A ghost. I'm certain the man in front of me is a ghost. The smell of bones, the rotting teeth- what else could he be? But I don't scream when I face ghosts. I've seen way too many for that. But this one... Everything about him is terrifying, from head to toe.
Don't scream. Close your mouth and don't make a sound. But Carmel and Thomas...
They're pinned to wall on opposite sides of the staircase, arms flung out, fingers splayed, mouths frozen in silent screams. When I look closely, I can see they're still breathing, even if it's only very slightly. All fear is gone, replaced by blind fury, and I pull out the athame, pointing it at the ghost.
"If you've hurt them I swear I'll cut your heart out." Do ghosts have hearts? I wonder vaguely. It's a tiny, fleeting thought that means nothing, but it makes me want to laugh. All these years and I don't know if dead people have organs. Ridiculous.
"Relax," the ghost laughs. "They're fine. For now. But if you try to get away, they might not be. You understand?" I glare at him.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"You might know me as the Obeahman."
"What?" I whisper. This is the ghost that killed Cas. The ghost that has who knows how many other dead people trapped in the attic.
And suddenly, screaming doesn't seem like such a terrible idea after all. But I won't scream. I'm going to kill this bastard. And I am going to make him regret that he ever existed.
"Get out of there!" Cas yells. "Run!"
"All this talking," the Obeahman shakes his head. "It's not going to get you anywhere. Actually, it's starting to annoy me. Maybe it's time to shut you up."
Nothing happens. I am still looking at the ghost. He doesn't move and neither do I. But I hear it. The screaming from upstairs. Not just one scream, but many. The Obeahman grins as the voices grow in volume, crying out in agony.
"I said shut up!" He snaps. The voices cut off abruptly. Too abruptly. Not in a way that makes you think they realised that now would be a good time to be quiet. It's in a way that sounds as if they had their vocal chords ripped out in a millisecond. Please, no. Please don't let that actually be what happened. Please, please, please.
I want to run up to the attic and find a way to save them, to set them all free. But I can't. I have to think of the people who are still alive. Cas, I'm sorry. I'd help you if I could. I WIIL help you. Just as soon as I've relieved the world of this monster.
"What do you want?" I repeat my earlier question, my voice louder and clearer. The Obeahman just stands and smirks. "Tell me or I'll run you through!"
"That would be I interesting, to see you try. But if you care that much, I'll put it simply. You and your kind- ghost hunters." He spits the title out like it tastes bad. "You get in my way. You want to stop my fun. So give up your knife, and I'll let your friends go. I might even make your death quick. Can't make any promises about after your death, though. It's much more fun, to play with something that can't die...to hear the snapping of bones and knowing you can do it all over again." He's evil. He's evil and I have to stop him.
"And if I say no?" I challenge. A horrible grin crosses his face and I give an involuntary shudder.
"Then it's play time."