The Phantom Switcher

CHAPTER 1: The Marshe's

It was a fine sunny Sunday morning when Sash woke up on a dewy summer's grass. From where she lie down, she gazed at the only high school building in town as she listened to the twittering birds from nearby treetops. On its right was the town's kids park where some dog owners let their dogs play before the town kids arrive to play. Where they would laugh and run around, slide up and down, ride the seesaw or climb the nets towards the tree houses. Beside the park was the newest tallest apartment buildings where the socialites live. She looked around looking for more familiar places and saw, behind her the welcome gate towards the biggest exclusive subdivision where only the richest of the rich townsfolk could afford: the Marshe's exclusive subdivision. Sash's longing to live in such grandeur and luxury was overwhelming that she decided to walk towards it.

As she walked giddily forwards, she caught on her peripheral vision a tall figure, still and unmoving. But as she glanced around, nothing was there aside from auspicious morning joggers. Thus, decided that it was the trick of the light then shoved the image off as she continued walking towards the welcome gates.

The gate is glossy and black which was clearly six feet tall and has twisting and swirling black rods with two huge tower-like posts on its side where the gate is attached by hinges and latches. It opens over the control of the commanding officer stationed at the guard house which stood just in front of the towns power house beside the gates.

Sash looked around and snuck in carefully watching the unwatchful guard towards the half open wicket gate where a person can pass through. Hoping no one would catch her sneaking in. Only to realize that she's completely translucent and as transparent as a ghost. A ghost. Realization finally daunted on her as she walked further down the side walk.

"What should a ghost do?" she wondered to herself. "Now what?" she exclaimed irritably as she started looking around wandering aimlessly. Somehow forgetting all her worries, she started admiring the beautiful neighborhood the well kempt grass was splendid, gates and fences – tall and weedless, painted houses of neutral colors, and brick roofs that reminded Sash of their pitiful home of stacked shabby plywood for the walls and galvanized iron sheets for the roof, and dirt for the garden which they obviously didn't own.

Sash didn't realize how far she has walked from the gates after getting lost on all these spectacular houses she's only seen in movies. She couldn't help pitying herself but get jealous all the more. If only she was born on the young-looking happy couple she's watching through the foot-tall window, displaying a chandelier that looks like dropping teardrops of yellow light bulbs. With grey thick curtains stashed on the window's side. She has never hoped anything more than the life of the couple inside laughing and talking while sitting on a velvety emerald left-hand chaise lounge, clearly enjoying their lives.

"Psst!" Catching Sash's attention, looking around startled. "Came for the baby?" said the maiden standing at the nearby bush. She was wearing all-black mesh knee length dress with a lily flower for head dress. "What baby?" Sash asked confused. There was clearly no baby in sight.

"Psh! Quit actin' naïve. Tha' couple you're watchin' righ' now is clearly expectin' one!" She spat on the ground revealing her nauseating blackened decaying teeth. "Can smell it - Ah, you're new!" The maiden said nodding to herself, perhaps she noticed the confused look on Sash's face. "Wait, you're a ghost too?" Sash asked bewildered and frightened at the same time. "Come on, don' act scared. We're both dead." The maiden said as if it's not a big deal. "Come ir." she added to Sash as she raised her thin bony hands to beckon her forwards.

Sash did come towards her, although quite hesitantly. "Fast, I don't bite!" she spat once more and Sash followed forth. They sat at a nearby shed, clearly put there for display, who needs shed when they have cars and drivers anyway. "How come you're here if you know nothin?" The maiden asked Sash with bulging eyes. "Oh, I just happen to wake up in the area." Sash said truthfully. "Wan' me to teach you how to be a ghost, eh?" She smiled creepily revealing more of her blackened teeth. Sash only realized she smelled so bad in their inch distance, so she moved a bit back then nodded. "First rule, trust no one." The maiden croaked moving closer. Sash then looked back to her as chills slap her whole transparent body. Only then she realized that the woman wasn't as maiden as she thought she was. Her eyes were bloodshot red with hollow black pupils as round as a coin. Her skin was filthy grey and coarse with black spots. "Thanks!" Sash stood so fast as she felt the woman's face contorted towards her own twisting it as if it was trying to suck her in. The woman screamed her laugh hysterically revealing more of the deteriorating inside of her mouth which made Sash jump.

"You're a fast learner." The woman said nodding as if convinced with her response. "Come, I'll tell what I know." The woman said beckoning her to come with her once more. The woman stood and slowly walked towards the couple's house Sash was looking at a while ago. They then glided along the thick fence then towards the walls.

"How did you do that?" Sash asked as they stood outside the tall window pane overlooking the lovely couple inside the picturesque house. "Do what?" replied the filthy ghost lady as she leaned her back on the walls overlooking the street. "The one when I felt like you were sucking me in." Sash asked in a dull whisper. "Tha' doesn't sound righ' does it?" The maiden said then laughed hysterically. "I-I g-guess" Sash replied uncomfortably shifting her position.

