Entry 09: Welcome to Sickle Flats
Title: Welcome to Sickle Flats
Entry Number: 09
Author: insaneladybug/Lucky_Ladybug
Fandom: The Rockford Files
Rating: PG-13/T (ghostly goings-on, shadow people)
Genre: Supernatural, Religious/Spiritual, Friendship
Spoiler Warnings: None.
Word Count: 3,959
Continued from the last piece, but can be a stand-alone.
Features a hotel called The Shiloh Inn. I know of a real place with that moniker that's reportedly haunted, but this one here is purely fictional. :)
By Lucky_Ladybug
Even if Ginger and Lou had not had such a series of distressing and disturbing incidents on their way to their business meeting, they would not have liked the town of Sickle Flats. From the moment Lou drove past the city limits sign, something didn’t feel right. The town was old, breaking down and boarded up. Hardly anything was open, even on the main street, despite the fact that people were out and walking and driving about. Something about all of them seemed, Ginger felt, very moody and wrong.
“They’re so gloomy,” Lou frowned.
“You noticed too, eh?” Ginger remarked.
“How could I not notice?” Lou retorted. “This is just freaky. It’s like they know they’re living in a town with creepy things in it.”
“No,” Ginger mused, slowly. “It’s like they know they can’t ever be free.”
A shiver ran down Lou’s spine at Ginger’s pronouncement. “Why would our company be having a business meeting in a crummy place like this?!” he exclaimed.
“Apparently it’s the headquarters of a company with which they’re hoping to merge,” Ginger said flatly. They both already knew that, and Ginger knew that wasn’t Lou’s real question.
“I’d pass on merging with anything from this place, even if I’d lose a million bucks,” Lou declared.
Ginger didn’t offer an opinion on that, and Lou knew that Ginger very likely would still go ahead with it. While both of them enjoyed material possessions, Ginger was practically obsessed with not being poor. Having been in prison made him feel that way all the more.
“There’s the hotel,” he announced after a moment.
Lou frowned at it. “Shiloh Inn,” he read. “Well, the name’s nice enough.” He pulled into the parking lot. “Okay, let’s give it a try. It’s probably the only game in town.”
Ginger got out of the car and dragged his suitcase out of the backseat. Lou followed suit and they headed through the side entrance and into the lobby.
The desk clerk looked half-asleep, but he jumped a mile the moment he heard footsteps. “Oh . . . hello,” he stammered in nervousness. “Are you the representatives from Fragmented Triangle?”
“That’s right, Mate,” Ginger said. “But why do you know about us?”
“No reason.” The nervous little man hurriedly shook his head. “It’s just that in a place this size, word of a business conference gets around mighty fast.”
Ginger grunted. “What do you have available?” he queried.
“Almost everything is available, Sir,” was the reply. “The only rooms taken are by the other people attending this conference.”
“Is that just because you’re in the middle of nowhere, or is there another reason?” Lou spoke up with a frown.
“No one has much reason to visit us unless they’re doing business with Graphics, Incorporated,” said the desk clerk. “Now then, what kind of rooms would you like?”
Ginger glanced at Lou. “Do you have any available rooms with two beds?”
“Yes, Sir,” the desk clerk said. “Several, in fact.”
“Give us one of those.” Ginger set his suitcase on the floor, tired of carrying it. Apparently this hotel had so little business that they didn’t even have a proper bellboy.
“You don’t want two separate rooms?” the desk clerk asked, slowly.
Ginger fixed him with a silent stare.
The clerk looked away, shuddering. “Very well, then. One room, two beds.” He sounded disappointed. Of course, he would turn a higher profit with two rooms. But he sighed and removed a key from a cubbyhole behind him. “This is to one of our best rooms.”
Ginger nodded to Lou, who took the key. “You don’t have a bellhop around here anyplace, do you?” Ginger queried.
A bit of a sick look passed over the desk clerk’s features. “Oh, I’m afraid not, Sir. Our bellboy . . . well, up and quit.”
Lou blinked. “Yeah? Why?”
“He had a better job offer,” the clerk replied, stiffly. “If you had a chance to get out of a town like this, wouldn’t you?”
“Perhaps you should go too, then,” Ginger remarked. Picking up his suitcase, he hauled it to the stairs.
Lou trailed after him. “The key is for room 204,” he announced.
Ginger nodded, seeming satisfied.
“Isn’t it weird about the bellboy, though?” Lou said as they made their way up the stairs. “That he would just quit like that, I mean.”
“I would certainly get out of here if I could,” Ginger said.
“Yeah, but how would anybody even know about him to offer him another job like the guy said?” Lou countered. “I think he just wanted out so bad that he packed his bags and took a powder, even if nothing was waiting for him.”
“You think the hotel is haunted and he encountered the fruits of that,” Ginger said flatly.
“Well, it’s possible, isn’t it?” Lou retorted. “After what we saw outside the city, and downtown, you’ve gotta admit that something might be wrong with this place.”
“I don’t deny that.” They reached the top of the stairs and Ginger moved on ahead of Lou, soon reaching room 204. It was close to the stairs, which was just fine with Ginger. It was good to have a quick escape, should they require it.
