Follow The Ghost

I wake up. I look around, it looks dirty and dingy. I’m not sure where I am. It’s dark. I sit up, I’m on boxes. Ah! My head hurts. Looks like I’m in a storage room downstairs. The boxes have bottles and cans of drinks. There are dirty windows high up on the wall. I can see the street a little bit, the windows are so dirty that I cannot see much. I see a doorway in front of me. I want to leave. Wait, where are my shoes? And my socks? Where am I? Last thing I remember I was buying some bat cookies in the supermarket. How did I end up here?

Bang.

What was that? Something heavy has fallen. Now I can hear footsteps upstairs. Someone is upstairs! I’m relieve and scare at the same time. Ok, I just go upstairs and whoever it is, I’ll just ask them if I can borrow a phone or shoes. I have a look on the floor to find my shoes. I cannot see any shoes. I put my feet on the ground.

Ah!

It’s wet. Why is it wet? Wet and cold, a great combo to get a cold. I don’t think about it and put my feet on the floor. I walk towards the doorway. I’m glad to leave this place, it’s creepy. I walk slowly because is wet and dark. When I get to the doorway, I see stairs leading up to a door. The door is ajar. The light shines through a little bit. I can hear a TV on. I take a couple of steps up the stairs.

“Careful, with him.”

I scream a bit, because of the fright. I turn around and see a young man against the wall, down at the bottom.

He has blonde dirty hair with a bit of blood on his left side of the forehead. His shirt and jeans are dirty, like he has thrown himself on the mud.

“What do you mean? Him, who?”

“Him. The man that brought you here. And don’t be so loud.”

“You gave me a fright. What do you mean the man that brought me here?” I whisper.

“Do you remember how you got here?”

I don’t answer him. He comes closer.

“It was him. Be Careful.”

I look upstairs dreading what might encounter when I get to the last step. I look back at the young man and see no one . Where is he gone? I step down to look at the storage room. Nothing. Where did he go? I touch the wall where he was standing to feel if there is a door there, but nothing. It’s just a wall. How can there be nothing here? Where is he? Is he a ghost? He cannot be. I talked to him. Am I even awake? I pinch my arm. Hard. Ah! I’m definitely awake.

I turn around and look at the stairs and the door at the top. Ok, let’s get out of this place. I’m starting to get scared now. I make my way up the stairs. They are made of concrete or stone. They are hard and cold anyway. I know I’m not making any noise but I’m being careful anyhow. That ghost has scared me, and I don’t want to wake up the person that is upstairs. I reach the top. Slowly, I push the door and look. There is an empty corridor. I leave the door ajar, as I have found it. I look one way and another. I see the front door and living room at one end, and on the other end, it’s the kitchen that hopefully has a back door; but I’m not sure. I look towards the front door. I can hear the TV coming from the living room, and the footsteps that I heard before came from that direction. What do I do? I should maybe just go for it. The front door it’s right there.

I turn my head to look at the kitchen. Ah! I put my hand in my mouth to not make a sound. That ghost is right behind me.

“I wouldn’t go that way.”

I let myself rest against the wall while I steady my heart and breathing.

“You almost give me a heart attack.” I whisper.

“Leave through the back door.” He orders.

“Are you a ghost?”

He looks annoyed at me. He doesn’t say anything but points to the kitchen. Now that there is light I can see him more clearly. He has brown eyes. He looks pale, but apart from that, and being dirty, he looks normal.

“How I know I can trust you?” I whisper scared.

A noise comes from the living room, someone is stirring. I see an arm resting on the arm of an armchair.

“Your choice.” He walks off to the kitchen and waits for me.

I can choose to follow what seems to be a ghost, and go to what may be an exit. Or I could go to the front door, unlock the door and see what happens.

How did I get here? The answer scares me. Somehow the ghost is less scary. Let’s follow the ghost. Well, there is a sentences I never thought I would think.

I get to the kitchen. There are filthy dishes in the sink and a half eaten pizza on the counter. The ghost was right, there is a backdoor. Pass the kitchen, there is a small laundry room with a backdoor. I walk quickly to the door. I try to open it but it’s locked with a padlock.

