CaNdY

Candy stood over the bar tender. Her body was jerking and her eyes were rolled into the back of her head. The ghost was taking over her mind. She pressed the barrel against the woman’s forehead. Trish’s eyes closed as she went still. When they opened they were an off gold color. Candy pulled the trigger. The ghost had found her, and it had won the battle. She fired the remaining rounds into her chest and stomach. The ghost was dead and so was its newest host. Her job was finished.

She slipped her gun back into its holster and walked out of the bar leaving a stunned, drunk, and confused group of men in her wake.

Candy reached her hand in her pocket and fished out her keys. She climbed into an
old Nissan and put the keys in the ignition. A man with short black hair sat in the passenger seat.

“Successful?” his voice was warm, barley more than a whisper. He held out a pack
of cigarettes. She took one and put it in her mouth. He pulled out a lighter and lit it for her. Candy took a deep breath then exhaled as she started the car.

“I’m alive aren’t I?” The man nodded.

“It’s hard with the younger ones, the ones that would have had a future.”

“Tell me something I don’t already know or just shut up and let me drive.”

She shifted into drive and pulled out of the lot.

“Those things are going to kill you.”

“Don’t make me shoot you.”

“Ha Ha…one day you’ll open up to me babe.”

“Let me guess, you’re the man of my dreams right? Please. You’re so full of shit Ice.”

Ice looked at her with his cold blue eyes, then seemed to lose interest and just stared out the window.

*****

Celeste ran as fast as she could, her small bare feet pounding on the cement. They were after her, she didn’t have to look back to know, she could just feel them. Their yellow eyes glaring at her, their sharp teeth mashing together.

“Please stop! I didn’t do anything!”

Her eyes were blurred with tears. She felt her sides burning, her stomach was
cramped from hunger, her mind was blurry. If only she could think. She knew she
couldn’t run forever, she was so tired. Her powers always took to much out of her.
They were so close now. She didn’t know if she was strong enough to fend them off
again.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone! Please stop now!”

Celeste spun around and raised her arms and swung them forward, it was as if the
world pulsed. The ground began to shake as all of the ghosts grabbed there heads
and fell to the ground shrieking. Celeste fought the urge to lie down and sleep, she
turned and ran again. Her world was spinning now, she couldn’t decide which way to
go. Just keep running, just keep moving! Her long brown hair was matted with sweat
and kept sticking to her face. As she ran into across the next street she turned and
stared directly into the head lights of an oncoming car, frozen like a frightened
animal.

\'I don’t want to die yet.\'

*****

“Shit!”

“Jesus Candy!”

The girl screamed as the car breaks squealed. The car barley missed the little girl.
Candy fought to gain control of the wheel. As the wheels lifted of the road Ice
leaned forward and covered his head. The Nissan rolled. The windshield shattered. It
tried to roll a second time but only made it about half way before falling back. Ice
groaned. Candy undid her belt and winced as she fell into the roof. She crawled
through the windshield and out onto the street. Her palms hurt from the shattered
glass.

“What was it…?”

“A little girl…”

“Oh Christ….”

“I don’t think I hit her.”

Candy stood up and took a look at the damage. The car was totaled. The little girl
was on her knees with her hands over her head.

“Hey are you okay?” Candy edged toward her slowly. When the little girl did not answer she rested her hand on her holster.

“Hey… I said are you ok?” Again nothing. She pulled out her gun. As she walked forward she saw the girl had her eyes closed.

“Look at me…” The little girl shivered and shook. “Look at me or I’m going to shoot you.”

“Candy what the hell are you doing, it’s a little kid!” Ice was still struggling with his safety belt.

“I can’t see her eye’s…”

“For Christ’s sake she’s scared!”

“I don’t give a damn!” Candy didn’t take her eyes off the girl. “Look at me…”

Slowly Celeste raised her head her eyes looking up at Candy watered and swollen. They were the darkest brown candy had ever seen.

“Please... help me…”

Candy lowered her gun.

“Why did you run out in the street like that…”

“Help me!” The little girl’s voice was desperate.

“Help you wha…” Candy could hear something creeping in the alley from where the
girl had come. But that was not what made her almost drop her gun. Staring back at
her from less that a hundred yards, were thirteen sets of golden eyes. Candy
stepped back.

“Ice…get out of the car…slowly…”

“What’s wrong what’s out there?” Ice had never heard her voice so terrified.

“Just get out…”

Candy put her gun away and inched toward the little girl who was looking into the
same golden eyes. She kneeled and slowly scooped the girl up.

“Don’t make a sound…”

“Will you tell me what the fucks going on?!”

“Get…Out…Of the car.”

“Wha…” Ice voice stopped dead sentence. In front of him were at least 10 or more
ghosts.

“Holy Shit…”

“Screw slowly now get out of the damn car…”