Phantoms of Fall (The Haunting Ruby Series Book 2)

by Joy Elbel

  Now that I knew the answers I needed were still three weeks away, I decided to focus my attention on the plan to get the house to myself for my special date with Zach. Before heading up to bed, I went in search of Shelly and found her watching a movie in the living room.

  Figuring I would start with some small talk, I asked, “Where’s Dad?”

  “He’s in bed already—early morning meeting.” She paused the movie so we could talk. “How was your date?”

  “Perfect. Thanks for helping get us back together.” “You’re very welcome. You guys have been through so much together. From what I hear, he’s working hard to get his anger issues under control, too. I really want things to work out for you both.” She slid over on the couch and invited me to join her.

  “No, thanks. I’m heading to bed.” As an afterthought, I added, “I was wondering if I could borrow a book from you, Shelly.”

  “Help yourself. I just read a really good thriller if you’re looking for suggestions.”

  “Actually, I was thinking more of a good romance,” I said wistfully, “Something epic.” Shelly smiled like she understood why I wanted to read a romance novel. She was right—but only partially. There was no way in hell she could know that I was trying to get them out of the house for the day so that Zach and I could write our own epic romance.

  “I have the best romance novel ever—and no, it’s not one of mine, either! The Phantom of the Opera is on the bookshelf in my study. Go get it. I promise you’ll love it.”

  “Okay, thanks Shelly.” I gave her a goodnight hug and walked calmly until I was out of the room. Then I made a mad dash to her study. Once the book was in my hand, I experienced a sense of triumph. Phase one was complete. Now all I had to do was read the damn thing.

  I got ready for bed and crawled under the covers but I was nowhere near tired. The book I just borrowed sat on my nightstand staring me in the face. Reading sometimes made me sleepy so I grabbed it and settled in against my pillows. Coco kneaded my stomach with her paws then settled in comfortably as I flipped to the first page.

  Sixty pages later, I forced myself to put it down and turn out the light. The book was amazing. Once I got finished with it, all I would have to do is discuss it with Shelly and she would start thinking about seeing it on Broadway. I should have listened to her and read it years ago. But as good as it was, the book caused me to have a very strange dream.

  It was Halloween again and I was in the ballroom passing out masks for the masquerade dance. Again, I was left alone at the end searching for my unknown partner. Just like that night, I turned to find him behind me in a matching costume. But it wasn’t Zach this time—it was Lee. When he took my hand to lead me to dance, excitement turned to a brief flicker of fear. He was different somehow—not exactly the Lee I used to love. His eyes were the same and so was his smile. I still got the same thrill when he whispered “I love you, Ru” sweetly into my ear. I couldn’t pinpoint it, but there was something strange and unknown about him. And I kind of liked it.

  As he twirled me around the dance floor, I caught sight of Zach dressed all in black, lurking in the shadows. Just like The Phantom. I lost sight of him but with one more turn, Lee swirled me around and I came face to face with Zach. This time it was he who took my hand and pulled me back into this bizarre waltz. They passed me back and forth, slowly at first, but eventually fast enough for me to lose my bearings. When they both let go of my hands, I sank to the floor alone.

  It was still the middle of the night when I awoke confused. WTF? There would always be a small piece of my heart reserved for Lee but he was gone now and I’d moved on. My love for Zach was all encompassing—I felt things for him that I’d never even known were possible to feel. Why would I dream about Lee now? Things with Zach were as close to perfect as you could get. There were still some lingering issues concerning Lee though—issues I would never get to address. I still felt some guilt over how he died and my involvement in it. He died never knowing who his true family was and that made me sad.

  But he must have moved on. If he hadn’t, he’d be haunting me now—looking to me to find him the closure he needed. Right? Did ghosts communicate with other ghosts? If so, wouldn’t he have heard about my abilities by now? That was a question for Rita—I would have to ask her on Saturday. Even so, that dream was way better than what I was used to so I settled back into my bed and fell right back to sleep.

