Paranorma: Paranormal. Supernatural, and Horror Short Stories by C.W. - HTML preview

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Chapter 24

In Love with A Ghost 

 

Annalise and Caleb had an amazing relationship first they were best friends, to high school sweethearts, to an engaged couple, they lived together in a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Bridgeport, Indiana they both had amazing jobs and were the center of each other’s world, they had a loving bond that never could be broken not even through death but one day that all changed. It was a cold snowy day, and the city roads hadn’t been plowed yet, so they were a mess, and he was driving home from work and the next thing he knows a truck comes from out of nowhere and T-bones him. Caleb Curtis was laying in the morgue trying to make sense of what happened, His life flashes in front of his eyes, he sees her, he smells her perfume, feels her touch, he takes his last breath and he’s gone. The accident was horrible, Caleb was hit from the side smashing the driver’s side killing him instantly. He saw himself floating outside his body watching the EMTS and fire rescue pull him out his car, he saw the truck that hit him, it was brand new Ford Raptor, except for now the front was all smashed in, the driver was banged up pretty bad ended up going to the hospital with a concussion and few cuts and scrapes. The police were there taking of the accident, getting information, and trying to find out what happened. The head officer of the police was on the phone trying to get a hold of Annalise who was in a meeting at work and couldn’t pick up the phone, but he kept trying until she finally left the meeting and picked up. “Miss Marks this is Officer Tindal with the Clark County Police Department, we have tragic news for you, I regret to inform you that your finance Caleb Curtis was killed in an accident, a red Ford Raptor came of out nowhere and T-boned him. Annalise’s heart sunk into her stomach, she felt her knees grow weak, she fell to the floor and fainted. Miss Marks, you there, Miss Marks, hello? Hello? Miss are you ok? Miss? He hung up”. A co-worker came to aid after the meeting was over, “Annalise are you ok? Annalise answer me, please her coworker said, shaking her. He takes a cold cup of water from the water cooler and threw it on her. She slowly opened her eyes and looked confused, what, what happened? I don’t know her coworker answered I found on the floor passed out. Last thing I remember was talking on the phone talking with an officer about my finance, I think he’s dead, she said with a tear in her eye and her voice was shaky. He was in a car accident, oh Annalise’s coworker said I’m so sorry. Thank you she said accepting the condolences.” Just then her phone rang again, and it was the police officer calling back, “Miss Marks I’m so sorry to bother you again but could you go down the coroner’s office and id your finance. Ok, she answered. I’ll be there as soon as I can, ok thank you he said, I’m sorry for your loss Miss, thank you, bye.” She took a moment to herself she broke down and cried, she lost the person in her life that meant everything to her, and he was gone in a blink of eye, she didn’t even get to say goodbye, how unfair is that. She gained her composure, wiped the tears from her eyes and went to her car. It was a long, slow elevator ride, she walked to the parking garage to her car and drove to the police station to the coroner’s office to id her fiancé. It was going to so hard to see him like this, she went to the police counter and the secretary was there to greet her, “hi there, how may help you? Hi, Annalise answered, I’m here to id my finance, ok go down the hall the elevators are to your left and the coroner’s office is the last room on the right, thank you Annalise retorted.” She walked down the hallway to the elevators and hit the button to go down, the coroner’s office was in the basement. The elevator stopped and the doors opened she walked out and looked for the coroner’s office passing everyone till she found the last room on the right, then she saw him, she saw laying on the cold, metal, table covered a white sheet. She started to get choked up. The coroner came over to her and greeted her, “hi I’m Sahara, I’m so sorry for your loss, thank you Annalise choking through the tears. She walked to Caleb and the coroner slowly lifted the sheet. Annalise took one look her heart shattered. Yes, Annalise said, this him this my finance Caleb Curtis. Once again, her needs got weak and she fainted. Her head hit the floor hard leaving a bump Miss, are you ok, miss? Sahara grabbed smelling salt from the medicine cabinet, tore it open and she waved under Annalise’s nose. Annalise whiffed at cringing her nose, her head felt sore and red, and she had a bump. Sahara wrapped in a bandage and gave her some ice. Thank you, Annalise, said, looking at her dead finance, it was last time she was ever going to see him. After she felt better, she thanked Sahara for everything, and she left.” She lost her best friend, her lover, her childhood sweetheart, her soulmate, she couldn’t believe he was dead. They had such an amazing life together they lived together they were engaged and now all it’s all over. Annalise cried as she looked down at her love, she threw in a rose and said her goodbyes. She was the last one to the funeral, she couldn’t bear to leave it didn’t feel right not without him. How could she go on living without the love of her life? She remembered the day that they met. She was only six and it was her first day of kindergarten she was scared because it was her first day, then Caleb came up to her on the school playground and starting up a conversation with her and they eventually came best friends. He got her through some of the rough times of her