hey, Ghost...wanna play?" Steve asked.
"No, I'm ready to go home," Ghost said.
"Home...already? I'm just now in the mood to stay," Steve said. "Can't ya wait awhile?"
"I don't think so, Steve. I need to get out of here. I need some air, and my head's spinnin'. Guess I'll go on. You can stay here, if ya want." He started for the door.
"Ghost...ya sure?"
"Yeah," Ghost said.
"Ok, man...catch up with ya later," Steve said, then went back to his game.
~
Ghost stepped outside, took a deep breath of cool, night air. The music was muffled now, but his ears were still ringing. He began the long walk home. He had time to think about what Nothing had said. He still didn't want Nothing to stay here in Missing Mile. No good would come of it, he was sure. But, he couldn't order someone to get out of town. And, Steve would go ballistic. He definitely didn't want that to happen.
As he came up to his house, he felt stupid for having to be careful of entering his own house. But now, he'd have to always be looking around, never knowing when Twig and Molochai would show up. He didn't sense any danger right now, though, so he went on in. Steve would be along, soon, he hoped.
The house was quiet. Ghost checked all the rooms to make sure everything was ok. He was alone...just his thoughts to keep him company...and he didn't like his thoughts, right now. He didn't like being alone, either. He never did. It was getting late, though, and he kept yawning and nodding off. He just couldn't stay awake waiting for Steve any longer.
He checked the doors again, to make sure they were locked, but still feeling uneasy, he got his and Steve's guns down from the cabinet. He put them under his pillow, then got into bed. Only one lamp was left on, in the living room. He looked at his glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling for a few minutes. He said a silent good night to his grandmother, and told her he felt like something wasn't right...that if she could, send him some courage to deal with whatever happened. He then fell asleep.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
95th installment
warning...adult content
~
Zach and Trevor came over to the stage to set up. Terry and R. J. had come in and were back in the office, talking to Kinsey. Trevor had seen Steve and Ghost crying, and wondered why. He'd talked to Zach when he went back to find him...told him to try not to come on so strong, but then he felt like a hypocrite, telling Zach this. He himself wasn't any better at making friends. They both had a lot to learn about how to get along with other people.
"We're both just a couple of social misfits, Zach," he'd said. "You talk too much, and put your foot in your mouth, and I don't talk at all. Jeeze, they must think we're weird."
So, they began getting things ready on the stage, as they sneaked glances at Steve and Ghost, who finally walked over. "Hey, man...didn't mean to go off like that...sorry," Zach said.
Yeah, it's ok, I guess. It just took us by surprise, that's all,"Steve said. Ghost and Trevor said nothing. "So, have a good show, then, we'll be here," Steve said, then led Ghost back toward the bar. They grabbed a beer, and talked to Terry and R.J. a few minutes.
"What do ya think of the new band members?" Terry asked. "Wait'll ya hear us."
"Guess we'll stay awhile and find out. Kinsey told us a little about them," Steve said. "You ever tell them we used to be scared of their house?"
"Oh, man, I tried to, but it didn't seem to bother them. Said the house was fine, and they seem to like it out there," Terry shook his head at the thought of it. "Well, gotta get up there...ya ready, R. J.?"
R. J. took his beer with him, as he and Terry went back to the little room, behind the stage.
"Ok, guys," said Kinsey, "I'm opening the door in ten." He bustled around doing last minute checks.
"You ready for this, Ghost?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, guess so...but, I might want to go home early. I still have a funny feeling about Nothing."
"You think he's here...or breaking into the house?" Steve asked.
"Oh, he's here, Steve," Ghost said, looking toward the office. "He's back there doing his manager stuff." He hesitated, a second. "There's something else, though, that's trying to get in my head. Some kind of unfinished business...like he needs to tell us something." He closed his eyes, concentrating. "I can't get it, yet."
"Well, go ask him, then. Tell him we don't want no more surprises." Steve started toward the office.
Ghost stopped him. "Not yet...not here."
"Ok, but this has to be settled before he leaves town...if he really does," said Steve.
~
The doors were open, now, and the place was filling up. Kids of all kinds, from teens to college age. They headed for the arcade room, and the pool table, and ordered Kinsey's soup of the day. All were waiting for the music to begin. The band was tuning up...R.J. was talking with Calvin and hitting a few bass notes, Terry was randomly hitting his drums, and Zach was just standing at the mic stand, smiling at Trevor, who was front and center.
Steve and Ghost greeted friends, and waited along with everyone else. Finally, they were ready...and they were loud. Starting with some of Terry's original songs, they had the crowd on their feet. Gumbo played a variety of genres, a mix of old, new, country, and pop, Then, as they got further along in their play list, they did rock, and some strange sounding music for the goths.
