Page 44 of Ghosted

“Yep, the list is on my notepad by my computer. Most of what we need is already in the trunk under the groceries and we will have to stop and fill up the gas can before we head out to the asylum. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to drive around with it before we need it.”

“That’s our Jayce always using your head.” Eli smirks as he pulls up to the parking spot for our apartment. “Now I bet I can carry more bags in one trip than you can.”

“Oh, you’re on.”

We both hop out and go straight to the trunk, loading up as many bags on our arms as we can until there’s one left. I grip it first and smile at Eli in triumph.

“I win. Wait…what do I win? This can’t be all for nothing,” I joke.

“I hadn’t thought of that, maybe we can have Raven decide on a prize,” he says with a wink. There’s the normal Eli again, always quick with an innuendo.

“That I can handle.”

We head up to the stairs and I have to put down a few of the bags to retrieve my keys from my pockets. It’s quiet inside, so I make sure to jiggle the handle and announce loudly that we’re back. I’m not sure that I’m ready to walk in on Raven and Wolf together yet. This is all too new for us. Knowing is one thing, seeing is another, and that’s not something I need seared in my brain before a ghost hunt.

Raven bounces into the living room, a smile from ear to ear and wet hair. Telltale signs that she joined him.

“So, it was a good shower, I take it?” I ask, half joking.

“Oh, you’re next,” she promises as she helps unload the bags from my and Eli’s arms.

“What are you hungry for? I got stuff for spaghetti or burgers and Eli just replenished our junk food stash.”

“How about burgers? If you make those, I’ll get the air fryer out and make fries?” Raven asks.

“Sounds like a plan,” I agree as I pull her into me for a kiss. “And we can take a bath when Eli and Wolf do the dishes.”

Raven giggles at my words, and kisses me again.

“I like that idea very much.”

“Of course, you do,” Eli states coming up behind her. "Jayce, looks like you got your prize after all.”

“Prize?” Raven asks, confused.

“I carried more bags in than Eli,” I shrug.

This gets a real laugh from Raven, and it’s like music to my ears. We need a night of normal and that’s what I’m going to ensure we get.

Raven

The sanitarium looms over the treeline, looking ominous against the backdrop of clouds and a full moon. It’s like the entire world knows what’s coming and I hope it’s a sign that this will be the last night we have to deal with Stella. We all need a break from the torment, Lucien most of all. Adjusting to modern life is hard enough without a psychotic ghost trying to kill you all over again.

“Did you hear that?” Eli hisses as he stops in front of me, nearly making me crash into him.

“No, just our footsteps,” Jayce whispers back. It’s silent out here outside of the slight rustle of leaves in the breeze and the random cars passing on the highway nearby.

“He’s right, I heard it,” Lucien argues. “Someone is here.”

“Living?” I ask to make sure we aren’t talking about Stella. Then again, if this place was as scary as it looked in pictures, I doubt she’s the only one haunting these grounds.

“Stick together. We are not going to be those assholes in scary movies that all separate so the serial killer hiding among them can pick them off one by one,” Eli says. The fact he’s one hundred percent serious has me biting back a laugh.

“What?” Lucien asks, confused by the reference.

“Oh just wait, you’ll understand the moment Raven plans our next movie night,” Jayce promises. “Life changing. I’m just not sure it’s in a good way or not.” He laughs quietly as I swat at him.

“You’re all blessed to be in my presence,” I joke. What I don’t expect are the three matching soft smiles they give me back.

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