Something darted past out of the corner of Lou’s eye and he whirled, nearly falling backwards down the stairs. He gasped, grabbing onto the top of the banister.
Ginger started and turned. “What in Heaven’s name just happened?” he demanded, hurrying back to his friend.
“I don’t know,” Lou sputtered. “But one of those shadow people was just here. I’m sure of it; I seen it!”
Ginger glanced down the hall. Lou had much better grammar in general than most people from his New York neighborhood. When he made an occasional slip, it was usually when he was growing highly upset. This situation certainly qualified.
“There is nothing there now,” he frowned. “Do you think it was deliberately trying to startle you into falling?”
“It could’ve been,” Lou said. “We already know they’ve got sick senses of humor!”
Ginger was highly displeased. “This is going to be a very unique night,” he grunted. “Come on. Let’s see if things are any better in our room.”
Sighing heavily, Lou followed Ginger over to 204 and fumbled for the key in his pocket. As he stuck it in and turned the lock, he swung the door open to reveal a nicely furnished yet older room. Each of the dark oak beds had a floral-print comforter and a nightstand with a lamp. Across from the beds were a closet, a dresser, and the door into the bathroom.
Lou set down his suitcase in cautious relief. “This looks like a nice place,” he said slowly.
Ginger nodded, shutting and locking the door behind them as he entered. “We should be fairly comfortable here until the meeting tomorrow, as long as we’re left in peace.”
Lou winced. “Which we probably won’t be.” He sighed and shuffled towards the bathroom to wash up. “Do you want to bother with dinner or just go to bed?”
Ginger glanced at the clock. “It’s late,” he proclaimed, which was putting it mildly. “Let’s just try to sleep. We have to be in top form tomorrow.”
Lou nodded, loosening his tie with one hand while flipping on the bathroom light with the other. “That’s fine with me. I’m not really hungry right now anyway.”
Ginger wandered about the room as he waited, shedding his trenchcoat, suit coat, and vest as he walked. Everything felt normal in this room, but he was still tense and uneasy, as he knew Lou was. If they weren’t careful, they might start imagining up nonsense to go along with what they had been experiencing before their arrival.
He paused in the middle of undoing the knot in his tie. Did he believe Lou had been mistaken about the shadow person on the stairs? Lou had been on edge ever since the incident in the road.
But no. Ginger believed that Lou had indeed seen exactly what he had claimed to have seen. Or at least, he certainly believed that what Lou claimed should not be easily dismissed.
Several minutes later, Lou was ready for bed and Ginger was preparing for it. Sighing, Lou crossed to the bed nearest the window. “Hey, Ginger, do you want any particular bed?” he called.
“No,” Ginger responded from the bathroom. “Take what you want.”
“Okay.” Lou turned back the covers and sank into the mattress. It felt soft and wonderful after the bizarre day. He burrowed into the pillows, trying to forget about all the madness and just focus on sleep.
At some point he vaguely heard Ginger come out and claim the other bed, before sinking deeper into a state of half-awareness. Everything was peaceful and safe. Ginger was fine; the shadow people hadn’t hurt him. Lou could go to sleep without fear.
It was the realization that something else was sinking into his mattress that snapped him awake. “Ginger?” he whispered. “What are you doing?”
But there was no answer. And when he flipped the covers down to look, he only saw the indentation at the foot of the bed, without anyone present to fill it.
“Who are you?!” he cried. “Get off the bed. It’s mine tonight. Okay?!”
The form didn’t move. And now Lou could also see a shadow standing near the window, leaning in the corner and most likely watching him, because boy, did he feel watched.
Lou gripped the comforter. He knew how Ginger felt, wanting to show these guys that they weren’t going to be scared off. But how was he going to go to sleep with one of them staring at him and the other sitting on the bed?
He looked over at the other bed. Ginger appeared to be sound asleep; he was facing away from Lou and breathing steadily and calmly. There were no odd things about his bed.
Lou swallowed hard and tried to lie back down. He wasn’t going to be scared off, he wasn’t going to be scared off. . . .
The form at the end of the bed plopped down, lying right next to him. That was the last straw.
“Ginger!” Lou yelped.
Ginger jumped a mile, bouncing in the bed. “What the bloody devil are you on about?!” he growled. He never liked being woke up. Most people were terrified when he reacted in such ways, but Lou knew that in general, Ginger’s bark was worse than his bite. And when it was Lou interacting with Ginger, there was nothing to fear, no matter how Ginger snapped. It was just his way.
Lou drew a shuddering breath. “Ginger, turn around,” he said. “Look at this.”
Ginger turned, blinking bleary, sleepy eyes at the other half of the room. “What am I supposed to be looking at?” he frowned.
“The corner,” Lou rasped. “And my mattress. Ginger . . .” His voice trailed off into a whine.
Ginger sat up, still looking half-asleep. His hair was a wild mess. But when he saw what was wrong, his eyes widened. “What in the name of . . .” He swore, annoyed and irritated and a bit disturbed by the spirits’ antics. “Even staying here for one night is too much.”
