Page 44 of Ghost
A whoosh of air left Mason’s lungs.He didn’t even realize he’d been holding his breath.He did feel a little lightheaded but wasn’t sure if it was because of holding his breath or if it was that Francis was standing so close to him.
Francis leaned forward as if he were going to kiss Mason.He hovered close, their lips almost touching, but not, of course.Mason could smell all those wonderful smells he’d experienced when he’d gone through Francis.It was so beautiful.He let his eyes close and imagined that he was kissing this handsome, amazing man, who wasn’t really a man at all.
Mason opened his eyes and looked directly into Francis’ dark brown eyes.He could get lost in those eyes.They were soft and kind looking, the kind of eyes that he’d often dreamed of.
Something caught Mason’s attention.Something behind Francis.It was Francis’ mother.
“Look,” Mason said, pointing towards her.
Francis turned.The old crone’s mouth opened but nothing came out.This seemed to surprise her.She looked startled.
Mason couldn’t help it.“What’s the matter, you ol’ bat?Cat got your tongue?”
Francis looked at Mason with an astonished look on his face.Mason could only guess that no one had ever spoken to her like that before.
She flew into a rage.Her mouth was open but no sound came from it.She was racing through the rooms, going right through the new, paneled room.Mason also noticed that she seemed more transparent, less solid looking, like when he first saw Francis.It was obvious that she was furious.Francis took a step backwards, standing right in front of Mason as if to protect him.
Mason felt the room start to spin and then darken.It was as if he were disappearing.The next thing he knew he was lying on the floor, the old woman still raging and Francis kneeling next to him, a worried look on his face.
“Mason, are you well?Mason, are you all right?”
Mason could only nod.
The room suddenly turned cold.Freezing cold.He could see his own breath.Mason noticed that the old woman was still, a look of shock on her face.A small black spot appeared beneath her.She stared at the spot.It was like a wet drop of oil on the floor that was spreading wider and wider.
There was a sucking noise, like when there was something stuck in the hose of a vacuum cleaner.Mrs.Watson lifted her head and stared at Francis, her son.For a brief moment, Mason thought he saw regret or remorse, or something else cross her face.Maybe remorse?
Then she was being sucked down into the black wetness.She didn’t appear to resist it and then she and the slick wet spot was gone.She was no more.
Mason looked at Francis.His face was like that of stone.No expression at all.
“Francis?”
Francis turned towards Mason.“She is gone.For good.”
Chapter Seventeen
