full
“Spooklunking” by Tana Simensis (read by Greyloch)
A paranormal investigator at a convention gets more than he bargained for assisting a new friend with a ghost hunt.
Tonight’s story is “Spooklunking” by Tana Simensis, who has appeared in several anthologies including Inhuman Acts, you can find more of his work at his SoFurry page.
Read by Greyloch, your Northwoods Guide.
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If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/spooklunking-by-tana-simensis
Transcript
You’re
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Tonight’s story
Speaker:is “Spooklunking”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Tana Simensis, who has
Speaker:appeared
Speaker:in
Speaker:several
Speaker:anthologies
Speaker:including
Speaker:Inhuman
Speaker:Acts,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:work
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:SoFurry
Speaker:page.
Read
by
Speaker:Greyloch,
Speaker:your
Speaker:Northwoods Guide.
By
way
of introduction:John
of introduction:Willoughby,
of introduction:who wants
of introduction:to
of introduction:see a
of introduction:ghost.
of introduction:As
of introduction:much
of introduction:could
of introduction:be
of introduction:said
of introduction:of
of introduction:any attendee at ScareCon 2022, but unlike any
of introduction:other
of introduction:attendee at ScareCon 2022, John Willoughby
of introduction:intends
of introduction:to
of introduction:do
of introduction:something
of introduction:about it.
of introduction:Please
of introduction:hold
of introduction:further
of introduction:comments,
of introduction:questions, and
of introduction:proverbs
of introduction:about
of introduction:being
of introduction:careful
of introduction:what
of introduction:one
of introduction:wishes
of introduction:for until
of introduction:the
of introduction:end
of introduction:of
of introduction:the
of introduction:presentation,
of introduction:and
enjoy:
“Spooklunking” by Tana Simensis
John Willoughby let
the
enjoy:pungent
enjoy:smell
enjoy:of
enjoy:his
enjoy:coffee
enjoy:waft
enjoy:into
enjoy:his
enjoy:nostrils
enjoy:as
enjoy:he
enjoy:leaned
enjoy:back
enjoy:into
enjoy:the
enjoy:metal
enjoy:patio
enjoy:chair
enjoy:outside
enjoy:the
enjoy:café.
enjoy:The
enjoy:black
enjoy:Lab
enjoy:was
enjoy:trying
enjoy:to
enjoy:put
enjoy:away
enjoy:the
enjoy:lingering
enjoy:effects
enjoy:of
enjoy:a
enjoy:nasty
enjoy:hangover,
enjoy:and
enjoy:felt
enjoy:like
enjoy:anyone
enjoy:who
enjoy:saw
enjoy:him
enjoy:would
enjoy:notice
enjoy:his
enjoy:tired
enjoy:eyes
enjoy:and
enjoy:catch
enjoy:a
enjoy:few
enjoy:whiffs
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:whisky
enjoy:from
enjoy:the
enjoy:previous
enjoy:night's
enjoy:party.
enjoy:Ostensibly
enjoy:he
enjoy:was
enjoy:attending
enjoy:a
enjoy:small
enjoy:Halloween
enjoy:weekend
enjoy:convention
enjoy:to
enjoy:explore
enjoy:the
enjoy:real
enjoy:life
enjoy:possibilities
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:supernatural,
enjoy:but--who
enjoy:was
enjoy:he
enjoy:kidding--
enjoy:it
enjoy:was
enjoy:just
enjoy:an
enjoy:excuse
enjoy:for
enjoy:a
enjoy:bunch
enjoy:of
enjoy:geeks
enjoy:to
enjoy:congregate
enjoy:together
enjoy:and
enjoy:get smashed
enjoy:telling
enjoy:each
enjoy:other
enjoy:ghost
enjoy:stories.
"Hey!"
came
enjoy:the
enjoy:excited
enjoy:greeting
enjoy:of
enjoy:Lewis,
enjoy:one
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:new
enjoy:friends
enjoy:he'd
enjoy:met
enjoy:the
enjoy:previous
enjoy:night.
In
fact,
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:was
enjoy:the
enjoy:reason
enjoy:he
enjoy:was
enjoy:even
enjoy:out
enjoy:here
enjoy:on
enjoy:the
enjoy:Sunday
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:con
enjoy:when
enjoy:he
enjoy:should
enjoy:have
enjoy:been
enjoy:in
enjoy:bed
enjoy:sleeping
enjoy:off
enjoy:a
enjoy:hangover
enjoy:into
enjoy:the
enjoy:early
enjoy:evening.
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:like
enjoy:a
enjoy:nice
enjoy:guy,
enjoy:and
enjoy:it
enjoy:didn't
enjoy:hurt
enjoy:that
enjoy:he
enjoy:was
enjoy:some
enjoy:excellent
enjoy:eye-candy
enjoy:to
enjoy:go
enjoy:along
enjoy:with
enjoy:all
enjoy:the
enjoy:other
enjoy:treats
enjoy:associated
enjoy:with
enjoy:the 31st.
enjoy:Tall,
enjoy:sly,
enjoy:with
enjoy:a
enjoy:warming
enjoy:smile
enjoy:and
enjoy:constant
enjoy:smirk,
enjoy:the
enjoy:cougar
enjoy:just
enjoy:had
enjoy:a
enjoy:certain
enjoy:allure
enjoy:to
enjoy:him.
enjoy:Maybe
enjoy:it
enjoy:was
enjoy:that
enjoy:handsome
enjoy:little
enjoy:black
enjoy:mark
enjoy:that
enjoy:so
enjoy:many of his
enjoy:species were
enjoy:wont
enjoy:to
enjoy:have
enjoy:on
enjoy:their
enjoy:muzzles,
enjoy:or
enjoy:maybe
enjoy:it
enjoy:was
enjoy:those
enjoy:oh-so
enjoy:feline
enjoy:eyes,
enjoy:but
enjoy:whatever
enjoy:it
enjoy:was,
enjoy:John
enjoy:was
enjoy:hooked
enjoy:immediately.
enjoy:It
enjoy:was
enjoy:hard
enjoy:to
enjoy:even
enjoy:say
enjoy:how
enjoy:old
enjoy:the
enjoy:feline
enjoy:was.
enjoy:He
enjoy:looked
enjoy:mid-twenties,
enjoy:but
enjoy:something
enjoy:about
enjoy:him
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:more
enjoy:seasoned then
enjoy:that.
enjoy:For
enjoy:a
enjoy:while
enjoy:that
enjoy:morning
enjoy:he
enjoy:thought
enjoy:maybe
enjoy:those
enjoy:positive
enjoy:impressions
enjoy:were
enjoy:just
enjoy:alcohol-driven,
enjoy:but
enjoy:now
enjoy:that
enjoy:he
enjoy:saw
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:again
enjoy:it
enjoy:was
enjoy:obviously
enjoy:real.
enjoy:The
enjoy:cat
enjoy:was
enjoy:well dressed,
enjoy:to
enjoy:boot,
enjoy:donning
enjoy:black
enjoy:slacks
enjoy:and
enjoy:a
enjoy:white
enjoy:button up.
enjoy:John
enjoy:felt
enjoy:somewhat
enjoy:out
enjoy:of
enjoy:sorts
enjoy:in
enjoy:his
enjoy:cargo
enjoy:pants
enjoy:and
enjoy:printed
enjoy:T-shirt
enjoy:from
enjoy:the
enjoy:con.
John
extended
enjoy:a
enjoy:black
enjoy:canine
enjoy:paw,
enjoy:which
enjoy:was
enjoy:met
enjoy:and
enjoy:shook
enjoy:by a
enjoy:tan
enjoy:and
enjoy:white
enjoy:feline
enjoy:one. "Afternoon,
enjoy:Lewis,
enjoy:it's
enjoy:great
enjoy:to
enjoy:see
enjoy:you,
enjoy:though
enjoy:I
enjoy:suddenly
enjoy:feel
enjoy:underdressed."
The
cougar
enjoy:took
enjoy:at
enjoy:seat
enjoy:and
enjoy:leaned
enjoy:forward,
enjoy:letting
enjoy:his
enjoy:thin
enjoy:tail
enjoy:sway
enjoy:behind
enjoy:him. "Just
enjoy:felt
enjoy:like
enjoy:looking
enjoy:good
enjoy:tonight.
enjoy:I'm
enjoy:sure
enjoy:you
enjoy:won't
enjoy:mind."
enjoy:John
enjoy:didn't. "Do
enjoy:you
enjoy:have
enjoy:what
enjoy:we
enjoy:need?"
"Absolutely."
The
enjoy:Lab
enjoy:patted
enjoy:the
enjoy:small
enjoy:duffel
enjoy:bag
enjoy:at
enjoy:his
enjoy:feet
enjoy:that
enjoy:contained
enjoy:a
enjoy:few
enjoy:cameras,
enjoy:recorders,
enjoy:and
enjoy:other
enjoy:amateur 'ghost
enjoy:hunting'
enjoy:accouterments.
