A Little Bit of Ghosts

The city of Melbourne became a ghost town after an intense explosion took place at the Melbourne city mall. Ever since that day strange events started to happen around the area and people stopped visiting the city and soon the city became an unoccupied and deserted land. The explosion destroyed the face of the city and many lives.

[One year after the tragedy]

Beatrice worked as a team member at Brown Café in Brighton. She was a final-year student studying social work. She always took the evening shift as she had classes in the morning. For the past two months, she has noticed a girl who has been sitting on a bench across the street. Beatrice sees her quite often through the café glass window, and the girl does the same thing every day. Sits on that particular bench and reads a book with a red cover.

One night, after closing the café. Beatrice saw the girl sitting across the street. Beatrice had never seen her there at this time of the hour. She was a little concerned. The way to Beatrice’s apartment was to go across the street. When she passed the girl, she heard her sobbing softly. Beatrice knew she had to do something and not let this go unnoticed. She turned around and asked the girl, “Are you okay?”

The girl did not reply anything.

Beatrice wanted to have a conversation with the girl, “You know, I see you sitting here every day. Do you live nearby?”

“Yes,” the girl said in a shy voice.

Beatrice got slightly comfortable as she replied to her. “Why are you crying?”

The girl went silent again. Beatrice then sat next to her, “If you are feeling sad and if you are feeling lonely, you can talk to me. Now tell me why are crying?”

“I miss my mom.”

“Where is your mom?”

“She passed away.”

Beatrice kinda expected this reply. Beatrice remained silent for some time and said, “It’s not safe for a young girl to sit here alone this late, let me walk you home.”

The girl got up and looked at Beatrice like she wanted to accept her offer. Beatrice smiled and said, "Let’s go then.”

The girl knew the way and Beatrice tagged along with her.

Beatrice wanted to break the silence among them, “Well, I’m Beatrice, What is your name?”

“Layla.”

“Wow, that’s a beautiful name.”

“Thank you.”

“How old are you?”

“14.”

“I’m 22. Who do you live with?”

“My foster parents.”

“Guess they don’t mind you roaming around the area alone this late.”

“They don’t know.”

“So, you are a troublesome little girl, huh,” Beatrice giggled.

They talked for some time and Layla got somewhat comfortable and friendly with Beatrice. They reached Layla’s home. Beatrice wanted to know more about Layla and wanted to bond more.

“Hey Layla, Well, as tomorrow is Saturday, you might not have class. if you want a little fun time, we can go to the beach.”

“I don’t know,” she replied.

“It’s okay if you are interested come to the bench where you usually sit around 1.00 clock, I am working at a café opposite it, I have the morning shift tomorrow. I’ll spot you when you arrive.”

Layla went inside her house.

The next day, As expected, Beatrice saw her at the bench around noon time. Beatrice got out of her shop. Layla saw her. Beatrice signaled her to wait for 10 minutes. Layla nodded her head.

After 10 minutes, Beatrice pulled up her car in front of Layla and signaled her to get in. Layla got in.

“I didn’t know you had a car.”

“Yeah, Yesterday, I parked the car down the street where I worked, and walking seemed to be the best way to know something about you.”

After parking her at a suitable location near the beach, she bought two ice cream from an ice cream shop nearby. She gave one to Layla. Within no time Layla became very comfortable with Beatrice. They found a great spot to sit and enjoy their ice cream.

That is when Beatrice found out that Layla was alone after her mother’s death and her mother was one of the victims of the Melbourne city mall explosion. She did not love her present home and she did not want to go home. That is why Beatrice often finds her across the street from her workplace occupied in the book.

“What kind of book were you reading?” Beatrice asked.

“It’s my brother’s book.”

“You have a brother?”

“Yes.”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know? I haven’t seen him after his adoption.”

“What’s his name?”

“Leelan.”

Beatrice empathized over Layla’s emotion, “I am sure your brother is living happily.”

“I hope,” Layla started shedding tears.

Beatrice hugged her to comfort her.

“I miss my mom, Beatrice. We did not have much but we were happy. My mum used to work three jobs. I could see her exhaustion on her face but she always smiled just to make us happy. My dream was to make my mum happy and to let her see my success. And, yesterday was her birthday and sadly, the day she left me alone in this world.”

Beatrice just remained silent for the time.

Layla continued, “I saved my every saving a bought a gift for her but I couldn’t give it to her. I wanted to see her smile. I pray to god every day to bring her back to me even knowing that it is impossible.”

“Do you still have the gift with you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you still want to show that to your mom?”

Layla stared at Beatrice with confusion, “Yes, more than anything.”

“Where is it?”

