And now we have chapter 4. This one is pretty centered on Ryo. It has a sort of scary feeling to it near the beginning I guess but not really that bad. The important part is the further story and character development and the introduction to a new enemy. It seems next chapter will start with a fight.
Chapter 4: The Not So Life of a Ghost + Possession
Ryo Slowly pushed the creaky door to the large house open. She stopped frequently because of the noise made by the rusty old hinges. Even though she know that the chances of getting cough were little to none she was still worried. It was in her nature to be a little careful in pretty much any matters that did not pertain to Anna’s safety, at which times she was incredibly reckless. She was even a little reckless the first time she met Anna, but thankfully it had paid off that time with a new good friend. Ryo turned around for a moment and looked behind her. The backyard to the old house was overrun by long grass and weeds. It had not been taken care of for years, which was probably because no one had lived here for many years. She stopped for another moment and reminisced about when she had lived here so long ago. She was just a kid and spent some time at the old two story house. She was not sure what brought her back to this out of the way place. But after XE had broken her sword she felt like she needed some help, and in her past she always remembered finding help in this place whenever she needed it. Realizing that she was just standing there in the doorway of a house that she was no longer allowed to be in she quickly rushed inside and shut the door with a bang.
Once inside the first thing that cough her eye was one of the only pieces of furniture that still remained from when she lived there, a kitchen table just inside the back entrance. She looked at it for a moment remembering something that happened when she was little. For a moment she envisioned a glass of water and a towel sitting on the edge of the table. It had happened so many times when she was a kid. Her parents where gone working most of the time and she was home alone a lot. Despite this fact she never really felt lonely. At first she just wrote off this feeling as a sense of independence, most kids that had to spend a lot of time alone would get like that. But eventually she stated to realize that it was something more. Even when she knew she was alone she always felt another presence around her. Soon strange things started happening. The first of which had to do with the kitchen table. Even as a kid she would practice with her sword. One day after practicing in the backyard she entered the house and sitting there on the table where a glass of water and a towel. This frightened her at first because she was the only one home at the time. After it happened several more times she gave up and started using the items. And it just kept happening, eventually she just got used to it. Ryo shook her head and continued past the hall to the staircase near the front door.
Once she reached the staircase she stopped in place again as she watched a scene from her past replayed before her eyes. There she was as a young girl, sleepily yawning and walking down the second floor hall with a small blanket in her hands. She had just gotten up and was heading to the kitchen to get some breakfast. With her parents gone as usual she was distracted with thoughts of what she should make and accidentally tripped over her blanket at the edge of the stairs. When it first happened she had no idea why she did not get hurt. As she fell down the stairs she suddenly felt this warm feeling wrapping around her. Before she knew it she was at the bottom of the staircase on her back, unhurt. At the time she was so happy to be ok that she didn’t even give it much though. This time while watching the scene from third person she was able to see more then she could before. As her child self reached the edge of the steps and began to fall Ryo almost yelled out to her, but it was too late, she stumbled and fell before reaching the first step. As the image fell forward it closed its eyes and cringed right before smacking its head into the third step in line, but it never happened. They young Ryo suddenly began to glow ever so slightly, I kind worm glow appeared and surrounded her entire body. The worm pink glow continued to surround young Ryo as she fell down the stairs and hit many of the steps, but did not seem to notice at all. Before reaching the bottom the glow slowly lowered her to the floor and dissipated. The image vanished from Ryo’s sight and she blinked many times to shake the feeling from her head. It was so weird seeing it happen like that after all these years that she had no idea how to react, other than to continue up the stairs and into the hallway above.
Once she arrived at the second floor Ryo walked straight for the room on the far end to the left. Arriving in front of the bedroom door she stopped for a moment. This was the entrance to her old room and the feeling of nostalgia she got from standing in front of it was incredible. She stood there for a long time before she finally reached out and grabbed the doorknob, but the moment she touched it she felt a chill run down her spine. Somehow she know the moment she opened that door something would happen to change her life forever. It was just a feeling she had deep down in her soul, and with that feeling and another chill in her spine she turned the door handle and pushed the door open with a sudden shove. The door swung open and hit the wall with a bang and startled the room’s only occupant. In a room void of furniture of any kind and bare walls sat a single person. In the middle of the floor was a girl with bright pink hair that reached down to the middle of her back, she sat in the middle of the floor wearing a pink dress. The floor covered with a thick layer of dust was completely undisturbed around her. The two girl’s eyes met and Ryo felt a familiar feeling, much like when she had fallen down the stairs as a kid. She also realized that the girl who looked to be about 12 years old was not as much sitting on the floor, as floating above it.
