The house was now dark. No lights were on inside except for Doris's bedroom. Ashley walked up to the front door and tried the knob. It was locked and she didn't have a key. She closed her eyes and shifted through it.
Inside, the foyer glowed from the light of the TV. Ronald was sitting in the living room, alone on the couch. He was resting with his head leaned back, eyes closed.
Ashley frowned. Her whole body momentarily bristled with hate for her stepfather. The deep, labored breaths of a bhantu began to fill the room, but the sound made Ashley forget her rage. It made her somber. She brushed off her anger and walked up to him.
"Ronald." She shook him. "Wake up."
"Uhmam?" Ronald lowered his head and immediately went wide-eyed, springing to his feet. "Ah - Ashley?"
He went to grab her arms, but his hands went through her body like she was a hologram.
"Don't touch me!"
Ronald recoiled, almost falling back onto the couch.
Ashley put her finger to her lips, shushing him before he could say another word. The walls behind her undulated with the shadows of unseen insects. Ronald followed them with his eyes, panicked.
Ashley leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. He stood completely still. Spellbound.
"I had a big crush on you; before you hurt me. I was too ashamed to say anything. I'm over it now, though." Ashley backed away and slowly collected herself. "I know mom wants you back. I want you to swear to me that you'll never hurt my mom, my sister, or the baby. I don't think you're right for my family, but mom loves you, and you make her happy. Promise me."
"I wouldn't hurt them." Ronald choked over the words. "I - what - what happened to you?"
". . .I. . .I'm dead." Ashley smiled, reflecting on what she'd just said. "I'm a ghost. But if you ever put your hands on my family, I'll come back and haunt you, like I'm doing now. I'll torment you. And then. . .then I'll drag you back with me. Down to hell."
Several giant millipedes slithered across the ceiling. Ashley could tell that Ronald had seen them. He looked like he was about to piss himself.
"I'll have those bugs pick you apart. Swear to me now - on your soul - that you'll never hurt them and that you'll work your hands to the bone to support them. Swear to me that you'll love them till the day you die. Swear that to me, or leave them - forever."
"I swear. . ."
"Good. Now get out." Ashley pointed to the front door. "I want to say goodbye to my mom and sister. Don't come back until morning."
Ronald nodded and quickly fled the house.
Doris and Kayla were in the master bedroom getting ready to go to sleep when Ashley appeared in the doorway. They were both upset. Doris's face was crimson.
Ashley stared at her and Kayla from the threshold.
Neither of them noticed her for a moment.
"Ashley! My God!" Doris ran over to her once she saw her, hugging her tightly. "Where have you been? I went to pick you up and you were gone! I called the police!"
"It's okay, mom." Ashley rubbed her back, up and down, while peeking over her shoulder at Kayla. "I'm okay. Everything is going to be okay from now on. I promise. You're going to be okay. And you're going to be happier."
"Where did you go? Why did you disappear? Where'd your friend go? I've been on the phone with her mother. She's hysterical!"
Ashley pulled away from Doris. She licked her lips, looked down at the floor, and then back up at her mother.
"Lucy's gone. I'll find her though. I promise, mom. I will find her."
"What do you mean, gone? What happened? Tell me!"
Ashley didn't know what to say. Words couldn't explain it. She closed her eyes, walked right through Doris, and then turned back to her.
Doris looked like she was about to have a heart attack.
Kayla made a nervous squeak and pressed herself against the wall.
"I shifted with her. It was my fault. I'm going to get her back," Ashley continued, stone faced. "But I'm not coming back. At least I don't think I am. I don't belong here. When I'm here, you're all in danger. I came here to tell both of you I'm leaving."
"Where are you going?" Kayla croaked.
"I don't know. But I know I'll be okay. Believe me when I say I'll be okay. I can feel it."
"Ashley. . ." Doris was shaking.
Ashley walked over to her mother and hugged her again.
"It's going to be okay mom."
"What's happening?" Doris cried. "How can you? Where? Why are you going?"
"I have to go because I love both of you. I caused you both a lot of pain. I won't do that anymore. Just know that I'm going to be okay. You, Kayla, Ronald, and the baby are going to be happier - and I'm going to be happier too. I need to go."
Ashley kissed her mother's cheek and then walked over to Kayla. Kayla cringed.
"I know you're afraid of me, Kayla, but I love you. I'll always love you. Remember me, but don't feel sad about me. Okay? We'll always be sisters. Even if we aren't together, we still have each other."
"Don't go."
Ashley kissed Kayla's forehead and then stepped back. "I have to."
Doris sat down on the bed, too dizzy to stand. Her head was spinning.
"Goodbye." Ashley smiled at her family for the very last time. She took a mental picture of them so she'd remember them forever. "I love you."
As Doris and Kayla watched, dumbstruck, she faded into nothingness.
After shifting, Ashley found herself adrift in an infinite sea. It was sunny. The warm light tingled on her lips, already dry and cracking from the salt. She treaded stoically and stared off at every horizon but saw nothing but water and endless blue sky. For a while, she debated following Phan's advice and diving under the surface - diving deep to where she couldn't breathe - but Ashley had too much hope. Too much faith in what was to come.
Instead, she floated on the surface for what seemed like an eternity, staring up at the clouds, trusting that the current would carry her to shore. It never did, but eventually she shifted, and when she reopened her eyes, she was reborn.
A stranger to herself in a strange, new world.
The Book of the Nine Ides
--By Benjamin Goshko (SentientSurfer)--
Author of:
"Diary of a Dead Muse"
"The Ant King: A Humorous Apocalypse"
"The Navigator" - Coming November 2011
The Book of the Nine Ides Page 10