Fettered wisps broke through waves and wings collided on wind, soaring high in the air. They were uncaged and unbridled, the doves ever so sweet in their bliss, knew of nothing but freedom. The neighbors also enjoyed the day, the wife sipping from her iced tea on their porch and the husband smiled while watering the flowers in their garden, they too were free. Far from the window I looked out from, there were tall buildings on the horizon bound by nothing. The children below giggled as they threw balloons filled with water at one another, running from each other on the street. Deep within me, I could feel it bubbling up, my jealousy that is.

“I want to bask in the rays of the sun too,” I said, longing to be outside.

“If you’re so desperate you could always possess Sophie,” Sam told me, attempting to raise my spirits.

“Ack! I heard that, why don’t you bugger off Sam! I hope you stay trapped in here forever, useless ghosts,” Sophie yelled, then she clicked her tongue and ran off to her bedroom, hehe, what a rowdy girl.

As she said, we’re trapped in this old house, I learned of it earlier today.

.

.

After a few hours Jason snapped out of his mourning and rose from his couch, dragging his feet he headed to the kitchen, Phraze following along as his valiant companion. Hearing clinks and clanks of kitchenware I too went to the kitchen.

He placed a skillet onto the stove top, turning the stove on, he waited and let it heat up. He then went over to the fridge and pulled out salmon that was already prepped for cooking. He placed some slices on the skillet, testing out the heat, the tender meat simmered and juices flowed from it.

He smiled and said, “Just right.”

He got down to business and started cooking as though he lived for it. He spent a while cooking and when he was done he placed it on a plate. Picking it up, the flesh was seared to perfection and the meat glistening with juices had steam rising from it. He walked over to a corner of the kitchen and put the plate down on the floor.

“There you go Phraze, your favorite, seared salmon fillet,” he said.

The cat darted for it, licking it a few times and looked up at his master and meowed while purring. That must be the cat’s version of thanking him for the meal.

His grin widened, “Glad you like it,” he said to Phraze and dusted off his hands on his dark blue slacks. “Ah, almost forgot Ellie and Sophie’s dinner.”

Ellie and Sophie? Wonder who they are. This time he took out a pan and threw together a stew, letting it cook on its own. Wait, you put so much care into making the cat’s food, but only make a stew for Ellie and Sophie. I don’t get it, that cat doesn’t deserve such good treatment, that cat is evil.

While letting the stew boil Jason left the kitchen and I followed him, curious about what he was going to do next. He went into a small room that had a desk, a chair, and several shelves lined with books. Sitting down, he picked up a pen in one hand and used the other to make phone calls. After a call he would write down a name and then make yet another call, he did this several times, and some of the names he later marked out.

He jumped up from his seat and his eyes widened, “The stew!” he yelled, then he clamored to the kitchen.

Once there he released a relaxed sigh and shook his head, “I worried over nothing, haha,” and he stirred it, “seems done,” he said, turning off the stove.

He looked at his wrist that had a watch, “They should be back any moment now.”

“Great, I’ve been waiting for those two,” a voice said from behind me.

“Uwahh!” Surprising me, I let out an embarrassing scream.

I turned around to see who it was and…it was Sam.

“A ghost getting scared by another ghost, first time I’ve seen it happen,” Sam said and laughed.

“he-,” I stopped myself from saying anything back, afraid that Sam would mock me more for getting scared.

“Man, it sure is cold today,” Jason said while rubbing the nape of his neck that had goosebumps on it.

“That’s a sign that he feels our presence, though he isn’t exactly aware that we’re here with him,” Sam explained, likely because it thought I was curious about it.

With a bang, we heard the front door shut, “I’m back!” someone yelled.

Jason perked up and walked to the living room, “Welcome home, how did school go?”

“It was a drag,” a girl replied.

When he saw that it was one rather than two he almost seemed disappointed as his smile faded a little.

“Where is Ellie?” he asked.

She slung her backpack to the couch, “Student council duties held her up,” she said while walking to the kitchen, “…stew again.”

As I looked at her, she had a certain charm that I liked. Her azure blue eyes, her black hair with streaks of purple, her pierced ears and nose, her creased eyebrows, even her grimace, all of it, I found it all stunning. But what ringed with me the most about her, was the way she carried herself, as though her confidence could reach above the clouds. She turned her eyes to me, that look of determination never changing.

“Get out of my face, you’re annoying me,” she said, huh?

“You can see me?”

“I wasn’t talking to anyone else,” She replied to my question.

I was rushed with joy, an endless amount of joy. I’ve found someone else to talk to besides Sam.