I admit, I was kinda sad when only one person reviewed the last chapter. Thanks to Cecily Rose Midnight for being the only reviewer though :). Anyway, I'll stop wallowing in self-pity and give you the next chapter.
Mystic Moon : Chapter 4
I woke up the next morning on the sofa in a cramped apartment. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and stood up, brushing my clothes off, though there really was no need. I was a ghost after all.
Vaughn had to go back the city that night. His job was two days on the island and the rest in the city. But his boss had let him off due to "Family trauma". He was actually here to get a soliciter. They had to find my will. I can't even remember if I had written one...
I walked into the kitchen, yawning. Vaughn was there, eating porridge. I sat on the air beside him.
"How did you sleep? I slept pretty well, actually. Your couch doesn't look that comfortable but clearly it is. Well, I wasn't really lying on your couch, I was lying on the air."
Vaughn continued to eat his porridge in silence. I felt kind off bad for him. He really was just lonely and shy. I mean, he lived in the city on his own! I really wished I hadn't died or I could have been his friend.
After awhile, he got up and put the bowl in the sink. He walked into the bathroom and I followed him to the door and then waited outside. If I hadn't moved, I would have been pulled through the door and beside him in the bathroom. And we can't have that.
I looked down at what I was wearing. For the first time in three days, I noticed what a state my clothes were in. The jeans were ripped and my overcoat looked like I had been attacked by a wolf. The yellow top I wore had a big tear across my chest and the soles of my red boots were coming off. My clothes were also covered in seaweed. I looked like I had drowned and then been stabbed with a boat!... Oh yeah...
Now that I had seen what a mess I looked, I knew I'd feel self consious about it for the whole day, even if no one else could see me. I didn't really know how a ghost could change clothes so I just closed my eyes and imagined an outfit. With my finger, I traced the outline in the air. I opened my eyes and saw that the outline had actually appeared in front of me. I slowly walked through it. It had worked! I was now wearing a blue summer dress and little sandals. The door opened behind me and Vaughn walked out. I had expected him to turn and look at me, comment on how something about me was different, that I looked nice or even just stare at me. But he walked right through me, placing his hat on his head. I let out a small sigh. Being invisible was hard.
I heard the door open behind me and I turned. Vaughn had just walked out, on his way to meet the soliciter. Before I had time to react, I was pulled through the (defying physics again!) and pulled beside him. He was walking down the countless flights of stairs. I didn't feel like walking so I just sat on the air. Every so often I got to far from him and was pulled beside him.
Vaughn eventually reached the end of the stairs and walked out the door. He flagged down a taxi professionally and got in. I quickly got in after him.
"171 Aubrey Road. Mr Wills office. And step on it." The taxi driver nodded and drove out onto the main road. I had never been to the city, nor had I been brought up in one. So, I stood on the seat and put my head through the roof of the taxi. I held onto the littl yellow sign that said 'TAXI' on it. The yellow car sped through the city, passing apartments and huge skyscrapers. I looked down at the traffic which were all honking at each other and passing each other out. The pedestrian paths were full to, with peope pushing through the crowds, trying to get to work on time. It was so full of commotion and there was so much happening. It was way more bust than the sleepy island I lived on.
The taxu finally stopped outside a huge building. The front of it was complete glass and I could see thousands of tiny people working on computers. Vaughn got out of the taxi, handed the driver the money and walked towards the building, holding onto his hat. I flew after him and the taxi took off.
Vaughn pushed through the rotating door and walked into the lobby. It was a very official place. There was a cream sofa and two cream armchairs to the side. The walls were decorated with modern paintings. There was a long red carpet that led up to the main desk, which was also made of glass. There was a rather pretty woman working at the front desk. She had brown hair tied up in a high bun, with a plait embroidering it. She was wearing a black suit and was tapping at her computer.
Vaughn walked up to the desk and I walked behind him. I did a small little model walk and then waved at pretend cameras and adoring fans, like I was on a red carpet. I giggled at myself and joined Vaughn at the front desk.
"I'm here to see Mr Wills," Vaughn said to the lady at the desk. She peered over her computer and broke into a smirk.
"Hey, it's Vaughn! What did you do this time? 'Nother fight? You need to control that temper, babes. It can be sexy but it's also terrifying."
Vaughn pinched the bridge of his nose. "For gods sake, Jen, just get him. Do you have this conversation with every single client that come through this door?"
The woman, Jen I guess, rolled her eyes. "We don't have any other clients like you, babes. Fine, I guess I can call John."
She pushed herself away from the computer and walked over to the phone. She picked it up and pressed a button. The phone rang and someone answered.
"John? Yeah, Sexy's here to see you... No, it's not a chick! It's just Vaughn!... I dunno, he ain't got any black eyes this time. Will I send him up?... 'K," She put the phone down and sat back behind the computer.
"You can go up to him."
Vaughn began to walk towards the glass lift. Jen called him back. "Hey, I'm still single, babes," She blew him a kiss and Vaughn grimaced.
"Thanks, but I'd rather date a horse."
Jen let out a laugh. "But you do that anyways!"
Vaughn turned away and walked up to the lift, scowling. I ran after him. People like Jen scared me. I don't know, anyone with that much confidence scares me.
In the lift, Vaughn pressed the button for the 31st floor. I held my breath as the elevator rose. It finally stopped and the doors opened with a 'ding!'. Vaughn walked through and I followed him.
