The Angry Ghost and Other Stories

by Peter Spokes

  “Open the fucking door… now!”

  “Cass?”

  Pollux looked around cautiously and tried to see into the darkness of the woods. “Cass isn’t here right now… maybe taking a piss… but I am… and I’m far more… fun. Let me in and I’ll take your mind off that ineffectual pain in the arse.”

  On the other side of the door Rachel stood terrified. Where was Cass?

  “Cass will kill you!” she shouted looking around for a weapon.

  Pollux looked around himself again wondering just where his brother had gone. After all, here on the other side of the door was his beloved, and yet though he sensed Castor’s presence so very close, he was certainly not here protecting her.

  “Maybe he’s decided I’m too much for him and run off. I’m all that’s here and all you need… so OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!”

  Rachel ran frantically through her options. She could call the chief but by the time the law enforcement got there it was likely that Pollux would have broken the door down.

  Rachel opened the door and swung the log from the hearth at the head of the man at the entrance, knocking him to the ground.

  The man shook his head and slowly got back to his feet. He looked like Cass and yet there was a severeness in his countenance; a coldness in the eyes and his voice…

  “What have you done with Cass?” she shouted confused.

  Pollux put his hand to his left temple and looked at the blood on his fingers. “You’ve balls, which is more than can be said for your boyfriend!”

  Pollux walked very slowly into the cabin. “Odd that your boyfriend is… absent when I’m present. He’s a coward. I’m the one you should be, let’s say, ‘under the sheets’ with.”

  “Cass is going to kill you!” Rachel said backing away.

  Pollux smiled. “So you have already said but…” he raised his arms looking around.

  “Just who the hell are you?” Rachel said suddenly.

  The look of hostility suddenly – and unexpectedly – dissipated to become one of extreme despair. He looked down sadly. “I’m unwanted garbage. I’m the pus lanced from a boil; the undesired product of a union.”

  Rachel shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “OF… COURSE… YOU… DON’T!” he suddenly shouted. Rachel was not intimidated. She saw the hurt and pain on his face. He continued. “From the moment you were born you were loved, cherished as if you were the most important thing on the planet.”

  “And you weren’t…?” Rachel added quietly.

  Pollux turned his head to the side and smiled; and though Rachel wanted nothing more than to run away, that smile held a profound pain of memory or reflection that she had never seen before.

  “I was refuse not wanted so I have never lived, loved or experienced. Castor was the favoured one. I was not asked or consulted in any way as to my sacrifice for my brother. I was simply… excised and executed,” he said quietly.

  “But… you exist… we are talking… breathing…?”

  “I concur that despite my death, I exist and it is with this half-life that I shall put things right.”

  “By murdering people?”

  Pollux looked up surprised. “Murdering? … No… executing. They were all so very bad people! The doctor… he killed me; the advisor suggested that my life should be no more; and my parents – the ones that should have been there to nurture and protect me – listened to her words of murder… and agreed… CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!” he suddenly screamed.

  “Then, after my death when my mother and father rightly questioned the decision they had taken, the councillor they spoke to acquiesced their concern telling them that all was right – all was as it should be and all was okay!

  Naturally it was necessary for me to explain the error of his ways – as I have had to do with the others. It has always pained me to have to explain their shortcomings and lack of understanding.

  I have done no more to them than they did to me. I have made them aware of the knife – though I eased the pain as they did for me.”

  “But the… face… thing?”

  Pollux stared at Rachel for several moments before…

  “Are you not listening? They took my face…” he said tired. “I’ve taken theirs. I have nothing against you and now only Castor is the fly in my proverbial ointment. Once he is dead… I know I will be free.”

  He looked out of the window. “Keep it hot for me, babe. I’m going to sort this out for good.”

  And with that he left the cabin.

  Rachel was just puzzling over the departure when her mobile rang.

  Scene 10: Rachel in the Cabin

  “Hello Rachel? You okay?”

  “Yeah… I guess so…”

  She recognised the chief’s voice.

  “… Are you alone?”

  Rachel paused. “… Yes.”

  “Good, for what I’m about to tell you is not to be heard by Cass; is that absolutely clear?”

  “Erh… yes…”

  “Okay. We have discovered more about Cass’ twin…”

  “Okay… but just to say he was here a moment ago,” Rachel answered.

  “And you’re okay?”

  “So far…” Rachel said.

  “Well, the thing is,” the chief started, “… the twin died thirty-five years ago.”

  Rachel didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry, Chief, but… you’re wrong… I’ve just said; he was here – I’ve just been talking to him.”

  “No, Rachel… you haven’t.”

  “I can assure you I have…”

  There was a pause from the chief’s end before; “It would seem that though Cass’ mother did indeed give birth to twins… one of them was… parasitic…”

  “Parasitic?”