  34. Chasing a Dream…Among Other Things

  When I met Zach in front of the school that morning I felt, well, guilty. I knew that my dreams were beyond my control—I wouldn’t have had a single nightmare if they weren’t—but I couldn’t help but feel awful for dreaming about my dead boyfriend. Under normal circumstances, I probably would have shrugged it off and kept going. But there was nothing normal about my circumstances— whatsoever—and there was actually a possibility that I could see Lee again. How would Zach feel about that if it actually happened?

  I had to stop thinking about it. It was just a dream— nothing more. If Lee ever resurfaced in my life—and that was a big if—then I would cross that bridge when I came to it. Oh no. Poor choice of words considering that Lee died when Destiny Bridge collapsed into the Susquehanna River last summer.

  I pushed thoughts of Lee to the back of my mind and gave Zach the smile he deserved. “We’re still on for tonight, right, sweetie?” Zach asked as we walked into homeroom. “I’m really excited to read what you’ve been writing.”

  There was a flicker of interest in Mr. Raspatello’s eyes when he heard Zach’s comment. He didn’t kill Garnet but there was still something about him that gave me an uneasy feeling. It was like he was trying to figure something out when he looked at me. But what? The weird looks started long before I broke into the school so I knew it couldn’t be because of that. Was I just paranoid?

  No, there was definitely something brewing in his head. He watched us walk all the way to our seats and looked away quickly when I made solid eye contact. Seriously, I didn’t need this. I had enough going on without my freaking English teacher giving me the wonky eye every time he saw me.

  Other than that, things at school were actually not too bad. Now that Zach and I were back together, Misty was seriously flying under the radar. I didn’t get one single smirk or smart remark from her or any of her minions. Chloe and I were slowly getting back to where we were before all of the drama started. And since the party, a handful of people actually started saying hello to me in the halls, too. It was the most normal I’d felt in…well…ever.

  By the end of the day, I didn’t have a single homework assignment or visitation from Garnet. Life was good. I ran a few laps on the track and decided to stop at Something Wicked on my way home to ask Rita my question.

  As I pulled up out front, I parked behind a car that seemed vaguely familiar. It was a black Jeep Compass that looked like millions of other vehicles on the road. The only eye catching feature was a sticker in the back window that said “I’d rather be reading”. I saw that same vehicle twice before—once at school and once parked outside of my very own house. It belonged to one of the teachers who chaperoned my party. Coach Hunter drove a blue PT Cruiser and Mrs. Gregory owned a gold Ford Escape. This vehicle had to belong to Mr. Raspatello.

  I got out of my car and walked behind it onto the sidewalk. Flattening my body against the brick wall of the building, I approached the window to Rita’s shop carefully. If Mr. Raspatello was in there, I had to know. But I couldn’t let him see me so I peered around the edge of the window cautiously. What I saw frightened me.

  Rita was leading him to the back of the store! The only reason anyone went back there was to talk to her about her side business—ghost hunting. What was he doing back there? He was up to something—but what? He was definitely the creepiest man I’d ever met.

  I doubled back to my car and drove down to the park. From that vantage point, I could see the front door of the store. I wanted to see how long he stayed in there. Making note of the ti
me, I sat back and kept my eyes fixed on the sidewalk in front of Something Wick-ed.

  Five. Ten. Fifteen minutes ticked by on my watch. He wasn’t a killer but he wasn’t totally innocent—I was convinced of that fact. I was starting to worry that he left and I somehow missed him when I finally saw him emerge from the store. Twenty-two minutes.

  I shrunk down in my seat as he drove up the street past me. After waiting five minutes just in case he decided to come back through, I went back to the shop and ran in to talk to Rita. I had to find out what he talked to her about.

  “Hey, Ruby! What brings you in on a Tuesday?” Rita said as she straightened the table of clearance Halloween candles just inside the doorway.

  “I have to talk to you—back there,” I blurted out loudly, pointing in the direction of her office. I plowed my way to the back with Rita on my heels.

  “What’s wrong?” She wore a look of worry on her face. “Have things escalated?” “The man who was just in here—in this office—what did he want?” I was in full out panic mode and I didn’t even try to hide it.

