Ghostly Guardian

Here's a short story of mine.

GHOSTLY GUARDIAN

Mariel was haunted.

Either that, or she was paranoid.

Nobody bought it, of course, but she heard and saw things that other people couldn't.

For instance.

She'd been shopping in the mall (she was seventeen and had her license), in JC Penney's. While she was browsing through the shoes section, she had heard footsteps.

Then she felt cold steel, the cool of a gun barrel pressed against her neck.

“Wallet and phone, now.”

Mariel broke out in a cold sweat. She hadn't been trained in any self-defense techniques, despite being very in shape from various athletic practices.

“O-okay...” She reached slowly into her purse. The man seemed to sense her hesitation and pushed slightly harder with the barrel.

“Hurry u-”

His words were cut off in a strangled gurgle and the sensation of the gun barrel vanished from the back of her neck. Mariel spun around, swinging her purse simultaneously. With the stuff I've got in here? Could actually kill him.

But the purse hit nothing. She looked up and down, left and right. There was no sign of her former assailant. She looked in the adjacent aisles. Nothing.

He'd just...vanished.

Had she imagined the whole thing? Impossible. She could vividly remember the cold of the muzzle, and still hear the man's low voice. What had happened?

Another such time, she'd been getting ready for bed. She was alone in the house, her parents out on a date, when she'd heard the tinkling of glass. She hurriedly grabbed her pepper spray (she'd learned a bit from the past few times this had happened) and ran downstairs.

But there was nothing. The window in the kitchen had been broken, but no one was in sight.

“Come out.” Mariel's voice shook a little.

But nothing happened. She thoroughly searched the whole house. Still, nothing.

Did someone throw a rock? But no, there was no rock anywhere. And from the look of the window, it had been hit by a crowbar or something similar – it was almost completely shattered.

How am I going to explain this to mom and dad?

Every time, it was the same. An accident here, a broken window there. She almost drove herself mad trying to find out who – or what – it could be.

When she was exiting college one day, she felt a light brush against her arm, like a slight wind. She jerked and looked up at the trees. They weren't moving.

The sensation vanished. She looked back at her arm, frowning. Just another strange thing to add to the list. She shrugged and continued home.

She wasn't very surprised at the numerous break-ins (or attempted ones) at her house. Her dad ran a very large supermarket chain, and though they lived in rather modest conditions, it wasn't easy to conceal their wealth. Thus, they were a natural target for robbery.

Except that they had never technically been robbed. Mariel knew there had been many attempts (she could barely remember all of them, forget counting), but they had never once been stolen from.

Again, one time she had been preparing for bed. She stood in front of the mirror, brushing her long, white hair.

Well, she didn't have white hair – more like silver. In fact, her whole complexion was silver. Her face matched almost perfectly with her hair, and she had gray eyes to go along with it. Her father had affectionately nicknamed her, 'Moonlight'.

“You remind me of the moon, Mariel.” He had said a long time ago, on her eighth birthday. “You are soft, like the moonlight; you're a silvery princess.” He had hugged her, burying his face in her hair. “Never forget that.”

She had clung to his strong form, resting her head against his chest. “Never, Daddy!”

Mariel stopped, then let her arms fall. Was she beautiful? She had always been teased and ridiculed in grade school for her...difference. The only...the only...

She clutched her head. What was this? It was like...she had an empty spot in her head. Like a shadow. She knew there was something there, but she couldn't find it. She splashed her face with some cold water and towelled it.

She looked up and froze.

There in the mirror next to her, there was a silhouette. A shadow.

Her eyes widened, and she snapped her head sideways...but there was nothing there. She looked back at the mirror...but the shadow had vanished.

She finished up and went to bed. Lying there, she wondered. What was this? Why was she like this? She'd thought about it a million times before. But just why? She gritted her teeth and rolled over, willing herself to forget about it.

It was a long time before she fell asleep.

She stirred, caught in the throes of a dream. She heard someone crying. But she couldn't see who it was...she rolled over and opened her eyes, awake.

Her clock said four-thirty in the morning. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

There it was again. Sobbing. She looked up, scanning her room. Nothing.

Why was the window open?