Lewis
clapped
enjoy:his
enjoy:paws
enjoy:together
enjoy:and
enjoy:flashed
enjoy:a
enjoy:toothy
enjoy:grin, "Oh,
enjoy:you
enjoy:really
enjoy:did
enjoy:bring
enjoy:them!
enjoy:One
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:fellas
enjoy:I
enjoy:did
enjoy:this
enjoy:with
enjoy:didn't
enjoy:have
enjoy:any
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:stuff
enjoy:he
enjoy:said
enjoy:he
enjoy:did."
enjoy:The
enjoy:cougar
enjoy:was
enjoy:all
enjoy:smiles
enjoy:and
enjoy:swishes
enjoy:just
enjoy:like
enjoy:he had
enjoy:been
enjoy:the
enjoy:night
enjoy:before.
enjoy:There
enjoy:was
enjoy:always
enjoy:the
enjoy:risk
enjoy:that
enjoy:a
enjoy:night
enjoy:of 'fun'
enjoy:at
enjoy:a
enjoy:con
enjoy:could
enjoy:become
enjoy:awkward
enjoy:the
enjoy:following
enjoy:day.
enjoy:That
enjoy:didn't
enjoy:seem
enjoy:to
enjoy:be
enjoy:the
enjoy:case
enjoy:this
enjoy:time.
Most
folks
enjoy:were
enjoy:at ScareCon 2022 to be a
enjoy:part
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:paranormal
enjoy:community.
enjoy:That's
enjoy:how
enjoy:John
enjoy:had
enjoy:started
enjoy:out
enjoy:with
enjoy:cons,
enjoy:back
enjoy:when
enjoy:he
enjoy:first
enjoy:began
enjoy:going
enjoy:to
enjoy:them
enjoy:a
enjoy:few
enjoy:years
enjoy:ago.
enjoy:Occasionally
enjoy:you'd
enjoy:get
enjoy:someone
enjoy:local who
enjoy:was
enjoy:looking
enjoy:for
enjoy:answers,
enjoy:like
enjoy:Lewis.
enjoy:The
enjoy:cougar
enjoy:had
enjoy:heard
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:convention
enjoy:and
enjoy:bolted
enjoy:up
enjoy:on
enjoy:Saturday
enjoy:in
enjoy:the
enjoy:hopes
enjoy:of
enjoy:meeting
enjoy:someone
enjoy:who
enjoy:could
enjoy:come
enjoy:by
enjoy:a local
enjoy:haunt.
enjoy:They'd
enjoy:hit it
enjoy:off
enjoy:right
enjoy:away,
enjoy:in
enjoy:more
enjoy:ways
enjoy:than
enjoy:just
enjoy:the
enjoy:mutual
enjoy:interest
enjoy:in
enjoy:the
enjoy:haunted
enjoy:house
enjoy:that
enjoy:they
enjoy:were
enjoy:meeting
enjoy:to
enjoy:discuss.
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:said
enjoy:he
enjoy:had
enjoy:a
enjoy:haunted
enjoy:house
enjoy:in
enjoy:town,
enjoy:and
enjoy:he
enjoy:was
enjoy:desperate
enjoy:to
enjoy:get
enjoy:an
enjoy:investigator
enjoy:to
enjoy:come
enjoy:take
enjoy:a
enjoy:look
enjoy:at
enjoy:things.
enjoy:Apparently
enjoy:he'd
enjoy:tried
enjoy:in
enjoy:the
enjoy:past,
enjoy:but
enjoy:hadn't
enjoy:been
enjoy:happy
enjoy:with
enjoy:the
enjoy:results.
enjoy:John
enjoy:was
enjoy:more
enjoy:than
enjoy:happy
enjoy:to
enjoy:help,
enjoy:especially
enjoy:if
enjoy:it
enjoy:led
enjoy:to
enjoy:a
enjoy:repeat
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:previous
enjoy:night's
enjoy:activities.
John
got
enjoy:down
enjoy:to
enjoy:business. "So,
enjoy:you've
enjoy:attempted
enjoy:this
enjoy:before
enjoy:at the
enjoy:location?"
enjoy:He
enjoy:fished
enjoy:a
enjoy:spiral
enjoy:bound
enjoy:notebook
enjoy:out
enjoy:of
enjoy:his
enjoy:to
enjoy:jot
enjoy:down
enjoy:the
enjoy:important
enjoy:information.
enjoy:The
enjoy:paper
enjoy:on
enjoy:pen
enjoy:note
enjoy:taking
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:a
enjoy:little
enjoy:out
enjoy:of
enjoy:place
enjoy:in
enjoy:a
enjoy:side
enjoy:job
enjoy:that
enjoy:was
enjoy:so
enjoy:focused
enjoy:on
enjoy:impressive
enjoy:sounding
enjoy:gear,
enjoy:but
enjoy:the
enjoy:ghost
enjoy:hunter
enjoy:found
enjoy:that
enjoy:writing
enjoy:things
enjoy:down
enjoy:meant
enjoy:he
enjoy:remembered
enjoy:them.
"Yep,
brought
enjoy:in two
enjoy:other
enjoy:experts.
enjoy:One
enjoy:last
enjoy:year,
enjoy:and
enjoy:one the
enjoy:year
enjoy:before.
enjoy:Halloween
enjoy:both
enjoy:of
enjoy:those
enjoy:times,
enjoy:as
enjoy:well."
The
canine
enjoy:nodded
enjoy:dutifully,
enjoy:remembering
enjoy:from
enjoy:the
enjoy:night
enjoy:before
enjoy:that
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:had
enjoy:said
enjoy:these
enjoy:hauntings
enjoy:only
enjoy:happened
enjoy:on
enjoy:Halloween
enjoy:night "And
enjoy:you
enjoy:said
enjoy:the
enjoy:other
enjoy:night
enjoy:when
enjoy:we
enjoy:spoke
enjoy:that
enjoy:there
enjoy:had
enjoy:been
enjoy:activity,
enjoy:but
enjoy:that
enjoy:it
enjoy:was
enjoy:not
enjoy:properly
enjoy:documented?"
enjoy:John
enjoy:was
enjoy:surprised
enjoy:he
enjoy:could
enjoy:remember
enjoy:any
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:conversation
enjoy:they'd
enjoy:had
enjoy:about
enjoy:this
enjoy:during
enjoy:the
enjoy:convention.
Lewis
held
enjoy:up
enjoy:a
enjoy:finger, "Well,
enjoy:the
enjoy:first
enjoy:guy
enjoy:was
enjoy:a
enjoy:total
enjoy:joke
enjoy:and
enjoy:didn't
enjoy:have
enjoy:any
enjoy:equipment
enjoy:and
enjoy:I
enjoy:told
enjoy:him
enjoy:to
enjoy:get
enjoy:lost
enjoy:as
enjoy:soon
enjoy:as
enjoy:I
enjoy:realized
enjoy:I
enjoy:wasn't
enjoy:dealing
enjoy:with
enjoy:a
enjoy:professional,
enjoy:I
enjoy:mean,
enjoy:at
enjoy:least
enjoy:as
enjoy:professional as an
enjoy:amateur
enjoy:investigator
enjoy:can
enjoy:get,
enjoy:right?"
enjoy:That
enjoy:got
enjoy:just
enjoy:enough
enjoy:of
enjoy:a
enjoy:smile
enjoy:to
enjoy:show
enjoy:a
enjoy:few
enjoy:teeth
enjoy:from
enjoy:the
enjoy:Lab,
enjoy:and
enjoy:he went on. "So,
enjoy:the
enjoy:second
enjoy:guy
enjoy:did
enjoy:have
enjoy:some
enjoy:gear,
enjoy:things
enjoy:got
enjoy:a
enjoy:little
enjoy:freaky
enjoy:that
enjoy:night,
enjoy:too."
The
investigator's
enjoy:ears
enjoy:perked up
enjoy:as
enjoy:much
enjoy:as
enjoy:their
enjoy:floppy
enjoy:nature
enjoy:would
enjoy:allow. "Freaky
enjoy:how?"
"Footsteps,
whispering
enjoy:noises,
enjoy:and
enjoy:just
enjoy:unusual scents
enjoy:in
enjoy:the
enjoy:air
enjoy:at
enjoy:first."
