Call On Me

by Angela Verdenius

  Ali held her breath, her gaze tracking Ghost’s hand as he levelled it out and swept his finger slowly back and forth towards the pond. The silver depths now seemed wrong, hiding secrets, flat like a mirror reflecting things, concealing things, and she shivered in a mix of dread and delight as a ripple appeared, then another, and a third.

  Luckily a fish chose that moment to spring from one of the ripples. It was either that or start shaking in her sneakers. For a second she’d half fancied she saw something shift beneath the surface, something start to appear. Not the fish, but something else. Someone else.

  Naturally, Ghost was attuned to her thoughts. “Parker thought it was a fish, too.” He waited a heartbeat. “But it wasn’t.”

  Oh boy. Ali inhaled deeply.

  Ghost slid his hand from her mouth, resting his palm at the base of her throat. “The surface rippled, like it’s rippling now, and from the depths appeared the top of a head, then the whole head, long hair running with water. Shoulders, torso, arms, the figure rose higher and higher and all Parker could do was stare, frightened so badly. The figure rose…”

  Surely that was a ripple she saw even as Ghost spoke? The ripples growing wider, but then they vanished and she relaxed. A little.

  “Finally the figure was free of the pond, hanging there in mid-air, and he could see it was a woman. Her hair was long and straggling over her face, water pouring from her, her dress clinging to her body, but what scared him the most, Ali, was the fact that some of the water pouring from her was dark, really dark.” He paused.

  “Like blood?” Ali whispered, mesmerized.

  “Like blood. And now he could see her clearer, because she had turned slowly in the air, turned around so that she was facing him, and then she sort of drifted across the pond surface, her toes not quite skimming the surface. He could see that it was blood pouring from her. Not pond water, Ali, but blood.”

  Laying her hand atop his where it rested on her belly, Ali squeezed.

  Ghost’s voice remained hushed and she had to almost strain to hear him. “Paralysed with fear, Parker could only watch…watch…as she came closer, drifting ever closer, and then she was before him, and she lifted her head slowly…so slowly…and the blood-drenched hair slid back and he could see her face. Or what was left of it.”

  Oh crap, that couldn’t be good. Ali swallowed.

  “No eyes, Ali, just dark, bloody holes where the fish had eaten the eyes out. Bloody sockets. Nose half eaten off, lips gone. Skin so white, so thin, so rotten. She opened up her mouth and…”

  Tense, Ali gripped his hand tighter.

  Ghost straightened.

  “What?” Whipping around, Ali looked up at him.

  “Parker doesn’t know. He woke up and she was gone.”

  “He woke up in bed?” Ali asked ironically.

  “No, honey, he woke up right here.” Ghost pointed down towards their feet.

  “Probably had one too many to drink.” Suppressing a shiver, Ali glanced over her shoulder at the pond.

  “He’d have agreed, but he woke up drenched in pond water.”

  “Fell in.”

  “No. He was wet with pond water and he hadn’t gone into the pond or dragged himself out.” Reaching out, Ghost tugged a strand of hair that tickled her chin. “He can’t explain it.”

  “Freaky.” Ali looked down at her feet. If Parker had been fishing right here, had fallen right here, then that meant – she swung around to stare at the pond.

  “Yep,” Ghost said calmly. “The woman came from there to here.”

  “Wonderful. Well, I’m going to sit way over there, waaaaay over there.” Hurriedly, Ali started walking back towards the place he had left the backpack. “Move it, Ghost.”

  “We’ve got another five minutes yet.”

  “Five minutes?” She moved faster. “Did you bring salt?”

  “Salt?”

  “And holy water?”

  Amused, Ghost followed. “Have you been watching ghost hunter shows again?”

  “Those hunters are hot. And they carry protection.”

  “Condoms?”

  “No! Salt and holy water.”

  “I’m pretty sure the holy water is for demons. Which this isn’t.”

  “Salt can be used for ghosts.”

  “I don’t make a habit of carrying around salt.”

  “Maybe you better start studying their techniques.” Ali sat on the ground.

