Chapter 3

After Emma got shot down, she lay low for a few days.

But it didn't take long before she came back, ready to try again.

This time, she switched up her game. Instead of clinging to him relentlessly, she switched to playing the "good friend" card.

Emma kept coming over to invite him out. "Liam, want to shoot some hoops this weekend?

"Liam, I got a new game. Do you want to come over and try it out?

"Hey Liam, my friend opened an escape room. Do you want to go check it out together?"

Liam always had some excuse ready to turn her down.

But Emma was relentless. The more he brushed her off, the harder she tried.

I floated nearby, watching her fawn all over Liam, and honestly, I was getting more and more irritated.

*****

One night, Liam worked overtime late into the night, with the whole office empty except for him.

I floated beside him, watching him type away at his computer, when something suddenly crossed my mind.

"Liam," I said. It was my very first words since becoming a ghost. "Do you know Emma has a crush on you?"

His hands paused on the keyboard.

Then he turned and looked right at the spot where I was floating.

His eyes locked onto mine, steady and unblinking, like he was really seeing me.

My heart raced.

He started to say something.

But then, he paused, shook his head, and muttered to himself, "Man, I'm really losing it these days. I keep thinking someone's around."

He turned back to his computer and went back to typing.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. That scared the hell out of me.

I really thought he could see me for a second.

But that look in his eyes now was so strange.

I decided not to overthink it. It must be a coincidence.

*****

The next day, someone showed up at the office.

It was an old man, dressed in a long dark robe, holding a silver cross, with an air of unfathomable mystery.

Word was, Emma had brought him in.

Emma gave Liam a concerned look. "I heard things have been a little off around the office lately. A bunch of people say it feels super creepy when they're working late, and some claim they've seen weird stuff.

"I went out of my way to invite Mr. Johnson to check things out and check you out while he's at it. He is an incredibly powerful exorcist."

Liam glanced at her, his expression cool. "No need."

"Come on, you're always working late. You're the one most likely to run into something creepy."

"I don't buy into that stuff."

"Do it for me, please?" Emma said with a pout. "Mr. Johnson is already here, so let him check it out. It's not like it'll cost you anything."

Liam didn't say a word.

Emma took his silence as a yes and dragged Noah Johnson over to him.

Noah circled Liam a couple of times, waving his silver cross around and muttering to himself, his brow furrowed tightly.

"That's odd," he said. "There's definitely something hanging around you."

Emma's face changed. "What is it?"

"Something's really off around him. It's probably a ghost," said Noah.

Emma's face went pale.

Liam, on the other hand, didn't flinch.

Noah went on, "And this ghost has been hanging around you for a while now. She's already picked up your aura. Normally, if a ghost stays with someone for too long, it'll start draining their life force, but with you..."

He frowned, looking deep in thought.

"What's wrong?" Emma asked.