John
jotted
enjoy:furiously.
enjoy:All
enjoy:common
enjoy:haunting
enjoy:signs,
enjoy:but
enjoy:his
enjoy:pen
enjoy:paused when
enjoy:he realized that his client--if
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:could
enjoy:be
enjoy:called
enjoy:that--had
enjoy:froze
enjoy:and
enjoy:was
enjoy:trying
enjoy:to
enjoy:figure
enjoy:out
enjoy:how
enjoy:to
enjoy:word
enjoy:something.
enjoy:He
enjoy:nudged
enjoy:the
enjoy:cougar's
enjoy:arm
enjoy:softly
enjoy:and
enjoy:gave
enjoy:an
enjoy:encouraging
enjoy:nod, "It's
enjoy:okay,
enjoy:I
enjoy:won't
enjoy:think
enjoy:you're
enjoy:crazy."
After
a
enjoy:deep
enjoy:breath
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:went
enjoy:on, "Well,
enjoy:fire."
enjoy:It
enjoy:sounded
enjoy:absurd,
enjoy:and
enjoy:he
enjoy:held
enjoy:up
enjoy:a
enjoy:paw to
enjoy:hold
enjoy:off
enjoy:the
enjoy:influx
enjoy:of
enjoy:questions. "There
enjoy:was
enjoy:fire,
enjoy:we saw it,
enjoy:smelled
enjoy:it,
enjoy:felt
enjoy:it,
enjoy:and
enjoy:then
enjoy:it
enjoy:was
enjoy:gone."
That
bombshell
enjoy:seemed
enjoy:to
enjoy:sober
enjoy:the
enjoy:Lab
enjoy:up
enjoy:faster
enjoy:than
enjoy:the
enjoy:coffee
enjoy:he
enjoy:was
enjoy:sipping
enjoy:ever
enjoy:could.
enjoy:He'd
enjoy:heard
enjoy:of
enjoy:this
enjoy:kind
enjoy:of
enjoy:thing
enjoy:before,
enjoy:but
enjoy:never
enjoy:first hand--not
enjoy:from
enjoy:anyone
enjoy:he
enjoy:actually
enjoy:believed.
enjoy:Why
enjoy:did
enjoy:he
enjoy:believe
enjoy:this
enjoy:guy
enjoy:he
enjoy:barely
enjoy:knew,
enjoy:anyway?
enjoy:Was
enjoy:it
enjoy:just
enjoy:the
enjoy:pretty
enjoy:face?
enjoy:No,
enjoy:there
enjoy:was
enjoy:some
enjoy:genuine
enjoy:emotion
enjoy:behind
enjoy:Lewis's
enjoy:story.
enjoy:Those
enjoy:alluring
enjoy:feline
enjoy:eyes--which
enjoy:John
enjoy:found
enjoy:himself
enjoy:constantly
enjoy:drawn
enjoy:to--were
enjoy:studying
enjoy:him
enjoy:closely;
enjoy:as
enjoy:if
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:was
enjoy:looking
enjoy:for
enjoy:some
enjoy:kind
enjoy:of
enjoy:reaction.
enjoy:The
enjoy:cat
enjoy:was
enjoy:probably
enjoy:worried
enjoy:that
enjoy:he'd
enjoy:come
enjoy:off
enjoy:as
enjoy:crazy.
enjoy:Something
enjoy:didn't
enjoy:jive,
enjoy:though. "Tell
enjoy:me,
enjoy:why
enjoy:didn't
enjoy:he
enjoy:report
enjoy:that
enjoy:to anyone, and
enjoy:why
enjoy:hasn't
enjoy:this
enjoy:place
enjoy:become
enjoy:a
enjoy:ghost
enjoy:hunting
enjoy:mecca?"
Lewis
grumbled,
enjoy:irritated
enjoy:by
enjoy:that
enjoy:question. "Because,
enjoy:Mister
enjoy:Willoughby,
enjoy:he
enjoy:took
enjoy:off
enjoy:running
enjoy:and
enjoy:refused
enjoy:to
enjoy:ever
enjoy:speak
enjoy:to
enjoy:me
enjoy:again.
enjoy:Moreover, the
enjoy:locals
enjoy:refuse
enjoy:to
enjoy:let
enjoy:people
enjoy:venture
enjoy:into
enjoy:the
enjoy:house.
enjoy:I don't know why a ghost hunter runs from
enjoy:a
enjoy:ghost.
enjoy:Must
enjoy:not
enjoy:have
enjoy:been
enjoy:a
enjoy:good
enjoy:match."
Curious.
It
enjoy:didn't
enjoy:really
enjoy:answer
enjoy:the
enjoy:question.
enjoy:What
enjoy:ghost
enjoy:hunter
enjoy:runs
enjoy:from
enjoy:a
enjoy:hunt?
enjoy:More
enjoy:importantly, "Why
enjoy:do
enjoy:they
enjoy:let
enjoy:you
enjoy:in?"
"Because,
my
enjoy:canine
enjoy:friend,"
enjoy:Lewis
enjoy:produced
enjoy:an
enjoy:old
enjoy:skeleton
enjoy:key
enjoy:from
enjoy:his
enjoy:and
enjoy:waggled
enjoy:it tauntingly, "I
enjoy:own
enjoy:the
enjoy:place."
Sensing
that
enjoy:the
enjoy:mood
enjoy:had
enjoy:lightened,
enjoy:John
enjoy:finished
enjoy:his
enjoy:coffee
enjoy:off
enjoy:with
enjoy:a
enjoy:confident swig and
enjoy:stood
enjoy:up;
enjoy:giving
enjoy:a
enjoy:big
enjoy:swish
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:tail
enjoy:to
enjoy:add
enjoy:dramatic
enjoy:effect. "Well
enjoy:then,
enjoy:Mister
enjoy:Lewis,
enjoy:let's
enjoy:go
enjoy:Spooklunking!"
The cougar
snorted
enjoy:and sighed at
enjoy:the
enjoy:awful
enjoy:pun,
enjoy:and
enjoy:the
enjoy:two
enjoy:shared
enjoy:a
enjoy:moment
enjoy:staring
enjoy:at
enjoy:each
enjoy:other.
"No?"
John
enjoy:inquired.
"No,"
Lewis
enjoy:confirmed, "never
enjoy:call it
enjoy:that
enjoy:again."
enjoy:The
enjoy:cat
enjoy:looked
enjoy:unamused
enjoy:as
enjoy:hell
enjoy:for
enjoy:a
enjoy:few
enjoy:seconds,
enjoy:which
enjoy:felt
enjoy:like
enjoy:an
enjoy:eternity,
enjoy:and
enjoy:then
enjoy:finally
enjoy:relaxed
enjoy:and
enjoy:they
enjoy:both
enjoy:laughed, "But really,
enjoy:that's
enjoy:awful."
*
Fresh
autumn
enjoy:air
enjoy:and
enjoy:the
enjoy:smell
enjoy:of
enjoy:fallen
enjoy:leaves
enjoy:had
enjoy:done
enjoy:worlds
enjoy:of
enjoy:good
enjoy:for
enjoy:John's
enjoy:hangover.
enjoy:He
enjoy:was
enjoy:glad
enjoy:his
enjoy:Spooklunking
enjoy:buddy--he
enjoy:was
enjoy:still
enjoy:going
enjoy:to
enjoy:call
enjoy:it
enjoy:that
enjoy:in
enjoy:his
enjoy:head--had
enjoy:insisted
enjoy:on
enjoy:walking
enjoy:to
enjoy:the
enjoy:house.
enjoy:It
enjoy:wasn't
enjoy:too
enjoy:far,
enjoy:really,
enjoy:and
enjoy:they'd
enjoy:timed
enjoy:their
enjoy:walk
enjoy:perfectly
enjoy:so
enjoy:that they
enjoy:were
enjoy:getting
enjoy:near
enjoy:just
enjoy:as
enjoy:the
enjoy:sun
enjoy:was
enjoy:starting
enjoy:to
enjoy:fall.
enjoy:Costumed
enjoy:kids
enjoy:were
enjoy:slowly,
enjoy:but
enjoy:steadily
enjoy:starting
enjoy:to
enjoy:fill
enjoy:the
enjoy:sidewalks
enjoy:of
enjoy:the
enjoy:neighborhoods.
