The Storyteller's Muse

Chapter 19, part 2

When they arrived, Margot was sitting on the edge of the bed wringing her hands. The poor woman's eyes radiated despair. Dressed in wrinkled clothes with her hair flying off in all directions, it appeared she had spent most of the time lying in bed. Spying Sara, she shot up.

"Sara!" The woman's face filled with animation.

Sara stood back. What had she walked into?

"They've been asking for you! Maybe now they'll let me alone!"

Sara's pulse raced like galloping horses. A headache's pounding alarm blared in her head. Who were they? It was hard to think until unexpectedly, a comforting air washed over her...Justin! Closing her eyes, she could feel him close. When she opened them again, he stood next to her in alternating strength, sometimes full of color and next fading to nothing. But his soothing ways fueled her regardless of the strength or weakness of the vision.

"It's him!" Margot's wail sent Sara jumping, so startled she bumped into David, toppling him. That man regained his balance and stood by with a puzzled expression.

"It's that ghost from your house!" Margot whined through her tears.

As Sara rushed toward the other woman, a blast of light pounded her in the face, knocking the breath out of her and leaving her woozy as she wobbled on unsteady feet. She stood back in awe as three wavering light forms assembled in the glow, taking on pastel hues, reverberating until finally they turned into three ghostly figures. Sara blinked in surprise. Was this really happening? Was she going to faint? They were a woman and two men. The lady dressed old-fashioned with flowing skirts dusting the floor and abundant curls piled on top of her head; and the gentlemen matched her, dressing in the same style breeches and waist coats as her Justin.

Margot yelled again. "They're ghosts! I can't get rid of them! They keep appearing!"

Sara's feet were glued to the floor. She looked to Justin and his image was vibrant. With gaze fixed on the other three, he stroked his chin while cocking his head in thought.

David, in the meanwhile, darted his eyes about in confusion. "What are you looking at? I'm sensing some really strong vibes here," he said.  He could see and hear nothing.

"David, there are four ghosts in this room, and I only know one of them," Sara stated through clenched teeth. This was where she needed one of David's easy going explanations for the unexplained.

One of the male spirits stepped forward. "Well, Justin. We meet again at last."

"Yes, this is, I must say, a surprise," Justin returned, continuing his concentrated study of the others. "Emily, I see you are here," he murmured to the woman.

"You brute! I hoped never to see you again, but we do have unfinished business, do we not?"

"Touche."

The third spirit, who had remained silent, spoke. "You pitiful fop! If you weren't already dead. I'd kill you now." He lunged at Justin.

"Father!" The woman held him back.

The other fellow stepped forward. "I see you've chased down another of your conquests." He nodded toward Sara.

Hearing her name slammed Sara into the middle of it all. So she was part of this...pulling her eyes away from the dazzling sight, she scanned the room. Margot sat on the bed, as starstruck as Sara, eyes wide and face pale. David sat next to her, hugging the lady, looking perplexed.   To be continued...

Copyright 2007 JO Janoski