My Demonic Ghost: Banished Spirits (25 page)

“H-Hello?” The cocoon stirred at my approach. Inside was the male’s voice.

Quickly, I tried to rip my fingers through the web but it was tough like steel.

“Evan, pass me the blade.”

Evan slid the weapon towards me across the ground, where I scooped it up and carefully started to cut the strings. The webbing felt like wire as I peeled the silver back, working both hands vigorously. The smell was putrid as I peeled back the last layer; this man had definitely been in here for a very long time. The male inside the bundle craned his neck for the fresh air that had been barred from him for so long, and then, blinking continuously, he cracked open his weary eyes against the light. He was old and fragile, thin to the point where he had no fat or muscle in his body. I moved the blade down so that he could step free, releasing his legs.  They moved like they were made of jelly, crashing underneath his weight. The old man coughed before reaching out his arm, asking me to help him up.

As I lifted him onto my shoulder, I noticed his eyes were a tinted yellow.
Just like Howl’s.
That could mean Howl may be a part of the collection, hidden behind one of the hundreds of webs.

“Rach, come help me.”

I placed the old man against the cave wall and went back to Evan. He took the blade, instructing me to get down on one knee so he could climb onto my shoulders to reach the cacoon. I staggered, slightly off balance, as Evan cut the web, inch by inch until the last sheet was hacked off.

The body dropped out like a ton of bricks and crashed to the floor. Evan tumbled off me as we both tended to her, turning the young girl onto her back so she could breathe. She flinched away from our contact and spun onto her feet without any falter. She looked like a normal girl under her pale blue cloak, but I’m positive that we had not just freed another Banished spirit.

She glanced over her shoulder shyly. The hood had been pulled down to cover her eyes and the ends of the cloak were tattered and dirty. Underneath the fabric I could see tattoos of ivy ink, woven like ancient script written across her nose and under her eyes. But what looked like art was actually burned and scarred skin. The girl turned to us, her front half naked so I instinctively covered my eyes and turned away. I knocked Evan to stop him from staring, but Evan’s attention wasn’t on the naked body; it was directed on the blue pendant necklace she that hung around her neck. She reached out and lightly touched Evan’s hair. Without a word the creature disappeared into crystal dust.

“Was… was that a Banished spirit?”

Evan shrugged, “I don’t think so. No mask.” He turned and glanced up into the cell that had once held her and was now sliced in half, “Maybe she was just a spirit, a normal one, who got caught somehow.”

“That can happen? I thought… the good ones go to Heaven.”

Evan shook his head slowly, “Anyone can end up here, not just the bad people or the Banished. Even good spirits can get trapped, too.”

The young girl was beautiful from the very little detail that I glimpsed, except perhaps the scarred skin that crossed her face. Even then she wasn’t ugly, but unfortunate.

“Hey… Evan, look.” A distinct metallic flicker caught my attention from across the room. I pointed towards a podium of boulders where, balanced on top and engulfed in web, was an object shimmering in melted grey light.

We were careful this time to not set off the cocoons as we made our way across. The object shone brighter at our approach and our steps quickened.

“Now THAT looks like something worthwhile,” Evan said. We both bounced towards the light, and without letting our hopes send us squealing, we peered down so find the hooked shape of a key. It blinked and radiated under our chins. It knew exactly; that it was what we were looking for. Evan was holding his breath as was I. He reached down to take it when an unexpected crash spat us against the opposite wall.

The cave shook violently against the attack as loose rocks broke into grains. A scuffed, wild furry boulder backed it’s spine into the edge of the rocks like a cowering mouse. It was unmistakably a body of an enormous earth spider; its legs arched over its body like spears that pierced the ground with every step. Surrounding it, enclosing from every angle edged forward a team of Hunters. Different hunters, ones that I didn’t recognise. They wore completely white robes with hoods pulled over their neon red hair, their bodies vibrant against the golden smoke.

Evan tried to mask his smell by throwing dirt on himself, knowing he stank like burning hair to their noses, but the team appeared oblivious to us.

“Is this why Mother wanted us here?” I whispered, “Are we supposed to … help? To stop them?”

“Listen here, you insect, we don’t play these useless games anymore.  Just return it to us.” The leader, I inferred, a tall man with broad shoulders and a double bladed sword, towered over the spider’s hunched body. It hissed and snapped its fangs back at him but did not launch itself from the walls.  “All we require is for it to be returned to us, little thief.”