life, and she got him through some the roughest times. In high school Caleb fell in love with her and she fell in love with him too. He asked her out over the summer she said yes. They had a fairytale romance, it was the best romance she ever experienced in her life, she found her soulmate, her love, her best friend and now he’s gone forever. Annalise would never recover from this. How would she be able to live without her best friend. She sat in the car as her family drove her to the reception after the funeral and she couldn’t stop sobbing, she kept calling out his name over and over. Annalise’s mother was sitting the backseat with her desperately trying to console her daughter, she would rub her arm with one hand and rub her back with the other telling her it would be ok. Annalise felt empty without Caleb, she never hears him breathe, never hear his heartbeat, never hear him call out her name, she’d miss him lying beside her every night. Going on without him was going to be torture. After a long night of sad condolences, faking smiles, talking about Caleb, Annalise was done; she was exhausted, sad, the day had gotten under her skin all she wanted was to go back to her apartment. After every family member had left her mother was washing in the sink and Annalise was drying. “How you doing love? Her mother said a loving, kind voice. Oh, I’m ok hanging in there, I miss him Mama she replied with a tear in her eye. I know you do sweet girl, I do too, her mom said with a smile. I don’t how to go on without him, we’ve been together since forever. I know baby girl I remember the first day you had a play date and came over he was the cutest little boy. I always knew you guys were meant to be. Yeah, he was Annalise retorted with a smile. I know this hard right now, but you will get over this, he’s always with you and watching over you, thanks mom Annalise said hugging her mother.” She walked into her house it was going to be hard to live without him, she walked into her empty apartment it still smelled like his cologne and it was lofting through the apartment, she took a minute and inhaled his scent, she smelled his sweat, his masculinity, God she missed that smell. Going on without him was going to be hard. Life without her best friend was going to be the worst, she lived everyday with him from college up till now. She’d miss his touch, his breath, his sweet, kind words, everything. She sat on the couch and picked up a picture that sitting on the coffee table and stared at it and she cried and cried, and cried, until she cried herself to sleep. Meanwhile back at the crime scene, Caleb was lost and confused first he woke up to find himself floating above his body watching everything that happened to him was he really dead was he having an out of body experience? He did see light just after he died but he didn’t go into the light. He didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to Annalise, he had unfinished business and he wanted to know if his accident was accidental or it was murder. The police were still at the crime finishing up and Caleb was there watching everything, he was went to the other driver’s truck and looked at license plate, it was a vanity license plate with the words HOT BOD, Caleb went into the truck and started searching for id, he looked in the center console, then he looked in the glove compartment, there he found an insurance paper with the other driver’s name on it, he tried to grab but his hand went right through it, he tried again but no luck, being a ghost was hard; he tried to focus think of Annalise he said to himself, he thought of her and then he tried grabbing for the paper again this time it worked, somehow Annalise gave him energy even after death, he was able to hold it in his hand. He looked at the name on it was Chad Turner. He wondered if the police saw this and the license plate, maybe if they ran it through CODIS they find something on this guy. Caleb wanted to know if his was accidental or murder until he found and got justice, he’d wouldn’t be able to leave and be stuck on earth, he knows he couldn’t leave until he saw his Annalise again. He didn’t know, he was so confused. One minute he’s alive and the next he’s dead and floating around like some ghost. Am I a ghost? Am I really dead? What do I do now, where do I go? What happens if I stay? He asked himself. How was he going to live without his Annalise? How could he go on without her? He’d never see her, touch her, or talk to her ever again. He couldn’t not ever see her again even as a ghost, but he had to see her again, and tell her goodbye. He made his way from the scene of the crime to Annalise’s apartment he floated to the door and walked right through it. There she was right there on the couch sleeping like a beautiful angel, he sat down beside her and stroked her hair and took in the moment, how beautiful she was, she was his whole life the one he loved for, worked hard far to give her a future with them and now it was lost, he hated to be without her it was torture his heart shattered. How life be so unfair and cruel, he was living and breathing and now he’s dead and all happened in the blink of an eye. Annalise was dreaming and she kept calling “Caleb, Caleb, I’m here my love he said in a love whisper”. He killed him that she couldn’t hear him or even know he was there and would she even believe she’d been a skeptic when it came ghosts but he wanted to know he was around watching over her, he had to somehow prove it to her. He got up went and gathered everything that meant something to both them, he grabbed a photo album, their yearbook, a gold diamond heart necklace, and a pair of the pearl earrings. He put them on pile on the coffee table where Annalise could see them. Caleb sat next her all night and watched her sleep, the next morning Annalise woke up early and saw the pile of stuff on the coffee table she recognized everything on the table, she began to cry. He’s been here this whole time watching over me, I knew it. exclaimed. The thought of Caleb watching over her made her smile. But over time Annalise began to get over her grief of losing Caleb and she wanted to move on. