Deadly Spirits Read online

  Deadly Spirits

  By Michelle Scott

  Deadly Spirits Copyright © 2019 by Michelle Scott

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the

  author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living

  or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  First Edition • March 2019

  Prologue

  The carnival was all motion and energy, greasy smells and flashing lights. Delighted screams ripped through the air, rising above the blasting music of the midway. The ground vibrated as the cars from the Helix rumbled by. Sophie grit her teeth against the chaos and tried to focus. The Reaper was nearby; she could feel it.

  “Is that fun to ride?” Christian, her partner, stood behind her, craning his neck to see the top of the Helix. “I’ve never been on something like that.”

  “Focus,” Sophie muttered, although she knew that he was only trying to lighten the mood for her sake. In reality, he was as tense as she was.

  Sophie thought she caught a flash of a dark shadow in the corner of her eye. Something had been stalking them from the moment they’d left the parking lot.

  Christian dropped his gaze, trying to see as she did. “I didn’t notice anything. Maybe we should keep walking.”

  Together, they crossed the midway. Although Sophie tried to avoid bumping into people, it was impossible. In front of her, a boy savored the greasy sweetness of an elephant’s ear while clutching a large, stuffed bear. Sophie had never experienced such contentment. She both resented and envied the kid.

  Christian nudged her and nodded to a grassy alley that lay between a lemonade trailer and a ride called the Scrambler. “See that big tree? Isn’t that where we’re supposed to meet?”

  Sophie patted his arm in appreciation. It was hard not to be distracted by the noise and smells and lights. Her head ached from too much stimulation.

  “This will be over shortly,” Christian said, noting her distress. “Your job is almost done.”

  She certainly hoped so. She and Christian had been tracking the Reaper for six months with little to show for it. Tonight, though, felt different. She had a strong feeling that the Reaper was getting desperate. For the first time, he had reached out to them and not the other way around.

  “I want lemonade when this is all over,” Christian said as they passed the truck. “And an elephant ear. I have no idea what they are, but they smell like heaven.”

  “Shh!” The antsy feeling that had plagued Sophie all night suddenly crested and broke. They were nearly on top of their target. Beside her, Christian tensed. He put out an arm to block her way.

  “This is on me,” he said softly. “You wait here.”

  Beside them, the lights of the Scrambler flashed like emergency beacons while its arms moved in swift synchronization. Those riding screamed in delight as they were flung from one side of their seats to the other.

  Christian moved away from the lights and deeper into the shadows. “Be careful,” Sophie called softly. Both of them knew that the Reaper wasn’t playing around.

  Something moved at her feet, and she jumped backwards with a stifled scream. To her disgust, a large, gray rat wriggled out of a bag of popcorn. It ran over her shoes before darting under the lemonade trailer.

  Sophie shook off her revulsion and strained her eyes to see into the shadows. “Christian?” She asked. She took a cautious step forward. “Christian?”

  When no one answered, her heart began to pound. Wiping her sweating palms on her jeans, she edged closer to the shadows under the old tree. She’d told Christian to take the Reaper alive, but she knew that Christian would save her at any cost. No matter what.

  One arm of the Scrambler swung precariously close to her, and her mind snapped a picture of the riders before they were yanked away again. Two teenagers, laughing, holding hands. Sophie wished she was one of them tonight.

  A rustle near the tree made her freeze. Then, to her relief, Christian appeared. “Nothing,” he said flatly. “I don’t think the Reaper wanted this meeting as much as we did.”

  Disappointment and relief mixed in equal measures. She wanted to put an end to this chase, but not here. She preferred to work in quieter, less populated locales. Fewer distractions meant fewer things could go wrong.

  Still, she wasn’t ready to call it a night yet. She was about to suggest that they move to the other end of the carnival when the screech of tortured metal filled the air. Screams of pure terror followed as the Scrambler’s arm broke free from its moorings. Instinctively, Sophie turned to look and was hit head-on by one of the cars of the Scrambler.

  Sophie dropped to the ground as the ride’s car slammed into the lemonade truck. For a moment, she was too stunned to register anything but the black expanse of the night sky. Then she realized she was lying on the trash-strewn ground, unable to move or speak her name. Christian knelt by her, hollering something she couldn’t understand.

  She drifted upwards, catching sight of the top of Christian’s head. The cries of those who’d been thrown from the ride sounded as soft as a spring rain. Even the rat was there, nosing through a discarded box of fried chicken.

  It’s okay, Sophie wanted to tell Christian. I’m fine. Though, looking at her broken body, she realized that she might not be as fine as she’d first thought.

  A dark shadow rose up behind Christian. The Reaper! Sophie was sure of it. She tried to scream a warning, but no sound came out.

  The shadow grew deeper and darker, blotting out all of the frenetic lights of the carnival. Suddenly, Sophie understood that this wasn’t the Reaper. In fact, it wasn’t a fearsome being at all, but a kind one.