John
was
enjoy:glad
enjoy:he'd
enjoy:made
enjoy:the
enjoy:trip
enjoy:up
enjoy:north for Berrysville ScareCon
enjoy:this year.
enjoy:He
enjoy:almost
enjoy:called
enjoy:the
enjoy:trip
enjoy:off,
enjoy:seeing
enjoy:as
enjoy:the
enjoy:last
enjoy:few
enjoy:years
enjoy:had
enjoy:just
enjoy:been
enjoy:excuses
enjoy:to
enjoy:get
enjoy:hammered
enjoy:with
enjoy:a
enjoy:bunch
enjoy:of
enjoy:paranormal,
enjoy:likeminded
enjoy:geeks.
enjoy:Not
enjoy:that
enjoy:he
enjoy:had
enjoy:any
enjoy:problem
enjoy:with
enjoy:doing
enjoy:just
enjoy:that,
enjoy:as
enjoy:the
enjoy:weekend
enjoy:had
enjoy:displayed
enjoy:in
enjoy:epic
enjoy:fashion.
enjoy:His
enjoy:hesitation
enjoy:came
enjoy:at
enjoy:the
enjoy:fact
enjoy:that for the 2022 year the
enjoy:con
enjoy:was
enjoy:actually
enjoy:on
enjoy:Halloween
enjoy:weekend,
enjoy:and
enjoy:not
enjoy:the
enjoy:week
enjoy:before
enjoy:as
enjoy:it
enjoy:usually
enjoy:was.
enjoy:John
enjoy:spent
enjoy:Halloween
enjoy:doing
enjoy:one
enjoy:of
enjoy:two
things:things:
being
things:the
things:neighborhood
things:good
things:guy
things:and
things:handing
things:out
things:candy,
things:or
things:ghost
things:hunting
things:on
things:the
things:night
things:of
things:the
things:year
things:practically
things:made
things:for
things:it.
things:He
things:was
things:worried
things:he'd
things:not
things:get
things:to do
things:either
things:one
things:while
things:out of
things:town,
things:but
things:he
things:spent
things:the
things:weekend
things:looking
things:for
things:local
things:haunts,
things:and
things:damn
things:if
things:he
things:wasn't
things:onto
things:a
things:great
things:lead.
Their destination
was
things:unmistakable
things:as
things:soon
things:as
things:the
things:pair
things:made
things:the
things:turn
things:onto
things:the
things:block.
things:Nestled
things:away
things:from
things:the
things:other
things:houses,
things:alone,
things:like
things:it
things:didn't
things:belong
things:there.
things:Indeed,
things:it
things:had
things:probably
things:been
things:built
things:long
things:before
things:the
things:rigid
things:grids
things:of
things:city
things:blocks
things:had
things:been
things:laid
things:down.
things:The
things:dirty
things:bricks
things:that
things:it
things:was
things:built
things:of
things:stood
things:in
things:contrast
things:to
things:the
things:more
things:modern
things:vinyl
things:siding
things:covered
things:homes
things:that
things:surrounded
things:it.
things:Old
things:iron
things:fences--twisted
things:and
things:covered
things:with
things:overgrown
things:bushes
things:and
things:weeds--lined
things:the
things:property,
things:and
things:peaks
things:of
things:the
things:roof
things:were
things:silhouetted
things:against
things:the
things:sunset.
things:John
things:couldn't
things:help
things:but
things:get
things:a
things:chill
things:at
things:the
things:eerie,
things:yet
things:quite
things:pretty
things:sight.
As
they
things:approached
things:the
things:abandoned
things:house
things:John
things:became
things:keenly
things:aware
things:that
things:there
things:were
things:eyes
things:upon
things:him
things:from
things:multiple
things:directions.
things:Lewis
things:hadn't
things:been
things:lying
things:when
things:he
things:warned of
things:the
things:locals,
things:as
things:dozens
things:of
things:them
things:were
things:peeking
things:around
things:blinds
things:or
things:tiptoeing
things:up
things:and
things:glaring
things:out
things:front
things:door
things:windows.
things:The
things:children
things:that
things:were
things:trick
things:or
things:treating
things:crossed
things:the
things:street
things:to
things:the
things:other
things:side
things:when
things:they
things:saw
things:the
things:cougar,
things:and
things:only
things:looked
things:back
things:to
things:see
things:who
things:John
things:might
things:be
things:once they'd
things:passed.
things:He
things:clutched
things:his
things:duffel
things:bag
things:somewhat
things:tighter
things:and
things:quickened
things:his
things:pace.
things:Was
things:he
things:not
things:welcome
things:here,
things:or
things:was
things:it
things:fear?
things:Maybe
things:these
things:people
things:were
things:genuinely
things:afraid
things:of
things:the
things:house,
things:or
things:perhaps
things:they
things:were
things:afraid
things:for
things:him.
"You
don't
things:actually
things:live
things:here,
things:do
things:you?"
things:John
things:felt
things:himself
things:asking.
Lewis
high
things:stepped
things:over
things:the
things:weeds
things:and
things:opened
things:the
things:creaky
things:gate,
things:chuckling
things:and
things:oblivious
things:to
things:the
things:neighborhood
things:gawkers. "Nah,
things:I
things:pretty
things:much
things:leave
things:it
things:alone."
things:The
things:homeowner
things:walked
things:deliberately
things:towards
things:the
things:front
things:door,
things:now
things:and
things:then
things:avoiding
things:a
things:piece
things:of
things:debris
things:from
things:the
things:unkempt
things:yard.
John
followed
things:closely.
things:The
things:front
things:porch
things:was
things:what
things:one
things:would
things:expect.
things:The
things:paint
things:was
things:worn
things:off,
things:a
things:few
things:boards
things:were
things:missing
things:and
things:the
things:rest
things:creaked
things:under
things:the
things:stress
things:of
things:any
things:weight.
things:There
things:was
things:something
things:off
things:with
things:the
things:place,
things:already.
things:He
things:couldn't
things:put
things:a
things:finger
things:on
things:it,
things:but
things:the
things:air
things:felt
things:wrong.
things:It
things:was
things:heavy,
things:and
things:felt
things:foreign.
things:He
things:hadn't
things:felt
things:so
things:creeped
things:out in
things:a
things:long
things:time,
things:and
things:they
things:hadn't
things:even
things:started
things:yet.
things:Maybe
things:Lewis
things:wasn't
things:lying
things:when
things:he
things:said
things:the
things:last
things:investigator
things:got
things:scared
things:off.
"You
okay?"
things:Again,
things:the
things:cougar
things:was
things:studying
things:him.
things:Lewis
things:seemed
things:nervous
things:about
things:something,
things:or
things:maybe
things:he
things:was
things:just
things:concerned
things:and
things:didn't
things:want
things:to
things:scare
things:the
things:crap
things:out
things:of
things:his
things:investigator.
things:Satisfied
things:with
things:the
things:Lab's
things:nod,
things:Lewis
things:reached
things:for
things:his
things:keychain.
The
mechanical
things:clunk
things:sound
things:that
things:the
things:skeleton
things:key
things:made
things:as
things:it
things:unlocked
things:the
things:door
things:snapped
things:the
things:Lab
things:back
things:into
things:his
things:zone.
things:To
things:his
things:surprise,
things:Lewis
things:flipped
things:a
things:switch
things:and
things:the
things:interior
things:lit
things:up--albeit
things:dimly.
things:With
things:the
things:way
things:the
things:place
things:looked
things:he
things:was
things:half
things:expecting
things:to
things:have
things:to
things:navigate
things:by
things:flashlight and
things:candle.
Interior-wise,
though,
things:it
things:was
things:exactly
things:what
things:John
things:had
things:expected.
things:There
things:were
things:empty
things:boxes
things:and
things:a
things:big,
things:dusty
things:table
things:scattered
things:around
things:a
things:primarily
things:empty
things:living
things:room
things:as
things:soon
things:as
things:they
things:walked
things:in.
things:On
things:the
things:wall
things:directly
things:opposite
things:the
things:front
things:door
things:was
things:a
things:dusty,
things:generic
things:landscape
things:painting.
things:Lewis
things:led
things:the
things:pair into
things:the
things:kitchen,
things:which
things:was
things:equally
things:barren
things:except
things:for
things:a
things:mini
things:fridge;
things:which
things:was
things:humming
things:with
things:life.
John
felt
things:his
things:client
things:watching
things:him
things:as
things:he
things:scanned
things:various
things:spots
things:with
things:his
things:infrared
things:thermometer and
things:jotted
things:down
things:notes. "I'm
things:taking
things:baseline
things:temps,
things:so
things:that
things:when
things:we
things:set
things:up
things:thermal
things:equipment
things:and
things:cameras
things:we'll
things:be
things:able
things:to
things:identify a
things:rise or spike."
"Oh,
well,
things:the
things:activity
things:that
things:happens
things:has
things:never
things:been
things:down
things:here.
things:It's
things:always
things:been
things:upstairs
things:in
things:the
things:attic."
Client
reports
things:activity
things:concentrated
things:in
things:single
things:area
things:of the
things:house
things:only.
things:Once
things:again,
things:this
things:haunting
things:was
things:looking
things:promising. "Well,
things:then.
things:I
things:guess
things:we're
things:going
things:to
things:the
things:attic."