Both Evan and I exchanged glances before taking a fleeting look at the flickering pendant. We knew instantly that was what they were looking for.

“Search the webs! Search every cave!” he ordered, and with a blink the team behind him was gone. Each one propelled into a different tunnel with a spiral of harsh white spinning behind them. The tallest Hunter, smug with his power, turned back to the spider. The Sin withered and snapped again.

“And for you Greed, I don’t know how you escaped, for a thing of such little brain power could not possibly break your own cage walls. We will not rest until we find the accomplice that let you out and lead you to it.”

Greed’s screaming filled my ears to the point it became a steady ringing. The Hunter plunge his sword into its chest, giving it a nasty turn. I turned my face away and covered my mouth. The cave walls shivered at its creator’s torture and the webbed sacs recoiled in pleasure. Evan gripped my shoulder and motioned me back.

“We have to go,” he whispered, inching away from the howling Sin. It bled so heavily from its wound that a pool of rusty brown fluid formed at the base of its body. The smell was foul but the screaming was worse.

“But what about-”

Evan shook his head and I could see his tears of defeat.

“We are no match Rachael, we must leave.” He dipped the blade into the puddle before backing away into one of the tunnels. He summoned Mother, who took us back to the darkness of the attic. We both knew exactly what the Hunters were looking for, what Greed had taken. The Staff was within our reach, but without a fight, we ran away. We had lost. 

Chapter Twenty-Nine:

I fell back asleep for only a few more hours. All the while, I could feel Evan next to me. Sometimes I could hear his boots shuffle or fabric rustling as he fidgeted with his clothes, at other times, he was as still as a statue and I had to crack my eye open to make sure he was actually there.

I got up and hugged Evan lightly before heading downstairs to the kitchen where everyone else was already in a buzz. They still had solemn faces, but every now and then a smile would surface. Dean was among them. He glanced up at me from his cup of orange juice, relieved. He was very cute. His hair was a black mess, his jaw line defined and sharp against his slender neck. If Evan hadn’t been here, I could’ve easily fallen for him.

By lunch time everyone had packed their belongings and was ready for the long drive home. It made me smile to think how much dad was really cared for, these people travelled all the way out into Whitehaven to bid their final farewells and pay respect. Mum and Dean were talking across the kitchen table.

“How do you know my daughter, Dean?”

“Didn’t Rach tell you?” He looked at me accusingly. “I’m her boyfriend.” 

Mum gasped as her eyes bulged and I choked on my drink.

“Really?”

“We haven’t announced it to everyone yet, but we’ve been discussing it for quite some time now, haven’t we, Rach?” I didn’t answer.

“Oh well, this is a surprise, but it’s nice to meet you none the less, Dean.” Mum patted his shoulder again, but this time didn’t put any heart behind it, like patting a foreign creature that might have bacteria on it.

“Same here Mrs. Hasting. Wish it was under better circumstances,” Mum looked at me and I grinned awkwardly.

“Well, are you ready to head back now? Everything is packed up here. Won’t be seeing this old place ever again, thank goodness.”

“What do you mean? Are we leaving here for good?”

“Well, there’s no point us hanging around here without… without your father. I’m just going to hand it over to a real estate agent and let them get rid of it for us. Who knows, maybe it’ll bring home a couple of dollars to help with our mortgage.”

I had completely forgotten. I would have to leave this place and go back home to the city where the walls are scorched with the word HAG.
Where would Evan live?

Evan was still locked upstairs in the attic.
How would I sneak him down and into the car with us? How could I even get him out of the house with everyone loitering around?
What I needed was a diversion.

“If it’s okay with you, Mrs. Hasting, I saw some posters around here about an annual carnival that’s happening tonight. Perhaps we can stay a few hours longer and check it out? It’ll be a nice memory to end with after all this sadness,” Dean said.

Mum considered this for a moment, and then grinned in approval.

“You know what? That isn’t such a bad idea. Since moving here, I did hear a lot of chatter about this carnival; maybe the kids would like to watch the shows. I better check with the others and see how they feel about staying for a few more hours.” Mum turned to her purse and scavenged out her phone before heading into the lounge.

I glanced over at Dean and mouthed, “Thanks.” Dean just smiled and winked.

“So… is he okay?”

I glanced towards the attic. “Better, I think. I found that his real name is Evan. He lived here in this house with his two stepbrothers, his mum and step dad. His stepbrothers were actually my cousins.”

