Curse of the Possessed Bus

by Shannon Cook

  Burke then asked them if they happened to be in Paris at any time during this task they were on.

  Robin nodded. “Yes, only for a couple of minutes,” she replied.

  “I thought I saw you,” Burke replied.

  “Well father,” Casey said. “It was nice seeing you again, but we need to get a move on.”

  Burke smiled. “Absolutely, son," he replied. He got up and gave his son one last hug goodbye. “I'll miss you,” he said with a tear.

  “Don't worry, father,” Casey reassured Burke. “Once I'm able to get off this bus, I'll visit you. You'll know it's me when I do.”

  Burke nodded and got off the bus. He walked up to his front porch and watched as bus 340 backed out of his driveway. The moment the bus began driving down the road, it vanished.

  As they drove down the road, Robin couldn't help but think that her time with her parents was running low. “You know,” Robin began saying, “once this is all over, I'm going to miss doing this!”

  Jayme looked at her wife in shock! “You can't be serious?!” she asked. Jayme couldn't believe that her wife was going to miss all the terror they've endured during their time on that bus! “You're going to miss being tied up by thorny vines, almost getting pulled into a grave, getting chased by a demon, and almost eaten by some degusting creature?!” she asked in disbelief!

  “Oh, no!” Robin replied. “I'm not going to miss that stuff at all!” She explained that she was going to miss traveling around with her parents and helping the spirits get off the bus. “I'll admit, I may not be able to sleep for weeks after this!”

  “I'll be sleeping with the lights on, for sure!” Jayme stated.

  “That's fine by me!”

  XVII

  The next morning, Dick was standing trial for his unlawful business of selling an unsafe bus! Kate gave the prosecuting attorney the folder of all the evidence. Which included the accident scene photos and the photos she took at Dick's shop.

  “Your honor, my client claims that the bus he fixed was not in fact, the same bus that was involved in that crash that occurred up in the mountains!” The defense attorney argued.

  “Objection!” the prosecuting attorney yelled!

  The judge looked at the prosecutor. “What's your objection?”

  “Your honor, I have here in this folder compelling photo evidence that he did indeed sell that same bus!” He picked up the folder and handed it to the bailiff.

  The bailiff grabbed the folder and handed it to the judge. The judge opened the folder and examined the photos closely. “There is no proof in these photos that this man repaired that bus,” the judge stated. “Where are the photos of the bus now?” she asked.

  Kate was sitting next to Hugo a couple of rows behind the prosecutor. “What!?” Kate whispered.

  Dick leaned back in his chair and grinned.

  “This can't be right!” Kate said under her breath. She knew more documents in that folder proved he sold that bus! Kate knew that photos of the bus now wouldn't prove or disprove anything! Especially since that bus was and is part of a fleet where all the buses look identical! She stood up quickly and yelled, “look through all the other papers!” She knew the identical VINs on the accident report and the new registration form would prove it was the same bus!

  The judge glared at Kate, “who are you?”

  Kate flashed her badge. “I'm the lead investigator of a case that involves that bus! It has gone missing and there are two hostages on board!” Kate knew Robin and Jayme were not hostages of that bus, she just had to try to make it sound good for the judge.

  The judge looked back down at the folder and began examining the other documents. She found the accident report which contained the bus's VIN. Then she found the copy of Luke's registration for that same bus. She compared the VINs from both documents.

  “These VINs are the same,” she stated as she looked up and glared at Dick. “Care to explain this?”

  “I did nothing wrong!” Dick cried out!

  “The bus you sold, I would consider based on the accident scene photos was totaled!”

  “Nobody totaled it out!” Dick argued. “At least, nobody told me it was totaled!”

  “And why not?” The judge asked.

  Dick looked around the courtroom, then he leaned over the table in front of him. “It's haunted,” he whispered.

  “Pardon?” the judge asked. “Speak up!”

  “Your honor, the defendant said it's haunted," the prosecutor stated trying not to laugh.

