Ghost Betweens (6 page)

Zach turned and snarled at them. "We're not leaving yet, you chickens."

Kendra grinned in a dark way Josh had never seen from her before. "Come on. It's just starting to get fun."

"But you didn't like it here the other day," Whisper said.

"Whatever. Now I know it's fun."

Zach pointed to the barn. "Let's go inside. I want to see if we can meet that old farmer dude and his headless henchman."

Kendra snuggled up to him as they quickened their pace, while Josh and Whisper slowed down. "Do you think we should?" Whisper said.

"No, but maybe we'll get some sort of clue about what's going on in there. It does seem to be one of the major hotspots in this whole place."

She hesitated, then nodded, and they followed Zach and Kendra. She clutched Josh's elbow with one hand, while the other held her camera, which clicked almost non-stop.

The balls of light, the streaks of energy, and the apparitions swarmed around them, but they didn't get much closer. It was like it was all herding the group into the barn, and Josh didn't like that one bit. He almost said something, but didn't want to freak Whisper out any more. He needed to see inside.

Zach and Kendra reached the door, oblivious to their surroundings. Josh had no idea how the two couldn't sense all the ghosts around them. They were all in the middle of a supernatural sea on the verge of drowning. The claw-like grip on his arm proved Whisper felt the same. Before the expected wave washed over them, they made it through the barn's door.

"It's freezing," Whisper said. It had been unseasonably cold in the field, but it was like a meat locker in here. Zach had an arm around Kendra, presumably to keep her warm. Without thinking, Josh did the same for Whisper, and she snuggled into him. A tiny part of his brain recognized what just happened, but for the most part, he focused on the interior of the barn.

Though it felt a hundred times creepier in here, there was no sign of any ghosts. Josh had expected all of the visible energy from outside jammed into this tiny space. That there was nothing set him on edge even more.

Whisper shuddered against him. Zach and Kendra stood in the exact center of the floor plan and snapped picture after picture. They didn't stop to examine any of the shots. Josh raised his camera to take a few of his own when movement caught his eye in the hayloft.

Before he could ask what it was, Zach's voice rang though the small space. "Cool, it's the headless henchman." Kendra squealed as if she had found a basket of kittens.

Josh whirled around and saw it in the far corner. It made no move, but ill intent bled off. If it had eyes, he imagined they'd be sizing the group up.

"What is it?" Whisper asked.

Josh almost blurted out that it was a ghost, but that wasn't the full truth. It felt like all of the other apparitions they'd encountered, but there was something more to it. Much more, and he couldn't begin to explain. At least he had the wherewithal to snap a few pictures.

"There he is," Zach said, pointing up to the hayloft. Josh's attention shifted. Whatever Zach saw must've been what he noticed a minute ago.

The farmer looked down at them. Like the headless ghost, an aura of something more surrounded him, like extra power from beyond the grave. Whisper stiffened, and Josh felt his own legs turn to jelly.

Though the farmer was mostly transparent, he looked like he could do some actual damage. Especially since he held an overlarge machete in one hand. The look in his eyes said he both knew how to use it and wouldn't hesitate to do so.

"This is so cool," Zach said.

Kendra let out a shriek like she'd just found a great deal on a new purse. "So awesome, babe. Keep taking pictures."

Josh turned to Whisper and saw she agreed with him. This was anything but cool and awesome. Kendra did remind him, however, that he had a camera. He pointed it up towards the farmer and snapped away. Whisper joined in.

"Leave, Ghost Betweens," the farmer said. His mouth moved, but the words came to Josh's mind, not his ears. "You're not wanted here."

"But we are here," Whisper said. Josh was impressed with the forcefulness she put into her voice.

But it hadn't been her voice. Not really. He'd heard her in his mind, too, like the farmer.

Scuffling in the corner reminded him the headless ghost was still there. It stalked forward a few steps, and Josh had the distinct feeling it'd be salivating if it had a mouth.

"I can't hold him back much longer, Ghost Betweens. He may not have the power to destroy you, but I assure you your friends will become meat ribbons in short order." The farmer pointed at Zach and Kendra, who seemed oblivious to the conversation and kept snapping shots.

