Blog Post

A Great Haunt: Part 4

September 20, 2020

Annie stood watching her new instructors outside of the house. Not very impressed with their skill or progress considering after three weeks they should have been better.

“And now we are working on going through walls. Wait what?” Kevin looked to his side and as his head was moved immediately forward.

“Don’t look at me or this won’t work,” Elizabeth whispered, invisible at his side. “Tell George to run at the wall when I give you the signal. Amber is waiting to pull him through it. Roger is waiting for you. I will give you the signal to go after George.”

“George will demonstrate first,” Kevin stated and nodded to his friend and then looking to their students.

George wondered why they were still pretending to be ghosts, but nodded in return. Trusting his friend.

George ran at the wall and reached his hand out, feeling another hand wrap around his.

“I’ve got you,” Amber whispered pulling him through to the other side.
“AAAHHHHH!” They heard coming closer. “THWUMP!”

“Oh. Yeah. Didn’t get him.” Roger said pointing to the other side of the wall.

Amber rolled her eyes, going through the wall staying invisible. On the ground, Kevin was sprawled out with a red mark on his forehead.

Amber looked up as Annie addressed their pupils, “You may go play children. We will continue our lesson after I have a discussion with your instructors.” Annie turned and looked at Amber, “All of them.”

Amber sank back through the wall, “Annie knows.”
“For Ghosts, you guys aren’t really that subtle are you,” George asked.
“What made you think that?” Coal asked walking in eating his bowl of cereal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Of course I knew,” Annie said pacing behind her desk. “How many years do you think I have walked this earth? Do you not think in that time that I would have not known the errors of those who tried to deceive me? Now tell me what are humans doing in my house?”

“We found out when we came back. They didn’t know we were in the kitchen getting a snack. They kept us because we knew after Roger walked through the wall.” Kevin explained.

“You kept them?” Annie asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Only so they wouldn’t tell any others,” Amber spoke up.
“That is not what we do with humans. We erase the memories and replace them with others. You know this protocol.” Annie reprimanded.
“But it doesn’t always last.” Amber protested.
“And during that time we handle it or have one of our counselors meet with them. We do not keep them hostage from their lives, nor do we keep them as pets. Leave all of you. Except for Kevin. I will talk to George after that.”

After the others left Annie commanded, “Sit.”
She took her seat behind her desk with a pen in hand and notebook ready.
“Why should I let you and your friend stay here?” I could just wipe your memories now so you do not risk my student’s lives.”
“How would us knowing jeopardize their lives?” Kevin asked.
“It is in the telling of others that jeopardizes our lives. There is an organization that has been around for even longer than I have been alive that have a hatred for those with magical ancestry. We must stay a secret to protect all of us. Those who look more human,” She said waving a hand over her own form, “And the others who don’t. My question remains. Why take a risk on you and your friend?”

“You shouldn’t. Logically or practically you should take care of all the magical creature things. Which I have a lot of questions about later if my mind isn’t turned into jello.”

“Jello?”

“Yeah, way cooler than pudding. Pudding is a sludge. Jello is all wiggly and bounces back.”
After a confused look from Annie, Kevin continued, “Anyways, logically you should, but if you didn’t I would have the opportunity to learn about creatures I only dreamed of meeting.”
Kevin looked down at his folded hands, gaining the courage to continue before looking back at Annie.
“The world has never been a place for people with my personality to really fit. Or at least I know I don’t fit. I dreamed of other things, never had a direction for my life. Had more jobs than I care to admit. I could never find a place to use my talents and gain success at the same time. It seems like that is what a lot of people care about. So nothing ever fit, except for turning my art into stories and sharing them with others. Inspiring the thought of something more. It isn’t a real job sharing my stories, but it was fun. And it makes people feel something. Then someone asked me to do art for an abandoned building that was supposed to be haunted and tell the story behind it. I brought George to help me film the details to make my art more realistic to the structure. George and I had fun making it so I posted the video as more of a comedy and people seemed to love it. And I realized that no matter what it was if I could make people feel something for a moment that meant more than any other job I could have. If I could make them feel something more than they usually feel, to escape if only for a moment, it would mean that maybe I found my place. I couldn’t believe all of you were real, but I felt something. Finally, I could learn from the actual magical beings or creatures, not sure what you prefer, that made me feel alive.” Kevin took a breath and continued.
“For the first time in my life, I felt I was where I was supposed to be. That I didn’t miss it or fall behind the timing like I do with everything else. That it was right. Instead of fighting to live in a world, I didn’t fit I finally found the place I did. Meeting all of you was the first time I felt alive in a long time. I want to learn all about you. The only reason is that in a world of chaos telling stories was the only thing in my life that has ever made sense. Because when I tell stories I don’t have to be anyone else, but me. That is why I want to stay. To learn, to explore, and take a break from being the person I need to be out there.”

Annie sat back analyzing Kevin’s answer.
“You may go. Send in George.”

Kevin walked out and sent his friend in as the others asked him questions about the interview.

He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He knew he was about to lose the only thing that ever made sense to him. He would go back to a world that didn’t make sense at all.
A world bent on success and gain more than discovery and learning. How could he go back when his eyes were opened to so much more?

He told the others what he told Annie.

Amber knew she would fight for them to stay. The children loved them. They both gave a new perspective on how teaching could be done. And they were more passionate than other teachers she knew.
Roger didn’t quite like the idea of sharing his pretzels but didn’t mind the two that much. They were kind of cool.

Elizabeth hoped they could stay. She has so much fun teaching them things most magical beings already knew. And she kind of thought Kevin was cute.

Coal loved having guys around who knew about technology as much as he did. Other Ghosts seemed to value the old-world aesthetic. Playing video games with friends was way better than playing alone, or playing with people he couldn’t get to know because of his Ghostly features.

Annie sent George out as they all accosted him with questions. George gave little to no helpful information.

An hour later Annie walked out of her office where they all sent against the wall.
“Amber, Roger, Elizabeth, Coal.” She said as they stood to the sound of their names.
She motioned to the two on the floor, “Welcome your two newest students. George, Kevin, you start classes with the children tomorrow.”