Page 19 of Dancing with a Ghost

I knew exactly what she was like, I just couldn’t be bothered to correct people anymore. Drama was not my thing.

“I know, sometimes it's just easier to keep my mouth shut, but I don’t think this ghost likes it.”

I went on to tell her about Matthias, how he’d helped me out with Aaron, how he’d spent time here when it was the hospital. I left out the part that happened in my bedroom. Georgie did not need to know what I got up to behind closed doors, but when I got to the part about how he ‘died’, what he could remember, she took out her phone, texting someone. Was it really that boring of a story?

“Really, Georgie? This not an interesting enough story for you?”

She waved her hand at me, continuing to tap on her phone, her false nails clicking on the screen.

“I’m messaging Giles. Did you forget which department he works in? Ministry of Defence, Toby, and if he can’t find anything about this supposed harvester of souls, bodies, whatever she was doing, then no one can.”

She finally looked up at me. “What else do you have?”

“You believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I know you wouldn’t joke about something like this, and honestly, I also think you have a little crush on this Matthias.”

“I do not!” I protested, but carried on. “I found some of the journals about the manor being a hospital. Milton couldn’t find much. Said it was like all the information had been wiped, which is odd.”

“Giles will find out about the hospital, I guarantee. What makes you think Matthias is into men? He could be just haunting you because he doesn’t like the way mother treats you.”

“He could, but I think there’s more to it. I asked him to dance with me in the ballroom. Proper dancing to Moonlight Serenade. I think he enjoyed it and he said he’d never danced with a girl before, just his sister.”

“He could have just been shy when he was alive, doesn’t mean he’s gay.” She added.

“No.” I could feel my face warming, thinking about what had happened in my bed. I just knew I was right but I couldn’t explain that to Georgie.

“Oh my God. Did something happen?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Has someone been having ghost sex? How the fuck do you do that?”

“Can you just drop it, Georgie?” I stood up and walked over to the water cooler and poured a cup of water. Maybe this would cool me down. Pfft, only if I tipped it over my head. I sipped at it, refusing to look at her.

“What aren’t you telling me? There’s more isn’t there?” God, she was nosy!

“No, nothing more to tell. I just want to know what happened to him.” I felt her hand on my shoulder. I hadn’t heard her get up, she was stealthy like that.

“When you’re ready to tell me the rest, I’m always here for you.” She sighed heavily and lumbered over to the door, picking up her bag as she went. “I have to go pick up Eleanor anyway. She’s spent the day with Giles’ mother to give me time to go get my nails done. She’s such a sweetie.

“Give her a kiss from me. I’ll pop by next week to come see her.”

“I will. Are you sure you’re okay? I worry about you, you know. Losing the studio, working here. I know it’s not what you want to do. Remember to follow your dream, Toby. Not anyone else’s.” She blew me a kiss and was gone, leaving me to ponder her words.

Everything she’d said was right. I should follow my dream, get back to dancing. It was what I loved, what I’d always loved, but here I was, living a life that wasn’t really my own.

I dropped into the chair Georgie had just vacated feeling very dejected and very alone.

What a fucking life. Matthias was nowhere to be found, I didn’t know how to contact him. Ouija board? Seance? Maybe I should just call his name out? I had no idea, I just didn’t want to think that I wouldn’t see him again. I still had many, many questions and if I was being perfectly honest, I’d enjoyed the few moments we’d spent together.

I felt we were kindred spirits. Knowing the time period he was from, it was what I loved too. The music, the dances, the whole lifestyle. It just appealed to me.

As if my thoughts brought him to me, the familiar smell hit my nose and I looked around the room, searching for him.

He appeared by the window, but he was so faint, it was hard to see him, sunlight shining here and there through his body.

“Hi.” I said, not knowing what else to say. “I thought you’d left me.”

He shook his head and took a step towards me, fading in and out as he did so.

“I had to think, try to make sense of the images I’ve been seeing. Dancing with you, thinking about my family, made me sad. The thought that they’re probably not alive. What if they had families, though? I could have relatives that are alive and that gave me a little hope.

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