by Nicole Smith
“No! Stop!” I shouted.
It was too late, I quickly looked away. I was shaking as I looked back towards the spot they were standing in the street and saw nothing. They were gone and the car had disappeared. I turned to look at Hayden standing back from me, leaning against his car watching. He gestured to the window again. I felt tears in my eyes as I looked back into the window. There they were. He was taking off his coat and hat. He helped her out of her coat and hung them, then took her hand as he led her to the middle of the room. He held her close as they danced to music I couldn’t hear. I looked at Hayden again. He was close behind me now, holding his hand out for mine. I quickly took it as he held me. He kissed my forehead and led me back to the car.
As we were driving back toward his apartment, I cried softly, realizing that they had died together and were now trapped in that evening forever. It seemed so sad. Hayden looked at me and sighed.
“Please don’t cry. It isn’t as bad as you think. They can stop dancing if they want too. They may not be able to go far but every evening they dance. It actually is quite beautiful,” he said looking distant. He touched my knee gently and reached for my hand. I stopped crying and rested my head on his shoulder as he pulled into the parking garage.
14. WILD FLOWERS
My dreams came back to haunt me during the night. Even though Hayden was only an arms-length away from me I awoke screaming again. He held me firmly, rocking me back and forth whispering in my ear.
“You’re okay. I’m here to take care of you. Wake up Natalie.” I held onto his arms that were wrapped around me. I was awake now but shuddering at the twist my dream had now taken. It wasn’t Adam and I that were walking hand in hand on that path anymore. Hayden was with me. The dark shadow that was coming quickly towards me was not one but three shadows. Hayden didn’t let go of my hand, like Adam did, and surprisingly that’s when I awoke, screaming.
“I’m alright. Thank you,” I said still clinging to him, not wanting him to move, he held me tight.
Later that day Hayden decided he wanted to bring me back out for more training. He hinted that time was becoming a factor. I was frightened by the reason behind his fears. Something was coming. I shuddered remembering my dream.
“So where is it we are off to today?” I asked after finishing lunch. He was leaning against the counter watching me. I smiled, feeling a little self-conscious.
“I think we need something fun today too.”
“That sounds good,” I said smiling. “When do you want to go?”
“Well, the sun is shining so I think in about an hour. I suggest you wear something comfortable, there will be some climbing involved,” he advised.
“Climbing?” I scrutinized him.
“Don’t worry, its nothing you can’t handle,” he grinned. He walked over to me as I stood up. He grabbed my hand and kissed me gently. He led me to his room. Now I knew why he didn’t want to leave right away.
As we started driving he rolled down his windows and seemed to be listening to something. He quickly turned off the radio and slowed down. He pulled over and then a moment later he took off speeding down a side road.
“What is it?” I asked.
“There is something happening that I think might be beneficial for you to see,” he answered. He started to slow the car and eventually pulled into a parking space along the side of the road.
I felt the change in energy around us. I have felt it before, many times. Hayden stepped out of the car and I followed him over to a cliff at the side of the road. Down below was a hi-way. I saw a red sports car, the make was unidentifiable, and a big, white truck. Both vehicles were stuck together. The red car was smashed into the truck like a paintball. The driver’s side and the passenger side were both folded up. I saw her as I tried to look in the window. The woman was sitting in the drivers’ seat. She was mangled. The only reason I knew her to be a woman was her long hair. As I watched, I was about to ask Hayden to leave when I saw her attempt to sit up. I watched her slide out of the ruined car, through the window. She moved so smoothly and agile, like there was nothing wrong with her. I put my hand on my mouth, thinking we should go help her until the paramedics arrive. As I glanced at Hayden for some support, he held his hand up.
“Wait,” he simply said. I looked at the woman again. She was standing there in front of the red car and began to shake out her hair. She was beautiful. Her skin was clear and nicely colored. Her hair was long and shiny. Her body was fit and free from any kind of marking or disfigurement. She quickly looked around, avoiding the body that remained in the car. She turned her gaze up toward us, smiled and then ran away.
