Bad Places Read online

  “John, you need to be careful.”

  John immediately recognized Cassandra’s voice and was about to respond when the lights went out and the phone line went dead. “Cassandra?” he said into the phone.

  Then John heard something.

  It sounded like someone was running quickly up the stairs, like bare feet on the carpeted steps, moving toward the bedroom. It stopped just beyond the bedroom door, which was ajar.

  Just an inch or two.

  John inhaled sharply.

  A voice was heard, right next to John, speaking softly into his ear. “John...”

  John shrieked and jumped out of bed, running to the door and pulling it open, hurrying out of the room.

  Only dressed in sweat pants, John ran from the house, stopping at the sidewalk and looking back, chest heaving, but not from running. John shrieked again at a sudden sound and then realized that he was still holding the wireless telephone. He answered. “Hello?”

  “John, we need to talk.”

  It was Cassandra.

  John was sitting in a booth at the nightclub, his left knee bouncing up and down quickly in a nervous manner, a drink on the table in front of him, untouched. He checked his watch impatiently. He looked around the dark room and then checked his watch again,

  “Hello, John.”

  The voice startled John.

  Cassandra was standing right beside him.

  “Do you have to do that?”

  Cassandra smiled serenely.

  John motioned for her to sit in the booth across from him and Cassandra slid into the booth, placing her hands on the table, left over right. John noticed a simple gold wedding band on her left hand. “It was in my bedroom last night.”

  “I know.”

  “How do you know?”

  “You look terrified.” Cassandra offered another serene smile.

  “Even now.”

  John picked up the glass on the table in front of him, realized his hand was shaking slightly, and quickly put the drink down, hard enough for some of it to splash onto his wrist. Cassandra reached out and wiped off John’s wrist with her fingertips. “What’s happening to me, Cassandra?”

  “You’re being haunted.”

  “Why?”

  “I would need to be in close proximity to the spirit to learn that, John.”

  John shook his head and looked down. “You don’t want to be as close as I was last night.”

  “I’ve been that close before, John.”

  John tried to take a drink again, but his hand was still shaking. “I’m going to need a straw.”

  “It’s quite understandable, John. Your sense of reality has been turned inside out.”

  “I really went down the ghost path, that’s for sure.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing.” John inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. “Last night you said I need to be careful. Why?”

  “You’re in danger, John Link. Mortal danger.”

  “Now you’re saying the ghost is trying to kill me?”

  “All I get is a sense that you’re in grave danger. How? When? I do not know.”

  “11/2. November 2.”

  “What about it?”

  John seemed to be thinking about something, eyes staring at a space just over the table. “It’s trying to warn me,” he finally whispered.

  Cassandra nodded as John looked up into her eyes. “I want to go home with you.”

  “It’s Halloween.”

  “I know.”

  “I guess if we’re going to try to contact a ghost, this is the perfect day for it.”

  John and Cassandra walked up to the front door of the house, John taking keys from his pocket.

  “The door is already open, John.”

  “That some kind of psychic premonition?”

  “No. Look.”

  John saw that the door was slightly ajar; he pushed it open all the way, but did not step inside. “I probably didn’t close it all the way last night after I left.” John stepped aside and let Cassandra enter the house first, following and shutting the door behind them. The lights were still on from the night before and John reached out and turned them off.

  “Where did you stay last night?”

  “A friend’s place.”

  “Jason?”

  “You know Jason?”

  “No.”

  “Then how-?”

  “Call it one of my psychic premonitions.” Cassandra smiled. “He told me last night.”

  John shook his head. “No. I didn’t stay at Jason’s last night.”

  Cassandra looked toward the ceiling, turning around slowly, before shaking her head. “It isn’t here right now.”

  “It’s still daylight.”

  “Spirits do not care what time of day it is, John.”

  “Oh.”

  “We simply notice them more during the silence of night.”

  “Oh.”

  “Can I walk around?”

  “Anything you want, Cassandra. Please.”

  Cassandra moved off.

  John did not follow.

  Cassandra moved from room to room, looking around, pausing momentarily before continuing on to the next room. In the basement, Cassandra moved slowly down the steep wood steps into the musty-smelling area. Even with the light on, the basement was still dark, as if the darkness itself managed to crowd in on the light bulb and would not allow any illumination beyond a few feet. Cassandra did not appear concerned about the darkness, moving forward confidently and without fear. She did not stop at seeing a figure standing just beyond the reach of the overhead light bulb. The figure was standing with its back toward Cassandra, dressed in dark clothes, not moving.

  “It’s you,” Cassandra said softly.

  The figure started to turn to look back at Cassandra.

  John opened the door.

  Jason was wearing a skeleton t-shirt. “Happy Halloween! Where’s the candy?”

  “You’re early.”