“Ginger . . .” Lou sat up. “You know I’d never ask this under regular circumstances, but . . .” He turned red. “Can I . . .” He looked pleadingly at the other bed.
Ginger sighed, but just gave a tired beaconing with his hand. “Come on.”
Grateful, Lou slipped out from the comforter and crossed the room to the other bed. As Ginger tiredly waited and watched, Lou climbed onto the other side of Ginger’s bed.
“There always the chance they’ll come over here,” Ginger remarked. “They may be attracted by you. I heard somewhere that negative feelings can compound a problem like this. I don’t know if I believe it, but I suppose it’s possible.”
“Well, I can’t help negative feelings, after everything they’ve done,” Lou said. “You’re managing to stay calm, Buddy, but right now, I can’t.” He shuddered.
“I know.” Ginger laid back on one of the pillows, covering his eyes with a hand. “To tell you the truth, I’m not feeling so good about them myself. But they were lingering on your side of the room, not mine. Perhaps your outbursts have been amusing them. If I had made them, they would probably be more interested in me.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Lou took one last, disbelieving gaze at the other bed. He could still see the body length indentation. “I just can’t believe that . . . whatever it is had the gall to get up in my bed. I’m sorry about this, Ginger. I was trying to hold out, but when it stretched out like that, I . . . I just couldn’t. I don’t wanna lay in bed with something I don’t even know!”
“Of course not,” Ginger mumbled. “It’s alright. Go to sleep. Just try to stay on your side of the bed.”
“Right,” Lou nodded as he sank into the other pillows. “Don’t worry, Ginger. I will.”
He soon found, however, that he wasn’t sure how to lie in the bed. He didn’t want to face the ghosts, even with his eyes closed. And he didn’t want to lie on his back because that also seemed too close. He really only felt safe if he rolled over to face Ginger, who was currently lying on his back. But at the same time, Lou hated to face away from the ghosts and not know what they were planning.
He cursed himself in his mind. He was being ridiculous. He should go back to his bed and insist on not being kicked out by ghosts. But with the situation as it was, he could not bring himself to disturb Ginger any further by getting up and storming over. Nor was he sure he was really brave enough to do it right now.
With a sigh he rolled back to face the ghosts. They were still right where they had been. Trying to relax, he slumped into the pillow and closed his eyes.
“Stop tossing about,” he heard Ginger mumble.
“Sorry,” Lou mumbled back.
Somehow, knowing Ginger was still awake made him feel a bit better. Ginger was right that they hadn’t been bothering him, so perhaps Lou could relax and feel that Ginger was safe, and that by being there, he would be safe as well.
Amidst those half-conscious thoughts, Lou finally slipped into slumber.
****
It was deeper into the night when Ginger awoke, startled from sleep by the undeniable hammering in his mind that something was wrong and it had to be fixed.
His eyes snapped open, immediately focusing on a shadow bending over the bed, peering at Lou and then at him. Although Ginger could see a nose when it turned to profile view, otherwise there were no distinguishable features at all.
He swallowed hard, trying to quell the fear and panic beginning to rise in his heart. He had mostly been angry and annoyed and putout before, and he still was, but seeing it so close, and not knowing what it wanted or what it was going to do. . . .
“What do you want?” he demanded low, praying that there was no fear in his voice.
It just kept looking at first. Then it held out a hand, reaching toward Lou. Ginger could feel the malevolent intentions he had spoke of emanating from its very form.
“Stay away from him!” Ginger snarled, bolting upright in the bed.
It was strange that Lou did not move. Ginger gripped his shoulder. “Lou, wake up.”
A chill went through him at how cold Lou felt. Ice-cold, as though he were almost . . .
“What have you done?” Ginger spoke dangerous and low before his temper snapped and he bellowed, “What have you done?!”
The form’s intangible hand passed through Lou’s chest, while Ginger stared in shock. He struggled out of the covers, lunging even though he knew it would do no good. “In the name of God, leave him alone!” he screamed in desperation.
That actually seemed to make some difference. The being backed off and stood across the room, watching, waiting to see what Ginger would do next.
Ginger was shuddering and shaking from having plowed right into the shadow. It had felt like a horrific chill had shot through his entire body. But he could not think about that now. Frantically he began wracking his mind for a prayer. What was that one Lou had whispered on the road coming here?
“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray . . .”
Lou stirred, his eyes fluttering open. As he focused, he stared at what he saw.
Ginger was kneeling on the bed in front of him, then slowly standing but remaining where he was, trying to shield Lou. The shadow whatever it was backing up, cowering at Ginger’s recitation of the Saint Michael prayer.
Lou tried to push himself upright. He clenched his teeth, grimacing at the pain of the attempt. He was weak and strangely cold, but he forced himself to sit up anyway and finish the prayer along with Ginger.
“. . . And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of men.”
“Be gone, Demon,” Ginger snarled now. “Go back to Hell where you belong and leave us be.”
Lou added his own personal, whispered prayers to that. Please make it go away.
