Story Contest 2016 #2 Results » Second Prize Winner - Junior Category
Ghost in the shadows
I had never seen a ghost, but like they say, there’s a first time for everything. A young ghost is staring at me ‘Jodi, Jodi’, it seems too say, yet it does not use a mouth. As I take a step away, I trip over my brother, Spencer’s tombstone. ‘Are you afraid of me Jodi?’ It silently asks me. Guilt takes over and I scream.
“Jodi, Jodi,” It is a familiar voice. “JODI WAKE UP.”
“Don’t shout, you could hurt her,” It’s a woman's voice, with a heavy accent. I open my eyes; two people swim around me, blurry like a frozen video.
“Jodi!” a small arm wraps around me as I struggle to focus. When my vision clears, I see Becky. “You’re alive,” she sobs.
“Hey little sis,” I somehow manage to say. “What happened?”
“Well,” Becky starts, but the woman next to her cuts in. I recognize her as Miss Westwood, the English woman that lives next to the graveyard.
“I was visiting my son when I found your sister looking for you,” Miss Westwood pauses, then goes on, “We heard you scream, and found you here.” she gravely finishes. As she had been telling me this I looked around. There was nothing in sight.
A few days later I am as right as rain, but I can still not grasp what I saw in the graveyard that day. The ghost reminded me of someone, something and a tragic day.
That night I have the same nightmare.
It was a cold night. Max Westwood, Spencer and I were driving late at night coming home from the latest ‘Lara Croft’ Movie. Max and I were teasing Spencer about his massive crush on ‘Miss Croft’. “Lara and Spencer sitting in a tree,” I start and Max joins in, “K-I-S-S-I-N-G”
“Stop,” Spencer said, blushing. “and Miss Lee, a 5 year old like you shouldn’t even be thinking about love.”
“How many times do I have to tell you,” I moaned, “I am 12.”
“Yes you are.” Spencer said in an infuriating voice.
“Dude, keep your eyes on the road,” Max said.
“What’s that?” I said, pointing to a ginormous hole in the road.
“It’s a sinkhole!” Max shouts, he pulled on the handbrake; it broke off. Spencer opened my door and undid my seatbelt. “What are you doing?” I screamed.
“Not losing you, GET OUT.” he shouted at me.
“I don’t want to lose you either, I am not leaving you.”
“Yes you are” Spencer replied for the second time that night, as he pushed me out the door. I saw the car fall and I collapsed in tears...
I wake up, covered in a cold sweat. According to my clock, it’s midnight. Jazz is on the end of my bed. As I grab her and cuddle her soft black fur, I sob, “It’s all my fault.” The accident had stopped his heart as well as my life. Eventually I drifted off around 5.00 am with Jazz on my chest.
I wake up to Jazz licking me on my nose. ‘Meow’ she purrs. “Alright, I know you’re hungry, I’m getting up,” I grumble. Before I can move, Becky comes in with a plate of scrambled eggs covered in tomato sauce, “I still don’t get why you like scrambled eggs with tomato sauce, you are soooooo weird” she says.
“I’m the weird one,” I say. “You like them with MUSTARD!”
“What? They’re nice,” she says. While we argue, I finish my breakfast and make plans for the day. I am going back to the graveyard.
“NO, NO, NO,” Becky says, “You are not going back without me, what if you faint again?”
“I won’t, I promise,” I answer.
“Why do you need to go so badly anyway?” she asks.
“Umm, I, well,” I stammer, not prepared for this question even though I know it would be asked.
“Yes?” Becky prompts.
“I saw Spencer!” I blurt out.
“WHAT,” Becky exclaims, “He’s been dead for 3 years.”
“I know it is hard to believe,” I explain, “but I did see him but before I could talk to him I fainted.”
“You’re not going,” Becky says, as she feels my forehead, “You must have Paramnesia*”
“I do not have paramnesia,” I say indignantly, “but to make you happy I won’t go”
In the graveyard I feel just a bit guilty about lying to Becky, but I am used to that feeling. Beside the tombstone I call, “Hello?, Anybody there?”
After a couple of minutes, I try again “Hello?, Spencer?, Are you there?”
This time I get a reply. “Jodi,” He calls as he materializes in front of me.
“Yyyes,” I stutter.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Spencer says softly.
“Yes it was,” I cry. “If I hadn’t argued and got out of the car when you told me to than you would have had time to get out.”
“I wouldn’t have gotten out anyway. I would have stayed with Max,” Spencer tries to put his arm around me but it passes through.
“I miss you,” I whisper, “I wish I was with you.”
“No you don’t,” Spencer says in a low voice, “Than we would be leaving Becky all alone.”
Becky was only 5 when Spencer had moved on to the world above. She doesn’t remember much about him.
“Is Max here too?” I ask.
“Yes,” said a voice, its body floating out of the darkness.
“MAX,” I rush to hug him but run straight through.
“Still can’t get me even when I’m standing still!” he teases.
A question strikes me, “Can you both fly?”
Spencer and Max grin at each other “That depends.” Spencer starts and Max finishes, “Are you afraid of heights?”
I wake up in my bed. The memories of the night before flood through me like a river. Max and Spencer had taken me all around the world, teleporting us, at almost the speed of light.
I have not had the nightmare for the first time in two years, and I doubt I ever will.
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