  “Yeah… Jesus… I don’t know where to start but… shit! … This is really not my area and you’re going to have to go with me on this but… but it seems there are historical records that indicate that sometimes although two sperm may enter an egg to initiate the creation of twins… sometimes one twin will ‘digest’ – for want of a better word – the other. More often than not the result is a single baby born quite normal. But sometimes – rarely – part of the digested twin remains, such as some teeth, an ear or even a leg.”

  “What are you saying? … Cass doesn’t have any legs, teeth or ears… except his own that is.”

  “I’m not fully understanding this myself but I’m looking at some hospital records that tell me that when born Cass had something called a ‘vestigial cranium’ that was excised from the back of his head.”

  Rachel said nothing so he continued, “I don’t know if it’s a memory thing or if there may still be some of the twin’s… brain matter in Cass’ head but – I’m told – it may be possible that his twin may still be… sentient.”

  “… What? Like conscious? How?”

  “He existed… but was born part of Cass. Rachel, I want you to get out of there now. The backup that Cass wanted still won’t arrive for another hour or so. But Cass knows they are coming and therefore so will Pollux.”

  “But Cass is protecting me… and he’s scared!”

  “He doesn’t know. This is not your usual schizophrenia. He may not be aware when Pollux takes over… and vice–versa. Rachel; find something to protect yourself.”

  The mobile rang off.

  Rachel looked around.

  Scene 11: Realisation

  There was the coded knock again at the door.

  “Cass?”

  “Yeah, it’s me.”

  Rachel unlocked and opened the door.

  Cass’ smile faded as he looked at Rachel.

  “All okay?” he said warily.

  Rachel said nothing. She was looking at the fresh blood on his left temple.

  Cas
s sat down.

  “You didn’t find him, did you?” she said.

  “No. He always seems to be one step ahead of me, as if he knows what I’m thinking… I don’t understand it.”

  Rachel paused for a long time.

  “I think I do…” Rachel whispered.

  Cass looked up.

  “While you were gone… I had a call from the chief and he… had some explanation… to things.”

  “Good. Such as?”

  Rachel stared at him for a while before reaching forth and holding his hand.

  Cass looked at Rachel and smiled uncertainly.

  “What is it?”

  She paused… “What are your thoughts on Pollux?”

  Cass looked quizzical. “Strange question; he’s a psychopath… and needs to be put down.”

  Rachel stared at Cass and decided there was no way to put this gently.

  “Pollux… he is you…” she said simply.

  Castor stared at her and then shook his head.

  “What are you talking about? What rubbish did the chief say? I’ve just spent the last hour outside looking for him!”

  “Do you actually remember looking for him?”

  “Of course,” Castor said awkwardly.

  “Pollux was a vestigial twin – your vestigial twin – and was removed soon after your birth.”

  “Okay… he was ‘removed’… he’s dead… What’s the chief trying to say?”

  Rachel said nothing for a while but then looked up and held Cass’ gaze.

  “It all seemed nonsense to me… at first… but now…”

  “But now…?” Cass responded.

  “Cass; Pollux was here a short while ago. He was wearing the same clothes as you are now… including the ring on your little finger. Also, what happened to your head?”

  Cass put his hand to his head and stared at the drying blood on his fingers as if for the first time.

  “I must have got caught by one of the branches…”

  Rachel felt herself becoming upset.

  “He’s you…” she said quietly.

  “But… he’s evil… he knows everything about me…”

  “He is, but he only knows you so well because… you are one and the same person.”

  Cass looked down. “But I know myself…”

  “You do until Pollux takes over.”

  Cass was unusually quiet. Rachel expected more denial but…

  “It does make some sense…” he started.

  “… There have been moments… times when I get a headache and sometime after, I find myself somewhere and don’t remember how I got there.”

  “That must be the time that Pollux takes over.”

  Cass looked up. “Also, I have numbers on my phone I don’t recognise…”

  Rachel thought for a moment. “Next time you get a headache, try to shout, fight; do all you can to break out; think of something strongly emotional.”

  “I need to throw up…” he said and quickly left the room.

  Several moments later the entrance door burst open and a large man entered.

  Scene 12: Dobson

  Floyd Dobson entered the room and marched towards Rachel. She screamed as she was lifted into the air, but before he could drop her onto his knee and break her spine, he saw Pollux walk into the room.

  Dobson stared confused.

  “What are you doing here, Boss? … I thought…” He looked around.

  Rachel also stared. Was it Cass standing in the doorway or Pollux?

  She soon found out.

  “Put the bitch down…” he said snarling. “Castor’s whore is mine.”

  “Sure, Boss, but… where’s Castor?”

  Dobson watched as his boss walked across the room and stopped before Rachel.

  Smiling, he tilted his head and moved his fingers gently across Rachel’s face. “Do you know where he is, my pretty?”

  “He went outside looking for you,” she said staring at Castor’s face.

  Pollux looked closely at her before letting out a guffaw of laughter. “I seek him here, he seeks me there, but like ships in the night we just don’t seem able to spend quality time together, do we?

