Spooks.12.

The Spook_
Ah brother. I have been a pain and taking your space, have I? When did I ever have my own space? Never! And of course, I‘m rubbish to you. Everything is rubbish to you except yourself and the prizes you earned.

And I‘m kind. I‘m so kind brother. Even in death. And that is why, brother, you breathe your last today.

I welcome you to hell. My dear loving big brother.

Ashler Germain (the suicidal lover)_
I can‘t live anymore. Not without her. Not without our child. Not without the family we were becoming. I can‘t bear this loneliness. Baby, I‘m coming to you.

Just one bottle. It will finish this pain. You showed me that. Through the photos. Every night, photos.

No one believes me. No one else can see those photos except me. You are driving me insane baby. And today the picture of that whisky bottle and the pills... Then just the whisky bottle... I knew what you had done. I just knew.

You want me to join you. I‘m so happy. I can‘t help my tears. Nothing is worth as much as you. Nothing in the world.

This is it honey. I finished the bottle. Now I‘m going to sleep. I only wish I‘ll wake up in your arms. My dark angel. My world is with you. Forever.

The Spook_
My time is up. I‘m starting to fade.

*the sound of an ambulance rings through*

I had my revenge. The Devil can take me now. The one in the photo Ash, the one you think of as me, you‘ll find her. I love you so much for going through all that just for me. I love you so much. And I‘m going to keep my promise.

She is the one I‘ll come back as. When you wake up, I‘ll be with you in another body. A body that is going to wake up alone from a coma.

You can‘t die just yet when there is so much more to live for. Those who deserved to... those who hurt me... they paid.

Now God forbid that anyone will say that this Spook is a softhearted one. I just killed my own family.

Atleast Gloria is safe with her secret. I‘m happy. Now I can move on. For good.

Spooks.9.

Lucky No.9. _

She felt pressure on her throat. Inside her throat. All the air was being sucked out of her. Literally. She couldn‘t breathe. Reaching out for the inhaler on her nightstand, she choked as she knocked over other things. It was missing.

“MOTHER!“, she suddenly heard her son‘s scream. The gasps were getting louder. The breaths were becoming harder.

No. More. Air, the thought passed through her mind as her vision suddenly flooded with bright light. She passed out.

As the light filled the room, he rushed to her collasped form on the wooden floor. “Mother! Wake up! Where‘s the damn inhaler???! Oh MY GOD, Maman, BREATHE!!! GLORIA!!!!!!! WE NEED AN AMBULANCE!!!!“

Tears started streaking down his face. What was this?! His wife rushed into the room in a slinky black nightgown.
“Maman!“, she screamed seeing her beloved mother-in-law‘s body. “Will, lift her out! The ambulance is on it‘s way!“

Her husband turned to her slowly, his face white. “There won‘t be any use now Glo. She‘s gone. There is no more pulse. I think it stopped before I even got to her. Oh God, Glo. Everyone‘s gone now. Everyone.“
“Oh Will“, she laid a comforting hand on his shoulder as tears streamed down his face. Only a week ago, their sister had had a fatal accident. And now this. She hugged her husband. The clear dark sky outside betrayed no signs of the tragedy inside the big house.

The funeral was arranged quickly for the next morning itself. It was a quiet affair. Since the death of their father, their mother had been a bit of a recluse. Her wheezing problem didn‘t help matters either. The sky was clear and bright. A morose little group had gathered and all had a few words to say about what a sweet lady she had been, how welcoming, how kind. After the ceremony, one person looked at the sky and remarked,“It‘s so clear. It looks like such a cheerful day. Maybe her husband is welcoming her back.“

Suddenly a chill ran down his bone. Ashler turned around. He was sure he was being watched. But he just couldn‘t understand. The chill suddenly went away, just as it had come.

Here is the bit that he didn‘t know. The chill was his dead girlfriend‘s response to his statement,“Not my father Ash. It‘s me. I sent her to hell. Where all good mothers go...when they kill their offspring. Such a perfect day betrays my happiness. Mine. Goodbye now.“

A small white mist formed around the funeral party and dissipated just as quickly. No one thought it weird. It smelt salty and everyone assumed it was an anomaly of nature. After all, the sea was nearby.

