Chapter 7 - Two Villains and a Funeral

“We are gathered here today to commemorate the lives of Allison and Henry…” the priest spoke, interrupted by lightning and howling winds, witnesses raising their black umbrellas to fight back the pouring rain. “They were good people, great leaders and possessed amazing powers. They will not be forgotten and will stay in our hearts and minds until we join them in heaven-or hell.” As the coffins were lowered into the ground, the crowd bowed their heads, tears seen among some off them, others expressionless. 

“Don’t worry guys everything is going to alright. Trust me,” whispered the priest, standing at the back of the group staring at the ground.

“You can shift back now Aida” said Win, wiping away a tear with her hand. “Well we should probably all head back anyway. Come on guys.”

The group huddled together and walked back to the waiting cars, soil being thrown over the coffins until all that was left was a dirt mount and gravestones. 

Aida watched the others drive off then before heading of to the top of the hill to join two figures “Well that was a boring funeral!” said Thinzar, yawning. 

“Two of my friends just died, don’t you have a heart?” Aida replied, moving forward a few steps, her fists clenching as she spoke.

“How DARE you talk to her like that” Luisa screamed, placing images of Allison’s and Henry’s death, the blood, the fear in their eyes, their bodies going numb…

“Stop it NOW!” she shrieked, Luisa stopping only to laugh and sit down on Henry’s grave. 

“Now, now Aida. This new mission is simple. Become Allison , trick the others to believe you’re her ghost ,and bring down the company. Do this and you will be left alone ok,” Thinzar said staring at Aida’s eyes, her pupils dilating, and becoming pitch black. “Now go!” Aida walked off, taking off into the sky as a vulture.

“Allison?” Janette looked at the doorframe, sure it was Allison that she saw staring at her a second ago. “Is that you?” The figure returned, Allison staring at Janette, a single tear running down her cheek, her hair wild, blood on her shirt, her body cut in several places. “Why do you look so messy Allison?” 

“I guess its because I died like this but that’s not important, I need you to leave. You and Khiem need to get out of here now.”

“But why Allison? I want to stay here.” Janette replied, cringing into the corner of the cell, images of the outside world scaring her. “Please don’t make me go, please.”

“ENOUGH! You and Khiem are to be gone in 30 minutes you got that? Now go and tell him!” she barked at Janette, terror in Janette’s eyes and sorrow in Allison’s. Janette ran out of the room, tears flowing down her cheeks, vanishing when she got to the door. 

Allison sighed and sat in the corner of the room, constantly staring at the door, waiting for Janette but she never returned.

“Khiem, we have to go” Janette pronounced, Khiem looking around the cell, Janette nowhere to be seen.

“Ummm where are you Janette?” Khiem asked scratching his head as he turned around trying to find her.

“Allison came to me as her ghost. She told me we must leave now. Come on lets go” she appeared in front of him and started running around his cell, putting his things in a bag. 

“Slow down Janette, what do you mean she came to you as a ghost?” wondered Khiem, holding on to Janette by her hand. 

“SHE JUST DID! Please trust me, we have to leave now Khiem. Please…” she embraced Khiem in a tight hug, soaking his shirt with her tears. “Ai missh Allishon “ she blubbered.

“Please don’t cry Janette. Come on then, let’s go.” Khiem placed the bag on his back then picked Janette up in his arms and walked out the cell.

“What the?” Dylan walked past Janette’s cell, seeing a figure sitting in the corner, “Allison? Great I’m going mental now. I‘m a seeing ghost. Aida’s gonna find this so funny.” Dylan spoke, walking closer to Allison then sitting down opposite her waiting for her to reply.

“She doesn’t think this is funny. She hates every single second of this.” She replied through clenched teeth, staring at Dylan in hatred.

“Okay then, so ghost of Allison, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here on a mission. Dylan please help me” Allison spoke, her voice cracking at the end, wiping away tears with her shirt.

“How can I help?” he asked bewildered by this new side of Allison, a weak more sensitive side he’d never saw before.

“You can help by getting out of here. Pack up your bags and leave. Get everyone else out too. When they’re gone set this horrid place on fire. Burn it to the ground you got that.” She replied, standing up, taking his hand in hers. “Please, I will only be free when this place is gone.”

Pulling his hands free he walked out the room, turning when he got to the doorway, “I’ll do my best Allison.”

“We’re free. I can’t believe it, we’re free!” Khiem shouted, coming down the highway in a stolen car. “Thank you Allison’s ghost” he added with a laugh. Janette however didn’t share his joy. She just sat there, staring out the window thinking about her home and her last happy memories with Tommy, Win and Allison. Especially those with Allison. 

“Yeah, I guess we are free aye. So where too?” she responded, staring at Khiem as he grinned in excitement. 

“We’re going on a vacation. Come on it will be fun, just you and me and the sea.” He answered, oblivious to her misery. 

“Great” she said, already missing her home at the company.

“Has anyone seen Aida?” Dylan asked, running around the company, no sign of her to be seen. After searching every level he realized something. “Of course, Dylan you idiot!”

Running back to Janette’s room where Allison still sat in the corner he stopped in front of her and waited.

 “Yes?” she asked, staring at Dylan through blotchy eyes.

“Allison, everyone’s outside. I’ll burn the place now. You ready?” he said, things in the cell already melting as he heated up.”

“Sure. Burn ahead.” She replied standing up, ready to walk out the door.

“Hold up one second. I want to do a practise run, but I want you to stop my power when I say so.”

“I don’t think I can do that Dylan.” She replied concern in her eyes.

“Why not?” his eyes squinting as he starred at her.

“Because I’m a ghost. I don’t have my power when I’m dead” she replied, thinking of another way out of this.

“Give it up Aida, I know its you, ghosts don’t sweat, and you are sweating heaps cause of my heat” he replied, getting warmer as he spoke, Allison perspiring as she stood there” 

“Dylan you don’t understand, Thinzar forced me to with her power. I had no choice” she said, shifting back into her own body, tears flowing down her cheek again.

“You could have told me! I trusted you.” He yelled back, grabbing her body and burning it in several places, Aida screaming in pain.

“STOP IT!” she screamed, turning into metal, “I didn’t have a choice, I can’t fight her power!” 

“I guess your right” he replied letting go off her hand.

“Look I didn’t do anything bad so there’s nothing to worry about okay.” 

“Wrong. Janette and Khiem escaped.”

“That doesn’t matter they will come back soon I know it” she replied, walking out the door, Dylan following her, closing the door behind him.

As Janette’s screams Khiem wakes from his sleep, getting out of his bed to embrace her, her screams muffled by his shirt.

“What is it Janette?” he asked but another voice replied.

“Its only me, Thinzar. I’m sure you’ve heard of me” she replied, looking around the dingy motel room, Luisa going through their minds, finding their weak spots.

“No I haven’t but what do you want?” he replied, summoning a knife from the floorboards.

“Careful Thinzar this one could be dangerous,” Luisa said “though he is weak at heart and mind due to the death of a loved one so I don’t think he would pose as much of a problem” she added, a sinister smile on her face.

“Perfect, we need to talk Khiem. You too Janette” Thinzar said, walking closer to them, seating herself on the bed, “and I’m afraid you don’t have much of a choice in this” she added, laughing as she saw Janette cringe into Khiem, his hands holding hers tightly.

By: Aida