The shadow person had had enough. It vanished into thin air, taking with it the invisible spirit that had been lying on the other bed.
Ginger slumped back, drained from the mental fight and from the dark energy that had enveloped him. “Lou . . .” he whispered as he lost his balance. “Lou, what did it do to you?”
Lou caught him, sickened and bewildered. “Ginger! Ginger, hey, I’m okay. Do you hear me? I’m okay.”
Ginger groaned, turning his head to the side. Lou was chilled, feeling Ginger’s cold skin against his pajama shirt.
“You’re cold,” Ginger rasped. “So cold, like you were frozen solid.”
“I’m not, Ginger, I’m not.” Lou pulled Ginger into the bed and drew the covers around him.
Could he have been cold like this before he had woke up? He remembered the feel of something dark and evil repeatedly touching him. Maybe that had done it. And now Ginger was that way from trying to protect him.
Ginger shuddered, his eyes fluttering. “You’re cold,” he choked out again.
“You’re the one who’s cold now, Buddy,” Lou said sadly.
Or maybe they both were. But Ginger certainly seemed to be the worst affected right now. He was half-delirious. Lou gazed down at him, his heart crumbling.
“Oh God, please save him,” he pleaded. “I know we’ve done wrong in the past, and I know Ginger still kind of wishes we were stealing jewels, but he’s a good guy. He’s my best friend. Not everyone would go head-to-head with whatever that was just to save somebody else. A lot of people would just turn tail and run. But Ginger didn’t. He wouldn’t. He’d never leave me high and dry. And I’m not going to do that to him. Please. . . .” He bowed his head, anguished. “Please don’t take him.”
He paused, focusing on the feelings coming to him. He felt that he should lie back down, adding his warmth to that of the covers, and continue assuring Ginger that he was alright. Perhaps Ginger had never even heard him joining in to cast out the whatever it was. Perhaps Ginger still really thought that Lou was lying cold on the bed, even though he was addressing Lou in his delirium.
Whispering a thanks, Lou crawled under the covers and firmly drew his arms around Ginger. “I’m okay, Ginger,” he insisted, chilled as he tried to warm the other man’s icy body. “You woke up in time to save me. I’m okay and now I’m going to make sure you are, too.”
Ginger stopped tossing and settled down, breathing heavily. After a moment his eyes cleared, ever so slightly. “Lou . . . ?”
Lou smiled in relief. “Yeah, it’s me,” he said. “You can relax now, Ginger. We’re both okay.”
Ginger sank into the bed. “You’re alright.” He smiled, just slightly. It was rare, to see Ginger give a genuine smile.
Lou relaxed. Ginger was definitely going to be okay now. He was sure of it.
****
At some point during the night, both Ginger and Lou slipped into a peaceful sleep. When Lou finally awoke the next morning, for a moment he could barely remember all the strangeness of the past night. But as the fog lifted from his mind, he remembered and stiffened in shock. Aside from he and Ginger being alright, it was like something out of a horror picture.
“Hey, Ginger.” He looked to the older man. Apparently he had not only fallen asleep still trying to keep Ginger warm, he had remained that way all night. He was lying by Ginger’s side, his arms around Ginger’s waist and back.
Ginger stirred, turning to look at Lou through half-closed eyes. “What is it?”
“I think it’s morning.” Lou gently took his arms away and felt Ginger’s hand. He was warm again, thank goodness. Lou sat up, letting the quilt slip from his shoulders.
Ginger started. “Blast, it is,” he grunted. “We’ll have to hurry if we’re to be presentable for that meeting.”
“Are you sure you feel up to it?” Lou asked in concern.
“Of course I do.” Softening, Ginger added, “Thanks to you.”
“We helped each other,” Lou said firmly. “I really might’ve died if you hadn’t woke up and started fighting that thing when you did. I’m sorry all of this happened, but boy, am I glad you let us take one room.” He hated to think what might have happened had they been separated all night.
Ginger slowly nodded and sat up. “As am I. Are we still alone in the room?”
“I think so,” Lou said. “Unless there’s something we can’t see. But . . .” He paused. “I’m not feeling anything. I think we’re safe.”
“Good.” Ginger started to ease himself down from the bed. “We’ll pack and be ready to go as soon as the meeting ends. I don’t want to spend one moment more in this town than we have to.”
“Same here,” Lou said fervently. “L.A. is sounding real good right now.”
“Anything is better than here,” Ginger declared.
It was a relief when they were dressed and packed and on their way. As they headed downstairs, they met up with the other people who had come to attend the meeting.
“Boy, did we have a night of it,” one of them exclaimed. “Our coworkers weren’t kidding about this place being infested with spirits. We got the noisy ghosts and they kept throwing our stuff all night.”
Lou shook his head. “That’s terrible,” he said. “But you think you had it bad? One of ours tried to get up in the bed with me.”
“And the other tried to kill us,” Ginger offered, flatly.
The newcomers froze. “I think we’d better be grateful that ours just danced around the room with our underwear,” one exclaimed. “Go figure.”
