Ghost in The Night

Chapter VII The Ghost

Chapter VII The Ghost

"What?" I asked, thinking my ears have deceived me. "You mean to tell me I could be the next victim?"

"Yes." Jared answered curtly, while leading me to the same cabin I first entered here in this godforsaken town.

I followed him inside the cool cabin and out of the sweltering heat outside. If we still had clocks and watches, I'd say the sun is about nine o'clock in the morning. "And so now you have to keep an eye on me for the rest of the week I'm suspended?"

"Yes." Jared repeated tiredly.

I followed him around the cabin as he go through doors looking for something. "But how could I be the next victim? I'm just new to this town!"

"If what you're telling me was true, that you heard a voice nearby when you walked in that forest behind the school, and that voice called your name...." he turns to me with a solemn expression. "I think that pretty much gives away who its next victim is."

I stared into space, unconsciously, my hand climbs up to my neck. Feeling that thump underneath the skin....

So, if I hadn't ran by that time....I could've been...

I think Jared had just read my terrified expression and so for the first time, he puts his hand on my shoulder. A gesture of assurance, according to his eyes that turned kindly on me. "Don't worry." he said. "I'll keep you safe here, I promise."

Then he continues what he's doing, but I still followed him. Question after question pecked my mind persistently. "But why me? I just moved here!"

"We really don't know The Ghost's pattern---"

"The Ghost?" I asked, intrigued.

He rolls his eyes and gave a very discreet explanation. "Just a name we gave it since we still don't have a single clue or hair about him."

"And because he disappears in the night with a girl in his arms?" I added.

"You can say that..."

"But...." I lowered my voice, spooked. "What do you think he does to his victims?"

He shakes his head, clearly disturbed about the topic of the missing girls. I noticed his face clouds over before he turns away. "I don't know. All we know is we never found a single survivor....or a body."

I shivered at the word.

Body.

Corpses.

"But you...." he then turns to me, an intrigue of his own painted over his face as he observes me closely. "You....who had caught his attention and interest....got so close to him he even called out your name and let you escape...."

"Do you think it's strange?" I asked, then hugged myself securely. "Some criminals prefer to have a little fun and thrill, playing cat-and-mouse with their victims..."

"Maybe he didn't intend to let me out....maybe I just really escaped out of sheer luck."

He chuckles darkly. "In this town, there is no sheer luck. If The Ghost sets his eyes on you, you're a goner."

I lifted my eyes to him, still hugging myself. "You said you'd protect me."

"I did..." he said. "But with your recklessness and stubborness, I just hope I could really protect you from being kidnapped...."

I looked down, shame engulfing me once again. "I'm sorry."

He sighs heavily. "Just promise me you won't run off again from me. Because if you do, out there I might not be able to protect you..."

"Thanks, Jared." I said, as sincerely as I can, looking him in the eyes. "I promise I....I won't be reckless this time."

He raises his eyebrow at my promise that obviously has a loophole, but doesn't question it. Instead, he led me all the way to an empty room.

"You'll be staying here." He puts down my bag on the floor and watched me look around.

"It's hot in here." I complained.

"It's all I got for guests." he shrugs with crossed arms, leaning by the doorway.

I whirled on him, wary. "And where will you be sleeping?"

Then, to my astonishment, he pulls a nearby chair and settles it against the doorway. He sits on it. "Here."

I gave him an incredulous look. "You can't be serious...I can't even have my own privacy?"

"You think privacy still matters even when your life is on the line?"

"We're not even sure if I'm really the next victim!" I reasoned. "What if he just happened to be there?"

"Yeah, and he just happened to also know your name and call you out so you know he's out there?" he sighs again. "Cara, in all the years I spent here trying to protect everyone, this is the first I ever heard someone who got a warning from The Ghost."

"So, now you don't believe me? First the bear and now the mysterious man in the forest?"

"I'm saying I'm keeping you here because I believed you heard someone out there."

I gave him a dubious look. "But you didn't find anyone there..."

"No." he shakes his head. "I'm sure he fleed the moment you left."

Then, because I just remembered the question I had been itching to ask him since I saw it....even though I already have a feeling I know what it stands for....I asked. "Why are there names etched on the stone there?"

"Ahh....the Memory Stone."

"Memory Stone?"

A wave of sadness followed his expression and voice. "Those are names of the girls The Ghost took."

"We didn't have pictures of them to commemorate their memories with us, or being a part of the town as one family who are trying to survive this shit....." he elaborated and from the way he spoke, it seems some of those names were close to his heart and memories.

"So, we engrave their names on the stonewall so we wouldn't forget them. And that whoever reads them....I don't know, in the future, if we did get to survive out of here.....they'll know these are the brave, courageous girls who didn't have a chance to have a life outside these walls...."

