Exile: Ghost Academy (YA paranormal adventure, book 4)

by K. E. O'Connor

  Alex’s head poked through the door. “Is it safe to come back in?”

  Jeremy nodded. “The box is closed and Charlie is contained.”

  Alex and Esmee hurried back into the room and over to the bed.

  “Looks like the coast is clear if you need to go,” said Alex.

  “Your friends will keep an eye on Charlie and give you updates as to what is happening,” said Jeremy to Lauren. “It really is best if you don’t stay. If Professor Mackintosh were to find you here I don’t think the outcome would be positive.”

  “I’m not scared of him.” Lauren ignored the wobble in her voice. “He’s not chasing me away from being near Charlie.”

  “And neither am I, but it’s better if you aren’t here. The professors have a lot to deal with right now. As Esmee mentioned the portals near to us seem to have been damaged and the professors are working all hours to try to remedy the issue. So far, it is not going too well and causing a number of arguments amongst them.”

  “I don’t care about that, all I want is Charlie back.” Lauren knew that wasn’t completely true and felt frustrated with herself for still caring about the work of the Academy.

  “And I will get him back to you as soon as I can.” Jeremy placed a hand on Lauren’s arm.

  “How can I stay hidden from the professors?” asked Lauren.

  Jeremy rifled in his bag again and pulled out a small metal capsule. “Take this and keep it with you at all times. It is an early prototype of the form manipulator that you all received when you first came to the Academy. It doesn’t do quite what it is supposed to and actually distorts energy patterns. If anyone is looking for you they will see something but they won’t automatically identify it as your energy. It will give you some time and mean that you can remain close by at the Academy whilst we fix up Charlie.”

  “Do I need to do anything with it?” Lauren took the capsule from Jeremy.

  “No, you just need to keep it on you. In a pocket will be fine, that should do the job.” Jeremy placed the containment box with Charlie inside into his bag and closed it up. “I’d better get this back to my lab and start working on Charlie. I will get news to you through either Alex or Esmee.”

  “Thanks, Jeremy,” said Lauren. “You don’t have to help us like this. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

  “I think I do,” said Jeremy. “To my mind, the professors made a mistake by making you and Charlie leave. None of us are perfect, not even the professors. They have all made mistakes in their past but they seem to have forgotten what it was like to be human. We have not had a new professor join the team for over fifteen years and in that time, some of them have perhaps grown more accustomed to this life than their human lives.”

  “That doesn’t make it right what they did,” said Esmee. “They shouldn’t have kicked out Lauren and Charlie.”

  “I agree it doesn’t, and I’m not saying I approve of what they have done. I’m simply saying that they may need some extra persuasion before they realise how much value you all place on having a human family and connections with the living.” Jeremy gave Lauren a gentle smile before hurrying out of the room.

  “He will fix him,” said Alex. “Jeremy is a certified genius. There is nothing he can’t do.”

  “I've actually been impressed with him,” said Esmee. “He came to us after you were forced to leave. He was so upset and couldn’t believe what had happened. He offered to help us find you and even offered to get us out of the Academy, said that we could join you if we wanted to.”

  “Why can’t you get out of the Academy anyway?” asked Lauren.

  Alex looked over at Esmee and raised his eyebrows. “Things have changed a little since you left.”

  “Changed how?”

  “We are now in teams with a professor or a mentor with us at all times,” said Alex. “They are supposed to be there to monitor our progress but we reckon they're there to make sure we are toeing the line and sticking to the Academy’s way of doing things. There have already been two students placed on warnings for not following procedure correctly.”

  “That sounds terrible,” said Lauren.

  “The professors are spooked,” said Esmee. “They have no clue how to fix this problem with the portals and Jeremy has been refusing to help them until they bring the both of you back. Professor Templeton is refusing to do that so at the moment they are at a stalemate.”

  “Couldn’t they bring someone else in to help with the portals?” asked Lauren.

