The group of men began to scatter, everyone going in different directions, some of the men mocking Ham as they left. The boy was the one to come in our direction. The girl was still paralyzed by fear, struggling to even breathe, and completely unaware of what was going on.

From the aura still flowing from the boy’s eyes, I figured that he was still communicating with these spirits. I wasn’t too sure before, but I could easily guess that he was using magic. Living as far out in the country as I was, I never heard or saw much of anything magical. Even during my time in the military. Everyone I worked with didn’t have any talent with the stuff. 

I watched the boy come closer and closer to the tree we stood against and then pass it without any sign he knew we were there. My fears then came true when I saw him turn sharply in our direction. Carefully and quietly, he crept towards us until he eventually saw the girl. He lowered his guard when he saw the girl trembling against a tree, though he still kept his hand near the knife on his waist. Then his eyes widened as the purple aura flickered.

The boy dropped his guard completely and cautiously approached the girl and with a quiet, trembling voice, he spoke. “The spirits… the spirits say that you are important. I-I’m not sure why, but here.” He said, holding out a small bag. The bag rattled as he held it out, his hand shaking. “T-There’s some money in there. E-Enough to get a traveler to take you w-wherever you need. It’s getting dark soon, s-so I need you to follow the sun until you reach a small town. T-There’s an i-inn there, it has a sign with a bird on it. T-Tell them that H-Ham sent you.”

“W-Why…” The girl whimpered, confused at what was happening.

Like before, I could feel the emotions that the girl was experiencing. She felt lost and disoriented, unsure of anything. Did we not only share sense, but emotions as well? If that was the case, could she feel what I felt?

“I-I already told you.” The boy answered, looking desperate for her to accept the pouch.

He took a longer look at the girl and started to look around frantically. He then rushed back out to where my body had fallen and grabbed the cloak that had been left behind and returned with it.

“Y-You must be cold. Wrap this around you.” He said, holding out the cloak.

The girl quickly grabbed the cloak and wrapped it around herself. An emotion that I myself hadn’t felt for a very long time began to fill her as the rough clothing warmed her skin: comfort.

“N-Now go, before the others start to wander near here. T-They won’t be as nice as me.” Ham said, gesturing towards where the sun was positioned in the sky.

Ham once again held out the pouch of gold and the girl took it and pushed it into a pocket of the cloak and started towards the sunset. She had no shoes, so we both had to share the pain of having the occasional thorn or rock scratch at her feet as she crept through the brush, being careful to not be seen. As bad as it was, the smell following those men allowed us to know when one was nearby and which direction to go to avoid them.

As we moved, I turned and stretched myself as far as I could from the girl and found Ham leaning up against a tree, hand on his sweat-covered forehead.

“I never thought that I could get mugged by a spirit before.” He sighed, exhausted.

I then found myself being pulled back towards the girl as she moved even further away.

Eventually, we came to a river. I recognized the road, as well as the river. If we followed the road north, we would come to a town. And then, almost as if she heard what I had thought, the girl turned and started to follow the river upstream. Could she hear my thoughts too?

The town quickly came into view. A large water wheel was turning, being pushed by the river, running a mill that would work the lumber that men were currently gathering just ahead.

One of the men saw us and dropped the wood he was carrying and came out to meet us, almost sprinting, his bright green eyes filled with worry. He was wearing very worn out, gray work-clothes. A mop of messy, brown hair covered his head and fell onto his collar.

“What are you doing out here? Are you lost? Where are your parents?”

I felt a rush of confusion, fear and sadness from the girl as warm tears started to well in her eyes.

The woodworker took a look at the cloak she was wearing and his eyes went wide with surprise.

He stood up and shouted to one of the other woodworkers nearby. “Hey, tell the boss that I’ll be right back.” A couple of workers nearby waved back and reached down and scooped up the girl, starting towards town.

“Look at your poor feet. Don’t worry, we’ll set things straight.” He said, examining her now bloodied feet.

