Ghost Whisperer

Chapter 1

Prologue

            There she was, walking with her boyfriend to the movies. So careless, as if nothing could ever hurt her. That’s what I was like. Until I died. Then I realized what a cruel, selfish world we lived in. No one even knows what really happened that Friday night that my life ended. They say it was an accident. That I was driving too fast and hit a tree on my own. Only I know what really happened and I’m not going to rest until people know the truth. And the only one who can help me is her. The girl now standing there staring lovingly into her boyfriends eyes. She doesn’t know it yet. What kind of powers she has. That I have to somehow get her to help me tell the world that it wasn’t an accident, that’s going to happen again. But how am I going to do that? I’m dead.

Chapter 1

            “What movie do you want to see?” Travis asked. We stopped walking and were now standing in front of the movie theatre. I looked up at him. His short blond hair was spiked at the front and his green eyes stared into mine.

            “I kind of want to see the Devil Inside,” I said. A sudden gust of wind blew my hair around my face. Travis reached down and tucked a piece of my light brown hair behind my ear. I smiled at him.

            “Are you sure? You’re not going to get scared?” he asked teasingly.

            “I might but that’s why you’re here,” I said. He leaned down and was about to press his warm, soft lips against mine when I saw her, a woman in her early twenties standing in the middle of the road. She was staring directly at me and that’s when I realized she was covered in blood. I screamed as a car came speeding down the street, heading straight for her.

            “What’s wrong?” Travis asked following where I was about to watch the death of a woman.  

            “That woman!” I screamed, “She’s about to get hit by a car!” But just as the car should have made impact with the woman, she vanished! Just like that, gone! Leaving behind a cold, ominous feeling.

            “What woman? What are you talking about?” Travis asked looking at me with worried eyes. I looked at him, my eyes filled with panic.

            “There – there was a – a woman…” I stammered. Travis looked at me as if I’ve totally gone off the edge. Bought a one-way ticket to Loony-Ville. Like I should be checked into a mental hospital.

            “Are you okay?” he asked putting his hand on my forehead as if to check if I had a fever.

            “I think I’m just really tired,” I said totally embarrassed at my sudden outburst.

            “Are you sure you want to see this movie?” he asked watching me carefully as if I might start screaming again. Great, now my boyfriend thinks I’m crazy.

            “No, I’m fine, really,” I said plastering a fake smile on my face. I grabbed his hand and went in the theatres only for me to yet again be terrified out of my mind.

***

            When Travis dropped me off at my house that night, he walked me to my door. We shared a long, nice kiss and things seemed to be back to normal, my random outburst forgotten. But no, it’s never that easy. I said goodnight to Travis and went upstairs to change into shorts and a tank top for bed. It took me a while to fall asleep because every time I closed my eyes all I could see was that blood covered woman. When I did eventually fall asleep, who do you think entered my dreams that night? That’s right, Bloody Mary. That night that’s what I decided to call her.

            In my dream (which was more of a nightmare) I was standing in front of the movies with Travis but he was the one covered in blood. He was whispering ‘Help’ in my ear. I looked over and saw Bloody Mary standing in the middle of the road like today but she had a terrified look on her face. She was facing the car coming after her and in my dream/nightmare she got hit. That’s when I woke up screaming Bloody Mary. Literally. My Dad came running in my room, groggy from sleep.

            “What’s going on?” he asked.

            “I just had a nightmare, that’s all,” I said. He looked at me suspiciously.

            “Are you okay?” he asked looking really tired.

            “I’m fine, Dad. Go back to bed,” I said. He smiled and walked back to his room, which was across the hall from mine. We lived in a small house with no upstairs. We didn’t need a big house since it was just the two of us.

            I pulled the sheets up to my chin and tried going back to sleep but it was hopeless. I got out of bed, slipped into my slippers and headed to the kitchen quietly so I wouldn’t wake my Dad. I opened the cupboard and got a glass. I opened the fridge door while glancing at the back door. It was raining heavily and a sudden burst of thunder made me jump. I pulled the water jug out and poured some into my glass. I walked over to the back door and looked around. It was hard to see, but we had a big pool with a Jacuzzi.

            Lightning lit up the back porch and a scream made its way up my throat but only a soft yelp escaped my lips. Bloody Mary stood directly in front of me on the other side of the glass. She locked her blue eyes on mine. It went dark again and I backed away.

            Was I imagining her? Or was I being stalked by some random woman? My heart pounded in my ears and my palms were getting clammy. Lightning flashed again and Bloody Mary opened her mouth and mouthed the word ‘help’.

            “What are you doing?” I jumped and spun around. Dad was standing beside the table, studying me. I looked back to the back door. Bloody Mary was still there.

            “Don’t you see her?” I asked him. He looked at me funny.

            “See who, Arielle?” he asked.

            “The woman standing right behind the porch door!” I cried. Dad walked over, turned the porch light on and peered out. Bloody Mary was still standing there!

            “Arielle,” Dad said, concern in his voice, “there isn’t anyone there.”