“We may have to watch out for that one,” Hayden said nervously.
“Oh! You would like that, wouldn’t you?” I replied sarcastically.
“No my darling she is so not my type, being dead and all. I mean she might easily sway to the Geist’s, she seemed too content with her fate, only time will tell,” he said looking ahead, as if he already knew the answer. We walked away as I heard the sirens approaching. The man in the truck hadn’t lifted his head but I knew he wasn’t dead yet.
“How did you know there was a fatal car accident in that spot at that moment?” I whispered. This wasn’t the first time Hayden did something that seemed completely unnatural. He didn’t answer and I didn’t ask again.
We drove for almost an hour. He eventually turned down a lane that led to a parking lot. The sun was just beginning to set. The sky was a beautiful pink and red mix with a bit of orange thrown in. The air was warm. I was feeling really good considering what we had witnessed. Hayden held my hand as he led me to the playground equipment near a group of trees. I was surprised at first.
“You want me to go on a slide?” I questioned, raising my eyebrows as I looked at him.
“Why don’t you look again?” he said as we walked closer. I looked closer at the playground as we walked. I smiled and began to run towards it. It was much larger than I thought. As I approached the sand surrounding the equipment I laughed. I smiled again and turned to Hayden.
“What is this place? I feel like `Alice in Wonderland’,” I squealed. I ran to the ladder that was more than twelve feet high. I climbed it and walked across the plank that led to a slide and ropes. I was quite high up. I had never seen anything like it before. I slid down the slide laughing like I was a little kid again. Hayden was at the bottom. He caught me, pleased with my enjoyment.
“I was hoping you would like this secret playground. I feel like a kid when I’m here. I feel like I’ll stay young forever,” he lifted me up and placed me on the swing that was at least three feet off the ground. As he pushed me I clung to the ropes and laughed. We climbed the ropes and crawled through the tubes. I felt like I was six years old again. I felt so small and so happy. I didn’t have a care in the world as I crawled across the rope bridge that was ten feet above the ground. When I reached the end Hayden pulled me up. As I slid one more time down the slide I realized that Hayden always managed to be ready for me at the bottom. He was there with his strong arms wrapping around me, picking me up before I reached the sand. I was shocked sometimes by how quickly he moved and with such agility. When I looked into his eyes I was overcome with the realization that everything was going to be okay. He would make sure of it. I kissed him so intensely. I needed him more than I ever thought I would need anyone. He kissed me back, with the same urgency.
“Natalie, I know that accepting all this can be overwhelming. I want you to tell me when you’re feeling exhausted.” I nodded, loving the way he openly cared for me. He held my hand as he led me down the trail. I was surprised by this.
“Where are we going?” I asked, confused.
“I have to show you more. I’m afraid we can’t go home yet, as much as I would like to.”
He was serious again, but he did give my hand a gentle squeeze. I followed him, sensing his mood. He was on a mission to teach me as much as he could. I had to identify phantoms upon first glance
and I had to determine if they were a threat or not. I didn’t understand how a ghost could be a threat to most people yet. I was aware that they could physically hurt me. I could feel them but the general public fortunately didn’t possess my special gift. Hayden would explain all this soon. I had so many questions but he had asked me to wait until he showed me as much as he could. He really wanted me to understand and learn quickly. We walked in silence for a few minutes. Once we reached the dense forest Hayden slowed and listened to something in the woods. I felt a faint warm breeze surround us. He pointed off the trail between two large maple trees. There were two people standing there. One was holding a picnic basket and the other one held a blanket. I smiled and waved cautiously, feeling bad for intruding on their private escape. Hayden shook his head at me and grabbed my arm. He was not amused.
“Do you notice anything odd about this couple?” he asked, looking down, impatiently. I guess he had hoped I was learning a little faster.
“Oh, right. Sorry,” I said feeling embarrassed.
