Read Online Dead Scared by Curtis Jobling - Free Book Online Page B

explanation. This is how they deal with the real fear.’
    ‘But what about if we’ve actually
seen
something, sir?’ said Dougie. ‘Something that can’t be written off so easily. Something that defies rational
explanation?’
    ‘It’s perfectly normal for us to imagine our loved ones are still with us, spiritually, even when they’re physically gone.’
    ‘He said
loved ones
,’ I whispered, but Dougie wisely ignored me.
    ‘It’s terribly hard for us to accept that those we love are gone, especially when they’re taken from us in such a sudden and shocking fashion. Will’s death took us all by
surprise, being completely unexpected. Nobody, be they friends or family, got a chance to say goodbye to him. As such, the pain can be that much greater.’
    The vicar sighed once more.
    ‘You think you’ve seen Will’s ghost?’ he asked. Dougie didn’t answer straight away, so Rev. Singer continued.
    ‘Regret is a terrible thing. Perhaps this is how that “ghostly presence” manifests? Maybe it’s born out of a sensation of guilt, of unfinished business. Imagining those
loved ones are still with us is our subconscious’s way of dealing with that loss. These are powerful emotions we’re talking about, Dougie. It’s perfectly normal for you to think
you’ve seen Will. Seen . . . a ghost.’
    ‘But you’re a vicar,’ said Dougie. ‘Surely you believe in
actual
ghosts? There was a holy one for starters, wasn’t there?’
    Stu snorted nearby and even Rev. Singer smiled at Dougie’s mild and unintentional blasphemy.
    ‘Actual ghosts?’ said Rev. Singer. ‘Apparitions and whatnot? The church has its own take on that too. We do believe in a spirit world. And even amongst the clergy there are
different interpretations. Like anything in life – and death – opinions vary.’
    ‘So what are your opinions on ghosts?’ asked Dougie. ‘And I’m not talking about the grief or sorrow of the living, Rev. Singer.’
    I leaned in close, crouching before the two of them, the church garden silent but for the chip-chomping din of the vicar’s son.
    ‘When I studied theology at university, back in the day, a friend of mine was something of a budding ghosthunter,’ said Rev. Singer.
    ‘Like in
Ghostbusters
?’ chimed in Stu.
    ‘Not quite, son,’ smiled Rev. Singer before continuing. ‘He had his theories, as I recall. He reckoned there were probably two kinds of ghost that haunt the living world.
There’s your restless spirit, born from a sudden and tragic death.’
    ‘Like a murder?’
    ‘Not always a murder, Dougie, but sometimes a terrible trauma or mishap. One can be guaranteed that some kind of injustice is involved, though. Most reported ghosts the length and breadth
of the British Isles would fall into this category in my opinion: White Ladies sighted, residual recordings of strange sounds, haunted houses and the like. These poor souls, often due to trauma,
are stuck in our physical world and need to be released before they can go on.’
    If there’d been any moisture in my mouth, my lips would have been dry about now. I saw Dougie shiver as Rev. Singer paused, his brow furrowing.
    ‘The other kind? Well . . . my friend said that would be a malevolent spirit, the ghost of a bad man or woman. And that would place us firmly into the realm of an exorcist. I can bless a
troubled soul or place, but dealing with such an entity would be beyond the realms of a lay priest or vicar’s knowledge.’
    ‘Bear in mind I’m in the
former
camp,’ I said, ‘so I think we can rule out the exorcism.’
    ‘What would you do in those circumstances?’ asked Dougie, his enquiring mind now begging the question.
    We both stared at Rev. Singer as he considered his answer.
    ‘I’d defer matters to my seniors within the church,’ he said eventually, popping the last chip into his mouth. ‘But I should say, Dougie, all this talk of exorcism is
highly alarmist.’
    Rev. Singer rose and stretched, looking