My Demonic Ghost #3: Hunters and Creators (5 page)

Chapter Seven:

On most nights, this little town would be as silent as a grave. The insects and birds usually nested into an early night’s sleep, but tonight it bloomed with festivity. Whitehaven had become a beacon of beauty and hope within the otherwise shadowy forest. Lanterns swung between the trunks of massive trees, weeping colours of orange, blue, red and gold onto the gathering crowd underneath. I walked in with Kate and Tom by my side and immediately felt transported to a fantasy world. I was dressed in a light floral dress that fitted well with the summer night’s heat and simple sandals. My hair was left loose and carefully curled. I was consumed by two opposing fears. The fear of the truth about the green-eyed demon, and the possibility of bumping into James again and making a fool of myself.

The moment I stepped within the banners that lined the festival, I felt a serenity shift over me. Like a woven tapestry, the people and the music had merged to become one soul; the food, the smells, the warmth and the children’s laughter blurred together as they bolted ahead. It was one of those moments when you felt yourself lifted onto the tip of your toes, your chin held a little higher, and your heart a tender beat within your body. Tom roamed ahead into the open market grounds, pivoting on his heel as he turned his camera upwards to film. Above our heads and untouched by the noise and light was a thick blanket of night sky, stretched out like a watery painting of dark blue. I felt my mind ease, leaving behind the worries of the demon spirit and all that haunted me.

Now I was free, and my shoulders loosened in relaxation. Everything was perfect, aside from a constant ring of familiarity tickling at the back of my mind where I couldn’t catch it. Or perhaps that was the feeling of someone’s eyes following me? I hadn’t had the chance to look around when Kate pulled me off to the side.

“Come on, we don’t want to miss it.”

“When exactly is this thing supposed to happen anyway?”

“Who knows, but when it does happen,” Tom motioned to his camera, “I’ll be first to upload it onto the net. Everything I’m recording is going live to my site. Say hello, Rachael.” He turned the focus on me and out of shyness, I immediately covered my face.

“Quit it. Don’t put me on camera,” I tried to sound serious, but it came out in bursts of laughter.

“Come on, don’t hide your pretty face. I’m sure the male audience has just doubled because of you.” While still laughing I crossed my eyes and sucked my cheeks in so much I looked like a fish, coaxing Tom into laugher, “Ah! I think you just broke my lens.”

Aside from the carnival wonderland, the organiser and promoter of the website ‘Apocalypse’ had set up a massive stage with booths for merchandise sellers and tents for the people needing rests and drinks. I really wanted to explore the gentler side of the carnival first, but Kate and Tom hurried me into the more wild section of the ghost seekers. A bearded man dressed in skin tight grey jeans, and what I could only described as a farmers work shirt, welcomed everyone from the stage. Behind him, a rock band was setting up and the large stage lights rolled out across the crowd that had gathered in front of them. Between the shoulders’ bumping into me and the ear splitting cheering, I felt like a calf in a herd of charging bulls. It was an atmosphere more suited to a hard-core music festival than a welcoming committee for the supernatural. After a while, I became comfortable among the crowd and the noise wasn’t so deafening. Perhaps my ear drums had already exploded, I dunno. Kate and Tom were both drinking beer which I declined, never being one to like the bitter taste of alcohol, when a hand gently gripped my shoulder. I turned around and nearly spat out the mouthful of popcorn. Thankfully I stopped myself.

“Oh my god…” Was all I could utter as James smiled, opening up his arms to greet me.

“Rachael.” His voice unlocked a flash flood of emotions; my shy awkwardness, rosy cheeks and dry lips that always seemed to happen whenever I got nervous. My heart hammered so ferociously that I started to feel sick.

“Hey Rach, who is this?” Tom stepped around and offered out his hand.

“Err, um, right, sorry. This is James from my high school. James these are my Uni mates, Tom and Kate.”

“Hi James.” Kate bit her lower lip as she smiled, quickly flashing me a glance as if to say ‘lover boy is here.’ I hushed her with a stern stare and awkward laugh. A nervous tickle kept trying to climb up my throat, making it difficult for me to laugh normally or speak without having to clear my throat.

