Page 48 of Ghosted

We reach the college grounds and park on the side road, approaching Lucien’s old building from behind to avoid detection.

“Stay here,” I hiss to the others as I creep to the edge of the building. My eyes scan the campus until I spot security on the other side. Turning around, I nearly plow into Eli who looks unapologetic about following me. “We’ve got maybe ten minutes before they round this way.”

“Then let’s be quick. No splitting up,” Jayce says pointedly before pushing open the back door. We have to walk carefully in here to avoid the old floorboards and stairs that feel even more precarious than the last time we were here.

When we reach his office, Lucien rushes ahead, coming back with a single toe bone wrapped in the tissue I’d given him earlier.

We’re back out as fast as we were in, going back to the car. Jayce holds up a hand as he catches his breath.

“Tell me we aren’t driving with that.”

“No way,” I laugh. “Drop it on the concrete, Lucien.” He does as I ask and I open the trunk, grabbing the rest of the salt first and dousing it with more than necessary then putting on a splash of gas.

“I’m moving the car up,” Eli deadpans, pulling forward so I don’t accidentally catch our getaway vehicle on fire. When he’s satisfied I hand over the lighter to Lucien.

“You deserve this one,” I tell him. “It was your present after all.” He takes it without hesitation before crouching down and lighting it on fire.

We all step back and watch the tiny fire take hold and burn strong. As the last of the flames take hold, a horrifying screech tears through the night.

“Is it over?” I ask when the scream dies out completely and the only thing left are the familiar sounds of a city at night.

“I think so,” Lucien answers. The strange tone has me looking up, gasping as the white glowing form of Iris appears in front of us.

“Lucien,” she says in a melodic voice. There’s an ethereal echoing quality to it. “You’re finally free and so is she.”

“I’ve been trapped for so long,” he says. “I’m sorry I never reached you.”

“This is how it was fated to be, my love. And now, with Raven, you have a second chance,” she says. “You have my blessing. Live your life as you deserve, Lucien. One day, I’ll see you again.”

“Iris,” he breathes out, voice cracking as a tear falls. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your apology to make, Lucien. You tried to save me and you never asked for the pain Stella caused us all. Nothing happens on chance,” she counters as gently as she can. When her ghostly eyes turn to me, I barely breathe. “Take care of him for me, Raven. He’s an amazing man.”

“I will,” I promise.

“Thank you, and thank you for ending this nightmare. I may have been able to move on but I was still tied to her in some capacity. Now I can truly move on,” she reveals. “No more being pulled back here. Just peace.”

“Rest in peace, Iris,” Jayce tells her as he takes one of my hands.

“We’ll keep them both safe,” Eli promises. She smiles at their words.

“I know you will. This was always part of the plan,” she says with a soft smile before she fades from sight. The night feels even darker in the absence of her light.

“Let’s go live our lives, finally,” I tell them. We climb in the car and drive off into the night, our nightmare finally over.

Raven

One year later

“Lucien, are you ready for your first day back to teaching?” I ask as I straighten his tie.

The corners of his eyes scrunch up when he smiles. “I think so, Jayce and Eli have trained me on this tech I’ll have to use, but it still feels right that I can help pay for things once again. Not just bum off you and the guys.”

I throw my head back and laugh, “You have a place in our little ghost business. Your knowledge of history is very helpful with all the ghost lore. But if you need out of the house, I get that, too. The three of us can be a little much.”

“No, no….” he backpedals before I raise a finger to his lips.

“I was only joking. I think it’s great that you are going back into a profession you love. Just no falling for a pretty, little college girl.”

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