She walked over and looked out, then stopped.

There was someone just outside. A person, sitting in midair, outside her window. He was sitting cross-legged, his head in his hands.

“Who are you?” Mariel said softly.

The person stopped crying and stood up.

“Who are you?” Mariel repeated.

The person turned around. It was a boy, she could see. Probably in his late teens. He was clothed head-to-toe in loose-fitting, black clothes. A mask obscured the lower half of his face. He had long black hair that fell down to his shoulders, and black eyes. There was a sword hung on his back, the hilt projecting over his right shoulder.

“Why were you crying?” Mariel asked.

The boy started.

She can see me?

Mariel jerked and pressed a hand to her forehead. What? It was like someone had spoken...in her head.

She's never been able to before.

Mariel looked up at the boy. “Are you in my head?”

This time the boy jerked, startled.

You can even hear me?

Mariel nodded.

The boy sat down again, crossing his legs. Mariel looked down at the ground, then back at him. How the heck is he sitting in midair?

The boy tilted his head, looking curiously at Mariel. Can I come in?

“Um, sure.” She stepped away from the window and the boy walked through. She sat on her bed.

“Who are you?”

The boy sat down on the windowsill. I wish I knew, Mariel.

“How do you know my name?”

I've been here a long time. The boy looked at her with a strange expression in his eyes. I've been protecting you. Haven't you noticed?

Mariel nodded slowly. It all made sense now – the way they'd never been robbed, she'd been saved from assault, that light brush of wind on her arm that day – it was him.

“Why don't you know who you are? Are you a ghost?”

The boy looked down at his hands. I don't know. I woke up one day in these clothes...in this room. I couldn't remember how I got here, or who I was. I only remember you, Mariel. You couldn't see me, somehow – other people couldn't either. I might as well have been a ghost.

Mariel looked at him curiously. “Why were you crying?”

I was alone.

“But...how come I can see you now?”

I don't know. But I'm glad.

Mariel laid back down on her bed. “I wish I knew who you were.”

So do I, Mariel, so do I. The boy stood up. Sleep now. I'll protect you.

The next day, Mariel opened her eyes to the morning sun shining in through her window. She sat up quickly.

The window was still open. It hadn't been a dream.

Good morning.

Mariel looked around and saw the boy from last night leaning against the wall in a corner, his dark eyes gazing intently at her.

“Hello.” She swung her legs off her bed and stretched, yawning.

You look like an angel.

Mariel looked up, surprised. “Well...thanks.” She pulled some clothes out of a drawer, then hesitated. “You said you'd been here for a while. Just where did you follow me...?”

The boy's shoulder's shook. Mariel realized he was laughing.

Don't worry! I did give you your privacy. I'm not a pervert. He crossed his arms. But whenever you go somewhere, just be assured I'm always there too.

Mariel smiled and went to dress.

It was strange that day, in school. In history class, she tried not to laugh during the lecture. The boy stood beside the chalkboard, occasionally pretending to yawn.

I have no idea why this guy is the history teacher. The boy made a bunny-ears sign behind the teacher's head. Mariel had to bite her tongue from laughing. Then an idea occurred to her.

Yeah, I can barely stand him, she thought.

Indeed. Your grammar teacher's even worse.

Mariel raised her eyebrows. You heard?

The boy looked at her. You thought that? I couldn't tell the difference.

Can you...read minds?

I can predict. For instance,your teacher's about to reprimand you.

“Miss Kenda, please pay attention to the lecture.” The history teacher looked over his spectacles at Mariel reprovingly.

“Yes, sir.” Mariel covered her mouth to conceal her smile.

Mariel refused her friend's offers to go out, and headed straight home after school. She greeted her father and mother hurriedly and dashed up the stairs.

Are you here?

Behind you. Mariel spun around, seeing the lean form of the boy resting against the door frame of her room.

“Don't scare me like that.” She turned and began to unpack her school. “Sorry, but I have to do some homework.”

Hey, it's not like I'm going anywhere.

She plodded through her history assignments, and then grammar. She slowed to a crawl during math, agonizing over every question.

It's the square root of thirteen. The boy leaned over her shoulder.

