Twenty Six

Twenty Six

"I see her sometimes" Ella mumbled under her breath. It was 8 o' clock in the morning and she slept over at Juana's. Juana had told her about what happened to her father and that he was admitted, so she offered to visit her to prevent her from being lonely.

"Helen?"

"Yes I see her sometimes" she repeated.

"How do you know it is her?" Juana asked. She had let Ella know about her discovery of where she lived. It made her angry at first but then she stopped being angry

"She told me her name" she replied. Juana sighed

"She told me the name of her killer too, and that if I find him, I should hand him over to the cops" Ella said

"This freaks me out" Juana sighed.

"And how are you going to help her find him?"

"I'm not going to"

"Huh?"

"I'm not going to. I don't wanna see ghosts anymore. I'm tired of seeing them. My granny and I bought that house because it was cheap. We are poor. We don't like that house but we have no choice. I want to find a way to not see ghosts anymore, and I'm working on it"

"Do you need help?"

"No. I can't bring you into this. I might even lose my own life while trying to stop seeing them" she said. She looked sad. Juana hugged her and patted her hair.

"You'll not lose your life, girlfriend" she said. "You know I love you" 

"I've never loved my life. I'm just here because of my sweet grandmother and John and my friends" she replied. Juana asked her what the name of Helen's killer was, and kept the information in her mind.

"I'll be travelling to my hometown to see a native doctor in two days" she announced and Juana sighed. She'd miss her friend so much

"I hope everything turns out well" she prayed.

"And if it doesn't turn out well, please help me find a sponsor for my grandmother and brother" she said with tears in her eyes. Juana was taken aback by her words. She didn't expect her to talk like that.

"What are you talking about? You're not going to die!" But Ella knew she most probably would not come back. She didn't tell her grandmother what she was going to do. She didn't want to be discouraged.

Afterwards there was silence. The two girls rocked themselves back and forth affectionately.

***************************************Two days later, at home, she sat at her desk writing...

"Hi dear diary, I'm back again. Yesterday I had a good dream. I saw mom come back home. I feel so happy right now and I hope it comes to pass. Ella is in her village looking for a means to destroy her power of seeing ghosts. I never knew she was this occultic, I must say it really scares me to have her as a friend  nevertheless, I love her. Colin is still so sweet, and trustworthy but i can't just tell him about Jason yet. Daddy was discharged yesterday too. He came home yesterday and left that same day. I hope he's fine. He told me he is, but I'm not sure about that. I hope he's not going back to that woman...

Just then, her phone rang. It was Jason. He was calling after many days of being silent. She was so excited to see his call. 

"Hello Jason"

"Hello" he paused before adding, "I need to see you please"

"Okay?..."

"Right away please"

"Why? Is it urgent?"

"This burden on my chest is killing me, I need to spill them all to you, and I will show you my face this time. I promise" his voice sounded like he was okay but his words betrayed it. She was so excited.

"You will show me your face?"

"And tell you all about the haunted house" 

"Wow-the haunted house!"

"I'll text you my address now. Don't tell anyone you're coming" then he hung up. 

"Okay! Yayy! I won't" Juana got up, closed her diary and did a dance around her room. "Not even Colin will know this!"

Finally! She screamed. 

"First, I'll go wipe the dining table while I wait for his text. Then I'll have my bath, brush my teeth and prepare to leave" she said and slipped her feet into her pink pair of slippers. She was so excited and impatient that when she opened the door, she didn't notice anyone was there until she bumped into him. 

"Colin?" To say she was shocked was an understatement. Her smile disappeared from her face instantly and her feet ceased dancing to the tune of a well-delivered good news. What on earth was Colin doing here? Didn't he say he'd be going out to town to buy some horse feed? Somehow he looked dangerous if he wasn't smiling or laughing. And this was one of those times he was doing neither.

"What are you doing here?" She asked quietly trying to hide the fact that her heart was pounding hard in her chest. He was silent for a while, he drummed his fingers on the door then turned towards the living room. She followed him without uttering a word.

"Colin" she started after he sat down. For some reason, Juana was scared he might beat her up right there because he looked angry. She knew he had heard every bit of her conversation with Jason

"What are you hiding from me?" He asked quietly and for some reason, she wished he had asked angrily because his quiet voice sent shivers down her spine.

"I swear Colin, it's not anything you think. I am ...

He cut in. " I ask again, what are you hiding from me?"

Juana was silent. Her palms were wet from being tense.

"I heard everything you said on phone. What risk are you taking this time?" He said resting his ahead on the couch.

"I'm not taking any risks. I'm just meeting a friend" she replied. Just then, her phone beeped. It was Jason's text. 

"Colin, I'll talk to you later. I have to get somewhere now. I'll be back soon" she said and turned towards her room but he swiftly stood up and pulled her violently into the couch.

"Listen to me" he began. He bent his head over her and she could see he was really fuming.

"Seems you won't ever listen until I shout. I told you to be careful but you're so damn careless. I don't know this Jason of a person and I'm 100% sure you know nothing about him also, but here you are, rushing to his house. For what? To hear a story about the haunted house? Isn't that crazy silly? You don't go about doing something without thinking, how many times should I tell you that before it sinks into your skull? I know you know I'd discourage you,isn't that why you kept this from me? Huh" He barked

"I know him. He's a friend" she mumbled

"A friend? Really?" Colin laughed. Only thing was this laughter wasn't infectious, it was evil.

"You haven't seen his face, have you? Juana, don't be silly" he stopped laughing.

"Actually...

"Tell me all of it. Isn't he the same guy you were waiting for at the park the other day?" He said.

Juana was silent. She wished the ground would just open and swallow her whole.

"What have you done?" He asked. Then he held her hands and looked into her face, and she watched his anger fade.

"Why are you hiding things from me even when you know that I really care about you?"

"I..I can handle this alone" she said looking away

"You think so?"

"I know so. Colin, I'm just meeting a friend, I don't know why you're making a problem out of this"

"Because I doubt if he really is a friend" he said, then added "Call to cancel"

"What?"

"Tell him you can't make it" he said and shrugged

"No I can't do that. Why would I?" She pushed him and made to run towards her room, but he pushed her back and snatched her phone. Then he texted Jason 'I can't come. Bye' He called after few minutes and Colin took his call

"Sorry, she can't come to your place,not now, not ever and please stop luring her into your den!" Then he hung up.

"I hate you" Juana yelled and ran into her room, snatching back her phone

"Is that what I get for protecting you?" He waited in the house till night to make sure she wasn't going out to meet Jason