  “Oh honey, where’s the fun in that?” Dropping to his knees beside her, Ghost opened up the video bag and took the camera from it, turning around to face the pond and raising the camera to his eyes, he started adjusting the controls.

  “I just think being prepared is a good thing,” Ali stated.

  “I’m prepared. I’ve got the video camera in case the ghost appears, remember?”

  Shaking her head, Ali trained her gaze on the pond, part of her wanting the spirit to be real, to appear, but part of her was hoping it was simply a wild story of Old Man Parker’s. Go figure, the thrill of the spirit against the pure fear of the unknown.

  Ghost set up the small tripod, going behind it to fix the camera to it, and after ensuring it was in the direction he wanted, he finally sat back down beside Ali and leaned back languidly on his elbows, taking a deep breath and settling down contentedly.

  Amused, Ali observed him from the corner of her eye. His gaze was on the pond, his pose relaxed, but she knew he was just taking it all in, including her own rising tension. Like a sponge he was just soaking it all in – the atmosphere, the surroundings, the ghost story, no doubt cataloguing his own reactions and emotions as he waited. It was as though these excursions rejuvenated him, speared him on to write his horror and thriller stories, inspiration filling every corner of his agile mind.

  For as long as she’d known him, he thrived in these situations, yet he refused to take ghost hunting paraphernalia with them, simply bringing along his video recorder to capture anything if it appeared. He loved the plain thrill of the simplicity in simply watching and waiting or searching, but without the technology used by serious ghost hunters. For him it was the thrill, the atmosphere, the imagination. The fun.

  And sucker for a good ghost story and hunt, Ali followed happily along on his jaunts into the unknown. He thrilled, she chilled. It was the way they did it.

  Sitting cross-legged, she watched the pond and waited.

  A chill crept through the air, no doubt by the dew that was starting to gather. A light breeze rippled the surface of the pond and not far away an owl hooted.

  The minutes ticked past. Slowly her tension tightened, winding tighter, but as time passed and nothing happened, she started to relax.

  Just another wild story. Thank God. But what a disappointment, too. As usual, she had mixed feelings.

  Glancing sideways at Ghost, she saw that he was still watching the pond, his eyes half closed, thick eyelashes hiding his brown eyes from sight. Motionless, he lounged back, his handsome face not giving away his thoughts. Every breath he took was deep and even. Calmness practically oozed from his pores.

  Yep, no matter how scary the situation got, he remained calm, cool-headed, and controlled. So calm right now, in fact, that he looked like he could almost fall asleep.

  Which would leave her awake to face a possible scary ghost. Not happening. Stretching out one leg, she turned to face him, reaching out to touch his shoulder. “Ghost?”

  “Mmm?” He didn’t move an inch.

  “I don’t think she’s coming.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Parker’s scary story is just that, a story.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “Obviously.” She gestured to the pond. “Nothing there and-”

  “Quiet!”

  There was no laughter in his tone. Without shifting he reached out and grab her thigh, his large hand curving over her. Instantly she obeyed, freezing. His lashes had lifted and now she saw his brown eyes were alert, tracking something, and her heart star
ted to beat fast.

  Oh God, was it the ghost? The spirit? Coming out of the water, floating there…turning towards them?

  Chapter 3

  Slowly, she started to move her head around.

  “Stop,” Ghost ordered, just as quiet but with authority ringing in his low tone. “Stay dead still.”

  Oh sweet baby Jesus! Her mouth went dry and her hands started to shake. It was the spirit!

  Staring at Ghost, Ali was just a fraction relieved when he glanced up at her reassuringly, although there was no laughter in his eyes. It wasn’t a joke, something bad was near and he didn’t want to draw attention to themselves. Nor did she. No way did she want a ghost to come right up to her. Ever.

  Oddly, Ghost just kept looking into her eyes and she saw the concern within the calm brown depths. And then she felt it, a weight on her ankle, something touching her.

  Every nerve tightened and she had the overwhelming urge to leap up and scream. The only thing that stopped her was his hand tightening on her thigh in warning and his eyes narrowing slightly.

