Taken from www.Swoonreads.com Spooky story that shouldn't be read before bedtime. Unsuitable for younger readers! This story is very random, I apologise.
Three paths, three choices, three stories that could potentially unwind. Three chances to live a life, three brushings with danger and death. Is it scary that one of my lucky numbers is three?
It was a stupid mistake running away from the lodge where me and my friends were staying. It was Gemma's 18th birthday, a day that had started off so well but now falling apart in more ways than one. I no longer heard the noises of passing cars, laughter from other guests at their lodges. It was me against the world.
Legend had it that one seventeen year old girl stumbled across the forbidden three paths. She choose one but was met with a frightful end. Her discarded body found the next day by police. No-one knew for sure if she was murdered or fainted and knocked herself dead. Her ghost still liked to roam around from time to time. Gemma had laughed and said that the legend was child's play. For me, I wasn't so sure.
One path lead towards the popular beach, but far along from the main trail and the clusters of BBQs. The second path went on some sort of a loop for loop, back towards some buildings housing the shop and cafe. The final path looked a lot longer and from a distance, there was the famous Mount Yonder, sitting proudly with a hint of white snow at the top.
I could just turn back, arrive at Gemma's again, say sorry and turn myself in for the night. But I was feeling far too angry. I'd come all this way and to give in to some evil teen ghost easily. I didn't think so!
On making sure my long hair was tied back, I looked at each path in turn. Each one had a small object, like some part of a treasure hunting game. Flashlight, candle or oil lantern. First of all, I had no jacket, so that ruled out walking to Mount Yonder. Then, I thought about the beach which seemed the obvious way to go. However, I was sure that was the first place that Gemma and the gang were going to head off to find me.
That left path two: Towards some woodland. The scariest looking one. But maybe, it was going to be a fun trek away from the noise. Clutching onto my small rucksack, I grabbed the candle and started to walk. Loose stones crunched beneath my trainers as I kept walking forwards. The night sky was clear, displaying the pretty stars for the first time since arriving here a few days ago.
Tall trees started to close me in from either side as I walked, looking from side to side most of the time in case there was any wild animals lurking around. It wasn't until I noticed something sharp on the ground that I loudly gasped in shock.
It was an old knife with a cream handle, except the blade was covered in blood. Fresh blood. Someone had been around recently.
"Oh for fuck's sake, are you playing a prank on me Gemma?" I cursed loudly, but to no reply. If this was the gang's way of trying to annoy me, then it was starting to hurt my feelings.
I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just leave the knife behind. But what if it had been involved in some sort of crime?
There was nothing else for it. I was going to have to try and communicate with this ghost.
"Oh ghost, I need to speak to you." I spoke softly, "I come in peace!"
The trees rustled in the small hint of breeze, giving me goosebumps but still no reply.
"Oh ghost, is this your knife? Were you killed by this?" I asked, the lit candle starting to flicker heavily.
Then, I looked away for a split second. Something in white floated towards me, hard and fast. Wearing clothes like mine, a hoodie, t-shirt with some long slogan on it and jeans.
"You've found me." she spoke.
The ghost of the dead teen.
The candle then decided to give up its energy, fizzling out as I dropped it hard onto the ground.
"Yes, I have. I didn't mean to disturb you..." I started to say, feet frozen to the ground.
"I was murdered here," she gestured towards a large rock, "By someone I knew very well."
"Was it a family member or friend?" I questioned, trying to make sense of the situation.
The ghost frowned, "You know that birthday girl Gemma right?"
I blinked, "Yes, I've been friends with her since the age of three."
A small sigh escaped from the ghost girl's lips, "Well, she's a born liar."
Gemma... why could she have done anything like this to an innocent girl?
"Do I know you from somewhere? You look so familiar to me." I frowned.
"I know you very well. You're Lissa McBride or is it Melissa?" the ghost smirked.
My heart skipped a beat, "It's Lissa. No-one ever calls me Melissa unless I'm in a form of some trouble."
"Right Lissa. This is serious business. I knew Gemma from doing swimming together. She claimed that I was trying to flirt with her now boyfriend..." she trailed off.
"Wait! Are you?..." I paused for a moment to try and catch my breath, "You're Bella right?"
"Yes," she spoke, "Yes my name is Bella. You know everything?"
"I do. I remember Gemma saying that you had a fall-out with her and you ran off away from the lodge..." I said, nervously adjusting my ring.
"Well, that's what happened. Except she was so angry that she killed me to cover her tracks. You've had a fight and run off tonight. What did you fight about?" Bella asked.
I thought for a moment, "It was so stupid but it was about some food gone rotten in the fridge..."
"There you go. She provoked you to come out to the three paths so you would run out, be away from the others and she would follow you in an act of harming. You were angry, you choose the woods. It's the same story with you as it is with me." said Bella, "She's one nasty person Lissa and you need to stay away from her at all costs."
"Or else?" I questioned.
Bella pointed back towards the direction of the lodges, "Or else she will kill you."
"The knife..." I tried to say.
"Is hers and the blood," she nervously whispered, "Is mine or was mine. She must have used it again."