  “That would be an interesting job description to write,” said Esmee. “Human wanted to fix portals only ghosts can access. Must be smarter than Einstein, look good in a bow tie and not scare easily.”

  Alex laughed. “No one knows them like Jeremy does. It’s in his blood, it’s what his dad did and he passed the role on to Jeremy. Like it or not they are stuck with him.”

  “And then there’s Calypso,” said Esmee. “She’s also refusing to assist them anymore and was just as angry as Jeremy about your exclusion. As you know, she’s the expert when it comes to the portals and has been working with Jeremy for years to repair them and alter them when they malfunction. The two of them are essentially on strike until you return.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” said Lauren. “What are the other professors doing about it?”

  “They are in a mess,” said Alex. “Professor Mackintosh has been raging around like a bull, picking fights with everyone and arguing with all the students. He even had a blazing row with Storm in front of everybody over something trivial.”

  “I saw Professor Granville after their fight and I was certain she’d been crying,” said Esmee. “Professor Mackintosh is such a pig.”

  “Do you think they will bring us back?” Lauren was uncertain how she felt about returning to the Academy.

  “Who knows?” Esmee shrugged. “Right now we are all spending our time hunting out confused ghosts and directing them to the portals like we are traffic wardens. We haven’t had any assignments since you left, so that’s probably creating bigger problems for the future. I think the professors are so confused they don’t know what to do.”

  “I doubt me and Charlie returning will help them at all,” said Lauren.

  “It would get Jeremy and Professor Altman back on side,” said Alex.

  The bedroom door swung open and Professor Mackintosh stood in the doorway, his fists clenching and un-clenching and his gaze narrowed. “Lauren Cole, I wondered when you would return.”

  Lauren fought the instinct to shrink away from the anger radiating from Professor Mackintosh. She pulled back her shoulders and met his gaze. “I had no choice but to come back.”

  “You have been excluded from the Academy,” said Professor Mackintosh.

  “I am aware of that, but like I said I had no other choice.”

  “Did you bring Charlie with you?”

  Lauren glared back at Professor Mackintosh, refusing to answer.

  He sighed and shook his head. “Come with me.”

  “No, I’m not going anywhere with you, you’ll just try to keep me a prisoner.” Lauren took a few steps back trying to create a healthy distance from Professor Mackintosh.

  “It was not a request,” growled Professor Mackintosh.

  “Professor, maybe you can give Lauren a break.” Alex stepped in between the two of them and raised his hands up. “She’s not here to cause any trouble, she really did come to ask for help.”

  “I don’t care about what you think.” Professor Mackintosh walked slowly into the room. “Lauren has been excluded from the Academy and she cannot remain here.”

  Lauren swallowed down the jangling nerves that threatened to make her shake. “I was just leaving.”

  “Let me see you off the premises,” said Professor Mackintosh.

  Lauren looked quickly over at Esmee and Alex. “I can see myself out.” She transported out of the bedroom and down into Jeremy’s laboratory.

  Jeremy looked up from his wor
kbench, eyes widening with surprise when he saw Lauren. “I thought you would have been gone by now. You really do need to leave.”

  “Bit late for that, Professor Mackintosh has just discovered me.”

  “Oh dear. I was about to start monitoring Charlie’s energy signature.” Jeremy tapped the top of the box in front of him. “Maybe I need to tuck him away and keep him safe in case Professor Mackintosh comes looking for the two of you in here.”

  Lauren grabbed the containment box that Charlie was inside. “We should both go.”

  Jeremy shook his head. “I can help him, but only if you leave Charlie here.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t trust people at the Academy any more. I mean, I trust you, but you wouldn’t be able to stop Professor Mackintosh if he discovers what you’re doing. What’s to stop him from simply taking the containment box and opening it inside the portal and crossing over Charlie? We both need to get out of here.”

  The laboratory door opened and they both jumped back. Professor Altman hurried through the door and shut it behind her. Her dark eyes were full of concern as she spotted Lauren.

