Haunted

by Sammantha Lewis

  When I came back to the present,I looked down at the tome in my hand and my heart droped to my stomach as I saw the word "veil"

  "She was practicing that spell, I don't know much about the paranormal so I don't really understand what happened but-"

  "She was trying to pass through the veil?" I said cutting him off. He glanced over at me as we sped through town.

  "so you know about it?" I looked away from him and leht out a sigh.

  "Well yeah, it's almost like a thin sheet, it separates our two worlds, which is why most people can't see ghosts. But spirits can see us. Once in awhile they can conjure up enough energy to reach through the veil, move objects, touch us, stuff like that. That's all I really know." I explained. I turned and looked out the window, preparing for more questions.

  "So how does the veil affect you?"

  "Angela said I basically create a hole in it. Which allows me allowing me to interact with them freely." I explained simply.

  "And what about Angela? Can she help?" I felt a lump form in my throat and I heard the thunder roar in my head,warning me of the storm of tears threatening to overflow.

  "... I haven't seen her for a while now. It's like she just disappeared." I quickly looked down and brushed my hair forwards,in an attempt to hid my face. I quickly wiped my eyes. And tried to remember that there was a greater issue at hand. Then my eyes strained down on the bookandfocusedonthe words "Time is limited"

  "Jericho, where's ash?" I asked him, fearing his answer.

  "Her body, at the estate, but she isn't waking up- she's not even breathing. She's not dead, but it's like-" I Felt Panic race through me.

  "Her soul isn't there?" I asked abruptly. As he pulled to a stop at an intersection, he looked over at me and held my gaze. His eyes softened almost sympathetically.

  "Yeah. So can you help?" When he asked me this, I was raking my brain for a million possible solutions. They all seemed impossible- except for one. There was one that I knew could work- in theory anyway- but it was reckless. It was stupid.

  But it was the only way.

  "I can try. Can you drive towards Peabody creek? Also can you have Alan bring Ashlin with him. " He turned his eyes back onto the road and sped up, the town passing by in a blur.

  "Just tell me where to go." was all he said. I gave him directions of where to go, and he followed them with ease.

  Quite some time latter, we found ourselves at the trailhead for Peabody creek. We walked down the winding path, treading through mud and moss, with our hoods pulled up to protect us from the drops of dew from the trees.

  "So what are you doing here?" I heard him ask.

  "I have an idea, I'm not sure if will work. Do you remember the door of Gabriel? I can summon it, and allow lost souls to pass through. That's my duty anyway, I summon the door every new moon. Anyway- what if Ashlin is stuck in the spirit realm? that spell mentioned something about returning in time, so I think she wasn't able to pass to our side of the veil. So, I'm going to summon the door, and pass through it." I told him.

  We came to a part of a path with a fallen redwood tree leaned up against the hill on the other side of the path. I stepped off the path and climbed on top of a boulder, and reached down to help Jericho up. I then grabbed onto a tree branch and hoisted myself up, and climbed up the steep hill side. I knew that just on the other side was the door of Gabriel. Unfortunately for us, climbing up the embankment was the quickest way there.

  "When I do so, I'll be in limbo almost. I'll actually be inside the veil itself- directly in-between the two realms. I won't be in our world, but I won't be in their world either. I think I'll be able to walk freely until I find her. And then I should be able to grab her and bring her back. Once she's on the other side of the veil, she should be able to re enter her body. " I explained to him.

  "And what about you?" When he asked this my heart ached, and I looked down at him unsure of what to say.

  "Don't worry about me," Was all I said. His teal eyes softened once again, and held so much affection and concern.

  "But I do- I always do. what if you stay in there to long?" He said with dread filling his words.

  "I'm not like most people remember? I'll be fine I promise." I tried to reassure him yet I still felt incredibly guilty. Previously I never really had others worry about me.

  "So how do you know it will work?" He asked me as I hoisted myself onto another boulder and continued my treed upwards.

