Little Ghost - The Next Night

[Posted by Ted H]

NaNoWriMo 2022 was a crash n burn. How about an update on a more successful attempt from years passed?

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[Little Ghost - The Next Night]

Back at the underground shelter, there were a couple faces that weren't there last night already mingling with Mike, Jamal and Bill. They barely reacted to the arrivals as they were engrossed in their own activities. Kristina found it nice and uncomfortable at the same time. Just a day ago she was the wide-eyed newcomer that everyone wanted to help break in, now she seemed to be just another regular.

Mike was arguing about song lyrics with a skinny girl on a black and white striped hoodie that had sleeves that ran long to conceal her hands. He was back on top of the bunk like last night while the girl stood below him. She talked in a controlled, non-interested way to contrast Mike’s slowly escalating demeaner which at times even had him flail his arms around as he talked. The girl would crack the occasional smile and even said things intentionally wrong just to bring about the exaggerated reactions from Mike. Kristina couldn't help but laugh at how despite being around so long, Mike was forever locked into the psyche and oblivious mindset of an immature teenager.

Jamal was meanwhile regaling to a petite older woman a tale of a successful drive by shooting he had orchestrated. Kristina wasn’t interested in what Jamal had to say about the people he shot at, but the woman seemed locked in, yet her eyes seemed glazed over at the same time, almost as if she didn’t have a clue what she as listening to. Jamal didn’t seem to mind as he performed his tale for the woman, making finger-guns with his hands and pretending he was actually driving a car while sitting in the bed next to the woman.

Bill was back at his desk in the back, turning through pages in a notebook and scribbling things down on the occasional page. Most of his business suit was gone now, save for a white undershirt he still wore and the pants. The jacket was now draped over the chair he sat in. Kristina marveled at his simple change in attire.

“Uh oh,” Ricky announced as Kristina turned to see him watching her “You got that look.”

“What look?” Kristina asked.“You’re trying to wrap your mind around something again.”

“It’s just...” Kristina began as she looked down on herself. She wasn’t ashamed at what she wore: comfortable jeans, sneakers and a cute top that hinted at her cleavage yet give a more slimming look to the stomach fat that she carried. Not the worst set of clothes to wear around for eternity, but there were much better options for her, had she known that last night would be her last opportunity to dress.

“There’s really no changing our clothes, it there?” she finally said to Ricky.

“Afraid not,” Ricky said with a shrug and a comforting smile “Just be glad you didn’t die naked.”

“You know, when I was a child, I just thought ghosts were always naked.

“The afterlife would be so much more exciting that way!”

“Who is she?” the striped hoodie girl asked, catching Kristina and Ricky off guard. Before with could answer, Mike interjected himself back in “That’s Kristina Car Crash. I told you before about the newbie.”

“I wasn't paying attention,” she responded “Or I was and forgot 10 seconds later, like with everything you say.”

“You’re lucky I was dead before you were born. I’d put you in an unmarked grave, I swear.”
“Ok, killer,” she said sarcastically as she walked over to Kristina “Car crash, eh? Sucks.”

  

“I’ve been told,” Kristina responded as the two eyed each other cautiously.

“Don’t talk to her!” Mike called from atop his bunk after lying to face the ceiling “She’s a suicide.”

“Fuck off, child molester!” the suicide called back. She turned to reveal two middle fingers from her sleeves while Kristina looked to Ricky. “Why shouldn’t I talk to her? Or is Mike just being a dick?” she asked. Ricky made a face and shrugged. “Suicides are...a touchy group,” he responded. The girl heard and looked back to them.

“It’s a bunk rap, I assure you,” she said with a half-smile “All the harm was done to myself, what’s the problem with that?”

“It’s an affront to God,” Kristina responded instinctively, then closed her eyes and regretted it. She didn’t want to lead on that she was religious, lest someone somehow determine that she wasn’t the same kind of evil soul they were.
“Oh, it’s another bible thumper?” the girl asked.

  

“No no no no no,” Kristina corrected quickly “I mean, my mom pushed a lot of bible stuff when I was little, but it was in one ear out the other mostly.”

“Except the part about suicides?”

“Well...” Kristina trailed off, trying to figure how to pull her foot out of her mouth this time.

“If my suicide offends God, so be it. He didn’t seem to care much for me in life, so I don’t see why my death has to be on his terms.”

“I...None of us here are in a position to judge, right?” Kristina finally relented.

“Exactly!” the girl cheered “Emily Suicide. Pleased to meet you, car crash girl.”

“It’s just Kristina.”

“Was it a big crash? How many died with ya?”

“Nobody else...I think,” Kristina turned to Ricky hoping her would bail her out or hijack the conversation, but he was just an interested in her answer. “My boyfriend, he lived, or at least that’s what I’ve been told.”

“Who drove?” Ricky asked.

“He usually does.”

“Usually?” Emily asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t remember,” Kristina said “We were partying. I was drinking. The crash happened and the next thing I know I’m dying in the ambulance.”

“So that’s how you got away!” Ricky said “Your Reaper was probably at the crash site thinking ‘Where the fuck did this bitch go?’ while you rode away.”

“Ambulance buddies!” Emily announced “I died in one, too!”

“I don’t remember much from the ambulance though,” Kristina admitted.

“Oh fuck, I passed out before the ambulance part,” Emily said “I didn’t know what was going on until I looked down to see some black woman trying to bring my body back to life.”

“You left your body in the ambulance?” Kristina said confused “How come I was in the hospital when I finally got up?”

“It varies,” Bill clarified from his desk in the back “Just another variable that makes it a tough job.”

“Cry me a river, Bill!” Emily spat “Don’t feel sorry for him. He gets to enjoy life. Eat, drink, smoke, fuck. You name it and Bill here, like every Reaper, still gets it.”

“So unfair,” Kristina said as she and Emily shook their heads at Bill, who turned away from them as they giggled.

They were still giggling when Clifford and Sammy entered. “There a joke I missed?” Clifford asked. “It wouldn’t be as funny a second time,” Emily said as Clifford shrugged and looked to Kristina. “How we feeling after an entire day as the dead?” he asked.

“About as horrible as I felt yesterday,” Kristina responded.

“Yeah, it won’t get easier,” Clifford said with a smile as he walked on to where Bill was.

“Oh!” Sammy exclaimed with a smile “It’s my favorite ladies!”

“He says that to every woman,” Emily assured Kristina “Like he thinks it’s still possible to get inside a girl’s pants.”

“Old habits never die,” Sammy responded as he tailed behind Clifford and winked at the other woman “What’s up Frenchie!”

“Salut!” the woman said in a sweet tone before she blindly returned her attention to Jamal who never stopped his story. “Frenchie?” Kristina questioned. “Aimee,” Emily said “Montreal girl. Doesn’t speak English.”

“But she’s been chatting with Jamal...” Kristina said puzzled. “Jamal’s been talking to her,” Emily clarified “She’s just been interested in his retarded pantomiming.” Jamal gave her a quick middle finger.