  Staying still while something slid over her ankle, the weight heavy. The spirit’s hand? Was it touching her? It was touching her! Her breath fastened, her mouth opening a little, her breath coming out in small gasps.

  Ghost kept her gaze trapped with his and all she could do was gaze helplessly at him, fear riding her hard but her faith in him unshaken. If he said to be still, then she sure as hell wasn’t going to argue. Maybe the spirit was passing them, not really seeing them.

  The weight disappeared and agonizing seconds ticked past as they continued to stare at each other before slowly Ghost’s grip eased on her thigh and he sat up.

  “Is it…is it gone?” Ali asked shakily.

  “Yeah. It’s safe to move.” He pushed up to stand tall.

  Leaping to her feet, Ali stared wildly around while gripping onto his shirt front. “Did you see it? Was she ugly? Did you get it on camera? Where did she go?”

  His arm slid around her shoulders as he drew her into him to drop a kiss on top of her head. “Honey, it was no spirit.”

  “What? But I felt it touch me and-”

  “It was a bloody big gwardar snake.”

  “What?” Skin prickling, she looked up at him.

  “An adult gwardar wandered in our direction and was right near your leg.” He squeezed her waist. “But it’s gone now.”

  She stared up at him. “Snake?”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh shit!” Leaping around, she brushed her hand across her ankle and shrieked. “Oh shit! I hate snakes! You know I hate snakes! Oh God, are there any more?”

  “If there were, they’re a miles away by now.” Grinning, he moved around to start packing up the video camera. “Come on, honey, time to go home.”

  “Oh my God! A snake!” Shuddering, she gazed around almost wildly. Snakes were on the top of her fear list, above even spirits. “Oh geez!”

  Laughing now, he took the bottle of water from the backpack and opened it, handing it to her. “Here, have a drink and calm down.”

  Still icked out, she took several mouthfuls while scanning the ground around her the whole time.

  Taking it from her proffered hand, Ghost took several long swallows before recapping it and returning it to the back pack, which he swung up across one broad shoulder. Picking up the video bag, he sling it over her shoulder, caught her hand and started back around the pond. “Come on, honey, time to go home.”

  When the panel van finally came into view, Ali fastened her stride, ignoring Ghost’s chuckle. The van was safe, it got her off the ground.

  ~*~

  Pulling the panel van near the petrol bowsers, Ghost grinned as Ali jumped out of the car. “In a hurry, honey?”

  “Just keep laughing, jackass.” Ali bent down to peer at him through the window. “Want anything to drink?”

  “Iced coffee would hit the spot.”

  While she disappeared into the service station café, Ghost popped the fuel cap and got out of the car, smiling as Lori rounded the back and reached for the fuel gun. Before she could get it, he took hold of the handle. “I’ve got it, Lori.”

  “It is my job,” she replied.

  “Sure it is, but I’m giving you a break.”

  She smiled. “Ali was moving fast. Did you see the ghost?”

  “No, but a snake crawled across her ankle.”

  Lori shuddered. “Ugh.”

  She didn’t ask if her sister was okay, which Ghost knew was because she had absolute faith in him and knew if Ali had of been hurt, they’d be at the hospital right now, not the service station. Instead, Lori said, “I’d wait a few weeks before inviting her on the next ghost hunt.”

  “Oh, for sure. That little sheila won’t be in a hurry to go to another bushland scene for a while.” Ghost laughed, Lori joining in.

  They both looked up when an ambulance pulled in to the other side of the bowsers, Lori immediately moving to their side as the cap flipped open.

  “Hey, Ghost.” Sally, one of the local volunteer ambos, got out, nodded at him and headed off to the café.

  The driver rounded the back of the ambulance to reveal the paramedic, Matt, who smiled down at Lori. “Hey, Lori.”

  She smiled slightly. “Hi, Matt. Fill ‘er up?”

  “Please.” He glanced around as a semi pulled up a little further away beside the diesel bowsers. “Busy night?”