“Wait. I know where the key is.”

“Where?”

“Not so fast, you’ll need a few things first.”

“What do you mean? I only need to get out.” I say rising my voice a little.

“There’s a dog outside. A savage one. You’ll need the steak that is in the fridge. You also need to take those boots.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“I’m not kidding. Please do what I ask.”

“Just tell me where the key is.”

“That dog hasn’t been fed to make him more aggressive. Believe me, you need the steak.”

I think about it, and I nod. Thinking to myself why the heck am I listening to a ghost. I open the fridge. I see meat wrap in butcher’s paper. I take it and put it in my cardigan’s pocket that is quite big.

“What’s your name?”

“It’s Dylan.”

“I’m Shannon.”

“Take those boots. The key is under that green cup on the shelf. Quick.”

I put on the boots quickly and as I am doing it I see that my feet are wet of blood and not water. I freeze.

“Be quick.”

He startles me and I do what he asks.

I take the key from under the cup. Doing more noise than I want to.

“Shh.”

“I know. Sorry.”

I stop and hear expectantly. I don’t hear any noises coming from the living room, and I go to the door.

“Careful when you open it, it makes a cracking noise.”

“Ok.”

“I’ll see you on the other side.”

I turn around to ask him what he means, and I see how he disappears into thin air. Holly f***! He really is a ghost.

I open the door carefully. It makes a little noise. I get outside and close the door behind me. A dog barking is running straight for me. I take the thick steak and throw it to him. He stops to eat the steak. I look around quickly, I’m in the mountains. Forest all around. I see Dylan waiting. I walk to him. We are going to leave through the front door.

“Are you sure this way is safe?”

“He is still asleep. I’ve just checked. He lives alone so we shouldn’t have any problems… When you get through the front gate turn right and walk to the forest.”

“Ok.”

As I walk to the front gate. I see that there is a house opposite to this crazy man’s house. A lovely and warm countryside house. Why am I going to walk to the forest if there is a house right there? I pass the front gate without problems. Instead of going to the forest I walk quickly to the other house.

“What are you doing?!” Dylan appears in front of me, but I ignore him. I walk pass him.

“Go to the forest. Now.” He says appearing in front of me again, this time I have no time to stop and walk right through him. A cold chill goes through my whole body.

I enter their gate.

“Wait! The last girl that went to the neighbour’s died.”

That stopped me on my tracks. The last girl? I look back at him.

“What do you mean by the last girl that went to the neighbour died?”

He looks down to the ground.

“Is this not the first time that you help someone?”

He looks achingly uncomfortable with the question.

“The fourth.” He answers without making eye contact.

When I breathe this time, seems a little harder to do. My head is racing. My heart is pounding. I’m terrified.

“You need cover. Come over to the tree, I don’t want them to see you.”

I listen, go over and sit for a moment on the floor, behind a huge tree that hides me perfectly.

“Trust me, please. I can get you out.”

“What happened to the others?”

“The first boy that I tried to help, freaked out so much with my presence that he was killed shortly after he arrived.” He says. I’m sure that if a ghost could cry he would be.

“The second boy was caught by the man after the dog bit him. I didn’t know he got a dog… the last girl I got out the house, got passed the dog. We both went to the neighbours for help. They said they had called the police. It was a lie. They called him. They are cannibals.”

He was looking at me.

“Breathe.”

What? Why is he saying that? And then I realised I had stopped breathing for a couple of seconds. I’m shocked. I’m terrified. I want to go home. There were others that didn’t made it out. What if this time happens to me?

“I know the way to town. Please trust me.”

I reluctantly nod. What can I do? I don’t know where I am. I don’t recognise this place. I don’t know how long I have been unconscious. He could have driven for a long time. I had to trust Dylan and hope that this time things turn out differently.

“Come on, we have to move before the dog finishes his dinner.”

“Ok.”

I let him guide me. He is talking me through the forest down the mountain. When I am capable of thinking straight again.

