Melody sitting on a bar stool inside a restaurant called the angels whim. The place is trashed, but Artemis said she would be safe here from anything that might try to hurt her. Shortly after that, Artemis had to leave, but promised to return later. "remember, you can go anywhere except the police station and the library and underground," Said Artemis. She is quite fond of this girl Melody. Having not had any decent company in years, Melody is quite a welcome face. 'she does look like her,' thought Artemis before she left.
Melody doesn't mind sitting alone in a bar. the dingy lights are on, and Melody can hear the sounds of pool balls clacking together. She knows it's only the ghosts, lost in a time that they enjoyed. Anyone else would be afraid, but for three months Melody has been visited by ghosts. She has learned that ghosts aren't all they're cracked up to be. In fact, they've been kinder to her than many students at her school, who make fun of her. Her Mother has a different sense of style. Not drastically different, like plaid and stripes, but Melody usually wears knee-length skirts and turtlenecks or a sweater and loose pants. Besides that, Melody is very intelligent. She is already reading chapter books. Of course, Lettuce teaching her to read when she was only three might have something to do with it.
Melody loves reading romance stories. She wants her Mom to find someone special like prince charming. Of course, Melody knows there is no prince charming, but it's nice to pretend, isn't it? She hopes one day she'll get a boyfriend. But not one of the bullies at her school. She wouldn't date them to save her life!
suddenly Melody realizes she is being watched. She turns and finds a girl with pink hair sitting on the bar stool opposite her. The girl looks to be about in her teens, and has some lip gloss on. "its about time," says the girl next to Melody jokingly. "I was waiting for you to wake up." Melody smiles apologetically. "I'm sorry," she says. "Its alright," says the girl. "My names Candy. you come here often?" "No," says Melody. "Its my first time. and my name's Melody." "Good. this entire town is a nightmare, if you get my drift," says Candy. Melody somehow knows Candy is talking about the ghosts and the monsters Lizzette told her about. Lizette used to be a cashier at the supermarket before 'the tragedy,' as they call it.
"so either way, what're you doing here?" asks Candy. "I'm not sure. I don't remember much, but I remember my Mommy and our tennant Mr. khipf. I think I was going somewhere when I was surrounded by mist and I woke up here," says Melody. "Weird," whistles Candy. "this town gets stranger and stranger each day." she shakes her head, remembering what a great place the town was. 'too bad now the place is infested with demons,' she thinks.
"I don't mind," says Melody. "I like it here. Its not so bad. My ghost friends told me what to expect when they tried to convince me to come here sometime. I would have, but Mommy says we don't have enough money to take a trip. She's an accountant." Candy nods. "It's nice of your friends to give you a little warning. I wish somebody had helped me like that. One day everythings normal, you know, and the next, you wake up on the other side, you know?" says Candy. Melody nods. "It must be tough," she says sympathetically. "To be perfectly content with your life, only to have it taken away and replaced with a death that haunts you forever." Candy is surprised. She didn't think a girl as young as Melody would understand. she remembered attending her grandfather's funeral when she was a bit younger than Melody.
"Why is he sleeping, Mommy? Shouldn't he be talking to everybody who came? and why is he in that box?" Asked a young Candy. "He's dead, honey," said her Mother gently. Grandmother wasn't well and couldn't come to the funeral. In total, ten people came. The rest couldn't make it. Candy and her Mother were alone with the casket.
"I know, Ma, you told me that, but when will he wake up?" asked Candy, not understanding it. "well, sweetie, when people are dead, they just don't wake up," said Candy's Mother. she was sniffling a bit. "Why are you crying? why don't you wake him up?" Candy remembered feeling confused and upset. "He won't wake up, sweetie. Ever," Candy's mother gently. "Ever?" asked Candy in a small voice. "No, honey," said her Mom.
Candy can remember being disturbed and distracted during the graveside service. She couldn't understand it. Could people really sleep forever?
But Melody seemed to know what she was talking about. She hadn't sounded like she was pretending to understand, she sounded truthful. "Tell you what," Says Candy. "I'll give you a little tip about this place. sometimes, if you're afraid of the monsters, you give them strength. All you have to do is be strong. I'm not saying you can't be afraid, I'm just saying, be brave even though your scared." "Oh," says Melody. "I can do that. I was brave when Mommy got sick." That thought bothers Candy.is Melody's Mother dead? is Melody an orphan? Maybe she has a father.
"Do you have a Daddy?" she asks gently. She knows Melody might not want to talk about it, and she knows the best way to convince Melody to answer is by being gentle. Melody shakes her head. "No. I never met my Daddy. He left before I was born," says Melody. Candy feels indignant. who gave him the right to wander off? "Does your Mommy take care of you?" she asks. "Yes," says Melody. "Mommy makes sure I have fruits and veggies and meat and calcium and books to read and nice clothes." Candy mentally sighs in relief. She would hate to hear that Melody was stuck here all alone.
"Well, Melody, I gotta go now, but remember what I said, Kay?" asks Candy. Melody nods solemnly. "Kay," she says, and watches as Candy turns and heads for the door. just before she reaches it, though, she disappears. "bye," Whispers Melody.