“Don’t,” he said. “Please.”
He turned to her, grabbing for her arm to stop her from following Gareth, who had himself stopped ten feet away, hesitating.
Jessica inhaled sharply. Her hand came up to touch his face.
“Sebastian, you’re bleeding.”
He lifted his hand and swiped under his nose. It came away bloody.
“That always happens when you push too hard.” Joan’s voice sounded from behind him. “You’re going to have to learn not to do that.”
CHAPTER 16
Sebastian turned. Joan stood wearing the same business suit and heels. Her hands folded neatly in front of her. She looked poised and calm, everything normal.
Except for her own body lying just to the right of her.
“You’re dead,” Sebastian said.
“What?” Gareth said.
A smile formed on Joan’s lips. “Yes, I am. I’m okay with that. I lived a lot longer than I expected, considering.”
“Sebastian?” Jessica said. Her head turned to face where he was looking. He could tell from the way her head tracked that she couldn’t see.
“They can’t see me, of course,” Joan said. “But you can.” Her head tilted to the left. Strands of her greying hair rested on her cheek. “Grellock’s book, I suppose. It affected you even more than I realized. You were always special.”
“I’m not special,” Sebastian said.
“Yes, you are,” Joan said. “Even at the beginning, you were closer to the vampires than any of us.”
He shook his head. He didn’t want to hear this, didn’t want another ghost following him around.
Didn’t look like he had much choice.
“Sebastian.” Jessica touched his arm. He could hear the uncertainty in her voice. “Your nose.”
She held out a paper napkin to him. He took it and it crinkled in his fingers as he pressed it to his nose. Within moments, he could tell it was soaked through.
“The nose bleeds and the headaches get worse,” Joan said. “It’s part of the price you pay. Some things you can do without paying the price, just because you’re more sensitive, like talking to us.” Her hand touched her chest and then she waved over at Charlie who nodded to her and took a bow.
“But more than that and you’ll suffer. You’ll have to pay in blood.”
“Callum,” he said.
Joan shook her head. “They’re long gone from here, Sebastian. And it may already be too late. But look carefully, Sebastian. Make sure you look carefully.”
No, it couldn’t be too late. He couldn’t accept that. His eyes blinked rapidly to clear his vision. She was wrong. What the hell did she know anyway, she was just a ghost.
A ghost who stood beside her body that had been torn to pieces.
Alexa alone couldn’t do that, couldn’t take down two seasoned In-Betweens. It would take several vampires, ambushing them.
Like the ones sneaking up on them now...
He felt them surge forward, hidden behind the stench of blood and dust. Snarls filled the air. From the ceiling, bodies dropped through the air. They landed in puffs of dust, cutting the In-Between off from each other.
A large male separated Sebastian from Jessica. She dropped to her knee and fired, hitting another male in the chest. It staggered back, howling.
Gareth was surrounded by three vampires. Two of them moved to flank his back as Gareth swung the shotgun to meet them. Dust billowed up as they scurried around in an elaborate dance to stay out of range of his gun.
Too many of them. Too many.
Sebastian’s fingers tightened on his own shotgun. His head throbbed. He felt blood on his lips. Blood that made him want to rip and tear. Blood that made him want to drink even though he knew he couldn’t, knew their blood was poison. But still it could be spilled and splashed across the floors and walls. It could be sprayed as a warning to others.
To those other freak In-Betweens.
Sebastian’s breath caught. He’d tuned into the vampires without even trying. If it was that simple...
A price to pay...
Fine. Whatever. He’d pay the price. He had to save them. He had to save Jessica.
He had to save Callum.
In front of him, the large male growled and stepped forward, arms opening, claws extending. Sebastian felt the need to rip and tear, to slice and destroy.
Do it. Do it!
The vampire crouched. Lips pulled back from its fangs. It snarled.
Do IT!
It spun and lunged at the other vampire beside it. Fangs tore through the other vampire’s throat. Blood splashed on the floor, mixing with the dust.
