Chapter 4: Eyes Opened to the Dead

A strange calm settled over me. If this was how it ended, at least I’d fought back. I closed my eyes, waiting for the end.

I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

But before her bloody mouth could reach me, I heard the sound of shattering glass.

The window exploded inward, shards raining down like diamonds. The wind howled, rain pouring in, and I flinched, eyes snapping open.

I opened my eyes to see a man in a long black coat and a green fish-head mask flying through my broken window. Like Batman.

He landed with a thud, cape billowing, mask glinting in the lightning. For a second, I thought I’d finally lost it.

Lightning, wind, rain, and a guy in a fish mask—never thought those words would make me feel safe.

But there he was, a living, breathing comic book hero. I almost laughed, but the ghost’s screech snapped me back to reality.

Without a word, he whipped out a silver crucifix and slammed it onto the ghost’s head. She twisted in pain. Still tried to swallow me first.

The crucifix sizzled, golden light flaring. The ghost writhed, but her hunger was stronger than her fear. I whimpered, tears streaming down my face.

I was about to cry. I could feel it building up.

My voice cracked, the sobs bubbling up. I wanted to be brave, but I was terrified. I squeezed my lucky charm, praying for a miracle.

As she bit down, rain from outside hit my face, snapping me awake. I rolled to the side, and her teeth snapped together with a sickening crunch.

Cold rain splashed my cheeks, jolting me into action. I twisted, slipping free of her grip just as her jaws snapped shut where my head had been.

Help! No way I’m dying here!

Adrenaline surged. I kicked and squirmed, desperate to get away. The fish-head guy shouted something I couldn’t hear over the storm.

I tried to crawl off the bed like a giant caterpillar, but the ghost, seeing her attack fail, came at me again. The fish-head guy grabbed me by the back of the neck and tossed me off the bed. I saw stars.

I landed hard, the wind knocked out of me. For a second, all I could see were spots. I blinked, forcing myself to focus.

Once I recovered, the fish-head guy and the ghost were locked in a brutal fight. His crucifix landed not far from me.

They moved fast, blurs of motion in the storm-lit room. The crucifix glowed, humming with power. I crawled toward it, hope flickering in my chest.

I gritted my teeth, crawled over, and sure enough, the hair binding me turned to ash when it touched the crucifix. I grabbed it. Hid in the corner, watching the fight.

The heat from the cross was soothing, driving back the cold. I pressed it to my chest, whispering a thank you to whoever was listening.

He looked wiry but could flatten the ghost’s skull with a punch. I barely had time to breathe before a lock of hair shot at his back like a spear.

The hair moved like a whip, lashing out with deadly intent. The fish-head guy dodged, but I could see he was getting tired.

I yelled, “Look out!”

My voice cracked, desperate. He glanced back, just in time to avoid the attack.

Instinctively, I stabbed at the hair with the crucifix.

The cross pulsed with golden light, burning through the hair like acid. The ghost shrieked, recoiling.

But he dodged to the side, and I lunged forward, the crucifix stabbing straight through the ghost’s skull. Blinding golden light exploded, and something shot into my eye, making it sting and tear up.

The pain was sharp, electric. I cried out, clutching my face. The room spun, golden light filling every corner.

Before I could recover, I fell into a warm embrace. Rain pelted my face. Wind howled in my ears.

Strong arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground. The world blurred, the roar of wind and rain drowning everything else.

I struggled to open my stinging eyes and saw a twisted green fish-head mask and storm clouds behind him, golden light radiating from his body.

It was surreal—like being in the middle of a thunderstorm and a dream at the same time. The mask’s eyes glowed. The storm raged behind him.

And I was being carried by this fish-head guy, leaping from the twenty-third floor.

My stomach dropped, the world tilting. I screamed, but the wind snatched the sound away.

I blacked out. Terrified by the height.

The last thing I saw was the city lights spinning below, the rain blurring everything into streaks of gold and blue.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital.

The smell of antiseptic hit me first, sharp and clean. The sheets were stiff, the pillow flat. I blinked, trying to remember how I got here.

Blue-and-white striped patient gown, hospital bed.

Next to me sat the familiar tattooed driver.

Eddie—my unlikely guardian angel.

He looked even bigger in the hospital chair, his arms folded, tattoos peeking out from under his sleeves.

Seeing me awake, he jumped up, yelling for doctors and nurses.

His voice boomed down the hall, and in seconds, a parade of white coats rushed in. They checked my vitals, asked a flurry of questions, then disappeared as quickly as they’d come.