  “It is true, you have returned.” Professor Altman hurried over to Lauren. “It is not a good time to be here.”

  “I’m getting that hint,” said Lauren. “We were just leaving.”

  “Who is in the box?” asked Professor Altman, her gaze on the containment box Lauren held tightly to her chest.

  “It’s Charlie,” said Jeremy. “He’s having some trouble with his energy and I was trying to diagnose what was wrong with him.”

  Professor Altman ran her hands over the box a couple of times. “My poor boy, always so fragile.”

  “I’m going and I’m taking Charlie with me. I’ll have to try to get help from elsewhere.” Lauren clutched the box to her.

  “You can’t, Lauren,” said Jeremy. “Charlie is too fragile to keep shifting to different locations.”

  “You said yourself he’ll be stable inside this box.”

  “But you can’t transport with that particular containment box. The energy signature is designed to alter every few seconds. If you transport mid shift it could blow your own signatures apart. If you have to take Charlie then you must let him out.”

  “Is that safe?” Lauren looked down at the box.

  “No, there is a risk Charlie may not be strong enough to reform his shape when he comes out of the box.” Worry strained the skin tightly across Jeremy’s face. “Lauren, leave him here, I will take care of him.”

  “I can’t, it’s just too risky.” Lauren chewed on her bottom lip as she continued to stare at the box.

  “We are here for you,” said Professor Altman. “We will do everything we can to ensure your safe return to the Academy.”

  “But for now, we can’t stay here.” Lauren flipped open the lid of the box.

  No one spoke for several seconds. Jeremy gently took the box from Lauren’s hands and adjusted the dial on the side. “This will help Charlie to come out, just be ready to catch hold of him when he does.”

  She nodded, twisting her hands in front of her.

  Jeremy placed the box on the workbench. “Here he comes.”

  Charlie’s wispy shape coiled out of the box like smoke, curling up in front of them as if drawn up by an air current.

  Jeremy immediately snapped the lid of the box shut and Professor Altman gave him a grateful smile.

  Lauren leapt at Charlie and grabbed hold of him. It took her several tries, but she managed to wrap an arm around his waist and pull him back to her side.

  “He’s very weak.” Professor Altman placed a hand on Charlie’s cheek, her fingers sinking in to his form. “Whatever you have planned for him you must hurry.”

  “Where will you go to get help?” asked Jeremy.

  Lauren’s mouth felt dry. “I know others who might be able to get Charlie stable.” She nodded at Professor Altman and Jeremy and then disappeared.

  Chapter 7

  Lauren and Charlie appeared outside the Deviants house. Lauren’s gaze swept over the house, uncertainty making her want to run in the opposite direction.

  Charlie coughed and his eyes opened, his form flashing in and out as if energised by faulty cables.

  Lauren gripped him tighter. “Stay with me.”

  He managed to smile. “Where else would I go?”

  “I have to get you some help.” She eased him forward. “Stay solid for as long as you can.”

  Charlie looked around, his gaze unfocused. “Wait, I know this place. This is the home of the Deviants. Lauren, we shouldn’t be here—”

  “It was the only place I could think of where they might help you, and where they have the facilities to help to get your form stable again,” said Lauren.

  “The Deviants won’t help us.” Charlie’s voice was just a whisper. “They hate us.”

  “They don’t. They’ve helped other ghosts whose forms have broken down and they got them stable again, just as they will you.” Lauren’s thoughts were on the glass cells she had seen on a recent visit to the Deviants. She knew it wasn’t a perfect solution, but she had to try to get Charlie stabilised. He could not vanish on her.

  “This is a bad idea. You can’t trust them.”

  “Save your energy.” Lauren tightened her hold on Charlie. Even if it came with a price, she’d do anything to keep him safe.

  A Deviant Lauren didn’t recognise appeared in front of her. He was a few inches taller than Lauren and slimly built. His dark eyes narrowed as he seemed to recognise her.