The
first
things:two
things:rooms
things:that
things:John
things:saw
things:exemplified
things:the
things:rest
things:of
things:the
things:ones
things:that
things:he
things:passed on
things:the
things:way to
things:the
things:staircase.
things:Though
things:it
things:did
things:appear
things:that
things:Lewis
things:had
things:made
things:a
things:cozy
things:reading
things:room
things:in
things:one
things:of
things:them--perhaps
things:a
things:secluded
things:getaway
things:when
things:he
things:needed
things:out
things:of
things:his
things:primary
things:residence.
things:The
things:kitchen
things:was
things:as
things:bare as
things:most
things:of
things:the
things:rooms,
things:though
things:the
things:refrigerator
things:was
things:humming
things:with
things:life
things:and
things:a
things:few
things:dusty,
things:partially-full
things:bottles
things:of
things:alcohol
things:were
things:visible
things:in
things:the
things:glass
things:cupboard
things:above
things:the
things:sink.
things:At
things:the
things:back
things:of
things:the
things:house
things:were
things:the
things:stairs.
Something
about
things:staircases
things:always
things:got
things:the
things:dog.
things:He
things:suspected
things:most
things:people
things:would
things:agree if
things:they
things:really
things:thought
things:about
things:it.
things:It
things:probably
things:had
things:to
things:do
things:with
things:the
things:mental
things:aspect
things:of
things:leaving
things:a
things:safe,
things:explored
things:area
things:of
things:a
things:supposedly
things:haunted
things:place
things:and
things:venturing
things:up
things:a
things:creaky
things:path
things:towards
things:the
things:unknown.
things:It
things:was
things:kinda-sorta
things:like
things:opening
things:the
things:front
things:door
things:always
things:was,
things:perhaps,
things:but
things:stronger.
John
forced his
things:legs
things:to
things:climb
things:against
things:his
things:natural
things:instincts;
things:all
things:of
things:which
things:were all
things:screaming 'get
things:out'
things:to
things:him.
things:He
things:had
things:never
things:been
things:as
things:apprehensive
things:about
things:any
things:haunt so
things:early
things:into
things:things.
things:All
things:over
things:his
things:body
things:he
things:could
things:feel
things:his
things:fur standing
things:on
things:end
things:as
things:though it were
things:saying 'if
things:you're
things:not getting
things:the
things:fuck
things:out of
things:here,
things:we
things:are'.
things:What
things:really
things:didn't
things:help,
things:though,
things:was
things:the
things:silence
things:of
things:his
things:companion.
things:John
things:observed
things:Lewis's
things:body
things:language
things:as
things:they
things:ascended
things:and
things:realized
things:something
things:that
things:terrified
things:him
things:even
more:more:
Lewis
more:wasn't
more:afraid
more:at
more:all.
more:No
more:matter
more:how
more:brave
more:a
more:face
more:someone
more:could
more:put
more:on
more:they
more:couldn't
more:hide
more:the
more:scent
more:of
more:fear
more:from
more:a
more:canine
more:nose.
more:It
more:was
more:disconcerting,
more:but
more:it
more:didn't
more:matter.
more:He
more:was
more:already
more:there,
more:and
more:he
more:was
more:far
more:too
more:deep
more:into
more:things
more:to
more:turn
more:tail
more:and
more:run
more:like
more:the
more:last
more:guy.
more:Hell,
more:there
more:hadn't
more:even
more:been
more:any
more:actual
more:paranormal
more:activity
more:at
more:all.
Lewis
stopped
more:at
more:the
more:top
more:step. "Okay,
more:so
more:I'm
more:going
more:to
more:warn
more:you,
more:this
more:is
more:where
more:it
more:gets
more:interesting."
more:The
more:cougar
more:turned
more:the
more:lights
more:on
more:in
more:the
more:attic.
He
wasn't
more:kidding.
more:Interesting
more:didn't
more:even
more:begin
more:to
more:describe
more:the
more:bizarre
more:scene
more:that
more:greeted
more:them.
more:Old
more:books
more:littered
more:the
more:bare
more:wood
more:floor,
more:and
more:old
more:candles
more:sat
more:atop
more:a
more:dozen
more:small
more:tables.
more:At
more:the
more:far
more:end
more:of
more:the
more:room
more:was
more:a
more:rusty
more:old
more:bedframe
more:supporting
more:a
more:plain
more:mattress.
more:John
more:was
more:drawn
more:to
more:the
more:scent
more:of
more:newsprint
more:and
more:found
more:a
more:stack
more:of
more:papers.
more:The
more:ones
more:on
more:bottom
more:were
more:yellow
more:with
more:age,
more:and
more:he
more:couldn't
more:help
more:but
more:pick
more:up
more:a
more:few
more:to
more:check
the dates:October 31st 2021, October 31st 2020, and October 31st 2019. It went on
the dates:like
the dates:that
the dates:from
the dates:what
the dates:he
the dates:could
the dates:see.
And
then
the dates:he
the dates:saw
the dates:it.
the dates:The
the dates:wood
the dates:around
the dates:the
the dates:bed was
the dates:scorched,
the dates:as
the dates:though
the dates:there
the dates:had
the dates:been
the dates:a
the dates:fire.
the dates:John
the dates:remembered
the dates:his
the dates:client's
the dates:earlier
the dates:words
the dates:about
the dates:seeing
the dates:and
the dates:smelling
the dates:fire.
the dates:It
the dates:couldn't
the dates:be
the dates:coincidence.
the dates:The
the dates:bed
the dates:itself
the dates:wasn't
the dates:burned,
the dates:though.
the dates:Something
the dates:radiated
the dates:from
the dates:the
the dates:area,
the dates:but
the dates:he
the dates:couldn't
the dates:put
the dates:a
the dates:finger
the dates:on
the dates:the
the dates:feeling.
the dates:It
the dates:was
the dates:as
the dates:though
the dates:John
the dates:could
the dates:sense
the dates:anger
the dates:and
the dates:desperation
the dates:in
the dates:the
the dates:air.
the dates:His
the dates:fur
the dates:bristled.
"You
see
the dates:it
the dates:now,
the dates:don't
the dates:you?"
the dates:The
the dates:boastful
the dates:smile
the dates:was
the dates:audible
the dates:in
the dates:the
the dates:way
the dates:Lewis
the dates:said
the dates:that.
the dates:He
the dates:was
the dates:proud
the dates:to
the dates:be
the dates:validated,
the dates:it
the dates:seemed. "If
the dates:you're
the dates:wondering
the dates:if
the dates:that's
the dates:where
the dates:we
the dates:saw
the dates:fire,
the dates:then
the dates:yes.
the dates:The
the dates:thing
the dates:is?
the dates:Those
the dates:burns
the dates:have
the dates:always
the dates:been
the dates:there.
the dates:This
the dates:entire
the dates:room
the dates:has
the dates:been
the dates:untouched
the dates:by
the dates:me."
Impossible. "Except
for
the dates:the
the dates:newspapers?"
the dates:John
the dates:smirked
the dates:in
the dates:triumph.
the dates:He'd
the dates:caught
the dates:Lewis in a
the dates:lie.
the dates:The
the dates:cat had owned
the dates:the
the dates:house
the dates:for
the dates:two
the dates:years,
the dates:and
the dates:the
the dates:newspaper
the dates:dates
the dates:were
the dates:as
the dates:recent
the dates:as
the dates:one
the dates:year
the dates:prior.
the dates:He
the dates:stopped
the dates:smirking, though,
the dates:when
the dates:he
the dates:saw
the dates:the
the dates:cold
the dates:stare
the dates:from
the dates:the
the dates:other.
"No.
I
the dates:haven't
the dates:been
the dates:putting
the dates:them
the dates:there."
the dates:His
the dates:eyes
the dates:were
the dates:earnest.
the dates:Lewis
the dates:traced
the dates:a claw
the dates:along
the dates:the
the dates:date on
the dates:the
the dates:topmost
the dates:newspaper. "Tomorrow
the dates:morning
the dates:there
the dates:will
the dates:be
the dates:a
the dates:paper
the dates:from
the dates:today.
the dates:There
the dates:always
the dates:is."
John
scratched at
the dates:his
the dates:whiskers.
the dates:Client
the dates:states
the dates:that
the dates:newspapers
the dates:appear
the dates:after
the dates:every
the dates:Halloween.
"If
you
the dates:think
the dates:that's
the dates:peculiar
the dates:then
the dates:look
the dates:here,"
the dates:Lewis
the dates:pointed
the dates:towards
the dates:one
the dates:of
the dates:the
the dates:old
the dates:books. "Open a
the dates:page,
the dates:any
the dates:page,
the dates:and
the dates:read."
John
picked
the dates:one
the dates:near
the dates:the beginning
October 27th, 1919. Some days I am
certain
the dates:that
the dates:I
the dates:can
the dates:feel
the dates:the
the dates:presence,
the dates:or
the dates:that
the dates:he's
the dates:whispering
the dates:into
the dates:my
the dates:ear
the dates:from
the dates:beyond
the dates:the
the dates:shadows.
the dates:Mother
the dates:assures
the dates:me
the dates:that
the dates:it
the dates:is
the dates:only
the dates:another
the dates:one
the dates:of
the dates:my
the dates:creative
the dates:fantasies,
the dates:but
the dates:I
the dates:know
the dates:that
the dates:it
the dates:is
the dates:real.
the dates:He
the dates:will
the dates:come
the dates:again
the dates:on
the dates:Halloween
the dates:as
the dates:he
the dates:always
the dates:has.