"Ah well, it's as if you're eating the other, we're just souls roaming, yah know! We don' have solid bodies just like these humans, eh! Can't tell you too much, can I? Might use it agains' me. Can't be too trusty!" She sniggered then spat on the ground as she looked back inside the couple's house. "Come on in." she added as she excitedly shifted into a smokey orb then glided towards the walls swiftly passing it as if it did not exist.

Inside was a majestic house of shiny floors and figurines, bust statues, and chandeliers, glimmering yellow and white lights lighting up the antiquity of the double staircase. "Don't I want a home like it? Eh?" The maiden said so suddenly as they admired the beautifully crafted house. "Course I do." She said replying to herself with approval. Sash tries not to get distracted with the other ghost's hither thither thus continued walking and having her fantasies if she ever gets to live in a house as grand as this. It was, after all, her dream life, everything sparkly and shiny where you can tell that it smelled great even just by looking at it. Which was very much different from her previous home of mixed slab walls and plywood, and galvanized iron sheets for the roof. A very small home for 12 people, her parents and siblings, not including her niece and nephews. Disgusted with these thoughts she stumbled to a 45-inch picture frame hanging on a wall at the far end of a hallway she might have strayed unknowingly.

They were a family of very handsome and beautiful faces Sash has ever seen. For her eyes, they look like Russian dolls with vibrant blue eyes and porcelain skin. The youngest who was the most handsome of all looked exactly like the adult man back at the window, sitting happily between the scary looking couple who was evidently as beautiful as they were in their younger days.

Sash felt a burning sensation deep where a person's heart should be, but she can't tell if it's her heart for she is just a bodiless soul with no heart not even flesh. Somehow, a longing, started growing within her. She knew right then and there it was all she ever wanted.

So, it was night, and she went to look for her ghost company. She found her lurking beside the pregnant woman, who seemed to be feeding off of her energy, the woman suddenly looked ill and pale. The maiden grinned at Sash upon seeing her by the door of the living room. "What are you doing?" Sash asked horrified. "Feedin. Been hungry for a while. Roaming aroun' searching for food. Can't find one." She replied savoring the woman's soul. No – was it the baby?! "No! No! Stop! Please stop!" Sash rushed towards the woman to try and block the other ghost. But the other ghost was strong enough to push her aside. "Not the baby's soul! Please it's innocent!" Sash begged agitated for not knowing what to do. "Babies has no soul in the womb!" The maiden's unblinking bloodshot eyes pierced her – now wider and rounder as she jumped towards Sash pinning her to the glossy marbled black tiled floor. "You'll know a baby gets a soul when it first cry." The maiden mumbled gritting her blackened sharp teeth. "I'll let you off this time, but try to stop me again next time. I'll have your soul first!" she whispered gritting her teeth before loosening her from the ground. The maiden turned into an orb and swiftly headed outside leaving Sash on the cold floor alone with the couple cuddling by the unlit fireplace, the man giving comfort to his pale wife.

Sash did not stand up nor made the slightest movement. She just laid there and watched them longingly as tears streamed out her eyes. She surveyed the woman slowly turned from pale and sickly back into her smiling healthier self as she earnestly looked at her loving husband. She watched them until she finally dozed off into an abyss of darkness as if it was like how humans without bodies sleep.

Jillian, woke up in the early morning of the second week of June just like every other normal school girl. It's her first day as a junior high schooler. She sat up excited yet nervous for the changes she's about to face.

"Jil, wake up now or else you'll be late!" Her mom called from downstairs. She obliged willingly and went downstairs to have breakfast with her.

"Why aren't you dressed yet?" Her mom asked, wildly looking at her messy hair still in sleepwear. "Come on now, you'll be late!" She exclaimed frustrated. "Mom! It's 6 am. It's still very early!" She responded with annoyance. If only her mom would shut up and let her eat in silence, she thought to herself.

Jillian was born in a well-off family. With a business man for a father, handling hotels and resorts. An accountant mother who also handles their family's finances. Jillian didn't have to rush to catch up the school bus for she had a personal driver that she'd still arrive 15 minutes earlier than the school bell.

"Fine, be ready in 30 minutes. Kuya Mando's already waiting by the car. Take care darling, have a wonderful day at school." Her mom muttered lovingly as she planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "I'll get ahead." Her mom added as she bid her goodbye. "You're not gonna have breakfast with me?" Jil asked as she pulled away. "I had my coffee, dear." Her mom replied waving her goodbye.

The golden sunshine has fully shined when Jil decided to pack her bag and go outside. Manong Mando, the driver, has already been waiting by the car, polishing the still shiny grey BMW 8 series gran coupé; gifted by her adoring father after finishing grade 6.

Driving through the very still and silent Marshe's subdivision, a faint greyish silhouette caught Jil's attention. It was there for a second then disappeared as if nothing was there in the first place. Jil thought it's just the trick of the morning sunshine, or a reflection from another car's mirror passing by. Thinking of it as nothing of importance, Jil went ahead of her day. Boy, was she wrong.