The office we walked into was medium sized, and there was one desk in the middle. It was facing the wall-window and looked out onto the the streets below. To the right there was a water machine and to the left, a plant. Sitting behind the desk was a young man with brown hair and green eyes. I had assumed we were coming to see a soliciter but this man didn't look at all like a soliciter. He was wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. He was wearing a black leather jacket too, and a pair of sunglasses were perched on his head.
Vaughn walked over to the man and shook his hand. He sat on the chair across from the desk. The man pushed his laptop to the side and reclined a bit on the chair.
"Vaughn! Ma man! What kind of business did we get into this time. Jen was right, you don't have any black eyes this time."
Vaughn sat back on the chair, like he was visiting an old friend's house. I guess he came here quite regularly.
"I'm not here for myself this time, John. There has been some nasty business over at the island."
John leaned forward and leaned against the table. "What sort of nasty business?"
"The island's farmer recently died. She drowned in a storm whilst on a boat. The boat capsized and then hit her in the chest."
John took in a sharp breath. "Oh, that's gotta be rough. Was she the main source of income?"
Vaughn nodded. "But anyway, they want a soliciter to come over and try to sort out her belongings. I said I'd come and get one. So here I am."
John let out a puff of breath. "So when am I leaving?"
Vaughn smirked. "The boat's going to leave at six. I'll meet you down at the docks. I need to pack a bit more. I'm going to be staying at the island for another two weeks. My cousin and aunt are still in a state."
Vaughn got up and left the office. He quickly walked pass the front desk, ignoring Jen, and left the building. We drove back in a taxi again. When we reached the apartment, Vaughn ran in a began to walk up the countless flights of stairs. I used the same tactic I used to get down. Sit on the air and wait to be pulled beside him.
When we reached his apartment, Vaughn walked in and closed the door. I walked through the wall. On the other side, Vaughn had taken out a suitcase and was throwing some stuff in. I watched as black shirt after black shirt were flung into the suitcase. He walked into his room and I waited. His suitcase was packed messily. If I had been able to, I would have folded up every shirt so it looked neat. I tried to, believe me, but it was hard to when you can't touch anything.
Vaughn came back into the room, holding a picture. He put it into the suitcase with a faint smile on his face. It was of a woman. She had brown hair that reached pass her shoulders in ringlets and shining purple eyes, like Vaughn's. She was smiling fondly at the camera, with little wrinkles around her eyes. I wondered if this was Vaughn's mother he was telling me, er, my gravestone about.
After he had finished, he took his keys off of a little hook beside the door and locked the house. He ran down the stairs and came out of the apartment block. He called a taxi over and we drove to the docks.
Vaughn got out of the taxi and payed the driver. I looked into the sea and at the several small boats lined up against the pier. I held my breath as I watched one of them sail away. I tried to force my eyes away but they kept creeping up to the nose of the boats. I only noticed now how pointy they were. In my head that moment kept playing back in my head. The boat capsizing, Julia's scream and the moon. The great full moon that had been staring down at me. I put my hand over my chest, where the boat had stabbed me. In a way, I was glad I had almost died in the water before because the boat hadn't been as sore as it would have been if I had been 100% conscious.
I wa staring at the sea when I was suddenly pulled away and put beside Vaughn. He had moved too far away for me to stay where I was. Vaughn had seen John and they had shook hands before sitting down on a nearby bench. I walked over and sat down on the air in front of them.
"So, this farmer, what was she like?" John asked, peering over his sunglasses.
Vaughn shrugged. "I dunno, I never met her. They had a funeral for her the other day. I'd say she was one of those people who is friends with everyone, a real people person. Not one person had a bad word to say about her."
John chuckled. "So, in other words, the complete oppostite to you."
Vaughn shot him a glare. John chuckled again. They sat in silence and I sighed. It was really awkward having people talk about you when you're right there.
John broke the silence. "So what happens if there is no will?"
Vaughn sighed. "Mirabelle told me that it would be given to her apprentice, Mark. But, I don't know, he looks kinda... suspicious..."
John smirked and made a small 'pfft' sound. "Everyone's suspicious to you, Vaughn. Heck, you probably think a cat is suspicious." He laughed at his own joke and Vaughn glared at him again. Then, silence.
After another few minutes, there was a loud horn blown. The boat was ready. Vaughn and John walked onto it without a bother. I was much more careful. I took tiny steps, testing each board before I stepped on it. There was really no point, I mean, a ghost doesn't weigh anything.
Vaughn had found his cabin and threw his suitcase in. He sat down on the bottom bunk and removed his boots before lying down. I stared at the bunk bed, taking in small breaths. It loomed over me. A bunk bed has never looked so ominous. I ginerly sat on the end of the bed, flinching at evey movement.
The boat suddenly jerked and I let out a small scream. Vaughn shot up and looked around the room. He forwned in confusion and lay back down. "I was sure I heard someone scream..."
The boat had settled but my heart hadn't. Itwas beating in my cheats and my breaths becamed shorter and quicker. I really didn't feel safe. I looked over at Vaughn, who had turned on his side and sleeping. His arm was dangling off of the bed. I managed to squeeze under it and I cuddled into him. It felt like he was holding me close and protecting me. I managed to fall asleep and I didn't have any nightmares that night. In fact, I didn't wake up until the next morning, when we arrived at the island.