A Touch Dead

A Touch Dead

Chapter Six





I watch him walk away, frustrated that I barely got a fraction of the answers I had been seeking from him. I wish that I could let it go, pretend like nothing happened and none of this mattered but I know that Morgan won't allow it. If tonight was any indication, he wasn't going to just disappear like the others before him. The thought frightened me as this has never happened to me before. I've never really explored my ability before, just did my best to try and ignore it. It seemed now though Morgan was going to make me explore just exactly what I can do.



I tighten my arms around myself, the cold, bitter night air causing me to shiver. My apartment isn’t far from here, a half hour or longer walk, I don’t quite remember. I'm in no rush to get back; I'll only be greeted by the dark silence of my home anyway. It's not like I will be able to sleep once I get back there anyway. I head in the direction anyway, knowing I'll need to change and get my bag for school. I can always go in early; the library is usually open early for extra study time.



When I get to the door I fumble with the keys, trying to get it in while pushing the door loose at the same time as the door doesn't quite fit properly into the frame. The people who own this building could care less. A floor below us had a leak and they still hadn't paid to have someone come and properly fix it, most of the appliances would break, paint was chipped and faded and they didn't care. Like it wasn't they're problem to take of the building. When I finally get the door open I'm greeted with the same familiar image and smell. At least I know this part of my life won't ever change. I close the door behind me, though not all the way in order to make it easier for me when I go to leave.



I walk past my mother's makeshift permanent bed to my bedroom, all the lights still on, radio still going off. Ghosts will turn it on but I guess turning it off is a completely different story. I go to the radio first, turning the volume down first before shutting it off completely. Then the main lights to my room, leaving only the lamp on my desk on. I pull off my shirt and pants, changing into a pair of black pants and grabbing a hoodie, pulling it over my head. Glancing around me I don't see Morgan, but I know he's still watching.



It's late enough that by the time I walk there I should be able to get into the study hall as it opens up. I grab my bag from the floor and head back out of my room. I stop in the kitchen, pouring a glass of juice and grabbing an apple from the fridge. I finish off the juice, putting the cup into the sink as I walk to the main door. I pry it back open and once I'm out, slam it shut as hard as I can. ”Good enough...” I mutter to myself, turning to walk down the hall. It's not as though we own anything worth stealing. I turn my music on trying to leave my thoughts behind me as I leave this place I call home.



+



The bell for first class goes off and I don't see Morgan enter. He might be late I muse to myself. Must be hard being an identity stealing grave-digger. My eyes stay locked on the door waiting to see him enter, apologize for being late and taking a seat next to me but he never shows. I brush it off and figure I might see him in fitness class. He can't avoid me forever and I know that a part of him must not want to avoid me. He looked curious this morning, probably suspecting there was more I hadn't said. I wasn't about to spill my secrets without a single thing in return.



The next few classes pass by slowly until finally I find myself in the change room, my eyes locked upon his locker. Another no show? Really? Of course it was Friday too, the whole weekend without a single answer. I have no idea where he lives and I work most of the weekend so I can't go searching. There is a chance he might come into the shop I work at but my luck has never been that good.



Fitness drags on, but I can't keep up with the others. I allow myself to fall behind, my vision blurry. I wanted to avoid this class but the requirements for a diploma state I must take at least one physical activity class and this is the lowest level on the difficulty scale. If I weren't so exhausted I could keep up, but running makes my vision blur and my head pound. At least this class only lasts for one semester, as long as I don't fail it.



I look up at the teacher noting how he is far too busy with the jocks of the class to even notice me so I slip away, heading back to the change room. There is about twenty minutes left of class but no one will notice if I leave now. I change back into my pants and hoodie, and then heading over to the sink to wash my hands. When I look back up Morgan is standing behind me, a horrid expression on his face and then all of the lockers start to open and slam shut. I grab my bag and run out of the locker room as fast as I can, slamming the door behind me. I knew he wasn't going to give up, but to follow me all the way to school as well?



I shake my head and walk through the halls to my locker, dropping off the text books I don't need. I expect him to be there when I close my locker door, ready to start slamming at the lockers again but he isn't there. I'm greeted by an empty hallway, and mostly silence. I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief as I turn to leave and walk home, ready to spend another night awake.



