Guilt filled my chest as I watched Lucy bow her head to her chest, and unable to watch the girl suffer I gently coaxed her onto her feet. Unable to take Lucy back home, I instead took her out to the main shopping strip and settled for some hot chocolate and scones to calm her nerves. People were staring accusingly at me like I had been a cheating boyfriend. She had settled down somewhat but beyond her pleading for my help didn’t speak much more. I felt nervous sitting back within my home town; I kept searching for Anita and Luke and my family.
“Am I cursed?” Lucy whispered as she kept her head down and her thumb circling the lip of her cup. It was her third hot chocolate so far but it had seemed to be calming her down.
“We can fix this, she won’t let you die.” I reassured.
“She looks so different, so evil… but why only me, why isn’t she haunting the others?”
“The others? Wait… do you know who she is?”
“She thinks I did something to her, but I’m innocent. I swear it.”
“Can you tell me what happened?” I moved forward and placed my elbows on the table.
“It was just a joke, a prank. Everyone was saying it anyway and I just went along with it. I didn’t think she would seriously kill herself. We just wanted to knock her down a few pegs that’s all”.
“So you’re the girls who bullied her…”
“No!” Lucy quickly denied, “No we were her friends, it was just a joke.”
“You were spreading rumours about her…” I slouched back into my chair, remembering everything that Elliot had said, “She committed suicide because she was teased and belittled at school.”
“We didn’t mean for her to kill herself, it just got out of hand really quickly.”
“That’s why she wants revenge…She does remember things from her past.”
“Re-revenge?”
“Don’t worry Lucy; I’ll make sure Betrayal doesn’t hurt you.”
“Betrayal? What? What’s betrayal?”
“I meant Melissa. I’ll look after you, just promise to keep me informed about what she’s planning.”
“Who are you, how do you know all this stuff?”
Before I could answer I felt my eyes flicker off onto the familiar face of a man who looked exactly like my Uncle George. I only got to see him for a second as he walked into the corner of my view, checked over his shoulder before crossing the road. I sat upright but hesitated to pursue him. He had already disappeared from sight before I had even left my seat. “You can just say I’m a ghost whisperer….”
***
The rest of the day Betrayal hadn’t shown herself once since our dispute in the morning. I took Lucy back to the house, reassuring her that soon she’ll be able to return home and forget everything about Melissa’s ghost. She had promised me not to make any attempts at escaping, truly believing I could help her get rid of Betrayal’s presence.
After midnight I went up to the attic. My toes were cold with hesitation and I struggled to find the strength to lift my feet to walk. Disappointed and sick, I had found Evan’s body still abandoned where he had dropped. Where had everyone gone? With a heart full of pain, I collected Evan’s stiffen corpse and carried it down into the back garden. I dug him a grave, dressed him in his finest clothes before lowering him into the earth. Raix nudged his nose into my side gently, his large silver eyes tilted with concern. Shovel by shovel I filled the hole till I could pat the earth down and mount a cross where he rested. It wasn’t enough, but it was all I could do. Someday soon he’ll be reported missing and the police will come looking for him, and when our family return to find him gone it’ll look like a murder cover up. Only I would know the truth.
I wasn’t sure how long I sat there for, running my hand across the dirt mound, feeling an attachment to Evan’s body even though his spirit was running around Whitehaven on the loose. Eventually I pushed myself back into a stand and headed back inside. Within the household it was dark enough that the tiniest flicker of light shone like a beacon of fire. At first I was startled before I noticed it was a tiny beep of red flashing from the answering machine. During the daylight I would have never had noticed it, but now it washed half the lounge in red with its blinking. I pressed the play button, listening through about six different voice messages from old recordings. One of them was from dad and I strained my ears to catch every word dropped from his raspy voice.
“Conference has been extended, out for another week or so. Don’t try to call, mobile is switched off.”