  “We aren’t here to cause any trouble.” Lauren raised one hand. “But I have to speak to Maggie or Theo straightaway. I need their help.” She gestured at Charlie.

  The guy tilted his head and squinted at Lauren. “Are you planning to bring your other Academy friends here?”

  “No, this is an emergency. I really need your help. We came alone.”

  The guy’s gaze ran over Charlie. “It looks like you need a lot more than our help.” He disappeared from sight, leaving Lauren and Charlie alone in front of the house.

  “We need to get out of here,” whispered Charlie. “Whilst we still can.”

  “No, I think this will work,” said Lauren.

  Maggie appeared in front of Lauren, along with the dark eyed guy, her long hair pulled off her face and piled on top of her head. She wore a black dress that fell to her ankles. Maggie's gaze went from Lauren to Charlie, her eyes widening as she took in Charlie’s flickering appearance.

  “I am surprised to find you here,” said Maggie. “I take it this is not a social call?”

  “I didn’t know where else to go,” said Lauren. “Charlie’s been attacked by another ghost and they tried to drain him of his power. Nothing I’ve done has worked, he isn’t responding to any energy transfer from me. I even dragged him inside a portal but it made no difference. He is breaking down. Is there anything you can do to help him?”

  “Your Academy did not help you?” asked Maggie.

  Lauren’s gaze dropped. “I went there, but they refused to let us stay.”

  Maggie pursed her lips. “Shame on them.”

  “Can you help?”

  Maggie was silent for several seconds. “By rights, I should banish you both.”

  “Theo said you always helped ghosts that needed it.”

  Maggie sighed. “And he is right. Very well, take your friend to the regeneration cells, there is an empty one available. Remus will show you the way.” She gestured to the guy next to her. “Do hurry, I really don’t like the way his form is flashing in and out of focus so rapidly.”

  Remus moved to the other side of Charlie and took hold of his arm, slinging it around his own shoulders. “We’d better walk there, from the state of your buddy an energy transport may be the end of him.”

  Lauren nodded. “Whatever you think best, but let’s just get there as quickly as we can.”

  Maggie led the way, opening the main door to the house and ushering them
inside.

  They half carried and half dragged Charlie along what felt to Lauren like an endless corridor. They passed numerous doors before Maggie turned abruptly and shoved open a door with her right hip.

  “Here we are," said Maggie. "Remus will get you settled.”

  “Thanks,” said Lauren.

  Maggie nodded, her lips pursed. “We will speak later.” She turned and left the room.

  “It’s that end cell,” said Remus.

  They both sped up as Charlie blinked out of sight for a second and they were left grabbing at air. He flickered into sight again and Lauren seized hold of him.

  “I’ll get the door open,” said Remus. “Put him inside, shut the door behind you and then step back. I don’t want you caught in the containment field I will put around his cell. It will need to be a strong one to try to keep his form together.”

  Lauren hurried forward. “You’ll be okay,” she whispered to Charlie.

  “I really doubt that.” Charlie’s eyes rolled back in his head.

  “Stay with me, just a few more seconds,” pleaded Lauren as she pushed him through the door and settled Charlie onto the floor. She ran back, slammed the door shut and then hurried over to Remus who stood by a panel of controls at the edge of the cells.

  “Is the containment field up yet?” she asked him, her gaze looking at the bewildering array of buttons on the panel.

  “A few more seconds,” said Remus. “I’m taking energy away from another part of the building in order to give him a big enough boost, so it takes a moment to get everything set up.” Remus’s gaze did not leave the panel as he pushed buttons and entered data on a computer screen in front of him.

  “Please hurry,” said Lauren.

  “I’m going as quickly as I can.” Remus’s gaze slid to Lauren. “It would be better if you weren’t hovering by my side.”

  Lauren bit down on the urge to argue with Remus, and moved a few steps away, bumping into someone as she did so. She turned and came face-to-face with Theo.

  Theo looked over at the containment cell containing Charlie, his expression showing concern. “Looks like you both ran into a little trouble. You okay?”