I stood on the lawn facing the main buildinga large, redbrick building with a wing on either side of the central block and a large white domed-roof tower. It had staging and construction materials piled up in front of it. The town was in the process of reclaiming as much land and buildings as they could, turning them into offices and public spaces.
Because what could possibly go wrong when disturbing the ghosts of more than a centurys worth of mental patients?
On the light post near my head someone had recently stapled a poster: One Night OnlyDead Babies!
I frowned. Why would anyone in their right minds want to see deceased infants? In my experience that kind of thing was very disturbing to the living. As a ghost, a baby was just another ghost. I hadnt seen one myselfthey tended to move on quickly.
Oh. Wait. Dead Babies. Yes, this was a musical band that Lark enjoyed listening to. I remembered dancing around our bedroom one night pretending to play a guitar while she sang into a hairbrush. I smiled at the memory. We didnt do things like that anymore. Lark was always with Ben, or there were other people around. The times we were alone were rare and usually when she had homework to do, or needed to sleep. I would never actually say it to Lark, but sometimes I wished we could go back to a time when she didnt have friends, and people stayed away because they thought she was crazy.
Dead Babies was going to be holding a concert here at Haven Crest on Halloween night. Id heard Lark and Ben talk about a concert that Lark proclaimed was a farking bad idea. This had to be it. All that music and energy at a place like Haven Crest? The dead wouldnt be able to resist, and there would be so many living to interact withwho wouldnt think anything of a peculiarly dressed stranger dancing next to them. It would be Halloween, after all.
I would have to attend this concert. It might be fun. Or dangerous. If I was lucky, maybe both. All those warm, breathing bodies, ripe with fear, practically begging to be terrified. Delicious.
Hello.
I didnt jump. Its a well-known fact that ghosts dont scare easily. I turned my head. Standing there beneath the lamp across the drive from me was a boy who looked to be a little older than I was. From the way he was dressed, Id say he was actually a century older than I was. Young men didnt wear suits much anymore, especially not jackets with tails.
Hi, I said.
Hands in his pockets, he crossed the pavement toward me. He was tall and pale with thick black hair and bright blue eyes. He had a nice smilethe sort that made my heart flutter. I might not actually be alive in this dimension, but I was fully intact in my own. Even if my heart didnt actually beat, I was still capable of the sensation of physical response.
I havent seen you around here before, he remarked.
I folded my arms over my chest like my sister did whenever she felt defensive. I havent seen you, either.
He stopped right in front of me, still smiling. Im Noah.
Wren.
His left eyebrow lifted. An unusual name. One Ive heard before. You wouldnt be the ghost who helped destroy Josiah Bent?
I stiffened. Bent had been a terrible creature, and hed hurt Larksourfriends. Because of that, and because I believed he needed to be destroyed, it hadnt occurred to me that anyone at Haven Crest might harbor resentment for us getting rid of him.
But I wasnt afraid, and I wasnt going to lie. Yes.
His grin widenedhe had nice teeth. I have to thank you for that. Bent was a first-class basuh, scoundrel.
You can say bastard in front of me. Women arent considered delicate creatures anymore.
His smile turned rueful. That is a pity. Still, Im happy to see that the loss doesnt extend to beauty nor grace.
Was that a compliment? Are you flirting with me?
Noah leaned a little closer. Perhaps. Is it working?
I think so. I smiled at him. I liked this game. It was fun, and it made me feel silly and light. Maybe you could do it some more just to be certain.
His dark eyes brightened. They were like a night skyI could see stars reflected in them. Ive met many girls on these grounds, and youre the first with whom I wanted to flirt.
I laughed. I dont believe that.
Noahs head tilted as he shot me a bashful look. Fair enough, but youre the first one I hoped would flirt back.
Oh, he was good. Lark wouldnt trust him. In fact, I could hear her making retching noises in my head. But my sister wasnt there. I was alone with a cute boy who wanted to spend some time with me, and there wasnt any drama around it. We were both dead, so what was the worst thing that could happen?
I smiled. I dont really know how to flirt.
He made a clucking sound with his tongue. For shame. I would be happy to instruct if you are in want of a teacher.
