The Quay Ghost

Andrea had had an irrepressible urge go there that night, and so both of them had snuck out.

"You took long enough to get here. I thought you were never going to come."

Both of them whirled around to see who had spoken. "Catriona?" asked Andrea. The luminescent figure nodded.

"You look different," said David. Catriona no longer had the bloated features and seaweed covered hair and clothes she had had the last time they had seen her. She was beautiful, and had long hair that rippled in the wind. She was wearing a simple dress, and had a peaceful, happy expression on her face.

"I am at peace now. You see, when a person's life is taken by force, his or her ghost retains the appearance they had when they died. The ghost must then come back to the living world on the anniversary of its death and haunt the place where it died until its death is avenged. Only then can the ghost rest in peace."

Catriona smiled serenely. "Thank you very much for helping me. Most ghosts are unlucky enough to have to wait for hundreds of years. That is why you hear about century old ghosts haunting places. They do this because they need the help of the living, not to scare them."

Another ghost came out of the shadows. It was the ghost of a tall boy. He went over to Catriona. Catriona smiled at him fondly and said, "This is my boyfriend, Michael. My stepfather stabbed him to death the night I died. You not only avenged my death, but his as well."

A white portal appeared behind them. Catriona turned to look at it, then said, "We are going home now. We no longer have to come back to this world, for we have been avenged. Thank you very much." With that, Catriona and Michael stepped into the portal and waved before they disappeared. Catriona's voice came floating back to them. "Thank youuuu..."

David put his arm around Andrea. "Let's go home," he said.

As they were walking back towards town, David said thoughtfully, "Hey Andrea, I think I should make it my career."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"I think I should make helping ghosts my career."

Andrea stared at him, then started laughing. "You nut, you know it's too dangerous. Besides, how would you earn money? The ghosts are not going to pay you to help them."

"You're right," said David, "Maybe I'll become a detective instead. And you can be my faithful sidekick."

They both laughed as they walked hand in hand back to the twinkling lights and warmth of the small seaside town.

The End