"Whose there?"
The temperature dropped sending the goosebumps wild against my arms, the air from my mouth coming out in small puffs.
'Leave...'
The voice was quiet, an almost light whisper but the rage behind it was warm like a light flame against my nerves.
"Look I'm here to listen all you must do is tell me, tell me what happened?" Taking a deep breath, a hand curves up my shirt stopping before disappearing entirely. Confusion danced behind my eyes before a tall woman all but floated passed.
'Why must they torment me so...'
"The other kids?"
She nods slowly turning to face me only then did I see it. The rope burns around her neck that made her head tilt more to one side. The way her glassy eyes still held tears as they burned down her almost blue complexion.
"Did they do this to you?" I continued moving a away from the door and across the room where on the boards sit several names.
'You... you do not know... They never do know.'
"Know what?"
Her hand rises to cup the side of my face a soft knowing smile on lips as she before looking towards the door.
'They others... they were not so kind... tearing us down like we were nothing but the bricks upon this foundation. Please, help me.'
With that the room flooded with light and cheers hit my ears. The woman's body turning into nothing as though she was never there to begin with.
"Congrats!" Henry cheered clapping me on the back.
"Welcome to Creek Barrow man can't wait to see what you got in store." Alania smirked fixing her hijab as a gust of wind made everyone freeze.
"Shit lets get out of here!", "I'm with ya!" Quickly exiting the room, the woman's silhouette appears for a moment as we round the stairs her sadden expression burned into my eyes as we rush out into the courtyard.
"What was that?" Henry whispered almost fearful as we headed to the groove from wince we came.
"Don't. Don't you start Henry." Alania barked looking just as fearful as we reached the building.
"MILO!!" Auntie Flow shouted her burning eyes glaring me down as we round the building and out into the parking lot.
"Oh, shit man... sorry." Henry whispered rushing over to where his dad leaned against their truck. Leaving me to take the rapture of lecture alone.
"Yeah?"
"Where the hell did you go?" She questioned leading me back to the car. Getting into the passenger seat I smirk.
"Well, I made friends and got locked in a room with ghost. Pretty eventful day I say."
"You snarky little shit." She chuckles driving out of the parking lot before slamming on the brakes. "WAIT WHAT!! NO! Not another ghost!" She shouts, I try to make myself look smaller but it doesn't seem to work as she seethes. "Miles... you can not be kidding me right now..."
"I'm not. She--"
"I do not want to hear about another ghost. Did anyone see you?"
Shaking my head, she seems to calm down. Rolling out of the parking lot without another word. Keeping myself against the door till a quiet sigh came from Aunt Flow.
"Look you know how much I want you to have a normal life right?" She gives me a quick glance as I nod. "But seeing them isn't normal."
"Why do I have to be normal? You're not either?" The retort seems to shut her down for a second.
"I know that. But I know how to act, you don't." She snaps back. "I don't see the dead kid I don't know what you're going through but helping them isn't your job." She explains.
"But I want to help them..."
"No, no you don't." She closes her eyes for a second as we pull to a stop sign.
"Whatever..." unbuckling I jump out of the car and take off in a dead sprint.
"You did not just-- MILES!!"
With no real destination in mind my feet carry me across the road and towards what I could assume to be downtown. Buildings with little signs, a laundry mat, a bookstore, a few mom-and-pop stores, and at the far end a little mystic store with crystals and fake spell books at the front window.
Opening the door just as Aunt's car rounded the street. Closing it I watch her as she passes her head swiveling around in search.
"Hello, welcome to Wicks and Wikins if you need any help, please let me know." A woman with bright blonde hair, ivory skin, and a beige cardigan with buttons smiles over to me.
"T-Thank you... I'm just trying to hide from my Aunt right now."
"Rebelling?" She questions, and I shrug.
"Might as well."
"Well come on around back she might come through the stores if she doesn't see you on the street. The old man that runs the joint used to let me do that when I was your age." Ushering me around the counter with a wave of her hand I follow her towards the back where several boxes are stacked.
"Thanks."
"No problem. I'll let you know when she's gone. Till then you can look around at the tuff we got."
"You're not afraid I'll take something?" I question her kind of surprised.
"Kid I know your guardian, so I know you won't. You'll likely just want to buy later which I'll save whatever you grab so, just let me know." With that she heads back up front as the chime above her door rings.
"I am so dead..." I take a seat at the small desk in the corner of the room, laying my head on the cold wood till a hand laid on my shoulder and catapulted me upright.
'Run, run do not look back!'
The figure an older man eyes me worriedly before turning his attention back to the entrance. His cold grip pulling me from the chair.
"What?"
'This town will eat you alive...'