+



Saturday morning, I work all day until 6, and then I usually stay late. I don't have any reason to rush home. I work at a small cafe and book shop. Mostly customers come in to read, have a coffee, and talk with some friends. It's a pretty relaxing place but doesn't usually get too busy until late in the afternoon. This morning I've had a couple customers but now the store is empty and I'm the only employee until 4.



I put some fresh coffee on, dumping out the old and then clean off a few of the little tables. I re-stock the lids and stir sticks and grab a book from the shelf to read until another customer comes in. Taking a seat behind the counter, I flip the book open and continue to read from where I last left off. It's the same book I read every time I'm working. Just as I start to read I hear a noise, a book falling and hitting the floor. My eyes slowly come up and lock onto Morgan, that same look in his eyes from yesterday and the night before.



Books start flying off the shelf, throwing themselves everywhere, the coffee pots start to boil over and things from behind the counter start to fly off onto the floor. And then I hear the sound of something being written on the chalkboard and as my eyes land on it I see the word 'Help' on every single board. Pretty soon some of the tables and chairs start to fly around, mostly just being knocked over but then it all suddenly just comes to a stop. Morgan takes a step towards me, pointing out the front door and I can't help myself from scrambling back.



And then he was gone. And I was left with the mess and the message from him. I take a few minutes, taking a few deeps breaths before I try and clean the mess up as quickly as I can before a customer walks in. I'd have no way of explaining this to anyone. It's not like a robber would trash the place and leave me unharmed. I luck out and manage to get mostly everything back in place when a woman walks in.



“Can I just have a large black coffee?”



“Sure, it will be 1.39 please.” I mummer, pressing the button on the till and taking the money from her. She tells me to put the penny in the jar and that she has enough of them. I nod and agree with her, trying to keep up some small chat as I pour the coffee into the cup.



“Someone felt like playing a prank today?” She questions me, pointing up the chalkboards. I groan inwardly, having completely forgotten about those.



“The night staff just love to leave me jokes. I just sometimes don't catch them until later. Thank you for pointing them out to me. Here is your coffee.”



She smiles and thanks me, waving and tells me to have a great day. That's unlikely.



+



Saturday had finished mostly without another incident, and most of Sunday has been silent as well. I've spent most of the day watching movies in my room, or reading a book. My mother is out cold in the living room, though she had been awake long enough earlier to start screaming at me that she needs more booze. I try to drown her out and wait until she's exhausted herself out enough that she passes out.



I'm exhausted as well though, I haven't slept at all since Thursday night. I'm lying on my bed, knowing if I fall asleep what will happen. But I also know what will happen if I don't get a few hours of rest. I do my best to avoid ever passing out, especially in front of people because the last thing I need to see is a doctor. They would take one look at me and know something is wrong.



I let my eyes slide shut for a moment but it seems that was long enough for my consciousness to get pulled back into the woods. I'm overwhelmed with the noise of people screaming and laughing. The pain shoots through my body again and then there is tightness on my throat. I struggle, but become too weak to move and then things start to go black around me again. My eyes snap open and I try to take in a breath but it's still there, the tightness around my throat and it keeps getting tighter. I can see Morgan standing there, a look of pure anger on his face.



I struggle, bringing my hands to my throat, trying to claw what invisible force is there off but it's no use. My vision starts to blur and the room is suddenly taken over by laughter. I try to call out, my eyes falling on Morgan again, this time he's closer, hovering just above me and then the pressure disappears from my neck and I scramble off the bed, falling onto the floor gasping for air.



The lights start flickering again, my radio turning on, the sound of laughter the only thing coming through on it. Things on my desk and shelves start to whipping off, and the word `Help' starts to appear on all of the walls, the roof, floor, even the window. Then it starts to get cold and he's there pointing out the window, seconds before he appears right before me. His hand reaches out brushing straight through me, the sensation making me ill. I have to turn to the side, and vomit up the bile, coughing uncontrollably until he pulls his hand back out from me and once again appears by the window pointing out.