“Why didn’t I take a flashlight it would have come on handy?”

“I don’t want them to see the light. His room has a good view of the mountain. He could see it. Don’t worry I know the mountain by heart now.”

“How long have you been here?” I ask while struggle with branches.

“I’m not sure. Months maybe.”

“Did they kill you?”

“Yes.” He stops and points to his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault.” He keeps walking.

The forest is dark. There is a bit of light from an almost full moon. I struggle with branches and fallen tree trunks. Dylan is a good guide, warns me of dangers that I cannot see well.

“Can ghost see much better than people?”

“What?! No, of course not.”

“How do you know what is coming then?”

“I memorised the way during the day, walked it at dusk, and then at night to make sure that the next person I brought I could help properly.”

“It must have taken you a very long time.”

“Well, I don’t sleep. I have time.”

It seems we have been walking for hours. My cardigan keeps getting entangle with branches. I have buttoned it up, and I’m pushing through. I’m starting to be thirsty and hungry but I’m not complaining. A ghost has save me from some cannibals. If I ever say that to anyone they will lock me up.

We keep walking. I’m sure that Dylan can pass through things but he is still walking like a normal person. I have seen him pass some through branches, but when it comes to his feet, he is careful where he steps. Maybe that is because he is showing me the way. We hear some noises far away up on the mountain.

“Don’t move, I’ll be right back.” Dylan asks and disappears.

I look around for a moment hoping that they are no big animals nearby. I’m also grateful of a moment to catch my breath and rest for a little bit. I rest my back against a tree and wait for Dylan. Everything is so dark and quiet. It’s a bit chilly too. I haven’t noticed that until now. I’m feeling a bit more scared, being all alone here. A couple of minutes pass. Dylan appears right in front of me. He looks nervous.

“We have to go.” He tries to take my hand to make me move, but his hand goes right through mine. I feel a chill and get goose pumps everywhere. We stare at each other. For a moment he forgot that he cannot touch me. He forgot he is a ghost.

“Come on.” He recovers quickly.

He starts walking fast, almost running. I follow him.

“What’s going on? Why do we have to rush?”

“They know you have escaped. They have released the dog. They’re hunting you down.”

“How long before they find us?”

“We have a good distance from them. We are near town. You’ll make it.”

We are running now. Not at full speed because all the things that we have to zip or jump around. I keep running as fast as I can, with a pair of boots that two sizes bigger. The noises are getting nearer. The dog keeps barking. Showing him the way to find me. I’m not liking dogs right now. Dylan keeps warning me of dangers that are in the way. A hole, branches, mud, rocks. The barking keeps getting nearer.

“Keep going, when you see the road follow it. The town it’s just around the curve. I’m going to distract the dog.” He points in a direction and disappears.

I run for another half a minute and see a road. I’m tired, but seeing that road gives me energy I don’t have. I spring towards it. I’m almost there.

When I get to the road dawn is breaking. I look both ways to see if there are any cars. Nothing. Just an empty road. I start running again with more energy because I’m so close. I follow the curve of the road which seems to be never ending. I see the beginning of town. A delivery van it’s coming from that direction. When the driver sees me stops. A middle age man in overalls gets down.

“Are you ok?” He looks at me concerned.

“He’s after me. I need to get to the police station.” I mutter without breath.

“Ok, Ok. Get on. I’ll drive you.” He offers pointing at his van.

“No.” I say looking at the van.

I’m scared of getting in the van. I don’t want to. I don’t trust him. It might be irrational. He might be a nice man, but how can I know that for sure. I start walking towards town.

“Wait, I’m not going to do anything to you.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not getting in the van.”

“Wait, Wait. I’ll park and help you get to town even if it’s walking. I have a daughter your age. I cannot leave you own your own. One second.”

“Be quick, he’s after me.”

The man goes to the van quickly and leaves it to one side of the road and takes the keys. While I see him doing all of that, I realise how tired I am. I bend and put my hands on my knees, taking deep breaths. When the man sees me.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you there? It only be a couple of minutes.”

“No.” I refuse.

“Ok, let’s go.”

