Free Ghost Town by Jason Hawes

mirror.” He smiled, displaying teeth black with soot. “With me.”
    She frowned. “How do I know you’re really Greg and not just something pretending to be him?”
    â€œI’m not Greg. At least, not only. When I died—sacrificing myself to save you, Drew, and Trevor, I might add—I carried the Darkness that had possessed me over to the Other Side with me.”
    â€œYou did save us, but considering that it was you who endangered us in the first place . . .”
    â€œDon’t pick nits, Amber. Once we were on this side of the mirror, the Darkness and I merged. We’d been together too long to remain separate. It’s a permanent part of me now—or I’m a permanent part of it. I’m not sure which.”
    â€œSo I can’t trust you.”
    He shrugged. “That’s for you to decide. I didn’t have to reach out to you like this, you know. I could’ve just remained on the sidelines and watched you die.”
    â€œAnd not taunt me? What would be the fun in that?”
    â€œTrue.” Greg’s smile widened into a grin, and his eyes became pools of swirling black. “I’ll be in touch. Big wet kisses to Drew and Trevor.”
    Then he was gone.
    Amber stared at her lone reflection in the mirror for several moments before turning and leaving the restroom. As she opened the door, she thought she heard a soft chuckling in her mind, but she told herself it was just her imagination. She didn’t believe it.
    Amber tried to keep her expression neutral as she approached the table, but Drew raised his eyebrows and cocked his head, as if to ask if something was bothering her. She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. He might not be psychic, but he was the next best thing.
    She leaned down and whispered in his ear. “Tell you later.”
    He nodded, and everyone got up and headed for the door. Trevor remained close to Jenn but not too close. Amber knew he didn’t want to seem to be hovering over her, even if that was exactly what he felt compelled to do. She wondered if Tonya’s death, as tragic as it was, might prove to be the catalyst that would spark a renewed relationship between them. It was obvious they still cared about each other, but whether those feelings would deepen into love once more was impossible to say. For Trevor’s sake, she hoped so. He was a good guy, and he deserved to be happy—as happy as she and Drew were.
    She smiled at Drew and took his hand as they stepped out of Burial Grounds and onto the street.
    Once they were all standing on the sidewalk, Trevor turned to Jenn. “I’m not sure going to the conference is such a good idea for you.”
    â€œI think it’s just what I need.” She glanced in the direction ofForgotten Lore. The police cars and the paramedic van were still parked outside, and Jenn turned her back so she wouldn’t have to look at them. She looked at Drew. “You’re a psychologist. What’s your opinion?”
    Drew answered, but even though Amber was listening, she couldn’t concentrate on his words. She felt a strange prickly sensation on the back of her neck, as if someone was watching her. She turned toward the bookstore and saw two people standing on the sidewalk slightly apart from the rest of the crowd. She didn’t recognize the raven-haired woman in the long black dress. Amber assumed she was in costume for Dead Days, but there was something about her that seemed wrong. She stood too still, almost as if she were a frozen image, like a photograph or a painting instead of a real person. And although she was only half a block away, Amber had trouble seeing her clearly. The harder she tried to focus on the woman’s face, the more indistinct her features became. But as disturbing as the woman was, she was nothing compared with the man standing next to her.
    At first, she didn’t believe it was him. It was easier for her