Ghost in The Night

Chapter VIII Deal

Chapter VIII Deal

Jared and I haven't talked for two whole days.

He would just come by the room to drop off food by the bed, then leave. He wouldn't even look me in the eye.

I felt terrible, but since that day he brought up my parents I couldn't stop thinking about them. For the past weeks I ignored that feeling of missing them.

Are they even searching for me? Are they worried?

These thoughts kept haunting me. Their faces kept disturbing me in my mind. I miss them so much.

Not to mention I wasn't able to sleep peacefully in the cabin since Jared sleeps on the chair by the doorway. How could he even sleep in that position?

Third day of my suspension I was getting bored. By the time the sun peeks in my window, as usual, I hear the door of the cabin slam shut, Jared's cue that he left the building.

Today, I planned not to waste my time staring at walls. I had to move.

I walked out to the door, peeked through the window and saw Jared making his way to town. He usually doesn't come back until noon to bring supper, and so with last final check if he's completely gone, I start to rifle through the papers on his desk.

According to what's written, these are all just lists of stocks and storages for atleast a year.

I leave those alone and looked around. I head for the tall drawer, but it's just full of papers the same as the one on his desk, listed stocks for the past years that's been marked with an X.

I stand up and put my hands on my waist. Where could I find it?

Then, as if it's calling me, I remember, I looked up at the top of the drawer and there it is.

The entry book I signed into.

I pulled the chair and put it against the drawer, climbed on it, and reached for the heavy, dusty book.

Quietly, I put the chair back, check outside if the coast is still clear, then head fast to my room. My heart thrummed with excitement to what I'm about to see in the book.

I squeeze it againt my chest.

I jumped down on my bed and without waiting for a beat, I opened it.

Different names greeted me. Unfamilliar names. Handwritings that differ from one another.

I rifle through the pages, then I go the very first page.

The more I flick towards the first page the more X's I see. I shiver as I imagine these are the girls that were abducted and were never found. They're so many....

I got to the first page. It was dated back 30 years ago. It had been so long. The first girl already has an X on her name, and many more after her.

The silence in the room becomes eerie in my ears as my eyes scan every name who were never seen again. Names that I might have seen on the memory stone....

I come across a very familliar name, and I instantly stopped.

"Dorotha...Arrison..." I whispered, as my fingers touch her cursive writing. I look at her details. "She's been here since she was sixteen... "

This is one of the pages that's been dated back to thirty years ago....that makes her one of the girls who escaped the ghost's interest and were never targeted.

And yet, grew old in this town.

"What made you so special....that the ghost didn't take you..." I wondered, seeing how the girls before and after Dorotha's entry were abducted, but not her....

I rifle through more unfamilliar names, most of them has an X over their names...

So, many...

With each page with an X, it was like I was being pulled underwater more and more, unable to breathe...

It's like the walls are closing on me.

It has eyes on it, watching me. Hands waiting to snatch me in the night. I look around just to make sure I'm still alone...

Looking at these names, I become even more afraid for myself and the others.

Then I get to the recent pages, and I exhaled. There were a few X's but most of them are still here in the town, most are my age.

I even see some from the girls in my cabin.

Like Tina, who was also from New York like me. Sophie who is from Arizona. Daisy, her sweet handwriting was different from the other. Her i's were dotted with hearts, her letters are feminine and cute.

Then, I stumble upon two different names but with the same surname. One is still alive, one is gone. My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.

Emily Lorrietta and Eliza Lorrietta.

Emily's sister, one of the ghost's victims.

I finally found my answer.

Quietly, I slipped back the book on top of the drawer, trying to make it look as undisturbed as possible. Almost forgot to put the chair back to the table. Then go back to bed and try to sleep.

I imagine Emily, left alone, as she watched her sister being snatched into the night....

***

"Do you want to go out?"

Surprised, I look up at Jared across from me, eating his own food. Rice and steamed fish.

I swallowed. "Are you talking to me now?"

