Chapter 6: Funerals: Part 2

"Oh where are my manners, allow me to introduce myself little ghost, I'm Detective Carter Montez."

"You forgot to mention Dead" Margaret says suddenly tearing me from my thoughts.

"It's amazing how you think everyone is an idiot like you. I mean given how I'm talking with you I thought it was pretty obvious that I'm dead."

"Well given how you approached me yourself it's pretty obvious you have a death wish." She said with a straight face.

"Well, I've never denied that now have I, like you said, I'm already dead ?" he smirks. "Looks like you're the ultimate oblivious fool after all.

"Guys!" Ken shouts. "It's a funeral here. Can we let it go? I'm sick of hearing you guys bicker everytime you see each other."

"Well I don't see why not. We were about to leave Anyways." Margaret dismisses. We try to leave but he blocks us again.

"Now now, what's the hurry. I just introduced myself shouldn't you do the same too?" he asked me directly.

Confused what to say to him I turn to Margaret but find her busy still glaring at him to the point of digging holes in his head.

"I'm Chloe." I say.

"And how did you know this detective? Was she a relative or was working your case? I wonder what made even Margaret come out of her house." he asks. However I don't respond him so he clears his throat and says. "Forgive me. As a fellow detective I have a tendency to get curious."

"No, I'm are not related to her. Neither do I have to do anything with her. We were just passing by."

"Through a funeral?"

"Yes. A service like this got me intrigued what's going on here. I was curious why so many uniforms so we decided to stop by. Since I answered your question, What were you doing here?"

"I'm paying tribute, as a fellow former detective."

"You do that for every detective? Don't tell me you live in a police station?" I asked him skeptically.

"Unfortunately no, it's reserved for the ones who deserve my respect. Surprisingly there aren't a lot."

"Well it was a pleasure meeting you however we shall to get going now." After saying that we exit the premises.

On our way back home Margaret seemed upset and didn't make any snarky comments like she used to. She didn't even scold me when I almost broke her authentic flower vase. Normally she would scold me for at least an hour. I think she was trying to keep herself distracted. She started doing all these chores, She cooked a bit, she washed the empty dishes again and again. Finally when she was arranging her plates I approach her.

"Margaret, is everything alright?" I ask her with concern.

"I don't see why it shouldn't be, except we got nowhere today so you're still stuck with us." she answers me without turning towards me.

"Yeah sorry about that. How about this, I leave even if we don't find out anything. You won't have to deal with me anymore. I'm really sorry for invading your personal space. I honestly hate to be a bother"

"And go where?"

"I don't know. I'll figure out something." I suggest.

"Before you do that, you will end up in danger. Not only you don't know anyone but you're not even trained as a ghost."

"Trained? Why would I need to be trained?"

"You interacted with humans right? Can you control it? Can you possess someone? Can you teleport yourself over a distance and end up exactly where you wanted to go? Can you manipulate your nearby objects as per your wishes?"

"Wait! are you telling me I can do that? Wow!! Seems like being a ghost isn't a total disaster!!." I smile excitedly.

She raises her hand when suddenly a plate from outside the kitchen comes to her hand, while she smirks.

"Yes, wait till you get used to it. Which reminds me." she finally looks me in the eye softly. "Why didn't you tell Carter everything? He was a detective, he could have actually helped you get better answers than we could."

"You seemed to have a lot of negative feelings towards him.I may not know why but I'm sure you have a valid reason. So-"

"NO SHE DOESN'T!" Ken shouts from the dining room.

"Wow, Can he hear us?" I ask.

"Yes, and if you focus enough, so can you. Hearing distant voices is another gift. I told you, you need training."

"Wow. Anyways as I was saying, I didn't know whether or not he is trustworthy. You have been really nice to me ever since I came here-"

"I strongly disagree" she interjected

"-So I didn't want to get him involved. I didn't want you to deal with him just because of me. I'm already being a huge burden to you guys."

She doesn't say anything however her expression changes slightly. She seemed satisfied with my response.

With each passing funerals my hope just keeps getting bigger on finding out who I am, and at the same time it crushes into million pieces when I don't. Throughout the week we go to the upcoming funerals. I was really anxious for the last one but even it turned out to be not mine. After finishing the whole list I was really upset that no one even bothered to give me a funeral? Was I that insignificant human after all? I suggested to Ken that maybe I'm not from this place but he told me that people tend to go back to where they came from so it was highly unlikely I wasn't from here.

While returning from the last funeral we were passing by the same cafeteria where I got drinks. To lighten the mood, I informed them "This is where I manifested my apparition for the very first time. Want something to drink? I'll get it. Come with me. "I drag them without waiting for a response while Ken didn't mind. Margaret was annoyed but neither did she stopped me.

As I was about to go to the counter Margaret grabbed my hand. "How are you going to pay? The same name trick won't work everytime."

"Don't worry, I have money this time." I winked

As I ordered for us I noticed that Chloe wasn't here. So, after getting my order we were about to leave the cafeteria when I saw a guy ordering something from the counter. For some reason I looked closely when suddenly I felt a suffocating feeling in my chest that I couldn't explain. It felt contradictory as if I was delighted and saddened by seeing him. Could he be someone significant to me. Did I know him from when I was alive? He felt really familiar.

"What's wrong?"Ken noticed that I was staring at the guy for a long time so he asked.

But before I could answer the guy having received his order went out of the door.I didn't know what should I do so I tried to follow him. I tried even calling him but probably, since I'm a ghost he didn't hear me. He got into his car and drove away but I still followed him. Alas! I couldn't catch up to him. I was standing in the middle of the road finally having losing him from my sight when I turned around and saw a huge truck coming at me. Like a panicked, alive person I crouched down, closed my eyes and shouted but of course the truck went right through me. However my head suddenly started spinning as if I was about to pass out. And I probably would have if I were alive.