Harrison hung his hoodie and scarf up, "Alright now where is this ghost at?"
Freya thought about it and said, "Well, I was watching a show and I was drinking, then I heard her dancing upstairs. So maybe we drink?"
He paused and stared at her for a moment. She didn't seem like the kind of girl to get drunk and do anything crazy so why he was even going there in his mind was awful to him, "Look, is that such a good idea?"
"What do you mean a 'good idea'? You said you wanted to see this ghost and that's how I did it last time?" she explained.
"I just don't want to give the wrong impression or you do something you don't want to do." he answered.
"You idiot. I'm not trying to get drunk and hook-up. This is genuinely how it happened. Get your mind out of the gutter!" she said blushing, "You can either try it that way or we just wait? I'm not sure how I found her just that I did that way.."
He walked up to her and just when she thought he was going to stop he walked past her to the couch, "Then I guess we shall wait and see."
He sat down and she followed behind, still flustered from the assumption he made. It's not like she didn't find him attractive, but there's no time for boys and crushes. She hasn't even had her first kiss let alone thought of sleeping with someone, but it's not like she hasn't noticed things either. Harrison looked over at her and she realized she was just staring at him, "Oh, I guess I should at least put something on.." she said snagging up the remote.
Even though she didn't speak on it he knew she was a little embarrassed about his comment. But could you blame him? She was beautiful and kind. He was curious to know more about her, but she's far too weird and was probably too sheltered to even be as forward as he was assuming.
"Freya? I'm sorry about my comment, I shouldn't have assume that that's what you were doing. I've been around really promiscuous women in my life and that was wrong of me." he said sincerely.
Scrolling through the shows and movies still, she did appreciate his apology, "It's okay. I guess I can understand if you've been around different types of women. It's just I haven't even kissed anyone so sleeping with someone would be a huge jump." she said laughing.
"Ah.. yeah," he said smiling back," I figured you were a bit too naïve for all that.."
"It's not that I'm naïve." she said defensively," I just haven't found someone that brings that part out of me. I'm a bit more focused on other things at the moment, too. A person would only complicated things."
"I see." he said. Reading her body language he assumed she was being honest. She is kind of a serious person as well, despite her eccentric ideas and beliefs. He turned his focus to the screen and watched the little squares flick by, he saw the most recent watch history and noticed an anime that he grew up watching was there, "Woah, wait you like that show, too?"
"Hm?" she mumbled, following where his eyes were looking, "Oh? Yeah! I used to watch it all the time when I was younger it's a comfort show for sure!" she said smiling warmly.
"Let's watch that?" he suggested.
"Sure! I'm pretty sure that's what I was watching that night as well. It might be a good idea!" she said. She turned the show on and they both watched a few episodes.
Freya ended up falling asleep. Harrison looked over at her and contemplated leaving, he did have an extra key after-all. He grabbed the remote and turned the tv off, he stood up and wondered if he should wake her up there's no way this couch is comfortable to sleep on all night. He leaned down to wake her up and noticed how peaceful she looked. Normally she looks like she still has something in the back of her mind nagging her, but right now she looked so at ease. He reflected on what she said about drinking to meet this ghost woman. He always thought it was weird how they called liquor 'spirits', he always read articles about that stuff and how it's connected to actual spirits. He wondered if it was true. Just as he was about to wake her he swore he heard foot steps behind him. He turned to see nothing, but the moonlight beaming in from the kitchen and the faint smell of cinnamon.
"Hm?" he said. He turned slowly back to Freya.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" a voice spoke from behind him.
He turned and completely stunned he couldn't even understand what he was looking at. "Wha- I- You're.."
There stood before him a woman with long hair and a very angry expression. There was a very cold, unwelcoming vibe about her. She glared hard at him almost as if he had done something wrong. She was clearly a transparent figure and made the hair on his body stand on end. Although, there was something eerily familiar about her face.
"What do you think you're about to do to her? She is sleeping!" the woman exclaimed.
"I- was just.." he still couldn't even believe his eyes, "What are you..?"
"I'm Philomena and that girl is sleeping. I recommend you leave if you plan to harm her." she threatened.
Harrison recognized the name and had a flashback to the women who rented this cottage earlier on. Looking closer at her face he could tell for sure that was the same woman. "Philomena.. You rented this cottage from my Aunt earlier this year."
He walked closer to her and Lo backed away towards the front door, "How do you know?"
"I took over her properties and company. She trained me, informed me of all the tenants, got me familiar with everything. And I remember almost everything I read, so it comes in handy. But when I heard of your disappearance everything hadn't been signed over to me yet. My Aunt handled everything with law enforcement and press." he answered.
"I see.." Lo looked down, "That makes sense why you are here then, but it doesn't make sense at the same time. Why are you at a tenants house so late? And watching her sleep?" she asked.
"It's not like that," he answered quickly," I was about to wake her up because I figured she'd want to sleep in her bed. This couch is terribly uncomfortable."
Lo read the mans plea and he seemed genuine. "I'm just curious then, why did you take over for your Aunt? Did she pass?" she asked.
"Well, no," he answered shortly," She is ill and we are working on a cure for her."
Lo closed her eyes as she received a download. She saw a young boy, assumingly Harrison. There was a lovely field with a giant tree where a beautiful couple was sitting enjoying a picnic. Harrison ran around the open field with his kite laughing and running freely. Picking flowers for his mom and collecting rocks. The next thing that flashed was a car sliding in the rain off of a cliff. Harrison had slipped into a coma for nearly a year. His parents had died the evening of the accident. Harrison then lived with his Aunt who cared for him, but despite her love and support he was always getting drunk, fighting, being promiscuous as a younger man. He made good grades still and passed with flying colors. He had the highest GPA at his private school and even got accepted into several prestigious colleges. He always took a liking to marijuana and the benefits of each strain, however, when his Aunt was diagnosed and told him he'd be taking over, he was overwhelmed with guilt. This whole time she had been trying to get him into the business now that he was inheriting it and understood what it was, he made it a point to create the perfect strain to heal her- at least he hoped he could. The vision contained Harrison sitting by a woman's side weeping, holding her hand, and just praying she would make it.