"You still have four days to stay here. I'm sure you're getting bored in staying here all day." He goes on. "I didn't like your questions....or the fact you came here for adventure..."

I bit the inside of my cheeks.

"...but we all make mistakes. Everyone who came here made a mistake, including me." He said, his eyes meeting mine for the first time again.

"You're not mad at me anymore?" I whispered.

He smiles kindly. "No, not anymore. I just got steamed up."

"Nothing like two cups of tea can't fix!" I joked, laughing, but he doesn't smile. "Too soon?"

"Yep."

"Okay, I won't joke anymore about your weird, therapeutic, addiction to tea."

"Or ask questions about this town's mystery---or try to solve this case on your own." He sees how I became silent and he leans forward sith convincing eyes. "You need to stop nosing around, the ghost could use this to get to you..."

"Don't. Let. Him. Get to you, Cara." He enunciates every word with importance. I wanted to look away from his eyes, because if he were to look deeply into mine, he would've known I will only deceive him by saying yes.

But also, I didn't want those eyes to persuade me into stopping. They had that effect....freaking blue eyes...

"Cara, please..." his tone went soft.

"What's in it for me?"

"What?" he asks, confused.

"I mean, what's in it for me?" I asked, trying to bargain. "You want me to follow the rules, fine. What's in it for me?"

He shrugs. "Well, what do you want?"

My answer is fast and precise. "I want the book on the top of the drawer."

"You mean the entry book for Night Falls?" his eyebrow quirks at my request.

"Yes!"

"Ofcourse not," that wiped the smile off my face. "That thing's ancient, it has all the names of the people who lost their lives in this town. Someday, when we get out of this hellhole, this will commemorate all those lost lives. Everyone will know their names..."

"Oh...like the memory stone..."

"Exactly."

I crossed my arms. "Then what do I get?"

He thought for a second, then he gets up, walking towards me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, a little bit alarmed as he sits right next to me on the bed, with little space between us.

"Sitting next to you so we can talk about it." he simply said, with wide innocent eyes.

"Well," I slowly move a few inches away from. "You're invading my personal space."

"It didn't seem to bother you that much when you hugged me back in the forest." he closes the gap I just created between us, grinning mischievously.

His smile should be illegal. No wonder Tina's head over heels for him.

"Look, I was scared and freaked out, okay?" I distractedly reasoned out, my eyes slowly travelling. from his collarbone by the few opened buttons to his forearms shown under his rolled up sleeves.

Good heavens. He's delectable.

My body jolted when I felt his finger under my chin, lifting it up a little. "My eyes are up here, dummy."

I've never felt so embarrassed to be caught oggling him when he's closer. "I know your eyes are up there, tea-man!"

His grin only widened more. "You were looking me up." he stated so confidently, it irritated me.

I gasp, sounding offended. "I was not looking you up! Just because you're good-looking doesn't mean---"

"So, you do think I'm good-looking?" he cut me off.

"I'm not saying---" running out of reasons, I just groaned, aggravated. "Can we seriously talk about the deal?"

Then he laughs, jovially. "I'm just teasing you. You look seriously infuriated with me, like you were ready to claw my eyes out."

I just gave him a smile. "I could've."

"But honestly though, the first time I saw you, I actually thought you were pretty...."

I did a double-take and looked at him. He was so close...

"R-really?"

"Until you opened your mouth."

I frowned at him and he laughs out loud. "Har-har, very funny."

"You....." he said in between gasps. "...should've seen....your face. You totally believed me!"

I wait for him to finish getting over his joke. He literally had to wipe tears from his eyes. "Don't you have important things to do rather than horsing around with a suspended student?"

This time, he really finishes laughing to answer me. "Nope, I'm all done for the day. That's why I was asking you if you wanted to go somewhere."

I thought for a second, then was about to speak but was met by Jared's deadpanned stare. "Anywhere---but the forest at the back of the school."

