Excerpt: Ghost Sight

My glance slid across the people gathered on the platform. I did a double take as I realized the two men sitting on the bench near the wall weren’t like everyone else. Neither man was alive. No one else on the platform even noticed them, but I did and I knew they were ghosts.

I moved my gaze quickly, but I knew at least one of them had realized I had seen them. I looked up at the monitor to see if the train was coming yet, but unfortunately, there was another two minutes until it was due to arrive. I refused to turn back to see what they were doing, but I knew they were paying attention to me. Not many people could see ghosts, and if they were here, they needed something. Ghosts didn’t just hang around unless there was something keeping them here.

I wanted to look at them again though. One of the men had been a young handsome man. Part of me was really curious as to why he was dead, but another part of me knew I needed to avoid the ghosts. Nothing good ever came from me talking to ghosts. Well, nothing good for me at least.

I jumped as I felt a cool hand touch my bare arm and automatically glanced at the man who was now standing next to me.

The old man’s face lit up with pleased surprise, “You can help us!”

I flinched and pulled away slightly as I shook my head. I didn’t say anything. No one standing nearby could see the ghost, if I started talking, people would think I’m crazy. Of course, there were plenty of people who thought I was crazy at this point in my life.

When you talk to ghosts that no one else can see, people think you’re crazy. It’s why I was avoiding these two men. I had finally gotten my life straightened out in the last six or seven months. I was trying not to mess it up again.

The lights began flashing to indicate a train was arriving. I tried to relax but I knew the men were going to follow me. They knew I could see them, which meant I could help them with whatever it was they needed. I didn’t want to though.

After several passengers had gotten off of the arriving train, I stepped on and moved to stand near the doors on the opposite side. I stared at the glass doors and could easily see the reflections of both ghosts in the dark glass. They were both staring at me.

“She can help us, David, she can see us,” the old man was saying to the younger one.

“I know, Papa, I know, but we must wait. She doesn’t need people seeing her talk to the air. The others can’t see us.”

The old man nodded and he glanced over the crowd around us on the train. He turned back to watch me and said, “She’s not what I would have wanted for an avenger, but I’ll take what we can get.”

I frowned, insulted by his comment. I stiffened my shoulders and turned around to face them. I wasn’t cowering from ghosts. I stared at the old man with narrowed eyes for a moment. I still avoided the younger man. He was too enticing and attractive for me to remain neutral.

The old man gave me an innocent look in response and then I caught the twinkle in his eyes. The old man was baiting me. I rolled my eyes and then he winked at me. I couldn’t stop the smile that started on my face. I covered it with a cough and looked away.