Two Souls: Into the Fire # 180

Two Souls: Into the Fire # 180

Warning … adult content

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Still being wide awake, even at the late hour, Ghost made himself a cup of hot tea, with a preventative dose of headache powder in it, and a peanut butter sandwich. Taking a blanket, too, he went out front to settle in on the porch swing. Rocking back and forth, he looked up at the stars. Being so far from town, it was very dark at night, and they shone brightly in the sky. The tea and blanket warmed him, and he could faintly smell the incense he’d lit earlier, as it drifted out through the screen door. It was peaceful and quiet, and gave him time to think.

He didn’t really want to know what Steve was planning for his Christmas present, at least until it was time to know. He hoped he could not read Steve’s mind for awhile. He’d try, anyway. He was happy for the way the day had turned out, too, and he kept thinking of it. After awhile, he did go in to get ready for bed. He looked in on Steve, finding him sound asleep.

Grabbing his journal, he wrote about his day for awhile, then turned out the light. He was asleep in a matter of minutes.

~

The next morning Steve was feeling good as new, and made a huge breakfast for them. He was singing to Spirit as he flipped pancakes. Ghost had awakened, and made his way down the hall to the kitchen doorway. He watched Steve for a few minutes; Steve didn’t know he was there. When he turned around, he jumped, as he saw Ghost standing there.

“Ghost…you scared me. How long ya been there?”

“Long enough to see ya dancing around.” Ghost laughed.

“Well, it’ll be ready in a few mintues. Sit down and I’ll fix you a plate.”

Ghost did, and Spirit jumped in his lap. Stroking the soft fur, Ghost asked the cat, in baby talk, “Did kitty get something to eat? Did silly ‘ol Steve give you a bite?”

Steve laughed, as he looked over at them. Ghost’s hair was a tangled mess, and the clothes he’d slept in were mismatched…baggy, flannel pj bottoms, printed with green and red Santa faces on a black background, an orange and blue striped t-shirt, turned inside out, and on his feet, he had the gag gift fuzzy, pink elephant slippers that Steve had gotten for him three years ago. Steve just shook his head in wonder.

“You look like something the cat dragged in. Did you even look at yourself?”

Ghost sneered and sipped his coffee, while shooting Steve the finger.

“Okay, okay,” Steve said. Still laughing, he put the plate of food in front of Ghost. “Here, eat,” he said. “You in a mood, today?”

“No, are you?”

“Yeah, a good one,” Steve said. “That remedy you gave me didn’t kill me, and it really did work.”

“Good,” Ghost said, through a mouthful of pancake. “I told ya.”

“So, I’m going secret shopping today, right after I eat,” Steve said. He looked at Ghost, seeing if he’d get a reaction.

“I’m trying real hard here, Steve…real hard.”

“Real hard?”

“Yeah, to block out your secret, happy shopping thoughts.”

“Oh, guess that’s why you’re not talking like a magpie this morning, huh?” Steve made a talking motion with his hand.

“Stop it…really…just hurry up and go already.”

“Yeah, I will. I’m done eating, anyway,” Steve said. He grabbed his keys, gave Ghost a hug and a kiss, and was out the door.

“Finally,” Ghost said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Okay, cat, we’ve got the house to ourselves. What’cha wanna do now?”

“Meow?”

“Yeah, me too. It’s TV time.” Ghost poured himself another cup of coffee, and settled on the couch with Spirit. Flipping the channels, he had fairly good reception this morning, on the three channels they had.

“Hmm, looks like we got a game show, cartoons, and a cooking show…what’cha think?”

“Meow?” Spirit kneaded the blanket on the couch.

“Okay, cartoons for us today.” Ghost laughed at the cat, and after watching a few minutes of the show, they both fell back asleep.

~

Steve had left the house, heading down the highway to Raleigh. Sometimes he wished there was another big city that was closer, something different to drive toward, but he’d find what he wanted just fine, anyway. After going by the bank, he found the store he wanted, and went inside. Speaking to the store manager, he explained what he wanted for Ghost’s gift. He had a specific idea, and the owner said he’d have it finished in time for Christmas. He’d laughed at the string measure Steve had brought in, but assured Steve it was no problem.

Since this hadn’t taken very long, Steve just walked around the downtown area for awhile, looking at Christmas displays, and going into a couple of shops to buy a few more gifts. He wanted to get some more things for Ghost, and also something for Terry, Kinsey, Zach, and Trevor. His shopping done, he headed home. He hoped Ghost had managed okay,and that he could stop thinking about the gift, now.

He pulled up into his driveway. All was quiet. Opening the front door, he saw that Ghost and Spirit were sound asleep on the old couch. The TV was still playing cartoons, and it seemed they’d not moved at all since breakfast a few hours ago.

“Hey, wake up, Ghost,” he said, as he sat down beside him on the couch. “I’m back.”

“Huh?” Ghost rubbed his eyes. “Already?”

“Yeah, have you been asleep this whole time? It’s almost lunch time.”

“Mmm, I guess so.”

“Well, you can keep sleeping, if you want to. It’s fine with me, but I’m gonna get a sandwich. If you want one let me know,” Steve said. He went into the kitchen.

“Do we want one, Spirit?”

The cat just opened one eye, and didn’t get up.

“Yeah, me neither.” Ghost closed his eyes to try to go back to sleep.

Steve came back to the couch, with his sandwich, chips, and a drink.

“Scootch over some. I want to sit down and watch TV,” Steve said.

Ghost complained, but moved more to one end of the couch. Spirit had had enough, and stalked off to the bedroom. Steve flipped the channel from cartoons to a fishing show.

“Hey, we need to do that again,” he said. “Want to?”

“No, and be quiet, I’m sleeping,” Ghost said. Steve shrugged, and kept watching, but then the phone rang. He jumped up to get it from the kitchen where he’d left it.

It was Kinsey on the line. “Hey, Steve, we’re back home. We just got in to town.”

“Oh, hey Kinsey. You’re home?”

“Yep, I’m unpacking right now. Thanks for watching the club for me, and getting the mail. I’m beat, so I’m staying in tonight, but y’all come around tomorrow. I’ll tell ya all about the trip,” Kinsey said.

“Okay, we’ll do that. Glad you’re back.”

“Kinsey and Terry are home,” Steve told Ghost. “Let’s go over there tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Ghost mumbled. “I’m hungry, now, Steve. Fix me a sandwich.” He still had his eyes closed.

“Thought you were gonna sleep some more.”

“Well, I can’t with all this noise going on,” he said, as he sat up. “Never mind, I’ll get it myself.” He got up, and wobbled a little on his way to the bathroom.

Steve heard him yelling as he ran right back out. “What’s the matter?”

“There’s a crazy person in there. It looks like a berserk clown, with nasty hair,” Ghost said.

Steve started laughing.

“Why’d ya let me look so stupid, Steve?” He was laughing too, at himself.

“Oh, God, Ghost…you did that all on your own.”

Steve was still laughing at the berserk clown comment.

“Well, I gotta go fix myself,” Ghost said. He went back to start the water running for a shower.

***

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Next part coming soon!

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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2019 BS

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This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative license is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, musicians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblance.

warning      warning      warning      warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.