We start walking. I’m exhausted. The man has a cell.

“Do you want me to call the sheriff?”

“Yes.” I say like I have just seen the most wonderful invention of all times.

The man rings. He knows the man on the other side. He tells him that he’s found me, that I’m scared and that he has left his van just outside town. He also tells that person our location.

“They are going to send a car to pick us up.”

I’m relieved.

***

Once in the police station, the sheriff takes me to his office. He gives me a blanket, and he offers me coffee which I gladly drink to warm up. He has a shepherd dog. The dog is nice and knows that I’m scared. It puts its head on my lap and lets me stroke it. The sheriff looks at me concerned.

“What happened to you?”

“I’m not sure. I woke up in a strange house. He kidnaped me. I escaped and walked through the forest until I got to town.”

“You are telling me you walk through the forest alone at night?”

“Yes. Why are you asking me that?”

“Where is your flashlight?”

“What? I don’t have one.”

“How could you possibly see anything in the forest? Are you from around here?”

“I don’t know where here is.” I say rising my voice.

There’s a knock on the door. The door is made of wood with a half top of glass. There is a young man in a suit. The sheriff exhales in way that makes me think he doesn’t like the guy on the other side of the door. The sheriff invites him with a sign. He comes in.

“Is this the girl?” The young man asks.

“Yes. I think you are losing your time. I think she is lying.”

“I’m not lying. How dare you? You have no idea what I’ve gone through to get here.” I say outraged.

“Please sit down. I’ll listen to you.” The young man says.

I sit down again. The young man takes out a badge and shows it to me.

“I’m FBI agent Hunter.”

“She says she’s walked across the forest on her own, without a flashlight and managed to get here.” The sheriff repeats.

Agent Hunter looks at me with inquisitive eyes, but he asks me to tell them what happened. I tell them everything except for the ghost part. When I finish they are both quiet.

“I told you.” The sheriff says.

I’m in the brink of tears. The dog lays down on the sofa next to me and puts its head on my lap again. Trying to make me calm down.

“Why did you take the steak from the fridge?” Agent Hunter asks.

“To give it to the dog outside.”

“How did you know there was a dog outside?”

“We are losing our time with her.” The sheriff says.

“A lot people have been going missing from the neighbouring towns. I’m not losing my time. I can deal with this, you can go. If I need to take a couple of your officers, I will.” Agent Hunter informs.

“Yeah. Whatever. If you want to lose your time fine by me.” The sheriff says as he leaves.

“Have you told me everything?” Agent Hunter asks.

No. Of course not, a ghost helped me. I cannot tell you that.

“Yes.”

“Did you have any help?”

“What? From whom? I was alone.”

“The things that you say don’t add up. Someone must have helped you.”

“I did not see any living being, except him and the dog.”

Well, this way I’m not lying. He looks disappointed.

“I want to show you some photos, please tell me if you have seen them.”

He opens a dossier and takes out five photos. Dylan! One of the photos is Dylan. I can’t help myself and I pick it up to look at it better. Dylan looks happy in this photo.

“Do you know him? Have you seen him?” Agent Hunter eagerly asks.

“No. Sorry. He looks familiar, but I haven’t seen him.” I respond putting the photo back on the table.

“Are you sure? Look at it again, please.” Agent Hunter’s eyes have a glint of hope.

“I haven’t seen him. I’m sorry.”

Agent Hunter looks disappointed and hurt. There’s a moment of silence.

Dylan appears in the room out of thin air. I get startle and the dog starts barking like mad. Agent Hunter looks confused for both of our reactions. Agent Hunter calms down the dog.

“Why haven’t they arrested him?” Dylan asks.

“They think I’m lying.” I answer.

“What?!”

“What are you looking at?” Agent Hunter inquires.

“At nothing.” I lie.

“He is my cousin.” Dylan says.

“What?” Looking back at Dylan and then again at Agent Hunter. I see the resemblance now.

“I asked, what are you looking at?” Agent Hunter repeats.

“At nothing. Are you going to arrest him?”

“Can you identify him if you see him again?”

