Ghostly Encounter (Part II)
1016 Words
“Did you, perhaps, die here?” Soleil asked, breaking the ice.
The ghost just glared at her.
Okay, not a good ice breaker, Soleil thought. But Soleil was then surprised, as she was expecting the ghost to lash out on her, not sigh sadly.
“I did. A long time ago. I lost count of the years I’ve been dead.” The ghost said melancholically.
“Did you drown? How does it feel to not breathe underwater?” Soleil mused, her curiosity went ahead of her thoughts.
“I did drown- wait, what is with that question?” The ghost frowned quizzically, something about the girl inside her cave suddenly didn’t seem right.
“Oh, I’m just curious. I mean I tried holding my breath underwater but I bet it doesn’t-”
“What do you mean to say, you can breathe underwater?” The ghost asked, intrigued and disturbed.
“Why, yes! We merpeople have the ability-”
“You’re a f*****g mermaid? You actually exist?!” The ghost said in shock, ghost eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
“Yes I am? Why do you think I’m in the water all along?” Soleil said, frowning as she stated the obvious.
“Davy Jones be damned! So that’s why you were babbling about that Poseidon guy!” The ghost exclaimed. Soleil’s face distorted in a scandalous manner. There is it again with this ghost failing to say the god’s name with respect and honor.
“You don’t believe in the Sea God? How dare you, after all the effort and pity he has for you, wanting you to rest!”
“Darling, I don’t believe in gods. All they ever give was false hope and pain.” The ghost spite, her expression changed into a scowl.
Soleil was flabbergasted. She called her darling! Her reverend thoughts immediately went out the window.
Seeing that mermaid was unresponsive, the ghost took her chance to ask.
“Are you really a mermaid? Can I see your tail?”
Soleil, reluctant, pushed her body towards the shallowest part of the cavern floor, exposing her orange tail.
“Oh, wow.” The ghost marvelled, eyes roaming on Soleil’s body in wonderment.
Soleil blushed, suddenly feeling shy. Oh, how she felt naked under the stare of the attractive ghost.
“It has been a while since I saw the colors of sunrise.” The ghost said after a long silence of gaping at the orange-tailed mermaid, with a nostalgic smile on her face.
Soleil’s heart began to pound so hard. She didn’t expect those words from the ghost. The sudden compliment made her red as Lady Zahara’s tail.
“T-thank you, though my friends said it reminds them of the sunset.” Soleil replied with a flustered tone.
“It’s more of a sunrise to me. Sunrises are prettier than sunsets. Your tail reminds me of them.” The ghost absentmindedly said, a cute nose dimple appeared as she smiled.
Soleil is at loss of words. What is this ghost doing to her? How does she make her feel such things? Why is she so captivating?
“Wait, you said it has been a while since you saw sunrises. You mean you haven’t seen them after you died?” Soleil wondered loudly.
“Yes, I disappear when the sun rises. I can only be seen when the moon does.” The ghost said, nodding as if she was also trying to convince herself. As she spoke, she took her time to observe the moon once again.
There is it again, that sad look on her face, Soleil thought. This ghost must be very lonely and miserable, dwelling in this place for years without knowing when her final rest is coming.
“Ah, we have been talking for a while but I don’t even know your name yet.” The ghost perked, breaking Soleil’s train of thoughts.
“My name is Soleil! It has been a pleasure to meet you!” Soleil introduced cheerfully, her giddiness returned once again as the ghost asked for her name.
“Just Soleil?”
“What do you mean ‘just Soleil’?”
“No last name?”
“What’s a last name?” Soleil tilted her head in confusion.
To her surprise, the ghost laughed mirthfully, making Soleil’s heart skip a beat.
“Ah, so you mermaids don’t have those. Fascinating!” The ghost’s eyes twinkled with interest.
“What is a last name? Do humans have those? What was your last name then?” Soleil asked, her passion for knowledge burned like Greek fire underwater.
“Last names are used to identify which family you belong! My last name is-” The ghost suddenly stopped, her expression blank.
“Your last name is..?”
“That is strange. I can’t remember.” The ghost blinked, thoughts lost.
“That is a very long last name. Is that what they call you?”
“What? No! I really can’t remember my last name!”
“Oh.”
Once again, they are engulfed with silence.
“Then why should I call you?” Soleil asked again.
The ghost approached her closer, making Soleil nervous.
“I am Selene. Nice to meet you, Soleil.” The ghost thrust her hand her, with an open palm.
Soleil stared at her in stupor. Partly because she has no idea what that gesture meant, and mainly at the idea of how fitting a beautiful name is to a beautiful girl.
“You won’t take it?” Selene pouted. Gods, even those lips are adorable.
“W-what am I supposed to do with it?” If she takes her hand, can she take Selene with her forever?
“No, silly. You shake it! Here, give me your hand.”
Soleil held out her hand in the same manner, wondering what she means of shaking it.
“You take the other person’s hand like this-” Selene reaches to grab Soleil’s hand but her fingertips passed through the mermaid’s hand, making her retract her own hand in realization.
Soleil shuddered, Selene’s fingers felt like ice.
“I-I forgot that I can’t touch anything concrete.” Selene sadly smile as her retracted hand scratched the back of her head.
Soleil was distress. She felt sorry for the ghost. She wants her to smile, she wants to erase that sadness lingering on her lips every time she realizes she’s nothing but a cold spectre, left alone in this world.
Soleil must distract her from her gloomy thoughts! Yes, she is good with that.
“You can show me that some other time then, Selene! When you get reincarnated someday!” Soleil beamed, hoping to cheer the phantom.
Selene gawked, the idea of that startled her. Suddenly, she felt warm and alive inside.
“I like the sound of that.” Selene hopefully smiled, leaving Soleil’s heart in chaos again.
- Writer
