Two Souls: Into the Fire # 216

warning … adult content

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After Jimmy had left for the station house, Terry and Kinsey started to clean up the glass shards left on the floor. “Here, I’ll help with the windows,” Terry said. Kinsey got out the broom and dustpan, and began sweeping. Terry went downstairs to find some cardboard boxes that beer had been delivered in. He cut some up to fit in the broken window.

“Guess that will do for now,” Kinsey said, shaking his head. “I’ll call the repair shop in the morning for another window pane to be put in.”

“Okay then, I’m heading home,” Terry said. “I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I’m turning in, too,” Kinsey said, as he went downstairs with Terry. He locked the back door, then headed back up to his apartment. First, he called Zach to let him know what had happened, and let him know he was staying at home now. Next, he fixed himself a snack, then went to bed. It seemed strange to try to sleep, in the late afternoon, but he was still sick and exhausted. Rest seemed the best medicine right now.

Jimmy got back to the police station, and filed his report of the crime, and put the brick and note into the evidence room. After more paperwork, he sent out an APB for every police headquarters from Missing Mile to the west coast. Someone would spot Maxy sooner or later.

~

Steve and Ghost had slept for several hours. Waking that late afternoon, they were hungry, so worked together in the kitchen to fix a meal.

“Something happened,” Ghost said. “I think it’s over at Kinsey’s”

Steve stopped chopping onions…”What do you mean?”

Ghost shrugged. “I’m not sure, but it wasn’t good. When Terry got to the club, he found something. They all know about it, now…Terry, and Jimmy, and Kinsey. Maybe you could call them?” he asked.

“Yeah, I will after we eat,” Steve said. “If it was really important, they would have called us.”

He finished up cooking their supper of tacos, and they both sat down to eat. Spirit sat on the table, begging for slivers of cheese, which Ghost tossed to him now and again.

“Hey, Steve, what’s gonna happen next?”

“Next? Like when we finish eating, or farther down the road?” Steve asked.

Ghost looked puzzled. “What’s down the road? Are we going somewhere?”

“No…I just wanted to find out what you meant,” Steve said. “What we’ll be doing next, like tonight, or later on…next year?” he laughed, since it was almost next year, already.

“Oh…well, later I guess,” Ghost said. “I mean, there isn’t a show coming up, and we aren’t having a party, and we already did our CD and book…so, now what?”

“Good question,” Steve said. “I haven’t really thought of it much…just about Linda and her kids coming to live here. That will be so cool.”

“Yeah, that’s right…when?”

“She said after New Year’s she’d get things going. She’ll probably have to see if Lisa will come, too. Then, there is the kid’s school…maybe sell the house. It’ll take awhile before she can come,” Steve said. “Did you have something in mind you wanted to do, like a vacation, or work on another CD?”

“No, I didn’t know anything,” Ghost said. “But, I think we’ll be bored, so I want something to do, ya know.” He looked bored already.

Steve eyed him. “Bored already? Do you have to be doing something fantastic all the time?”

Ghost nodded, “Yeah, or I’m bored.”

Steve laughed, “Well, when you think of something, let me know, ’cause doing nothing sounds good to me.”

“But, I’m so tired of doing nothing,” Ghost whined. He got up and looked out the back door. “I don’t like this part of the days. It’s like it’s cold, then warm, then boring, because Christmas is over.”

“Ya want to go for a drive, or go shopping?”

“No, nothing sounds good or fun,” Ghost said.

“Well, Dude, I’m gonna go relax…maybe read, or take a nap. You’re on your own…figure it out,” Steve said. He went to the living room, got his book, and stretched out on the couch.

Ghost sighed. “I’m going to the graveyard. Maybe the guys will have a suggestion.”

“Okay, y’all have fun out there,” Steve said.

Ghost put on his old Army jacket, and striped scarf, just in case it got cold, then went out the back door. Trudging through the back yard, he watched Spirit bound ahead of him. Wherever the cat stopped, that’s where he would stop, too. Spirit was used to their favorite spot, so he did stop there. He leapt upon the crooked headstone, looked at Ghost, and meowed.

“Ya sure this is the place?” Ghost asked. He stroked Spirit’s soft fur, then sat down, leaning back against the cold granite marker. He knew the stories of all the Civil War dead out here…heard them talking all the time. This time maybe they’d say something different if he asked them a question.

To get in a better frame of mind, he pulled out the tin box he and Steve had hidden back behind the marker. It held a candle, matches, rolling papers, and weed. He took a few minutes to roll up a joint. He’d never had a whole one to himself, before…having always shared with Steve, but now…why not? He lit up.

Immediately, he could tell that this was some of Terry’s good stuff. He let the drug take over for awhile, just relaxing, and thinking of nothing special. As his mind drifted, he giggled at the thought, that here he was, still doing nothing, but feeling ok with it. He began talking out loud to himself about all they’d been through, lately. It had been a lot.

“We did our book, and CD…and we had a big show…that was fun.” He smiled, remembering it. “And, Linda was here, and we were so nervous to see her, but she’s real nice. Then, there was that crap with Maxy and the cameras…God, I hope I never see him again.” He frowned, then shook it off, wanting to talk only about good times. “

“Steve liked the present I gave him…that Thunder-bird car is his baby. And, I love my ring.” He stopped and looked at it. He loved shiny things, and never wanted to take it off. The smoke was finished, so he drifted some more. Half awake, half asleep, he asked the spirits what he should do next…not really expecting an answer.

Then, he sensed a strange message. He couldn’t tell if it was in his head, or out loud, that the spirit talked. “Oh, hell no!” he said out loud, as he sat up and looked around. “Who said that? That’s crazy. I’m not that bored,” he said, looking out into the shadows of the graveyard. But, the message kept pestering him. He heard over and over…”Dig us up…set us free.” He’d never heard anything like that, before, and it spooked him.

“Stop saying that,” he said, but then, he’d think…what if I did do it? Would it really set their spirits free…for real? He rolled over to look further into the cemetery, looking for any apparitions. His eyes sharpened, as he focused on a grave, way back in the shadows of the pine trees. A misty form was taking shape.

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Next part coming soon!

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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2019 BS

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This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.