I don’t answer. I can’t identify him, I only saw his arm.

“Yes, tell him that you can. I can do it.” Dylan urges.

“Yes, I think I can.”

“Good. There is still a couple of things to clear up.”

“Oh! Come on.” Dylan exclaims frustrated.

“When you were on the basement, you said you step on blood. How did you know it was blood and not something else? It could have been water.”

I realise my error in telling the story. I told them I put on the boots but I didn’t tell them that I saw blood on my feet. I take off the boots and show him my feet. The soul of my feet have dry blood on them.

“It’s human blood.” Dylan informs me.

“It’s human blood.” I repeat like a parrot.

He goes to the phone on the desk and calls someone. “Are they here? … Ask her to come in.” An ambulance medic comes in.

“Hi, I’m Tracy.”

“Can you give her a gauze to clean her feet. Don’t use anything to clean them. Don’t throw the gauze. I need a sample.”

“Sure.” Tracy says.

“I will be outside. I’ll put down the door’s screen so you have some privacy.”

“I’ll see you in a bit, I’m going to check that he’s not fleeing.” Dylan says and disappears.

“Ok, let’s heal those scratches.” Tracy says putting her medical bag on the table and taking things out.

I have some scratches on my face, neck and hands. I look at my jeans. They are dirty and have a few rips. Now that I look at my cardigan is all in tears at the bottom, with a small twig on it. Now that she is healing me, everything is aching, and I’m exhausted. But I don’t want to sleep until I know that they are going to arrest him. The sheriff dog is good. Keeps me company and when I’m scare it moves its head or paw like saying “I’m here.” I tell Tracy that my head hurts, she looks at my head.

When Tracy leaves, she talks with agent Hunter. I can see them through the glass door. Tracy gives him a plastic bag with the gauze that he asked for. She tells him something else, and he looks at me. Agent Hunter comes back.

“I have called your parents.” He informs me.

I smile. I want to go home as soon as possible.

“How did you hit your head?”

“I didn’t hit it. I don’t know. When I…” I trail off as I see Dylan appearing in the office.

“I don’t know what he’s doing, but he’s up to something. I don’t like it.” Dylan says.

I see agent Hunter observing me. No, not only me. The dog is looking at Dylan too. Damn! They say dogs can see ghosts. Can the dog see him too? Agent Hunter keeps observing. I look down.

“Am I missing something?” He asks.

“No.” I lie.

“Yes Nate, a lot. You are missing a lot.” Dylan answers. “I can’t believe he’s here. He got a job in Washington.”

I’m not looking at Dylan when he speaks, I don’t want agent Hunter to think that I am crazy. I’m just looking at the dog. I see that when Dylan speaks the dog’s ear moves slightly. The dog cannot only see him, he can hear him too.

Agent Hunter asks me a few more questions that I struggle to answer. Dylan tells me sometimes what to say to help me out, but agent Hunter isn’t convinced.

“Did someone help you?”

“No.”

“If you’re not from here, how did you know which way to come?” He questions.

I say nothing. An officer knocks on the door. Agent Hunter tells him to come in. The officer informs that my parents are here. I’m full of joy. I want to go home and forget this nightmare. Agent Hunter tells him something I cannot hear and leaves the room.

“Can I see my parents?”

“Yes, when we finish.”

“What? No!” I exclaim half angry.

“I’ll be right back.” Dylan says.

Lucky him, he can get out whenever he wants. I never thought when I was escaping that they wouldn’t believe me. I cannot tell them a ghost helped me. I just want to go home. Agent Hunter asks me a few more questions. Some time has passed I’m not sure how long. Maybe fifteen minutes and still haven’t seen my parents. The last questions he is asking me, I’m not bothering to answer. It seems that everything I say is wrong. Dylan appears out of nowhere again. He looks worried.

“They are here. They’re saying that they’re going to take you to an asylum.” He warns me.

“What do you mean they’re here? An asylum?” I’m so astonished that I don’t care that agent Hunter is staring at me.

“Who are you talking to?” He asks looking at the air.