  "I did something similar a few years back... there was a spirit who was becoming dangerous and too powerful. So think about this way, there are three realms, ours of the living, the spirit world, and the afterlife. There are two veils, a thin one separating us from the spirits, and one- which is more like a steal enforced brick wall- that separates the spirit world from the afterlife. I make it easier for those lingering spirit to pass on. When you die, you have a straight shot to the afterlife, but some people aren't ready, but the thing is, once you miss that opportunity it's difficult to move on your own. I already create a gaping hole between the fist veil, and then I have to summon the door to act as a hallway to the third realm for spirits. " I explained as we reached the top of the hill.

  "so what happened a few years ago?" He asked behind me.

  "There was a spirit, who was becoming resentful, and angry, he died young, and his wife moved on and remarried. He was starting to develop into a poltergeist, but then he started becoming demonic. He would follow around his wife, causing her to feel dread, guilt, and slowly driving her into madness. I saw his wife all the time when I visited the bookstore, so that's how i found out about him. So I what did was I went to the second veil and found him- it wasn't easy but I pulled him into the afterlife. To be honest I was scared out of my mind, he was too powerful for me, and when I finally managed to pull him in, I almost fell into the afterlife with him. My powers weren't very strong then- and so If I did fall in I'm not sure I could get back out." I took a step and slid down the hillside covered in moss and dead leaves.

  "How old were you exactly?"

  "I had just moved here so I was about fifteen I think." I said, not looking back as we finally came to level ground.

  "Fifteen?!" I heard him cry.

  "What?" I looked back at him with raised eyebrows.

  "you were fifteen, and you did something like that? You took on a fucking demon- and you almost died- you were fifteen? How tall were you anyway? Like three feet- three fucking feet tall and I bet barely 90 pound- and you took on Satan's helper?"

  "Get a hold of yourself . " I mumbled under my breath as I tried to put distance between us.

  "one more thing; when I do open the door there will most likely be other spirits who will rush to the door.... so you need to stand back." Glancing at the trees around us, I knew we were getting close.

  "Why? Can't I just go with you?" I looked back at him, realizing how close he had gotten to me. Then I realized how the last time I was in this part of the woods I had almost rejected him entirely. Guilt settled in once more. But I shook my head and kept moving.

  "No, only a seer can. If you pass through- well I'm not exactly sure what will happen, but I know you won't be able to pass back through. That's why you need to stand back, when those spirits rush for the door, it could feel like anything from a breeze to a cyclone in transit, so I can't risk any of you being sucked in -" I stopped and knelt down to brush some dead leaves away and realized we had made it, once I saw the familiar stone.

  " So please just stay back." I said as I gave him a pleading gaze. He reluctantly nodded and then glanced around.

  "Alright. So this is it?" He asked me. I nodded my head.

  "Yeah, this is the gateway. Are they almost here?" I asked as I started having second thoughts about this plan. "Yeah, I can feel them." I glanced over at him, with confusion clear on my face. He looked over at me briefly and just tapped his forehead as he kept his eyes focused in front of him.

  As each second passed I felt my anxiety rise and my confidence in
my abilities fall. I was worried about Ashlin. Unsure of how I would find her. Unsure if I could bring her back.

  "you okay?" He reached for my hand and brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up at him and felt my concerns melt away.

  I needed to try.

  "yeah... just nervous about Ashlin." I said in a small voice. He let out a puff of air and gently grabbed my chin, making me look up at him. He was going to say something but he never got the chance.

  "Jericho!" Our attention was pulled away from each other. We looked over and saw Allan walking towards us with a motionless Ashlin in his arms. Allan looked as pale as Ashlin did- as if he hadn't slept in days.

  As he came closer I pointed to the side of the stone platform and said,

  "Just lay her down gently." He nodded his head and gently laid her down.

  "So what's the plan?" He asked.

  "Avery is going to open a spirit door, and literally drag Ashlin's soul back." Jericho briefly explained.

