After Pre-Calculus it was time to head off to lunch. I shoved my textbook and papers in my dark purple backpack and headed out the classroom door. I paused in front of the classroom and tried to remember which way I'd come from. I was sure that I came from the left, but the right side of the hallway was looking awfully familiar too. You'd think that the school would have given me a map or something. I'm supposed to magically know where I'm going my first couple days? I sighed, and decided on going right. I knew I had to get downstairs to my locker before lunch, I was sure that Casper High didn't offer anything remotely vegetarian in the cafeteria. I'd grown used to packing my lunches though, and I didn't mind it.
I made my way down the hall in hopes of seeing a familiar landmark- a bathroom, trashcan, classroom, anything. But it seemed that I was out of luck. Maybe I didn't come from this way after all. As I was just about to turn around I heard rushed footsteps running towards me. And realized that the hallway was a bit too quiet for my liking. I quick turned my head and found that a boy was coming my way. I barely had time to gasp before I was tackled to the ground. My head hit the floor with an earth-shattering crack, and I saw black for a couple seconds, but came back quickly. I looked up at the boy, it looked like he was enraged. His eyes were crazy and bloodshot, his skin slick with sweat and brown hair sticking to his forehead. But he was smiling. And then I knew I was in trouble.
At the sight of his wide and devious grin I started to scream. I rapidly kicked and flailed, only to fail miserably at breaking free. I tried to get a good look at my surroundings whilst struggling, desperate for anyone to rush in to help. I saw students peeking through the glass of the classroom doors nearby. I cried for help but the look of fear on their faces was enough of an answer to me. Nobody is going to help. I tried to rack my brain for any distraction that could buy me just enough time to escape, but I didn't seem to have too many options. In a last ditch effort, I looked the guy square in the eyes (which were looking less bloodshot and oddly darker now) and spat at him. In what seemed like an instant I felt his fist slam into my cheek. The world went black once more, but I forced myself to be pulled back from the darkness and into consciousness again. I noticed I was seeing double, and felt the world was swaying beneath me. Nobody is coming to help. Not because this is a bully. But because it has to be another ghost- a possession. His hands were firmly wrapped around my neck, cutting off any source of oxygen I had. I could feel my body slowly giving up, no longer having the energy to struggle anymore. Isn't there anything I can do…? Do I have anything that can be used as a weapon… Through my blurred vision, I could make out the boys form leaning down to my ear. And then he spoke. "Oh Sammy, Sammy, Sammy… You put up quite a good fight, you know. But I'm beginning to wonder how long it will take for you to just die already… Let's kick it up a notch, huh? I wanna see how far I can push you…"
I could smell something burning. Then screaming. A gasp. A thud. Cold water. Then I was out.
-
My eyes began to flutter open. I found myself lain out on a large sofa, in a strangers living room with nobody around. Immediately I could sense that not all was right with my body. I tried to get up, but an intense pain around my neck and in my head forced me back down. What happened after I blacked out? And more importantly, where am I…? I looked around for any clues. I saw a picture frame down at the other end of the couch, resting on an end table. All I could make out was a little kid and an adult. Which told me absolutely nothing. Deciding to tough through the pain, I tossed a blanket off of me and pushed myself off the couch. My head screamed at me the entire time, but I was more interested in my whereabouts than how much pain I was in. A bottle of ibuprofen and a glass of water was sitting on the coffee table in front of me. A note was slipped underneath the glass. I pulled it out and read it.
Sam,
Glad you're finally awake. We took you home with us to watch over you and make sure you were alright. We've left you some medicine, well aware you'll be in pain when you wake up. You're in good hands, and your family knows you're here with us. If you're reading this letter, we've ran out for some errands. We will be back soon, but our son is home in case you might need anything. If you're hungry you can help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Please make yourself at home.