The next message coincidentally was from Nathan, “Pete has the summer cabin for the holidays, be back later. Ha ha ha – shut up you idiot-” The noise of background laughter muffled Nathan’s voice inaudible before the tone ended the recording. Lastly there was Ange, well Ange’s sister as she spoke in a gentle scared whisper, “Something has happened to Deborah, we’re not sure if it’s cancer but the doctor is going to keep her under surveillance for the next few days. Dad insisted Ange stays with us, it’s better to keep the family close. She says to please pass on the message that she loves Evan and all the boys very much. Umm… you have our number if you need anything, bye.”
Unknowingly I had my hand over my mouth, biting back the whimpers that were so desperately trying to squeeze free. Just hearing their voices again had my head spinning, doubting once more that this was a possible reality and that I wasn’t somehow still sleeping in my bed. I was about to walk off when I noticed one last messaged stored away in the machine, this one was more recent, reaching back only a few days.
“Hey Raymond, it’s George. Listen I’ve gotten some papers I want to run by you. I’ll swing by soon okay; if you’re not home I’ll just leave them in at postal storage. I rather speak to you face to face, okay, thanks; pass my hello to the family. Beep! Beep! Beep!”
Uncle George came by the house… Uncle George came by the house!
My feet staggered backwards, words spiralling like webs connecting all the answers together to form a perfect picture. Uncle George must be carrying Evan! It’s the only possible answer! No one ever ventures out here, our neighbours were gone and the timing was perfect. Unable to control my excitement, I spun on my heel and ran directly into Lucy’s room. Once I got there my face scrunched in confusion. The bed was empty and the sheets were kicked back, a single note was left unfurled on the pillow head.
I found him….
“What? That’s it?” I turned the note over searching for more but that was all she had written. The silence of the house had me panicking. Betrayal must’ve known where he was… she planned all along on leaving to find him in private. “Raix!” The canine unfolded from the shadows instantly, “Quickly find them.”
Lowering his nose to the floor, Raix pounced off into a run before disappearing into invisibility. I could hear his padded paws hitting the floor in his departure before silence filled the house again. With Raix on the hunt, I moved under my hood and checked every corner of the house and out into the streets. When that failed, I returned back to the lounge and tried calling up my Uncle and Aunt’s phone number. I couldn’t remember it for the life of me and ended up resorting to the white pages directory. Hastings was a common name, even more so that there were at least twelve other G & D Hastings in the phone book. I slammed the phone down before the first ring, knowing I’ll just get in trouble for contacting old family members.
Moments later Raix returned exhausted and unaccompanied. He sneezed by my feet and shook his coat, ears pinned letting me know he had failed. The panic subsided briefly as I took a moment to calm myself, knowing that Evan now had a friend by his side and that he was safe help lower my heart rate. Admitting I was frustrated and annoyed at Betrayal as well, I also wanted to thank her for seeking him out.
Feeling at a loss, I remained under my cloak and stepped back into the spirit world. I didn’t want to return to Elliot and Teresa just yet, but I didn’t want to walk around my empty house any longer. I returned to the Drop Off automatically before crumbling to my kn
ees. I was so tired, the exhaustion in my body slumped me over so my hands pressed against the cold floor.
***
Had I done the right thing? I started to feel an uneasy squeeze move through me, disturbed by the thought I would stop at nothing to get my brother to safety. Was I brave or reckless? Would people look at me and see a loyal brother or some lunatic tampering in things he has no understanding of? Whatever rules and boundaries were put into place for Reapers, I think I’ve nearly broken every single one of them. I glanced over as Raix laid himself down next to my side. I watched how the smoke breathed out of him and how those same fangs once tore at my face. I flinched at the memory, and the thought sickened me that a chunk of my soul was at the hands of Hunters and Spirits that saw me as disposable. If I was caught, everything I’ve tried to achieve would unravel faster than snow held to fire. I remained motionless, drunk in my thoughts till I heard a loud shout call from across the dome.
