Read Online Ghost Town by Jason Hawes - Free Book Online Page B

didn’t reply, but the lock snicked, and the door opened. Jenn came out, a wadded-up mass of toilet tissue clutched in her hand. Her eyes were red and still glistened with tears.
    Once Erin saw her, she dropped her arms to her side and stepped forward. “Hey, about that ‘other people have to pee’ crack? I’m sorry. I . . . don’t handle emotionally difficult situations well.”
    Amber was surprised. Maybe Erin wasn’t such a jerk after all.
    â€œThat’s OK,” Jenn said. She used the tissue wad to blow her nose and then tossed it into the trash. She gave Amber a weak smile. “Thanks for offering to help. I’m glad that Trevor has a friendlike you. Honestly, I don’t know what to do now. I can’t stand the idea of going home and being by myself, and while it’s tempting to take a pill and escape reality for a while— very tempting—it’s only a temporary solution. Reality will still be here when I wake up, you know?”
    Amber knew exactly what she meant.
    â€œMaybe you should try to stay busy,” Erin offered. “I admit, I’m already prone to be a workaholic, but doing something—anything—helps keep my mind occupied when there’s stuff I don’t want to think about.”
    â€œI can’t go back to the bookstore,” Jenn said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever want to go back!” She thought for a moment. “I was supposed to sell books at Esotericon today. Maybe I can still do that.”
    â€œAre you sure you’re up to it?” Amber asked. “I mean, given the topic of the conference, there’ll be a lot of . . .” She paused. She didn’t want to mention the word death . “A lot of dark imagery around.”
    â€œTrue,” Jenn said, “but I’m used to that kind of thing. On the plus side, there will be a lot of people there, and the only thing they’ll want to talk with me about is books.”
    â€œAll right,” Amber said. “If you really think it’ll help. But if it gets to be too much for you, promise me that you’ll let Trevor, Drew, or me know. We’ll be at the conference, and we’ll be happy to take you home.”
    â€œI promise.”
    Jenn and Erin started to leave, but Amber held back. When Jenn and Erin looked at her questioningly, she said, “Some of us really do have to pee,” which made the other women laugh. When they were gone, instead of entering the stall, she walked back to the counter and gazed into the mirror.
    Greg was there once again, standing next to her. Only now, instead of his burn-scarred visage, he looked like a handsome man in his early thirties with short black hair, dressed in a dark bluemock turtleneck. Amber knew it wasn’t his real face, but then, considering that he was dead, he no longer had any kind of face, did he?
    â€œGreetings from the Great Beyond.” In the mirror, Greg’s mouth moved, but Amber heard his words in her head.
    â€œYou’re real. I can feel it.”
    â€œSurreal might be a more appropriate word, but yes. How are you and Drew doing? Still getting along? Is the sex everything you dreamed it would be? Do you call out his name when you climax, or do you just let out a shriek of ecstasy? Inquiring minds want to know!”
    Her skin crawled, not so much because of what he said—although that was disgusting enough—but because of the leering tone in his voice. She kept her own voice even as she replied. “You found a way to communicate between the worlds of the living and the dead just to prove how big an asshole you can be?”
    Greg smirked. “No, but it’s a nice side benefit. I’m here to tell you to watch yourself. There are nasty things in this town, and you’ve drawn their attention. All three of you have. If you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself over here on the other side of the