Zach was a dynamo on stage, striding from one side of the stage to the other, putting his all into his performance...and he did sing good. He drew in the crowd, right along with him.
"Not bad," Steve yelled at Ghost, trying to be heard above the amplifiers. Ghost agreed, but didn't look all that into it. He was still worried about Nothing.
Steve decided to take advantage of the empty pool table, while everyone was dancing out on the floor. Ghost walked down the hall to the office. He opened the door. Nothing was sitting behind the desk.
"What else, Nothing?" Ghost asked. "There's something else you're not telling us."
Nothing nodded, "Yeah, but I didn't want to tell you in front of Steve.
"Go on, then what is it? I can sense it's not good."
"It's, well...you know, I really like you and Steve. I'd never want anything bad to happen to you. I hated all that...before. I was so confused, and just finding out who I was..and what I was. And then, hooking up with my father, like that, out of the blue." Nothing stopped, remembering how it had been.
"After that, I didn't know what to do. Twig and Molochai were devastated, useless. They took off. I didn't hear from them for a long time. I just wandered around, but nothing was right, anymore. I tried to be like them, you know...all vampire, but my human part kept me from doing too much damage. Then I tried to forget about that, and just be all human. That didn't work out very good either.
So, I figured I'd just end it all, and tried to kill myself," Nothing shook his head. "But, I guess vampires can't really do that. I'd feel like I was dead, but then I'd be alive again. I know it sounds crazy. Anyway, I just came back here, because it was familiar. But, you weren't here to give me any advice. That's when I met up with Zach and Trevor. They seemed ok, so we started hanging out at Terry's record store. Then, everything seemed to be working out better for me, for all of us really. I had friends, real friends, for the first time." He looked up at Ghost, hoping he'd understand. "So, I really don't want to leave. I feel like I'm finally doing something right...and this is home to me now. But, I already promised you and Steve that I'd leave."
Ghost started to say his piece, but Nothing stopped him with one more reason he should stay. "Another reason, is that I feel like I should stay, kinda as a protection for y'all. I heard from Twig that they're still mad that you killed Zilla, and they're looking for you...and they know where you live. So...if I can stay here, I can probably keep them from killing you, again." Nothing was finished with what he had to say. "Ghost, please convince Steve... I'm not the bad guy here, ok?"
Ghost thought about what Nothing had said. He had a point, but could he even believe his story? "But, Nothing...you kinda are the bad guy, at least partly, because it was you that led the others here...right to my house. Ya remember? That's what started all this, and why it ended the way it did. I don't think I can ever forget that fact, and I know Steve won't."
Nothing closed his eyes and nodded. "I know, but please try, ok?"
Ghost shrugged, and said, "I'll tell Steve what you said. I can't promise anything, though."
"Ok, I'm still staying, at least tonight, anyway. You'll let me know tomorrow?"
"I'll talk it over with Steve," Ghost said, then turned and left the office. He didn't know how he was going to tell Steve, but this was getting too complicated and out of control for him to figure out by himself. He needed Steve. He needed to go home. He found Steve still playing pool, and watched him for a few minutes.
"Hey, Ghost...wanna play?" Steve asked.
"No, I'm ready to go home," Ghost said.
"Home...already? I'm just now in the mood to stay," Steve said. "Can't ya wait awhile?"
"I don't think so, Steve. I need to get out of here. I need some air, and my head's spinnin'. Guess I'll go on. You can stay here, if ya want." He started for the door.
"Ghost...ya sure?"
"Yeah," Ghost said.
"Ok, man...catch up with ya later," Steve said, then went back to his game.
~
Ghost stepped outside, took a deep breath of cool, night air. The music was muffled now, but his ears were still ringing. He began the long walk home. He had time to think about what Nothing had said. He still didn't want Nothing to stay here in Missing Mile. No good would come of it, he was sure. But, he couldn't order someone to get out of town. And, Steve would go ballistic. He definitely didn't want that to happen.
As he came up to his house, he felt stupid for having to be careful of entering his own house. But now, he'd have to always be looking around, never knowing when Twig and Molochai would show up. He didn't sense any danger right now, though, so he went on in. Steve would be along, soon, he hoped.
The house was quiet. Ghost checked all the rooms to make sure everything was ok. He was alone...just his thoughts to keep him company...and he didn't like his thoughts, right now. He didn't like being alone, either. He never did. It was getting late, though, and he kept yawning and nodding off. He just couldn't stay awake waiting for Steve any longer.
He checked the doors again, to make sure they were locked, but still feeling uneasy, he got his and Steve's guns down from the cabinet. He put them under his pillow, then got into bed. Only one lamp was left on, in the living room. He looked at his glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling for a few minutes. He said a silent good night to his grandmother, and told her he felt like something wasn't right...that if she could, send him some courage to deal with whatever happened. He then fell asleep.
~
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
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