Ghost Boyfriend Anthology.

#10 - Wishes Are All That's Left.

Seventeen year old Merlory Jennings walked out of the town mayor's office feeling much more fulfilled than when she'd gone in earlier.

For one, the elite trophy was in her hands, she'd won the counselor exhibit. It'd been stuck in her head for days and now it's finally over she'd focus more on 12th grade.

Her mom had called, babes congratulated her and all her acquaintances and relatives were bound to pay her a visit. She was sure her mom had more on her hands right now.

She rubbed the engraved name plate soothingly. It read Hillsdale local town celebrity #1. A feat she'd achieved through years of counselling practice. She alone knew how hard it'd been convincing suicidal teens like her that death wasn't the best option. She even had to try some manipulating and lots of emotional blackmail for that to happen and it'd paid off real good. And now she had her first trophy in commemoration of her hard work.

Even now she felt deserving of it, something deep down surged onto the surface. It was clear worry.

She feared for Victoria.

Her only client she hadn't been able to convince otherwise.

The last time they'd met it hadn't ended quite well, Victoria still had the strongest hope that Aaron was real.

How she'd fared after that, no one knew. Even her usual gossipy babes couldn't sniff out a single medieval tale about her, it was like she'd become extinct.

But Merlory carried her in her heart and mind.

Greeting a couple who'd had previously congratulated her at the office, she caught sight of Victoria's home from afar. It's raffia guadola rooftop still gleamed under the sun. Suddenly, Merlory had this conquering dread spreading all over her, seeping her of her energy. It only happened when she sensed a bad omen. Racing down the path with her heart in her mouth, she stopped dead at the empty driveway. Their truck was gone, and what's more, the sofa they'd placed out on the pouch was gone too.

Dropping the trophy carefully on the grass, she opened the door wide and wandered in. The living room was empty, not a single household item in sight. The room looked bigger with nothing in it. She checked other rooms as well, not a pin was left. Her chest was still beating wildly against her chest as she walked back outside. There hadn't been an evacuation notice, nothing was left in the board and Merlory was sure there hadn't been any signs of their intending movement.

It was unusual of Victoria to leave without a trace.

Her family were all in Vancouver, her Dad died of partial stroke two years ago and her aging grandmother passed on as well. Her mom got remarried and cut all ties with her, though she still sent small allowances each month. Victoria was practically the only teen she'd known who stayed alone. She was a waring desperado when it comes to things she'd never had.

Merlory remembered vividly how crazed Victoria had been when two months earlier they'd all met Aaron. Even the blind could see and notice how flirtatious she'd been with him, shamelessly lingering at the cashier window, staring expectantly down the road where Aaron always worked, waiting patiently for him to pass by.

"Oh Victoria," Merlory whispered as she slid down the wall, her tears coming down in torrents. Who knows what had become of her? Was she safe? Did something happen to her? What had transpired in that flirtatious relationship of theirs?

Merlory had this dreadful feeling deep down.

Her eyes fell on the old rickety table, which had been a household feature even before Victoria had moved in there. She could tell due to its broken, chopped surface. Merlory ran her hand down the three deep holes on their brown curved legs. Her eyes fell on a folded sheet on the floor, it had a scratchy handwriting on it. Apprehensive enough to pick it up, her eyes roamed the few words.

To those who'd warned me soon enough, especially Merlory Jennings.

Her heart began palpitating once more, the deep awning dread finally settled on her weak arms weakening them as she gingerly unfolded it. It was fully filled with a shaky handwriting. She'd been in grave panic when she'd written this, Merlory even detected traces of dried teardrops on the surface. She ran her fingertips over it, it was still fresh meaning it'd been written probably sixteen minutes ago. The first few words of the letter blocked Merlory's guts.

Aaron.

The Bastard.

To those who'd warned me earlier on, especially My friend Merlory Jennings and her clique.

Leaning slightly on the rickety table, Merlory ran her eyes over the next few words.