He instantly shoots down my idea before I can get the chance to suggest it.

"Then where do we go?" I grumbled, crossing my arms. "Daisy already toured me around the town, I don't suppose you'd like to give me a second tour..."

"Hmm, you're right." he rubs his chin.

"So, what can you give me in exchange for behaving like a good student you want me to be?"

He pauses, a smile tugging at his mouth. "That sounds naughty."

I rolled my eyes. "I forgot...you're still a man."

"So?"

"And all men are disgusting."

"Oh please," his grin wouldn't get wiped no matter what. "Says the girl who was just oggling me awhile ago."

I groaned even more. "Can you please get over your ego-stroking and get on with our deal?"

"Okay, okay." Jared laughs, watching me fume in front of him. "I forgot how much of a fire-breathing dragon you are since the first day."

"Get. To. The. Point. Already."

He laughed, looking amused as hell. "What can I give in exchange for your good behavior?"

"Information." Simple as that.

"Hmm, no."

"Then you have nothing I want."

"I'll give you my body if you want." He grins cockily, his voice sounding suave and sexy.

"Ew! You are unbelievable!"

Then, out of nowhere, he reaches out and pinches my nose. "You're cute when you squirm."

When he lets go I look at him weirdly.

"What?"

"I don't know." I said, still looking at him like an alien. "Where's the strict, unsmiling, uptight Jared go?"

"Oh, c'mon. I may be serious all the time but that doesn't mean I don't know how to kid or joke around." He rolls his eyes.

"Hmm, feels weird, but kind of refreshing to see this side of you." I said, just had to admit it. "When you're like this it feels like we're just the same age."

"Hey, I'm not that old. I'm just two years older than you."

"Oh..." I shrug. "You act like an old man."

"If I act like an old man, when why do the girls from your cabin go crazy over me?" he crosses his arms, raising a challenging eyebrow at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Not all of us are like Tina."

He bursted out laughing again, then leans his head against the wall. "Yeah...but you gotta admit, she's hot."

"Hmm." I hummed, humoring him. "Especially when she turns her uniform to something a prostitute would wear."

He shakes his head, but he couldn't remove the grin, probably remembering Tina in her short uniform. "Sometimes, I don't know what goes on inside that girl's head."

"Are you guys close or something?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Nah, but she's been coming on strong for a few months now." He gives me a meaningful, sideways glance. "It's getting hard to resist."

"Ahh," I chuckled. "It's all fun and games until someone would knock on your door asking why you to take responsibility. I suppose condoms are on short supply here?"

He shakes his head, chuckling. Then slowly, he turned serious. "Tina's parents aren't here." he says, with a faraway look in his eyes. "She's another runaway, like you."

"Oh....why'd she run away?"

"Hmm, don't know." he shrugs nonchalantly, but from the way he avoided my eyes, he probably knows. He stands up. "So," he claps his hands, looking down on me. "You ready to make a deal or not?"

"In exchange for information, take it or leave it." I said as a finality.

"How about...." he gives me a weighing look, and a secretive smile. "I just tell you about my father."

"I thought you didn't want to talk about it..." I slowly said, feeling unsure.

"Well, yeah. I don't. But in exchange for your safety, I have no choice but to make it as an offer....and besides, I'd rather you hear it from me than from others." Then he offers his hand. "So, deal?"

I stared at his waiting hand warily. "So, you'll tell me about your dad, in exchange I won't go sneaking off at night?"

"Precisely." he smiles.

"Hmm.." I thought about it for a moment, weighing down the deal. Well, it would be safe for me too. Actually, I was already planning to stay hidden first, after knowing I was probably being targeted as the ghost's next victim.

But I wouldn't tell Jared that. Better to take his offer than nothing at all.

And it seems something about his dad weighs a big deak that he would stake it for an exchange....

"Okay," I reached for his hand, clasping it. "Deal."

We both dropped our hands. "So....you gonna tell me or not?"

