Free HauntingMelodyStClaire by Ditter Kellen and Dawn Montgomery

shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
    “Oh sure you do.”
    Melody reeled from the perpetual fire, not willing to pass
into that final blazing hell. “What happened to me after the fire?”
    “The house burned to the ground, and you haunted the ruins.”
    “Like Travis?”
    “No. You had no substance, barely a sense of self. I don’t
know why, but you didn’t cross when your mom and dad did.”
    “No substance?” Vague memories asserted themselves in her
mind. They were sad and hollow surrounded by a distinct stench of charred wood
and death. Melody shivered.
    “Travis saved you. For that reason alone I would have given
him my blessing.”
    Blessing? Travis’ voice had pierced the darkness. She
remembered him standing beyond the house, just out of reach. His arms were
crossed and a deep sadness stung her heart.
    Leave. Her voice was harsh and dry as a dying wind.
    No. You have to live.
    I’m dead.
    Not to me.
    She put a hand over her mouth and tears ran unchecked down
her cheeks. Her heart ached. Those words had made her remember who she was.
    Her grandmother continued. “He fought for you. Brought you
back from oblivion.”
    She turned to her nana in wonder. “I remember.” She gripped
her biceps. “He brought me back.” It had been her idea to become whole again. Years
passed in her mind. Forgotten conversations and her growing love blossomed
inside her. “I wondered why he seemed so familiar, how I could love a man I had
just met.”
    Her grandmother dragged her in for a hug. “He loves you.”
    The words he’d whispered so often to her before she’d begged
Kassa to change her form. “Yes.” She shifted her gaze to the burning room. “Is
it too late?”
    “If you cross into that room with regrets, with unfinished
business, it will consume you.”
    “What, like permanently die?”
    “No, honey.” She shook her head. “You’ll never die. It’s an
eternity locked in a hell of your own making.”
    “Nana, I can’t…” She covered her grandmother’s hand with her
own. “What if he doesn’t want me?”
    She kissed Melody on the forehead. “Even when the dead lie to
themselves, the heart knows the truth.” Her arms pulled her only granddaughter
into a tight hug. “Everything happens for a reason, you know. When I saw you, I
knew it wasn’t time yet. You still have things to do, don’t you?”
    Melody shook her head. “Like what?”
    “There are great and powerful things at work with you, baby.
And with that man you left behind. You lived your life for other people. Why
don’t you try spending some time finding happiness?”
    “What do I do? Where do I go?”
    “Follow your heart, baby girl. It knows the way home.”
    The light grew brighter. “Wait! When will I see you again?”
    “When it’s time, you’ll know the way. Now get going.” She
gently pushed her away. “Time passes differently here.”
    Melody’s body slipped away from the scene, from her grandmother.
“I love you, Nana. Tell everyone—”
    We love you too. The voice echoed in her head.
    She closed her eyes and focused on Travis. Her heart led
her, and she spun toward him. Her body jerked to a stop and it took a moment
for the world to right itself.

Chapter Seven
     
    She had a split second to take in an unfamiliar kitchen
before something whizzed past her head. Melody ducked beneath the table. “Oh
shit, I’m sorry. I thought this was my house.”
    “Your house?” a familiar female voice yelled at her in the
dark. “This is my home. Now stand and slowly turn to face me.”
    Melody rose with her hands in the air.
    Kassa stood in a quaint kitchen sporting a long t-shirt and
a baseball bat. Murderous intent thundered through the woman.
    “Hey, Kassa.”
    Her face lost all color and the weapon she held fell from
nerveless fingers. It clattered on the floor, jerking her out of her shock.
“Melody? What the hell! How are you here? You left.” Kassa advanced and Melody
backed up.
    “I didn’t