“They are not alive. Their skin is perfect. They are dressed from another era. I’m guessing early fifties. They are young, in their twenties and …” I trailed off as I realized I was getting more information about them than I should have from just their clothes. I usually couldn’t read their minds or get more information than what they offered. Hayden looked me in the eyes, searching, waiting for me to continue.
“What is it? What are you thinking?” he asked me cautiously, holding my hands in his, supporting me.
“I sense that they come here every day. They’ve come here every day since they died from the bear attack over sixty years ago. They were engaged. Her mother was driving her crazy with all the wedding plans. David thought she would like to escape for a few hours from all the decisions that had to be made. Jane jumped at the idea. She made sandwiches and salads. She packed a few bottles of cola and half of an apple pie her mother baked the night before. David packed a bottle of Champagne and a little gift box. The box was wrapped in pretty pink paper and inside was a beautiful gold chain with a gold heart. There was a small diamond in the middle of the heart and on the back he had had it engraved.
I will love you in life and in death
Forever yours David
They had no idea there was a bear in the area. It was a mother and unfortunately her cub had strayed. The cub was following the scent of their lunch. Jane smiled when she first saw the little cub wander over to the basket. She was young and naive. She reached into the basket and gave the cub half a sandwich. As she did this the mother appeared, thinking her cub was in danger. David had just returned with some wild flowers for Jane. He dropped them as the bear swung at Jane, sending her flying back. Her abdomen was torn and blood was spilling all over her yellow dress. He ran to Jane. He held her up, calling her name, knowing she would not answer him back. He looked up at the bear that was standing over him on its hind legs. It growled at him as he shouted at it.
`End it now, for I have nothing left’, he shouted at the bear. The bear understood him, and out of remorse, it swung one heavy paw down on his head knocking him out. Before the bear walked away, sensing that Jane was dead, she carefully sliced a claw across David’s throat, spilling blood in a pool around his head. The bear looked up to the sky and growled then quickly guided the cub away from the horrible scene.”
I dropped down to the ground and cried. Hayden just held me, silently, patiently waiting for me to regain my strength. I looked up at him. He helped me stand. He wiped my face with his shirt and kissed my forehead.
“Your intuition is getting stronger. I think your starting to realize your true potential. You have had this gift all your life, but now you have opened yourself up to it. You were able to fill in some questions I had about this couple. Let’s go,” he said leading me back to the car.
The next morning I awoke alone. I quickly grabbed my robe and went to find Hayden. He was in his study reading one of his ghost novels.
“Good morning love,” he said looking up.
“How did you sleep?” he asked, coming over to me.
“I slept soundly, thank you,” I said grinning at him. He placed his hands on my hips.
“What are you reading?” I asked, eyeing the book he put down on the desk. He glanced at it then back at me.
“I was just doing some research. I am trying to figure out the best way to introduce you to the others. I don’t want to shock you or discourage you. I know that no matter what I do your attitude toward phantoms is going to change. The ones you are going to see tonight will frighten you. I love you so much that I really wanted to shield you from this but in order for you to stay with me ….”He trailed off, not sure how he wanted to finish that thought. He wanted me to stay with him but in order for that to happen I had to be able to defend myself and be able to help him fulfill his duties. I still didn’t know who he owed this obligation too. He wanted to take this slow but I had to know more, I had to know everything. I held his hands and pulled him toward the kitchen.
“We have a lot of work to do today, I can tell. I need some food first,” I said, grinning at his confusion.
“Of course you do,” he said, hugging me tightly.
We spent the day discussing old ghost stories and poltergeists. Hayden would tell me what he believed to be the important points and facts from these stories. I let him in on some details of the phantoms I have known and loved in my short life. He was captivated by all of them, especially Anton.
“What was your role in Anton finding his way out of this world?” he asked. I couldn’t believe he asked the same question I had asked years ago, but never found an answer to.
“I wish I knew,” I whispered, looking down. I felt like I was transported to that basement again.