  “Huh? This isn’t about your ghost?” Rita shook her head. “I’m confused.”

  I didn’t stutter the first time but I repeated it slowly so she would understand. “What. Did. He. Want?”

  “I’m sorry, Ruby, but I can’t tell you. He asked me for confidentiality and I promised it.”

  “Please, Rita!” I begged. “I have to know!”

  Rita folded her arms across her chest. “Sorry, but the answer’s still no.”

  I was prepared to argue for what I wanted. “But—“ “But nothing,” Rita interjected. “You of all people should understand! I seem to remember a time when you came to me and asked for the same thing he did—and you got it.”

  Dammit. I knew she was right but I didn’t have to be happy about it. But I did have one question she might answer for me. “Did he mention me at all?”

  “No! Why?” Rita furrowed her brow. “Who was he Ruby? How do you know him?” I knew it was a snotty thing to say but I said it anyway. “I can’t tell you. I’ve sworn myself to secrecy.” Without another word, I brushed past her and out the door.

  Seven o’clock couldn’t come fast enough. My stomach felt better than it did in months, so I practically unhinged my jaw and swallowed my dinner whole. One hour left to wait. What to do, what to do. I paced the floor of the attic for a full ten minutes before deciding to start reading where I left off the night before. Bad dreams be damned! If I hoped to get a day alone with Zach, I had to finish reading it.

  Once curled up in my saucer chair with book in hand, the clock actually started to move. I didn’t even hear Zach’s car outside so imagine my surprise when he suddenly appeared in the doorway. Startled, my hands flew up in the air releasing the book from my grasp as they did.

  “Nice to see you, too,” Zach said with a chuckle as he bent down to retrieve the book which landed neatly at his feet. “Enjoying the book, I take it?”

  “Holy crap, you scared me!” Zach handed me the book and I flipped through it quickly until I found my place. I tucked a bookmark between the pages and placed it on my desk. “Yes, I am enjoying it too, by the way.”

  “Good.” He took a seat at my desk and pointed to my laptop. “But I’m ready to read a good book, too.”

  “Sure,” I replied. “But first, I have to tell you about something that happened after school today.”

  In detail, I related the story of Mr. Raspatello’s visit to Something Wick-ed.

  When I was finished, Zach responded, “So? You said yourself that he’s not a killer.”

  I felt like I was part of a dangerous reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines and all he could say was “so”? “But Zach, you’ve seen the way he looks at me, haven’t you? He’s up to something, I just know it!” “What though? Yeah, he’s been a little weird lately, but I don’t think he’s up to anything.” Zach paused in thought. “Maybe he’s doing research for a book or something.”

  “But that doesn’t explain all of the secrecy and swearing Rita to confidentiality!” I knew I could see ghosts that Zach couldn’t but I was starting to think I was more observant in other departments, too.

  “I don’t know, Ruby. Next time you decide to follow him, take me with you, okay? Killer or no killer, I don’t like you running around town alone and chasing after someone you think is dangerous.”

  I mumbled my agreement and opened my laptop for him. Clicking on the file titled SOS, the opening page of my book appeared on the screen. “Here it is.”

  He took the computer eagerly from my hands and carried it to the futon where he made himself comfortable. “Are you going to read along with me?”

  “No,” I answered, grabbing my book and plopping down beside him. “The sooner I finish this, the sooner we can—”

  “Yes!” he said enthusiastically. “Please finish reading that book!”

  We held hands as we both read, passing an hour in what seemed like five minutes.

  “Wow,” Zach announced, breaking the silence. “It’s good, Ruby—really good!” “You really think so?” I asked nervously. Yeah, I’d written quite a few short stories over the years but nothing on as grand a scale as what I was working on now.

  “Definitely! I knew you were smart but I never knew you were this talented, too!” Zach gave me a smooch on the cheek. “You have to try to get this thing published.”

  “Thanks, Zach,” I said closing my book and placing it on my desk along with my laptop. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?”

