Crossroads

by Alexie Aaron [Aaron, Alexie]

  “If I told you a ghost from the Martin farm rescued you, what would you be thinking?”

  “That I was lucky he… she?”

  “He.”

  “I was lucky he was there.”

  “You see, ghosts don’t do well with running water, iron, or salt. He was examining the bridge for structural defects when you came sailing over. He dove in knowing his energy would immediately start to fall away. He brought you to the surface and, in a weakened state, watched over you until we got to you.”

  “I seem to remember hands lifting me and, at one point, the tree I got caught up in being chopped away from the riverbank. I thought it was a dream.”

  “He’s a hero, but he’ll seek no reward,” Enos said. “He did want to make sure that you were safe.”

  “Tell him that I’m fine. And that I’ll tell no one. His anonymity is assured.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Is it getting cold out?” Stephanie asked, rubbing her arms.

  Enos felt the drop in temperature and encouraged Stephanie to leave that area of woods quickly. “Spøgelses,” he said, picking her up and running hard towards the car.

  Stephanie looked over Enos’s shoulder and saw lots of white forms shoot upwards out of the ground. They had no legs, but still they moved towards them at an amazing rate of speed.

  Enos tossed Stephanie into the SUV and reached into his pocket and flung something white out before him. He got in, started the car, and drove like a madman until they had crossed the bridge. He pulled over and they both got out. The white misty forms stopped. Stephanie took pictures until the mist dissipated.

  Enos could see more than the mist. He saw angry men carrying spectral shovels and pitchforks.

  “What’s going on?” Stephanie asked.

  “I’m not sure. I have to speak with PEEPs.”

  “I wonder if I could be part of this conversation?”

  “You brought this to us. I would think you’d be welcomed as long as…”

  “It’s off the record?”

  “Yes. Think about how you felt when you realized that Mia was the girl who screamed in the graveyard.”

  “My gut reaction wasn’t my finest moment. Even in Big Bear Lake, there is quite a prejudice against anyone who is different. I’m not saying race as much as how they behave and how they make the community look. For example: Acalan Cabella’s gayness is only tolerated because he’s a famous artist.”

  “I find this upsetting,” Enos said.

  “It’s changing. The more the original populace is diluted by newcomers and new generations, who frown upon their parents’ ideas, move back home, the quicker there will be acceptance of all people. At least that’s my hope,” Stephanie said.

  ~

  Mia walked into the garage and looked around. There were bits and pieces of her past still there. Had she cleaned it out when she promised, she wouldn’t have had much of anything of her childhood. Not that there was much after the brownstone fire. Most of the stuff that was here was from her life after she built the peninsula home.

  Burt was pleased he was able to talk Mia into looking for the book today. He closed the gate and walked in to see if she needed an extra hand on the ladder.

  “I’m sorry, I never followed through and cleaned this place out.”

  “It really doesn’t matter. I’m not much of a garage guy,” Burt said.

  “Baxter would say that me leaving pieces of my life here is a symptom of something,” Mia said, pulling her hair into a ponytail.

  “Shrinks try really hard to make everything mean something,” Burt commented. “Sometimes it’s just human nature.”

  “Laziness, on my part.” Mia climbed up the ladder and started to rummage around. “Got it!” she shouted. She tossed down a green canvas backpack. She slid down the ladder and pounced on the bag. “Got any beers?” she asked.

  “Cheap beers.”

  “They’ll have to do. I’ll meet you on the deck.”

  “It’s too windy. Come inside,” Burt insisted.

  “I don’t want Paula to get the wrong idea,” Mia said.

  Burt gave Mia a sideways look. “Cut it out, Cooper.”

  Mia grinned.

  Mia pulled a few items out of the pack and ended up dumping the thing all over the living room floor. She handed Burt a moleskin book and a manila envelope with a button-and-string closure. She started to pick up a few concert T-shirts and a very short pair of shorts.

  “Dare you to try and fit into those,” Burt said, handing her a beer.

  “I’ve just had twins. You’re a cruel man.”

  “Those look like they could fit Brian.”

  “I used to be very skinny.”

  “I’m glad that’s past history,” Burt said.

  “Ancient history.” Mia found the journal with the battered cover. She brushed it off. “Let’s look at my journal. Inside that envelope is a tri-county map.”

  Burt spread the map out on the counter. Mia handed him the book. “The colored markers have faded a little, but they correspond to places in the book. The eagle sanctuary is outlined in purple,” Mia explained.

  Burt flipped through the book and read Mia’s account.

  Went looking to harvest some Easter moss. Found the place riddled with open wells. An hour into the trip, found foundations of buildings. I wonder if Charles knows about these? Felt sick. I must remember to always cook for myself.

  Burt tapped the book and asked, “Why cook for yourself?”

  “They put stuff in my food at the diner. They thought it was funny to feed me cat food or worse.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “Coming back to Big Bear Lake was very difficult. I thought people would just forget my uniqueness and treat me like everyone else. Building on the peninsula was the smartest thing I did. Once I put in the brick-dust edging, they stopped tapping on my windows at night.”

  “I thought it was ghosts who did that.”

