GHѺST WHISPERER
The Rising of the Underworld
Chapter 6
"In The World of Payne"
Professor Payne listened to the radio while he cleaned his hotel room up. All the books he had packed from leaving Grandview had gathered dust from the "Not using them". Payne felt useless, more than he has ever in his life. Since Payne left Grandview he was wanted to come back and help Melinda with her ghostly problems. The death of Payne's wife damaged him in a way that now he feels lonely all the time. He has no one to talk too at this time because since he left Grandview, he has been in this nasty hotel room that costs him a pretty penny every day. Payne hated this place, as much as he wanted to brag about his getaway, he knew he was pretty depressed. The cost of the hotel for Payne was a little too much, he was surprised. A dump like this, it's a big surprise that it is this expensive, its robbery!
He missed everyone back in Grandview, the whole gang, Delia, Jim, and Melinda. He also wondered how Ned was doing. Payne missed everyone deeply, his job is still waiting for him once he returns, but Payne never knew if he would return or not. While Payne was folding his clothes into the dresser in front of his bed beside the broken side table, he had a spark of déjà-vu. Now if Payne was wrong, in which his case he liked to believe he wasn't, he recalled watching the announcement of Jim on the news. He remembered felling horrible for Melinda. He thought that if he called Melinda and tried to comfort her, that maybe he will have a reason to come back. Well Payne well get his wish.
Payne picked up his cell phone and dialed Melinda's number. No one was at home because they were all at the hospital. Rick got the answer machine and he left a message.
"Hey, you reached Melinda and Jim, please leave us a message and will get back to you as soon as possible thanks!" Melinda's voice said on the answer machine. Payne hearing Melinda's sweet voice brought back great memories. He never knew how much he missed her. After the beep, he left his message.
"Hey, uh, Melinda, um, it's Rick, I wanted to just say that I am sorry for what happened to Jim. I, uh, have been really busy, soul searching and all. Being off work has been great. I would like to see you some time when I am in town again, like old times; maybe we can go save some earthbounds! Bye!" Rick said in a cheerful tone.
Rick hanged up the phone and he accidently dialed Jim's number. Out of curiosity, Rick put the phone to his ear and listened to see if the phone was out of order. Then Jim picked up from the other line.
"Hello?" asked Jim. Rick was totally floored from hearing Jim's voice. Rick knew he was right because he remembered that night. He was watching the news eating that horrible Chinese takeout with the really damn good chicken balls and he heard on the news that Jim died from a shooting. Rick was totally floored. He hanged up the phone and didn't say anything.
He started to throw the clothes he just folded neatly away into his suitcase and started to pack his car. Something was wrong with this, and it's probably involving the Grandview and its Underworld. Payne ran to his car, shut it, and started to drive down the long road. Payne remembered good times when he would help Melinda and the gang, cross over ghosts to the light. He also remembered his wife.
After a long drive, Payne reached Grandview's entrance. Payne sat in his car and thought for a moment. Maybe he shouldn't enter the gates because of this negative energy that Grandview gave off. And of course the dark clouds circling the sky above Grandview gave Rick a little idea that they are in for something big. Rick felt a soft breeze touch his cheek. Rick took this as a warning from his wife. He knew that he would be risking his life if he was to enter Grandview, but it was for the better good.
Rick started his car and drove into Grandview and the gates behind him closed and locked. No one was leaving Grandview, no one. Payne drove down the streets, passing the homes, and the beautiful fields of land. Payne entered town square and parked in front of "Same as it never was". The sign at the front door said open, so he figured Melinda was in the store. Payne walked in and shut the door behind him. What Payne didn't notice was that the sign quickly flipped back to "closed".
Payne called for Melinda, but no one was answering him. He looked behind the counter and around the store, but no one was here. Maybe someone was in the basement, so he walked down.
"I'm down here" said Melinda. Rick ran down the stairs all happy.
"Melinda, you won't believe it!" yelled Rick as he entered the basement. Rick looked around, but Melinda wasn't there, not even a person. The voice was imitated by a ghost. Rick looked at the entrance way to the sunken church and noticed cracking. The wall covering the entrance was giving up and it started to crack, almost releasing the ghosts that are under there.
Rick heard the door open upstairs and he called for Melinda.
"Melinda!?!" yelled Rick upstairs. As he ran up to the front level, the door to the basement shut closed and the lights turned off.
"Great, just great!" said Payne. A ghost wanted Rick to stay in the basement, with some unfinished business.