The Candle (Haunted Series Book 23)

by Alexie Aaron

  “Hell of a life. How long before you left home?” Mike asked.

  “I burned down my house when I was fourteen.”

  That brought a round of silence.

  “Why?” Cid was brave enough to ask.

  Mia told them the story of Misty Mother and why she felt she had to burn down the house. “The bastard cut her in pieces and had her bones hidden all over the house. I know a lot more now about freeing ghosts.”

  “So, do all ghosts eventually go crazy?” Glenda asked, worried about the farmer with the axe.

  “Not all, but a good portion of them. You see, the present is changing so fast that the creatures who try to live as they did when they died can’t keep up.”

  “Do you think Murphy is going to go crazy?” Glenda asked.

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I suspect not. He’s a strong ghost who has made a point to catch up on history and is constantly learning new things. Cid, you ran into a ghost of a paperboy who looks to be seven or eight but speaks like a college professor. The dimension in which these ghosts move is one where keeping track of time is superfluous. Because of this, decades can go by without the ghosts being aware. As an adult, I will learn to bilocate. When you bilocate, you enter this ghost dimension. The person bilocating has to make sure they pay attention to the time or their body will waste away because their consciousness is out having a hell of a good time.”

  “Time is important,” Ted acknowledged.

  Mia was about to mention that she knew a time traveler, but Glenda signaled for the check.

  “Kids, we’re going to go about this search as adults,” Glenda insisted. “A young man’s life is at stake. My friend gave me an idea of where the asylum is, but if we don’t find it right off, I’m going to alert the local police that we think this is where Burt was going. It’s more important for Burt to be found than our finding him.”

  “I agree,” Mia said. “Also, if we are attacked, I would like us to scrap the mission. I don’t want any of you to get hurt.”

  “Are you going to stop?” Mike asked.

  “Murphy and I will continue. We’re used to fighting monsters.”

  “But you’re twelve,” Ted pointed out.

  “Murphy more than makes up for my physical inadequacies.”

  “What if something happens to Murphy?” Ted asked.

  “I guess I’m screwed then,” she said, scratching her head.

  ~

  The rain had let up by the time Glenda and Mike pulled the cars over and parked them on the verge. The group loaded up their packs with ghost-fighting and survival equipment. Glenda carried the shotgun the way her father taught her. She had it broke open over her arm with the muzzle angled at the ground. No one dared question whether she knew what she was doing.

  Mia kept her hands free.

  They started walking east on the north side of the river. It wasn’t long before they spotted remnants of a spray-painted X on a tree. Murphy moved ahead of them and returned and reported to Mia, “The building is about a half hour walk in that direction.”

  “Go ahead and see if Burt is there,” Mia said.

  “No.”

  “But why walk that way if he’s not there?” Mia reasoned.

  “I’m with you,” Murphy said stubbornly. “Besides, I can’t search that place all by myself. It’s massive.”

  “K,” Mia said, looking up at the ghost. They locked eyes and more passed between the two of them in seconds than could in hours of conversation.

  Mike nudged Ted. “You can’t compete with that.”

  “Neither can you, asshole,” Ted said.

  “I know the future has you two paired, but when you blow yourself up, Mr. Scientist, I’m going after her.”

  Ted shook his head and walked away.

  Cid walked up to Mia and asked, “Did he see anybody in the forest? Are there other searchers?”

  Murphy shook his head before he disappeared.

  “K. Let’s get started. I’ll follow Murphy. I can see him without him manifesting.”

  Cid fell in line behind Mia. Mike kept even with his mother, assisting her over brambles and pointing out hazards, offering her an arm which she took a few times. Ted paralleled the group, checking for signs of anyone else in the forest.

  They climbed up until Mia found areas of the old drive. “This should be easier going,” she said. The group was able to spread out and walk at their own pace. She stopped a few times and looked behind them.

  “What?” Mike asked.

  “I don’t know. This doesn’t feel right.”

  “Mia has Spidey sense,” Ted commented.

  “Murph?” she whispered and pointed to the right of them.

  “I hear breathing,” Cid said. “Over there,” he said, pointing in the opposite direction. Cid pulled out a strap and secured his glasses tightly to his head.

  Mia turned around slowly. She called out, “What do you want? We can see you.”

  Glenda loaded two shells into the shotgun, clicked it shut, and trained it on what she deemed a threat.

  A tall thin man wearing a Burberry duster walked out of the forest above the road’s grade. He approached slowly, showing his hands. “I’m looking for Mia Cooper.”

  “You found her,” Mia said. “What is your business with me, Other?”

  The man quickly hid his look of surprise. “Have we met?”

  “I have met your kind before,” Mia said. “What is your contract?”

  “That’s between me and my customer,” he said. “I would like you to leave your group and come with me.”

  “I’m sorry, but that’s not happening,” Glenda said. “She’s a child and will stay under my protection.”

  The Other turned his head and motioned for his partner to come out from under cover. This stouter man was sizing up the small group of humans. He too wore the Burberry uniform of his partner. Mia could see weapons contained on his body as he moved.

