Free All Hope Lost by Samantha Dorrell Page B

close. “It’s ok now, it’s ok.” She rocked them a little as they peered
out from their sanctuary.
     
    “What was it mummy?” one of the boys whispered. She shook
her head.
    “I-I, don’t know sweetheart.” She fell silent. She had no
words, no explanation that she could believe for what just happened. She was
too old to believe in ghosts. Wasn’t she? I gave a low rumbling growl again and
echoed my final words.
     
    “Be. Nice. Or. You. All. Die.” I saw the woman nod
frantically.
    “Yes, yes we will. We’re sorry. I’m sorry. Whoever,
whatever you are. Please, do not hurt us.” I laughed then, making the room
temperature drop. The family slid deeper under the covers and stayed awake for
hours, until the fell asleep from exhaustion.
    I gave myself a mental pat on
the back, and stretched. I could feel myself tiring. I had better get home, I
realised. I floated back to the neighbours’ house, and silently wished them
luck for their future. I will check up on you in a few days, I promised
myself. Finding their PC, I hopped back inside and found my line back home. I
let the current do the work for me, and laying back, I enjoyed the fast ride
home.
     
    Appearing at the other end the
house was dark and quiet, but a small glow emanated from the kitchen. It was
Michael. He was slowly nodding off into his arms at the kitchen table. Had
he been up all night waiting for me? I wondered. I entered the kitchen and
gave him a brief brush on the shoulder with my hand. It jolted him awake.
     
    “Sharon! You’re back!” he almost shouted, but I pressed a
finger to my lips. I knew Steve would be asleep upstairs by now.
    “Shhhh, you will wake Steve.”
    Michael rubbed his eyes. “We didn’t know what had
happened. We hadn’t seen you, well, I hadn’t seen you for over a day! Where
have you been?”
    I smiled. “You were concerned for a dead chick?” I
replied, amused.
    Michael frowned. “Oh come on, Sharon. You’re a friend!” I
was shocked.
    “Really?” He nodded.
    “And besides,” he continued, “the last time you vanished
for ages was when you drained yourself. I thought something bad must have
happened to make you disappear again.”
    “God, I’m sorry, I didn’t even think about what you might
have been through if that had happened. I almost thought that was going to happen
tonight.” I was feeling quite drained after making myself appear and speak
to the neighbour from hell.
    Michael shook his head. “Sharon, you must be careful with
your, your, power? Whatever it is?” I looked at him straight in the eye.”
Promise me you will be careful?”
    I saw the pleading in his eyes. “Why does this mean so
much to you, Michael?” I asked carefully.
     
    The look he gave me then was haunted. He opened his mouth
to speak, when a voice sounded from above. “Michael! Is that Sharon? Is she back
yet?”
    “Yeah, she’s back dude.” He shouted back up.
    “Then get some sleep, man! You are keeping us awake!”
     
    Michael gave me a shy smile
and a shrug. “See you in the morning, Sharon?”
    Giving him one last smile, I nodded. “Good night,
Michael.”
    He stood up and walked to the foot of the stairs. “Night,
Sharon.” He headed on upstairs and disappeared out of sight.
     
    As I floated back into the
living room, I rested myself on one of the sofas again. Alone, I replayed in my
head the actions I had taken, and what the outcome may have been. Have I
been doing the right things to gain peace for all these people?   I
must check up on Panda tomorrow. I need to find out what I have achieved, if
anything, so far.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    The next morning, was bright
and cheery. Small birds were tweeting in the garden, taking turns at the bird
feeder. I was glad to see the guys still using it, helping our feathered
friends in the harshness that we call winter. Steve and Michael both came
downstairs; Steve went to make the coffee, Michael coming into the living room
to see me.
     
    “Morning