“Yeah.” Lou shivered. “Go figure.”
Entry Number: 09
Author: insaneladybug/Lucky_Ladybug
Fandom: The Rockford Files
Rating: PG-13/T (ghostly goings-on, shadow people)
Genre: Supernatural, Religious/Spiritual, Friendship
Spoiler Warnings: None.
Word Count: 3,959
Continued from the last piece, but can be a stand-alone.
Features a hotel called The Shiloh Inn. I know of a real place with that moniker that's reportedly haunted, but this one here is purely fictional. :)
By Lucky_Ladybug
Even if Ginger and Lou had not had such a series of distressing and disturbing incidents on their way to their business meeting, they would not have liked the town of Sickle Flats. From the moment Lou drove past the city limits sign, something didn’t feel right. The town was old, breaking down and boarded up. Hardly anything was open, even on the main street, despite the fact that people were out and walking and driving about. Something about all of them seemed, Ginger felt, very moody and wrong.
“They’re so gloomy,” Lou frowned.
“You noticed too, eh?” Ginger remarked.
“How could I not notice?” Lou retorted. “This is just freaky. It’s like they know they’re living in a town with creepy things in it.”
“No,” Ginger mused, slowly. “It’s like they know they can’t ever be free.”
A shiver ran down Lou’s spine at Ginger’s pronouncement. “Why would our company be having a business meeting in a crummy place like this?!” he exclaimed.
“Apparently it’s the headquarters of a company with which they’re hoping to merge,” Ginger said flatly. They both already knew that, and Ginger knew that wasn’t Lou’s real question.
“I’d pass on merging with anything from this place, even if I’d lose a million bucks,” Lou declared.
Ginger didn’t offer an opinion on that, and Lou knew that Ginger very likely would still go ahead with it. While both of them enjoyed material possessions, Ginger was practically obsessed with not being poor. Having been in prison made him feel that way all the more.
“There’s the hotel,” he announced after a moment.
Lou frowned at it. “Shiloh Inn,” he read. “Well, the name’s nice enough.” He pulled into the parking lot. “Okay, let’s give it a try. It’s probably the only game in town.”
Ginger got out of the car and dragged his suitcase out of the backseat. Lou followed suit and they headed through the side entrance and into the lobby.
The desk clerk looked half-asleep, but he jumped a mile the moment he heard footsteps. “Oh . . . hello,” he stammered in nervousness. “Are you the representatives from Fragmented Triangle?”
“That’s right, Mate,” Ginger said. “But why do you know about us?”
“No reason.” The nervous little man hurriedly shook his head. “It’s just that in a place this size, word of a business conference gets around mighty fast.”
Ginger grunted. “What do you have available?” he queried.
“Almost everything is available, Sir,” was the reply. “The only rooms taken are by the other people attending this conference.”
“Is that just because you’re in the middle of nowhere, or is there another reason?” Lou spoke up with a frown.
“No one has much reason to visit us unless they’re doing business with Graphics, Incorporated,” said the desk clerk. “Now then, what kind of rooms would you like?”
Ginger glanced at Lou. “Do you have any available rooms with two beds?”
“Yes, Sir,” the desk clerk said. “Several, in fact.”
“Give us one of those.” Ginger set his suitcase on the floor, tired of carrying it. Apparently this hotel had so little business that they didn’t even have a proper bellboy.
“You don’t want two separate rooms?” the desk clerk asked, slowly.
Ginger fixed him with a silent stare.
The clerk looked away, shuddering. “Very well, then. One room, two beds.” He sounded disappointed. Of course, he would turn a higher profit with two rooms. But he sighed and removed a key from a cubbyhole behind him. “This is to one of our best rooms.”
Ginger nodded to Lou, who took the key. “You don’t have a bellhop around here anyplace, do you?” Ginger queried.
A bit of a sick look passed over the desk clerk’s features. “Oh, I’m afraid not, Sir. Our bellboy . . . well, up and quit.”
Lou blinked. “Yeah? Why?”
“He had a better job offer,” the clerk replied, stiffly. “If you had a chance to get out of a town like this, wouldn’t you?”
“Perhaps you should go too, then,” Ginger remarked. Picking up his suitcase, he hauled it to the stairs.
Lou trailed after him. “The key is for room 204,” he announced.
Ginger nodded, seeming satisfied.
“Isn’t it weird about the bellboy, though?” Lou said as they made their way up the stairs. “That he would just quit like that, I mean.”
“I would certainly get out of here if I could,” Ginger said.
“Yeah, but how would anybody even know about him to offer him another job like the guy said?” Lou countered. “I think he just wanted out so bad that he packed his bags and took a powder, even if nothing was waiting for him.”
“You think the hotel is haunted and he encountered the fruits of that,” Ginger said flatly.
“Well, it’s possible, isn’t it?” Lou retorted. “After what we saw outside the city, and downtown, you’ve gotta admit that something might be wrong with this place.”
“I don’t deny that.” They reached the top of the stairs and Ginger moved on ahead of Lou, soon reaching room 204. It was close to the stairs, which was just fine with Ginger. It was good to have a quick escape, should they require it.
