He felt despair creeping back into him, like ice water in his veins. He knew if he felt such a touch, he’d leap from the bed and throw himself against the bars.īut where could I go? he thought.
He didn’t feel any touch, but he had the unmistakable sense that the ghost was about ready to put a hand on him-perhaps touch his hair or his face. It sent a chill through him he fought to suppress. He could sense that it was Richard Pratt, and that he was leaning down now, his face inches from his own cheek. He felt the minutes tick by and was almost convinced they had gone, when he heard one of them stir and then shuffle across the cell. But unfortunately, the two had fallen silent. I ’ve got to be patient! If I’ve learned this much from just listening, maybe I can learn more… That they had only been figments of his imagination. Or worse, he may find that they weren’t there at all. But he was suddenly afraid that if he did so, they might disappear. He wanted to roll over and announce himself to the two ghosts, and let them know he could see them, and talk to them. Howard hadn’t realized that he needed absolution from the victim of his crime until that moment. The thought sent a wave of relief through him. Richard Pratt knows Justin! And he knows I wasn ’t the one that shot him! That Justin used my body to do it! My god, he knows everything! They both do! In that short snatch of conversation he had learned so much! But hey, all is forgiven, right? Now how about you help me kill your God’”? And I’m sorry you thought it was necessary to shoot me in the fucking head. ‘Gee Justin, I’m sorry I fucked you over so bad. “Win his trust? Yeah, that sounds like a great idea.
He had a soft voice, and sounded far older than his years. I guess I’d suggest you try to talk to him. “Well, Richard, I’m afraid I can’t tell you that either. “…and what do we do if Justin does show up?” Pratt was saying. He could sense the ghost of Richard Pratt pacing his cell, as if he was the one that was locked away. And as he did so, the two ghosts stood over him and talked. He let his body relax and tried very hard to regulate his breathing. It was more than just thinking that he was asleep-although, for the time being, he thought it best that they continue to think that. It was as if they believed he couldn’t hear them! They were conversing as if he was no more than a piece of the furniture in the room. They spoke so clearly and loudly, it was almost as if they thought Howard wasn’t even there. And that one, in fact, was the man that he had killed.Īs he lay on the bed, working very hard to keep his breathing slow and steady, he listened to the words of the two ghosts with desperate attention. These two looked and sounded so much like living people he had to keep reminding himself that they weren’t. He had only heard Justin speak from within the confines of his own skull. Even though Howard had not been surprised when he saw Richard Pratt and the strange boy that stood at his side, the fact that these ghosts could speak-and that he could hear them-surprised him utterly.
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