The Phantom Crystal

Help Wanted

My chin rests in my hand as I vaguely listen to my psychology teacher explain how she is going to run the class. My eyes flicker up to the clock to my left. My nose wrinkles. Class has only been going on for 7 minutes and I already want to go back to my dorm. At least in my dorm, I can subtly research about the Phantom.

My lips purse as our brief meeting floats to the forefront of my mind. It was awfully brief and all he really did was confirm for me who he was but not where we were or why he has that crystal in the first place. Or maybe he did tell me but back during our first meeting. Honestly, my memory of that meeting is still really foggy and I doubt that I’m ever going to actually remember everything, but I remember enough to at least make the Phantom happy, so I guess beggars can’t be choosers.

I did take the Phantom’s suggestion, however, since I woke up shivering. Gavin told me he was afraid that my lips were going to be blue when he looked at me with how badly I was shaking. So, I while was going to the bathroom, I decided to see if I could freeze the toilet bowl water. Which I did. It did take a little work and concentration, but it WORKED. And it was amazing. I could feel a chill leave me and this faint beam of blue energy shot from my finger as I pointed at the water. And the absolute best part? I stopped shivering! For the first time in nearly 3 days, I could actually feel the heat radiating from our vents without nearly crawling onto our counter and hovering above it.

Some of the cold did return while I was walking to class but now that I have a way to dispense a little bit of the cold, I think this can be manageable. I just can’t get over the fact that I’m not shivering right at this moment. I almost feel normal. Now, if only my hair will turn back to normal, everything will be great.

Fiddling with my pen, I barely register the professor telling us what her office hours are and where her office is located in the building. I absentmindedly circle her email address.

I wonder just how well-known someone like the Phantom is. Am I going to find a lot of resources on him? Or am I going to have to dig a little bit? That janitor ghost seemed to think that the Phantom is quite the big deal, own an incredibly powerful object like his crystal. But who considers him a big deal? Do only the paranormal and supernatural know about him? Or are there ghost hunters out there who have also heard about him? Would Mom and Dad know about him? Would Ian?

I stop wiggling my pen, an idea hitting me. Maybe I can go talk with Ian about this? Surely he would know a thing or two about a being called the Phantom. And if he does know and asks why I can always just tell him I saw something online about him. I follow enough ghost hunting blogs and social media sites that me just stumbling across an article about the Phantom isn’t that far out of the realm of possibilities.

I shoot him a text after class and see if he has a moment to talk. If not, maybe I’ll see if he’s going to be up here this weekend. Then I can try to do my own research and see if anything that Ian might know matches with what I’ve found.

“So, make sure to at least try to get the book before class next week. I will start us off with some easy notes on Thursday for those of you who still don’t have the textbook and I’ll see each of you then.”

My body jerks as everyone around me starts shoving their notebooks back into their bags. Is class over already? Humming, I quickly shove my supplies back into their spot in my bag and follow my fellow classmates out of the room.

Murmurs fill the hallway as other classes are dismissed and any space that the hallway had is quickly taken over by laughing student bodies. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I make myself as small as possible as I follow the stream of bodies toward the Union for some late breakfast. I tuck my chin into my scarf as the sharp wind from Lake Bemidji blows through the doors.

Once outside, I fumble with pulling out my phone as the sea of people thins out enough to allow me some elbow space. I fight with my password before finally managing to reach my text messages. I wait a split second to enter the Union before tugging off my gloves. Starting a new thread, I pull up Ian’s number.

Me: Hey Ian I know you’re in class right now but I was just wondering if you were possibly going to be up here this weekend? There’s something I wanna ask you about from this article that I found but I want to do a little more research on my end beforehand

Hitting send, I shove the small device back into my pocket as I work my way around a group of people who I recognize as some junior football players. I wince. I don’t know if I should be happy or mad by the fact that I can now recognize the football players outside of their uniform because of Gavin. Gavin’s only invited me to like three things with them. I shouldn’t already know what their names are. And yet, I do.

Shaking my head, I finally reach my destination. Bagels & Co. The best place on campus to get a bagel sandwich and a strawberry-banana smoothie. It causes my Beaver Bucks to dwindle down quickly, but hey, I don’t eat at Wally’s, so I have to spend that ‘free’ money somewhere. Luckily, there is only a few people sitting down so I can order swiftly and not have to wait for very long. My next class doesn’t start for another hour and a half, but I don’t really want to have to rush through my food if I don’t have to.