"Well
that
the dates:was
the dates:creepy,"
the dates:John
the dates:muttered
the dates:quietly
the dates:as
the dates:he
the dates:dug
the dates:deeper
the dates:into
the dates:the pages.
October 31st 1988. Found this old
journal
the dates:awhile
the dates:back.
the dates:Thought
the dates:it
the dates:was
the dates:fucking
the dates:bullshit.
the dates:It's
the dates:not
the dates:fucking
the dates:bullshit.
the dates:This
the dates:man
the dates:comes
the dates:out
the dates:of
the dates:the
the dates:attic
the dates:on
the dates:Halloween
the dates:night.
the dates:I
the dates:called
the dates:the
the dates:police
the dates:and
the dates:the
the dates:fire
the dates:department
the dates:when
the dates:I
the dates:saw
the dates:the
the dates:flames
the dates:but
the dates:they
the dates:didn't
the dates:even
the dates:respond.
the dates:I'm
the dates:writing
the dates:this
the dates:from
the dates:the
the dates:Baptist
the dates:church
the dates:down
the dates:the
the dates:road.
the dates:Don't
the dates:believe
the dates:in
the dates:God
the dates:but it
the dates:can't
the dates:hurt.
John
jumped
the dates:when
the dates:he
the dates:felt
the dates:the
the dates:cougar's
the dates:arm
the dates:slip
the dates:around
the dates:him.
the dates:It
the dates:wasn't
the dates:meant
the dates:to
the dates:be
the dates:menacing,
the dates:but
the dates:he
the dates:couldn't
the dates:help
the dates:being
the dates:skittish. "Set
the dates:up
the dates:your
the dates:stuff
the dates:and
the dates:let's
the dates:head
the dates:downstairs
the dates:for
the dates:a while.
the dates:We
the dates:got
the dates:time
the dates:before
the dates:anything
the dates:happens."
Being
away
the dates:from
the dates:the
the dates:bed
the dates:and
the dates:back
the dates:down
the dates:in
the dates:the
the dates:relatively
the dates:safe
the dates:feeling
the dates:of
the dates:the
the dates:first
the dates:floor
the dates:had
the dates:immense
the dates:appeal
the dates:to
the dates:John.
the dates:Mom
the dates:had
the dates:always
the dates:been
the dates:on
the dates:about
the dates:the
the dates:spiritual
the dates:mumbo-jumbo
the dates:around
the dates:Halloween,
the dates:like
the dates:that
the dates:the
the dates:veil
the dates:between
the dates:worlds
the dates:was
the dates:thin
the dates:and
the dates:sprits
the dates:from
the dates:the
the dates:other
the dates:side
the dates:could
the dates:slip
the dates:through
the dates:for
the dates:a
the dates:short
the dates:time.
the dates:Most
the dates:kids
the dates:would
the dates:have
the dates:shied
the dates:away
the dates:from
the dates:that
the dates:type
the dates:of
the dates:motherly
the dates:talk,
the dates:but
the dates:he
the dates:was
the dates:drawn
the dates:in
the dates:with
the dates:fascination.
the dates:This
the dates:could
the dates:be
the dates:it,
the dates:right
the dates:here.
the dates:This
the dates:could
the dates:be
the dates:the
the dates:real
the dates:proof
the dates:of
the dates:what
the dates:she
the dates:believed in,
the dates:and
the dates:he
the dates:was
the dates:going
the dates:to
the dates:set
the dates:up
the dates:cameras
the dates:so
the dates:that
the dates:he
the dates:could
the dates:go
the dates:hide
the dates:from
the dates:it.
*
John
set
the dates:his half-empty
the dates:glass
the dates:down
the dates:on
the dates:the
the dates:floor
the dates:and
the dates:laughed. "Really?
the dates:You
the dates:asked
the dates:a
the dates:girl
the dates:you
the dates:hadn't
the dates:seen
the dates:in
the dates:awhile
the dates:how
the dates:far
the dates:along
the dates:she
the dates:was?"
the dates:He
the dates:had
the dates:to
the dates:pause
the dates:for
the dates:a
the dates:moment
the dates:as
the dates:the
the dates:burn
the dates:of
the dates:the
the dates:whiskey
the dates:hit
the dates:his
the dates:mouth.
the dates:It
the dates:was
the dates:pretty
the dates:good
the dates:stuff,
the dates:and
the dates:while
the dates:sitting
the dates:on
the dates:a
the dates:hard
the dates:floor
the dates:against
the dates:a
the dates:hard
the dates:wall
the dates:wasn't
the dates:exactly
the dates:comfortable
the dates:the
the dates:company
the dates:was
the dates:nice. "You
the dates:know
the dates:you
the dates:can't
the dates:ask
the dates:that."
"I
know,
the dates:I
the dates:know.
the dates:Well,
the dates:I
the dates:mean, I
the dates:do
the dates:now."
"So,
was
the dates:she?
the dates:Or
the dates:had
the dates:she
the dates:just
the dates:packed
the dates:on
the dates:some
the dates:pounds?"
the dates:The
the dates:Lab
the dates:gave
the dates:his
the dates:client
the dates:a
the dates:playful
the dates:elbow
the dates:nudge
the dates:and
the dates:waggled
the dates:his
the dates:brows.
"The
latter."
the dates:The
the dates:pair
the dates:chuckled
the dates:and
the dates:clinked
the dates:glasses
the dates:together.
The
investigator
the dates:finished
the dates:off
the dates:his
the dates:drink
the dates:like
the dates:the
the dates:borderline
the dates:alcoholic
the dates:that
the dates:he
the dates:was.
the dates:Truth
the dates:be
the dates:told,
the dates:this
the dates:was
the dates:how
the dates:most
the dates:of
the dates:his ghost hunts
went:went:
drinking
went:the
went:night
went:away
went:with
went:the
went:client
went:or
went:fellow
went:hunters.
Beep.
John
felt
went:as
went:if
went:his
went:heart
went:skipped
went:a
went:beat.
went:His
went:eyes
went:narrowed
went:and
went:fixated
went:on
went:his
went:tablet;
went:which
went:had
went:a
went:live
went:feed
went:from
went:the
went:upstairs
went:bedroom.
went:Again,
went:there
went:was
went:a
went:beep
went:as
went:the
went:cool
went:blues
went:and
went:blacks
went:from
went:the
went:thermal
went:camera
went:turned
went:to
went:hot
went:reds
went:and
went:yellows.
went:The
went:EMF
went:reader
went:was
went:going
went:nuts.
went:This
went:was
went:it.
"Shit!
I'm
went:getting
went:some..." The
went:Lab
went:winced and brought his fingers against
went:his
went:temples
went:as
went:his
went:brain
went:froze
went:up.
went:No
went:way
went:that
went:booze
went:was
went:hitting
went:him
went:that
went:hard,
went:especially
went:not
went:at
went:such
went:a
went:momentous
went:moment. "I'm."
went:He
went:felt
went:the
went:wall
went:start
went:to
went:slide
went:away
went:from
went:his
went:back,
went:or
went:so
went:he
went:imagined.
went:In
went:truth he
went:was
went:sliding
went:down
went:to
went:the
went:ground.
The
cougar
went:who
went:had
went:been
went:so
went:charming
went:had
went:a
went:completely
went:different
went:look
went:to
went:him
went:as
went:he
went:stood
went:up
went:and
went:glared
went:down
went:at
went:the
went:dog.
went:Those
went:eyes
went:that
went:were
went:so
went:beckoning
went:now
went:seemed
went:venomous.
went:He
went:gave
went:John
went:a
went:gentle
went:kick,
went:and
went:nodded
went:proudly
went:when
went:there
went:was
went:no
went:reaction. "God,
went:finally
went:some
went:peace
went:and
went:quiet.
went:I
went:thought
went:you'd
went:never
went:shut
went:the
went:fuck
went:up."
went:He
went:tapped
went:the
went:empty
went:glass
went:with
went:his
went:foot. "Drugs
went:in
went:the
whiskey:whiskey:
works every time."