  “Sounds good but let’s do it downstairs. After just reading what you wrote, I’m gonna have a hard time keeping my hands to myself!”

  What a compliment! My book was far from racy so I knew his reaction was based purely on emotion—no hormones involved. I decided to finish reading The Phantom of the Opera before going to bed tonight regardless of how late I had to stay up. Now that we were in full agreement on wanting to lose our virginity together, I didn’t want to wait another second.

  But until I was done reading that book, my chastity belt had to stay in place. I made us some popcorn with extra butter and we joined Dad and Shelly for a movie. Zach seemed happier to see me eating than he was to see the movie. Once he was gone, I returned to my room to finish reading. My alarm clock read midnight as I turned to the last page and consumed the final few lines.

  Done. Not only was it a great story, but I was one step closer to my ultimate goal. Satisfied that things were finally going my way, I flung the book onto my nightstand and turned out the light.

  The dream plagued me yet again. Basically, it was the same as the last time except for one crucial difference. This time it was Lee who was dressed as the Phantom, not Zach. They still played tug of war with me, still gave me that same thrilling sense of fear even with the roles reversed. What did it all mean? So many of my nightmares had some sort of relevance to what was going on in my life but this one left me perplexed.

  Lee was dead, I reminded myself. Even if his spirit were to resurface, that was all it would ever be—his spirit. Zach was flesh and blood and I could see my future when I looked into his eyes. If by some chance Lee found a way to communicate with me, I decided I would help him. I would track down his birth parents and give him the closure that he needed. But even if Zach weren’t in my life, having a relationship with a ghost would be out of the question. A ghost could never love me the way Zach did—the way Zach will when we finally get the house to ourselves. It was just a dream, Ruby, just a dream.

  35. Laughter is the Best…Aphrodisiac?

  By the end of the week, everything was falling into place. Shelly and I spent two hours discussing the book on Wednesday and by Friday she was musing about how much she wanted to see the musical on Broadway. My shopping trip with Chloe was successful, too. Not only did we have a lot of fun, but she introduced me to her girlfriend Chelsea who I liked instantly. The only thing that sucked was that Zach was out car shopping with his dad so I wou
ldn’t see him until Saturday. But I got a pleasant surprise when I returned home with an armload of shopping bags and found Rachel waiting for me on the front porch. At least it started out pleasant.

  When I approached the steps, I found the normally happy Rachel in tears. “Rachel, what’s wrong?” My thoughts immediately turned to Zach. “Did something happen to Zach?” I dropped my bags to the ground in sheer horror. Was Zach dead? Was that the hidden meaning of my dream?

  “Zach’s fine,” she sobbed. “But everything else is a mess.” Once my pulse returned to normal, I gathered up my bags and sat down beside her. She rested her head against my shoulder and started to cry even harder.

  “Come on,” I said, tugging at her arm. “Let’s go inside—it’s freezing out here.” Rachel wiped at the tears with the back of her hand and followed me inside. Once we were in the attic, a bit of the old Rachel surfaced.

  “I got kicked off the cheerleading squad, Crimson’s missing, and the police are questioning Drake Sterling about her disappearance!”

  “Whoa—slow down! One thing at a time!” I handed her a box of tissues and sat down beside her on the futon. Rachel took a minute to blow her nose and then proceeded. “Last night, we voted to get new uniforms for the spring basketball season. Since she’s the head cheerleader, Misty’s in charge of fundraising for stuff like this. Every other time, we sell candy bars to get the money we need. This time she decided that since it would only cost $200 total per person, we needed to just put up the money ourselves. It wouldn’t have been such a big deal, but she insisted that the money had to be in by today.”

  I could see where this was going but I kept my mouth shut and let her tell her story. “So I’m kinda broke right now. I spent a lot of money on my Halloween costume and I just gave Mom and Dad some cash toward my car insurance. All I asked for was an extension until Monday since Shelly was paying me today.”

  Rachel started to cry again so I waited patiently until she collected herself again. “So Misty said in front of everyone that if I was too poor to be a cheerleader, then maybe I should find a different after school activity.”