The girl and the ghost watched each other for a long time, neither willing to break the silence. Finally the ghost girl broke the silence, looking up at the person in the doorway she said “Ryo?” Ryo unable to speak just shook her head up and down in response. There was another brief pause broken again by the ghost girl. She suddenly jumped to her feet and half running half floating rushed into Ryo with smile on her face. Ryo was so stunned that she could not move and the girl ran right into her and to her further surprise actually made contact. The girl wrapped her arms around Ryo’s waist for a moment and hugged her, the girls shoulders shook a little bit as she seemed to be crying. Although her shirt or coat where not getting wet Ryo could almost feel the girls sadness seeping into her as she sobbed. On that same note it did not really seem like the girl was holding onto Ryo physically because she was actually threw her clothing as she hugged her, but instead seemed to be holding on to her spirit instead. Not knowing what else to do Ryo just stood there and let the girl cry and after awhile she finely stopped. Looking up the girl spoke again “I see I can actually touch you now, I’m happy, but also kind of sad.” Ryo looked down confused “Why is that?” The girl took a step back and looked Ryo in the face, and more specifically at the bandage on her cheek “It means that not only have you almost died but also had to kill another living thing recently. I hate to think of the girl I took care of and protected for so long doing something like that.” The moment these words left the ghost’s mouth a thought shot into Ryo’s head, protecting and helping, it was just like her and Anna. The girl looked at Ryo’s thoughtful face for a moment and asked her “What’s wrong?” snapping back to reality again Ryo remembered why she came here in the first place. Looking down at the girl she responded “Can we sit down and talk?”
The two sat down in the middle of the room and started talking. The girl introduced herself as May, a ghost that had lived in Ryo’s old house since before she even lived there. For some reason ever since Ryo had moved in May could do things she could not do before. Like move stuff around the house (like glasses and towels) and even protected Ryo from harm on occasion. She even started talking about when Ryo’s parents had left to do some work overseas but stopped suddenly. After Ryo left she had nothing to do. She was tied to this place and could not leave with her, so she stayed and had been trapped there all alone for a very long time. It was no wonder she was so happy to see Ryo after so many years. After that it was Ryo’s turn to explain things. She briefly described what happed after she left. She finished junior high and went on to high school. Early in her first year of high school she saved Anna and the two of them became good friends. Then she got to the important part where she talked about what had happened the day before. She talked about killing the monsters and nearly getting killed by Rage, the crazy super human. May mentioned that that was why Ryo could see and touch her now. But unfortunately that would only last a little while. After all was said by both sides Ryo brought up why she had come to the old house after so long.
“I want to become stronger!” She said with great force. May sat back for a moment before looking at Ryo and asking, “What would you be willing to do too get stronger?” Without even thinking about the question Ryo responded “Anything! I have to become stronger too protect Anna and everyone, to protect my whole world!” They sat there for a moment longer before May spoke “I can help you, but it would require you to give up something for the power.” Ryo hesitated for a moment before asking “What do I have to give up?” May responded “Your privacy, and you would have to share your body with me.” Ryo was a little confused at this point “What do you mean?” May, figuring that Ryo would have already figured it out, let out a long sigh before explaining further “I could posses you.” Ryo did nothing for a moment and then suddenly yelled “What!” May took a moment to try and give her more details “I have a lot of spiritual power. If you where to except me into your body you would have two spirits. This would not only make you twice as powerfully now but you could also gain more power thru practice then you could ever before. But the problem is that you would have to share your body with me. Meaning I would be there with you always, now and forever. But this would also make me happy because it would mean that I could leave this house and be with you. So what do you think?” It took Ryo a little while to think about it. But in the end she decided that this is why she came here, and reached her hand out to May. Without speaking another word May reached her hand out to Ryo and smiled. For a moment there was a bright pink light that surrounded them both, and May was gone.
Ryo walked down the street of town back towards her apartment where she was sure Anna would be waiting. Everyone had stayed at her house for the night and Ryo had left in the morning while Anna was still sleeping (she was not really sure if XE was sleeping or just standing against the wall). As she walked down the sidewalk she tried to get used to the new sensations she was feeling. It was like every cell in her body was charged. She felt lighter and more agile, like she could jump a mile into the air if she wanted to, but then May warned her not to try. That was the other part, every time she thought of something May would buzz into her head and respond. It was already a weird feeling, but she kinda liked it to. She had another friend with her now who she could always talk to. The streets where full of people now, heading to work, shopping and hanging round talking. As she walked along thinking she barely noticed a suspicions looking man walking down the sidewalk towards her threw the crowd, and not paying him any real mind ended as a painful mistake. The man heading in the opposite direction was wearing loose black pants with short black boots and a brown cloak with the hood up.
Ryo and the man crossed paths and as soon as they where beside each other the man suddenly turned to face her. As he pivoted on his feet he threw his clock of revealing a shirtless body with perfectly toned mussels from waist to head, his eyes where a deep red and his short hair matched their color. Before Ryo could even react he moved his arm back with his left hand facing outward. His left arms burst in size as if preparing for the strike and his hand hit Ryo with the force of a speeding truck, knocking her threw the air into the building they were walking beside. Brick shattered and fragments of the wall flew everywhere. Pieces of the destroyed wall where still flying past him as the man’s Cloak finally landed on the ground. People all around stood in shock for a moment before realizing what had happened, and ran for their lives. The man stood for a moment and looked at his handy work, and thinking the girl dead he turned around a started to pick up his cloak only to hear the sound of bricks moving around behind him. Turning in surprise he watched as the small pile of wood, brick and plaster gave way and a figure rose up from the rubble. Pulling herself to her feet Ryo lifted her head up showing eyes glowing white. The old Ryo would have died from that hit, but this new Ryo was standing, ready to fight.
Copyright Anthony Rea, 2007.
Reply