Lewis's
words
whiskey:seemed
whiskey:miles
whiskey:away, and
whiskey:they
whiskey:made
whiskey:no
whiskey:sense.
whiskey:John
whiskey:was
whiskey:lying
whiskey:sideways
whiskey:on
whiskey:the
whiskey:ground,
whiskey:and
whiskey:trying
whiskey:to
whiskey:move
whiskey:just
whiskey:resulted
whiskey:in
whiskey:a
whiskey:weak
whiskey:twitch
whiskey:of
whiskey:his
whiskey:paw.
whiskey:Whatever
whiskey:was
whiskey:going
whiskey:on
whiskey:upstairs
whiskey:didn't
whiskey:even
whiskey:matter
whiskey:to
whiskey:the
whiskey:Lab,
whiskey:anymore.
whiskey:His
whiskey:heart
whiskey:was
whiskey:beating
whiskey:fast
whiskey:though;
whiskey:faster
whiskey:than
whiskey:it
whiskey:ever
whiskey:had.
whiskey:Was
whiskey:he being
whiskey:roofied? No,
whiskey:something
whiskey:else.
He
smelled
whiskey:smoke
whiskey:as
whiskey:the
whiskey:world
whiskey:around
whiskey:him
whiskey:went
whiskey:dark.
That
same
whiskey:smell
whiskey:was
whiskey:in
whiskey:his
whiskey:nostrils
whiskey:as
whiskey:he
whiskey:came
whiskey:to.
whiskey:He
whiskey:was
whiskey:on
whiskey:a
whiskey:bed.
whiskey:Just
whiskey:a
whiskey:simple
whiskey:mattress
whiskey:on
whiskey:a
whiskey:rusty
whiskey:frame.
whiskey:With
whiskey:some
whiskey:great
whiskey:effort
whiskey:John
whiskey:was
whiskey:able
whiskey:to
whiskey:move
whiskey:his
whiskey:head
whiskey:towards
whiskey:the
whiskey:scents
whiskey:he
whiskey:was
whiskey:picking
whiskey:up.
whiskey:Whatever
whiskey:he'd
whiskey:been
whiskey:drugged
whiskey:with
whiskey:was
whiskey:wrecking
whiskey:havoc
whiskey:because
whiskey:everything
whiskey:beyond
whiskey:a
whiskey:few
whiskey:feet
whiskey:was
whiskey:a
whiskey:total
whiskey:blur,
whiskey:but
whiskey:he
whiskey:could
whiskey:smell
whiskey:two
whiskey:people
whiskey:in
whiskey:the
whiskey:room.
whiskey:One
whiskey:was
whiskey:Lewis, for
whiskey:sure.
whiskey:The other
whiskey:was
whiskey:canine,
whiskey:male,
whiskey:and
whiskey:unfamiliar.
Lewis
spoke,
whiskey:and
whiskey:that
whiskey:voice
whiskey:that
whiskey:John
whiskey:had
whiskey:started
whiskey:to
whiskey:love
whiskey:so
whiskey:much
whiskey:was
whiskey:now
whiskey:a
whiskey:thing
whiskey:of
whiskey:torment. "You're
whiskey:awake,
whiskey:good.
whiskey:I'd
whiskey:like
whiskey:you
whiskey:to
whiskey:meet
whiskey:my
whiskey:partner,
whiskey:George.
whiskey:I
whiskey:believe
whiskey:I've
whiskey:mentioned
whiskey:him?"
John
would
whiskey:have
whiskey:growled
whiskey:if
whiskey:he'd
whiskey:had
whiskey:the
whiskey:energy.
whiskey:This
whiskey:was
whiskey:all
whiskey:a
whiskey:sick
whiskey:joke.
whiskey:If
whiskey:they'd
whiskey:wanted
whiskey:some
whiskey:kinky
whiskey:threesome
whiskey:they
whiskey:should
whiskey:have
whiskey:asked.
whiskey:He
whiskey:heard
whiskey:footsteps,
whiskey:and
whiskey:then
whiskey:saw
whiskey:the
whiskey:cougar
whiskey:and
whiskey:his
whiskey:undoubtedly
whiskey:better
whiskey:half.
whiskey:George
whiskey:looked
whiskey:familiar,
whiskey:not
whiskey:because
whiskey:John
whiskey:knew
whiskey:him,
whiskey:but
whiskey:because
whiskey:he,
whiskey:too
whiskey:was
whiskey:a
whiskey:Black
whiskey:Lab.
whiskey:There
whiskey:was
whiskey:something
whiskey:wrong
whiskey:about
whiskey:the
whiskey:stranger,
whiskey:though.
whiskey:It
whiskey:was
whiskey:almost
whiskey:as
whiskey:if
whiskey:he
whiskey:was
whiskey:glowing--not
whiskey:enough
whiskey:to
whiskey:be
whiskey:obvious,
whiskey:but
whiskey:just
whiskey:enough
whiskey:to
whiskey:be
whiskey:perceptible.
whiskey:Then
whiskey:there
whiskey:were
whiskey:the
whiskey:eyes.
whiskey:Those
whiskey:eyes
whiskey:were
whiskey:inviting,
whiskey:alluring,
whiskey:and
whiskey:John
whiskey:found
whiskey:it
whiskey:hard
whiskey:to wrest
whiskey:his
whiskey:attention
whiskey:away
whiskey:from
whiskey:them.
whiskey:Lewis's
whiskey:eyes
whiskey:were
whiskey:like
whiskey:that
whiskey:too,
whiskey:but
whiskey:to
whiskey:a
whiskey:lesser
whiskey:degree.
"I've
waited
whiskey:a
whiskey:long
whiskey:time
whiskey:for
whiskey:this."
whiskey:George
whiskey:spoke
whiskey:oddly.
whiskey:There
whiskey:was
whiskey:an
whiskey:accent
whiskey:on
whiskey:his
whiskey:words
whiskey:that
whiskey:was
whiskey:hard
whiskey:to
whiskey:place. "One
whiskey:would
whiskey:be
whiskey:surprised
whiskey:how
whiskey:difficult
whiskey:it
whiskey:is
whiskey:to
whiskey:lure
whiskey:a
whiskey:compatible
whiskey:match."
"It
was
whiskey:easy,
whiskey:love,"
whiskey:Lewis
whiskey:rejoined. "All
whiskey:I
whiskey:had
whiskey:to
whiskey:do
whiskey:was
whiskey:tell
whiskey:the
whiskey:truth."
whiskey:Those
whiskey:sinister
whiskey:feline
whiskey:eyes
whiskey:glared
whiskey:at
whiskey:their
whiskey:paralyzed
whiskey:prey. "This
whiskey:fool
whiskey:wanted
whiskey:to
whiskey:find
whiskey:a
whiskey:ghost."
What
John
whiskey:intended
whiskey:as
whiskey:a
whiskey:shout
whiskey:came out
whiskey:barely
whiskey:as
whiskey:a
whiskey:whisper, "I
whiskey:don't
whiskey:understand
whiskey:what
whiskey:you
whiskey:want."
Lewis
kissed
whiskey:his
whiskey:lover
whiskey:gently,
whiskey:lost
whiskey:in
whiskey:George's
whiskey:eyes
whiskey:in
whiskey:a
whiskey:way
whiskey:that
whiskey:seemed
whiskey:unnatural. "What
whiskey:I
whiskey:want
whiskey:is
whiskey:to
whiskey:see
whiskey:the
whiskey:man
whiskey:I
whiskey:love
whiskey:more
whiskey:than
whiskey:once
whiskey:a
whiskey:year, and
whiskey:what
whiskey:he wants is to exist in this world for more than once a year. What you
whiskey:wanted
whiskey:was
whiskey:to
whiskey:explore
whiskey:the
whiskey:unknown.
whiskey:Seems
whiskey:a
whiskey:fair
whiskey:deal,
whiskey:no?"
It
didn't
whiskey:seem
whiskey:a
whiskey:fair
whiskey:deal
whiskey:at
whiskey:all,
whiskey:if
whiskey:what
whiskey:he
whiskey:thought
whiskey:the 'deal'
whiskey:was
whiskey:was
whiskey:actually
whiskey:what
whiskey:he
whiskey:feared
whiskey:it
whiskey:was.
whiskey:Those
whiskey:journals!
whiskey:George
whiskey:must
whiskey:be
whiskey:the
whiskey:man
whiskey:that
whiskey:appeared
whiskey:every
whiskey:year,
whiskey:but
whiskey:what
whiskey:did
whiskey:any
whiskey:of
whiskey:this
whiskey:have
whiskey:to
whiskey:do
whiskey:with
whiskey:him?
whiskey:How
whiskey:did
whiskey:Lewis
whiskey:fall
whiskey:in
whiskey:love
whiskey:with
whiskey:a
whiskey:spirit
whiskey:that he'd
whiskey:only
whiskey:seen
whiskey:a
whiskey:few
whiskey:times,
whiskey:if
whiskey:George
whiskey:actually
whiskey:only
whiskey:appeared
whiskey:once
whiskey:a
whiskey:year? The
whiskey:elaborate
whiskey:deception,
whiskey:the unnatural
whiskey:kiss,
whiskey:and
whiskey:the
whiskey:whole
whiskey:creepy
whiskey:feeling
whiskey:that
whiskey:everything
whiskey:gave
whiskey:off
whiskey:just
whiskey:wasn't
whiskey:right.
whiskey:Maybe
whiskey:this
whiskey:spirit
whiskey:was
whiskey:using
whiskey:Lewis
whiskey:just
whiskey:as
whiskey:Lewis
whiskey:was
whiskey:apparently
whiskey:using
whiskey:John.
whiskey:That's
whiskey:it!
whiskey:Those
whiskey:eyes
whiskey:that
whiskey:they
whiskey:both
shared:shared:
so
shared:entrancing!
shared:He
shared:was
shared:afraid.
shared:It
shared:would
shared:have
shared:just
shared:been
shared:better
shared:if
shared:the
shared:drug
shared:that had
shared:knocked
shared:him
shared:out
shared:for
shared:a
shared:short
shared:while
shared:had
shared:kept
shared:him
shared:out
shared:for forever.
