A/N – Timely updates. Told you so. I'm so glad you all are enjoying this story. I have to admit, it's become one of my favorites. I'm glad we got to share this joyride of a story together!

X

Chapter 15

Hiccup sat in the living room across from Astrid. If not for the gentle shimmer of her skin, undulating light, he would have guessed her a living person. She glanced up at him.

"I don't know what else to do," Hiccup said aloud, mostly to her. Fishlegs had gone into town, so he didn't worry about being overheard.

Astrid's shoulders rose and fell.

Hiccup had spent the morning talking Astrid through what had happened; she now knew how she had died. She knew who'd been involved. Yet, she hadn't passed on.

"Is there anything else, anything at all, that is bothering you?"

She blinked at him; a sadness filled her eyes.

"Anything at all that's keeping you tethered here?"

She glanced down at her hands and began to fidget with the sleeve of her dress.

"Let's try this," Hiccup said, speaking with his hands. "Close you eyes. Clear you mind. Think of your family that's waiting for you on the other side. Friends, pets, everyone that you knew; your brothers are there, Robert and Willie, your uncle, your mother, and Eret, too. They're all waiting for you. They'll be delighted to see you. There's… a door in front of you. You can walk to it. Once you go through, you can't come back, but it's glorious on the other side, bright light and sunshine and fresh air." Hiccup paused; her face had relaxed. "Your hand is on the doorknob. You can walk through right now, but there's something behind you. It's this world. What is behind you that you can't leave? What is holding you here? What will you miss?"

She opened her eyes. She pointed at him, and her ghostly voice said, "You."

He choked.

He'd thought it, but he hadn't voiced it.

"Astrid," he said. "I-I don't know…"

"I know," she said, like a whisper behind him. She looked down at her hands.

"Don't feel guilty about it," Hiccup said. "It's mostly my fault."

They sat in silence. Then, a ding on the computer signaled an incoming email. For something to do, Hiccup walked into the office expecting another bogo deal or social update. Instead, he saw an email from HesaCow45.

Astrid followed him into the office.

"This guy might know something," Hiccup said. He sat down to read the email.

You know how they say you can read a lot about a person in how they write? It's no joke, Hiccup. You've fallen in love with that ghost, haven't you? By the sounds, she's fallen for you. You're adding wood to the fire. Love is a tricky mistress, but I'm not the one to tell you not to. I'm sure you didn't mean to. It happens like that. Likely, she can't move on with you there. My best suggestion to you is to leave the house. Let the ghost forget about you and let her move on. It's best for both of you.

Hiccup glanced at Astrid; she stood away from the computer. She still didn't like the technology. She hadn't read the email, at least. Hiccup, hoping HesaCow45 might still be sitting at his computer, typed up:

You're right. We know how she died. I've told her, but she's still here. I should want her to move on, that's best for her and me, but I don't. I don't want her to leave. She doesn't want to leave, either. I've sunk a big portion of my savings into this house. I'm not sure I could even sell it. I can't leave it. Not now. I've gotten used to her, and her to me, and I'm not sure where to go from here. She's a ghost, I know, it would never work out. We couldn't go out or date. I'd hate to think of introducing her to my parents. They'd lock me up in the crazy house for sure. It will sound crazy, I know, but I'd rather just stay here forever with her.

Sending…sending…sent.

Only after he sent it did he realize how crazy it would sound. Luckily, HesaCow45 dealt in crazy and the paranormal. He wouldn't call the nuthouse. Not like his father would. He could just see his disbelief and anger if Hiccup were to tell him how he'd fallen in love with a girl, only to lower the bomb by saying it was the ghost in his house. So much for grandkids.

"Who are you talking to?"

Hiccup, used to her soft chime, looked up. Astrid sat in the chair, curiously watching him.

"It's a man, or a woman, that lives…somewhere. I met him online. Its, uh, complicated to explain to someone, but it's like…a machine, like my computer here, that allows people from all over the world to access the same places. They're not real places, they're virtual places. You can't physically go, but you can say things and see people. Anyone with a computer can access the internet, that's another word for 'online.'"

She nodded, bottom lip between her teeth. "It sounds like magic."

"It's not, it's all science and…electrical," Hiccup said. "It probably appears like magic to you, but believe me, it's completely man-made and non-magical."

"And this person is online?"

"He lives somewhere else in the world," Hiccup said. "I don't know. He might live in the states, or even overseas."

"You talk to him?"

"Yes," Hiccup said, awed at her amazement. "I can talk live or through messages to anyone, anywhere in the world through the internet."

"Amazing."

"It is," Hiccup said. "It's like sending a letter to someone, but instead using the post office and waiting a month for a rely, it goes straight to the receiver and appears almost instantly."

An email appeared, followed by the signaling chime. HesaCow45 had written back.