“In my room.”

“Let’s go.”

“How are we going to show this to my mom?”

“That’s secret, but don’t worry, you’ll see it soon enough.”

They went to Layla’s house. She took the gift in a small bag. They then went to Beatrice's apartment. They went inside Beatrice’s room and locked the room.

“Do not be afraid of what you’re about to witness here, Layla,” Beatrice said.

“What are we about to do?”

Beatrice took a bag out from her wardrobe. She opened the bag and took out a wooden board.

“You know what this is?” Beatrice asked.

“No.”

“It is an Ouija board.”

“I have heard about it.”

“And today you have seen it.”

“Is it true that you can talk to souls through this?”

“Somewhat. What is your mother’s name?”

“Beth.”

Beatrice closed the curtains and lit up three candles inside her room. The curtains were shut and they took position on the floor. She placed her hand lightly over the pointer and closed her eyes and called for Beth.

Beatrice gave her full concentration to connect the board to the soul. They waited for minutes but they did not see any movement in the pointer.

“My guess was correct,” Beatrice said.

“What?”

“If my calculations are correct your mom cannot be brought here.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The purpose of Ouija board is to call a soul from the afterlife into this world but the thing is that I cannot bring your mom over here. That can only mean one thing your mom is not out there. She is right here, in this world, trapped somewhere.”

“How’d you know that?”

“I’ve tried this before,” she stopped for a moment, “My sister was one of the victims of the mall explosion. I tried to call her but it did not work.”

“Have you done this before?”

“Yeah, from time to time.”

“What do you think? why is my mom is not responding?”

“I don’t know, Layla, but I do know one thing. We were meant to meet each other, you see. No wonder you caught my attention every time.”

“What do you mean?”

“See, You and I have a connection with the explosion. You lost your mother. I lost my sister, and we are the only ones who can help each other out.”

“How?”

“Layla, I promise you that I will bring your mother before you to have that final moment but I need you to help me talk to my sister.”

“How do I help you?”

“I have been to the Melbourne ruins, and whenever I am around there, everything feels so ominous. I am too afraid to go in there alone. If you come with me, we can both get what we want, our final moment with our loved one.”

“I am scared.”

“So am I.”

Layla thought for some time and agreed to go with her plan.

“So, the thing is that. When the mall exploded. Something made the souls trapped get within the ruined area. I don’t know what is keeping them there. It seems like a spell is imposed so that they can’t move on.”

“How do we undo that?”

“Our aim is not to undo the spell, Layla. We aim to enter the ruins without attracting danger and have that final conversation, and get out.”

“If you don’t mind, Beatrice, can you tell me why do you want to talk to your sister so badly?”

She hesitated, “we fought with each other. we did not talk for months. Before we could makeup, she died, and I don’t want it to end like that. I want to give a peaceful and satisfying conclusion between us.”

“I’ll help you,” Layla held Beatrice’s hand.

“Are you ready to do it tonight?”

“Yeah, I can sneak out.”

Beatrice chuckled, “that’s my girl.”

Beatrice dropped Layla at her home and waited till midnight to sneak her out. After getting her, they went to Melbourne city ruins. The ruins covered a huge area of the city. They parked their car in the northern part of the ruins.

They stood before entry to the ruins. Beatrice gave Layla a wristband. For Layla, it looked like a band made of leaves and black marble balls.

“What is this?” Layla asked.

“Do not remove this. This is going to protect you from whatever it is inside this place.”

Beatrice bent down and touched the ground and closed her eyes and concentrated. After a minute she stood up and pointed forward to a big chunk of concrete, “The souls are trapped beyond that point.”

“Will they attack us?”

“I don’t know whatever happens don’t remove the wristband, “She took a blade and made a small cut on both their thumb fingerprints, “It’s good to have blood leak out from you for some time. Don’t wipe it off.”

“Okay.”

Both Layla and Beatrice were petrified of what they were about to do. Layla held the gift for her mother close to her chest. Beatrice had a backpack along with her and from the backpack, she took out two flashlights and gave one to Layla.

They got close to the big chunk of concrete, they looked at each other with curious but fearful eyes. They stepped into the area where the souls were trapped. They felt nothing.

“Do you feel anything?” Layla asked.

“No.”

“Are they sleeping?”

“Souls don’t sleep.”

“Maybe it's because of the wristband.”

“Let’s assume it like that.”

“What are we going to do now?”

“We need to find a suitable place to put everything.”

They walked around in pitch-black surroundings. The flashlights were not that strong to stand out against the darkness of the night, but it was enough for them to see their path. The flashlights started to flicker. That is when Beatrice knew the souls were around them. She didn’t tell Layla probably because she would get frightened. Their lights started to flicker rapidly.

