THE IMPOSSIBLE DEATH

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_{Image by peter_pyw}

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Ghosts cannot be murdered. Or so I thought.

I stared at the pale, semi-translucent young man floating above me. He winked at me and then beamed. I snorted, shook my head and walked to the kitchen table.

"I need coffee," I murmured to myself.

"It's not ridiculous. Don't you believe me? I was murdered as a ghost and I need your help to stop him…"

My attention travelled as he spoke. I thought about the truck that was bringing my chairs.

"They need to be on their way by now." I took a sip of the coffee I made and let it burn my tongue. Some people chose to let their coffee cool a bit, but not me. I drank it hot and let it burn me. It felt good.

"You're not listening." The young man folded his arms. His lips folded into what looked like a pout.

I snorted. So a ghost can pout? Amazing.

"I heard everything you said." I walked to the living room. His eyes followed me as I did. He appeared in front of me, his eyes wide with anticipation.

I'm about to crush him. I thought grimly.

"No." The ice in my tone caused him to freeze. Disappointment spread on his face.

This is more like it. Now, he'll leave me alone.

"But why?" He whined. A light smile formed on my face. I wiped it before it could bloom. He reminded me of my old self.

The old Eddie.

"Because I don't want to." I hummed and walked to my room.

"I don't understand. You're not scared of me. You're not even sad for me. What kind of person are you!" I winced as his question brought flashes of memories I spent years trying to bury.

I leaned on the wall and let it consume me. Screeches filled my ear, forcing me to break down, trying to break through the wall I spent years building.

I sank to the ground and gritted my teeth.

It won't happen again.

Tears welled in my eyes as the memories taunted me, trying to make me feel pain but I refused to let them win. I sat there, breathing and holding on to my will to never break till the memory faded.

I let out a breath and wiped my eyes. I looked around me but didn't see him.

"He's gone." I nodded my approval and walked to my room. I pushed open the door, and as I was about to enter, the smell of burning wood filled the air. The lights flickered and goosebumps popped on my skin.

"What do you want?" I growled. He popped up again. His cheery nature felt subdued. "I'm sorry." He said in a small voice.

"I didn't know that'll trigger you." Rage erupted in my heart. "I wasn't triggered." I spat.

He nodded.

"Okay. Can you please help me? When you do, I'll leave you alone. You won't see or feel me. I'll be out of your hair." The plea in his tone softened my heart a bit.

"You'll leave me alone, right? Promise?" His mood brightened and he nodded vigorously.

"I promise!"

"Okay. Let's go in. Tell me what I need to do."

"That's what happened." He shrugged. A thought ran through my mind as I stared at him.

"You're 23 right?"

He nodded. I sighed and forced myself to swallow.

I am 23.

The summary of his words ran through my mind and squeezed through the wall I had erected. Everything he went through was exactly what I went through but instead of him being a bitter, cold young man like I was, he was cheerful. Too cheerful, even.

"I'll help you." I cleared my throat. "Let's go talk to that Sheriff." He nodded and disappeared and I changed into presentable clothes.

I stole a glance at the mirror as I did. My face looked tired and my black hair looked scruffy. A jaded look filled my eyes, it echoed the anger and bitterness in my heart.

I sighed and reached for my coat then left the room.

"So what are we going to tell him?" He popped back to ask. I shrugged on my coat and turned to him. "I'll talk to him myself."

He shot me an unsure look that prompted a smile on my face. "Right. Okay."

I walked to the Sheriff's house and we talked. I talked to him about the ghost in my house and he opened up to me.

"So why do you do it?"

"Do what?" I shot a look at him and he sighed. "I do it…" He paused. He let out a breath and said, "I do it because I want to."

I glanced sharply at him. "You have to understand. It's the family's tradition."

"Is it your family's tradition to wipe out an entire generation and torment them even in death?" The coldness of my tone caused him to widen his eyes.

"We…We… We let some escape." He squeaked. I glared at him. "Just so you can continue the cycle, right? You need to stop."

"Why do I need to?" I leaned closer and whispered something to him. It made him shiver. He dropped to the ground and grabbed my legs. "I'll stop. I promise you I'll stop. You'll never see me in your house, ever. Please spare me!"

I shrugged his hands off my legs and walked out of his house.

He appeared once I got back home.

"I did it. He won't ever bother you again."

"Thank you."

The tone in his voice made me glance in his direction. I turned and watched in horror as his light started fading.

"Your light is-"

"I know." A soft smile lit up his face. Realization hit me and it caused my chest to hurt. Even with the pain in my chest, a smile spread on my face and I let it happen.

I watched him fade into nothing with a smile on my face. The first of many.

Thanks for reading.

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Here's my entry to the inkwell Fiction prompt week #131

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