Something darted past out of the corner of Lou’s eye and he whirled, nearly falling backwards down the stairs. He gasped, grabbing onto the top of the banister.
Ginger started and turned. “What in Heaven’s name just happened?” he demanded, hurrying back to his friend.
“I don’t know,” Lou sputtered. “But one of those shadow people was just here. I’m sure of it; I seen it!”
Ginger glanced down the hall. Lou had much better grammar in general than most people from his New York neighborhood. When he made an occasional slip, it was usually when he was growing highly upset. This situation certainly qualified.
“There is nothing there now,” he frowned. “Do you think it was deliberately trying to startle you into falling?”
“It could’ve been,” Lou said. “We already know they’ve got sick senses of humor!”
Ginger was highly displeased. “This is going to be a very unique night,” he grunted. “Come on. Let’s see if things are any better in our room.”
Sighing heavily, Lou followed Ginger over to 204 and fumbled for the key in his pocket. As he stuck it in and turned the lock, he swung the door open to reveal a nicely furnished yet older room. Each of the dark oak beds had a floral-print comforter and a nightstand with a lamp. Across from the beds were a closet, a dresser, and the door into the bathroom.
Lou set down his suitcase in cautious relief. “This looks like a nice place,” he said slowly.
Ginger nodded, shutting and locking the door behind them as he entered. “We should be fairly comfortable here until the meeting tomorrow, as long as we’re left in peace.”
Lou winced. “Which we probably won’t be.” He sighed and shuffled towards the bathroom to wash up. “Do you want to bother with dinner or just go to bed?”
Ginger glanced at the clock. “It’s late,” he proclaimed, which was putting it mildly. “Let’s just try to sleep. We have to be in top form tomorrow.”
Lou nodded, loosening his tie with one hand while flipping on the bathroom light with the other. “That’s fine with me. I’m not really hungry right now anyway.”
Ginger wandered about the room as he waited, shedding his trenchcoat, suit coat, and vest as he walked. Everything felt normal in this room, but he was still tense and uneasy, as he knew Lou was. If they weren’t careful, they might start imagining up nonsense to go along with what they had been experiencing before their arrival.
He paused in the middle of undoing the knot in his tie. Did he believe Lou had been mistaken about the shadow person on the stairs? Lou had been on edge ever since the incident in the road.
But no. Ginger believed that Lou had indeed seen exactly what he had claimed to have seen. Or at least, he certainly believed that what Lou claimed should not be easily dismissed.
Several minutes later, Lou was ready for bed and Ginger was preparing for it. Sighing, Lou crossed to the bed nearest the window. “Hey, Ginger, do you want any particular bed?” he called.
“No,” Ginger responded from the bathroom. “Take what you want.”
“Okay.” Lou turned back the covers and sank into the mattress. It felt soft and wonderful after the bizarre day. He burrowed into the pillows, trying to forget about all the madness and just focus on sleep.
At some point he vaguely heard Ginger come out and claim the other bed, before sinking deeper into a state of half-awareness. Everything was peaceful and safe. Ginger was fine; the shadow people hadn’t hurt him. Lou could go to sleep without fear.
It was the realization that something else was sinking into his mattress that snapped him awake. “Ginger?” he whispered. “What are you doing?”
But there was no answer. And when he flipped the covers down to look, he only saw the indentation at the foot of the bed, without anyone present to fill it.
“Who are you?!” he cried. “Get off the bed. It’s mine tonight. Okay?!”
The form didn’t move. And now Lou could also see a shadow standing near the window, leaning in the corner and most likely watching him, because boy, did he feel watched.
Lou gripped the comforter. He knew how Ginger felt, wanting to show these guys that they weren’t going to be scared off. But how was he going to go to sleep with one of them staring at him and the other sitting on the bed?
He looked over at the other bed. Ginger appeared to be sound asleep; he was facing away from Lou and breathing steadily and calmly. There were no odd things about his bed.
Lou swallowed hard and tried to lie back down. He wasn’t going to be scared off, he wasn’t going to be scared off. . . .
The form at the end of the bed plopped down, lying right next to him. That was the last straw.
“Ginger!” Lou yelped.
Ginger jumped a mile, bouncing in the bed. “What the bloody devil are you on about?!” he growled. He never liked being woke up. Most people were terrified when he reacted in such ways, but Lou knew that in general, Ginger’s bark was worse than his bite. And when it was Lou interacting with Ginger, there was nothing to fear, no matter how Ginger snapped. It was just his way.
Lou drew a shuddering breath. “Ginger, turn around,” he said. “Look at this.”
Ginger turned, blinking bleary, sleepy eyes at the other half of the room. “What am I supposed to be looking at?” he frowned.
“The corner,” Lou rasped. “And my mattress. Ginger . . .” His voice trailed off into a whine.
Ginger sat up, still looking half-asleep. His hair was a wild mess. But when he saw what was wrong, his eyes widened. “What in the name of . . .” He swore, annoyed and irritated and a bit disturbed by the spirits’ antics. “Even staying here for one night is too much.”
