Putting ghosts to rest isn’t the most lucrative profession but our videos make up for that. Plus, I’d still be doing this even if I never got paid. It’s what I feel like I was born to do. These ghosts used to be people. They deserve rest.
“Pete? Are you here? Can you hear me?”
The air begins to dip in temperature as I speak, my breath making little white clouds around my mouth.
“We’re here to help,” Page adds on, coming to squat near me. “Let’s help you find some rest, old man.”
“Don’t insult the ghosts,” I say under my breath, smiling over at Page. “Hopefully we can leave this one without a single bruise on me this time.”
“You threaten a ghost one time and you never get to live it down.”
I can feel the moment Pete steps foot into the room. He’s still in that weird limbo between this plane of existence and the afterlife, holding onto something here with both hands. I nod my head in his direction and Page looks up. She might not be able to see ghosts the same way that I can, but she’s always done her best to make them feel seen.
“Hey there, Pete. Thanks for stopping by. How can we help?”
We always start our hunts like this, offering help, hoping that the ghosts we’re hunting have enough humanity left not to lash out without reason. It doesn’t always go smoothly but there’s something about Pete that makes me feel like this will be one of our easier hunts.
“Where’s my Anna-Beth?”
I look over at Page. “He’s asking about someone named Anna-Beth.”
“Your daughter? That’s Anna-Beth?”
“Yes. Do you know her? Is she alright? I worry about her. Is anyone looking after her now that I’m gone?”
“He said he’s worried about Anna-Beth. Can you look her up, Page? See how she’s doing?”
Page is quick as she pulls out her phone, looking through social media for Pete’s daughter. I can tell the moment she finds her, Page’s face lighting up with glee. “I’ve found her, Pete. Oh my goodness, your daughter is beautiful.”
I watch as Pete’s form becomes less like that of a phantom. His features solidify as he steps closer to Page, hanging on her every word. The closer he gets and the more Page speaks, the more his form becomes human until he’s standing over her shoulder, staring down at the phone. His last step sounds throughout the room.
“Looks like she’s settled down in a bigger city. She has a husband and a daughter of her own. Oh, look at that, she’s pregnant right now. Announced that she’ll be having PJ before the end of the year. Pete Junior. That’s so sweet.”
Pete’s face is serene as he smiles down at Page’s phone, looking at pictures of his daughter. He looks over at me and whispers, “thank you.” I nod my head as his form changes once more, fizzling out of existence as he moves from this place to the afterlife.
“Nice job,” I say to my partner in crime. “Pete’s no longer here. He’s found peace.”
Page puts her phone away. “Well, that was a bit anticlimactic.”
I can't help but chuckle, shaking my head. “They can’t all be exciting. They’ve gotta keep us on our toes! Sometimes they’re easy as pie and other times we have to drag them into finding peace kicking and screaming.”
Sometimes when the ghosts show no sign of calming down or start doing things like tossing Page and I around the room, we have to call in Page’s girlfriend, Ray. She doesn’t believe in the supernatural which is really awkward as her best friend and girlfriend happen to be supernatural creatures.
I’ve never been able to pinpoint why exactly but there’s something about Ray that puts spirits at ease without doing anything more than being in the room with them. Or at least calms them down enough for them to go back into limbo and give us a moment to catch our breath.
“Shall we?”
“Yeah, let’s get the hell out of here. This place gives me the creeps,” Page says with a smirk. “It’s almost like it could be haunted, Zeke.”
“Gods, you’re such a dork. Why do I put up with you again?”
“Because I’m super hot. And hilarious. And when ghosts want to throw one of us like a rag doll you might as well have a vampire there as bait since I have supernatural healing?”
“Right, we’ll go with that.”
Just as I’m packing up the last of our things, my phone starts to ring. I pick it up right away. “Hey, Ray! We’re just finishing up here.”
“You need to get your asses out here right now. I don’t care how close you are to doing your dumbass ghost bullshit. There’s some weirdos out here bothering me and I need some back up. Now.”
Shit. I look over at Page who has heard the whole thing, both of us moving without having to say anything.
“We’ll be out there in one second, Ray.”
“They’re saying weird shit, Zeke. Get out here. Now.”
We throw everything into our bags, strap them to our backs, and head outside. I can see Page is holding herself back from going at full supernatural speed, running beside me instead of sprinting. I have to take a steadying breath, keeping myself under control so my glamor doesn’t slip. I have no idea who these people are but I’d rather not terrify them with my true face, especially if they’re just a bunch of clueless humans.
There’s three guys standing beside the car, looking between us and Ray. First impressions I’m getting are they’re harmless but I don’t let my guard down. Even if they seem innocent there’s still the matter of them being weird towards my best friend. Plus, it’s close to midnight, why the fuck are they out here in the middle of nowhere?
Ray gets out of the car. As she rushes over towards us, she stumbles. A few things happen all at once. Time seems to slow down to a crawl. Ray trips and to keep her from completely tumbling forward, one of the guys holds out a hand, catching her.
Something passes between them. Ray’s eyes widen and she lets out a noise of surprise. The random guy’s eyes close, like something is being rearranged inside of him, like he’s experiencing something indescribable.
“What the actual fuck was that?” Ray asks, pulling herself away from him and closing the distance to her girlfriend. Page pulls her into her arms, looking between Ray and the random dude.
I take a deep breath through my mouth and my knees go weak. There’s a scent in the air that pulls at my baser instincts, filling me with peace. I’m filled with an ache in my chest, pushing me towards this beautiful man, because yes, he’s incredibly beautiful now that I’m close enough to take him in. Dark eyes, shaggy hair, strong shoulders. Gods, I want to get closer. I want to chase that smell.
Mate.
