Chapter 14. GOING BACK

Chase's pov

The following morning, I woke up to Robby singing some Rap music. His voice was still annoying. How the hell did he love singing while he had such a terrible voice? I asked myself. The rest of them were sitting down. Alexa was smoking a joint while Malachi was puffing a cigar.

"Robby, your voice is still terrible. Can you just shut up?" I said.

"You shut up, sleepy head." He responded and then continued singing.

"We should get going already. " Billy spoke.

We left Billy's dad's apartment and used the old van to drive ourselves back. Jona was driving this time with Billy and Robby sitting next to him. I was sitting with Alexa while Malachi was sitting with Kyra.

We drove along the high-traffic roads in town...

"Shit! A roadblock." That was Billy exclaiming. I looked through the window and could not see any roadblocks. It was after a while that I recalled what Alexa said. "He can see a kilometre away than we all can."

After a few meters of driving, we reached the roadblock, and the traffic police signalled us to stop.

Jona pulled over, and the two police officers walked toward us.

"What the hell?" That was one of the policemen asking in a shocked tone. His eyes widened, and I could tell he was dead scared.

The other officer was equally surprised as the first one.

"Where is the one driving the car?" The second officer asked

"I don't know... I didn't see anyone come out and...

I can't see anyone inside either." The first officer responded.

"This is weird. Do you believe in demonic spirits? Like ghosts. I think that's what is happening." The second officer said, scaring the first officer. There were a lot of vehicles behind us, and they were all honking at us. I could hear the drivers complain about holding them in traffic.

"Hit the road, dude. Let these stupid officers go back to their work." Billy said, and without warning, Jona drove away.

As we drove away, I heard the two policemen scream. Everyone inside the van laughed.

"That was kinda fun," I said and chuckled.

"Yeah. I can't believe they almost shitted their pants," Alexa said.

"And I can't believe they are the same policemen that used to scare the hell out of me," Kyra said.

"Who knew death could be this fun," Robby said.

He was right; it wasn't so bad to be dead after all.

"Especially if you are a free ghost," I said and laughed a little.

"Yeah...I can't imagine that Kelly is not here to enjoy with me. I feel sorry for her." Kyra said softly.

"We are sorry for what happened to Kelly. " I said, and she nodded.

****

We continued driving and finally made it to the desert area. We abandoned the old van and walked to the top of the wall separating the two worlds. I glanced at the world of the living and mumbled my goodbyes.

"I can't believe we are going back," I said.

"We should get done with this already," Billy said, and we started holding hands. I was the last one in the line holding Malachi's hand.

Billy started on this weird foreign muttering, and after a few seconds, I started feeling my body disconnect from the world of the living.

Once I heard the strong push behind me, I opened my eyes and released Malachi's hand.

I was left on the top of the wall while the rest drowned on the other side.

"Mate?" That was Malachi shouting at me.

I waved at him and ran back to the desert. I wasn't ready to go back to side B. I was not too fond of it there. I hated most people there, and I was not too fond of the food we served there.

I ran back to where we had abandoned the old van and hopped in, then drove back to the town.

I was listening to some jazz music on the van's radio. The feeling of remaining in the world of the living was exhilarating. I still couldn't believe that I had managed to do it. I was scared Robby might smell my plan, but luckily, he didn't.

****

I pulled over a few meters away from my parent's house and stepped off the old van. I did not want to drive it to our compound as that would have scared my family.

I wandered along the pathway and finally made it home. I hesitated at the door for a second, then stepped in.

My mom and Mitchell were busy in the kitchen while my dad sat on the sofa reading a newspaper.

I took the opposite seat from my dad.

After a few minutes, my mom came in carrying dishes.

"Dinner is ready." She spoke as she placed the dishes on the table. Mitchell walked in with plates and a jug of water, headed to where my mom was, and then took her seat.

My dad dumped the newspaper and strolled to the dining area. Once my mom was done, she took her seat, and they all started eating.

"It's delicious. You are best, my love." My dad, after he swallowed a spoonful.

"I have always been the best family cook. " my mom responded, and she was right. She always loved cooking, and she was never disappointed in it.

I stood up, walked to the dining area, and sat next to my mom.

"I wish Chase was here. It would be so nice to enjoy a full family dinner." My mom said calmly.

"Yeah. He always loved family dinners." Mitchell said.

"Guys, I am right here. I am here." That was my mind thinking about what I should say, but there was no need. It's not like they could hear me.

"You know, I sometimes feel like he is watching us. I do feel his presence sometimes." My mom said.

"Is that crazy?" She asked.

"No. As a parent, you might feel that sometimes. It's not crazy; it means you are missing him." My dad assured her.

"We all do, but can we not talk about Chase now?" Mitchell spoke.

"I mean, it's sad he's gone, but can we at least not ruin this lovely dinner by bringing my dead brother up." She added.

"Honestly, Mitch?" I asked with my eyes widened, although she could not hear me.

"Yeah, you are right, Mitch. Let's not ruin this." My dad spoke, and they all continued eating silently.

"Whatever, guys. You can do whatever you want but know I am here, and I can hear you." I said.

****

Once dinner was made, Mitch cleared the table. I sprinted upstairs and headed to my room. There was no need to hang around my family while they couldn't see or hear me.

I opened the door to my room but then held my legs at the entrance. To my surprise, there was someone in bed.

"What the hell? Did any of my cousins visit? No. If they did, then they would have joined my family for dinner. " I convinced myself and stepped in. I strolled towards the bed, grabbed the duvet, and then mumbled to myself, " you got nothing to lose, Chase. You are already dead." That was a tactic against my fears. I pulled the duvet away.

"Yusuf?" I said, then groaned. What the hell was Yusuf doing in my house and on my bed? He had made it clear that he would not go near my family.

"C'mon, wake up," I said, shaking his body. He was dead asleep, and he was snoring quietly.

"Yusuf! Yusuf! Wake up, you moron." I continued calling his name. He finally opened his eyes and groaned sadly.

"Why are you waking me up? I am so tired." He said and then closed his eyes again.

"Come on, don't play games with me, Yusuf," I slapped his face gently.

"Okay. What do you want?" He asked after he opened his eyes and sat down

"What the hell are you doing here? You promised not to come near my family. " I asked angrily.

"What are you doing on my bed?"

"I am sorry, Chase."

"Don't be sorry. I need answers, not your sorry."

"Okay. I didn't have anywhere else to go. And since I needed somewhere to sleep, I chose to come here. "

"Why here and not your house?"

"I never had a house. I used to crash with my friends, but now he moved abroad..... but Chase, I did not bother your family. I only come here and silently get on your bed; then, in the morning, I step outside".

"You are insane. That does not mean you can just come and sleep on my bed. I can't believe my family has been living with a ghost for two days."

"But you are also here. You came, and you are a ghost too. It's no big deal." Yusuf said and chuckled lightly.

"But this is my house, they are my family, and this is my bed. I can do whatever I wish to....but for you, no. You are just a filthy liar." I growled.

"Okay. I understand but just lemme sleep here for today...only for tonight and tomorrow I'll be gone. For good."...

" I don't believe you. I will never again believe anything that comes from your mouth."

"Then wait until morning, and I'll leave willingly and never come back. You will never see me again." Yusuf said and slept on the bed again.

"Good night, nephew," Yusuf said and laughed sarcastically.

"It's not funny, you moron."

"I know. " He said and covered his face under the duvet.

It did not take long for Yusuf to go back to sleep and start snoring. He was annoying, but I had no option. It's not like I could carry him out of the house.

I hopped on the bed and slept next to him. I had no option.