  “Miss Cooper, we don’t want to hurt your friends, but we will do anything to complete our contract,” the approaching Other said.

  “Show me the contract. I know it’s my right to see the contract before you collect me.”

  The two Others stopped moving.

  Mia hissed, “When this breaks loose, get everybody to the hospital. Get to Burt,” she said to Mike.

  “There are only two of them.”

  “They have six other goons with them in the forest. We’re outnumbered,” Mia said and added, “The weapons we made will only work on ghosts.”

  “How do you know we’re outnumbered?”

  “I read the first man’s mind as the second one approached,” Mia said. “The important thing is for you to get to Burt and get him to break the candle.”

  “I can’t leave you.”

  “I have Murphy. They haven’t picked up on him yet.”

  “You’re still outnumbered.”

  “It won’t matter, as long as I know there is a possibility of getting to Burt in time. They know about Burt. They knew I was coming to find him. That’s why they’re here. They may have someone at the hospital. Be careful.”

  “Mia Cooper, we have conversed and find a legal precedent for your request,” the first Other said.

  Mia pushed Mike behind her as the Other approached. She held out her hand, palm up. The other took out a folded document and laid it in her hand. Mia waited for the Other to back up before she opened it.

  Mia was pleased to see it wasn’t written in demon but heartbroken to recognize the signature on the bottom. The terms were clear. Kill Mia Cooper and bring her heart back for proof of death. “Oh, how Maleficent of you, Grandmother,” Mia said. She bent down and laid the contract on the ground. She reached into her pockets as she backed away from the Other, taking fistfuls of jacks out. She waited until he secured the contract in his pocket before she jumped back and tossed the jacks on the ground. An explosion of fire and smoke happened. “Run!” she shouted to her companions.

  “Romeo,
Juliet,” Mia called first and then, “Murphy!” She felt him behind her, and as the smoke cleared, she was turning slowly, sizing up the competition.

  The Other wasn’t surprised to see the ghost. He had been warned the girl traveled with a spirit. What did surprise him was that both of them were armed with weapons that could hurt him and his partner. This wouldn’t be an easy taking. He mentally called for his largest thug. “Take her.”

  The ground shook as the giant lumbered up the incline. He didn’t get to set a foot on the pavement. Mia tossed her knives. The first penetrated the thick hide of the monster, and the second burrowed in from the back, determined to join its partner.

  “Romeo, Juliet!” Mia called. The knives returned to Mia before the giant hit the ground. Mia turned and said, “Take your men and leave, and no one else dies.”

  Mike had pulled Cid along with him.

  Glenda caught ahold of Ted who was determined not to leave. “She can’t be worrying about one of us being taken hostage. Come!”

  The four ran hard for the building that, hopefully, would provide some protection from the strange creatures that they heard running on either side of the road towards them.

  A multi-armed creature crossed the road and stood blocking their way.

  Glenda raised the shotgun and gave him both barrels. Rock salt hurts no matter the creature. The thing crumpled to the ground in agony. Its companions hissed from the edges of the road.

  Mike picked up Cid and ran. Cid twisted around, took his slingshot, and shot a few jacks as they ran. Each time one hit the ground and exploded, it confused their pursuers.

  Glenda reloaded as she ran. Ted guarded her back as he lit the rag he had thrust into one of the bottles of Glenda’s hidden supply and waited until the group of assassins had congregated before he launched it at them.

  The explosion of the expensive Molotov cocktail not only toasted the hides of the squad but confused the Others long enough for Mia and Murphy to move past them and follow the rest towards the hospital. If the Others hadn’t targeted her friends, she would have stayed and fought them away from her friends, but it became very apparent that the Others were not going to leave any witnesses.

  One of the assassins reached out for Mia. Murphy separated the hand from its owner with a swing of his axe as they passed the impromptu barbecue.

  Another one jumped out. Mia slashed at the creature, only catching enough flesh to spray her with its blood, momentarily blinding her. She felt its cold claws move around her waist. As she was hoisted in the air, the creature shuddered and fell as Murphy relieved it of its head.

  Mia wiped her face on her sleeve and allowed Murphy to move her behind him.

  Ted had reached an old stone wall, climbed it, and set out his incendiary and percussive weapons. He pulled out the launcher he had made from Mike’s bicycle tire and the bike’s fork. He did the math and managed to launch another bomb, warning, “Incoming!”

  Murphy dove, taking Mia with him, off the side of the small bridge.

  The explosion covered them in dirt.

  “My bad,” Ted said and recalculated and sent a Molotov cocktail into the regrouping squad. This one was true and managed to kill one of them while burning the clothes from the others. “What the fuck are they made of?” he asked, not expecting an answer.

  Cid and Mike had made the hospital doors. They stopped. Mike helped his mother over the broken pavement.

  “I’m going back,” he said.

  “No!” Cid shouted. “Mia needs us to get to Burt. I can’t do it alone. Look at this place. Now get your ghost deterrents out, and let’s keep moving.”