“It’s nice to meet you guys” James always had a chirpy personality, which is the reason why I had liked him so much. Rain or shine, he always wore a smile.

“Yeah you too. Hey Rach we’re just gonna go get some food. We’ll let you two catch up alone” Kate raised her brows with a suggestive wink before she led Tom away. I was one moment away from slapping my palm to my forehead; she really can’t be subtle can she? 

“I’m glad that I got to see you.” James then spoke. “I had a feeling that you may come here.”

“I’m glad to see you, too.” I smiled back when a troubled thought pushed itself up to the tip of tongue.

Noticing the sudden pinch of concern James leaned forward, “Is something the matter?”

“I’m sorry,” I blushed furiously, “It’s just me thinking about when we were back in high school.”

James grinned and nodded, his own mind reeling back, “We had some fun times. Hey, remember when Mr Pritchard caught you smuggling out all those instant hot chocolate sachets from the staff room under your shirt?”

“It wasn’t just me! Don’t forget you were there with both pant pockets and blazer full.”

“Ha, and then we tried to blame it on an upcoming zombie breakout and that we needed supplies!” James bent his head back in laughter.

I was laughing so hard that I had to cover my mouth, “The look on his face was priceless, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone go that shade of red before. When my parents found out I had detention, they were so furious.”

Our laughter subsided as James checked over his shoulder before indicated with a small tilt of his chin, “It looks like fun, do you wanna dance with me?” I looked over his shoulder at the mingling crowd and nodded. He slid his hand to mine before linking our fingers and securely grasping my hand. He turned his back to lead the way, and I had to take a few deep breaths and suppress the smile that threatened to burst free. By this point the band were loud enough to cause a constant ring in my ears and the earth beneath my feet vibrated with every strike of the bass. James spun back to face me before he took my other palm. Immediately I felt small in his big grip.

“You look beautiful tonight” He smiled genuinely. He was such a kind-hearted guy; even after everything that had happened to him he still went out of his way to make me feel good and warm.

A sense of guilt anchored me to the ground. As James slowed I suddenly shouted, “I’m sorry.”

He cocked an eyebrow, “Sorry for what?”

“For all the things that had happened to you when we were together. I promise it’s not going to be like that anymore, I’m not the same girl as I was back then-”

“You think I left because of these so called spirits?” He stopped moving as if the idea stunned him. I suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed that I had said something so stupid.

“Well… isn’t it?”

“No. No, Rachael of course not. That never worried me, not even for a second.” It had felt like I had hurt him as he pulled his head away shaking.

“But, what about all those times when you tried to kiss me and… I had just thought…”
What am I saying?
My face was burning up under my cheeks. I was so embarrassed, I felt like I was stuck back in my sixteen-year-old body. Surely, I had matured enough that the concept of romance wouldn’t make me bashful. 

James’ face softened, his eyes seemed warmer as his brows lowered with a genuine look of admirable humour. “I was just a kid then, but I’m not anymore. Let them try and stop me…”

I hadn’t expected the kiss. My body froze as he took me by the shoulder and his head lowered to meet mine. His breath was a brush of warmth against the corner of my mouth, touching me ever so lightly that I felt myself almost fall into him. Then his hand moved to the back of my head, curling his fingers into my hair and cradling my neck. I don’t know if it was the fireworks soaring above our heads or perhaps the intoxicating bliss that warmed my cheeks, but I felt incredibly happy. I was grateful for the chance to stand here at this moment, grateful that I took the chance to drive down to Whitehaven to see him again. We pulled apart and lifted our heads back. Each pop of colour rained sparks of red, rocketing up from the ground and forming amazing shapes once hitting the deep black.

For the first time in a long time, I felt normal. I felt that this could be my life from now on. With a gorgeous man who’s devoted and charming by my side, and friends who will support me no matter what’s going on in my life. This could be my new beginning. This could be my chance at true happiness.

