The End

Sometimes they all come over to my house just to do their own things. Emmet is making coffee, and studying. Steph had her headphones on, and is gaming with friends. Stevie is working on a song for his band. And I just finished a school project, and am now re-organizing my bone collection.

“You know I ran into that old friend of yours again.” I glare at Stevie, and with static in my voice say;

“She’s not my friend.”

“Right, right sorry. Well it was the same old thing. Her making accusations. Her warning me to stay away from you, or you’ll corrupt me or something.” I roll my eyes, and start dusting on of my animal sculls.

“That girl needs a hobby.” E says.

“What?” Steph asks taking off her head phones. Then the TV flickers to life. It flips though channels, and stops at one. I can feel Charlotte’s presents. The news anchor speaks.

“Thanks to the help of a young woman claiming to be a psychic. The police were able to locate the body of Jonny Tonner. More details coming soon.” The room is dead quiet. I speak one word;

“Sh*t.” Everyone goes home to pack their bags in case we need to leave hurry. It feels weird. It feels wrong. Like the normal world is somehow encroaching on our territory. Like they’re not supposed to mix. I spent my whole life mostly in the monster world, and now I have to deal with the stupid, oblivious police. It’s not fair, and Rachel’s the one who bridged the gap. I start angrily doing long range practice with my hand held gun.

“The missing.” My brother says when he materializes. I know he means Charlotte. I feel her there too. I’ve been trying to ignore them. I turn to her. She points inside. I swear to Gods if she knocked over another glass again like she’s some kind of f*cking cat I’m gonna kill her again. I walk in. At first, I don’t see what’s different. Then I noticed the white letter on the table. I unfold it.

‘I don’t want to be found anymore. Just tell her.’

“She broke my trust.”

“Yes.” Charlotte whispered. I sign. But I can do this at least for her, can’t I? At least this much.

“Fine.” I relent though I’m not happy about it. I’m about to knock on her door when she opens it with a shot gun.

“Do you even know how to fire that?” I ask.

“I do now.” She says, and I hear the satisfying, click.

“Huh.” I say kind of impressed, and trying not to show it. “So do you want to know what happened to Charlotte, or not?” Her eyebrows raise skeptically. I see her going through possible futures. Trying to see if there’s one where I attack.

“Come in.” I squeeze past her inside. “Can I record?”

“You can, but I’ll just make sure it’s a bunch of glitched out static.” She rolls her eyes, and slips her pink phone into her pocket. I think we’re too similar. Charlotte had been the glue that kept us together.

“What no tea?” I ask with a grin. She rolls her eyes and gestures for me to take the couch. She ops to stand. Whatever makes her feel more comfortable. She wears a white button down, black lace up boots, and a light brown skirt. She holds her hand behind her back, but her fingers twitch like she wants to type this all out. I regale her with my story. I watch her face change. From skepticism, to sadness, to grief, and then to pain, and a touch of something like guilt. She suddenly falls to her knees, hands over her eyes. She’s weeping. I’ve never been any good at comforting people when they were crying. I rush over to her, recognizing when she’s getting a bad, vivid vision. I sit on the floor with her, and rub her back, like Charlotte used to do. I can sense her here, and my brother. When she’s done crying I speak up.

“She’s here. So the monster that’s been protecting me. That’s why I killed that Jonny guy. He’s been protecting you too, and my little cult.”

“I’m so sorry.” She says.

“We’re cool.” And she looks like such a mess. I actually mean it. “But seriously stop with the waterworks.” She laughs.

“You haven’t changed at all.”

“Not in the ways that are important.” I say.

“Can I see them?” Charlotte asks.

“Not Charlotte though I know she’s in that general area. You can see my brother though.”

“Brother?”

“That’s what I call him. The monster.” I say. She nods. I point to were he’s hiding, and he comes forward. She inhales sharply. I worry I’ve finally managed to freaked her out. Then she says,

“Fascinating.” She says. Her eyes gleam with curiosity. “Are you able to take a physical form whenever you wish?” He looks at me like what the f*ck is he supposed to tell this girl. I smile. “Perhaps he’s-“ She stop abruptly, and I know her well enough to know she’s gotten a vision. “Oh no.”

“Rachel?” I press.

“Oh no. Oh no.” She says.

“Rachel! What?”

“Um, so remember when I tipped off the police about you.”

“Yes.”

“Well I guess they decided they were going to take you in, and make you a suspect. They’re only suspect.” She says.

“F*ck.” She looks zoned out again.

“Will your friends come with you?” She asks.

“They’ll go if I tell them too. They fallow were I go.” I say. “You should come.” I say making my way towards the door.

“What you want me to join your little cult?” She asks.

“Yeah.” I say.

“Alright.” She says. I open the door, and just as I walk out I call back,

“Three murders, two monsters, a ghost, and a psychic. You’ll fit right in.”