Page 22 of Hallowed Tree
The mist stilled, the grains of purples and navys hanging in the air. “The human dreams. We thought none dreamed anymore.”
Buck raised his brows at me in question, and I shrugged. I had no idea what that meant. “I’m pretty sure everyone dreams, even if they don’t know it,” he said. “I can tell you, before I died, I used to have some doozies. Nothing quite as wild as this, though.”
The mist swirled again, moving in a frenzied motion. “He walks where he dreams. He walks where he dreams,” they chanted.
“What’s happening?” I whispered in Buck’s ear.
He shrugged, as baffled as me. Gathering my courage, I stepped up next to Buck’s side, and he entwined our fingers as I said, “Listen, if you know as much about me as it seems like you do, you know that my existence has been lonely.”
Buck squeezed our joined hands in sympathy. I smiled up at him. “But it’s so much better now, and it’s not just because of the other ghosts like Buck and Stevie. But it’s the ones with heartbeats—Scotty, Jetty, Chance, and his parents. They’ve given me joy that I never had before. Given me a reason to live my afterlife better than what I had when I walked this plane as a mortal.
“I understand that traditions have been lost through time and that it may be disappointing to you. Made you and your kind feel like humanity is beyond saving. But that’s not true. There’s still so much good in this world.”
“Hallowed Tree, please, tell us what we can do,” Buck begged. “Tell us what we can pass on to those we know. There has to be a reason that Kingston’s been drawn to this place. Give our friends a chance to help make it right.”
“You ask us to let a few be the salvation of many?”
“Why not?” Buck asked earnestly. “It only takes an ember to start a fire, right? Let us spark the beginning of something new.”
The mist stilled again, motionless. “I will confer with the others. I make no promises.”
“Thank you—” I cut off as I found myself on my butt outside of the tree, with Buck next to me, and all of the inhabitants—our friends—standing over with us with their mouths agape.
Chapter Nine
Buck
The last thing I expected was to be spat out of the oak tree as unexpectedly as I’d ended up inside of it. Having every member of our new little chosen family standing over us gawking was a close second. “What are you all doing out here?”
“Looking for you!” Kingston yelled, gripping his hair.
Skylar patted him on his back. “It’s okay, big guy.” He looked down at me and Harry. “We called everyone out to help us search for you.”
Chance hunched down by our heads. “Kingston thought you two had fallen through a wormhole or something and that we’d never see you again.”
Jetty watched his best friend with concern as Kingston continued yanking on his own hair as he began pacing. “He thought it was his fault since he’s the one who can’t get this place out of his mind.”
Harry and I looked at each other, and I rolled my hand in a go-ahead motion. “Tell them, love.”
“Come sit on the logs around the fire pit. I’ve got a story for you,” Harry said with more enthusiasm than I’d ever heard from him before.
I knew it wasn’t me when Marc’s head jerked back, and Elyse covered her mouth, giggling. My Harry was truly loosening up.
As we sat, Chance asked, “Mom, can you start a fire, please?”
Skylar, who was sticking close to Kingston, said, “Oh, let me.” He flicked his wrist and made a tossing motion toward the stack of wood in the fire pit. It lit immediately. He fist-pumped the air. “Yes.”
Elyse smiled like a proud mother hen. “Very good, Skylar. You are an excellent student.”
Kingston dropped his hands and stared down at the much smaller man. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
“You’d be surprised what I can do,” Skylar said flirtatiously.
Wide-eyed, Kingston stumbled back, and Harry smacked his hands together once, drawing all of our attention back to him. “So that”—he pointed toward the old mighty oak—“is the Hallowed Tree.”
“Huh?” Scotty asked, wrinkling his nose.
“Let me tell you.” Harry went on to explain in detail everything that we’d experienced, including the mist’s image and the myriad of voices when they spoke.
