"So, How come you're here?" he asked cheerfully.
" I dunno" I shrugged.
"One minute I'm standing outside a hut; the next thing I know is I'm in this town surrounded by these people."
"The Junction Point", he smirks. "But that's not what I meant. What I was asking is how come you are dead? It looks like you weren't supposed to".
"You sound just like her. Do you get notifications for dead people as well or something?"
"What!? NO!!" He laughs. "It's just the ghosts who are here, as in who are offered the choice, are here for untimely deaths."
"Oh." I nod. "So something like that happened to you too?", I ask him
"Kind of" he gives a sad smile.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... it's my first day as a ghost, which feels like my first day overall, and I am literally confused by everything."
"What do mean?" he asks raising an eyebrow.
"It means.. "I sigh "...I have no idea who I am or what happened to me. I am a ghost with amnesia."
"That is so cool!", He looked really amazed.
"Why?" Clearly confused with his amusement, I asked him. That is a weird response to amnesia.
"I've never heard of a ghost with amnesia, must be peaceful not remembering the terrible way you died."
I frowned. "You really think it was that terrible?", I asked
"Chances are high, but I hope I'm wrong", he shrugged with an apologetic smile.
I nod as I look down processing what he said.
Suddenly he asked. "Wait a minute. How do you remember your name if you have no memory?"
"Oh, Um... Actually I don't. It's the first and only alias I used since I can remember. I have used to buy... No, get a cup of coffee. It's weird how even though I'm are dead I can taste coffee."
"That's because you have had it before. You can't taste something you've never had, If you do, it might feel new but either nothing or close to something you tasted while you were alive".
"That kinda sucks", I smile
"Yeah, turns out exciting things are reserved for the living", he chuckled. "Wait! You already interacted with a human?", his eyes widen.
"Yeah. Is that bad?" I blinked
"Not really. It's just, not an easy thing to do. New ghosts, especially someone as new as you would have hard time interacting with the living. You're natural at this", he laughs.
"Maybe, that's why I am dead. I was always meant to be a ghost." I joke along with him
" Maybe... Well it was nice meeting you. I'll see you around newbie."
"Hey, I'm pretty sure I'm older than you" I tease him.
"I just look young you know, given that I've been dead for decades, don't let my looks deceive you. I look way younger than I am".
We laughed, exchanging our goodbyes before he left. I wondered if what he said was true. I felt bad for that cheerful kid. Given that he was here along with me, something terrible must have happened. This brought me back to my own problems. How would I find out about myself? I couldn't just go around asking people 'Can you tell me who I am?Do you recognize this face?!'. Not only that would be insane but it would end up causing trouble for people here.
At the gas station I took an empty seat upon finding it empty. Looking at everyone that passed through, I desperately hoped that something or perhaps someone could trigger my memory.
As the sun was getting closer to the horizon I hear a voice calling me.
"Hey Chloe, what are you doing"? I turned around to see Ken approaching me.
"Nothing, just looking after this spot to spend the night here. What are you doing here"?
"Oh,I'm running errands... You really want to spend it in a bench"?
"Well,as you can see I hardly have any options. So bench will do just fine."
Excited, he asked me "Wanna see where I live?"
This kid is so enthusiastic that I didn't have a heart to deny him.
"Sure, lead the way."
We headed towards his house. His enthusiasm was really contagious.T his kid is so chatty I didn't notice when the time passed by. I found out his full name is Kenneth Welsh, and that he died in 1976 at the age of 20. And that today is 1st August 2020. Turns out he was dead before I was born, of course I was assuming that when I say this. I definitely didn't appear as a 50 year old. I could pass for someone my late 20s.
He took me into the woods situated near the outskirts of the town. A while later, we arrived at a somewhat abandoned land. An ancient house stood directly in our view and it was beautiful.
"This is huge? How come you live here?" Clearly amazed by this house, I asked.
" Why just because I'm dead I can't live in a fancy house?"
"No, that's not what I meant", I sigh. "How come nobody else found this place and tried claiming it as their own?"
"This house is famous for being haunted. No one dares to approach it."
"And people here believe in ghosts?" I ask skeptically.
"Herr at Tellon Valley, people are quite superstitious. Not all their superstitions are fake given we exist."
"I guess it's nice to have a place to call home." I say softly.
Suddenly I hear a woman's voice. "Kenny, did you bring me the supplies I asked for?"
Turning to the source of the voice, I saw a woman who appeared to be in her mid to late 30s.
"Yepp!! Have I ever dared to disobey you"? He said proudly "And please don't call me Kenny, you know I hate it" Ken said while frowning..
Laughing at his words, she approached him. Upon noticing me behind Ken, her expression changed.
"Who's this?" she asked him sternly.
"Meet my friend, Chloe"
"I know every other ghost present in this so town. How come I never met her before?"
"I'm a newbie" I interject trying to lighten the mood.
"SHUT UP!!" she sprung her head towards me and shouted.
I was taken aback by this woman. How can she hate me already, when she clearly didn't know me? Heck, I hardly know myself properly. The way she was scolding him, I would have guessed that she was his mom. Wasn't my day stressful enough?Now, what kind of situation had I gotten myself into?