Sebastian turned his attention to the three vampires surrounding Gareth. There, the one just behind, in the denim jacket and spiky brown hair. It snarled, craving. Sebastian could feel the craving.
Just a change in direction.
It spun and leapt on the blond vampire beside it. They went down in a tangle of limbs and snarls. The third vampire stepped back and stared across the room at Sebastian. He could feel its stare.
And behind the stare: fear.
It feared him.
It turned and ran.
A moment later, the others followed. Their footsteps echoed and faded as they vanished through the basement.
Gareth shot and decapitated the remaining vampires who fought each other, ignoring the In-Between. After the bodies lay still on the concrete, Gareth wiped blood from his blade and stepped over to Sebastian.
“You okay?” he said. “You don’t look okay.”
Pain created a haze around the man in front of Sebastian. He wanted to shake his head but it might fall off if he moved it too much.
“You did this, didn’t you?” Jessica stepped around Gareth, moving to stand closer to Sebastian.
He tried to speak. He opened his mouth. He was sure of it. He could feel the muscles in his jaw contract, pulling his jaw down. His tongue pressed out, getting ready to form into the shape of words.
But her image swam in front of him. The darkness around her encroached. He could feel it seeping into his mind, into his soul, bringing along the images of blood and flesh swirling together, until they all melded into a rich, thick black.
A sharp sting flattened his cheek against his teeth. His eyelids fluttered. He felt his feather-thin eyelashes brush his cheeks. Were his eyes open? Opening? All he saw was darkness.
No, not just darkness. Shapes formed. Dark grey on black, edges smeared. He tried but couldn’t quite focus. Keep trying.
One shape moved closer. The edges became more distinct. Chin, face, a thick flow of hair curled around her neck and down her left shoulder like a python.
Jessica.
He tried to say the words but he couldn’t make his mouth work. Why? What had happened? He tried to remember. Vampires. There had been vampires. Too many for the three of them, so he’d taken care of it.
Wait. He’d taken care of it?
What was going on?
He tried to say the words, but still his mouth wouldn’t work.
Dammit.
“Is he awake?”
Gareth’s voice sounded from over Jessica’s shoulder. She turned her head to the left. From profile, Sebastian admired the upturn of her nose and the curve of her neck. He liked to press his check against her neck, feel her soft skin against him.
“I don’t know,” she said. “His eyes are open but he’s not talking.”
“Let me take a look,” Gareth said.
Gareth moved into view. From this close, Sebastian could see white in the whiskers that poked out of his brown skin. Concern deepened the lines around the man’s mouth. Sebastian watched the movement of Gareth’s eyes track across his face.
I’m awake. Couldn’t Gareth see that?
But his gaze never stopped moving.
And Sebastian’s body refused to cooperate.
“Paying your price, buddy.”
Charlie’s voice sounded near his ear. Se
bastian tried to turn his head to the right but it wouldn’t move. Instead, Charlie’s ghostly face appeared behind Gareth. He frowned.
“You don’t look so good, Sebastian.”
Help me!
“You’re asking for help? Really?”
Please.
“Would if I could,” Charlie said. He shrugged. “I don’t know how.”
Anger burned in Sebastian. He felt his skin grow hot. Maybe it would help him move. He tried to lift his head, tried to move a hand, even a finger.
Nothing.
Dammit!
What about when you talked to Stan? You moved my body. Do that!
Charlie’s head tilted. “I suppose I could try that.”
Do it!
“I think his eyes are moving,” Gareth said. “I think he’s awake but he might have had some kind of stroke or something. We’d have to get him to a doctor to find out for sure.”
“Oh god.” Jessica pressed her hand across her mouth. Tears formed in her eyes.
No, don’t cry for him. She’d already shed too many tears because of him. He didn’t want to cause her anymore pain.
Charlie, come on.
“Okay, okay, I’ll give it a try.”