His throat tightened, and his mouth formed into a thin line. I can already see a wall rising up between us. I can also see he's a man who doesn't let anyone see his vulnerablities, except for now....

"Excuse me, but I must check some things. I'll be right back to bring you some supper." he moves away, and the moment is gone. Jared is back to his shape.

He asks me if I wanted to have some tea, I said no. I was left standing there, still absorbing the fact that what I had been thinking was true..

The names are all real, and they were all taken by some mysterious night-prowler. Real missing girls, with feelings and ambitions, snatched lile that, never to be seen again.

No justice served for their graves that are not found.

It was bad to know these things, cause' it only fueled my thirst to find out things.

I heard the door shut outside and I was shaken from my thoughts, I peeked outside to see the same table I sat beside just a few weeks ago.

With two empty cups that smelled strongly of tea.

I spent hours of the morning settling in. I know it's only for a week, but it still seems pretty long for me. I felt bad because I hadn't said goodbye to Daisy, but I know we'll be seeing each other again sooner.

I already missed her because I don't have anyone to talk to here, except for Jared.

Though, I'm sure he doesn't like talkong to me, especially when he knows I only see him as a source of information.

I wanted to know the whole story. The whole history of how it all started. From the very first missing girl up to the last.

But from how he reacted to my questions, it seems it was not an easy topic for him. Especially when he must be a witness to half of the missing girls written on the stone.

If I remember correctly, he's the chief's son. So, where was the chief? When Daisy took me on a tour and introduced everybody to me, I never recalled her introducing me to the very chief of the town.

I was still pondering on these thoughts when I hear the door open.

"Hey bear-girl, I brought us some supper." I peek to see him raise two plates as he enters.

He enters my room and slides the plate of rice and lamb chops on the bed next to me. "Don't call me bear-girl. It pisses me off."

"Why?" he sits on the chair opposite to me. "I think it suits you pretty well. Especially when you're all grizzly and nasty."

I rolled my eyes. "Funny. Should I call you 'The Tea-Guy'?"

His forehead creases. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know." I shrug innocently, and start to eat my portion of rice and chops. "You tell me... why do you drink two cups of tea? Like last time I was here too...."

He looks pretty irritated. Like it was something he didn't mean to show to me. "It helps me calm down."

"It helps you calm down when you drink the tea, not gulp it down like it's coca cola!"

He grunts like a caveman and stuffs his own mouth with food. "We all have our own ways to calm ourselves, so mind your own business..."

I pouted while chomping on my own food, debating in my mind.

To ask...or not to ask...

"Jared."

"Yeah?" he doesn't look up as he's busy eating. He even replied even with his mouth full.

Okay, good. Maybe he'll be less grumpy when he's stuffing his face with lamb chops...

"Can I ask a question?"

"No."

"Why?" I asked, feeling a bit unfair.

"Your questions are dangerous. Questions don't really end when they get answered....you only get more questions..."

"It's about this town--"

He groans. "Spare me the questions, please. I've had enough of people asking me what happened because I'm storing a girl in my cabin."

"People had been asking about me?" I asked, side-tracked for a second.

"Yes," he says exasperatedly. "With a town this little, news travel fast."

"This is your cabin?"

"What do you think?" he said, sarcastically.

"I heard your father's the chief of this town." he doesn't answer. "Where is he? Is he on a break or something? Is that why you're taking over the job?"

He doesn't answer.

"Temporary replacement or permanent?" I pressed on.

"How about..." he answer slowly, not a single bit of amusement in his face. "You shut up and just eat your lamb chops before I take that plate back in the kitchen."

I did as he told, afraid I might go hungry this afternoon if he takes my plate without even finishing it.

I sneak a peek, from the way his shoulders tensed, it obviously states he doesn't like talking about his father....

I take a different route. "I'm sorry I asked..."

He doesn't speak.

"It's just that...." I paused, trying to make my voice clear. "Since you're the only one with me for the next six more days, I figured I got to atleast know my protector..."

He scoffed at my choice of word. Okay then, flattery doesn't work...

I softened my voice so he wouldn't go ape-s**t on me. "I mean, what do you do? What's your job in this town?"

He gives me a look, raising his eyebrow. Maybe debating whether to answer or shut me up.

I add. "I won't ask about your father anymore...." then I whisper to myself, looking down at my plate. "Even though I'm itching to..."

He chuckles at that. I look up, hopeful, and he sees it in my expression. "Okay," he gives in. "I'll let you ask five questions only."

"Five questions only?"

"Five, now only four because you asked one."

"That's so unfair!"

He raises his finger. "Careful."

I huffed, a hair flying over my face. "Fine! First question, what do you do everyday?"