I hadn't thought that things would turn out this way, I couldn't believe that I'd fall so deep into the treacherous pit.

He's gone now, long gone, gifting me a broken heart and a target to reap his dreadful atrocities.

To Merlory.

You were right, so right. He was a man w***e. If you reading this now I don't know what to say exactly, but I've been lucky for you to find this. They came for me last night and stayed up till six this morning, threatened me to tell them where he'd gone, that he'd mentioned me once as an accomplice to his strings of crime. Merlory, could you believe that Aaron was the one who r***d that old goody two shoes librarian who's death still remains a mystery? You remember he was the only one not present that very day Greg had taken his workers to pay the girl's brother a condolence visit. I guess the guilt must have really gotten into his stone heart"

Merlory's shrill gasp reverberated across the whole house. So Aaron had been Lily's killer. Merlory could remember her actual last moments with the quirky librarian. She'd been filled with glee and had doggedly announced to everyone who dropped by how grande her brother had promised her birthday would be. It was therefore a spiteful thing when she was buried instead on her nineteenth birthday.

—

Merlory eyed her wrist watch hurriedly. It was a half past twelve, an ungodly time for she wasn't home. With a wish that her mom won't get panicky enough to summon the sheriff, and have all the town security agencies hunt her down to her very position on the floor, she scanned the next few words hurriedly.

"you were my angel Merlory, and if I wasn't still blinded, I could've been saved. Now it's only wishes left for me to make. Aaron belonged to a secret gang, you should know them. I trust that as a local celebrity you could still track them down. But please, don't tell anyone about this letter or that you'd been here, trust me anyone of them could still be hanging around the house this minute. As soon as your eyes fall on the last words, take your trophy(for I'd known you'll win considering how great you are at counseling) I think you should study that. You could one day become an adviser to the president and eventually end up as his first lady...... "

Merlory rolled her eyes comically. Victoria had always had an active imagination.

"Now that's for that. I trust you turned out well. Aaron and I became much more closer after I chased you away. When your girls deserted me also, I became miserable and being the only closest person I had then(since I'd lost everyone I'd loved) I leaned onto him like an octopus. He promised me that it was just us against the whole damned world and I know you might find me stupid, I detected some truth in his eyes.

He loved me, he still does, but being extremely greedy by heart, he couldn't afford to lose out in all his gang lootings. With only a note, he left me three weeks later after he'd ruthlessly stolen all the money accorded to his gang. Furious beyond wits they'd searched for him far and near and being the last person with him I was immediately suspected to be an accomplice.

They came after me and seeing no family members to seize for the ransom, they threatened to kill me. It was around six thirty that night when you last spoke with Gina. She knows everything that took place between me and Aaron but I swore her to an oath not to tell anyone what happened. My relationship with Aaron would be one I'd take to the grave, he was my first and only love.

They made me stage a movement. I was so weak and helpless and at the same time filled with dread about how my life would turn out. I left with them in the truck approximately two minutes before you received your trophy(I had studied your exhibit content time for weeks) so I knew which time you left there with your trophy. They'd wanted to kill me right on the spot, but not wanting to attract attention, they planned on doing it at the town outskirts.

If only I'd listened, then maybe by now I wouldn't be begging for my life on my knees or lay so still with a bullet tucked deep into my brain.

Somehow I deserve this, but I don't want to go on after this, there's so little time and you might have noticed how shaky and rough my writing is. Lol,  I couldn't even be allowed to douse the letter tips with my favorite cherry cologne as I always do. At this rate you should know how much of a trouble I'm in.

Now go, talk no more of this to anyone. Destroy this letter as soon as you get home(I'd suggest you burn it up) please Merlory you have to go, else you may be the next target. Go now, and don't forget that I love you.

                                       Love,

                                       V.

With a fine jump, Merlory bolted out the door, her home in mind. Victoria's warning ringing through her mind. She still loved her life, and with the best thoughts in mind for Victoria, she sped down the empty lane.