Charlie’s ghostly form moved through Gareth, coming closer, closer, until it blurred and vanished into Sebastian.
A familiar chill spread over Sebastian’s body, making all his nerve endings tingle. Before, he’d felt a strangeness, a heaviness as Charlie took over but this time, his body felt lighter. He could almost feel Charlie inside his head.
His arms moved, pressing against the concrete as Charlie pushed him into a sitting position.
“Sebastian!” Jessica said.
Gareth grabbed Sebastian’s upper arm, steadying him. “Man, are you okay?”
“I’m not Sebastian. I’m Charlie,” Charlie said, using Sebastian’s vocal cords. His voice did sound different, even to Sebastian’s ears.
“What?” Gareth said.
What do you want me to tell them? Charlie’s thoughts floated through Sebastian’s head.
Tell them I can’t move. I’ll talk through you.
“Sebastian can’t come to his body right now,” Charlie said. “I can give you his messages.”
Stop being a smart ass!
Shut up.
“Charlie, is that really you?” Jessica said.
Sebastian felt his mouth curve into a smile, almost a leer. “You got it, babe.”
“You’re his ghost friend,” Gareth said. “You’re possessing him.”
“Just until Sebastian is more himself,” Charlie said. “Can you help me up? I don’t quite have the full sense of his body just yet.” He winked at Jessica.
Gareth’s grip tightened and he pulled. After a moment, Sebastian’s body stood, wavering just slightly on his feet. The coldness spread through his limbs as Charlie took full control. Sebastian felt his arms and legs tense and relax. He took a few steps forward, then back. Test driving.
Would Charlie give him control back?
The thought made his mouth go dry.
Oh relax, Charlie’s thoughts floated through his head. You think I want to stay in your scrawny ass for the rest of your life?
Behind the words, Sebastian felt the affection from his friend. This wasn’t just some ghost possessing him. It was Charlie, helping him out.
Sorry. I just have to get better. Callum...
I know. One step at a time, right?
“What happened to Sebastian?” Gareth said.
“I think he blew a fuse,” Charlie said. “Repair crews are on the scene.”
“Charlie,” Jessica said.
Charlie spread Sebastian’s hands. “I don’t know what happened. He’s still in here, if that’s what you’re wondering. He wants to go after Callum.”
“We will,” Jessica said.
Sebastian tensed, hearing the steel in her voice. No, she couldn’t come along. Not if it would put Callum at risk.
But could he really do it himself in the shape he was in?
He didn’t think Alexa would be understanding.
Tell her she can’t come, I’m sorry, Sebastian said to Charlie. We have to go alone.
You really think she’s going to listen?
Charlie was right. Sebastian recognized that look on Jessica’s face, the stiffness in her shoulders, the clench of her jaw. She’d never listen and it could endanger Callum. Could endanger her.
He couldn’t worry about everyone.
We have to get away.
“Sebastian wants to leave you behind,” Charlie said. “He has to get Callum.”
Dammit, Charlie, what the hell are you doing?
A huge favor, buddy.
Jessica folded her arms across her chest. “Oh really? He thinks he can dump us, does he?”
Charlie shrugged Sebastian’s shoulders. “Kind of a dick, I know. But he doesn’t want to endanger you. Alexa probably wouldn’t be understanding.”
Charlie…
Shut up, you idiot. I told you before what you have to do. You have to actually talk to her. Jessica’s smart enough to listen, ya know. Well, maybe not that smart since she seems to like you.
Fuck off.
A chuckle echoed through Sebastian’s head. But he noticed that Jessica had dropped her arms to her sides.
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
“It could put Callum at risk if we all show up together,” Gareth said.
“We can’t just let him go like this.” Jessica gestured toward Sebastian. Sebastian felt his lips tug upwards into a smile, but not his usual smile. One of Charlie’s. What would that look like on his face? He didn’t grin wide like Charlie had.
Maybe you should try it some time.