  Follow me, it told her softly. I’ll help you cross over.

  A woman was suddenly kneeling by her side. She took Sophie’s hand. “I’m a nurse,” she said. “Let me help you.” Then she leaned in close. “Go towards the light,” she said. “Don’t fear it.”

  “No,” Sophie whispered. This couldn’t be her time. She was only twenty-one, for God’s sake. But even as she protested, she felt her life leaking from her. She fought it, but it was like trying to hold onto a wisp of fog. No! She tried to speak, but there was no air left in her body. Reluctantly, she let her spirit drift away from her battered body. The woman uttered a sigh of contentment and closed her fist around Sophie’s soul.

  That’s when Sophie realized that the Reaper had won another round.

  Chapter One

  Ethan rushed into the bar, worried that David might have already left. Ethan was forty-five minutes late, and he’d lost his cell phone again, so he’d been unable to text. All this on
their six-month anniversary. First, his professor had made the class stay longer than usual, then his bus had been late. None of it was his fault, but he felt guilty nonetheless.

  “He’s waiting for you,” his favorite waitress said as she breezed past him.

  The place was full, but thank God, David had wrangled their customary table at the back. Ethan adjusted the weight of his heavy backpack and went to join his boyfriend.

  Right away, Ethan knew something was up. David was on his phone, and he was raking his fingers through his dark, wavy hair. His blue eyes, which would dance when he was happy, were now glaring into the distance, and his full lips hardly moved when he spoke. Seeing Ethan took some of the starch from his expression, but he still looked upset.

  “Yes, there are plenty of pretty girls here,” David said. There was a pause then he gave a forced laugh. “No, I’m still single.”

  So he was talking to his parents. Ethan grit his teeth as he slid into the booth across from his boyfriend. David’s parents refused to believe that their only son was gay. In fact, when he’d tried to tell them, they had threatened to kick him out of their lives. This would have been fine with Ethan. Better than fine, in fact, since he couldn’t stand either John or Bev. But they meant the world to David who was forced to lie whenever they were around. Thank God they lived half a state away.

  The waitress came by with a pint of Ethan’s favorite micro-brew. She winked at Ethan. “David says you’re celebrating. Happy six-month anniversary.”

  At this, David’s eyes widened in horror, and he cupped the phone closer to his mouth.

  “He’s on phone with his parents,” Ethan explained to the waitress. “They don’t know about us.”

  She shook her head sadly. “That’s a shame.” With a little shrug, she was off again.

  Both David and Ethan had been so busy over the past month - David with his construction business and Ethan with school - that they hadn’t had much time to spend together. This was supposed to be their night. Ethan had even worn a new shirt for the occasion. Having David’s parents on the phone spoiled it.

  “My birthday?” David asked, sounding surprised. He glanced at Ethan. David’s birthday was several months away, but Ethan had already made plans. “I guess I could come up for that.”

  Ethan shifted in his seat. David had come a long way in the months they’d been together. He’d gotten used to going out as a couple and was relaxed when Ethan held his hand in public. A visit to his parents, however, would set him back. Still, Ethan couldn’t separate David from his family. Not if he wanted to keep him as a boyfriend.

  As much as Ethan wanted to remain open-minded, however, he couldn’t stop himself from saying, “I have plans for your birthday,” the second David was off the phone.

  “Can we postpone them?” David asked. He offered his most charming, boyish smile, but Ethan wasn’t buying it.

  “I bought tickets to Skid Row,” Ethan said flatly. It wasn’t just the price of the tickets that upset him, but the fact that David would choose his parents over him.

  At the mention of his favorite DJ, David’s face fell. “I’ll call my parents and reschedule,” he said. He rested his hand on Ethan’s and squeezed it. “I’d rather spend my birthday with you anyway.”

  “Maybe I should come with you,” Ethan said. He didn’t mean it as a joke. Although he did his best to not pressure David, he was growing impatient. How long was David going to keep hiding who he was? Besides, David’s parents had already come between them once. Ethan worried that it would happen again.

  “You know that wouldn’t work,” David said.

  “You have to tell them sooner of later,” Ethan said.

  David sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Can we not do this now? Let’s just enjoy our anniversary, okay?”

  Ethan forced a smile. “Sure.”

  The anniversary celebration was nothing fancy. Just beer and wings at the local bar. However, Ethan had been looking forward to it all week. He didn’t want to spoil it now.

  “Let’s start again,” Ethan suggested. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “You’re here now.” David smiled.

  “I know we weren’t going to do presents, but I couldn’t resist.” Ethan dug in his book bag and took out a rectangular box wrapped in plain paper.

  David opened it and laughed when he saw the universal remote. “Is this to replace the one you lost?”

  “Kind of. This remote is going to be yours 100%,” Ethan said. “I swear I won’t touch it. When I lose the other one, I’ll hunt it down, but I’ll never use yours, so you’ll always know where to find it.”

