Mary Kendall, A Ghost Story
Damien Meets Mary
Mary changes and crawls in her bed. She lies in bed thinking about the day, and all the things Betty told her. Soft beach music starts playing downstairs. She hopes listening to the music will help lull her to sleep. Her mind sure doesn't want to stop playing the day back for her. She turns out the light and pulls the covers around her, closes her eyes, and tries to relax.
She hears that man talking to himself. She listens carefully.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50375289966_31918a3af2_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50375622462_272727efec_o.jpgDamien has turned the radio on, the beach music is playing softly in the background. He lights a fire to take the chill out of the air. He feels a little silly trying to talk to Mary likes this, but realizes nothing ventured nothing gained.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50374590373_425758aa3b_o.jpg"Mary, I hope you can hear me. I'm going to light a fire and sit down and tell you what I've been doing since I first heard your story back in Riverview. I don't know if you are aware but you are admired by so many back home. A scholarship was started in your name for stud...awwww sh...!!" Damien curses as a fire starts from a spark to the woodpile next to the fireplace. He grabs the fire extinguisher and sprays the blaze.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50374755513_ac90b9ea90_o.jpgMary smells smoke and can hear the crackling from a fire downstairs. She knows that sound considering how many fires happened when she lit fires in that fireplace. She gets out of the bed and floats downstairs to make sure that man is putting the fire out. She does not want her house to burn down.
Damien is so busy putting out the fire he does not notice the ghost floating down into the room at first.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50375622617_dac6bd4d9c_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50375622557_61fb91c48e_o.jpg He hears a sharp exclamation and glances over. A ghost appears that he has not seen before. He continues working on getting the fire out and finally succeeds. He puts the fire extinguisher away and turns to the ghost.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50375622532_5113f0bd53_o.jpg"I can't believe you almost burned the house down!" yells Mary. She is a little overwhelmed at how handsome he is up close. She wants to throw her arms around him and find out if those lips are as kissable as they seem. Not really understanding why she has that desire, she ignores it and yells at him instead.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50218209077_a52a578f85_o.jpgDamien's heart and adrenaline are racing from fighting the fire. Seeing a very beautiful ghost standing in front of him in extremely sexy lingerie certainly does not help him cool off. He thinks she looks amazingly beautiful standing there yelling at him.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50217987736_6db7725d2d_o.jpg"Hey, I've been working my a.. off to get this place fixed up and liveable since I bought it and moved in. The fireplaces are in terrible condition, and I've cleaned this one twice. I don't know why it caught fire tonight."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50217987651_bb2596801b_o.jpgMary realizes she should not have yelled at him. If her emotions had not been so off the charts already from her day she probably would have stayed upstairs. "I'm sorry, I should not have yelled at you. This fireplace is very dangerous and has caused many fires over the years." She starts to float back upstairs.
Damien reaches out to stop her. He pulls back from touching her though afraid he would scare her away. "Mary, please don't go."
"How do you know I'm Mary?" She looks at him curiously.
"I'd recognize you anywhere Mary. My name is Damien, Damien Nazario, the third to be exact. I've been trying to figure out what happened to you since I first read your story. I knew there was more to it than what was published. I know what those girls did to you and I can now prove it. Please sit down and talk with me."
Mary looks into Damien's eyes. She remembers what Betty, Liam and Emmaline have all told her. She nods, and lets him lead her over to the couch.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50217331663_defb5fbddb_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50376023917_85ddeca417_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50218000096_f0a9d77849_o.jpgThey sit on the couch, and Damien tells her his story. Mary listens as he describes how he started investigating and what he discovered. He tells her about the two women who are still alive and how their lives evolved and changed for the worse. He watches her face as he tells his story. He cannot seem to take his eyes off her.
She listens with wonder at how much he was able to find out with his investigation. "I can't thank you enough for sharing this with me."
"I've got one more interview to do and will add that to my report. I will then take the file to the chief of police and the local judicial attorney's office. I also plan to send a full copy to the local newspaper and television station to ensure the report does not receive the same treatment as your original report did."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50218221372_8565bd24a9_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50217343713_b41aa0a529_o.jpgMary is happy justice will finally be done. She confirms the events of the night and how she died. "It was one of the coldest nights on record I found out later. I did not even have a coat on. It was mercifully swift." Damien reaches out and touches her hand. He feels a strong warmth pass from his hand to hers and back traveling up his arm into his chest. "I am so sorry you had to experience this and recall it to me."
Mary feels a wonderful warmth pass into her as Damien holds her hand. The warmth travels up her arm into her chest and her shivers stop for the first time since she returned after dying. She looks at Damien and their joined hands wondering what it all means. The emotional day takes its toll on Mary. She knows she is about to become a weeping mess. She does not want to fall apart in front of Damien. "I'm sorry, I can't talk anymore." She disappears.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50218221287_5e33a211f4_o.jpgDamien leaps out of his seat. "Mary! I'm so sorry. I did not mean to upset you. Mary! Mary?" Damien feels a cold caress on his cheek and a whisper in his ear. "You didn't. I need some time to process all you have told me. Thank you for telling me and helping me receive justice. I will find you tomorrow. I won't hide anymore."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50217343643_9d3671ee7e_o.jpgDamien can't help but feel happy that he was able to meet Mary. It seems impossible since she died so many years ago. Other than her ghostly form she looks younger than him and so very, very beautiful.
Damien reaches up to touch his face where he felt her touch. He whispers, "goodnight Mary."
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