John
felt
shared:a
shared:tender
shared:touch
shared:on
shared:his
shared:head.
shared:Lewis
shared:was
shared:petting
shared:him. "I'm
shared:sorry,
shared:I
shared:really
shared:am,
shared:dear.
shared:I've
shared:spent
shared:years
shared:trying
shared:to
shared:find
shared:an
shared:alternative
shared:way
shared:to
shared:bring
shared:George
shared:into
shared:the
shared:real
shared:world,
shared:but
shared:there
shared:isn't
shared:any."
shared:The
shared:cat
shared:lifted
shared:John's
shared:head
shared:by
shared:the
shared:jaw
shared:tenderly
shared:and
shared:pointed
shared:towards
shared:all
shared:the
shared:books. "We've
shared:scoured
shared:every
shared:mystical
shared:and
shared:spiritual
shared:text
shared:out
shared:there
shared:about
shared:this.
shared:There's
shared:just
shared:no
shared:other
shared:way."
shared:Lewis
shared:had
shared:tears
shared:coming
shared:from
shared:his
shared:eyes,
shared:though
shared:whether
shared:they
shared:were
shared:tears
shared:of
shared:regret
shared:or
shared:tears
shared:of
shared:joy
shared:John couldn't
shared:tell. "I
shared:lied
shared:to
shared:you
shared:every
shared:step
shared:of
shared:the
shared:way.
shared:We
shared:couldn't
shared:risk
shared:you
shared:getting
shared:wise
shared:at
shared:any
shared:point."
shared:Lewis
shared:placed
shared:his
shared:paw
shared:on
shared:John's
shared:chest
shared:and
shared:ran
shared:a
shared:finger
shared:down
shared:his
shared:abdomen. "You
shared:really
shared:are
shared:the
shared:perfect
shared:match,
shared:unlike
shared:the
shared:last
shared:two
shared:lemmings
shared:that
shared:came
shared:here
shared:to 'hunt'
shared:the
shared:ghost."
John
didn't
shared:know
shared:what
shared:to
shared:think.
shared:He
shared:couldn't
shared:think,
shared:anyway.
shared:He
shared:had
shared:only
shared:his
shared:survival
shared:instinct
shared:screaming
shared:at
shared:his
shared:body,
shared:and
shared:his
shared:body
shared:could
shared:not
shared:respond
shared:to
shared:it.
The
other
shared:lab
shared:stood
shared:next
shared:to
shared:his
shared:partner. "Do
shared:not
shared:worry,
shared:Mister
shared:Willoughby,
shared:I
shared:assure
shared:you
shared:that
shared:being
shared:on
shared:the
shared:other
shared:side
shared:is
shared:not
shared:so
shared:bad.
shared:Who
shared:knows,
shared:perhaps
shared:one
shared:day
shared:you'll
shared:find
shared:a
shared:way
shared:to
shared:leave,
shared:too."
George
got
shared:close,
shared:too
shared:close,
shared:and
shared:the
shared:two
shared:Labs
shared:touched.
shared:It
shared:was
shared:fire.
shared:John
shared:tried
shared:to
shared:thrash
shared:and
shared:scream as
shared:the
shared:primal
shared:knowledge
shared:of
shared:what
shared:it
shared:felt
shared:to
shared:be
shared:burning
shared:covered
shared:his
shared:entire
shared:body.
shared:This
shared:was
shared:a
shared:dream;
shared:it
shared:had
shared:to
shared:be
shared:a
shared:dream.
shared:Wake
shared:up.
shared:In
shared:desperation
shared:he
shared:resorted
shared:to
shared:clenching
shared:his eyes
shared:shut
shared:and
shared:opening
shared:them;
shared:hoping
shared:to
shared:find
shared:himself
shared:in
shared:the
shared:waking
shared:world.
shared:He
shared:saw
shared:nothing
shared:but
shared:fire,
shared:but
shared:the
shared:pain
shared:subsided
shared:and
shared:once
shared:again
shared:darkness
shared:fell.
*
The
canine's
shared:eyelids
shared:were
shared:heavy
shared:and
shared:slow
shared:to
shared:open.
shared:His
shared:muscles
shared:yearned
shared:to
shared:be
shared:stretched,
shared:and
shared:so
shared:he
shared:let
shared:them
shared:do
shared:just
shared:that
shared:while
shared:letting
shared:out
shared:an
shared:impressive
shared:yawn.
shared:There
shared:were
shared:nightmares,
shared:and
shared:then
shared:there
shared:were
shared:nightmares.
shared:John
shared:Willoughby
shared:shook
shared:his
shared:head
shared:as
shared:he
shared:remembered
shared:his.
shared:He
shared:always
shared:remembered
shared:his
shared:dreams
shared:better
shared:than
shared:most,
shared:but
shared:that
shared:was
shared:just
shared:plain
shared:fucked.
shared:He
shared:did
shared:still
shared:have
shared:to
shared:meet
shared:Lewis
shared:though
shared:later
shared:on
shared:for
shared:the
shared:ghost
shared:hunt
shared:that
shared:he'd
shared:just
shared:dreamed
shared:about.
A
few
shared:more
shared:minutes
shared:of
shared:shuteye
shared:wouldn't
shared:hurt,
shared:though,
shared:and
shared:he
shared:grabbed
shared:for
shared:his
shared:blanket.
shared:There
shared:wasn't
shared:any.
shared:In
shared:fact,
shared:he
shared:suddenly
shared:realized
shared:just
shared:how
shared:cold
shared:he
shared:was.
shared:He
shared:saw
shared:the
shared:cheap
shared:mattress
shared:he
shared:was
shared:on
shared:and
shared:the
shared:rusty
shared:bedframe.
No,
it
shared:couldn't
shared:have
shared:been
shared:real.
shared:The
shared:Lab
shared:suddenly
shared:felt
shared:awake
shared:as
shared:he
shared:scurried
shared:off
shared:the
shared:bed
shared:and
shared:tripped
shared:on
shared:what
shared:felt
shared:like
shared:a
shared:book.
shared:Right
shared:by
shared:his
shared:head laid
shared:the
shared:equipment
shared:he had
shared:set
shared:up
shared:the
shared:night
shared:before.
shared:Panic
shared:overtook
shared:his
shared:senses
shared:as
shared:he
shared:reached
shared:for
shared:the
shared:camera.
shared:Whatever
shared:happened
shared:in
shared:that
shared:room
shared:was at
shared:least
shared:caught
shared:on
shared:tape
shared:for evidence.
shared:That's
shared:when
shared:the
shared:Lab
shared:noticed
shared:how
shared:dusty
shared:his
shared:camera
shared:was;
shared:as
shared:if
shared:it
shared:had
shared:been
shared:sitting
shared:there
shared:for
shared:ages.
shared:Frustrated,
shared:he
shared:stabbed
shared:repeatedly
shared:at
shared:the
shared:power
shared:button
shared:to
shared:no
shared:avail.
He
got
shared:back
shared:up
shared:slowly
shared:and
shared:looked
shared:around
shared:for
shared:any
shared:other
shared:clues
shared:as
shared:to
shared:what
shared:happened.
shared:There
shared:was
shared:a
shared:stack
shared:of
shared:newspapers.
shared:The
shared:one
shared:on
shared:top
shared:made
shared:his stomach drop.
October 31st 2023.
This was “Spooklunking” by Tana Simensis, read for you by Greyloch,
your
shared:Northwoods
shared:Guide.
shared:You
shared:can
shared:find
shared:more
shared:stories
shared:on
shared:the
shared:web
shared:at
shared:thevoice.dog,
shared:or
shared:find
shared:the
shared:show
shared:wherever
shared:you
shared:get
shared:your
shared:podcasts.
shared:Thank
shared:you
shared:for
shared:listening
shared:to
shared:The
shared:Ghost
shared:of
shared:Dog.