Chapter Three

Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair. Lucas could feel his parents’ eyes on him as he nibbled on his morning toast. After his strange encounter the night before, all thoughts of running away had fled the boy’s mind. He had to stay and find out more about the mysterious girl. Plus, he realized begrudgingly, he would really miss his parents if he left.

“Did you sleep okay, hun?” His mother’s voice broke the silence, brining Lucas back to the present. “You seem kind of tired this morning.”

Lucas tried to smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.” He replied simply.

His parents exchanged a look, but said nothing.

They finished the rest of the meal in silence, until the time came for him to leave for another day at school. Lucas turned to face his parents, taking a deep breath as he did so.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.” He said finally, his eyes turned downward as he confessed. “I just really wanna go home. I don’t like it here… and no one likes me either.” He muttered.

Damien pulled his son in a tight embrace. “I get it, buddy. It’s not easy.”

“It may feel like that right now, but give it a week or two.” Becca chimed in, smiling. “Things will turn around, you’ll see.”

“I guess…” Lucas muttered, pulling away from his father. “See you tonight.”

——————————————————

Lucas’ second day of school was not much better than the first, but he found himself so distracted that it almost didn’t matter. All he could think about was the sad, ghostly woman and why she was haunting his house. He’d read enough ghost stories to know that spirits did not simply remain behind for no reason. They usually had… What was the word they always used? “Unfinished business”, he remembered. Maybe she needs my help…

During computer class, Lucas tried in vain to find more information about the girl. When the teacher wasn’t paying attention, he attempted to look up what had happened back in 1985, but couldn’t find anything. Maybe they didn’t keep very good digital records? Or maybe his googling skills needed some brushing-up…

Lucas closed the browser window, his mind made up. There was only one way to get the answers he was looking for…