  The entire courtroom became silent for a second before everyone, except for Dick, Hugo and Kate erupted in laughter.

  “That's the most insane excuse I've ever heard!” The prosecutor stated.

  Even the defense attorney was cracking up!

  “It's true!” Dick argued! He turned around and pointed at Hugo who was sitting next to Kate. “Ask him!” He demanded.

  The judge slammed her mallet down, “Order!” she tried yelling trying her hardest to stop laughing. She looked over at Hugo, “Detective Hugo, could you please come to the stand?” she asked.

  Hugo nodded, got up, and made his way over to the stand. “Yes, your honor?”

  “Detective Hugo, while you were investigated the crash, did you ever encounter any ghosts on that bus?”

  Hugo shook his head. “Personally, no I didn't experience any ghosts on that bus.” He stated, which was true. Hugo had sent his group of investigators to Dick's auto shop to check over the wrecked bus. Hugo never personally stepped foot onto it.

  "Thank you, detective," The judge said.

  “You're welcome, your honor,” Hugo stated as he headed back to his seat.

  “Sir,” the judge addressed Dick, “based on the evidence I have in front of me, it is without a doubt you are guilty of selling a bus that is no longer highway-legal! I should sentence you to at least six months in prison, however, based on what appears to be a poor mental state you are in, I'm sending you to a new mental hospital a couple of hours away from here!”

  “I'm not crazy!” Dick shouted! “That bus has ghosts on it!” He became frantic as he began telling the judge some of the experiences he had while working on the bus! He turned around and located his brother, Marcel in the audience. “Marcel! Tell them about the ghost!” he pleaded!

  Marcel's eyes widened! “I didn't see any ghosts on it,” he lied even though he had his fair share of paranormal experiences while working on that bus!

  The judge glared at Marcel. “Did you help this man repair that bus?”

  Marcel became nervous, “no,” he lied. “I'm not a shady businessman like my brother is!” he snapped!

  Dick turned and glared at his brother! “How could you?!” he snarled!

  “If you believed that bus had ghosts on it, why did you sell it?” the judge asked.

  Dick looked at his attorney for help. “Come on! Say something!”

  “Sorry,” Dick's attorney apologized. “You fucked yourself over when you didn't remain silent!”

  The bailiff walked over to Dick and walked him out of the courtroom, took him to a holding cell, and awaited transport to the new mental facility.

  Later that day, when the sun was beginning to set, Robin, Jayme, Casey, and Robin began talking about old memories. They talked about the day Robin and Jayme tied the knot!

  “That was one of the happiest days of my life!” Casey said happily. “Next to the day, I married you, Eva."

  Eva gave a little grin, but she wasn't feeling very happy at that moment. She knew she was the next one to move on. Yet, she wasn't ready to move on. Nor was she ready to complete her unfinished business. She knew what she had to confess before she'd be able to move on would put a major damper on hers and Casey's relationship.

  “I just wonder what made Irwin so jealous of you!” Jayme said to Casey.

  Casey shrugged. “Beats me!”

  Robin got up from her seat and sat down in Irwin's old seat next to her mother. “So, mother, what's your
unfinished business?” she asked. Even though Robin was not looking forward to saying her final goodbye to her mother, she was eager to help her!

  Eva looked over at her daughter. She ran her ghostly hand through Robin's short hair and smiled. “You've grown into a beautiful woman,” she complimented. “I'm proud of you,” she said.

  Eva was trying her hardest to avoid the topic of her unfinished business.

  “Thanks,” Robin replied.

  Casey continued driving until they reached a long dirt driveway. He carefully drove the bus down the narrow driveway until they reached a small secluded pond. “Remember this place?” Casey smiled.

  “No,” Robin replied.

  “I wasn't talking to you,” Casey laughed. “Eva, remember?”

  Eva smiled, got up, and hugged her husband. That spot had a special meaning to Eva and Casey. That was the spot where they snuck away and had their first date! Eva's parents were not too keen on their daughter, Eva, dating a man who wasn't in the medical field.