“Hey – It’s him! That’s the Reaper…” The thoughts of being captured had me panicked in my own skin that I instantly bolted. Hastily Raix scooped me up and teleported me back onto the earth where I stumbled to a stand. I wasn’t sure where I was as I leaned my back against a lone tree trunk and shielded my eyes from the sun. It definitely wasn’t Whitehaven.
“Hey! Reaper! Wait up!” The same voice called up and desperately Raix folded us back into the shadows before teleporting us in a random jump to a new destination. Appearing in the middle of a busy intersection, stuck in the cross roads of rushing pedestrians I could still hear that same voice call out to me.
“Stop running Reaper, I just want to talk-” The stranger grabbed my shoulder just as I spun and clutched my hand to his throat.
“Stop following me!” I commanded and he immediately flinched his hand back. I let my grip go quickly once I lowered my gaze down onto the young face of the Reaper. He was probably no older than fourteen. Raix also was quick to lurch at him, warningly snapping the air that forced the young Reaper to stumble onto his back foot. His own Goon jumped up in defence, a type of oversized rodent with fish lips and massive bull horns protruding out of its skull.
“Sorry, sorry I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Who are you?” I demanded.
“K-Kyle. I just want to talk, please…” He had his hands up in surrender.
“What do you want?”
“I want to join you, we all do.” My face softened by my genuine confusion. His eyes were burning bright with a mark of orange and the tattoo that painted his right cheek resembled a distorted puzzle with all the pieces mix-matching.
“What on earth are you talking about?” The cars were tooting and honking on either side of us, the little red man on the pedestrians crossing lights now a solid red. I bent down and helped hoist Kyle back onto his feet before ushering us off the road.
“We all know what you did, how you stood up to the notorious Masked Reapers. It’s really impressive. I thought for sure you’ll be a goner but here you are!” He panted in what I could only imagine was a tone of awe.
“Slowdown, what is all this we stuff? What are you talking about?”
“Let me show you-” Kyle titled his head, bearing a warm smile before slipping under the cloak and vanishing. I hesitated for a moment, calculating if I really should follow this Reaper or if it was a trap before Raix motioned for me to proceed with a gentle whine. I sighed before stepping into the shadows where a slight scar was left behind from Kyle’s teleportation, allowing Reapers close by to follow their jump.
Stepping out from the other side, I was welcomed by a group of up to ten Reapers inside a small hotel room. Kyle was waiting among them, and as I appeared they all raised their glasses at me and cheered. I looked around myself bewildered by the unexpected welcomed. By the drop outside the window, we were about 30 stories high and in the middle of the city. The lights were dazzling and the traffic at the bottom was at a near standstill. All at once they flooded to me, clapping me on the back of my shoulders and trying to force wine glasses into my hands. Their voices were pounding into my head from every direction I didn’t know where to look.
“It’s actually him, the Wolf Reaper!”
“We are so grateful to you for getting those Hunters to back off. I was too scared to go to the Drop Off for weeks…”
“Standing up to those bully Masked Reapers was extraordinary, they’ve been a huge pain for decades now. You’re done us a massive favour Wolf Reaper.”
“You’re going to help us all right; you’re going to finally break this curse?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where are you all hearing this from?” I stepped out of their arms, “I don’t understand.” They glanced about each other with confused doubting looks.
“But it’s true isn’t it? You saved a Reaper from the Sin Wrath, you took on the Masked Reapers even though it was six against one and won TWICE, and you’ve even challenged Hunters and told them to back off from other Reapers. You’re our hero; you must be planning something big.” Kyle piped up from in front of the group.
“I’m just trying to save my brother.” My voice dropped in my honesty and their shoulders slumped slightly in their disappointment.
“But… but you are going to do something right? Against the Hunters?” Kyle mumbled again.
“Am I meant to?” I started when a voice rose over my own.
“Reapers all over the globe are talking about you; they all want to stand by your side to stop the Hunters from repressing us. You’re a symbol of our rise in the ranks; with the Wolf Reaper we can do anything.” Another Reaper, an older woman stepped forward warmly.
