Royce's point of view

I was sure I was dreaming as the burly workers moved the girl's cube to the empty space near mine. I turned to examine the occupant of the glass cell. If it was her she hadn't changed at all but if it wasn't her; well then she must have a twin. The only difference was the delicate rope around her slender neck. Her eyes; a grey-blue that put storm clouds to shame. Her hair was dirty blonde is color and was straight as a pin. The cheerleading uniform she wore was the same one I remembered her wearing the day of the race. I almost forgot to turn away as the ghost turned in his direction.

Her voice was soft with a rough edge to it as she said the one thing I wanted and feared. "Royce, is that you?" I dumbly nodded 'yes'. Her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head as if she couldn't believe. I smiled so wide the burned side of my face began to bleed a little. A solitary tear ran length of my torn visage, falling to the floor. The long lost couple then desperately wished for the same thing: to be as near to the other as they could be. The others looked on in pity (even Ryan) as the jock and his sweetheart screamed and pounded the glass of their cells in frustration. Then I asked the one thing the girl, and everyone dreaded. "How did you die?" I asked closing my eyes not ready for the answer.

She took a deep breath and all but whispered "suicide, after you were killed...I hung myself in the attic of my house. I was already numb to the pain because you were gone." A tortured howl came from somewhere but after a moment I realized it was coming from me. My legs gave out and my knees met the glass floor. Another howl tore from my throat and my bat slammed against the wall. I was vaguely aware of the soft voice of my sweetheart talking to me but I paid her no heed.

My bat crashed to the floor and I clawed at the wall like Ryan does, screaming obscenities the entire time. "Why? Couldn't you have just moved on to someone else, been happy and ALIVE with someone else? Johnny would have gladly taken you as his. Did he try?" this last part came as a plea. She glared at me for a moment and I cringed. "I loved you; in fact I still do so 'moving on' with some other guy made me feel disloyal to your memory. And yes that rat fink did try to get me, the day of my death to be in fact. But again I told him I still loved you and always would."

Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the one I missed as if she would evaporate into thin air. I choked on my tears and placed my right hand on the glass, she did the same. Then I heard my radio start again with her favorite Elvis tune. Grinning I asked "Dance with me doll?" She laughed and nodded as we tried to dance together while separated by glass. I heard Billy and Dana laugh at us but I was too deep in my own little world to even think of doing anything.

As time pasted and 'life' went on I grew use to her being here. Although some days all I would do would be stare until she asked what I meant to accomplish by doing so. I would simply reply in a dazed voice 'I can't believe you're really here.' The others started out giving me odd looks but as time wore on they realized I had gone 50 plus years without this girl so it was only natural that I need reminding she was actually here. Then one day came when everything changed.

It began like all the other days; I struck up yet another conversation with my beloved and the others talked amongst themselves. But soon I heard something I had only heard a few times since I'd been in this hell hole: footsteps. They weren't our captor's footsteps, as he walks with a cane; no these were lighter. Everyone stopped their conversations as the footfalls grew. Was there more than one person in the house? And who would be dumb enough to let someone in here? Then the person began to walk toward the basement steps. Slowly they came, one foot in front of the other but obviously they were in no hurry. Then I saw them.

It was two people; one of whom all of us recognized. The guy was tall with brown hair and the clear ghost-seeing specs on. We knew him…Dennis Rafkin, a psychic who was paid a large amount of money to catch us. I wasn't too fond of him, as you can imagine but even I wasn't happy he had to work for a bastard like Cyrus. The other person, a girl none of us had seen before. Her inky tresses were cut to about shoulder length and she was the tiniest girl I had ever seen. She and Rafkin were obviously together by the way they were holding hands. What intrigued me though was how they could touch.

The pair made their way slowly passed each container then stopped at mine. 'Why mine?' I wondered. But before I could think more on this, the girl spoke "Hello I'm Shilo Coulter, you must be Royce Clayton; Dennis has told me all about you; all of you in fact. Now I no what your thinking; but we're here to help you not harm you further." Her voice was like a melody and I couldn't help but be entranced by it. However, before she could say another word Footsteps were heard above us and Denis yanked her back the way they had come. "She wants to help us; but how?" I wondered aloud. Only time will tell.

Author's Note: so how'd you like the twist dear readers? The next chap will be written by one of my reviewers because I said I'd put her in my story so enjoy and hang tight. Oh and on you way out review and vote on my poll. I need more votes! Thanks- greeneyedalice91