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Annalise finally felt better she was no longer feeling sadness or grief. Annalise Today was big day at work and so she got up got dressed and went to work, but first she stopped at the coffee shop. Today was the day that Chad Turner would be released from the hospital, his friend was waiting for him to gather his belongings then they were off to the impound to pick up his truck from the impound lot. The police had since the accident and due to lack of evidence they closed the case and pronounced it an accident. After dropping off Chad, his waved and drove off, Chad paid and he sat his truck and looked for the missing insurance info, when he couldn’t find it, he thought the police had and if that found out that he’s wanted for vehicular manslaughter he’d go to jail for life. After leaving the impound he drove to the coffee shop. He pulled into the parking lot, he parked and headed into the shop; there he stood in line and accidently bumped into Annalise she fell to the ground, her purse and contents spilling to the floor. “I’m so sorry. Chad apologized. I wasn’t watching where I was going. It’s ok. Annalise spoke. Chad helped her pick her belongings and handed it her. She put everything back. Can I buy you a coffee to make up for bumping into you? He asked. Sure, that would be ok. Annalise answered. Chad bought her a coffee and that sat there and talked and got to know each other and they eventually began to date. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. Before they knew a year had passed and they were moving into together. On this day, Caleb was mad when he found out. Caleb was angry and he was going to let Annalise know. He began knocking loudly on the walls, and began throwing things. Annalise would ignore it. Caleb felt hurt, and he didn’t want Annalise with Chad. And try and separate them every chance he got. Annalise wasn’t having it. One night, Caleb had enough it was time for her to know the truth and the only way to that was to enter her dreams and replay his accident. So that night, Caleb went into Annalise’s room and entered her dreams while she slept. She began tossing and turning, she was restless. She woke up in the middle of the street and she saw Caleb, and she saw the truck coming at him, she screamed out. “NO!” But it was too late. Something was telling her to the back of the truck, she looks at the license plate it said, HOTBOD. So. She said to herself. It was Chad, it was him along he took my love from me. She was mad and sad all at once. She woke up from her dream. On her bed was the missing insurance info, she ran downstairs and went outside, she looked at the truck, it was the same truck from her dream except on his truck was paint from Caleb’s car. Then she looked at the license plate it the same from her dream. She called the police. “Hello, Officer Tindal here. Hello officer, this Annalise Marks. She announced. I have so info pertaining to my fiancé’s case. She explained. Oh. The officer sounded intrigued. You know Miss the case has been closed and was ruled an accident. Well sir, you may want to reconsider. Annalise said. I know who the killer is. I found the missing evidence and I found paint on my boyfriend’s truck that matches the paint from my fiancé's car. Here is the license plate, it’s a vanity plate and this what it says. Annalise explained. Tell me miss and I’ll run it through C.O.D.I.S. The officer replied. HOTBOD. Annalise told the officer. The name on the insurance form is Chad Turner. Annalise spoke. The officer ran it the name and license plate. Oh my God. The police officer said out loud. Miss Marks, you’re right it is Chad Turner and he’s wanted for two accounts of vehicular manslaughter thanks to you, you found the suspect.  Can you please send help? We’re on our way Miss Marks, hang tight.” What Annalise didn’t know was that Chad was listening through an opened window and was watching Annalise. Annalise was about to go back into the house when and unstoppable force got in her way. Caleb was holding her back and trying to keep her safe for she was in danger. Inside had was waiting for her holding a silver candle stick. Annalise went in anyway and there was Chad about to whack her on her head. Caleb rushed to her aid and pushed Chad against the wall, he hit it with a “THUD”, he was knocked out. Annalise looked around. “CALEB” She yelled out. “THANK YOU” She ran to the bathroom and pulled her sash from her robe and ran to back to Chad tying his hands behind his back. Relieved she was safe, she sat on the couch and waited for the cops to come. “Annalise, I’m here to say goodbye. Caleb said out loud. No Caleb. Annalise answered. I have to it’s my time. Caleb said holding her hands, she feels his cold hands in hers, he looked in her eyes and kissed her one last time, she could his lips on hers. Her heart sunk, and she cried. She felt him pull away from her, she blinked and rubbed her eyes: she saw a bright light and Annalise watched Caleb go into the light and that was the last time she seen or heard from Caleb Curtis ever again.  When the police arrived, they found the suspect on tied up on the floor. Officer Tindal was there talking to Annalise who explained everything, that night Chad Turner was arrested and tried two weeks later in court and found guilty on many accounts of vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to life in prison without parole, Chad Turner is serving his prison term.