Unearthed Truth
418 Words
They lay tangled in the bed sheets. Moonlight spilled silver across pale skin. Lorian's—Luke's—chest rose steady beside her. Cold warmth lingered where bodies met. Waves thundered rhythmic below cliffs. Manor hummed quiet approval. Ellen traced rune scars faint on his arm. Reality crashed gentle.
"Luke," she whispered finally. Voice soft ache. "I need to call the police. There's a body in my shed."
He tensed beside her. Gray eyes darkened worry. Chestnut waves spilled pillow. "I'm worried what might happen. For once, I am happy."
"I know, Luke." She cupped his cool cheek tender. "But someone murdered you and buried you there."
He kissed her slow. Lips sealed promise. Pulled back gaze eternal. "Okay. Do you want me there?"
"Yes, but unseen." She smiled faint. "The police might ask questions."
"Alright. I guess it's time for that mystery to be solved." His form shimmered subtle. Faded to air. Ghost unseen.
Ellen grabbed phone. Dialed station shaky. "I found bones in my shed." Dispatch hummed urgent. Sirens wailed distant—minutes later. Blue lights flashed yard. Two officers crunched gravel. Lead one: burly, salt-pepper mustache. Badge gleamed: Officer Hale.
"Ma'am." He tipped hat porch steps. "You said you opened the shed for the first time and saw something in the ground?"
"Yes, sir." Ellen nodded steady. Luke's chill brushed invisible arm—support silent. "I went for some tools and found the bone."
He jotted notes. Flashlight swept shed interior. Bone gleam confirmed. "You know the story of Lorian Blackthorn? Vanished in 1905?"
Ellen nodded. Heart tugged. My ghost lover.
"Well, the lab will run tests." He eyed dirt age. "But looks match the era. Might be him."
"I've been researching him." Voice even. "He has no family. What happens to his remains?"
Officer Hale scratched chin. "If identified as him, we'll check for will or paperwork. If none, local potter's field burial. But there's a family cemetery on the property."
"There is?" Ellen blinked surprise.
"Yes. Walk down that path behind the manor. You'll find his parents and grandparents there. Old stones."
"Can I have him buried there?" Pulse quickened hope. "Only if DNA matches. It's my land, so I can say yes to him being buried there."
Hale nodded approving. "We can arrange. Good of you. Team'll bag the bones now. Lab rush it." Floodlights blazed shed. Bag zipped grim. Vans rumbled away midnight.
Ellen exhaled porch swing. Luke materialized soft. Hand squeezed unseen chill. "Thank you." Waves applauded below. Justice stirred eternal.
- Writer