The girl felt a rush of panic for a moment, but the man’s voice calmed her. This man felt very familiar to me, somehow.

We passed by several people that eyed us strangely, though they were quick to brush it off and continue on with their day. The man brought her to a building with a sign bearing the image of a gold-colored bird. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, walking over to a table where he set the girl on a chair. He then left to speak to the hostess at the bar, away from where the girl could hear, but not where I couldn’t hear.

“Who’s the girl?” Asked the elderly hostess from behind the bar as she cleaned.

“I found her just outside town. She just came from the forest.” Pert spoke, breathing quickly.

“Do you think you know her parents? I don’t recognize her.” The hostess spoke, glancing over to the girl.

“That’s the thing. I do recognized her, but I didn’t realize who she was until I saw what she was wearing.” Pert explained animatedly.

“What do you mean?” The hostess asked, setting the glass she was in the middle of cleaning on the bar.

“That cloak was hand stitched… by my cousin. She would always sew a star into the collar. She married the butcher of a village to the south, but they’ve both been dead for nearly a decade.”

“You think she stole it?”

“I would if she didn’t look identical to my cousin.”

“You’re saying…”

“It’s proof we’re all being lied to. These deaths and disappearances aren’t what they seem.” The man said, clenching his fist tight enough that his hands turned white. “She looks no older than seven, so they must have been alive until recently.”

“We don’t know if they’re dead just yet. Bring her over here, I want to ask her something.”

The man then came over and brought the girl back over to the counter and set her on a stool.

The hostess was a wrinkled, older woman with hair as white as snow. Her sunken eyes were the color of the afternoon sky and carried a warm love behind them.

“Sweetie, could you tell me your name?” The hostess asked, smiling warmly.

A name… 

Now that I really look, she really does look like her, doesn’t she. I wonder why? Gods know that she had no part in making her. It’s been so very long since I’d seen her that I’d nearly forgotten her face. If we had a daughter, I’d have definitely named her after her mother.

“Jaime.” The girl said quietly.

Could she really hear my thoughts? I was shocked. There was no other explanation.

“That can’t prove it any more.” The man cheered, looking like he wanted to jump for joy. “You really are Jamie and Claude’s kid.”

I vaguely remembered who this guy was. Him and my Jaime were very close as children. He even helped me build our home when Jaime and I were married. I’ve forgotten so much. I couldn’t remember his name, even though he remembered mine: Claude. It was a name I hadn’t heard in a very long time. Most people referred to me as ‘you’ on the streets. I had lost that identity long ago.

“Hush.” The hostess quieted the woodworker. “Now Jaime, is there something that you need to tell me?” She asked, raising her brows and opening her eyes very wide.

“H-Ham said-”

“You don’t need to say anymore.” The hostess interrupted, a ferocious look replacing the care in her eyes. She turned to the woodworker and spoke in an icy tone, “Pert, could you go prepare the backroom for me.”

Pert. That was his name. I couldn’t… wouldn’t forget it again.

“Yes, ma’am.” He answered and marched around the counter and through the door behind her.

The hostess reached for the cloak causing Jaime to pull back and wrap her arms around herself.

“It’s okay. I’m just going to wash it for you.” She pleaded.

“No!” Jaime cried, holding it tightly.

The hostess leaned back and rested a hand on her hip, sighed and left the matter alone.

Pert then came out from the back room and told the hostess that he had finished his task.

“Alright sweetie, time for bed.” The hostess said. “Pert, bring her in. I’ll find some shoes for her in the morning. In the meantime, I’ll bandage up those feet for you.”

Pert picked her up again and brought her into the backroom where a small bed sat in the corner. He laid her on the bed as the hostess pulled out a small box labeled ‘first aid’. After having her feet bandaged and being tucked under a heavy woolen blanket, Jaime quickly fell into a deep sleep.

