For the sake of that poor child.
The guards talk to a good friend who has handled lost spirits like this child before. They find the family, and, with the mall's permission, and a lot of wheedling, have a party started so when the spirit shows again, the family can say their goodbyes, and the child can have the last thing they were promised so they can move on.
@internutter/challenge-03849-j197-liminal-encounters -- Anon Guest
They knew about "the hospital kid" and they also knew that the owners and administrators were not doing anything about it. So they got together to find something real to deal with it.
Alleged ghost hunters were only there for the spectacle, and frequently drove spirits into hiding. Some psychics were pure horseshit and worse than the ghost hunters. They eventually found a spiritualist via the "I know a guy" network.
He arrived in a colourful jumpsuit that was just some greasepaint and a wig away from being a clown's costume. He had an amulet that was decidedly not clownlike, and a way of looking into shadowed corners that spoke loudly of a lifetime of understandable caution. He carried a large bag that clinked weirdly.
It was after closing, and the after-hours staff had snuck him in for this. They were ready for just about anything, including the full horror movie experience with one survivor crawling out of the aftermath.
Alec Smith looked into the shadows and spotted something that Jer', Lucy, and the others couldn't see. "Hey there," he said, "I'm here for your party."
The hospital kid came out of the shadows. Barefoot and grey and transparent. "Where's mom?"
"On her way," lied Jer'. "We're taking care of everything while she gets here.
They turned the lights and music on and Alec did something with his amulet. Then there were suddenly a lot more shadowy figures in Bobby Bunny's. Alec produced a light show's worth of party food, care of devices in his big bag, and burned a little incense. Just enough to give the illusions and the phantoms shape.
Another chill figure appeared out of nowhere in Bobby Bunny's. Tall, dark, and decidedly otherworldly. Also very decidedly dead. Or rather, not ever alive by technicality.
AH, THERE YOU ARE, KASEY, said a voice that was not necessarily spoken but went directly to the soul. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
Jer' made sure his shoulders were up against a column, watching the smoky figure head towards the shade of the Hospital Kid. Kasey.
"If you're a friend of mom's, you'll know the password," said Kasey. "Mom said never to go with anyone 'less they know it."
THAT'S VERY SMART, said Death. AND THE PASSWORD IS 'PURPLE BOOGER PASTE SANDWICHES'. I AM TRULY HERE TO TAKE YOU HOME.
"Can I take some cake home to mom?"
I ALREADY HAVE SOME. Death took Kasey's shadowy hand, and walked with her off into infinity.
Alec turned the phantom feast off and dispelled the illusions of other children at play. He was silently weeping as he did it. "Never gets easier," he sighed.
Jer' decided not to ask how he knew that.
[Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash]
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