  "Okay, sounds good." Was all he said as he sat down next to her.

  "So now what?" Jericho asked.

  "You guys stay near Ashlin's body at the left end of the platform. I'll summon the door." As I went to move away he grabbed my wrist.

  "Avery," I looked up at him.

  "Be careful, please. " He said with pleading eyes.

  "I promise." I said in a whisper as he slowly let my hand fall.

  I went to the center of the plat form and brushed away the dead leaves. I stood with my head lifted high, and placed my palms out each side of me. I steadied my breathing and willed the door to appear. I could feel the presence of spirits as they milled around me, whispered, and waited.

  then I felt it. the familiar pulse of energy, that rushes from me and into the stone dais. I felt the bright wave of light engulf me and then flood the forest around me. I felt the rush of energy, that became stronger and stronger with each new moon. exhausted, I fell on to my back and tried to regain my strength. I heard Jericho call my name and as I slowly opened my eyes I saw his perfect blue ones staring down at me with panic.

  "avery, are you okay? Are you sure about this?" He helped me into a sitting position and rested his forhead against mine, searching my eyes for any signs of dote.

  "I'm fine... really." I said breathlessly. He held on for me for dear life, I clung onto the sleeves of his jacket and he helped lift me onto my feet. Yet, when I finally looked away from him, I saw it, the door of Gabriel.

  I looked back at Jericho he slowly turned to look at the door, his mouth becoming agape. Alan as well stared at it in amazement.

  The door was a flawless silver, with panels twelve panels each depicting different parts of the bible, all intricately designed. In the center of the door was a medallion of Angel Gabriel, willing you to come forward. The door it's self floated effortlessly above the ground, as a white mist and light seeped out from under the door.

  I turned to Jericho and looked up at him, and tried to memorize every detail. The truth was I was afraid and unsure of what was going to happen. I wasn't sure if I'd actually be able to find Ashlin. I wasn't sure how long I'd be inside the veil, but when I looked over at Alan, and saw the worry on his face, I knew I needed to try. I wasn't sure when Id be able to tell Jericho that I accepted him.

  I leaned up as far as I could and whispered,

  "Go back to Ashlin... ." His eyes snapped away from the door and looked down at me with softened eyes. He pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded. I then hugged him one last time, and as I slowly let go of him he leaned down and kissed me right above my temple.

  "Come back soon, please." I nodded my head, and let my hand slip out of his as I walked towards the door. when I finally approached it I looked back and the spirits,

  "I'm going to open it, but please, just walk slowly, I'll let everyone get though, but please..." I looked over at Ashlin's unmoving body, Alan, and Jericho. then I placed my hand on the door handle and with all my strength, pulled open the door.

  Ceremoniously, the spirits, listened, one by one walked through the door. I Looked over at Jerico and saw the small breeze from the passing spirits only caused his hair to blow around. I smiled with tears brimming my eyes,

  They're all safe.

  Once all the souls passed through, it was finally my turn. I turned to step into the door and looked back at them, I looked at Alan who was still speechless at the whole ordeal. I smiled at him and gave him a curt nod, letting him know I'd bring her back. Then I disappeared into the door.

  Numbness

  When I entered the door, on the other side It was another world entirely. It was something only I could experience. I felt at peace, I felt as if all my worries had melted away.

  I found a picturesque meadow before me scattered with wildflowers, violet trees, and lush green grass as far as the eye could see. the sky above me was composed out of vibrant hues and of blues and pink and stayed in a perpetual state of twilight. It was to most beautiful sunset I had ever seen, and If I wanted to I could stare at it for all eternity. It drew you in-captivated you. called you to walk down the path towards your next stage in existence. It evocated tears in your eyes and it felt as if the universe it's self-was saying "welcome to your new life of peace. it's okay." Its purpose was to soothe you and to make you realize that all of the pain, all of the hardships- it was worth it. It was to lead you home.