  “Oh no, ghosts would just float in and stare at me. The human element was always trying to one up the other.”

  “Why did you stay?”

  “Murphy.”

  “He means that much to you?”

  “Burt, I didn’t have any friends. I had lost two men who loved me; I thought that I was jinxed. Murphy was already dead. No one was going to kill him. The deed was already done. Don’t feel sorry for me. I couldn’t bear it,” Mia said.

  Burt shook his head. He looked back down, pushed the anger away, and read more.

  After emptying my stomach, I ventured into an open area. I think it was a village square. I wondered what happened to the people who tried to settle here. Indians? The French? In the middle was a stone circle. I sensed that it could have been a public well that had been filled in. I got an uneasy feeling and almost peed myself when a hand shot out of the pile of stones. I backed away and pretended I didn’t see the hand nor the empty-eyed body that followed. Or the six that followed it. I busied myself looking at the moss until twelve very angry ghosts stood around me. They had picked up shovels and pitchforks.

  Aside from the chilly air that was a result of the ghosts pulling power, they really didn’t do much but follow me around. After an hour of this, I decided to leave. I walked past a bent tree and noticed that the ghosts shrank back. I should have paid attention to this as a strange trio of men wearing crazy looking clothes moved out of the ground. They reached out, and I could feel them touch me. I pretended I didn’t and prayed that they didn’t figure out I was a female under the hoodie. I pulled out my cross, and they stopped.

  I ran to the bridge and crossed the river. All but one of the ghosts remained behind. This one pulled my hood off and laughed before he ran his fingers through my hair and pushed me down. I twisted around and flung salt in his face. He disappeared and reappeared the other side of the river.

  Note: The moss wasn’t worth the risk of being hurt.

  Burt looke
d over at Mia. “This isn’t a good place. I wonder if the rangers ever were molested.”

  “I don’t know. I never went back,” Mia said. “This is the reason there are morality rules for ghosts. If the ghosts were perverts alive, they don’t change because they are dead.”

  “I’m not making excuses for them, but do you think they had been a long time without a woman? Prisoners of some kind?”

  “Maybe. I do know that they were trying to dominate or scare me. They weren’t good guys.”

  “You said one crossed the bridge.”

  “Yes. It didn’t seem to have a problem with the iron or the moving water. Just like those bikers who could cross the salt lines, some ghosts drain the others of power and use it to their advantage.”

  “I think one of the last three was responsible for Stephanie’s accident.”

  “Why?” Mia asked, scrunching up her face.

  “I think he meant to hurt her. He was sending a message just like the one who pushed you down. Stay away from our territory.”

  “Why don’t they pick on the lumberjacks?” Mia asked.

  “Maybe they have. I’ll schedule a meeting with the owner of the company and see if we can get permission to speak with the others.”

  “I’ll ask Stephanie if we can speak with her cousin Marsha. She may know if there were any incidents with the rangers.”

  Mia folded up the map and reached for the journal. Burt’s hand landed on top of hers. “Loan this to me for a while.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because there’s personal stuff in there. I had forgotten how much until you started reading about Eagle’s Nest.”

  “Don’t you trust me?”

  “You and I have a great friendship going, but if you start looking at me moony-eyed because you feel sorry for me, then I’m going to have to beat you.”

  Burt’s laughter bubbled up. “Oh, god, Mia, I’ve missed this. I have to admit, after you saved my life, I couldn’t help the old feelings rising, but working with you cured me of wanting more.”

  “Told you.”

  “It was good while it lasted, wasn’t it?”

  Mia smiled and put her finger to her lips.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Mia handed him the book. “Don’t show it to anyone, not Enos and especially not Mike. Copy down the facts and then give it back to me.”

  “I promise.”

  “And don’t go anywhere on that map until we’ve talked about it.”

  “I promise.”

  “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the library and see if I can find those campers’ accounts.”

  “I would appreciate it,” Burt said.

  “Are you going to drive me home?” Mia asked.

  “I’m sorry. I forgot. I’m so used to you being independent.”

  “I could fly, but it’s rather early and the lake is jammed with summer visitors. And if you drop me off, you may see the voluptuous Paula.”

  “Cut it out, Cooper,” Burt warned.

  Mia texted that she was on the way home. She repacked the backpack and downed the beer in two gulps. She belched the ABCs through G.

  “So ladylike.”

  “Yup, but I did hold my pinky out while I did it.”

  “Classy as ever.”

  ~

  Ted was working on the photos Stephanie took when Mia arrived. She dropped the backpack and looked over his shoulder. “Whatcha doing?”

  “Enos and Stephanie ran into some trouble up at Eagle’s Nest.”

  “Burt will be in as soon as he finishes flirting with Paula on the porch.”

  “Are you matchmaking?” Ted asked.

  “No. I think the match was already made. Just neither of them knows it yet,” Mia said. “Burt will make a good stepfather.”

  “But he can’t support them,” Ted pointed out.

  “We’ll have to do something about that,” Mia said. “I expect you to put that big brain of yours to solving this problem.”

  “But what if it involves you?”

  “Me? Do I have to rob another pirate ship?”