  “Yes, I remember this place," Eva replied as she kissed Casey on the lips.

  Casey pointed over to a tree, “See that tree over there?” Casey asked Robin.

  “What about it?” Robin asked.

  “Under that tree is where you were conceived,” Casey replied with a smile.

  “Oh! Gross!” Robin yelled!

  Eva, Casey, and Jayme laughed.

  “I remember that night, it was the morning of one of our wedding anniversaries!” She told Robin that they had set up a tent near that tree and camped out there, like old times! “It was a bit rough on the back though,” Eva complained. “Also, when we got done and opened the tent, a Robin was sitting by our tent!”

  “That bird," Casey chuckled. “What a perv!”

  “That's why we named you Robin, my dear,” Eva told her daughter.

  Jayme smiled. “Awe,” she said while holding her heart. “How beautiful!” She got up and sat next to her wife again. She put her arm around Robin and gave her a tight hug. “I know where you get your romantic charm from now!”

  “I've trained her well!” Casey bragged.

  “How?” Robin asked.

  Casey shrugged and replied, “genetics.”

  All this was making it even more difficult for Eva to build up the courage to make her confession so she could get off that bus! She looked at her husband, daughter, and daughter-in-law. They were all smiling and laughing! Just having the time of their lives! Eva faked a smile and sighed.

  “What's wrong mother?” Robin asked.

  “Oh, nothing, my dear,” Eva lied. She turned and looked out of her window.

  Jayme leaned over and whispered into Robin's ear, “what is wrong with her?” she asked.

  “I don't know,”

  They sat in that spot for an hour and soaked in the scenery. Eva, however, was not enjoying herself. “Can we move on?” she asked.

  “Not until you complete your unfinished business,” Casey stated. “I know you love this spot, and I want your last steps on earth to be in a place you love!”

  “I can't,” Eva softly said.

  “Yes, you can," Robin reassured her mother. “What is your unfinished business?”

  “I just have something I need to say,” Eva replied. “It's difficult.”

  “Come on, darling,” Casey said. “Tell us, we'll understand.”

  Eva looked around nervously and took a deep sigh. “I know why Irwin was jealous of you, Casey,” she stated.

  “Why?” Casey asked.

  Eva took a deep breath, “this is going to hurt, I know it will" she said. Eva began telling them that she was having an affair with Irwin for years at work! She confessed that she never told Irwin about Casey or Robin. She hid them from him.

  Casey and Robin were in disbelief and heartbroken! “Why would you do such a thing to me?!” Casey snapped! “I thought you loved me and our daughter!”

  “I do!” Eva replied defensively.

  “Then why did you cheat on father, and keep me a secret?” Robin asked Eva.

  Jayme got up quickly and opened the bus door. “I'll leave you be for a while!” she stated as she rushed off the bus. She could tell things were about to become heated in there!

  Eva didn't know how to respond to her daughter. She could tell by looking in Robin's eyes that she had lost all trust in her. Robin's eyes were filled with hatred! “I was going to tell him eventually!” Eva stated. “It just happened much sooner than I expected!”

  Casey scoffed, “that explains why you were less than thrilled to see me that morning when I pulled up with the bus!”

  Eva tried her hardest to explain herself and try to make things right, but she knew it was too late! Nothing she could say now would make her husband and daughter forgive her. “I'm sorry, I made a mistake,” she said.

  “A mistake that ultimately took yours and my father's life!” Robin snapped! “Goodbye,” she said angrily.

  “Robin,” Eva pleaded.

  Robin turned her nose up. “I have nothing left to say to you!”

  “Eva,” Casey said.

  “Yes, my dear?”

  “Get off my bus!” he demanded!

  Eva put her head down and walked off the bus.

  Jayme was sitting by a nearby tree and watched Eva's spirit walk by. She could tell Eva's spirit was distraught as Eva's spirit vanished into the pond.

  Jayme got up and got back onto the bus. “Everything alright?” she asked.

  Casey and Robin were quiet, and it was evident, they were devastated about Eva's confession.