  I fought the urge to lay downing the lush grass and lose my self in its beauty. Then I saw what I was looking for. I saw a small sliver of light gleaming from the bark of a plum tree. The funny thing about the vail was that it was ever changing. always shifting and changing. I knew that inside the vail, a spirit had free reign. For a short while, they could distort reality and make it their own. they could use the vail to amplified their emotions, to help them push through into the world of the living. For this was the world in-between all, and there was anything was possible. They could use the veil to their benefit, or they could let it consume them.

  I didn't know what was on the other side and that rattled me to my core. If Ashlin was in emotional turmoil and let her pain manifest its self-then I might as well have been walking into hell.

  As I reached my hand out, I could feel the endless supernatural power seeping through, begging me to take it. The instant I touched it, I was enveloped by a bright light and I felt my self-being pulled in.

  I felt like I was I was an insect in a tub of water, and someone pulled the plug- forcibly sucked down the drain. I let out a scream as I felt as if I was forced through the eye of a needle as blinding light enveloped me.

  But barely a second later I found my self in the veil. the first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. It was a type of silence that burned your ears and felt like a weight on your chest because you knew that it shouldn't be that silent. Sometimes silence was worse than screaming. Something was wrong-something wasn't right.

  the second thing I noticed was I seemed to be in a white endless void. The vail was supposed to seem like a narrow hallway between the worlds. The living on one side with the "beyond" on the other side. But here- there was nothing.

  I opened my mouth and called out her name with all the force I could muster. But my voice was lost- there was nothing to be heard. I tried again, but I still couldn't hear my own voice.

  As I looked out into the endless void I rattled my brain for possible causes.

  Maybe I was in an air bubble of some sort.

  Maybe I never entered the veil, to begin with.

  Maybe Ashlin had moved on already.

  Maybe this was Ashlin's doing.

  I took a deep breath and took my first step. I promised I would find her and that was what I was going to do. I walked further and further into the void- if I was infarct in a pocket then all I had to do was keep walking. But after what seemed like hours of walking I was still a prisoner in the vast nothingness. exhausted I fell to my knees gasping for air. But even my gasps were silent.

  As the panic filled me I laid on
my back and tried to sort my thoughts. I found my self-looking up into the endless white void, trying to remember everything I had learned about the veil.

  1. the veil is a curtain separating the first and second world.

  2. the veil is a void that can be manipulated. It has a tendency to amplified emotions.

  3. Ashlin was probably somewhere in the second world scared maybe in shock... and in a state of panic.

  I dwelled on the last fact for a long time. If she was afraid, then the vail would have reflected that. I would have felt like I was drowning like I'd never see my loved ones again. I'd be filled to the brim with anxiety and fear to the point I couldn't bear to take another step, but without knowing why.

  I focused on what I did feel. I felt lonely and lost yet at the same time I felt calm. I wanted it all to end but at the same time stay here in my solitude forever. I could stay here with a blank mind and not give a damn about anything. Once I let the veil take me fear was something I could no longer fell.

  Numb... numb was the feeling that the vail had been flooded with. the thing is I had felt this before.

  I thought back to that time on the bench when Ashlin had brushed up against me and I saw her life in a split second. I felt it then too. I knew it wasn't always like this. when he brother died I saw her pain. That image of her uncontrollably sobbing over her brothers mangled body was forever burned into my mind. An innocent boy who was more of a son than a brother to her was ripped out of her life in an instant and it broke her. I could still see her cooing over her brother when he was little, and playing make-believe with him until he was laughing so hard his stomach hurt. She had more love for that little boy then I had experienced in my lifetime. So, in the end, she felt the most heartbreak when he was taken from her. that was when I first felt the numbness.

  Nevertheless, even if this was all Ash's doing, I still needed to find her. The last time I was in the veil, I focus on a certain emotion, in that case, it was the vengefulness of the spirit. I took another deep breath. But looking up into the endless white void, I knew there was no dominant emotion to lead me to her. I was just in a vacuum of emptiness at the hands of Ashlin.