I descended the steep staircase down into the basement. No one ever went down there. The house didn’t seem as old or run down as some of them that we have lived in, but the basement in this house was bad. The floor was dirt and the stairs were made of old wood, which may have caved in if I was heavier. The lights were hung by wires hanging down from the exposed beams. The walls were cold grey bricks. Whenever someone walked upstairs, dirt would fall from the beams.
I walked around the space, not sure what I was looking for. I was beginning to feel disappointed. I placed my hands on the cold stonewalls and sank down to my knees. As I did this I felt a latch. I lifted it and pushed in. A door, not much bigger then I was, opened. It was dark and smelled musty. I quickly ran upstairs, slowly opened the door to the kitchen and found a flashlight in the junk drawer beside the sink. I stepped back downstairs closing the door behind me. I raced back to the hidden door and opened it again. I turned on the flashlight and stepped in. The room had a dirt floor and the walls were the same brick but it didn’t feel as drafty. It was an L-shaped room. I walked around it, finding a shelf built into the side of one wall and an old bench leaning against another wall. I found a wire along the top rafter that led to a light. I pulled the chain and surprisingly the light turned on. I gasped when the room was flooded with a dim orange glow. It was perfect for me.
I quickly ran up the steps, slowly opened the door to enter the kitchen and grabbed the broom, dustpan and a dust cloth. I went back downstairs shutting the door quietly behind me. I entered my new room and closed the door. I swept for what seemed like hours till the floor looked almost presentable. I emptied the dust pan on the outside of the door. It looked like it belonged there, with all the other dirt anyway. I wiped the shelf and the red bench. I tried to move the bench but it was too heavy. I guess it would have to stay there.
I sat down and rested for a minute. I looked around the empty room again. I glanced around the corner and noticed a black tarp against the outside wall. I walked over and slowly lifted it. The dust flew all around me. I dragged the tarp out into the larger half of the basement. I didn’t want it in my room. When I went back in and closed the door, the dust seemed to have settled but I was shocked by the subtle warm
breeze that was now present. It seemed oddly familiar. I looked back to where the tarp had been.
“A rug?” I said aloud. I began to unroll it. It was long and smelled musty. It must have been down here for years. I dragged it over to the longer part of the room and rolled it out completely. I had to vacuum it. I snuck upstairs again and found the vacuum. I didn’t really know where anyone was. I could hear the television in the living room and I think John was upstairs. My mother had gone over to Shelly’s with Luke earlier. I guessed they must still be there. As I carried the heavy vacuum I stopped, realizing my father must be watching TV. I heard him shout, “Yes, Scored!” I sighed with relief. He was shouting at the television. “Thank God,” I whispered as I made my way back downstairs.
I almost dropped the round awkward vacuum twice on my way down. I had to search for a plug, which took forever; because once I found the plug I had to find an extension cord. I was starting to get hungry too. I’d been down there all day. I smiled as the realization hit me that no one would think to look for me here. That gave me new energy as I started to vacuum my rug. It was beautiful. I put the vacuum outside my room and looked down at it. It was a deep red with gold colored intricate designs all along the edges. In the middle of the rug there were three shapes that I couldn’t make out in this light. It looked like they were diamonds within diamonds within diamonds. I wouldn’t be able to count how many images were inside each diamond. It was so detailed and so luxurious. It must have been expensive. I didn’t even know what kind of store would sell such a thing.
I knelt down and ran my fingers across it. I slowly slid down so that I was lying on my belly, my hands at my sides and I rested. I didn’t want to get up ever. After a few minutes like this I had the feeling I wasn’t alone anymore. I wasn’t scared, I just felt like someone was in here, watching me. I smiled, because I could sense that whoever was here was happy to see me lying on this beautiful rug. Enjoying it like they once had. After a while I could hear more footsteps upstairs and decided I had better make an appearance before they started to get angry. As I left the room I looked back and smiled.
