Angel Kiss - Laura Jane Cassidy [43]
‘Yes, a spirit, perhaps. The headaches you described are a common side-effect of spirit contact.’
This was getting too much for me. After being so eager for answers, I wasn’t prepared for it. I had to get out.
‘I’d better go,’ I said. ‘I don’t feel comfortable with all this.’ I wasn’t ready to hear it. I had let fear get the better of me. I’d been so frightened that I’d allowed myself to go beyond desperate. I should never have come here. There’s no such thing as ghosts, I told myself. I had to get out of there. Ger did not stir, even as I made my way to the cabin door.
‘I’m sorry,’ I mumbled as I pushed the door open.
‘Jacki?’ he said.
I just wanted to leave. ‘Yes?’ I replied without looking back.
‘Can I ask you a question?’
I hesitated, but turned round and nodded anyway, preparing to take off as soon as I had answered. Ger spoke quietly, so that I had to listen really closely to hear him. ‘Your dad wants to know … why are you wearing his socks?’
I was suddenly aware of the feel of the thick grey cotton socks on my feet. They were my lucky socks. The ones that I wore when I had to do something I was nervous about. The ones I had taken from one of the plastic bin bags at the foot of Mum’s bed before she gave them away. That morning I’d put them on to try to make myself feel a bit better. Nobody knew I had them. Not even Mum. And there was absolutely no way Ger could have known or even guessed. I was wearing Doc Martens: my socks couldn’t be seen. Besides, I hadn’t even told him that my father was dead. I stood stuck to that spot for several moments.
‘How did you … how did you know …?’ My voice trailed off into nothing.
‘Are you OK?’ asked Ger.
‘Yes. Yes, I’m fine.’ I was desperately trying to hold back my tears, but failing miserably.
‘Why don’t you sit down.’
I walked back across the room and sat on one of the chairs. I felt like I was in a sort of trance. I couldn’t feel my feet move; I was completely in shock.
‘Here.’ Ger gave me a tissue and I wiped my eyes.
‘Are you … are you, like … talking to my dad?’
‘We were only able to communicate for a few seconds. He’s moved on, you see. He’s at peace. Not like the spirit who’s been trying to get in touch with you. She’s not at peace. She needs your help to move on.’
I was so glad to hear that my dad’s spirit was at peace, but disappointed that Ger couldn’t talk to him for longer. I couldn’t explain how he knew about the socks without accepting that what he was saying was true. Something or someone was trying to contact me. From the other side. I had no idea why they’d chosen me. I was a fifteen-year-old sceptic. Maybe Ger would know why.
‘But why me?’ I asked. ‘Why is she contacting me? I’ve just moved here.’
‘There must be a reason why she chose you,’ said Ger. ‘I’m not getting very many details about her … but I do think she had a violent death.’
‘Was she … murdered?’ I whispered.
‘Perhaps.’ Ger’s voice was gentle. ‘Jacki, some people are more in touch with the other side. I am, and so are you. She is contacting you through your dreams, and in other ways.’
I looked down at my bruised arm.
‘Why would she … why would she do this to me?’
‘She wanted to get your attention.’
‘What’s her name?’ I asked, even though by now I had an idea what the answer might be.
‘Jane.’
This name took me completely by surprise. I’d been expecting something else.
Ger saw my surprise. ‘Does that mean anything to you?’
‘Not at all. I thought it might have been a girl who was killed near my home … Beth Cullen. What … what does Jane want from me?’
‘You have to figure that out on your own, I’m afraid. She chose you, not me.’
I guess it felt kind of an honour to be chosen, but at the same time I had no idea what on earth I could do. I wished she could find a less scary way to ask for help.
‘How can I help her if I don’t know what she wants?’
‘You haven’t been listening to her messages. Until today you didn’t even think something like this was possible. You have to start listening. There must be links between the dreams you are having,