I was stunned. Why could Gemma, of all people, do such a disgusting act and get away with it for so long?
Bella started to sway a little, her mouth opening a little wider each second, "I hear them."
I could now hear them too. The voice of Gemma and a couple of random voices all saying my name like a repeated cassette tape "Lissa, Lissa, Lissa."
"Bella, why don't you confront Gemma?" I quickly asked as we turned back through some more trees.
"Because I'm not the right person to do it. You are." she spoke sadly, "You're the living one and I'm dead."
"Dead people have voices too," I pointed out, "You're speaking to me right now, which is very brave."
"That's due to the fact that I trust you Lissa. Now, we need to move, fast!"
Both of us started to run, well, Bella floated more than running. Away from the loud voices, past bushes, rat droppings and far away from everything I'd know. It felt like hours before we hit a road.
"Bella, what do we do now?" I asked.
She looked both ways, then behind, "We turn left. Since there's someone waiting for us."
On turning left, we were met with the sight of another ghost. This time, a much older woman looking confused and amazed.
"Hayley, this is Lissa. Lissa, Hayley. I've got no time to explain but we have to leave now." Bella summoned an old car towards them.
"You can drive ghost cars?" I was stunned to see an old Ford mustang heading close towards where I was standing.
"I had my provisional before I died. So, I can drive around in the afterlife. You'll be surprised." smiled Bella.
"Um, Hayley?" I turned back towards the other ghost, "What happened to you?"
Hayley, the old lady sadly smiled, "I didn't die like Bella was. But I fell down some stairs."
"Yikes, I'm so sorry." I sighed back, "We need to get into the mustang."
Bella sat in the drivers seat, me also in the front and Hayley in the back.
"What is Gemma after?" I asked.
"You," Bella nervously said, "She's after your spirit. Taking the life out of you. She's one of those spy people like you see in James Bond."
"Does she need my parents too?" I added, trembling in the seat.
"No no, she doesn't need them. But they both have some explaining to do." she replied.
Had I really been living a lie all this time growing up?
"You should never have mixed with her or her family. I overheard a discussion about their work which I shouldn't have heard. That's why she killed me. Except instead of being completely dead, I rose as a ghost for revenge." confessed Bella with no pauses.
"So," I spoke after finally putting two and two together, "Because of me meeting you, she knows and that's why she's after me?"
"Yes." spoke Hayley, "I was watching after her."
Bella kept on driving, far away from the lodges and onto the city skylines that I personally thought that I would never see again.
"I sense that Gemma will meet a nasty end." Hayley smirked.
"Oh gosh, what have you done?" said Bella as she dodged her way through traffic lights.
"Ah my girl, you soon see why setting traps is such a good idea." she spoke with a laugh.
I laughed with her, "I had no idea that ghosts can set traps on humans."
"They sure can Lissa. I think she's gone now." sensed Hayley.
"Wait, if you kill Gemma, then surely she'll rise back as a ghost?" I frowned with confusion.
"Oh don't worry about that. She's not going to be killed." added Hayley, "Put on the radio girl."
I did just that and was met with a mixture of horror and relief.
"BREAKING NEWS FOLKS. What was a cold murder case of young seventeen year old Bella has now been solved. After the discovery of a blood-stained knife in the woods by a walker and an anonymous tip-off, detectives have detained eighteen year old Gemma Restly on a charge of first-degree murder. She is also suspected of trying to harm close friend Lissa McBride, who has been reported missing by her family..."
"Shit!" I swore, "What the hell!"
"Lissa, Hayley used her senses to lure your family to the woods. Gemma's confessed, you're safe now." Bella smiled as I felt tears falling down my cheeks.
"Well, you both pretty much saved my life. And thank you, I'm so sorry that I couldn't save your own Bella." I sobbed.
"You have saved me Lissa, justice has finally been served. I'm no longer that angry, jealous ghost. I can now set myself free and no longer haunt the woods." Bella gently patted my shoulder with her luminous hand.
"Look where we are!" yelled Hayley.
I took a deep breath and peeped my head out the mustang window, "It's my house!"
"See, told you that I could drive alright... for a ghost that is." chuckled Bella.
It was truly the last goodbye. What a night it had been, saying goodbye to two new friends for the final time.
"We will never forget you Lissa." spoke Hayley as she patted me, "Please stay safe."
"Of course, Gemma will be removed from my life, as I'm sure she will be from everyone else's in the gang." I nodded with relief.
Bella waved, "Thanks so much Lissa, I owe you one."
I gave her the thumbs-up in response, "I owe you one too Bella."
Watching the ghostly Ford mustang drive down the road, until it faded away from view made my heart sing with joy. There was no way that my family would ever believe my story if I told them.
That's why when the sun rose and before the family land rover pulled back into the driveway, that I sat down to write this story. The notebook is clean, crisp, brand new and smelling of lavender scent. I wonder where this present came from? Looking up towards the sky, now orange and pinky, I smiled. There was my answer.
Thank you Bella and Hayley, I'm going to miss you.
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