“Thanks.” She wrote the answer. “Hey, could you do the rest of my math for me?”

Tsk tsk tsk. You know I can't.

“Yeah well, it was worth a shot.” She spent the next half hour finishing her homework, then laid down her pencil with a sigh.

“You know, I've been thinking. Can I give you a name? I need something to call you by until we find out what your real name is.”

The boy looked at her with a hint of sadness in his deep black eyes. Until? How? How, Mariel? Do you think we will ever find out what happened?

Mariel nodded. “Yes. Someday, I will find out.”

Very well.

Mariel pulled her knees up to her chest and closed her eyes. A name. A name. She searched through her thoughts, moving the dust aside. Then something flared to life. Ah. Yes, this one.

“Toshiro.”

The boy stirred. Toshiro. Is it Japanese?

“Yes.” Mariel opened her eyes and looked at him. “Do you like it?”

You can call me anything.

Mariel pulled her shoes off and went over to her bed. “Toshiro, can you tell me about when you first woke up?”

Toshiro tilted his head, his black eyes holding Mariel's gray ones. It was...four years ago. I woke up in this room. I remember feeling like I was in a room filled with black curtains, and no matter how I tried, I couldn't see anything. I couldn't remember anything but...when I stood up, I saw you lying there, on your bed. His eyes softened. I wish I could show you how you look when you sleep, Mariel. You looked like an angel, lying with your hair spread on your pillow, the moonlight coming in through the window and making a soft, silver aura around your head.

He reached up to his face, and the cloth covering the lower half of it fell away, resting on his shoulder. Mariel, who had been unconsciously blushing, looked up and saw his face.

It was slightly tanned, with a firm mouth and high cheekbones. A white scar ran from one side of his nose to his ear. Mariel started blushing again.

All I remember is you. Toshiro shifted. I could remember you, like a bright star in my mind. Blurry memories. Walking home from school with you, playing soccer with you. But everything else...was gone.

“You mean I knew you before?” Mariel closed her eyes.

Yes.

Mariel shifted through her memories, sifting them through her fingers. Suddenly she hit a black wall. This...this must be it! Why? Why can't I remember? She pressed her fingers to her head. A white-hot pain suddenly exploded inside her head and she fell back. She felt a startled shout Mariel! and the sensation of hands catching her, lowering her softly to her pillow.

She fell.

All around her blurred indiscernible images, flashing by before she could catch a glimpse of them. She looked below her, and saw a black tunnel leading down. She raced through it, landing on the bottom softly.

Everything was black. She looked around. As her vision adjusted, she saw a pedestal several yards in front of her, on top of which was a safe. A soft light filtered down to rest on it.

“Is this what you seek?”

Mariel started at the voice. It was whispery, sinister.

“You wish to remember.”

Mariel looked around at the blackness. “A-and?”

“I'm sorry.” A slight wind ruffled Mariel's silver hair. “You cannot.”

“What do you mean?” Mariel's voice trembled a bit. “Why can't I?”

“I cannot let you.”

“Why? Why?!” Mariel's voice rose.

“Do you truly wish to remember? Then you must defeat me.”

“How?!” Mariel screamed at the blackness. “This isn't fair! This is my mind, my memory! Get out of my head!”

“Defeat me.”

Mariel fell to her knees, sobbing.

“Mariel.” A soft voice echoed in the darkness.

Mariel looked up. “What? Who's there?”

A hand placed itself on Mariel's shoulder. She screamed in fright.

“Shhh. Mariel. It's okay, it's me. Me, Toshiro.”

“T-Toshiro? How are you here?” Mariel stood up and turned around. “How can you speak?”

The hand didn't move from Mariel's shoulder. “I follow you wherever you go, Mariel.” A hand place itself on her other shoulder. “It's all right now.”

Mariel reached her hands out into the blackness. She felt a strong, broad chest. “Toshiro.”

“Ha.” An evil chuckle resounded throughout the dark cavern. “You.”

The hands grasping Mariel's shoulders tightened a fraction. “I – I know this voice.”

“It's been awhile.” The wind caressed Mariel's cheek. “So? Are you going to defeat me, or am I going to kill you?”