...

The Killer_

It‘s so dark.

“Welcome to the afterlife. Your daughter awaits you.“

My daughter? No. No. No. Not her.

I‘m so sorry baby. I did it for you.

_The End_

Spooks.5.

Gloria William Mathew (the faithful wife and loving sister-in-law)_

As her best friend... this hit-and-run doesn‘t seem accidental. It seems pre-planned. I married her brother, yes. I am stupid at times, I‘m weak.

The only person who truly saw through me was my little sister. She didn‘t believe my weak affections and acts. I remember her asking me, why I act stupid. I told her because it‘s easier that way. No one will notice or give me importance... and I gain a lot of knowledge.

Everyone will doubt Will, but I don‘t. He can be cold but not as much as to kill his own sister and definitely not over wealth. Come back little sister. Find out why you died. But I guarantee it‘s not your brother.

Yes, he is hurting me. Everyday. Yes, he is controlling and power-hungry. All the time. But also, yes, he is insecure about being loved. He just wants to be loved and I give him that. He saved me and my father from stark poverty. He treats me to everything I could possibly want. He tries so hard to please me but under a veneer of coldness, of distance.

He isn‘t perfect. Far from it. But I love him and I know the others are wrong to doubt him. He can‘t hurt people. He can‘t hurt family. Even if he may want to, he wouldn‘t and he couldn‘t. His conscience would never let him.

Just seeing him, lying asleep next to me, tired out from our love-making, I know. And he gave me a gift for the first time tonight. I believe he initiated the start of a... family. Our family. He was so tender tonight. Slow, gentle. I see sides of him no one else does. I see him now, a tear escaping his eye. He mourns for his sister though he doesn‘t show it. I doubt if he even acknowledges his own feelings. For some reason, he wants that distant nature to be forefront.

I wish I knew more of his past. More of what made him this way.

He might have hated his sister, might be selfish. But the man I know, the man I married, the man I grew to love, he would never kill his own sister. He can‘t.

Spooks.4.

The Spook_

This is the moment. I can feel it. I‘m rising. Well more like... I‘m leaving the physical world though that sounds too voodoo and slightly cliché. I don‘t weigh anything. I‘m floating in a black space... and I want out. I want to see the first star.

*soft breeze whistling*

No. Ash, I should NOT see you first thing. No, no, no. Please don‘t cry. Please don‘t.

He is half-shouting, half-crying. “... I‘m no poet but baby, if you can hear me now, YOU WERE AND ARE AND WILL BE MY WHOLE WORLD. No one can replace you. It‘ll always be you. Oh god why... WHY?!!!!“

I hear you darling. I hear you loud and clear. I‘m just in front of you. My heart is breaking just like yours Ash. We‘re together but I don‘t know for how long.

Oh Ash. I love you so much. I wanted that life together too. A house by the sea and to walk together on the beach watching our child play in the sand. Time was so short. It was so unfair.

“I know he did it... He warned me... Oh God and there is nothing to prove anything against them... But he did it. I know he did it...“, his voice is a mere whisper. I hear you darling. Continue. Who did this?

A strange feeling of fury was rising in me, my black shadowy silhouette shimmered. I knew somehow that I had no face... that I was just a shadow. But one with a shape and desire. Like... a spook. Speak Ash, tell me. And they will pay for hurting you. For taking me away. For separating us. We never hurt a fly.

“Your brother...“, on his knees now. Baby I wish you could feel me against you, I wish... I wish you could feel my shadowy smoky arms around you, see me kneeling against you, holding you in my grey embrace... an embrace of love and warmth. Yet grey. The grey of death coats me Ash. I can‘t stop it. Speak love. It‘s ok. I‘m here. I feel you. I see you. I‘m here.

“... He said he‘ll remove anything that came in his path to the wealth. Oh Lord, please. She didn‘t want anything. WE didn‘t want anything. I shouldn‘t have let her tell him... that he is going to be an uncle, that we were getting married. I don‘t know what the will says but I‘m damn sure it never said to kill you and our unborn baby. Oh love...“, his sobs were quietening, his trembling reducing. Would anyone understand that these white wisps that rose from me were my tears? Because the sight of him too much. It is just too much...