“Don’t let them take me, please.” I say to agent Hunter.

He looks at me like if I’ve gone mad. The same officer as before, knocks on the door and signs to agent Hunter to come out. They talk for a moment, and agent Hunter gives me a look of “How did you know?” He leaves with the officer.

“My parents are here. They won’t let them take me.” I say to Dylan.

“I’m not sure about that.”

“What do you mean?”

Agent Hunter comes back reading some papers. Behind him, there are three men. Two dressed as nurses of an asylum, with white scrubs on, and a doctor with glasses.

“He is the neighbour! You cannot let them take her!” Dylan says futilely.

“I’m sorry, they have all the papers in order.” Agent Hunter says.

“Where are my parents? They will tell you.”

“As I said before, she is confused. It’s normal in her condition.” The doctor states.

“Your parents agree that you should be in the asylum.” Agent Hunter says.

What? My parents wouldn’t do that. I see the two nurses coming for me. I’m in shocked. They grab my arms.

“THEY ARE LYING.” Dylan shouts in vain.

Hearing him shout, makes me react. I start struggling wanting to break free. They are pulling me across the corridor. I see my parents. They don’t want to make eye contact with me. I’m so angry and despair.

“NO! Mum! Dad! Don’t let them take me!” I scream while they take me away.

“Let her go. Nate, help her.” Dylan shouts but no one can hear him.

I’m fighting against them. I kick, struggle but they have good hold of me. They have my arms and no matter how much I move, they don’t let go.

“Shannon!” Dylan shouts.

“Please help me! Mum! Dad! They will kill me.”

Everyone in the station is looking at me. Agent Hunter is following us. Seeing how I struggle. I can see he feels guilty. My mum is crying, but why isn’t she doing anything? Nobody living is going to help me. Ouch! A needle on my arm.

“Dylan! Help me again please. Dylan don’t leave me alon…” I cannot finish my sentence. Everything is becoming dark. Last thing I see is agent Hunter reaching for his gun…

I wake up and there’s a road ahead. I’m in a car next to the driver. The driver is agent Hunter. He looks so serious.

“Hi.”

“Hi. How did you know that name?” He asks eager to know the answer.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you to my head office. Why did you shout that name?”

“You mean Dylan.”

“Yes, where is he?”

“I’m here.” Dylan says from the backseat. I’m so happy to see him.

“He is nowhere, you can see him.” I answer.

“Don’t be cryptic or I’ll take you right back.” Agent Hunter threats.

“He’s not alive.”

He pulls to one side of the road.

“How do you know?” He asks with anger.

“You’re not going to believe me.” I say.

“Tell me or I’ll turn around.”

“I see him, he is a ghost.” I say looking at Dylan seating behind the pilot’s seat. “He helped me. I didn’t know, that guy had a dog. Dylan told me. He also told me, where key for the padlock was. He guided me through the forest.”

“You are lying. Ghost don’t exist.” He denied infuriated.

“He’s your cousin. You got a job in Washington.”

He looks at me stunned.

“Tell him, he used to come here for the Christmas holidays to have a white Christmas.” Dylan suggests.

“You used to come here for Christmas, to have a white Christmas.” I think it’s working. I think he believes me.

“How do you know all that?”

“Dylan’s just told me.” I smile briefly at Dylan and look back at agent Hunter.

“You can see him right now?”

“Yes.”

“Can he hear me?”

“Yes.”

“Dylan, I transferred here when you went missing, I wanted to find you. I’m sorry. I couldn’t.” Agent Hunter shallows hard, trying not to get emotional.

There is a moment of silence.

“Tell him, I can show him where the bones are.” Dylan says.

I repeat the message.

“He knows where they are?”

“Yes, he does. He told me he tried to help others but didn’t succeed. He also told me he’s being there for months.”

“According to your story you cannot identify that man.” He says pointing at me. “But he can. How much does he know?”

“I know everything about him. But not so much about the neighbours.” Dylan says.

I repeat what he says.

“Ok. We can make this work. I will put them behind bars.” Agent Hunter says with determination.

To be continued

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