Dean leaned back in amazement. “Wow… what are the chances? Out of all the Hosts and all the Banished spirits, you two found each other.” I smiled weakly.

Dean rubbed at his chin, “Is it okay that I go up there and see him? I just want to check on Nicole. I haven’t seen her in a while.”

I nodded and together we excused ourselves and headed up stairs.

The floorboards creaked as I opened the attic door, the cobwebs clinging to the roof now swung by threads. I hadn’t had the heart to tell Dean about our close encounter with the Staff, nor did I let him in on our unexpected encounter with Mother. She must’ve known that the Hunters were going to terrorise Greed, but what she wanted us to do about it, I wasn’t sure.

Evan had his back up against the attic wall; his head was bowed as he fiddled with the CD player he’d placed in between his knees. He smiled as we entered but his brows knotted in obvious dislike at the sight of Dean.

“What is he doing here?”

“Hey… the kid remembers me, too. Nice to see you’re as lively as ever,” Dean chuckled as he knelt down next to Evan. Evan glanced accusingly at me, which I returned with an exhausted shrug.

“Unfortunately, yes, I do remember you. Because I couldn’t let go of Rachael’s memory, I somehow managed to keep all of them.”

“Dean was just wondering if you could help locate Nicole?” I knelt down on the other side of Evan, touching his shoulder lightly. He frowned at me and shook his head.

“She has more than just forgotten about Dean, she’s forgotten about me, too. But
she’s
here, Sabotage I mean, I can feel her moving among the shadows.” Evan tilted his head up as to indicate towards the ceiling, “She’s weary of me; she knows that I’m not alive like the two of you are. Can’t say she’s too fond of me this time around.”

I leaned in a little closer, “Can you ask her to show herself? For Dean’s sake?” Evan caught my eyes, the olive green hues twitching as uncertainty plagued his already troubled mind. I could almost sense the destruction of the hurricane start to blind his ability to trust in people.

“It’s okay if he can’t, Rach. I’m just happy knowing she’s okay.”

“You know Dean,” Evan’s eyes whipped away from mine, “She’s not who you think she is. She isn’t Nicole. She’s just a selfish Banished spirit who doesn’t care-”

“That’s not true.” I quickly rebutted, “Because you are Evan even if you are Banished. You are still you, regardless.”

The serpent eyes fell from Dean’s face and the hurricane subsided, “Whatever.”

Dean sat back, he balancing on his toes. “Parents will start to complicate things. I’ve bought us some more time until later tonight, but the only thing I can think of that will allow us to continue-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the hell is with all this ‘we’ and ‘us’ stuff?” Evan said.

“Evan be nice-”

Dean quickly continued, “I’m just saying... the best way for all of us to stay together is for Evan to hang out at my place. I don’t live at home anymore and my roommate won’t care, I’ll just pass him off as my younger brother.”

Evan gritted his teeth. “No way. I don’t want to be separated from Rachael.” He paused, quickly adding on to hide his already obvious infatuation for me from Dean, “Because of the Hunters and stuff.”

“That’s not a bad idea. Maybe even I can come stay, too. Once Mum sees what happened to the apartment, I’ll need a new hideout.”

“Not you, Rach. You should stay with your mum.”  I leaned against the wall of the attic and felt the dust jump from underneath me, taking off into the air.

“We’re so close... I can almost feel the end.”

Dean spoke in all seriousness, “The end? Hopefully. I don’t know what to expect after all this. Can’t be worse than doing nothing, but I have this haunting feeling that we really don’t know what we’re up against.”

I agreed completely with Dean. Even up to this point it has been one disastrous surprise after another.

“But like you said, it can’t be worse than what will happen if we don’t try.”

Evan was silent and I was suddenly terrified for him. If we fail, I will lose him to the worst possible outcome that there is. He was so calm, when I couldn’t even keep my hands still.

“It’s okay, Rach,” Dean comforted, “One step at a time.”

“Okay. So this is the plan: Evan, I’m going to leave a spare key for you here and once we all leave, you can sneak out and meet up with us at the carnival.” Evan nodded his head understandingly.

“Dean, you and I better get back down stairs before Mum starts thinking we’re up to something.”

“What do you mean by that?” Evan innocently asked.

Dean ruffled Evan’s hair and laughed, “Adult stuff.” Evan swatted his hand away, annoyed, and I laughed it off awkwardly.

“Just, don’t move until we leave okay? I can’t have my relatives find you wandering around the house. They’ll totally freak out.” And with our course set, we went back downstairs.