"What are Ghost Betweens?" Josh said. He meant to say it out loud, but the words traveled through his mind before they reached his lips. He wanted to ask more, but the sensation of telepathy, or whatever this was, stunned him.

"Don't play coy with me." The farmer took a step forward, off of the hayloft, and floated down to the ground.

"Cool," Zach and Kendra said simultaneously. It might have been funny in another circumstance, but right now Josh wasn't laughing.

"Your friends can stay," the farmer said, motioning at Zach and Kendra with his huge blade. "But you two must leave."

"You just said you'd let the headless one kill them," Whisper said.

"Alone they're safe. Don't test our patience any longer by lingering."

When they didn't move, the farmer nodded. The headless one leapt forward.

For the first time, fear etched itself onto Zach and Kendra's faces. Whisper latched onto Josh's arm, and at the same time they yelled, "Stop!" A tingly sensation ran down his arm to Whisper's grip and exploded out. The headless ghost crumpled to the dirt a few feet from them, and the farmer fell backwards against the wall.

"Come on," Josh shouted, leading the way to the barn door. He was afraid for a second it wouldn't budge, but one push brought it swinging open. They sprinted out into the middle of the field, away from the barn. Halfway between it and the farmhouse, they stopped, far enough away from the influence of the farmer and his headless minion. Josh had no clue how he knew this, but it was true. Whisper nodded, giving him a knowing look as if she could read his mind. And maybe she could.

"What the hell was all that back there?" Zach said. He looked shaken, but his smile was coming back.

"Yeah," Kendra said. "That was neat until the headless thing jumped. I thought it was going to rip us to shreds."

"It was," Whisper said. "I don't know why it stopped, but I'm glad it did."

"That was just plain weird," Zach said. "The farmer ghost looked like he was talking, but no sound came out. And did you see him float down? That was epic!"

"Yeah, he floated. He's a ghost, Zachy dear."

"I know, but it was still cool."

Josh looked around the fields. So he, Whisper, and the farmer really had been talking with their minds. He shook his head, not wanting to think about it, and concentrated on their surroundings. There were more ghosts, more full-bodied apparitions, and most were looking at their little group. They weren't happy, but they kept their distance. Why? Not that he was complaining.

Whisper touched his arm, breaking his concentration.

"Earth to Josh," Zach said. "You with us, buddy?"

"Come on, Joshy. Don't go all mopey on us."

"Sorry. I was just . . . does it look like there are more ghost to you guys?"

Whisper nodded, surveying their surroundings, though Zach and Kendra both shook their heads.

"Sigh, Joshy, the farmer guy and that headless thing must've messed with you."

"Yeah, dude, I see occasional blips of light and all, but nothing more than we've been seeing. Nothing like in the barn." He smiled. "How cool was that? I mean, seriously. I hope those pictures turn out okay."

"I know, right?" Kendra said. "Let's go see if the farmhouse has anything near as cool as that."

As they started walking, Josh leaned down and whispered in Whisper's ear. "What the hell happened? And what are Ghost Betweens?"

"I don't know. Do you think Mr. Baxter will? And were we really talking to that thing with our minds?"

"If we weren't, we both have a heck of an imagination."

She giggled, though it had a humorless frantic quality to it, and they did their best to keep up with Zach and Kendra, who were so excited they were practically running.

As the group approached the farmhouse, streaks of light shot past them. Whisper ducked a few times, but the energy ran right through both Zach and Kendra without them reacting at all. When they reached the old rickety picket fence that surrounded the house, the lights stopped. He looked up at the hanging tree to see if the residual ghost was still there, but it held nothing.

"It's all gone," Whisper said. "Even at the barn."

Josh looked around and saw she was right. The creepy feeling that had ruled over him since they stepped out of the dirt parking lot had dissipated. What did it mean?

"Look, there she is," Zach said. He pointed to the front door of the farmhouse, and a girl about their age stepped out. He'd never seen her at school before. Had she been here the whole time? Maybe she was exploring the place, too.