And nothing will stop me from taking revenge. I will come back. There must be a way. Oh darling there HAS to be a way. We believed in the old ways. Find a gypsy Ash. You need to find a gypsy. They have their ways. They‘ll tell you how we can be together. But first... revenge. Sweet and cold.

He is so silent now. My light hands were around his neck. He is speaking again, “ I miss you so much. I swear I can feel you hugging me.“

Yes my sweet, I‘m holding you. My silhouette is turning a lighter shade of grey. Is it because of my ghost-tears? I don‘t know. My dear Ash, you need to leave sweetheart. Stand up. Go home. I‘m with you only. As always. I‘ll make a pitstop at my father‘s house and then find you. I promise.

I just need to find out why I died... I just need to.

Spooks.3.

Ashler Germain (the unknown lover) _

I can place these roses here. These white and red roses. Your favorites. No one knows now how much I loved you. And how much I hoped we‘d be together. You had left your family for me, I know. Now... I wish you hadn‘t. I don‘t think I was worth that much. As in... your life.
“Baby, the sky is orange and lavender. Its twilight, your favourite time. I promise to stand here till the first star comes out and I‘ll make a wish. Just like you always did. Haha. You are so cute. Sorry, were. No, are. I bet you are beautiful even wherever you are now. You always will be sweetheart. I love you so. *sob* Please come back...“

I can‘t help these tears running down my face. I can‘t help falling down on the grass at your grave on my knees. I can‘t help these nerve-wracking sobs, love. I can‘t. You weren‘t just my best friend and my lover. You were my whole world. And I don‘t think I ever told you that. Even if you knew... I wanted to tell you that. But those bastards, those rascals you call family? They took you away from me honey. Just before our marriage. Just before...

Oh god.

“Our baby... oh sweetheart, they took everything! And I swear I‘m going to take revenge! *heaving from heavy sobs* I‘m no poet but baby, if you can hear me now, YOU WERE AND ARE AND WILL BE MY WHOLE WORLD. No one can replace you. It‘ll always be you. Oh god why... WHY?!“

*screams*

The scream is ringing throughout the cemetary and the first star is out. Hey you, you little star shining down on us, WE know you are far from little, WE know your power. So just this once, please grant this wish, let her come back in flesh and blood and spirit. Let her be whole again. Let us share a life, make a family in some obscure place where we‘ll be happy and disturbing no one. We don‘t want the riches. We just want to be together. Please.

I beg of you.

I whisper, “Please.“

The dark sky rumbled overhead and maybe it‘s my imagination, but I think dark clouds rushed by covering everything but that star. The Pole Star?

Oh god, guide me. Give her back and I swear I‘ll treat her right and make her happy. Oh please. Just... please. Just one wish. Please.

Spooks.2.

William Arthur Mathew (the loving big brother) _

What a relief. No annoying brat to disturb my peace of mind. No annoying brat to bother about sharing Father‘s vast wealth. No annoying brat to spy on me drinking a rich cup of apple brandy with my wife in the dining room. Too peaceful. And knowing that she is probably lying dead somewhere helps a lot too.

“Where do you think she is, husband of mine?“, my wife was eyeing me over her cup. I must admit she is gorgeous. Thick glossy brown hair to her waist, caramel brown skin and beautiful curves... with a brain as tasty and small as a hazelnut. When I told her that her ‘darling little sister‘ ran off with a guy from the village, she believed me all too well. I wonder... are my acting skills so superb? I should consider a try in that direction.
“Hmmm... making babies in a barn somewhere maybe?“
Her shocked expression is so cute. But with a handsome and intelligent millionaire, even her tear-stained face should be pretty for the public. After all, the world should envy me more for adding one more jewel to my collection. A pearl.
“How CRUDE you are! My father would have never tolerated such speech!“
“But I‘m lucky you do eh? And darling, I don‘t want any competition for this inheritance. Its solely mine, er, ours.“
“How? Your sister has an equal claim and...“
So much easier to stop the conversation with a hard kiss and some groping. Everytime without fail, it lights up a billboard across her face reading *bed*. I should be grateful she is such a lusty b***h. Anyone a little more sharper, I would have been in trouble.
“Lover...“
Her fingers were already at my shirt. God, will she never slow down? I wanted some kids soon. 35 is old enough to be toting around a firstborn and a soceity wife.
“Yes honey?“
God, I impress even myself. No one will think that I don‘t love her... except that annoying dead brat. Why isn‘t that topic leaving my head, dammit?!
“Let‘s go upstairs... This time I won‘t fail you I promise.“
Ah... That faint tremor in her voice. Good. She understands and got the message loud and clear.
“Yes baby, let‘s go. Don‘t forget, I love you.“
“Yes...“
“Tell me...“
“And I love you too... with my whole life.“
“Good.“