  Well, it looks like he’s too late for this particular party – pity because it’s going to be oh so much fun!”

  Rachel watched him walk across the room before looking down at the pistol in its holster.

  Dobson saw it too. “I thought you were a knife man, Boss?”

  Pollux awkwardly moved his right hand across his body and drew out the gun from its holster and clumsily pointed it at Rachel. It looked as if he had never held a gun in his life.

  “Aren’t you gonna take her face, Boss?” Dobson asked.

  “No, she had no part in my death but naturally still needs to die,” Pollux said as he aimed the gun at Rachel’s head.

  Dobson moved away to avoid being splattered with brain matter – he’d seen heads explode before and was always amazed just how much red shit the head contained.

  He watched Pollux aim the gun at the woman’s head and winced in readiness to the explosion.

  Rachel looked up and straight into Pollux’s eyes. “Castor. I love you and I want – so much – to be your wife.”

  Dobson looked at the woman confused as Pollux just smiled.

  But then the gun began to shake.

  Rachel too was staring at the trembling gun pointing at her.

  Pollux blinked several times as if having problems focussing. His eyes looked wide. “What the fucking hell…!” he said as his left hand reached across and took the gun from his right hand.

  Rachel heard several shots ring out. She jumped, startled, before noticing Pollux’s aim was wide.

  Dobson felt a warm sensation across his chest and looked down at the blood now soaking through his T-shirt.

  Rachel heard a choking sound beside her and looked over to see the big guy fall to his knees and then onto his face, his head hitting the floor hard.

  Pollux stared at the body, his eyes wild.

  “What the fuck…?” he said.

  He walked quickly towards Rachel and grabbed her roughly by the throat. “What the hell… is happening…? Tell me or by God I’ll squeeze the life from you!”

  Rachel stared in horror at Pollux but then her focus moved to the gun and she screamed. Pollux followed her gaze and saw the gun in his left hand turning and pointing at his own chest.

  He shook his head for several moments.

  Together Pollux and Rachel screamed, “NOOOOOOO!”

  Then the gun fired.

  Scene 13: Castor

  Pollux lay on his back staring at the ceiling – his eyes questioning as a large pool of blood began to spread under him.

  Rachel knelt beside him and reached for his hand. It was already cold.

  Pollux’s eyes moved to Rachel. “What…? I don’t understand…?” he said, his breathing rapid.

  Despite her tears, she smiled.

  “I told you that Cass would bring you down.”

  “But he’s not here!” Pollux said coughing blood.

  “Yes, he is very much here,” she said gently. Despite the violence and murders that Pollux had displayed, she looked at him sadly. “You are the guilt that Cass has never been able to come to terms with; the brother that he lost; the twin that never existed… but should have.”

  Pollux coughed and bloody droplets spattered his lips.

  “I only wanted to live; to love… and be loved…”

  He closed his eyes and Rachel watched tears move slowly down the side of his face; but then moments later, Rachel felt a gentle squeeze on her arm.

  The eyes opened and there was a smile on the bloody lips.

  “I fought him, Rachel…” said the tired
voice.

  “You did… and won,” Rachel answered nodding, her voice thick with emotion.

  She squeezed the hand on her arm and lowering her head, kissed his lips.

  “Thank you,” the man whispered. “Castor was such a lucky man…”

  That Difficult Age

  Scene 1: The First Time

  I parked the Chevy in the drive and in some haste, ran to my open front door where Helen was waiting for me.

  “I found him… eventually; he won’t be any more trouble,” I said waving away her concerns. “How is she?” I said, unsuccessfully trying to keep the worry from my voice.

  Helen nodded upwards. “She’s had a hot bath and now she’s in bed but… such a thing to happen… I was a while comforting and reassuring her.”

  I nodded before running up the stairs to my daughter’s bedroom.

  Once there, I looked down at her. She was snuggled in a foetal position under the bedclothes. She was sleeping soundly – the sheets were up and under her chin. She looked so delicate and vulnerable.

  Like any parent, I was so worried for her and so wanted to protect her from the horrors this world offered.

  She was of that difficult age and I felt that after this evening’s events the time was overdue to have that discussion about certain ‘changes’ that her body was undergoing and ‘urgings’ she may feel. It was something both my wife and I had been putting off – but now after an unfortunate incident this evening with a young man – I felt that the talk was extremely imminent and I regretted we had not had it earlier.

  But they grow up so fast… and she was still at school…! I thought to myself.

  I closed the door quietly and proceeded downstairs to the lounge where my wife was knocking back a large glass of Merlot.

  I poured myself one of equal measure and joined her.

  She looked up. “How is she?”

  “Sleeping peacefully,” I answered walking over to her and I began to gently stroke her hair. She always liked that.

  She took another drink. “It must have been terrifying for her… her first… young man. We knew it would happen one day but… so soon…” she continued “and she’s so young…”