"See? He's sent me back a letter, or an email, it stands for 'electronic mail.' He's sent it just now. It's like we're having a conversation over the thousands of miles between us."

He clicked on the email.

I'm sorry. I'm also happy that you've found love, but I'm sorry it's so complicated. I might have some helpful information, but…I'm hesitant. It's the risky kind of information. It's the kind that's been locked away and forgotten. It's the kind that people were burned at the stake for knowing, and killed on sight for practicing. It's not 'evil' exactly. Magic itself is neutral. People use it in evil ways. Yes, I said magic. It's magic. It's paranormal. Whatever word suits your needs of understanding. It's the dangerous kind that if done wrong can have dire consequences. Before I even tell you, I need your written word that you will never, under any circumstances, repeat it to anyone else, be it a person, blog, your diary, your dog, or especially in a book.

Hiccup reread the message twice. Magic? No, no, he didn't do that kind of paranormal. He believed in solid evidence. Right? Hiccup cast a glance toward the ghost standing nearby, gazing at the computer in a strange mixture of awe and caution. Totally logical and reasonable. He replied:

Okay. I promise I will keep anything said in this email to myself. I will take it to my grave.

His skin prickled. He knew HesaCow45 had strange knowledge, but he'd only dribbled it out in small doses.

The rely came back:

There's an old ritual that can bring a person back from the dead. It's old, very old. I've never seen one work. I've heard about them. I've heard about them going well, and I've heard about them going horrible wrong. Hiccup, this is serious. This is a serious decision. If you decide to go through with this, I want to personally see the ritual done.

"What?" Hiccup said to the screen.

Astrid straightened her shoulders and stared at him.

Clearing his throat, Hiccup quickly typed:

Can I tell Astrid about it? Since it's her we're talking about?

A few moments later, the response came:

Yes, I suppose. She does have a right to know.

"Astrid," Hiccup said, unsure of how it would go over. "This person I'm talking to. They know things. A lot of things about the paranormal world that I don't. They have a way, an old ritual he says, that might be able to…uh…" he gulped. "Bring you back from the dead."

Her face lost its expression and became a stoic mask. She blinked at Hiccup as though he'd spoken in a different language.

"I-I know, it sounds crazy a-and bazaar and terrible…I-I tell him no," Hiccup said. He started to type.

Astrid's pale hand grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand from the keyboard. She looked bewildered and terrified; if he could hear her heart beat, surely it would be a wild sound. Hiccup wiggled his fingers into hers – they felt strangely real and strangely not – and looped his other arm around her waist. He couldn't possibly describe how it felt to hold her. He felt the texture of her dress, but not the warmth a human would normally give off; he felt the chill of her breath on his face, but it felt like a puff of air, not a breath. Her entire being felt electric, as though a current passed through her, buzzing and shaking.

He said, "Astrid, I don't want you to do anything you don't want to. I know this isn't comfortable for you. This isn't something that Fishlegs and I do. We're scientific in our approach. We use evidence, not magic."

"What does he say?" she asked. She bit her lip. "It sounds crazy, like magic, but… we should at least hear him out."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I'm not committing to anything. I'm not signing a blood pact by hearing what he's to say."

Hiccup nodded his agreement. "Alright. We can always change our minds. But, he's also warned us that anything we talk about is strictly a secret. To the grave kind of secret."

"Already done," Astrid said, a smile appearing on her face.

"Oh… I-I didn't mean…"

"I know what you meant," she said, smiling. Her lips brushed against his cheek in a soft whisper of a kiss. "You're the only person I talk to."

He leaned forward and kissed her cool cheek. He said, "Even if there is the smallest chance we could get your life back, I want to hear what he has to say. But, Astrid, I won't force you into anything, or make you do anything you'd rather not. I'll get your permission before I agree to anything. Okay?"

A fierce determination came over her eyes, and she said, "Okay."

Hiccup sat down at the computer with Astrid behind him. He typed a response:

Okay. Astrid knows. We want to hear what you've got to say.

The response took a while to come. While they waited, Astrid gradually came closer to the computer, until she stood behind Hiccup. She sat her hands on his shoulders. When the email signal chimed, her hands tightened, then loosened.

It's tricky. The book is old and in a language no one speaks anymore. I've been able to translate it into another language that is spoken in remote parts by monks and shamans; I've translated it into my language with some help, and it's a trick process. You need things. First, a site out of sight. It needs to be dark, like a cave or an inside bathroom without any windows, or even a cellar. It needs to be enclosed and dark. Second, you need her bones. You said there was a cemetery on the property, right? It'll be easier to go grave robbing if it's your own land. Third, you'll need something of hers to connect her soul to. She'd there with you, right? Shouldn't be to hard to find something. Fourth, and probably the easiest, you'll need clean water. Get one of those water filters, filter the water, then boil it. It's rather like a recipe. You must let it strew for three days. There's some other things, but I'd rather do that myself; it's complicated. What do you say, Hiccup? Worth a try? Even if we get to the point of no return and you want to back out, that's fine. We'll just have a cup of tea and chat instead.

