Excerpt: The Camp Director's Wife

Mary turned and flipped the last switch and darkness took hold in the building. There was some light from the full moon filtering in through the windows but she turned on her flashlight anyway. She could make out the vague shadow of Jeremy standing by the doorway waiting for her. She walked over to him and stood in front of him. She could barely make out his features.

"I think that was the last of it. Do you have a light?" she asked.

"No, that's why I was waiting for you but its pretty light out there. I was just going to escort you across the field like a good scout. I'll..."

He glanced out the open doorway and she felt rather than heard a sharp intake of breath. Suddenly he grabbed her and pulled her close to him. The suddenness of it all took her by surprise.

"Jeremy...what's wrong?"

There was no answer. She felt his otherwise strong form literally tremble. She knew intuitively that this wasn't like the other times. He was either was holding her for his own comfort or for her protection.

"What is it? A bear?" She realized the ridiculousness of her words. They weren't afraid of bears and besides all they had to do was shut the door if one was out there. A cougar perhaps wandering across the parade field?

"Oh my god" was all he could say.

"Jeremy!" She pulled herself free and turned around. It wasn't easy. He did not want to let her go. She saw the back of a small girl running away from them. She was wearing something white that glowed in the moonlight.

"Is that all? That's probably just Jenna." She ran up the small incline so she could get a better look.

"Jena!" she called out.

She could see well enough to know the the shadow had stopped and turned around. Mary could not see her face clearly but she could somehow tell it was not Jena. Within seconds the small form was gone replaced by the shadows of the night sky.
She didn't feel fear. She felt astonishment. What was that? Where did it go? Had she actually seen the ghost of the parade field?

She ran back to Jeremy was literally on his knees shaking. She knelt down put her arm around him and held on to him.

"What did you see?" She asked quietly.

"She was staring down at us. She didn't have eyes...she had black holes for eyes and when you turned around so did she." The usually articulate Jeremy was having trouble forming his words.

"I saw her. I just saw the back of her running away. She turned around but I couldn't see her face." Mary said.

The lights went on and both of them jumped. Mary's felt a literal pain around her heart. Matt appeared the other side of the large room apparently having come in through one of the side doors.

"What is going on?" He stared at them. "Why are the two of you sitting here in the dark."

Mary was close to saying the old "this isn't what it looks like' but couldn't find the words. She stood up and realized that she was suffering from a delayed reaction. She braced herself against the doorway. She felt herself starting to shake. Matt's eyes suddenly widened as if he sensed her disorientation.

"Jeremy and I had finished putting the stuff away and were starting out the door. He looked over my shoulder and.."

"I saw a ghost. I saw her...standing there. That little girl. She looked at me. She didn't have any eyes..."

"And I turned and saw the back of her. She was running away. I thought it was Jena. She just disappeared ...out there.

Mark had a strong flashlight and he went to the door and directed his beam outward. It played across the field and showed it to be empty.

"Whatever it was, its gone now. You all want me to walk with you down by the road. I'd kind of like to see it."

Jeremy pulled himself up and took a long deep breath.. He steadied himself and then proceeded to walk bravely into the disturbed night.

"No you don't'. was all he said as he passed them both.