We were so close I could feel his spectral energy mingling with mine. It was like a warm breath on bare skin. We werent tangible to the living, or in their worldunless we manifestedbut to each other we were solid. Real.
My gaze drifted to his mouthhe had perfect lipsbefore rising to meet his. God, those eyes! Do you really think you could teach me? I asked with a smile.
He arched a brow. I think you have a natural talent for it.
I laughed. Maybe youre just so good that Im learning already.
A bright smile parted his lips. That may be true. He offered his hand. Would you care to dance with me?
I said the words that Id heard said countless times in romantic moviesThere isnt any music.
As though on cue, the sound of a cello and violin playing together in perfect harmony drifted around us, soft as a breeze.
How did you do that? I asked, looking about. I actually expected to see a couple of ghosts nearby, playing for us.
When youve been around as long as I have been, you learn how to tap into lingering spectral energy.
I nodded. You found a looper.
A looper was a common kind of ghostthe kind that are stuck, either knowingly or unaware, in a particular moment or action. Some are doomed to jump off that bridge night after night, or walk the same stretch of road, scream the same blood-chilling scream. Theyre like ghost-zombies, mindless and driven only by compulsion. Sad, really.
There are quite a few of them here, he said. Ive just brought them a little closer. Im not hurting them.
The concern in his tone made me like him more. I hadnt thought you were.
Noah looked relieved. Youll dance with me, then?
I nodded. Im not very good. Ive never really learned.
Ah. He grinned. Something else for me to teach you. He held out his hand. I took it and put my other hand on his shoulder as his arm went around my waist.
Just look into my eyes and follow me, he instructed.
I did. The next thing I knew we were whirling and twirling aroundeasier to do when your feet didnt have to touch the ground. Following really wasnt all that difficult once I realized there was a pattern to the steps. It was fun.
There were ghosts in the windows of nearby buildings watching us. Some even came outside, but they didnt approach us. A few found partners or danced by themselves, but they didnt try to interrupt. Noah spun me over the top of the security patrol car as it drove by, and I laughed as we flew up into the air.
Lark reached out to me an hour or so later. It wasnt a summons, just a gentle prod to make sure I was all right. We really did have the whole twin-ESP thing going on, but I didnt know if it was because we were twins or because I was dead. The why wasnt really important, it was convenient to be able to feel one another when we werent together. My sister had a habit of getting into troublethough shed probably say the same about me.
I let her know I was fine, and she seemed to respect that because she didnt summon mea command that I didnt seem to be able to ignore, and Lark only used it when it was urgent. She was probably with Ben anyway.
Whats it like to have lived? I asked as we danced.
His smile seemed almost sad as he whirled me around the chimneys of one of the older buildings. Terrible and wonderful. Anxious and joyous. Things hurt and stink and rot. And then, youll find the most perfect flower, or watch the sunrise, and every pain will have been worth it.
I felt hollow inside. I wish I could experience it.
He looked me in the eye. My dear girl, you dont have to be alive to live. There are plenty of living people in this world who sleepwalk through it and never hate or love any part of it. You are more alive than almost anyone Ive ever known.
Noah and I danced and talked some more. We flirted and we laughed. And then, the sun peeked its head up over the horizon.
We were sitting beneath an old tree that still had most of its leaveswhich were almost as dark a red as my hair. Noah lifted his head.
You should go, he said. Your sister will wonder where youve been. Of course he knew about Lark if he knew who I was.
He was right. Shed worry if I wasnt there when she woke up, even though she wouldnt be up for a while yet. It was Saturday, after all.
Is the daylight difficult for you? I asked. It was a known fact that most ghosts were weakened by the sun. I wasnt one of them, though I did feel more alive at night.
He glanced awayas though it was something to be ashamed of. Yes. Im sorry.
I placed my hand over the one resting on his thigh and gently squeezed. Dont be.
Suddenly, his face was right there in front of mine, and his fingers touched my cheek as though I was made of the most delicate glass. If I could I would spend all the hours of this day and the next, and all the others that follow, in your company.
My throat tightened. Lark would have thought of something witty to say at such a time. Me? Not so much. Me, too.