  “What? You on a date, or something?” Jason stepped into the house and then looked surprised when Cassandra appeared.

  “Hello, Jason.”

  “Hi, Cassandra.”

  “John, I found your ghost.”

  John turned quickly to Cassandra. “You did?! Where?!”

  “Ghost?” Jason held up a hand. “Hold on. What’s going on here?”

  “Where is it, Cassandra?” John asked again, ignoring Jason.

  “In the basement.”

  “Of course,” Jason said. “Where else would any self-respecting ghost hang out on Halloween? Is bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster down there, too?”

  John ignored Jason’s snide comment and moved toward the basement door, Jason and Cassandra following.

  “You might not want to go down there, John.” Cassandra placed a hand on John’s arm.

  “Why not?”

  “Because the ghost might scare you!” Jason teased.

  “Jason, why don’t you have a candy bar and shut up?”

  Sounds good to me!” Jason grabbed some candy from a large bowl place on a table near the front door, ripped open the wrapper, and took a sizable bite before hurrying to catch up to Cassandra and John. “You’re not coming down?” he asked Cassandra, who was not following John down the stairs into the basement.

  “I’ve already seen what’s down there, Jason.”

  “Hey, hold on, now! This ghost isn’t all ugly and gross, is it? I mean, I like a good scare on Halloween, but the fake kind!”

  “Hurry up, Jason. John shouldn’t see this by himself.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to see it, either!”

  “Go. Now.”

  Jason inhaled deeply, popped the rest of the candy into his mouth, and nodded, moving down the stairs.

  In the basement, John was standing beneath the single light bulb when Jason caught up to him. “See anything yet?”

  “No.”

  “What’s up with you and Cassandra? I told you she
was a psycho and then I find her here at your house!”

  “She isn’t a psycho, Jason.”

  “If you say so, John.” But Jason did not sound convinced. “But I’m a little suspicious of your sudden change of heart, buddy. You two didn’t... um, you know.”

  “Have some more candy, Jason.”

  Jason took another piece of candy from a pocket and ate it, looking around the basement. “Now, where is this ghost?” He rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe I just said that!”

  “Come on.” John moved out from under the light bulb into the darkness of the basement. Jason was close behind him, peering around John’s left shoulder, squinting, wincing, like someone anticipating something scary in a movie. John stopped suddenly and Jason ran into his back.

  “Sorry.”

  “There’s someone down here!”

  “Where!?”

  “Right over there...” John pointed and Jason slowly peeked around John’s shoulder.

  “I don’t see anything.”

  “What are you talking about? He’s right there!” John started walking toward the figure, with Jason still close behind him; Jason shut his eyes tightly.

  “Tell me what happens!”

  “Open your eyes, you big sissy! If this guy takes off, I need you to help me stop him!”

  “If he takes off, just tell me, and then I’ll open my eyes!”

  “Good God...”

  John started moving forward, with Jason hanging onto John’s shirt. “Tell me what’s happening.”

  “Open your eyes and look!”

  “No!”

  “He’ still just standing there.”

  John suddenly stopped.

  “What? What’s going on?”

  “The light went out!”

  “Oh, no.”

  “What do you care? You have your eyes shut.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  “Hold on. I have my phone.”

  “So what? I don’t think calling 911 will help this situation.”

  “No. Flashlight app, dummy. It will help us see.”

  “See what? The ghost?”

  “Then keep your eyes shut.”

  “I will!”

  John took out his phone and turned on the flashlight, holding the phone up to illuminate the area in front of him. The figure was still standing in the same spot, back turned toward John and Jason. “He’s still here,” John said.

  Jason grimaced. “Oh, damn.” When John moved forward, Jason nearly stumbled. “Where are you going?”

  “I want to see who it is!”

  “Why?”

  “This is my house! I don’t appreciate strangers standing around in my basement!”

  “Let him have it! Just close the basement door and leave him down here!”

  “I would, but it seems like this guy enjoys moving around the house at night.”

  “What are you going to do? Can you even kick a ghost’s ass?”

  “Let’s find out.”

  John reached out toward the figure with his free hand, but then the phone light went out.

  “Now what?”

  “Phone is dead.”

  “Did you have to use that word?”

  John started swinging his arm back and forth in the darkness in front of him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Trying to grab the guy!”

  “You can’t grab a ghost!”

  “How do you know?”

  “I just know! I’ve seen movies!”

  John continued to swing his arm. “Nothing,” he finally concluded.

  “Let’s get out of here, then.”

  “All right...”

  John was about to move when both John and Jason heard a voice in the dark.

  “Jason...”

  “OH MY GOD! IT KNOWS WHO I AM!” Jason shrieked.

  “Answer it.”

  “No!”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t want it following me home!”

  “Where did the voice come from?”