  Jayme took a seat next to her wife. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

  “I just need to be left alone,” Robin replied as she moved to a different seat.

  Casey gave a deep sigh and began to carefully back the bus back out of the narrow dirt driveway.

  Once they were back on the road, Casey began heading back to the bus garage.

  XVIII

  For the next hour, neither Casey, Robin nor Jayme said a word to each other. They were still in disbelief that Eva had cheated, and for so many years! Casey stared straight ahead at the dark road in front of him. His heart was shattered!

  Robin couldn't stand the silence any longer. “Are you alright, father?” she asked.

  Casey sighed deeply and didn't respond. He heard his daughter but wasn't ready to talk about it.

  “Father,” Robin softly said. “Please talk to me, we don't have much time remaining with each other.” she pleaded the tears began to drip down her cheek.

  Jayme reached down and grabbed her wife's hand to try to comfort her. She knew it was only a matter of time before they had to help Casey with his unfinished business. After that, he'd be gone too!

  “I don't want to talk about it,” Casey stated. “You think you know someone,” he began saying softly. He pulled the bus over on the side of the road and parked for a moment. He was furious! Robin and Jayme have never seen him in that state! “Then you find out everything you thought was true about them, turns out to be a lie!” he snapped! He put the bus back into drive, entered back onto the road, and continued driving down the road. “Jayme,” he said. “Don't you ever hurt my daughter the way my wife just hurt me!” he demanded.

  “I would never,” Jayme replied. “I promise!”

  “Good,” Casey replied.

  “Father,” Robin said. “What is your unfinished business?”

  Casey didn't respond. He just kept driving. Robin and Jayme knew, even though the time they had left with Casey was limited, now was not the right time to try to talk to Casey. Robin and Jayme decided to close their eyes and try to get some rest.

  A few hours later, Jayme heard the backup alarm beeping on the bus. Jayme opened her eyes slowly and noticed they were backing into bus 340's parking space at the bus lot! She gently shook her wife, Robin, awake. “Wake up, my dear,” she softly said.

  Robin opened her eyes and noticed they were parked between two almost identical
buses. Robin was groggy “Where are we?” she asked.

  “We're back at the bus garage,” Casey stated.

  Robin and Jayme looked at each other confused. Then they looked at Casey. “What about you?” Robin asked. “We haven't helped you with your unfinished business yet!”

  Casey smiled and chuckled. “Get off my bus you two!” he opened the door and stood up from the driver's seat. He noticed Robin and Jayme were in no hurry to get off his bus! Frankly, Casey was in no mood to spend another second on that bus! He reached one of his arms out towards his daughter and daughter-in-law. With a swift twist of his ghostly whist, Robin and Jayme's seatbelts unbuckled.

  The two young ladies looked down at their lap in slight disbelief. However, not much surprised them anymore! While Robin and Jayme were looking down, trying to comprehend what just happened, Casey moved his hand quickly from right to left in a rapid motion.

  Robin and Jayme were lifted from their seats and tossed out of the bus! They landed in a heap just outside of bus 340's passenger door. “Whoa!” Robin snapped!

  Casey closed the passenger door and got off the bus. He approached Robin and Jayme. “My apologies,” he stated. “I couldn't stand another moment on that thing!”

  Both Robin and Jayme were confused! How was Casey able to depart bus 340?! They didn't help him with his unfinished business yet! Or so they thought! “How did you get off?” Jayme asked. “We haven't helped you with your unfinished business yet!”

  Casey grinned. “Oh, you've been helping me the entire time!” He explained that a good, professional bus driver never leaves their bus until every passenger has reached their destination! He told them that he was not able to move on until every one of his passengers stepped foot off his bus and moved on. “Thank you, for all your help,” he said to Robin and Jayme. He turned around and glanced over bus 340. “Oh, how I hated being on you!” he said to the bus. “But, I'll miss you.” He patted the bus 340's hood. Then he looked back at Robin and Jayme, “take care of yourselves,” he said as he vanished into thin air!