“Ginger . . .” Lou sat up. “You know I’d never ask this under regular circumstances, but . . .” He turned red. “Can I . . .” He looked pleadingly at the other bed.
Ginger sighed, but just gave a tired beaconing with his hand. “Come on.”
Grateful, Lou slipped out from the comforter and crossed the room to the other bed. As Ginger tiredly waited and watched, Lou climbed onto the other side of Ginger’s bed.
“There always the chance they’ll come over here,” Ginger remarked. “They may be attracted by you. I heard somewhere that negative feelings can compound a problem like this. I don’t know if I believe it, but I suppose it’s possible.”
“Well, I can’t help negative feelings, after everything they’ve done,” Lou said. “You’re managing to stay calm, Buddy, but right now, I can’t.” He shuddered.
“I know.” Ginger laid back on one of the pillows, covering his eyes with a hand. “To tell you the truth, I’m not feeling so good about them myself. But they were lingering on your side of the room, not mine. Perhaps your outbursts have been amusing them. If I had made them, they would probably be more interested in me.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Lou took one last, disbelieving gaze at the other bed. He could still see the body length indentation. “I just can’t believe that . . . whatever it is had the gall to get up in my bed. I’m sorry about this, Ginger. I was trying to hold out, but when it stretched out like that, I . . . I just couldn’t. I don’t wanna lay in bed with something I don’t even know!”
“Of course not,” Ginger mumbled. “It’s alright. Go to sleep. Just try to stay on your side of the bed.”
“Right,” Lou nodded as he sank into the other pillows. “Don’t worry, Ginger. I will.”
He soon found, however, that he wasn’t sure how to lie in the bed. He didn’t want to face the ghosts, even with his eyes closed. And he didn’t want to lie on his back because that also seemed too close. He really only felt safe if he rolled over to face Ginger, who was currently lying on his back. But at the same time, Lou hated to face away from the ghosts and not know what they were planning.
He cursed himself in his mind. He was being ridiculous. He should go back to his bed and insist on not being kicked out by ghosts. But with the situation as it was, he could not bring himself to disturb Ginger any further by getting up and storming over. Nor was he sure he was really brave enough to do it right now.
With a sigh he rolled back to face the ghosts. They were still right where they had been. Trying to relax, he slumped into the pillow and closed his eyes.
“Stop tossing about,” he heard Ginger mumble.
“Sorry,” Lou mumbled back.
Somehow, knowing Ginger was still awake made him feel a bit better. Ginger was right that they hadn’t been bothering him, so perhaps Lou could relax and feel that Ginger was safe, and that by being there, he would be safe as well.
Amidst those half-conscious thoughts, Lou finally slipped into slumber.
****
It was deeper into the night when Ginger awoke, startled from sleep by the undeniable hammering in his mind that something was wrong and it had to be fixed.
His eyes snapped open, immediately focusing on a shadow bending over the bed, peering at Lou and then at him. Although Ginger could see a nose when it turned to profile view, otherwise there were no distinguishable features at all.
He swallowed hard, trying to quell the fear and panic beginning to rise in his heart. He had mostly been angry and annoyed and putout before, and he still was, but seeing it so close, and not knowing what it wanted or what it was going to do. . . .
“What do you want?” he demanded low, praying that there was no fear in his voice.
It just kept looking at first. Then it held out a hand, reaching toward Lou. Ginger could feel the malevolent intentions he had spoke of emanating from its very form.
“Stay away from him!” Ginger snarled, bolting upright in the bed.
It was strange that Lou did not move. Ginger gripped his shoulder. “Lou, wake up.”
A chill went through him at how cold Lou felt. Ice-cold, as though he were almost . . .
“What have you done?” Ginger spoke dangerous and low before his temper snapped and he bellowed, “What have you done?!”
The form’s intangible hand passed through Lou’s chest, while Ginger stared in shock. He struggled out of the covers, lunging even though he knew it would do no good. “In the name of God, leave him alone!” he screamed in desperation.
That actually seemed to make some difference. The being backed off and stood across the room, watching, waiting to see what Ginger would do next.
Ginger was shuddering and shaking from having plowed right into the shadow. It had felt like a horrific chill had shot through his entire body. But he could not think about that now. Frantically he began wracking his mind for a prayer. What was that one Lou had whispered on the road coming here?
“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray . . .”
Lou stirred, his eyes fluttering open. As he focused, he stared at what he saw.
Ginger was kneeling on the bed in front of him, then slowly standing but remaining where he was, trying to shield Lou. The shadow whatever it was backing up, cowering at Ginger’s recitation of the Saint Michael prayer.
Lou tried to push himself upright. He clenched his teeth, grimacing at the pain of the attempt. He was weak and strangely cold, but he forced himself to sit up anyway and finish the prayer along with Ginger.
“. . . And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of men.”
“Be gone, Demon,” Ginger snarled now. “Go back to Hell where you belong and leave us be.”
Lou added his own personal, whispered prayers to that. Please make it go away.