“Hunters are getting worried, they’ve been looking for you now. Ha ha, I’ve never seen them so scattered before.”
“We’ll help you; we’ll keep you hidden till we have a plan to attack. We all want to help.” A younger male announced as the rest of them nodded their heads in eager agreement.
I looked out across the room feeling my chest fill with warmth. All the injustice that has been forced upon the Reapers, chaining them to their Goons, trapping them on earth and forced into endless labour and using their separated soul as a means to control and torture them. For a long time I had thought I was the only one upset by their repression, but really, all the Reapers were wanting to pull on their leashes and step out from underneath the Hunter’s thumbs. They were just waiting for someone brave enough to make the first step. Unknowingly, I had created myself a reputation and started to build a fan club. No… not just a fan club, they are talking about building an army.
“I am… so incredibly honoured that you will stand by me, there is nothing more I want than to break the chains repressing us but this will be an act of war on the Hunters and Royals. Are you sure you want this?”
The older woman sighed with relief, “Of course, you’re all we have left to hope for. I’ve been stuck here for over a hundred torturous years; this idea of freedom is worth everything.”
The warmth that was filling my body quickly changed to courage and pride. Starting from something as selfish as wanting to save my own brother, now to becoming the beacon of Reaper’s rebellion had my head spinning.
Before I could catch myself I nodded a confident yes, “Then I will help however I can.”
In a loud shout they all jumped up and cheered. I may have over dramatized my hero speech and the weight of my new found responsibility had just started to sink in the more I let the words whirl in my head. Were they hoping for a brave commander charging into battle? I was just a mere boy, a lone Reaper who has so far barely missed having my mind melted to sludge. But a rebellion was the perfect and necessary action to change the ways of Reapers. Once the Reapers were free, next I could free the Banished. I was happy to see them all rejoicing, but I could also see the seriousness of their plight taking hold of their smiles. This was the beginning of a war. A dangerous war, but something we needed to do.
“What do we do first Wolf Reaper?”
I bit into my grin
, “We recruit.”
Chapter Twenty:
Finding Elliot and Teresa back at the apartment I was welcomed with less enthusiasm. Teresa had her eyes opened at least, but she remained sprawled out on the bed with a wet cloth balanced across her forehead. I could barely catch the glimpse of her eyes under every blink.
“Is something wrong?” Elliot leapt up, “Where’s Melissa?”
“Oh… right.” I had forgotten that she had deserted me, “Well we decided to go our separate ways.”
“What do you mean? Did you lose her?”
“I’m sorry Elliot, I don’t’ know what else to say. She’s a wild one, but she left me a note saying she found my brother.”
“Will she be back?” His chest fell in disappointment.
“I honestly hope so… umm, but there is something else that I should probably fill you in on.”
Teresa and Elliot both held eye contact with me, expressing their full attention. “Apparently there has been gossip going around about me ‘defending’ the Reapers. They think I’m going to free them from the Hunter’s control…”
“Who on earth would spread that rumour?”
“They mistook my attempts at freeing my brother as a rebellion against Reapers repression.”
“You said you weren’t right? That is was a misunderstanding?”
“Well…” I awkwardly glanced upwards towards the ceiling.
“Jordon! No, what are you thinking? The Hunters will hear about this, they’ll come down and they’ll destroy you.” Panicked Elliot jumped upwards and immediately rushed to the window, drawing the blinds in.
“I’m aware of that, but I can’t sit by another day having them control us with fear. Don’t you want to go up to your families in heaven? Do you want to be chained to your Goon like a dog? Maybe this is my purpose in death? Maybe I was forced to become a Reaper to not only rescue my brother, but all Reapers?”
“You think this is some type of action movie where the small man overtakes the corrupted power? Jordon, you’ll be destroyed. Your brother will be left defenceless.”
My Demonic Ghost Book two (The Reapers 2) Page 18
