Chapter 6

Madison sat in her dimly lit room crying slightly into the soft fabric of Royce's torn jacket. Just from that small kiss, Madison knew she was falling for a ghost and there was nothing she could do about it. How was she suppose to explain this to anyone, let alone Lucas. She was in love with someone she could never be with. Someone who existed in a different time, someone who respected her and her opinions and was man enough to back off when she asked. She loved him more for that than anything else. She stood up as there was another jolt to the house, she heard another chamber open in the basement and free another ghost, 3 more to go she thought as she made her way down to the library. It was now are never.

Kyle cautiously looked in either direction of the hall before stepping out of the library, bound for the lab in which he had first saw the tormented ghost that had threatened his life. Walking swiftly down the hall, he glanced behind him every few seconds to make sure he wasn't followed. He made it to the door and pulled it open with a strong pull and the room was empty, the coldness of the house seemed to gather in this particular room, sending a shiver down Kyle's spine. He moved his right hand onto in uncovered left arm and rubbed the cool skin in an effort to keep warm. What was he doing back here, that crazy bitch almost killed him last time and here he was in search of her? He sighed deeply, turning to leave the room, this had been a bad idea.

"Wait." A voice sounded behind him. He stopped in his tracks and listened to the faint noise for someone moving behind him. He heard the clank of what sounded like a knife being dropped on the hard metal counter top.

"Don't go yet." Dana's voice was now closer behind him. He took a deep breathe and turned to find her eyes staring up at him in confusion.

"Why did you come back?" She asked quietly, stepping a foot closer to him. He shook his head a little.

"I don't know. I just wanted to see you again." He said quietly. She let a smile play softly on her lips.

"Oh, so this is how Royce feels." She whispered a little. "Come on! You can help me figure this machine out." She whispered, pulling him towards the basement, grabbing her knife up on the way.

Lucas and Kathy sat around the table at the library, silently wondering what to do next, maybe just wait it out in the confines of these walls until it all blow over. No, obviously whoever started the machine was still somewhere in the house. They both looked up at her as she stepped in the door.

"No." She said looking at Lucas, he kept his back to her, pretending he didn't hear her.

"What?" Kathy asked confusion marking her face.

"No, I will not stay away from Royce and if that means that I have to give you this back, then take it!" She said taking off her engagement ring and handing it to Lucas. When he wouldn't take it, she sat it on the table in front of him. He growled low and grabbed the ring up in his hand, clutching it with anger. He stood up from the table as Kathy looked on, moving to remove herself from the tense situation. Madison stood her ground as Lucas stepped closer to her, trying to weaken her willpower. She would not back down, this was her decision to make, even if she could never be with Royce, even if they only had a few minutes, she knew without a doubt she could never marry Lucas. He raised his hand to hit her but stopped himself as she winced, bracing for the impact. Before she opened her eyes he was gone past her, his determined footsteps heading towards the basement. Madison turned to follow him, softly cursing that he couldn't keep this between them, as he found Royce slumped over the control panel of the machine, Dana and Kyle trying to help him.

"Hey, Royce?" He said as Royce looked up. Lucas punched him across the face and they started to fight, punches were exchanged on either side.

"Royce!" Madison yelled as other ghosts got in on the fight and attacked Lucas. They were going to kill him if he didn't stop. Kyle finally pulled Lucas off Royce and Dana calmed the other ghosts down.

"Alright! Alright!" Lucas yelled calming down, "You want this bitch so bad, you can have her!" Lucas yelled pushing Madison at Royce who grabbed her, wrapping a protective arm around her, before staring down at her with concerned eyes. Lucas walked away fast, avoiding the ghosts that were still itching for a fight. Royce looked down at Madison again, who was crying against his chest now, completely confused about the situation.

"Hey, Hey, what happened?" He asked turning her face up to his. The other ghosts began to leave the room, leaving only Madison and Royce. Dana pulled Kyle to the door, promising they'd come back later to figure out the machine.

"He told me not to talk to you again and I told him he couldn't make my decisions for me. I called off the engagement." She said with a small laugh. "I'm single for the first time in my life." She said touching his face. "And, I know this is going to sound crazy but I want to be with you." Royce smiled down at her with laugh, almost not believing what was coming out of her mouth.

"Dolly, I'm a ghost. We can't be together." He said touching her face. "It wouldn't be normal."

"Who needs normal?" She asked hugging him to her with everything in her.

"You do, you deserve nothing but the best and I'll just ruin your life." Royce said taking her hands off him and turning away, returning to his work. He tried to concentrate on something else, anything else to keep his mind off the beautiful girl standing behind him that wanted nothing more than to be with him.

"Royce, you haven't ruined anything! Royce I've been dying slowly for months now and you pulled me back." She said turning him around, She grabbed his head with her hands and pressed her lips hard to his. Royce forgot what he was doing, quickly dropping the metal pipe he had been examining and wrapped his arms around her tightly. He pressed her to him more in a passionate urgency of their fleeing minutes together. Madison broke the kiss and pulled back slightly looking in his eyes.

"How many more ghosts have to be released?" She asked, realizing this was it, this could be the last time he'd ever hold her, the last time he'd see her. Royce looked at the machine.

"2 more." He said looking back at her, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. Madison shut the door and locked it.

"I don't know if this is a good idea dolly!" He said as she kissed him again pulling off his shirt.

"Royce, I don't care. If these are our last moments together I want to be with you." She said as continued to kiss his face. "Royce please!" She pleaded. He grabbed her up in his arms. laying her down on the hard floor. Madison groaned as he pulled his jacket off of her and what remained of her clothes beneath.

"Madison, I need to tell you something." He said looking down at her again.

"Okay." She said a little concerned.

"I've... I've never done this before so if I'm bad..."

"Royce, Neither have I." She said touching his face. He smiled brightly now and started to kiss her again. "Royce, sometime during this whole nightmare I fell in love with you." She softly whispered in his ear.

"I've love you since the first moment I saw you." Madison began to cry and clung to Royce with all her strength,

"What's wrong, baby?" Royce asked kissing Madison.

"I can't let you go! I won't! Royce we have to find a way." She cried.

"I'm not going anywhere, dolly. I'm going to try as hard as I can to stay with you." He said beginning to feel the tears welt up in his own eyes. They kissed again and Royce started to fade out.

"Oh no!" She yelled holding onto him but all she felt was thin air.

"I love you!" He said before fading out. Madison was left alone, the cold room becoming more obvious to her exposed skin. She cried as she felt the warm spot on the floor beside her, then she heard the chants start. This was it.