“What is happening?” Layla asked.

“Nothing, maybe the batteries dead.”

“On both.”

Layla knew they were walking among the dead souls. She could feel the strange sensation on her skin.

After finding a suitable spot, Beatrice took out a doll from her backpack. She then took out a transparent glass with a colorless liquid. She spread it on the doll.

“Is your blood dry?” Beatrice asked.

“No, it’s still coming slowly.”

Beatrice took Layla’s wounded finger and marked it on the forehead of the doll.

“Is this what they call Voodoo doll.”

“Well, kind of,” she said, “Are you ready to talk to your mother?”

Layla smiled and said, “Yes.”

“Sit down.”

“If you don’t mind me asking this, where did you learn all of this?”

“That’s a long story but let’s just say my grandfather guided me, and for your information, I am not a master at this just a little bit of the tips and corners, that’s it. Now, take the doll in your hand.”

Layla hesitated because of her fright but she took it anyway without showing much on her face.

Beatrice chanted a few words and asked Layla to repeat the line continuously. Layla did exactly what she told her to do. Meanwhile, Beatrice opened up a book and started reciting the mantras that were written in it. After a minute she stopped and asked Layla to concentrate deeply into the eyes of the doll. Layla followed her words.

“Don’t lose focus,” Beatrice reminded.

Beatrice then turned to another page and started reciting those lines.

“Repeat the lines what I’ve told you. Concentrate and think of only your mother, if everything goes well, you’ll be connected to your mom.”

Layla did exactly what Beatrice told her to do. She thought of her mom. The fondest memory that she had of her mother. It was the moment when her mother bought her a guitar. She was only nine back then. She could almost feel the same range of emotions she had then, how she wished it was the same.

A desperate but satisfying noise came out of nowhere, “Bayboo.” Only Layla could hear the voice because of the connection between her and the doll.

Tears started to come out of Layla’s eyes, and with a trembling voice she said, “Mama.”

“Are you okay, dear?”

“No mom, I miss you.”

“Oh darling, I miss you too.”

“I can’t take it any more mom.”

“Listen to me Bayboo, it’s gonna be tough but you have to push it through. I can’t help you anymore.”

“I know mom, it is just that I am lost.”

“I would trade anything to be with you honey

“Where is your brother?”

“He was adopted into a different family.”

“Adopted? What do you mean?”

Layla told everything to her mom. Her mother came to an understanding.

“I don’t know what is happening here. The last thing I remember was the building collapsing. I woke up and I was no more but a mere soul that no one can see. I don’t know I was filled with anger and hate until this moment till I saw you.”

“How’d you know I was here.”

“I don’t remember, I was pulled to you by some kind of force.”

Layla showed her gift to her mom. Her mom got very emotional. It was a picture of them including her baby brother. They talked for a while. They were both keen to talk to each other.

Beatrice interrupted, “Layla, say your goodbyes.”

“Mom, I have to go, I will come again,” tears rushed down Layla’s eyes

“No, don’t come again, you are not safe here. Every soul here is showing violent behavior.”

“I am sorry, but I will come again.”

Beatrice took the doll away from Layla’s hand.

“I didn’t say goodbye to her. . .” Layla said.

Before she could complete, Beatrice threw a handful of white powder at Layla’s face. Layla’s vision blurred. Beatrice rushed beside Layla and cuffed one of Layla’s hands to a pole nearby. Before gaining her clarity in vision back. Beatrice took her other hand by force and cuffed it to the same pole. All of this came as a shock to Layla. She just stood there practically numb without any restrictions.

“What are you doing?” Layla’s trembled voice searched for answers.

“I am sorry. I have no other way.”

“Beatrice, please, what are you doing?”

“I am sorry, Layla. I granted your wish but now it’s time for mine to get granted.”

“Please, Beatrice, get me out of this,” Layla teared up.

Beatrice took out an urn from her bag and placed it in front of Layla.

“Nothing personal, I just want my sister back. I don’t think I can live in this world without meaningful support,” Beatrice looked down as she couldn’t bear to look at Layla’s face because of disgrace.

Layla just stood there not knowing what to do, her mind went numb but fully clogged with fear.

Beatrice continued, “My sister and I have talked for the past few months to bring her back to life. The only thing I could do was to read my grandfather’s journals and find a way to give her a living body. That is when I stumbled upon a work that my grandfather was researching on. It was just what I needed. I’m sorry kid, I’m going to use your body as a vessel for my sister to possess. No one dared to come inside these ruins, and the moment when I found one, I had to take my chance.”

