The Phantom Crystal

Visiting From Across the Pond

“Am I interrupting something?”

I jump as a deep voice speaks from behind me and I turn around. My mouth dries as the large imposing figure of Jim Pax, the leader of the international ghosting hunter squad, the Paranormal Trackers. He’s relatively young compared to many of the famous ghost hunters, starting at the young age of 20 where he and his friends Tasha Baker, Tyrone Baker, and Kara Fox would travel around the world and document their experiences in some of the most haunted places in the world. Much like Mom and Dad, it’s only the four of them that ever go on hunts and are the ones that video tape everything and edit everything. They carry around their own equipment and spend their own money on everything they need and at all of the locations that they go to. Probably less now that the television channel ‘Travel Destination’ or TD has taken them on but the size of the group has never changed and they refused a camera crew.

Rae even had the biggest crush on him back in high school and her room still has a large poster that Mom and Dad managed to find for her when he did a meet-&-greet. They won’t tell me if they actually went to the meet-&-greet but deep down I know that they did. How else did they get that poster?

Jim smirks at me and Ian, his dark brown eyes flickering between the two of us as he walks forward, his black boots clicking on the linoleum and he brushes snow off of his black woolen dress jacket. His dark brown hair is styled back and snow is melting on the gelled strands.

I rub my hands together, nerves dancing once more as he approaches. This is a guy who is only 4 years older than I am but has already made a name for himself within the paranormal community, a community that people only know me because of my parents, not because of anything that I’ve done or accomplished.

‘Rae is gonna flip when she finds out I am meeting him in person,’ I think as Jim pauses next to me and winks as he smiles at me.

“Well, I’ll say,” Ian says, a wide smile on his face, the warmth not quite meeting his eyes. “If it isn’t Jim Pax. How are you, young man?”

Jim looks over at Ian and takes his outstretched hand in a firm handshake never losing his grin.

“I’m doin’ well, thanks,” Jim says before turning toward me. “And I feel like I know your face.” Jim studies me, his eyes flickering up and down causing heat to spread across my face and I quickly hide my hands behind me. “You wouldn’t happen to be Jack Baggins, would you?”

I smile sheepishly at him and wave timidly. ‘He just has to have a British accent, doesn’t he? No wonder Rae had a crush on him.’

“Uh, yeah, hello.”

Jim’s entire face brightens and he holds out his hand.

“Well, I’ll say, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Didn’t realize you were in Uni now.”

Jim’s large hand engulfs my hand as we shake and I nod, trying to ignore just how warm his hand is compared to mine. I drop my hand as quickly but subtly as possible so that I don’t accidentally freeze his hand.

Ian saddles up next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and squeezing me slightly.

“So, what brings you to this side of the pond?” Ian asks, drawing Jim’s attention back to him. The tall man runs a hand through his hair, dislodging the last of the melting snow and causing it to fall onto his shoulder.

Jim dusts off his jacket as his smile falls back into a small smirk.

“We’ve been wanting to come over to America to film some haunted places, but do more of the less well-known haunted places in America.” Jim gestures around us and a fearful chill courses through me as he continues. “We were doing research and we learned that quite a few universities over here are said to be haunted and well,” Jim pauses, mischief twinkling in his eyes as he looks over at Ian. “When we learned that quite a few Minnesotan universities were on that list, we just had to make this our first stop. Maybe with just a small hope of meeting you, Skip, and Ken while we’re here.”

Fingers of dread wrap around my heart and squeeze as Jim talks. He’s not going to do an episode here, is he? How on earth am I supposed to handle finding a way to help the Phantom and not draw attention from Jim and his friends? I swallow thickly as I force my face to remain neutral as Ian chuckles. A forced smile makes its way to my face when both Ian and Jim look at me.

“Well, don’t I feel quite special?” Ian says, laughing and squeezing my shoulder. “You have some pretty good timing, too. I was just about to go speak to the Dean about getting permission for my students to do a ghost hunt this upcoming Saturday. You can come with me and speak with him at the same time.”

Jim’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline and I want to kick Ian. Don’t let him know we have a paranormal group on campus! What if he wants to come? How am I supposed to keep everything in check if he comes? I bite the inside of my cheek to ground myself.

Just because he learns about Ghosts & Ghouls doesn’t mean he’ll want to come on the hunt or even come speak, so there’s nothing to worry about.

‘You’re panicking for nothing, darling,’ Phantom says quietly in my mind and I lift my gaze to the ceiling at the humor in the spirit’s tone.

“There’s a paranormal group here, is there?” Jim asks, excitement evident in his voice. “I’m guessing you’re their advisor then?”

Ian chuckles.

“I am and Jackie here just joined yesterday,” Ian states, shaking me a little as he speaks. I try to smile as I duck my head as Jim looks down at me.

“Are you now?” I nod, peeking up at the British paranormal investigator as he grins. “Well, isn’t that special? Two ghost hunters right here on campus already. Maybe you two can give us some insider tips about the best spots here to check for ghosts.”

Ian laughs as I merely nod, too afraid that my voice might shake if I answer. Ian reaches up and ruffles my hair.

“Absolutely. This IS my alma mater after all. And Jackie wouldn’t mind showing you around either, isn’t that right?” Ian asks and I nod shyly as Ian beams down at me. “See? All we need is to speak with the Dean now. And, if you’d like, you and your friends could even join us on Saturday for our first ghost hunt of the semester.” Ian glances at me. “I’ll call you later, okay, Jackie? The Dean is leaving early today and we want to catch him, we need to leave now. So, we can continue this talk later?”

I nod, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension as Ian rushes around to grab his jacket and messenger bag.

“Don’t worry about it, Ian. We talked most about what I wanted to anyways. Go catch that Dean before he runs away.”

Ian winks at me as he ushers Jim toward the door.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Jack,” Jim calls out over his shoulder and I lift a hand as they exit the lecture hall.

I sag when they’re out of sight.

‘Well, isn’t this going to be fun?’ Phantom says, appearing next to me, floating on his back as he laughs.

I shove my hands into my pockets.

‘You could say that again,’ I say drily and head up the stairs.

This week is just getting better and better, isn’t it?