His face brightened. He rose to his feet, helping me stand at the same time. He held both my hands in his. Will I see you again tonight?
I nodded. Yes. If you want.
I can think of nothing that would give me more pleasure.
He talked like something out of a romance novellike Mr. Darcy. I loved it. I grinned. Well, I would hate to deny you.
A slow smile curved his perfect lips. I was rightyou do have a natural talent for flirting. His smile faded. I must go. Until tonight.
I started to say something, but he cut me off by pressing his mouth to mine in a quick, firm kiss. Then, he was gone, leaving me standing there, stunned.
I pressed my fingers to my mouth and smiled. I felt lightridiculously happy. Who knew that boys held such power in their lips?
I spun around, laughing out loud as I whisked myself away from Haven Crest. As I drifted away I saw two leaves fall from the tree. They drifted down to the ground where Noah and I had sat. They each fell alone but ended up together on the grass, stems entwined. Somehow, theyd found each other.
I danced all the way home.
LARK
I woke up late, a little sore from the fight with Daria, but otherwise fine. I would have been up earlier, but Id stayed out late with Ben. Memories of how wed passed the time made me warm all over. God, that boy knew how to kiss. Where to touch...
What the hell was that sound?
Slowly, I pushed myself up onto my elbows and looked out into the dimness of my room. There was Wren dancing and singing under her breath in front of my mirror. She kept changing her outfits and hairstyles like a movie montage. All she had to do was think it, and she could look it. I hated that about her. It took me forty minutes to get ready. It took her four seconds.
Id never seen her like this. She was grinning like an idiot, and Im pretty sure she was singing a Taylor Swift song. She was also wearing a dress exactly like the one Belle wore to dance with Beast in the Disney movie.
That yellow clashes with your hair, I grumbled, beating down the blankets.
She yelped, and so did I. What the hell? Id never startled her before.
Are you okay? I asked, frowning at her. She looked...sheepish. I guess I would be, too, if Id been caught in that dress.
Im fine, she chirped. Just bored waiting for you to wake up. Its about time.
My gaze narrowed. There was definitely something up with her. Where did you end up last night? I was surprised you werent here when I got home.
She shrugged and looked away. I went to the Shadow Lands for a while. Nothing exciting.
My ass. But, hey, if she didnt want to talk about it, she didnt want to talk about it. I didnt like it when she nagged me, so I wasnt going to nag her.
Except... Youd tell me if you were in trouble, right? Like if something awful happened?
She frowned, dark red brows lowering over eyes that were exactly like mine. Of course. Just because I wasnt with you doesnt mean something terrible happened.
But something had. I was willing to bet it was Kevin. Hed left the dance early, too. At the time Id assumed a high school dance wasnt all that interesting for a guy in college, but now I suspected hed run off to hang out with my sister. If he broke her heart, I was going to break his head.
Why are you looking at me like that? Wren demanded, the ball gown melting away into leggings and a long, slouchy sweater.
Like what?
Like you want to punch me in the face.
Sorry. Its not you Id like to punch. I threw back the covers. Gotta pee.
She came into the bathroom with me, phasing through the wall. Ghosts didnt have the same personal boundaries as the living. Wren never had a full bladder, the cow, so she didnt get that emptying it was often a private thing.
Did you have a good time last night? she asked, sticking her fingers through the shower curtain as she turned her back to me. At least she gave me a little privacy.
I didobviously after we got rid of Daria.
Wren frowned. She looked disappointed. I was so sure that it was her love for Mr. Fisher that kept her here, not revenge.
When love goes bad, it goes bad. Happens all the time. I flushed and washed my hands. Not like they had a chance at happiness with her being a ghost.
You know, for a girl with a boyfriend, youre terribly cynical about love.
No, Im not. I pulled on my pink fuzzy robe. I just believe it works better if both people are on the same side of the veil. I gave her a pointed look, hoping my meaning hit home.
She thought about it. Well, that certainly makes intercourse easier.
I stared at her. Gaped, actually. What?
Wren looked at me like I was slow. Intercourse. You know, interaction between two people.