  “You swear it?” David asked with a playful glint in his eye. At Ethan’s nod, he grinned. “Then it’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten.” He put another gift on the table. “I couldn’t resist, either.”

  Ethan tore open the wrapping paper. When he saw what it was, he tried for a smile, but missed. “A magic 8 ball?”

  “I used to love these things when I was a kid,” David said. “I saw it and thought it might help our indecision over things like what to watch on TV or where to go eat.”

  Ethan’s lips thinned. He’d always hated these things. “Thanks.” He appreciated that David had gotten him a present, but at the same time was disappointed that David didn’t know him better than that. After all, how often had he confessed that he hated his ability to see ghosts? And that he wanted nothing to do with the spirit realm?

  “Magic 8 ball,” David said, “should I order another beer?” He shook it.

  “Don’t!”

  “Magic 8 ball says, ‘All signs point to yes.’”

  Ethan made a grab for it. “Put that thing away! You have no idea what you’re messing with.”

  David frowned. “You’re kidding me, right? It’s just a toy.”

  “So’s an Ouija board,” Ethan said, “but those things conjure spirits.”

  “You’re overly sensitive,” David said.

  “You’re careless!” Ethan shot back. He swallowed some beer to calm down. “Look, I know they sell those things as toys, but I’m telling you, when you invite spirits into your life, no good will come of it.”

  David shook the 8 ball again. “Is Ethan getting worked up over nothing?” He grinned. “’As I see it, yes.’ Told you!”

  “You’re not taking me seriously.” The waitress returned with a platter of hot wings, breaking up their argument. David went for a wing. Ethan, however, was too angry to eat.

  “You know I’m only kidding around,” David said.

  Ethan relented. “I know.”

  “And you do know it’s just a toy, right?”

  “To some people, maybe. Just not to me.” The past six months had been blessedly ghost free, and Ethan wasn’t about to ruin that streak on account of some, silly toy. The nightmares of Kennedy Ladd, the little girl he’d tried to save, were becoming rarer. He’d actually begun to think that he’d laid his past to rest. He wasn’t about to stir up anything else.

  David tossed the bones of his first wing aside and reached for another. “You know, it’s funny. You’re always on me about facing the fact that I’m gay, but you consistently hide who you are.”

  Ethan shoved the 8 ball deep into the recesses of his book bag. He’d get rid of it later. “Let’s not argue.”

  “I’m not,” David said. “I’m just pointing out that it’s ironic for you to want me to come out to my parents when you won’t even admit to being psychic.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Not from where I’m sitting.” David’s normally cheerful face had darkened. When the waitress came by to ask if they needed anything, he waved her away impatiently. “What’s good for me should also be good for you, right?”

  “You saw what happened when we messed with Meredith,” Ethan snapped. Meredith had been the ghost haunting David’s sister Tessa’s house. Meredith’s spirit had been very powerful and had almost destroyed Ethan, David, Tessa, and her husband, Grant. Ethan had ma
naged to put Meredith to rest, but had nearly lost his life in the process.

  David shrugged and went on eating. He chewed mechanically and kept his eyes on the basketball game on the television above the bar. Ethan hated it when his boyfriend shut down like this. Furious, he stood. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Hopefully, that would give him enough time to cool down.

  He bypassed the bathroom, going through the back door and into the alley behind the bar. He was sweating, and the cool night air felt good.

  “Ethan Rhodes?” A large man approached him. He wore a black, leather jacket and an easy smile. He had the long, blond hair and blue eyes of a Nordic god, and was extremely handsome in a rugged way.

  Ethan eyed him warily. How the hell had this guy known where to find him? “What do you want?”

  The man’s mouth was hidden by a neatly-trimmed beard, making his expression hard to read. “I’d like to talk to you.”

  Ethan edged towards the door. At six foot, he wasn’t a small man, but the guy in the jacket had to be closer to six foot four, maybe even six five. He also had the shoulders of a line backer. If he started trouble, there was no telling what would happen.

  “I need your help,” the man said. “There’s a ghost…”

  “No,” Ethan said firmly. After his involvement with Kennedy Ladd had hit the news, every crazy from the tri-county area had come knocking on his door, wanting him to channel their dead loved ones. Ethan hated his ability. Hated it even more when he tried to help someone and failed. He wasn’t about to go down that road again.

  “This is different,” the man said. He came closer. “The lives of a dozen people are at stake.”

  Everything about this man was setting off alarm bells. The best thing to do was to get out of there. Fast. Ethan turned and was about to put his hand on the door knob when 50,000 volts of electricity hit him in the ribs and he dropped to the ground like a bag of rocks.

  Chapter Two

  Ethan slowly came to his senses. Groggy, he sat up and rubbed his head. What the hell had happened? Where was he? He stupidly blinked his eyes, realizing that he was on the floor of an empty hallway. Street light filtered by dirty windows let him see graffiti-covered walls and a scarred linoleum floor.