I just barely reached the waiting area when my pocket vibrates. My heart leaps slightly as I tug it out and Ian’s name flashes on the screen. Oh, gods. Why is he calling me? Tapping the answer button, I force myself to remain calm as I press the device to my ear.

“Oh-lo?”

“Jack?” Ian says, worry heavy in his tone. “Is everything all right? I don’t have class for another hour. What do you need to discuss and what article are you talking about?”

I fidget in place as I watch the barista prepare my smoothie before holding it out for me to take. I nod in thanks.

“It’s nothing overly major,” I say, hoping to soothe any unnecessary worry that I might have just caused. “It was just about a supernatural being that I never heard of and was wondering if maybe you might have some idea on who it might be.”

Not a complete lie. I might not have heard of the Phantom through an article but I do have a TON of questions about him.

I bite my lip as a period of silence follows my statement. My hands turn clammy as I’m handed my sandwich and I find a quiet corner away from the crowds as I wait for Ian to respond. Does he know that there might be more going on? No. There is just no way. Nothing in my tone gave anything away. I was in theatre in high school for a reason!

Ian hums finally, breaking the silence. “Are you sure?”

Slumping back in my seat, I nod before remembering that he can’t actually see me.

“Yeah, honest. I just wanted to pick your brain a little bit more about it after I did my own research.” I fiddle with the paper wrapping my sandwich. “I mean, who else can say that they have access to some of the leaders in their field to be able to ask questions to?”

My lips quirk as Ian huffs out a laugh.

“I’m flattered that you think so highly of me, Jackie. Have you tried asking your folks yet? They know just as much, if not more, about the paranormal and supernatural than I do.”

I wince and sip on my smoothie.

“Yeah, about that,” I say, chuckling weakly. “Mom might be a smidge annoyed with me right now because I forgot to text her when I got up here on Sunday, so I kinda want to avoid talking to them right now.”

A pout forms on my lips as Ian guffaws a laugh.

“It’s not funny!” I whine as I unwrap my food. “You didn’t have to listen to Mom rant and rave on how she was thinking that I was dead or injured and in the ditch somewhere even though Rae AND Casper both told her that they helped me bring my stuff to my room.”

Ian snickers. “Well, you deserve it for not calling your mother right away. I have known your parents for a long time, Jackie, and let me tell you, nobody, and I do mean NOBODY, ever dared cross your mother. Just because you’re her kid doesn’t mean she’s gonna be any easier on you than anyone else.”

“Tell me about it,” I say, grumbling. “So, please, can this just be between us for right now? I’ll ask them about it later.”

“Was this the reason why you didn’t call your mother?”

I blink at the question. Actually, it kind of was, wasn’t it? I was so worried about all of this that it did cause me to forget to call Mom.

Ian chuckles in my ear. “I’m going to take this silence as a ‘yes’. All right, Jack, this’ll be our little secret project for right now. As for if I’m available this weekend. Luckily, I am. However, I have a couple of department meetings on Friday so, what do you say to me picking you up on Saturday at noon and we’ll go grab lunch and eat it back at my place so we can chat?”

A wide smile splits my face as I sit up. “That sounds great!”

“I thought it would,” Ian says, laughing. “And this way, you can show me those articles you found and not worry about having your laptop out in a public place.”

My stomach drops at the mention of the articles and I swallow thickly. Crap. Now I’m REALLY hoping that there is some information online about the Phantom otherwise Ian’s going to be very suspicious. I rub my face.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” I state lamely as I force my tone to remain excited. “Don’t need any hackers stealin’ my stuff, ya know?”

“Exactly. And my wifi is going to be much faster than any free wifi that some restaurant is going to have.”

I groan. “If I would have known that you had wifi I would have asked if I could write some papers at your place back in October. They only just gave us wifi during Thanksgiving break.”

“Well, if you ever just need a quiet place to study, you know that you can come over whenever you want,” Ian says. “Ope, looks like I’ve got a student waiting to talk to me. I’ll see you in class tomorrow. But don’t hesitate to text me if you need me.”

