Free The Ferryman Institute by Colin Gigl Page A

and perspective. The deceased who were most hesitant about stepping through were the ones who saw all their mistakes and misgivings with new clarity. The ones who stepped through with no reservations had convinced themselves of their own righteousness long, long ago. There were exceptions to that, but it was a rubric Charlie saw more and more truth in after every case he closed.
    â€œLet me shoot straight with you, Jack. The form you’re in right now—your spiritual form , let’s call it—is not meant for this world. That feeling you described as being out-of-body? That’s not gonna go away. It’s like an itch you can’t scratch that will only get worse,and while it doesn’t cost everyone their sanity, it gets to almost everyone eventually. In essence, you become a ghost. As the years go by, little by little, bits and pieces of you slowly just fade away, until you cease to exist. No afterlife, just nothingness. You simply disappear. Or that’s our theory, anyway. That part’s been a bit tough to prove, but we’ve seen enough anecdotal evidence of it throughout the years.”
    Sanders blinked. The look of incredulity on his face spoke the words before he did. “You’re being serious right now, aren’t you?”
    â€œWell, we have a more official term than ghost , but yeah.”
    â€œAnd you tell people that, and they don’t walk through that door?”
    â€œSome people leave their physical self with very real and very tough regrets. You can’t rationalize emotions. There are things that can motivate a person beyond their own promised happiness, I can assure you of that.”
    The Ferryman took a few more steps toward Jack’s door until he was right in front of it. With the slightest nudge, he propped the opening further. The radiance that poured out of the door flooded over Charlie. To him, it was just dazzlingly brilliant light, but he knew that wasn’t the case for Jack. The Institute never recommended opening an afterlife door all the way in case the subject didn’t like what they saw, but Charlie rarely did what the Institute recommended anyway.
    â€œWhile I freely admit that I don’t know what’s on the other side of this door, something tells me there are a few people waiting for you who’ve missed you dearly. I can think of a son and wife, in particular. But what I can assure you of, with one hundred percent certainty, is that you won’t find them here. Ever.” Charlie drew a deep breath. “I think it’s time to go, Jack.”
    There was a breathless moment as Charlie scrutinized Jack’sface, waiting for some form of reaction, before the spirit’s eyes went wide.
    â€œMy God . . . ,” Jack said, his voice barely registering above a whisper. Charlie turned to the door behind him and looked, hoping to see something. But like every time before, he was greeted with nothing but that blinding light.
    â€œAmazing, right?” Charlie said. He hoped the expression on his face didn’t look as fake as it felt.
    Jack took two slow steps forward so that he was standing in front of the Ferryman. A hint of amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re a terrible liar, son.”
    Charlie stepped out of the way of the door. “Eh. It pays to be bad at some things.”
    â€œI’m sure,” Jack replied. He moved to take a step forward, but stopped. “I wasn’t going to ask if you were an angel, ya know.”
    â€œReally?” That genuinely surprised Charlie. He had been sure that was Jack’s question.
    Jack Sanders shook his head. “No. It was obvious you weren’t from the get-go. Charlie is a damn stupid name for an angel. Everybody knows that.”
    Charlie shrugged, but with a little laugh. “I guess it is.”
    The ethereal form of Jack Sanders took one more look around the room. His eyes lingered on the muted television,