"First, I check in with everybody. I check the supplies atleast once a week, I'm everyone's repairer if they have a problem with the roof or the sink. You also saw I'm one of the guards to take the girls to school...."

"Yeah, I can see some girls were elated by that, Mr. Popular." I said, referring to Tina.

He grins cockily. Oh, he knows his charms. Shocker. "I thought I'm 'Tea-Guy', as you have told me."

I raised my chin, and crossed my arms defiantly. "You are...Tea-Guy, still going to call you that. And just for your information, I'm not one of the girls who think you're cute and manly. I'm from a city, and I've seen cuter and more handsome."

It pisses me off his grin wasn't wiped. It only widened more. He raises his hands. "Didn't ask."

"So, I'm not going to ask you again since my other three chances of asking might get used." I leaned forward, with my elbow on my crossed legs. "Please, elaborate."

"After taking the girls to school, my post is by the gate..." he pauses, really looking at me. "I stand guard there, keeping out intruders and a sharp eye."

"That's why you were the one to greet me that day..."

"And I was planning to keep you out if you hadn't screamed hysterically about bears."

"There was a bear!"

"That's why I let you in!" He said back to me, aggravated. "Yes, we all know there aren't any bears but we didn't know if it's just the forest either tricking us or tricking you!"

"That's my second question!" I exclaimed, thanking him internally for bringing it up. "What is the deal with the forest? I mean, Daisy told me a lot of things, including that the forest is alive, but I need a clearer...." I couldn't grasp the word. "Image." I finally said.

He leaned forward. "What your friend said was right...the forest is alive..."

"Let's say you got lost...either the forest leads you back here, make you go around in a circle, or the ground swallows you whole....

"Yeah, yeah I heard that."

He doesn't like the tone of my voice. "I don't think you're taking our situation very seriously---"

"I am taking it very seriously! I'm sorry if you think I think of this lightly---"

"....Cara, there is no way out, no contact outside. Either you don't get targeted by The Ghost or grow old and die here in the same town."

"You think we won't be able to escape someday?"

"Is that your third question? Think it thoroughly cause' this leaves you with one question left."

"Yes, positive."

He hesitates, he doesn't know how to answer. He looks conflicted. "I want to say yes, and that's what I've been telling myself and to others who hadn't lost hope..."

"But deep inside....you think we can't?"

He didn't answer my question, but his eyes did.

"Okay..." I exhaled, the air around hs has become tense. "My last question then....what are you guys doing so we can make it out of here?"

He lifted his eyes to me, weary and tired.

"Come on," I urged, coming closer to him as much as I can while still sitting on the bed, the supper, cold and completely forgotten. "I'm sure you guys aren't just sitting ducks. There must be a way out..."

"You think..." his jaw tensed, as he leaned closer to, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "...that after so many years, you don't think we tried to do that?"

I try not to be fazed by the creeping anger in his voice. "What did you find?"

"Nothing. Not even a hole to someplace else. Dig somewhere and you just end up lost in the forest, follow the stream it only leads you to the forest. Everything leads to the forest...."

He runs his hand in his hair, frustrated. "And the forest leads back to the town..."

"So, it's all just a big circle?"

He looks up at me. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What's your deal? What led you here?"

I thought about my answer, whether to tell him the truth or fudge it up a bit. Then I told him the best answer. "I needed to get away from my parents..."

"What, do they abuse you or something?"

I shake my head. "No...not that."

He waited for me to explain.

I wanted to escape from his peering eyes, but I had nowhere else to look. He was also patiently waiting for my answer.

"They...wanted me to be a lawyer."

Then he laughs. I waited for him to stop, he laughed good. But there was irony in his eyes. A little hatred I couldn't understand. "That's it? That's your reason? You ran away from your parents because they wanted you to be someting you don't?"

"See? I knew you'd react like that!" I stand up, agitated and mad. "You don't understand!"

"Oh, I understand comepletely." He stands up too, towering over me. "Do they know you just endangered your life here just because you don't want to be a lawyer?"

"I know it sounds ridiculous but I wanted to be an investigator---"

It was the wrong answer. I knew the moment his eyes steeled as they land on me. Even I realized it sounded so wrong from my lips.

"And so you made this town a playground of yours?" he advanced on me, cornering me until I feel the bed behind me. "You think this is some kind of game? Are we some kind of tool for your mystery-hunting?"

"Jared, please---" I tried to touch him but he recoiled, stepping away from me with disbelief in his face.

"Do you even think about your parents?" he asked, disgusted..

I only looked at him, not knowing how to answer.

He didn't even wait. He goes for the door. "This conversation is over, your questions are done."

He closes the door behind him, and only silence met me with Jared's last question reeling in my mind.

And I curled down on my bed, crying my eyes out yet again.