A crowd rushed in, checked me over, then left.

The room was quiet again, just me and Eddie. He grinned, pulling a pocketknife from his jeans and a shiny apple from his bag.

When everyone was gone, he sat down, peeled an apple, and started carving it into a bunny shape. Confused, I asked, “Where am I?”

He handed me the apple bunny. The ears flopped comically. “Hey, just call me Eddie. This is my family’s hospital, you’re fine, miss.” He added, “Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

His eyes were gentle, the kind of kindness you don’t expect from someone with a dragon tattoo. I nodded, taking the apple, not sure what to say.

He grinned, “Hey, just call me Eddie. This is my family’s hospital, you’re fine, miss.” He added, “Do you remember what happened yesterday?” I nodded, and he handed me the apple bunny. “Sorry, my buddy’s a little rough, don’t take it personally.”

I remembered the fish-mask guy and being carried down from the twenty-third floor, and fell silent.

The memory made my heart race. I stared at the apple, trying to piece it all together. The hospital room felt safe, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was still lurking.

But I was more concerned about my own life. “Eddie, what’s really going on? Who are you?”

He scratched his head, looking sheepish. “Well, it’s a long story. We’re part of a secret order—sort of like ghost hunters. My buddy’s studying here, and I drive on the side. As soon as you got in my car, I felt something was off, so I gave you my card. Who knew a ghost would come knocking that night…”

His words tumbled out in a rush, like he’d been waiting to spill the secret. I listened, my mind spinning.

I rubbed my forehead. “I don’t even know how I got mixed up in this. It’s not the first time, but nothing happened before because I had a charm.”

Eddie laughed. “Don’t worry, miss. My buddy’s good, and if not, our order’s got some real experts. You’ll be fine.”

He patted my hand, his smile wide and reassuring. For the first time in days, I started to believe him.

As he chatted, the hospital door opened, and a tall, slender guy walked in with a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

He moved with quiet confidence, the kind of person you’d trust to fix your computer or banish a ghost. His eyes were sharp, but his smile was shy.

He wasn’t wearing a weird coat or mask, just a simple black tee. His skin was almost too pale, like he belonged on a college campus.

He looked like someone you’d see at a coffee shop, hunched over a laptop, lost in thought. But I’d never forget the way he’d fought that ghost.

But I’d never forget how he’d punched a ghost’s skull flat.

The memory made me shiver. I watched him set the soup down, hands steady, eyes flicking to mine.

Eddie turned to me, “Miss, this is my partner, Julian Reyes, sophomore at Columbia.” He added, “Funny coincidence, you both have ‘Lane’ in your names.”

Julian offered a small smile, his ears turning pink. He looked down, avoiding my gaze.

I looked at Julian, surprised. “That is a coincidence. I just graduated from Columbia.”

He looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes. “Really? What year?”

Eddie clapped. “So, alumni! Julian, open the soup for your senior. She’s probably starving.”

He handed Julian a spoon, and Julian fumbled with the lid, his cheeks flushed. I couldn’t help but smile.

I was hungry; the apple wasn’t enough. Julian had brought my favorite, so I didn’t wait for permission—took the spoon and started eating, missing the teasing in Eddie’s eyes and the flush on Julian’s ears.

The soup was warm, the noodles soft. It tasted like home, like comfort after a storm. I ate in silence, savoring every bite.

After eating, I set the spoon down. “Julian, what’s really going on with me? The psychic I saw before said I attracted something nasty, got possessed.”

Julian awkwardly touched his ear. “Just call me Julian.” His expression grew serious. “This isn’t ordinary possession. They’re coming for you, but I don’t know the exact reason yet.”

His voice was calm, but his eyes were troubled. I could tell he was holding something back.

“Could it be a curse?” Eddie cut in.

Julian shook his head. “No.” He looked at me. “Maybe you need to come with us to New Orleans.”

Eddie scratched his head. “That serious?”

Julian’s face tightened. “When I banished the ghost last night, I sensed another spirit’s aura at the door, also after you. I can’t beat that one.”

A chill ran down my spine. I realized then why he’d jumped with me from the twenty-third floor.

I grew anxious. “God knows, I haven’t done anything wrong. Why are these things after me?”

Julian consoled me. “I know you’re scared, but don’t worry. I’ll take you home to pack, then we’ll head to New Orleans, okay? I’m afraid something might happen if we wait.”

He squeezed my hand, his touch gentle but firm. I nodded, trusting him more than I expected.