"Oh, Harrison.." Lo said coming back to the present," I'm so sorry."
"Why?" he asked, "Wait, how do you know my name?"
"How I know isn't important, but I understand your pain. And I'm sorry for assuming anything about you." she answered.
He recalled reading about this woman as well, his Aunt thought she was some nut-job calling herself psychic, so she left some pretty judgmental notes about the woman. But then if she was just crazy, how did she know his name? And the moment when she closed her eyes, what was that? Not to mention.. he is talking to her ghost. What could he possibly rule out now? He looked over at Freya, unbelievable she was actually telling the truth. He shook his head smiling and looked up at Lo, "You know.. I was pretty convinced things like this never happen, but I stand corrected. I'm actually talking to a ghost and it's talking back."
Lo smiled at him, "It's funny the things that are unseen sometimes. But you know not everyone can see it some people are born with the eye and some people are born blind and need help opening it."
"So it true you were a psychic then?" he asked.
"In a way, yes. I told Freya I could see fates, but people always discredit my work because as nice as knowing what your fate is.. It changes it. Especially when it's revealed to the person. But it is not as easy to answer as that, I can see things like your destiny as well and some future events, but only for who ever I'm reading for." Lo answered.
"That's how you knew my name." he said.
"Yes, when I get downloads I feel what you were feeling. I see what you saw. I am almost seeing things through your eyes, but it's more like a third person perspective still. I just have your emotions." she explained.
"Even as a ghost you still can do this?" he asked.
She got quiet and looked down. Now that he said something about it how was she able to have her ability still. Her mind should be dead if she is ghost she shouldn't be able to receive downloads," Harrison, I don't think I'm dead.."
"What do you mean?" he asked a little confused by what she meant.
"I should not have a brain to receive the downloads." she said quietly," If I were truly dead I wouldn't be able to do that anymore."
"Then what does that mean?" he asked.
"It means I need to find out where my body is." she answered.
"I see," he said," Well, Philomena I know my Aunt didn't try terribly hard to help you, but knowing this. I will help if I can."
Lo nodded, "Call me, Lo."
"Lo." he said, "Where do you think your body would be?"
"I only know that if my presence is here it's because my body must be nearby. At least in town still." she said.
"I see. Well, I-" Harrisons phone chimed. He pulled it out, "I'm sorry I have to check these." He skimmed over the message quickly and looked up at Lo, "I'm sorry I have to go!"
Before Lo could even answer he was throwing his scarf and sweatshirt on, "I'll be by tomorrow, but I have to go now. I'm sorry." he yelled back at her before locking the door and taking off down the driveway.
"Interesting.." Lo said her color finally shifting back to the soft pink color she normally was. She looked over at Freya resting peacefully she noticed something that she didn't quite see when she first came in the room. Freya had a glow radiating from her body, it was almost like an aura. Lo knew she was only able to see it because of her eye. She walked closer to Freya completely fascinated by the glow. She realized then what she was seeing, it was like a beacon of light in every dimension almost like a lantern on a dark street showing the way. She was opening the veil. Lo knew this could only mean one thing.
"FREYA, WAKE UP!" Lo shook Freya.
Freya shot up, "Yes?!" looking around in a panic.
"Freya what were you dreaming about?" Lo asked.
"I was," Freya looked down rubbing her eyes trying to get back to reality, "I was dreaming of finding you. I was worried because I hadn't seen you since last night. I tried to go to the bar, but my landlord sidetracked me. So I couldn't really investigate any of the people at the bar. I didn't want to tell him the real reason I went without a real explanation.. So I brought him here to meet you."
"Freya.." Lo said, "I need you to promise you won't do that anymore. You don't know the kind of things you could attract."
"Do that?" Freya asked a little confused, "I'm not really sure I was trying to do anything, but find you."
"I understand. And I have a lot I need to tell you. I spoke with your friend who was here." Lo said.
"You did?" Freya asked.
"Yes. Admittedly he was a bit taken aback, but luckily he knew me. We spoke about a few things, but the important part is after talking with Harrison I realized that I must be still alive." Lo explained.
Freya jumped up, "I knew it! I knew you felt more alive than a ghost. I knew you couldn't be truly dead! What do we need to do!?" she started pacing excitedly.
"Right now.. You need to sleep. Let me try to really figure this out. I only came here tonight because I felt beckoned to and based on how you were sleeping; it makes sense. I need you to sleep. Now that I understand this situation a little better we will figure this out when you wake up." Lo said.
"I suppose you're right, Lo. It's far too late in the night to do anything rational." Freya said sitting back down.
"All I need right now is a friend, Freya. If you want to talk with me you can, I just am trying to process my thoughts." Lo explained.
"I'm here for you, Lo, whatever happens we will find you." Freya said feeling like redemption is needed for Lo, her father, and her mother. She will stop these disappearances from happening, she made it a point in her mind to find them all and protect them.
"I really appreciate you reassuring me. I am happy I found someone who can see. Who knows how long I would be in purgatory- let alone dead- had someone not come sooner." Lo said tearfully.
Freya's heart broke watching her new friend weep, "I promise.. I will find you and I will save you."
"Well, Harrison also said he'd be willing to help. I can only hope we get to me before it's too late." Lo said looking at her hands.
Freya knelt down and looked Lo right into her eyes, "We will find you."