  Mike looked down at the dormouse and over at his mother. Someone had to protect them from whatever horrors were waiting inside the building. Mia would have to hold her own outside. “Lead the way,” he said.

  Cid entered the building, and Glenda clicked the shotgun shut and followed him in. Mike took one last look at the maniac on the wall, wished him luck, and entered the hospital.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “We can’t let them get in that building. If they start to split up inside, we’re doomed,” Mia said, crawling up the side of the ditch.

  “We need to get to the Others. If we can kill them, then the squad may stop pursuing us,” Murphy strategized.

  “I agree. Toss me up there, and I’ll encourage them to come at me. You get behind them and attack the leaders.”

  Murphy put his hands together and Mia placed a foot in. At the same time, Murphy launched her upwards.

  Mia sent Romeo and Juliet out, aiming at the largest of the assassins. Her knives met each other just as Mia landed on firm ground. She unwound her jump rope before recalling her knives.

  She landed and faced four of the burnt, but still vital, fighters. She couldn’t afford to lose sight of any of them. So far, they just stood there. Why? She called out, “Ted, can you see beyond them?”

  “Yes. The Others have their heads together.”

  “Shit, they’re calling for reinforcements. You need to go inside.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “K.”

  Murphy took advantage of the quiet to maneuver into position. He was behind the stouter of the Others. He had no idea what kind of beast this was. It could be a man, but it was more likely a demon. Demons were hard to fight because they didn’t die. Mia used to be able to kill them with her angel steel or demon knives, but she had neither. The best they could hope for was to injure them physically, enough for them to be recalled into the earth in which they were spawned.

  “If there are going to be more of them, let’s get rid of these stragglers!” Ted shouted.

  “Fine,” Mia said. She allowed Romeo and Juliet to sink into her flesh and arranged the skipping rope. Mia started jumping. She sang out, “My drunk daddy went to the bar, driving a shiny new car. He ordered first a whisky and then a rye. He got so drunk he lost an eye…” Mia let go of one end of the rope and snapped it back as the handle connected with the face of one of the bruisers. The handle contained a hidden knife, and this was now embedded in the creature’s eye. Mia twirled around and sent the other end of the rope at the very same bruiser, and as it wrapped around the creature’s throat, Mia pulled hard with the rope. “Mama had a baby and the head popped off,” she sang as the razor wire of the rope took the injured assassin’s head off.

  Before the shocked group could recover, she called out, “Romeo and Juliet!” She ran to the side of the road and launched the knives, aiming for the side of one. The other penetrated the side of the third, and as the blades moved through the three, Mia sang out, “Three little monkeys standing in a row…Romeo, Juliet, come!” she ordered. The blades ripped through the fighters, finishing them. She ran past the bodies and launched herself at the tallest of the Others, her feet catching the man full in the chest, taking him to the ground.

  At the same time, Murphy took the knees out from under the stout Other. He came crashing to the ground. His body dissolved into oil that ran off the road in rivulets.

  Mia wrapped the bloody skipping rope around the waist of the Other. She took out a knife and scratched the side of the Other’s neck. “Cancel the contract, and I’ll let you go free.”

  “A contract is a contract,” the Other said, heaving his body upwards.

  Mia was flung off. Murphy pulled her to her feet and took a defensive position.

  Lightning flashed, followed by an explosion.

  “Incoming!” she screamed, running back towards the building with Murphy at her back.

  Ted wasn’t on the wall. Maybe he had the sense, after all, to retreat.

  Murphy and Mia never made the wall. A fresh squad of assassins stood between them and the hospital. She turned around and saw a new Other had joined the tall one. Mia watched them as Murphy contemplated the best moves to get the two of them into a better position. Nature infused him with power, but he knew Mia was tired. She had the moves, but her body was still that of a child.

  “Mur
ph, you have to protect our friends.”

  “No. I stay with you.”

  “If we don’t make it, it’s been a pleasure knowing you.”

  “I know,” Murphy said.

  This caused Mia to laugh hard. The positive emotion filled her with hope, and it felt like she had been reborn. She took a deep breath. “I’ll take the tall one.”

  “Why?”

  “He took my jump rope. I don’t like thieves.”

  “Mia Cooper,” the tall Other called. “Give yourself up.”

  “Will you let my friends go?”

  “No.”

  “Then why would I give myself up?”

  “I’ll let you bury your dead before you die.”

  “What dead?” Mia asked as fear gripped her heart.

  “There will be dead,” the Other assured her.

  “You touch them, and I’ll come back from Hell with forty legions of demons and wipe out your kind,” Mia promised.

  The Other looked at this child who had defeated his best assassins and felt a chill move up and down his body. “Sorry, but a contract is a contract.”

  “I’ve read that contract. It never said anything about killing innocents,” she argued. “Where is your honor?” she asked.

  “It’s implied.”

  “You’ll never collect on that contract because I’m going to kill the bitch who took it out, and then there will be no compensation.”

  The Other stopped and conferred with the newly arrived Other.

  “Mia, what are you doing?” Murphy asked, concerned by the tone she took on.

  “Buying us time,” Mia said.