“Shut up.” Toshiro put his arms around Mariel, drawing her closer. “Mariel?”

Mariel shivered from his closeness. “Yes?”

“Will you be all right?” Toshiro's voice sounded sad.

“Y-yes.”

His breath felt warm on her cheek. “Please, Mariel, stay here. I'll deal with him.” His touch

disappeared.

“Don't make me laugh.”

“Then I'll oblige you to cry.” There was a shing as Toshiro unsheathed his sword. “You won't bother her again.”

“Come, then.” There was a smash and the cavern trembled.

Mariel stood in the dark, trembling as she listened to the ringing of Toshiro's sword and the growling of the voice. Suddenly there was a grunt and Toshiro gave a short laugh.

“Is that all you can do?” There was a whistling sound, that gradually built up until it was a high-pitched keening. “You're pitiful.”

The cavern trembled again, and there was a shriek. A sound of rocks falling echoed, then died away.

A hand took Mariel's arm. “It's all right, Mariel.” A cold object was pressed into her hand. “I found this.”

Mariel slowly ran her fingers over the object. It was a key.

She looked over at the safe. It must be to that.

“Are you okay?” Toshiro put a hand on her chin, brushing her hair back from her face.

Mariel closed her eyes, feeling his cool hand caress her hair. “Yes.”

Suddenly Toshiro gasped and grunted. His hand jerked back from Mariel's face.

“What? What is it?” Mariel reached out for him, but couldn't feel him.

“Fool.” The voice started laughing, an evil, cold laugh. Mariel felt shivers running up her spine.

“Mari-el...” Toshiro's hand brushed her foot.

“Toshiro!” Mariel knelt down and felt around for him, finding his body. Her hands felt down his torso until they encountered something sticky and warm.

Blood.

“No! Toshiro!” Mariel screamed. She ripped off the jacket she was wearing and wrapped it around Toshiro's stomach, applying pressure to the wound. She started sobbing and closed her eyes, letting the tears run down her cheeks. This wasn't fair. This wasn't right. Her fear started to turn to anger. What was that voice? Why did it challenge them? Why was it here? How dare it hurt her like this! She opened her eyes, the tears still running from them, and–

She could see.

A soft gray light suffused everything. She looked around and saw she was in an immense cave, the roof far above her. She heard a growl and turned to see the origin of the voice.

A green body with scaly arms and legs was topped by a white-masked head, that looked more like a skull. Two jagged, bony wings spread from its back.

“What – what are you doing! Stop it, right now!” The creature flinched from the light, twisting and writhing.

“Mar-iel...” Toshiro groaned. Mariel looked down at him and saw her hands, which were still pressed on his wound, were glowing. She looked at her arms and legs. They were glowing white. She took a lock of her hair and looked at it, and it was glowing too.

She looked back up at the creature. Anger coursed through her veins. “I don't want you here!” She stood up, pointing a finger at the monster. “You were defeated, I heard it! You backstabbing, despicable beast!” She started to glow even whiter.

“Aaaah, aaaah! Curse you! Curse you!” The monster screeched, covering its face with its clawed hands. It began to blur as the light increased, wailing and writhing until, finally, there was a blast of light and it disappeared.

The aura surrounding Mariel started to fade. The light in the cavern remained bright, however. She looked down at Toshiro. “Toshiro!”

“I'll...be fine.” His face clinched in pain. “It's...all right, Mariel.”

Mariel laid his head in her lap, tears beginning to flow again. “No, no it's not!”

“Don't...worry about...me.” He clenched his teeth. “Can I...tell you something?”

“Yes.” Mariel bent over him, cradling his head in her lap. Her tears splashed on Toshiro's face.

He beckoned with one finger. Mariel leaned closer, her eyes only inches from his.

“I...love you.”

And he kissed her.

Mariel was completely caught off guard. But she recovered quickly and responded in turn. Her arms wrapped around his torso and they embraced. For one long second.

When she could bring herself to stop, Toshiro smiled at her. His face was wet with her tears.

“Are you...going to open...the safe?”

Mariel looked at the key that lay on the ground, next to Toshiro. She looked back at him, looked back into his eyes, and smiled through her tears.

“No.”