There are ghosts stuck in my transformer. No one believes me but at a certain point a girl has to try. The pole is in my backyard and the sparks that come off it, seem angry. At least to me. They seem otherworldly. But more then that, I am getting tired of the black outs.
I hear my neighbors. They complain and whine that the electrical company never fixes anything or if they do it takes too long. After dealing with it for so long, I just sigh and try to find my matches and candles. I eye the transformer, trying to give it my nastiest stink eye. After a bit, it comes back on or just to spite me comes back when we least expect it. Summers become the worst, and I notice the sparks and arcs looping out of it becoming fire hazards and uncomfortable.
It started when besides the black outs, which I also thought was a normal inconvenience, when I start to hear the howling. It was soft. Hidden in the crackles of sparking. Moans of pain. An otherworldly glow around the wires and box. It was the hottest month and a chill still went down my spine. I had stopped where I stood and tried to hear more. I couldn't control myself. Curiosity I supposed. I was shaking but I could hear them.
It was sadness. The song of entrapment. Screams that were barely made audibly as if it had died in their throats at that very moment, forever locked in to never be freed. It was anger. The cracks and snaps of electricity was frustration. Small and large bursts that caused concern. The bangs from the tin was desperation.
I remembered to breath after a moment, and tears exploded from within me. Some neighbors who were outside, ogling the problem and calling the company stopped to look at me with concern. I ran inside but maybe...maybe they knew they were seen. The lights came on, and I suppose...I was supposed to be relived. The central air came on but my cold chill didn't go away.
So now I have become the Ghost Lady. Sadly. I don't mind it. I tried my best to talk to others about it but they dismissed me. Which, I get it. I'd call me crazy too, I tended to agree for a bit there. At the very least I have created a routine and I think the ghosts appreciate it as well. At least I hope so.
I've noticed it tends to snap in the middle of the night. Not bad enough to turn off, but sadly. Almost like small whimpers in the night. It's usually when the street is quiet and dark. I didn't know what to do with the knowledge I had. Let alone trying to deal with ghosts may be real. I was a normal person. An occasional horror movie or two does not teach you how to free ghosts from a metal electrical prison. So, I took a lawn chair out there, a blanket and a book.
I began reading out loud. Thankfully there's a streetlight near by. I tried loudly at first. I got yelled at almost immeidiately...it was 3 am so kind of deserved it. But I read a little quieter out loud and it seemed to stop. Almost as if it was listening or appreciating me being there. So every night, if I could make it. I tried to make time and read them something out loud. For a while, I wondered if I could do anything else but I wasn't sure. And trying to search online didn't seem to find if there was something a normal person could do to the transformer. I mean, trained people were only allowed up there. So I just did what I could and hoped.
One night, there was a party. A loud one that made it impossible for me to hear myself. I sat there and got frustrated but I am not one to make a fuss. It had quieted down enough and didn't seem to make anymore sparks so I decided to pack up the chair early and head inside. As I was preparing, and getting up. I heard sparking again. I looked over head, a chill coming through me again as the cries became loud. I could feel their frustration. I could hear it till my head started ringing. Then, black out. Houses all along the block went out and so did the house with the party. Complaints came out ringing everywhere but I couldn't help the small laugh I let out. If that wasn't confirmation I didn't know what was.
So I keep reading at night for a little while. I find more books, take me time and have done so many different genres I think I figured out their tastes. There is also definitely multiple ghosts. One of them is not a horror fan funny enough. They tend to cause flickering in some homes almost like they're nervous. I also figured out some like romance and think they are funny. They always creating dimming when some steamy scenes come around. When it's raining, or snowing I don't read. I can't and it seems to understand, but I still hear them. No words just emotions and almost primal sounds. So I can still tell when they are disappointed.
I get really lonely at times. It can be hard being on your own. But somehow, knowing they are there...it comforts me too. They are still stuck. Unable to be freed. And I have felt it too in my own life. Unable to move forward and feel again. But I am not alone. At least for now. Maybe someday, I can figure out how to help them. Truly help them. But for now, I read to my ghosts. I have a good one tonight. Hopefully, they enjoy it. If not, at least I'll be able to tell.
