His mother was sick? That was shocking, that iron lady who was as fit as a horse was suddenly down; the news sounded strange to his ear.
"She suffered a heart attack"
It seems he had to drop by the hospital once he visits creek city tomorrow.
Initially Ben had planned to wrap up all of his schedule the next day; visit his friend Jasper for the wedding talks since he would be the best man and then leave without visiting.
Mother and son hadn't spoken for years, why should he bother himself with formalities? But now, all of his plans have been altered - he wasn't so heartless as to ignore his sick mother.
"Fine, we would leave as early as possible before my hotel is besieged by my lovely fans " He knew it would be harder to leave once they got an idea of the hotel he was staying at.
Damn, that was the price he had to pay for fame. But God he never expected to achieve that kind of success; he started writing for the fun of it.
An author that was more famous than an actor? The Franklin fever that has turned millions of readers into loyal followers? That level of achievement still stuns him.
Ben had always been a quiet kid who didn't have a lot of friends, not because he was a loner but due to the fact he was labeled a freak since highschool: his unhealthy obsession with paranormal events made it impossible to establish a relationship with normal people without getting the look.
"Alright". His manager agreed as they drove for the hotel while he buried his face in a hoodie.
Once they checked in, he walked into his deluxe suit - without encountering startled and surprised screams from female followers on his way, they were the most enthusiastic.
After a quick shower and a light dinner, he lay back on his bed with a huge sigh; at the end of the day, fame or not, he was still alone.
Face covered with the crook of his arms, Ben fell into a deep sleep which didn't last long because he jumped up from his bed when he felt the hairs on his body stand on edge.
"You could have waited for me to finish my beauty sleep, I hate being interrupted the most," He said to the female ghost who snarled at him, exposing rotten and broken teeth.
"Linda, huh? So this is your true form? "
"I was once beautiful!" It retorted in anger with its raspy yet spooky voice that could send even the bravest of men running with their tail between their legs.
It was official, this was the ugliest ghost he had ever seen. She didn't even wash up to see him - a big sign of disrespect.
She was pale which was one of their attributes, every ghost he had met so far during his years of being a medium had a chalky expression - as if there was no blood in their body.
There were dark patches on her bald head, evidence of her once dark silky hair. Her face was scarred and drooled pus; Ben could already imagine flies swarming around her.
Dark purple bags with red bulging veins surrounding her sunken and sullen eyes with her lips shriveled and blue.
"So what's your story?" Ben asked, sat back on his bed with his leg crossed over the other.
This was the pattern, they come to him and narrate their ordeal. If it was something within his jurisdiction, he helps out but most times they were here for his body, and looking at this particular ghost, she didn't have much time before she disappeared forever.
"They took everything from me!" she began.
Ben rubbed his ear to get clearer access to the juicy story, that was an exciting opening.
"Wait a minute " He gestured to her to stop.
The author reached out and grabbed his phone from the vanity desk, opened his notes, and urged her to continue.
"I always knew she was always jealous of me, my beauty, body, everything! But I never thought she would go to that extent -"
"No offense, but who are we talking about here?"
The ghost glared at him for the interruption but answered nevertheless.
"My best friend"
"Oh". He nodded and typed the information into his cellphone.
"I was a top model"
He typed the information.
"With my influence, I helped her to show biz since she had potential, but who knew she would stab me in the back?!"
"Indeed, who knew?" He concurred, eyes glued on his phone.
"Her jealousy knew no bounds until she couldn't take it anymore, she hired men who kidnapped me; they abused me, scrapped my hair till there was nothing left and finally, poured acid on my face"
"Cruel" He commented
"Yes, cruel. I died but there was nothing to hope for until I found out, I could take revenge myself"
"But the bodies you found couldn't sustain you long enough to exert your revenge?"
"Exactly" she acquiesced
"That's why you need me - my body"
"Your body is strong enough to house me until I have my revenge!" The ghost disclosed her plans to him.
Ben took a deep breath, this was the crucial part, "How long exactly have you been waiting for this revenge?"
"Seventy years ago"
He scratched the side of his head in disappointment, just as he expected. The ghost was intent on using his body to murder her best friend who should be around ninety or a hundred years old by now - heck, he wants even born then.
"You do know there's something called the law of karma: for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction"
"I don't care! I've waited for years yet karma has not avenged me!"
"The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children; she might not suffer the consequences but her offsprings would"
But the aggrieved ghost still refused to listen, "I want my revenge now!"
and charged at Ben who sat without a faze.
Just as she was about to touch him, something began to pull her away.
"What?"
Looking down, she discovered a portal from nowhere had opened in the middle of the room and she was being sucked into it.
"No! You can't do this to me!". She growled, eyes full of hatred.
"Have a nice trip to Tartarus" He waved at her just as she was completely swallowed and the portal closed with a snap.
Well, another ghost he has made an enemy by banishing, the grim reaper would have a hard time tonight. None of his business anyway, it was either banish or be possessed.
Ben stared at the information on his phone, he was going to work on the story once he had the time - this was the secret of his success.
Time to continue his beauty sleep.