  Ted laughed. “No.”

  “As long as I don’t have to take my clothes off, spend too much time away from home, or not wake up with you every morning.”

  Ted pulled Mia into his lap and kissed her gently. “If you keep this up, I may have to stop the divorce proceedings.”

  “Just think of the money we could save on lawyers.”

  “We’re using the same guy.”

  “He must be making a fortune. Let’s send Burt to law school…”

  “I think if we could make PEEPs more money, Burt’s share would go up.”

  “But how?”

  “I’ve been looking into our competition. They make a lot of money by franchising their name.”

  “Burt wouldn’t allow that if they weren’t as good as PEEPs.”

  “Merchandising. There is a renewed interest in you since Max put out a new poster.”

  “Who are you going to sell me to?” Mia asked, shifting uncomfortably.

  “No, your look. Burt’s graphic novel and the video game images of you are being copied by strippers.”

  “That’s only because he’s increased my top digits to mythical proportions. They can’t make a bobblehead out of me because my chin keeps hitting my boobs.”

  Ted laughed.

  “Excuse me, may I offer a suggestion?” Jake asked, appearing as Marvin.

  “Please,” Mia said.

  “Burt has been approached to sell Dark World’s film rights for a limited series. Combine this with the sale of future novels and merchandising, the clothing and the dolls…”

  “Action figures,” Ted corrected.

  “Why hasn’t he taken the deal?” Mia asked.

  “Because it’s a no-go unless he delivers you as the star.”

  “Hoo boy,” Mia said. “I can’t act. I’m a mom. Have you seen those outfits he’s drawn me in? What about that stripper Mike found? She sort of looks like me if you squinch your eyes and…”

  “Mia,” Ted said. “We know there is no one like you.”

  “It would be mostly computer generated. Your time would be six months at best,” Jake said. “And you would be paid quite a lot of money.”

  “Sorry, six months away from the family is a nonstarter,” Mia said. “Wait. You said most of the stuff is computer generated?”

  “Yes,” Jake answered.

  “Could you teach Burt to do it?”

  “Old dog, new tricks… maybe.”

  “What if we made it ourselves?” Mia asked.

  “Independent filmmakers?” Ted asked.

  “PEEPs camera work is some of the best out there in the paranormal investigation shows,” Mia said.

  “There’s distribution and other problems,” Ted said. “We’d have quite a cash outlay. It would disrupt our investigations.”

  “If we had a sample of it to show at Comic-Con? I bet there’s going to be people out there interested,” Mia said. “If not, then I’ll reconsider.”

  “Reconsider what?” Burt asked, walking in.

  Mia popped up. “Time to feed the girls,” she said, picking up the backpack and scooting out the door.

  “Coward,” Jake said.

  “What’s going on?” Burt asked.

  “We’ve been brainstorming how to make some extra cash,” Ted said.

  “I’ve been approached by a group of action-adventure filmmakers,” Burt said. “I’m going to turn them down.”

  “Why?”

  “Two things. One of them is, I wouldn’t have any creative control. Once I sign, I lose my rights. The other would test a friendship that I value.”

  “Oh, I imagine they don’t want Mike as the leading man,” Ted guessed.

  “Something like that.”

  “What if we do it in house?” Ted asked. “Jake, Cid, and I
could work on it.”

  “You’d need a full-time CG animator, maybe two,” Burt said.

  Jake flashed Enos and Ethan’s pictures on the screen.

  “Costumer, set designer…”

  “Ralph,” Ted said.

  “I think this may be too ambitious for us,” Burt worried.

  Marvin nodded his head.

  Mia walked back into the office. “Is the problem me?” she asked.

  “You’re just getting your life back together,” Burt said. “I wasn’t going to tell you.”

  “Research and see if there are studios that they could use in Chicago,” Mia said. “I really don’t want to be away from the kids, especially since this is the first year Brian is in school. I’ll give my conditional consent if they film it here and I don’t have to be naked.”

  “Mia, have you seen how I’ve drawn you?” Burt asked sheepishly.

  “It can’t be as bad as what Mike put on me in the video game, can it?”

  Jake flashed a series of animation cells across the screen. Mia swallowed hard. “I can see there is no gravity in the Dark World.”

  “Mia, you don’t have to do this,” Burt said. “There will be other opportunities.”

  “Ted, you and I need to talk about this. Privately,” Mia added.

  Ted got up, and the two walked outside.

  “If I were a suspicious man, which I am, I’d bet you’re involved in this,” Burt said to Jake.

  “We were just brainstorming,” Jake said.

  Mia walked into Ted’s arms, and they just held each other for a while.

  “I’m not comfortable with this,” Mia said. “It’s not how I ever envisioned my life.”

  “Not to mention the waxing,” Ted teased. “Maybe you can get a costume clause and a body double. Although, there is no one with a body like yours.”

  “Aren’t you the charmer. I feel that if I don’t do this, then I’m letting him down, but he’s not my priority. You and the kids are. I have three sons who aren’t going to be comfortable seeing their mom dressed as a teenage wet dream.”

  “You’re not doing porn.”

  “That’s pretty close,” Mia said.