Page 28 of Ghost in the Night
“Hey? Yes! Hi. I remember you. From a couple nights ago, right?”
“Right. Listen, I have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind.”
He looks at Myah with a confused grin and checks his watch. “Sorry. I don’t really have time to talk. I’m about to give a tour.”
“It’ll be quick! I swear.”
He looks over at the crowd forming in the square. “Well.Okay. But let’s make this fast. Don’t want the guests to get antsy!”
“Remember the other night, when you took us to Calhoun Square? You said it was an African American burial ground with a lot of activity, right?”
“Yes?”
I pull out the blown-up picture from my bag. “You know this house, right?”
Asher stares at the photo for a moment, frowning. “Uhhh, no. Nothing comes to mind.”
I blink. “You said it was the Myers House. Belonged to a woman who died next to the window?”
Asher breathes in and takes another look. “Oh! Yeah. Right. Sorry, it looks different.”
“Do you see anything … weird in it? Maybe in the window?” Myah suggests.
His eyes ping-pong between us, then focus on the photo again. He swallows hard, staring.
“Huh. Well. Looks like there are some lights.”
“Yes! Orbs!” I say.
He twists the photo around as if a different angle will make it clearer. “You think it’s a ghost? Is that what you want to know?”
“Yes, sorta.”
“See, we think it’s the ghost of Tim Truman,” Myah goes on to explain. “You ever heard of him? He was found dead a few days ago.”
Asher’s eyes go wide. “Whoa! No, sorry, I never heard of him. Sounds awful.” He shakes his head. “Well, I don’t think you captured a ghost there.”
“But what are those lights?” I ask.
He chuckles. “Could be anything! Probably just some random streetlights or a flash hitting a piece of glass inside.”
“You don’t think it’s the ghost of Elizabeth Myers?” I challenge him. Doesn’t he see that shadow of a person behind the lights?
He looks again as if he’s thinking hard, then wags his finger.
“You know, the City Council voted to tear the Myers House down a few weeks ago. Another condemnedmansion. The ceiling caved in and just about everything is rotted. Too dangerous to try to restore. But they did mention some old mirrors inside, so that’s probably it.”
Myah shakes her head. “Soooo … you really don’t think it’s a ghost?”
“Nope. Afraid not.” He hands me back the photo. “And … I wouldn’t bother anyone with this. People who don’t believe in ghosts or the paranormal tend to get really sensitive about stuff like this. Especially when it comes to a dead loved one.”
I nod, understanding, but Myah still seems skeptical.
“Like I said, the place is boarded up and a hazard,” Asher adds. “So whatever you do, don’t go in that house. It’s dangerous in more ways than one.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling nervous.
“Remember how I told you that square is full of dark energy? That energy can appear in different forms, like demonic spirits. Those spirits are known to attach themselves to people, especially children. You can end up bringing one of those spirits home with you.”