“I won’t,” I say, my shoulders feeling a little lighter than before, knowing that I won’t be fully alone in all of this. “Bye, Ian.”

“Bye, Jackie.”

A sigh slips past my lips as the line goes dead and my head falls to the table. At least now I really do have to do some of my own research before meeting up with Ian. My back snaps up straight. s**t. What am I going to tell him about my hair? He knows how Mom feels about us dying our hair, he’s been there when she practically bit Rae’s head off for even suggesting it. I need a plausible lie.

Biting into my turkey and Swiss bagel sandwich, I open Rae’s and my thread.

Me: Rae! Help! I’m meeting up with Ian on Saturday and I don’t know what to say about my hair -.-

Instantly, Rae’s little thought bubble appears.

Rae: Idk maybe try wearing a beanie or something

I frown as her thought bubble reappears.

Rae: Or maybe actually TELL him what happened on Saturday night? Like a responsible human being would do

I roll my eyes.

Me: And tell him what exactly? That somehow mom’s Portal suddenly ran by itself with a part and an imp put this weird glowing crystal inside me? And because of that now my bangs are white? Do you know how insane that sounds Rae?

As I wait for my sister to answer, I quickly pull up my phone’s browser and type in ‘the paranormal being known as the Phantom’, just to see what I will get. I scoff as a couple of fiction books are at the top of the page, most of which are some weird romance stuff with cheesy covers. I do spot Mom and Dad’s blog, The Paranormal Existence, among the top four results but that is mostly due to the fact that they have the word ‘Phantom’ in some of their posts. Ian’s blog, The Paranormal & The Supernatural, is directly below Mom and Dad’s link. But just like theirs, his blog is only popping up because it has ‘Phantom’ in some of his posts. And wouldn’t that be embarrassing if I used Ian’s posts for evidence?

My phone vibrates and I open Rae’s message.

Rae: I don’t see what the issue is with telling him but if you don’t want to fine but don’t expect me to hide anything if you start getting sick cuz I still think you should tell mom and dad but whatever

Ugh. You’re no help, Rae.

Scowling, I quickly tap out a reply.

Me: If I start getting sick or whatever from this thing in my chest then I’ll say something but I want to know what it is before I go around spouting that I have a crystal inside me. Can I just tell Ian that we made a bet or something that I lost and you helped me bleach my hair?

Rae: Geez fine if you’re so adamant about not telling them but you know that either way mom’s gonna blow a fuse when she finds out

Me: Like I don’t know that she already yelled at me for not calling her when you guys left I’m not in the mood for another lecture from her let’s just say I lost a bet and you helped me bleach it and if mom throws a fit we’ll just say that she said we couldn’t dye it not bleach it

Rae: it’s your head not mine baby bro but I’m serious if you start feeling any sharp pains or ANYTHING please go to Ian and tell him what happened

I’m still not a hundred percent sure on what Ian would be able to do for me except maybe try and cut me open. I don’t think Rae fully understands just how dedicated Mom, Dad, and Ian are to their jobs that I have a feeling that I might become an experiment to them and I really don’t want that.

Sighing, I type my response.

Me: I promise that if I feel any pain or sickness I’ll go to Ian immediately but until then I’m going to do my own research

Rae: Good and let me know about anything you find out Casper and I have been worried you know

I wince. Yikes. I didn’t even think about whether or not Rae and Casper would want to know about any of this.

Me: Let me do some more research and see what Ian has to say on Saturday and then I’ll send you my findings kay?

Rae: You better twerp or I’m coming back to Bemidji and gonna force you to tell me you might not want to tell mom and dad but Casper and I were there we already know so you better include us you don’t have to do this alone

I pop the last of my lunch in my mouth as I resist the urge to sigh again. She has a point and I hate that she’s right. But, at least I know that I can talk to them about this. Relaxing back in my seat, I sip my smoothie as I answer Rae’s message.

Me: I promise that I will let you guys know the moment I understand this better

Rae: Good now stop texting me I’m in a lecture but my last class ends at 7 so if you need to chat or call I’m free then <3

Chuckling, I send back a heart emoji and stare at the brick wall before me, adjusting my beanie.

Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me.