She then approached Layla and took off her bracelet which protected her from the ghost, and started to speak a foreign tongue so that her sister could possess the body. The ritual would in turn kick Layla’s soul out of her own body.

Beatrice could feel the way opening up for her sister to take control over the body. She continued speaking the foreign tongue. She closed her eyes to get full concentration. Layla felt something ominous was happening. She felt resistance.

Out of nowhere, she heard her mother’s voice, “Kick the urn.”

She did exactly what she heard. She kicked the urn. All this time she couldn’t move her body as she was engulfed in fear.

Beatrice heard the sound of Urn falling and saw Layla’s leg moving away. She reached her hand out to grab Layla’s neck out of anger. All Layla saw was the bracelet coming closer to her range. Somehow, she dodged her head away from her and then suddenly plunged her head towards the bracelet with her mouth wide open. Once she realized she was in the appropriate range, she took one strong bite on the bracelet. Beatrice tried to pull her hand away, meanwhile, Layla moved her forced her head back very quickly without letting go of the bracelet. The bracelet broke. Beatrice got very angry and she didn’t think twice and continued the ritual as she was not in a safe zone anymore. Layla just stood there waiting for what was about to unveil. Beatrice was never that much fully interested in these supernatural events until she had to bring back her sister. She was practically a noob when it came to this kind of stuff. She was ready to risk it all for her sister.

After finishing the ritual, Beatrice Yelled out, “Come sister!”

Beatrice fell on her knees, guess the spell took a toll on her. Beatrice blacked out for some moment but she quickly regained her consciousness.

She looked at Layla, and asked, “Who are you?”

“Guess your plan didn’t work, I’m still here,” Layla spoke softly.

Beatrice understood what was happening and quickly untied Layla, grabbed her hand, and said, “We can’t stay here anymore, It’s not safe anymore. I can feel everyone’s attention is towards us. RUN!”

They ran as fast as they could. Beatrice took the lead. Layla came to acknowledge that Beatrice’s plan did not work, and as she was getting an opportunity to live again, she didn’t think twice. She seemed more content than being filled with anger or fear as she had the chance to talk with her mother. They ran through the ruined concrete debris hoping to get past the haunted zone.

On the way to escaping, Layla tripped and fell. Beatrice saw her falling and didn’t think twice, running back to Layla. Grabbed her arm and lifted her, and forced her to run with her. Layla was a little bit confused about why Beatrice is helping her. Maybe because she might have acknowledged the fact that she cannot achieve what she planned.

“Why? Why are you helping me?” Layla asked.

“Just Run!” Beatrice could feel the souls approaching near them. It took some moment for the souls they’re running past to acknowledge their presence so that gave them the advantage to escape but as soon as they recognized both their presence, they became twice the aggressive and chased after them. Beatrice’s car came to their vision and showed that they were close to the end of the zone. They saw the big chunk of concrete. Beatrice could sense the invisible barrier that separates the souls from breaching to the outside world.

“We are there,” Both of them took one long leap crossing to the protected world. Both of them were panting and laid on the ground, gasping for breath, not knowing what they pulled off or did.

There was a moment of silence between them as they tried to get their heartbeat back to normal. Beatrice just stared at the night sky filled with stars.

Layla broke the silence, and asked, “Why’d you decide to save me.”

Beatrice got up from a lying position to a sitting position, with her two hands placed on the land to her back for support. As she smiled and said, “Because you are my Bayboo!”

Layla was speechless for a few seconds, but slowly tears started to come out of her eyes. She couldn’t believe what just happened, “Mom!”

Beatrice leaned towards Layla and hugged her. They both started to tear up.

The real Beatrice’s spell backfired on her. As she was trying a big spell for the first time being an amateur. She missed out on a lot of details that ended up resulting in her soul being switched for another one. Her mother was witnessing everything beside them. When she found out the opening towards Beatrice’s body, she didn’t think twice she quickly hosted the body before her sister or anyone could possess it.

Layla and her mother just sat on the ground for some time and caught up with all that was happening to each other. Her mother couldn’t remember much of anything after the explosion but she could remember bits and fragments of her violent memories, she couldn’t believe that she had done a lot of unethical deeds without even knowing.

“What is this girl’s name?” her mother asked.

“Beatrice.”

Layla told everything she knew about Beatrice. Her mother decided to have a second life. She messed up her first one and she is not going to miss the second one that she has before her. To make her children happy. She decided to complete the course that Beatrice was studying and get a good job in that field. She could see a new beginning.

They got into the car. The keys were in her mother’s jacket. Layla knew the address where Beatrice lived. Her mother started the car and said, “Let’s go find your brother.”