  “Not too bad.” She kept her gaze on the fuel gun as she fitted the nozzle into the fuel inlet. “You?”

  “Quiet, though I’m probably jinxing us.” Matt looked up and caught sight of Ghost. “Hey, Ghost.”

  “Matt.” Ghost eyed the ambulance thoughtfully. “Tell me, do you have ghosts in there?”

  “I haven’t picked any up tonight,” Matt replied easily.

  “Just thinking.”

  “Coming from you, that’s intriguing.” Matt leaned back against the side of the ambulance. “Thinking of writing about a haunted ambulance?”

  “Hey, don’t laugh. It’s said ghosts haunt places they die. People die in ambulances.”

  “Well, true, but we try not to allow that to happen.”

  Not at all put off, Ghost studied the ambulance. White with a green patterned stripe and dark windows, an idea started to stir in his head. Hmmm…

  “So, what are you doing out and about this late at night?” Matt glanced at his wrist watch. “Or should I say, this time of the morning?”

  “Ghost hunting.” Ghost took the nozzle from the fuel inlet and hung it back into position.

  “Catch anything?”

  “Not a thing, though Ali did have a close encounter of the snake kind.”

  Matt’s brows rose. “Seeing as neither you nor Lori are upset and are both still standing here, I’m thinking she’s all right.”

  “Rattled, but fine.”

  Matt’s gaze flicked past him, a small smile curving his lips. “More than fine, I think.”

  Turning, Ghost looked over the top of the van to see Ali chatting to a bloke. From the distance he couldn’t see who the bloke was and he wondered at the identity. What was certain was that Ali was entertained, because she laughed, the sound clear in the early morning darkness. The man was medium height and lean, but he seemed to be amusing going by her laughter.

  “Who’s that?” Ghost queried as Lori moved up beside him.

  Lori glanced over briefly. “New mechanic.”

  “What’s he like?”

  “Seems okay.”

  Matt moved up on Lori’s other side and they all watched as Ali and the new mechanic shook hands.

  “Getting chummy,” Matt observed.

  “Hopefully he’s better than her last idiot date.” Ghost glanced down at Lori. “What’s his name?”

  “Chris.”

  “Chris what?”

  “Chris Smith.”

  “You are kidding me.”

  Lori shrugged.

  Ghost looked across at Chris Smith.
“What do you know about him?”

  “Just moved into town.”

  “And?”

  “That’s it.” Lori moved around him and started towards the service station. “Is that cash or card, Ghost?”

  Pocketing the car keys, Ghost closed the distance easily between himself and Lori, falling into step beside her. As they neared Chris and Ali, he looked at her to find her smile genuine and her eyes sparkling. Whatever Chris was saying to her, she was enjoying it. He wondered what the new bloke could possibly be saying to amuse her.

  He only managed to catch a glimpse of Chris as they passed, politeness stopping him from turning and walking backwards to stare at him. He had dark hair and his profile seemed okay, kind of hawkish, if that was the kind of thing that turned on Ali.

  Entering the small office off the main service station, he paid for the fuel, all the time casting furtive glances out the window at Chris and Ali. Geez, didn’t the man have a job to do? And besides that…“How come you have a mechanic here at this time of night?”

  “He’s not working” Lori handed him his change.

  “So what’s he doing here?”

  She levelled a readable look at him. “Minding his business?”

  Lori had a sharp tongue when she decided to use it, he’d give her that, not that it deterred him one bit. “Huh. Odd time to be around.”

  “You’re around.”

  “I’m on legitimate business.”

  “Matt?” Lori looked behind him.

  Ghost obligingly moved aside to find Matt grinning at him as he handed over the card used for the ambulance fuel-ups. “What?”

  “Nothing,” Matt replied. “Nothing at all.”

  “Hey, she’s a good friend. I’m just looking out for her.”

  “Sure you are.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’re like an old mother hen clucking around when a stray fox comes into the pen.”

  Lori grinned.

  “And you can stop that,” Ghost told her.

  He walked beside Matt as they exited the office to find Ali had returned to the van and was sitting waiting for him.