-Maddie Fenton
Maddie Fenton… Fenton.. Where have I heard that name before? I thought back to yesterday, during the event that took place first period. Oh… Ghost hunters. Someone must have called. My body relaxed after the revelation. Although it must have been serious for the Fenton's to be called, I was relieved that I was in good care. I was with people who could explain what happened. They could tell me how to better protect myself. I was going to be okay. Although I had never met anyone from this family before, I felt a sense of trust wash over me while reading the letter.
I placed the letter back down on the glass coffee table and popped open the bottle of ibuprofen and washed one down with the water. While swallowing the pill, I heard the soft sound of tentative footsteps from the staircase to my left. I turned and found a familiar face reach the final steps, dressed in a plain t-shirt, pajama pants, and socks.
"Danny?"
A surprised look flashed on his face. "Oh, I didn't think that you'd be awake yet." I glanced his body over. He looked ruffled, tired and groggy. It was probably some ungodly hour of the morning and he had woken up. His raven-black hair was sticking out in a mess, and his clothes slightly creased as if he'd been laying in the same positon for hours at a time. So, it's probably like 3:00 AM, I'm in some family's house that has an acute interest in the paranormal, and the first student to introduce himself to me happens to be their son. What the hell is going on?
"I would really like to know exactly what the heck is going on." I stated, my voice coming out slightly raspy. I saw him walk over to a wall and heard the sound of his finger flip a light switch. A soft yellow glow came from a lamp on the opposite side of the room. I silently thanked him for not turning on the bright lights, my head pain hadn't been relieved by the ibuprofen yet. "I don't blame you for wanting to know. One minute you're at school and the next minute you're in some guy's living room that you've only just met." He murmured. He crossed the room and sat on the couch, making sure there was enough distance between us for comfort. "You should probably sit down. You got a pretty nasty blow to the head." I couldn't argue with that logic. I sat cross-legged and pulled the blanket up onto my lap, waiting for him to begin an explanation. I looked over at Danny and saw him combing his fingers though his hair, as if he was trying to look more presentable. Not that it mattered, I probably looked a million times worse. I definitely felt it. He suddenly sighed, and looked up at nowhere in particular.
"So I don't know why, but for the past couple days things have been getting a little weird in the ghost community, it seems. Suddenly it's like there's a ton more possessions than usual, and not just your average run-of-the-mill possessions, it's getting dangerous. My parents, which are ghost experts, have been trying to figure out what the hell is going on, but even they're stumped. They've been gone a lot lately, since the spike in dangerous ghost activity started. And today at school there was another student who got possessed. He was probably alone when it happened, more than likely in a bathroom nearby or something. And unluckily for you, the spirit must have spotted you and… liked you or something. I mean, ghosts don't just attack without a motive. So it had to be something."
So I was right about a possession. But why me? What motive? Danny looked over at me and his icy blues met my violets. I could hear the serious tone in his voice. "From what I heard, he got you pretty bad. Your neck has some bruising, your voice will be raspy for a day or so I'm sure. Your cheek is a bit bruised too, and he must have had a ring on or something because you got a cut too. I'm sure you can feel the goose-egg on your head." My hand reached to the back on my head where a sore, prominent bump resided. "And you have some blistering around your neck. We think he may have burned you."
"Burned me…? How... Why…?"
"We don't know. Maybe the guy had a lighter on him. But it only looks like first degree burns, and extremely slight second degree. You'll be fine, it'll just be uncomfortable for a while."
"Wonderful. I must be the luckiest girl in the world. Second day of school and I'm basically mauled by a ghost."
"Hey, you're in my family's care. If anything, I'd consider that pretty lucky."
He gave me a slight smile, and I couldn't help but smile a little bit back. "But wait." I paused as a disturbing thought rolled into my head. "He was speaking to me. He knew my name." My skin physically began to sprout goosebumps from head to toe. Danny began to look skeptical. "He spoke to you? I doubt you could have understood it. We know so little about the spirit world because they speak a dead language. You probably thought you heard him say your name."
"No," I said quietly. "He was speaking to me and I understood everything."