He didn’t respond. It was bad enough having Charlie in his head. He didn’t want his friend getting a swelled head over it.
Because, well, maybe he was right.
There wasn’t all that much to smile about in his life. Maybe Sebastian needed to take advantage when those things worth smiling over did show up.
Things like Jessica.
Like Callum.
But first, he had to get to his brother. Make sure he was okay.
“We all have to go,” Jessica said. She turned to look at Sebastian. “But we’ll hang behind when we get there. We’ll back you up.”
“Works for me,” Charlie said. What do you think?
I don’t have much choice, do I?
Charlie chuckled.
No, pal, you really don’t.
CHAPTER 17
Ridgeview City was an eight hour drive from Grand Rapids. Alexa had a head start but she’d need to go to ground before daylight. They could be waiting for her.
Maybe.
Halfway through the trip, Sebastian sat in the back of the van, listening to the hum of the wheels on pavement as Gareth drove. The bench felt hard beneath his rump but at least he felt it a little stronger than he had a few hours ago. Was he starting to get his own feeling back? He couldn’t tell. Charlie still rode shotgun in his body, moving him around and talking for him. He’d even coaxed out Jessica’s story about her brother and mother.
It had taken Sebastian the better part of a year to get it out of her.
How did Charlie do it?
Try talking to her, buddy, Charlie said inside his head.
Oh shut up.
She sat across from him in the back, knees together, her hands gripping the bench as the van wavered. She turned her head toward the front, her long ponytail flopping over her shoulder and cascading down her front.
“How long?” she called out.
From the front seat, Gareth shouted back. “Three hours, maybe a little more.”
Faint streaks of sunlight already brightened the horizon. By the time they reached the campus of the Ridgeview College, it would be full morning. They’d have to spend the day waiting.
Weird.
Only a few years ago he’d been a student at that college, stu
dying business, living a normal, regular life. It felt almost alien now. All because he’d left a party early and taken a walk in the woods.
How different would his life have been if he’d never done any of those things?
Charlie and Alexa would still be...
He pushed that thought away, clenching his hands into fists so tight that his nails bit into his palms. He could regret all he wanted but it wouldn’t change anything. They would still be changed and his parents would still be gone. The only shot he had was to save Callum.
Focus on that.
“We should stop for food,” Jessica said.
No, we have to keep going. Tell her, Charlie.
“Sebastian’s whining again,” Charlie said. “I suggest we stop and shut him up.”
“Did you eat today?” she said. “Well, I haven’t. Not for two days. Too busy trying to catch up with you. So I’m eating. A break for half an hour isn’t going to make any difference.”
She waved at the windshield. The sky was definitely lightening now. Streaks of yellow glowed on the underside of distant clouds. A deeper blue was overtaking the dark.
Even with the pain it caused him, he couldn’t help but feel grateful to see the sun.
Another few minutes passed before the van began to slow. Gravel clunked and jumped under the wheels as Gareth pulled off the highway. Through the windshield, Sebastian watched the brown bricked, one story building come into view. They parked and Gareth jumped out of the front seat.
Jessica moved to the back of the van and grabbed onto the door leaver. She turned back to face him. Her ponytail whipped around.
“We’re just getting out to stretch our legs. Gareth will get the food. We’re not going near people. Got it?”
“Sure, babe,” said Charlie.
She frowned at him and pushed the door open.
Gareth was already walking toward the building. As Sebastian stepped out of the van, the stench of grease and gas assaulted him, mixed with dust and exhaust. The whine of early morning traffic hummed along the highway. The breeze tugged at Jessica’s hair, brushing several wisps free that tickled her cheek and forehead.
It hissed along the gravel, ruffling the short grass near the back of the building, just behind the parking lot. He noticed the dumpsters back there, blue paint chipped and peeling. It reminded him of the dumpsters in Europe. Did all dumpsters look the same? Was there only one manufacturer of dumpsters?
Retribution of Soul: Book 3 of the In-Between Page 19