I stretched myself out from Jaime and, with nothing better to do, I experimented with my new spirit body. After a short time, I found that I was able to pass through the wall with some effort. Even though I didn’t truly have my own body, this scenario isn’t too bad. I lived a good life for a time, but lost everything. Getting a new body wouldn’t have solved my problems, but maybe watching over this new daughter of mine would be a real second chance.

Pert and the hostess sat across from each other at the bar. There were very few patrons present at the time, and they were all passed out drunk.

“Ham?” Pert asked, inquiring about the boy who had helped Jaime get away from those thugs.

“Campo’s son, Hamil.” The hostess stated in a quiet tone.

“Isn’t he working with his father?” Pert asked, surprised and confused.

“Only in word. Hamil’s a Spiritualist. He connects with the spirits, and the spirits only act for good.” The hostess answered, then whispered under her breath. “Hamil is nothing like his father.”

“How do you mean?”

“Campo is working for Lord Gelling. We aren’t sure why, but now I’m positive that he’s behind the disappearances that have been happening for the past several years. Hamil has been bringing in the victims of his father’s deeds: women, children and even some of Campo’s own men who wanted to get away.” The hostess began to rub her temples. “I just wish he would leave it all behind and get away. His testimony would be enough to convict his father, and I’m sure that they would be able to get Campo to confess against Lord Gelling. Then he could put his talents to good use.”

“I’m not sure that the country is in a state where Lord Gelling could get convicted of anything. Too many just like him are power.”

“I’m well aware. You aren’t the only one with contacts at the capital.”

“Ha, that is true, but I think mine are more reputable.”

“Whatever you say.” The hostess laughed roughly. “I’m going to close up for tonight. Could an old woman borrow some muscle to get these drunkards out?” She added, gesturing to the few men left in the building who were laying passed out on the tables and floor.

“Yes, ma’am.” Pert accepted, standing and cracking his knuckles. He then proceeded to use whatever means necessary to remove patrons from the bar and either out the door, or up to their rooms. Even lifting one by their pants and throwing them out the door after they refused to leave.

“Don’t worry about him, he’ll be back to apologize tomorrow.” The hostess chuckled.

I pulled myself back into the room where Jaime was sleeping and stared at her face for a time. She really did look exactly like the Jaime I married. I cherished in the image and was flooded with the memories I had shared with her. When we first met, our time courting, when we became engaged, when we were married and the look on her face both times she held a newborn in her arms. Her deep blue eyes were enchanting in every scenario.

During the night, while Jaime slept, I familiarized myself with the layout of the town. If Jaime somehow knew my own thoughts, I could help her by gathering knowledge.

I remembered the town. It was called Pyle after the name of the man who built the checkpoint just to the north. Beyond the checkpoint is the capital. You’ll always find a squad of soldiers positioned at the checkpoint to inspect the cargo of traders that come and go. Being on the main road, this town had its fair share of visitors, which kept the inns busy. 

The main road was not the only path through here, however. There was another path which was very much out of the way, through what some called the ‘Bog of Eternal Stench’. It was a major exaggeration to call it that, though. It was just a swamp. There were a few dangerous animals, but they kept to themselves mostly. The biggest thing to worry about there would be the bandit problem and the occasional beast. Because of the absence of the army, criminals and bandits frequently traveled through the swamp.

During my short service as a soldier, we were forced to take this route to the capital because of rumors of a famous thief who was supposed to have gone there. It was all an obvious trick, though disobeying an order was grounds for execution so we had to follow through.

I found that I could stretch much farther out while Jaime was asleep, so I could go as high as the clouds and just past the edge of town. As I surveyed the area, I spotted plumes of smoke coming from the distant horizon. I figured that it wasn’t much to worry about and returned to Jaime’s side after exploring more of the town.

After trying, I found that I could also sleep if I was right next to Jaime. I could see a dream, though it was obviously not mine. It was like how things worked in the real world. I was watching from above, unnoticed to all below, where Jaime sat at a buffet table with a spread of various cheeses and sweets.