"I can tell you....but if you want, I can show it to you too...."

I couldn't refuse such an offer.

Later that afternoon, upon agreement, Jared took me out. The sun feels warm on my skin, and the breeze meets my face. It feels good to be out and not stuck in a room for a whole day. I inhaled the scent of trees and wind.

"C'mon, it's not far from here." Jared leads the way. His face is serious.

"So, uhh.." I started, trailing right behind him. Some of the people we come across, greets him as usual. "What do you mean by...showing me? You don't mean...."

I became silent not knowing how to continue. Is his father dead? Is he going to me the grave and then tell me how his father became the hero of the town?

Jared's response didn't provide much answer. "You'll see." he replied curtly.

We passed by a few houses in town, including the wet market, the farm, the bakery, other shops. Some of the townspeople there greeted me too.

Next are the old houses that were already there for the older citizens, Daisy had told me. This is where the adults live while the younger people live in the cabins.

I exhaled. It seems his father is still alive. "So, your father resides here?"

"Yeah..."

"But he's still the chief?"

"Sort of."

"Sort of?" I repeated.

"I'm standing in his place while he's still....unwell." Then he stops by a cabin in the very middle. It shares the same look as the others, dark wood, worn-out, comfy-looking and small. "This is it....are you ready?"

"To introduce me to your dad? Of course." I confidently say while laughing nervously.

He chuckles, but his face is stern. There is something behind it. "Let's go...."

The stairs by the porch creaks as his boots hits them, followed by mine. Standing outside the door, my palms begin to sweat.

What do I say?

What will Jared say?

We're just here to introduce the new intruder in town?

Or is he going to make me sit as his father does all the talking and explaining to me?

"Jared, on second thought---" but he's already stepping in, allowing me to go in after him. "Isn't this a little too sudden? What if we're disturbing him? Isn't it a little rude to visit on short notice?"

"He won't mind it, I promise..." his voice is low, and he wouldn't look me in the eyes. It's like his mind is on something else. Then he looks up, and smile at me. "Don't worry about it."

He proceeds to a door at the end of the small hall. I hug myself, feeling like I'm disturbing the peace of his house and that I shouldn't be here.

"Dad," I hear him in the room. "Someone's here to visit you."

Then I hear grunting, murmurs. Then Jared's gentle coaxing and whispers. "It's okay, Dad. She's just another new neighbor. She arrived just a month ago."

Then grunting. Then crying. Sounds that I couldn't understand.

I slowly walk towards Jared, towards the door. "Jared?"

I come upon Jared's back, and him facing the inside of the door. Once I saw what's inside I almost stumbled back.

Jared's father is old. Thin, has white hair, spotty skin. Not a single resemblance to Jared, but that's not what I focused on.

His father was cuffed to the bed. His clothes are dirty and crumpled. His eyes are wide, bloodshot, staring right at me.

I almost stumbled back. He kept grunting and Jared comes closer to him, whispering assurance to him. "It's okay, Dad....she won't hurt you..."

"H-hello...sir?" I said quietly, not knowing what to say. He's the chief of the town?

He doesn't look the part. He just looks deranged, weak....and helpless. Unlike Jared who stands tall, strong, dependable, capable and ready to protect the town.

He kept grunting, his eyes never leaving mine. They never blinked. Wide and....desperate.

He kept making these noises, like he's saying something to me, which alarmed me. "He's trying to say something.." I tell Jared. "Maybe he needs water? Or food? Oh god, Jared, we're disturbing him." Then I turned towards the old man. "I am so sorry to disturb you, sir. I'll just take my leave."

Jared tries to stop me, but before I can go he moaned louder. His eyes, possibly, widened more, trying hard to convey something. Jared is trying to calm him down.

"I---I'm sorry, I don't understand..." I shake my head.

Then he opens his mouth.

And what I saw rooted my feet on the floor.

He has no tongue. Or so I think.....he had one, but it seems to have been cut....

I threw up by the door.