Chapter 9. LOSING KELLY

Everybody loosened up their grip now that I assured them I had no ghost inside me. We finally decided to step from the safe circle and continue with our crossing over. We strolled along the woods in pairs. I was walking with Alexa. Yusuf had already jumped back into my body, disrupting my comfort zone.

After about an hour, Billy suggested that we take a rest and eat. We all agreed with him. I was personally starving. We sat down, ate our food, chatting amongst ourselves.

The growling sounds had ceased a little. Jona had poured some safe spell to hold them back.

"I hate mushrooms," Yusuf spoke once I swallowed a spoonful of mushrooms that Robby had made me pack. He argued that mushrooms are strong food and good for crossing over, and I didn't want to argue with him. So I packed a full dish of them.

Well, they were not as bad as I had anticipated.

"I hated them too, but they are delicious," I spoke, and Alexa turned to me. She was sitting beside me.

"Who are you talking to?" Malachi asked. I had not thought he heard me.

"It's her. I am talking to Alexa."

"She did not say that she hates mushrooms. She loves them." Billy spoke. I had no idea he heard me too.

"The too in my statement was a mistake. It should not have been there. I meant to say I hated mushrooms but I think now they are delicious." I defended myself.

"Told you. They are cool." Robby said and grinned.

After eating, we took another ten minutes rest, then continued. After about ten minutes, the growling started rising.

"I thought your spell was holding them," Malachi spoke.

"I didn't secure the whole forest. It's only a part of it and now we are on another part. You should look after yourself." Jona responded.

"They are pretty close. Their scent is strong." Robby spoke.

"We should run," Alexia suggested.

"I am not a good runner. I don't wanna drag behind and get kidnapped again. We should not run." I protested, recalling that I was carrying Yusuf in me.

"You can remain behind alone," Billy spoke and began running. The rest started running as well.

"Run or you will get both of caught and trapped by those ghosts," Yusuf spoke.

He was right, and so I stopped being stubborn and ran.

****

We ran as fast as we could, massacring the ghosts we found on our way. After a while, we arrived at a place that had a very big wall. It was very high.

"How are going to get past this?" I asked.

"What is it even?" Kyra asked.

"It's the wall separating the two worlds. The world of the living and our world, of the dead. " Alexa spoke.

"We have to climb over to the wall to get to the world of the living," Billy added.

"How are we going to climb up this big wall? It doesn't even look like it has an end. " Kelly complained.

"It has an end but getting there is pretty hard. You need to get ready." Alexa said

"If you can't do it. You are free to go back. No pressure." Robby's words echoed in my ears.

"No one is going back. We have come a long way to give up now." Kyra spoke.

"Okay. Then let's get it done." Alexa spoke and removed her backpack, then opened it. She removed some items from the inside. She had some climbing items. She gave each of us a pair. She was so thoughtful. I thought.

We clung to the wall and started climbing up slowly. Alexa, Billy, Robby, and Jona were pretty fast as we dragged behind with K and K and Malachi.

"Move faster. The ghosts are still after us." Jona spoke.

Malachi and Kyra were taking the pace while Kelly and I seemed to be making no effort.

"You can do it, nephew," Yusuf spoke.

"Shut up, Yusuf. You are the one dragging me behind. " I responded to him.

"I knew something was wrong with you. Why do you keep talking to yourself? You lied about letting the ghost in, right?" Kelly asked, scaring me.

"Billy was right. Wasn't he?" She asked.

"No. I don't have a ghost. You saw me walk past the protective spell."

"I don't know how you did that but I can feel you lied. You have a ghost called Yusuf. Don't you?" Kelly continued. She was not giving up.

"Maybe we should focus on climbing up. We are dragging behind." I said and started climbing faster.

Kelly hurried up with me. She was starting to act like nosy Robby.

"I think I should tell the others." Kelly threatened.

"Don't let her rat us out," Yusuf spoke.

"There is no us dumbass," I responded

"There you go again," Kelly spoke with her eyes widened.

"Guys. Chase lied...." She was about to rat on me when a woman ghost hauled next to her and grabbed her, then dropped to the ground with her. Kelly screamed sharply, drawing everyone's attention. They all looked down, still holding themselves safely on the wall. We all could see Kelly and the ghost.

"Kelly! Kelly! Kelly!" That was Kyra screaming out loudly.

"Kyra, help me. Come get me." Kelly screamed back at her, then suddenly stopped. She was staring at the ghost woman.

"Mom?" She called, and the ghost nodded. "Is it you? Is it you, mom?" She asked, sobbing, and the ghost woman said, " Yes. It's me, Kelly."

"Kyra. It's mom." Kelly shouted. "It's her." She added.

I looked over at Kyra, and she was shocked.

"Mom?" She finally spoke and dropped a tear.

"Come to us. Your dad is here too." The ghost spoke.

"You can't go back. They are going to trap you. Forever." Alexa warned

"What about Kelly?" She asked.

"There is nothing we can do to help her. Your mom already got her and she's already trapping her." Alexa said. I looked over and noted that Kelly's body was dissolving, and her mom was muttering words.

"We need to help her?" Malachi finally spoke. He had been quiet the whole time, staring at Kelly and her mom in disbelief.

"You heard Alexa; there is nothing we can do. Kelly is gone." Billy said, and Kyra dropped another tear.

"I am so sorry, Kelly. I love you." Kyra said, sobbing.

"I love you, twin sister," Kelly said, and her body disappeared. Malachi dropped a tear too. Kelly liked him.

"We should go on," Billy spoke and continued going up

"I am sorry, Kyra," Alexa said.

****

We climbed over for over two hours. My hands were so tired that I felt as if I could not take it anymore. However, Yusuf encouraged me not to give up. I listened to him and climbed on. I was so desperate to cross over to give up.

The dark had already struck when we finally reached the edge. We stood on top of the wall holding our hands in line as Billy had said.

He said that we had to hold hands as he said this weird prayer in a foreign language. We closed our eyes as well. Once he was done, I felt a sudden force strike us from behind. It pushed us to the front.

I later woke up in a desert. We were all lying down on the ground. Whoa! It looked so typical. Just like the world, I knew before I died. Everything looked normal.

"We did it," Robby said proudly.

"Yes. We are in the world of the living." Jona said.

"Ooh, God! I can't believe it." Malachi said. Everyone looked excited except for Kyra, who was still sobbing quietly.