AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I want to talk to you,” Evie said. “I want to ask you some questions.”
“Questions?” the ghost echoed.
“Yes. I know you must answer truthfully.”
“Yes,” the ghost answered. Her tongue caressed the edges of her teeth. They weren’t sharp yet, Evie saw, but they would be soon.
“How can we win against the King of Crows?”
“Only the dead can defeat him.”
“What does that mean? Why do you always talk in riddles?”
The ghost clutched at her stomach. “We aren’t meant to come back. It makes us hungry. A great sickness deep in the belly. We must feed from the living to stay. That is why we join with the King of Crows. He promises power. He gives us just enough. And he takes the rest.”
“So why not go back to your graves?”
“Once we are awake again, we cannot rest.”
“Why not?” Evie glanced toward the dark train. Her muscles tensed, ready for flight.
“It’s the Eye. It joins us as one. Its golden energy keeps us here. But it also keeps us hungry. We can never give it enough. Never give him enough.”
All the ghosts were connected. All of the dead. “Have you seen a girl named Mabel—”
“Rose,” the ghost finished.
Tears sprang to Evie’s eyes. “Yes!”
The ghost seemed to truly see Evie for the first time. “She is important to you?”
“Yes. Very important. She was my best friend.”
“What will you give me to know?”
Evie was newly afraid. This was daring. This ghost was a step up from the others she’d met. She was not obedient. Evie could tell that the ghost was thinking.
“What do you want?” Evie asked.
The thing ran its dark tongue across the edges of its teeth again. “I hunger.”
Evie took a step back. “There are animals in the woods.”
“No. Not enough. Not like the living. And you are a Diviner. Yours is the sweetest honey of all. Give me some of your life and I will connect you to the Eye. You may find your friend.”
“I can’t do that. You’ll hurt me.”
“Not if you offer it. If you place your hand upon my heart.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
“I cannot lie. I am the dead.”
Evie knew she should scream for Sam and Theta now. But if she did that, she’d never know about Mabel. She was sure it was Mabel’s voice she’d heard tonight.
“All right,” Evie said. “But you have to help me talk to my friend first. Can you do that?”
“The Eye joins us. I will ask. Ask for your Mabel Rose.” The ghost closed her eyes. Evie took this moment to really look at the woman and was surprised to see that she wasn’t much more than a girl. More like Evie’s age. Her dress was somewhat modern—a dress that had been fashionable right after the war—and Evie found herself suddenly wondering about this spirit in front of her. How had she died? Was it sickness? An accident? A broken heart? Had she lost someone she loved in the war, too? There was a brooch fastened to a ribbon at her hip. It was unexpected and stylish and Evie wondered if they might have been friends had they known each other before the girl’s unfortunate death. That was dangerous. This girl—no, this ghost, this dead thing—was the enemy. Wasn’t she?