Whisper wore the same look of confusion he guessed was on his own face, but both Zach and Kendra were smiling with recognition. They'd met her before? Why hadn't they mentioned that? It wasn't like Kendra to keep news of a new friend from him.

Zach and Kendra hustled over to the gate while the girl walked out of the front door. The girl smiled, and Zach and Kendra, looking giddy, waved back. Josh could feel something wasn't right, and when he turned to Whisper, she was staring back at him, fear on her face. They walked up to the gate behind their friends, but with more caution.

"Hi, everyone. Nice to finally meet you. I've watched you taking pictures from my window, but I've been too sick to come greet you."

From up close, Josh could see how beautiful this girl really was. She was tall, taller than he or Zach, who both stood at a shade under six feet. She dwarfed Kendra and Whisper, both of whom came up only to their chins. She had long blonde hair that ran halfway down her back, and her womanly curves could have been intoxicating.

If evil didn't bleed out of her every pore.

"Hi," Kendra said. "Zach and I saw you the other day. Remember? We waved at you."

"Yeah. That was super sweet of you. Would you four care to come in? I can make us up some tea and cookies. Or whatever you're in the mood for."

"That sounds great," Zach said, and Kendra enthusiastically nodded beside him.

The girl's piercing eyes looked at Josh, then Whisper. What color were they? They weren't changing were they? No, it had to be a trick of the light.

"Uh, we're actually here for a school project," Whisper said. "We should probably just keep taking pictures." Josh nodded and echoed the sentiments.

The girl flashed a grin that chilled his blood. "Suit yourself. I trust you can find your way out?" She didn't wait for an answer and instead turned to Zach and Kendra. "Shall we?"

They both followed without looking back. Josh and Whisper watched until the front door closed.

"I don't think they're safe in there," Whisper said, her voice as quiet as her name.

"I don't think we could have stopped them."

"Did you feel the energy on her?" Whisper shuddered. "It was evil. Pure evil."

Josh continued staring at the door, willing his two friends to come to their senses and return to them. "Maybe since they don't feel it, it means they'll be safe."

Whisper didn't answer.

After a minute, Josh shook his head. "They're not coming out. Should we take some more pictures?"

Whisper sighed. "Yeah, I suppose. Maybe for a few minutes anyway. Then we can come back to make sure they're okay."

"It's a plan." Though the atmosphere wasn't as ramped up as it had been a few minutes ago, supernatural feelings crept back in. He turned and snapped off three quick shots. When he looked at the last one, he gasped. "Whisper, take a look."

She pushed close to him, which registered in a part of his brain, but he was mostly focused on the picture. "Oh my god, what's that behind him?"

The picture was of an old farmer, a different one from the barn, smiling and waving at them. Something about him, though, said it wasn't in a friendly manner. What she referred to was in the frame over the ghost's shoulder.

Whisper stepped away, aimed her own camera in that direction, and started snapping. After a dozen or so pictures, they looked down and gasped.

"It's like an army of ghosts," Josh said. They looked up, and before their eyes, the ghosts they saw in the pictures materialized. Ill intentions bled off each and every one.

"Run?" Whisper asked in a meek voice.

"Run," Josh answered.

They took off towards his car, and didn't look back. Ghosts popped up in the fields and shot forward, but none touched them. Josh, being a wide receiver on the football team, had no doubt about his own running abilities, but he was impressed by Whisper, who kept up with him stride for stride. By the time they rounded the corner of the farm buildings and hit the driveway, the unnatural feelings of terror faded, and both ventured a look back.

"Nothing," she said between gasps for breath. "It's like they vanished."

"I don't think they can't pass out of the fields. Around this corner is a safe zone." He led her to his car. "Let's get out of here."

She glanced back towards the fields, and then nodded. "Do you suppose they're okay? Kendra and Zach?"

"I don't know. I hope so. If they couldn't feel the evil on her, maybe they're immune. Besides, I don't think we'd be allowed back right now."

She bit her lower lip and nodded. They climbed into the car and sped away.

*****

Josh listened to Zach's voicemail greeting and hung up. Whisper did the same with her phone. "Voicemail?" he asked, and she nodded.

"I almost left a message, and then I figured it'd be better to just text her. How about you?"