I scramble to try and get up, but my body is slow moving and weak. I gasp for air; my heart is pounding as is my head. The sweat covering my body is keeping me cold as is the temperature in the room and I feel as though Morgan's hand is still going through my body. I hold back more bile and lean against the wall to try and make my way back outside to the side walk. When I stumble out the door he's watching me and then his hand lifts pointing me back to the trail I followed to his body. “What do you what!?” I can't help the anger that takes over me. He's already dead! There isn't anything I can do for him. Why is he doing this to me? I feel as though I'm dying after what he's done to me already.



He flickers angrily in front of me, his empty eyes staring into mine forcing me to step back until I hit the curb and fall onto the pavement. A cold, sickly feeling washes over me and then a cold, wet sensation goes across my left arm. I lift it into my view and written upon it, in what I assume to be mud is Help...Need Morgan. And then when I look around me, he's gone without a trace. The feeling is still with me, the sickness within my stomach has not left. I barely feel as though I can keep myself conscious-let alone move.



I stumble from the sidewalk, back into the apartment building, pulling myself along the wall until I reach the open door of our room. I close the door over somewhat and ignore everything else as I get into my room. The moment the door shuts I slide down onto it, looking over the state of my room. The radio is only playing static now, but the lights are still on and my belongings are still spread about my room. The words have faded from the walls but not from the window, nor my arm.



I need that guys help; I have to know what he knows. He's the key to getting this fucking ghost to leaving me alone. I have to make him understand, see my side. He's involved in this, whether he thinks he is or not.





+



I had managed to get myself dressed, and tried to eat but it wouldn't stay down. I left over an hour early to walk to school but it was a good thing I did because it took me that extra hour to get there. I had nearly collapsed several times on the way, and was sick again once I was closer to the school. I have to find Morgan before school starts, before he is in the public view of everyone else. I'm hoping he comes early, and I think he might also come to school by the woods.



The forest connects most of the town together; a lot of students take the trails to get home faster. Now all I can do it hope he'll come through one of the ones I'm sitting by and soon. I let my eyes slide shut for a moment, but at that exact moment, the flashes of Morgan's death play in my mind, and the tight feeling on my throat returns. My eyes snap open and the feelings dissipate, but I can't help but bring my hand up to my neck. I looked in the mirror this morning before I left, bruises have started to form from last night, and a scarf covers my neck now, until the bruises disappear.



I snap out of my thoughts when I see a familiar figure come out of the trail before me. At least I got lucky on guessing where he might come from. It takes a lot of effort but I manage to get myself up and stop him in his tracks. I'm dizzy and disoriented but I try to shake it off. I can't let him get away from me again without giving me the answers and help I need. “No more avoiding me, I need answers.”



He scoffs and goes to brush me off. “Why won't you just drop it already?” His voice is cold, and his eyes avoid meeting mine. He doesn't want to get involved in this, that much I can see but he became involved the moment he took the real Moran's identity and dug him a grave.



I move in front of him, getting angry at his lack of answers and refusal to help. “I can't let it go! Now tell me what you know about Morgan's death!” I snap at him, desperate to make him understand, make him help me.



The images of Morgan Steels death flash through my mind before my vision blurs and my head pounds. My chest aches and feels as though my heart is fluttering in my chest. Before I know it, my knees give way and I'm crumbling to the ground, my world going cold and black. Not again... is all I can think as the darkness envelops me.



+



Once again, we apologize for the delay but hopefully the length of the chapter was well worth the wait : ) Kayaz and I do the best we can but we work opposite times, she works mornings and I work nights and we also presently don’t live in the same time zone, I’m several hours behind her. But we still manage to make it work out.



Smint45: Don’t worry about the names; they hardly say each others names so we won’t hold it against you. I think you’ll like the next chapter because it’s when things start to get a little more interesting. Looking forward to hearing from you next chapter~



Lisa: We are glad you’ll be sticking around even if we are a little slow :) and you got his name right the second time, lol. Chaise can’t see Morgan at all, only Aiydenn gets that pleasure, lol. See you next chapter~



Midnightsweet: Thanks very much! Hope to hear from you on the next chapters too~





We are super excited that we’ve hit over the 300 hit mark and to celebrate it the next chapter should be out earlier then this one was, three days. I promise! See everyone then~