Spooks.1.

The Spook _

I can‘t move, breathe, speak or hear and it‘s so dark all the time. If I had known it would get this lonely, I would have preferred to be cremated instead. Falling out of grace with your family is a bad thing ethically, I knew. But nobody told me it was lethal too.

*tap* *tap*

“Uh...yes?“
Wow. My voice always was harsh but this was surreal. It was so...gruff and hoarse. Well I should be suprised something was working. I have been underground for a long time now, I think. It was like waking from sleep all of a sudden and finding a huge crushing weight on you, which you realise is NOT the fat, sweaty man who tried to mug you. Should I be relieved that it is just a pile of soil instead?

*tap* *tap* ... *tap* ... *tap* *tap*
“Hello? Anyone alive there?“
Ok. Now I just feel foolish.
“No sweetheart, I‘m dead. But while I‘m glad for your company, I hate to inform you that you are on top of me.“
“What?!“
“Yes sweetheart, my coffin is just below yours.“
“Ah. I see.“
“No I bet you don‘t. It‘s pretty dark.“
Wow. Sarcasm or being a smartass? I care for neither. Atleast I‘m not lonely.

“Yawn...You woke up pretty fast. Well you‘re lucky you got me to tell you why.“
“So I woke up for a reason?“
This was so cramped. There is absolutely no space to move. None.
“The usual baloney. You had anger to resolve before you died without a name.“
Woah. Wait. I can NOT be without a name. I‘m the daughter of Arthur William Mathew, who just happened to be one of the richest (and nicest) guys in the district. And everyone knows me. This is not happening.

“Ok. Listen, I understand you‘ve been in here for longer than me but even YOU would know Arthur William Mathew. He passed away recently... Well before I got here anyway. I‘m his daughter.“
“Look kid, you‘re dead and nameless for some reason because if you are who you say you are then...“
I snorted. “Of course I am, is there any reason for me to lie? I‘m dead already.“
“You‘ve got a point there sweetheart. Look I‘m breaking out of here. You‘re welcome to tag along.“

Break out?! I‘m dead. I can talk but I don‘t think I can say the same about my body. I felt displaced and dispositioned in various places. For the first time since... waking up(?!) I felt relieved it was dark and cramped.
“I don‘t understand“, I said cautiously.

*TAP*
“Of course, I‘m dealing with a novice here. Listen, your body will stay. Here. YOU, on the other hand, can try to leave. I don‘t know if you can on the same day as awakening but you can try. At some point you won‘t feel your body anymore. Then you‘ll literally make yourself sit up and walk out, cool as a cucumber.“

I was stuck with a lunatic brother when I was alive. Now I‘m stuck with a mad dead person. Figures.
“I don‘t understand.“
“Of course you don‘t. The second time is the last time you get to do that, be warned. The first time I doubt you‘ll get far but I have a score to finish. Haha. Bad movie dialogue-ish, but true.“
Um. Could this get any weirder? Hm. Could this be a bad dream?
“Hey kid, listen. I‘m leaving. Don‘t expect me back sweetheart. Good luck and I hope you‘re not in love. Haha. Because I would like to pick you up in the afterlife. Toodles!“
What! The cheek! “Jackass!“, I shouted only to be answered by fading laughter. Did I feel my body? Not really. Not like when the conversation started. I was feeling... lighter(?) by the second. May be it was possible to leave soon after “the awakening“. Let‘s see.