  “I couldn’t tell. It seemed to come from everywhere.”

  “That’s what it sounded like to me, too.”

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting out of here!”

  “Be hard to do that with your eyes closed.”

  “I don’t think that makes a difference in the dark down here.”

  “You got that right. I can’t see a hand in front of my face.”

  Jason took a deep breath and then let go of John and started moving back toward the stairs.

  John did not move. “Be careful.”

  “I am!”

  There was a dull thud and Jason let out a yelp of pain.

  “What happened?”

  “I ran into something.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “I think so. I’m at the stairs now. Are you coming up with me?”

  “No. I think I’m going to stay down here for a while.”

  “Dude, I don’t think you should press your luck!”

  “I’ll be up in a minute.”

  “Okay...”

  John could hear Jason’s footsteps move quickly upward and then there was a loud thud as Jason ran into the basement door.

  “I’m all right!” Jason called out. He opened the door and left it open behind him.

  Jason found Cassandra sitting quietly on the sofa and stood, looking uncomfortable.

  “You can sit down, Jason. I won’t bite.”

  Jason nodded and moved to a leather easy chair across the room from Cassandra. There was an uneasy silence, until Jason cleared his throat. “You know what’s down there, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Is John... safe?”

  “If he was, I wouldn’t still be here.”

  “I shouldn’t have left him down there alone.”

  “You should be just as worried about yourself, Jason.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “It knows me now, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  Jason stood and threw up his arms. “Oh, man! What do I do, Cassandra?”

  “First of all, try to stay calm, Jason.”

  Jason sat down again, seemingly unable to make up his mind if he wanted to stand or sit. “Stay calm? How can I stay calm when I’m about to be haunted!”

  “I’ve been haunted for close to ten years.” Cassandra said this calmly and smiled gently at Jason.

  “Ten years?! Are you serious? Haunted by what?”

  “Not at hauntings are bad, Jason. Some of them can be comforting, actually.”

  “Comforting? Are you kidding me? A ghost is a ghost!”

  “You are about to embark on an amazing experience, Jason. One very few get to go through.”

  “I don’t want to go through it, Cassandra! I should be at home, handing out candy and keeping the good pieces for myself!”

  “It’s too late, Jason.”

  “Damn!” Jason got up out of the easy chair and started pacing in tight circles.

  “You’ll be all right, Jason.”

  “How can you handle this sort of thing for ten years?!”

  “You get used to it. They say you can get used to anything, eventually.”

  “I never trust what they say!”

  John appeared and sat down on the sofa beside Cassandra. John and Cassandra looked directly at each other for a moment, Cassandra still with a serene smile on her face. John nodded.

  “Did you see your ghost?” Cassandra asked.

  “I did, until the light went out. Even my phone died down there.”

  Some say that’s how spirits gain strength to manifest.”

  “You don’t sound like you believe that, Cassandra.”

  “I don’t because I know it isn’t true.”

  “Who cares?!” Jason sounded frantic.

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Cassandra said I’m going to be haunted now!”


  “That’s a bummer.”

  Jason let out a frustrated grunt and walked toward the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Going home and locking myself in my bedroom!”

  “That won’t help, Jason.”

  Jason looked at Cassandra. “It won’t hurt, either.” Jason reached for the door knob and let out a shriek when there was a loud pounding sound. “It’s happening already!”

  “No, someone is at the door.”

  Jason opened the door and saw a trio of kids, in costume, holding out bags for candy.

  “Trick or treat!”

  Jason pushed his way past the kids. “I hate Halloween!”

  John got up and doled out candy from a large bowl on a table near the door, smiling at the kids. “Sorry about that, kids.”

  “What’s his problem?” a kid dressed as a robot asked.

  “He gets scared easily.”

  “Maybe we should go chase him,” a second kid said.

  John smiled. “That sounds like a good idea!”

  The kids ran off the porch, hurrying to chase after Jason, who could be heard a moment later. “Hey! Get out of here! Leave me alone!”

  John smiled and shut the door. He turned to face Cassandra. “What now?”

  “We’re going to have to wait and see.”

  John nodded and moved to sit down.

  The pair fell silent.

  Jason was driving slowly, hunched forward, head nearly over the top of the steering wheel. “How did it get dark so fast?” he said to himself.

  “Jason...”

  The voice was right beside Jason, coming from the passenger side of the car. Startled, Jason threw open his door and tumbled out of the car, after he slammed on the brakes.

  A kid dressed as a pirate walked up to Jason. “What’s wrong, mister?”

  “There’s a ghost in my car!”

  “Really? It must be driving your car, too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The pirate kid pointed toward Jason’s car, which was rolling off, Jason having left if on the top of a slight hill in gear. Jason raced after the car. “Get back here!” he shouted. “That’s my car!”