The heavy tribal drums ricocheted through me. For a moment, I even had to place my hand on my heart, soaking in my surroundings, really treasuring this moment. James was by my side as he turned his face to smile at me, Kate and Tom just a bit ahead lost in their laughter and the swoosh of fireworks followed by the boom of explosion. How could I not want to imprint this moment into my brain forever? I let my ambitions go and just swayed with the music, allowing it to control me.

The dancing colours kept my chin tilted upwards as I watched the birds take to the sky and a lone butterfly linger above the crowd. The moonlight caught onto the blue shine on its wings, flickering light into my eyes. Something strange about it grabbed my attention as the flying bug got closer and closer, till I lost it among the bobbing heads of the crowd. I slowed my dancing when something extraordinary swept over the entire celebration.

Like a spell was cast, everything was two seconds too slow. Everyone was off beat. Colours became sharper. The noise of the crowd hushed so only the whip of the fireworks roared overhead and the heavy vibrations of the drummers thrummed through me. Then the crowd started to break apart. Girls’ hair suspended in motion, bouncing behind their heads as they danced and their clothes moved as if floating in water. Parting the crowd was a creature I had never seen before. Eyes of detailed teal burned into my very soul, warming my blood and stilling my body. It was naked underneath a pattern of colours patched across its skin. It was genderless with wispy white hair reaching past its ears, long arms but short legs, and a face of painted skin.

Despite its alien appearance, I did not feel frightened. It steadily approached me, deliberate and cautious. It was in tune with everyone, or maybe everyone was in tune with whatever this creature was. By the time it reached me a numbness had already overwhelmed my body. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t even react. It had snuck into the crowd so flawlessly that no one noticed it until Tom called out. He had turned the camera on me, catching the moment the creature reached out to touch my cheek.

He stumbled back into Kate, turning her attention to me and she screamed. Like dominos, people were spinning on their heels, completely caught off guard by the creature. It was no larger than a skinny child, but the way its body moved felt extra-terrestrial. The creature glanced over its shoulder, its eyes dilated and nostrils flaring. It then caught a scent that sent it spiralling into madness. It hunched and screeched in a high sonic boom that the concussion bowled people over. The crowd who had so desperately waited for a chance to meet something supernatural now fled from the scene. The chaos drove the spirit into a frenzy, disorientating it. It cupped its hands to its ears and bolted from sight.  I snapped out of my trance a moment too late. People came charging forwards, shoving me to the ground. The music came to a crashing stop. The fireworks overhead started to sound like gun fire. Contagious fear controlled everyone until they scrambled to get as far away from the creature as fast as possible. Unable to see beyond the bodies and legs trying to climb over me, all I could do was curl into myself, protect my head and pray they didn’t trample me to death. A hand was fast to grab me, pull me up from the ground, and set me back on my feet. James’s face was stretched in concern, noting the scratches that marked my cheek while trying not to get swept away with the rest of the crowd.

“Are you okay?” He asked. In that instant, another boy stepped up to us and grabbed his shoulder. Effortlessly, he shoved James to the side like he was a thin cardboard cut-out. The boy then marched forward, his arm around my neck so that I was dragged into a backwards shuffle. I began to struggle, but a voice inside my head ordered me to be still. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught flashes of red whipping around the crowd, but I couldn’t be sure, they look like mere blotches.

The boy that clasped me to him quickly turned my chin up. A face of soft tan skin, warm walnut eyes underneath blood red hair spiked in heavy gel peered down at me. Yet as soon as he saw me, his glare tightened.

“Chaos!” He barked as a younger boy swooped to his side. The man shoved me into Chaos’ chest abruptly. “Get her out of here!”

Within the depths of the crowd a woman’s voice called up, “I can’t get them all! Too many are escaping.” I looked over my shoulder and spotted a woman with sunset hair; harsh red at the roots and fading towards golden yellow near the ends, who was interweaving through the masses. She showered them under some sort of white dust that was putting them out. I quickly shifted my gaze back to the small white haired alien, but it had disappeared.