Page 63 of Death Wish

Cowards.

I didn’t have much time to ponder what was happening because a guttural growl came from behind me, snapping my attention. Cole’s arms wrapped around the same Halfling’s neck. The one he’d been tossed around by before. This time, Cole dragged it back to the floor with him, trying his best to pin it in place with an elbow in the throat.

The thing found an opening and flipped around at the last minute. It seized Cole from behind and sank its claws dangerously close to his jugular.

“My gun,” he choked out as the Halfling sank its teeth into his shoulder. Blood poured out, staining his jacket red. “Get my gun!”

I scurried across the room, but when I went to snatch it, my fingers passed right through the metal.

A boulder sank into my gut and hardened.

I grabbed for the gun again, but my hand couldn’t grab hold.

“No, no, no, no! Not now!” My voice climbed in my panic. I couldn’t be a spirit again. Was this some kind of sick joke?

How was I supposed to help Cole? I grabbed desperately at the gun, hoping that somehow the magic turning me from ghost to alive would switch again.

It didn’t. I couldn’t make contact with anything in this world.

Cole and the Halfling rolled across the floor, fists flying and claws slashing. Blood spilled out of the new wounds on Cole’s arms and chest, but he kept his grasp tight.

“What are you doing?” Cole shouted as the two tussled. “Shoot, dammit! Don’t just stand there! Shoot!”

“I can’t! I’m not alive anymore. Something’s happened.”

“Do something,then. Use your touch!”

Everything still ached from the last time I had unleashed the light, and the burning in my throat from throwing up told me next time I used it may make me really regret it.

The Halfling let out a hair-raising snarl.

“DO IT.” Cole’s strangled cry had me rushing toward them.

I slapped my hand onto any piece of exposed skin I could find on the creature, which ended up being his shoulder.

Whiteness erupted from my fingertips, blanketing the room.

A loud gurgling cry rang out. But not from the Halfling. It was Cole’s voice.

Withdrawing my hand, the light diminished. The demon was gone, like the others, but Cole was on the floor, groaning and with his eyes closed. Every muscle twitched underneath his skin, and the pungent smell of burnt flesh and hair wafted past my nose, making me gag.

Before I could come to his aid, the spiking pain pierced my temples again, bringing me to my knees beside him. This time, though, I was expecting it, and I gritted my teeth as invisible spears drilled away at any remaining strength I had left. When my stomach spun, I took deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth to prevent myself from retching, all the while telling myself I had to get through it. Squeezing my eyes shut, I rode out the pain and bouts of nausea, everything spinning around me.

When the waves of pain lightened enough, I opened my eyes and stared at Cole still withering on the ground. Fresh wounds covered his face and neck, along with a blistering red rash all over his exposed skin.

Guilt weaved throughout my chest, constricting. Had I done that?

I reached out to touch him but stopped myself, remembering I had fought bare handed. Patting my jeans, I found my leather gloves in my back pocket. I quickly slipped them on.

What could I do to help him? I had no idea. I hadn’t known the light would hurt him like this. Like one of the Halflings.

What was I supposed to do?

“They’ll be back,” a familiar female’s voice called.

When I looked over my shoulder, Marla’s spirit stood there, staring at me and Cole with a look of complete disappointment. She was dressed in her frilly pink blouse and tailored pants, like before, and her hair was perfectly curled. If it wasn’t for the slight transparency to her form and the deceased body at her feet, it’d be hard to tell she wasn’t really alive. She was a strong presence. Even in death.

“Of course you two couldn’t come just a couple of minutes earlier and save me from those…” Her lip curled up in disgust. “Beasts.”

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