Astrid, having read the email, said, "A cave, bones, and boiled water? It sounds like magic."

"It might be," Hiccup said. "But, like he said, we can think about it, talk about it, and back out if we change our minds."

"Is he coming here?"

Hiccup scanned the emails. "He might be."

Hiccup sent a quick email back:

Are you coming here? Do you need directions?

Yes. I don't have a cellular phone. I won't be able to contact you once I leave my house. And, before we make plans, you are sure?

Sure. Here's my address. I've added some directions. The rural roads a bit wonky. Some don't have proper signs.

Hiccup sent along the email with the inclusion of his mailing address with his own directions from town. He didn't know what path HesaCow45 would choose. To be honest, he felt apprehensive; he'd invited a total stranger into his home. He didn't even know HesaCow45's real name.

"I just invited a stranger to my home to preform an ancient ritual to bring a ghost back to life," Hiccup said aloud.

"When you say it like that, you do sound a bit mad," Astrid said.

X

Fishlegs returned in a good mood. When he spotted Hiccup on the couch, he paused.

"Hey, Fishlegs," Hiccup said, proving that he was in 2016.

"Oh, good," Fishlegs said, heaving a sigh. His eyes drifted to the spot on the couch beside Hiccup where Astrid sat. "Is she there with you?"

"Yes," Hiccup said. "What do you see?"

"It's shimmering," Fishlegs said, looking at Astrid. She looked back. "It's kind of like a radiant glow, like a nightlight, you know the one I used to have. It wasn't a light, it was covered in this film stuff."

"Can he hear me?" Astrid said.

"I don't think so," Hiccup answered.

"You don't think what?" Fishlegs screwed up his brows.

"She spoke."

"She spoke?" Fishlegs said, eyes wide. "I-I wasn't listening properly!"

Hiccup glanced at Astrid and nodded toward Fishlegs, who's turned his head to the side. His eyes had gone out of focus as he concentrated.

"Can he hear me?" Astrid repeated.

"It's like… someone whispering in the other room," Fishlegs said. "I can't make out any of the words."

"I would shout if it could," she said.

"There," Fishlegs said. "She's talking again."

Hiccup chuckled. "She said she would shout if she could."

Over dinner, which Astrid joined them for, although she didn't eat anything, Hiccup briefed Fishlegs on HesaCow45's visit; he left out the tricky details of the resurrection part.

"He's coming here?" Fishlegs said. He, like Hiccup, held the stranger with a high regard and fearful admiration. "Here? As in your house?"

"Yes," Hiccup said.

"But…why?" Fishlegs said. "I mean, I get this house is cool, and the whole trans-time thing was weird, but…is that worth the trip?"

Hiccup inhaled; his hesitation spoke for him.

"What is he coming here for?" Fishlegs asked slower.

"I told him about what's been going on," Hiccup said, looking at Astrid. "I know how Astrid died, I told her, but she's still here. That's not what is keeping her here. I am."

"Wait, what?" Fishlegs blinked several times. "Hiccup…?"

"I know, it's crazy," Hiccup said. "But, he's got a way that…he knows about this thing…that might…help her."

"Help her how?"

Hiccup hesitated, words dribbled on his tongue like a confession. "…bring her back."

"To life?" Fishlegs whispered, his voice creaked.

"Yes."

Fishlegs went pale. He stared at Hiccup as though he hadn't met him before. When at last he spoke, he didn't sound at all enthused. "No, no, Hiccup, I don't like this. It's not a good idea."

"We're not saying we're going through with it," Hiccup said. "But he is coming here and we're going to talk about it. If it's too-too, we'll pull out."

Fishlegs didn't look convinced. "Hiccup, part of our motto is that we use science, not all that magic stuff to communicate with ghosts. This…back to life thing…it sounds like something those nutcases that do seances would do."

Hiccup nodded. "I know, I understand your skepticism, trust me. But… I want to hear what he's got to say. I need to know if it can be done. I mean, I wouldn't have believed it either. I wouldn't have believed it if someone had told be about these trans-time crossings, either. I mean, six months ago, if you'd have told me, I'd have laughed in your face. But…things have changed."

"Things have changed," Fishlegs said. He stood. "You've changed, Hiccup. This house has changed you. I'm not sure if I like it or not. Go ahead and do what you think you must, but I'm not going to stick around and watch you summon demons."

Fishlegs retreated out of the kitchen. Hiccup sat still and listened to him walk up the stairs and go into the guest room. He started to pack up his things.

"That didn't go as well as I'd hoped," Hiccup said.

Astrid reached for his hand and held it between hers. "He's afraid. He is your friend. He is worried about you."

"I'm worried about me, too."