The shadow person had had enough. It vanished into thin air, taking with it the invisible spirit that had been lying on the other bed.
Ginger slumped back, drained from the mental fight and from the dark energy that had enveloped him. “Lou . . .” he whispered as he lost his balance. “Lou, what did it do to you?”
Lou caught him, sickened and bewildered. “Ginger! Ginger, hey, I’m okay. Do you hear me? I’m okay.”
Ginger groaned, turning his head to the side. Lou was chilled, feeling Ginger’s cold skin against his pajama shirt.
“You’re cold,” Ginger rasped. “So cold, like you were frozen solid.”
“I’m not, Ginger, I’m not.” Lou pulled Ginger into the bed and drew the covers around him.
Could he have been cold like this before he had woke up? He remembered the feel of something dark and evil repeatedly touching him. Maybe that had done it. And now Ginger was that way from trying to protect him.
Ginger shuddered, his eyes fluttering. “You’re cold,” he choked out again.
“You’re the one who’s cold now, Buddy,” Lou said sadly.
Or maybe they both were. But Ginger certainly seemed to be the worst affected right now. He was half-delirious. Lou gazed down at him, his heart crumbling.
“Oh God, please save him,” he pleaded. “I know we’ve done wrong in the past, and I know Ginger still kind of wishes we were stealing jewels, but he’s a good guy. He’s my best friend. Not everyone would go head-to-head with whatever that was just to save somebody else. A lot of people would just turn tail and run. But Ginger didn’t. He wouldn’t. He’d never leave me high and dry. And I’m not going to do that to him. Please. . . .” He bowed his head, anguished. “Please don’t take him.”
He paused, focusing on the feelings coming to him. He felt that he should lie back down, adding his warmth to that of the covers, and continue assuring Ginger that he was alright. Perhaps Ginger had never even heard him joining in to cast out the whatever it was. Perhaps Ginger still really thought that Lou was lying cold on the bed, even though he was addressing Lou in his delirium.
Whispering a thanks, Lou crawled under the covers and firmly drew his arms around Ginger. “I’m okay, Ginger,” he insisted, chilled as he tried to warm the other man’s icy body. “You woke up in time to save me. I’m okay and now I’m going to make sure you are, too.”
Ginger stopped tossing and settled down, breathing heavily. After a moment his eyes cleared, ever so slightly. “Lou . . . ?”
Lou smiled in relief. “Yeah, it’s me,” he said. “You can relax now, Ginger. We’re both okay.”
Ginger sank into the bed. “You’re alright.” He smiled, just slightly. It was rare, to see Ginger give a genuine smile.
Lou relaxed. Ginger was definitely going to be okay now. He was sure of it.
****
At some point during the night, both Ginger and Lou slipped into a peaceful sleep. When Lou finally awoke the next morning, for a moment he could barely remember all the strangeness of the past night. But as the fog lifted from his mind, he remembered and stiffened in shock. Aside from he and Ginger being alright, it was like something out of a horror picture.
“Hey, Ginger.” He looked to the older man. Apparently he had not only fallen asleep still trying to keep Ginger warm, he had remained that way all night. He was lying by Ginger’s side, his arms around Ginger’s waist and back.
Ginger stirred, turning to look at Lou through half-closed eyes. “What is it?”
“I think it’s morning.” Lou gently took his arms away and felt Ginger’s hand. He was warm again, thank goodness. Lou sat up, letting the quilt slip from his shoulders.
Ginger started. “Blast, it is,” he grunted. “We’ll have to hurry if we’re to be presentable for that meeting.”
“Are you sure you feel up to it?” Lou asked in concern.
“Of course I do.” Softening, Ginger added, “Thanks to you.”
“We helped each other,” Lou said firmly. “I really might’ve died if you hadn’t woke up and started fighting that thing when you did. I’m sorry all of this happened, but boy, am I glad you let us take one room.” He hated to think what might have happened had they been separated all night.
Ginger slowly nodded and sat up. “As am I. Are we still alone in the room?”
“I think so,” Lou said. “Unless there’s something we can’t see. But . . .” He paused. “I’m not feeling anything. I think we’re safe.”
“Good.” Ginger started to ease himself down from the bed. “We’ll pack and be ready to go as soon as the meeting ends. I don’t want to spend one moment more in this town than we have to.”
“Same here,” Lou said fervently. “L.A. is sounding real good right now.”
“Anything is better than here,” Ginger declared.
It was a relief when they were dressed and packed and on their way. As they headed downstairs, they met up with the other people who had come to attend the meeting.
“Boy, did we have a night of it,” one of them exclaimed. “Our coworkers weren’t kidding about this place being infested with spirits. We got the noisy ghosts and they kept throwing our stuff all night.”
Lou shook his head. “That’s terrible,” he said. “But you think you had it bad? One of ours tried to get up in the bed with me.”
“And the other tried to kill us,” Ginger offered, flatly.
The newcomers froze. “I think we’d better be grateful that ours just danced around the room with our underwear,” one exclaimed. “Go figure.”
“Yeah.” Lou shivered. “Go figure.”