“Don’t worry, only you can see and hear me. And to make you feel better, Lizzy placed her feet on the ground, “I’ll stop hovering until she leaves.”

Alice rolled her eyes and went to open the door for Shane.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When Dana opened her eyes, she was in a dark hallway. She stood up and leaned against the wall. She saw a bright light at the end of the hallway. When she was able to walk, she walked towards the light. When she reached the end of the hallway, she saw someone sitting on her couch watching her T.V.

She grabbed the phone that was on the floor and walked up to the couch. “Who the fuck are you?”

The person sitting on the couch looked up. “Hello, Dana. It’s about time you got up, I was beginning to get worried.” The person spoke in a British accent.

“What?” Dana was still dizzy, so she leaned against the couch.

“You fainted. I don’t know why, though.”

Dana looked closely at the person starring at her. “Either I’m rally sick or you’re a freak, but I swear I saw you floating.”

“Oh, yeah. You see, I’m dead.”

“Huh?”

“Yep. My name is Zach. I’m here to help you. To protect you.”

“From what?”

“Let’s just say from something bad.”

Dana’s eyes widened. “What?”

Zach sighed. “Someone’s gonna try to get something from you. Someone’s gonna try to trick you.”

Dana looked around her apartment. It was still trashed. “If  you’re here to help me, how come you trashed my apartment?”

“I didn’t do it. Some muggers where trying to take off with your stuff. Don’t worry, though, I scared them off.”

“Dana looked at Zach, then at her apartment, then back at Zach. “How can I trust you,” she asked while gripping the phone.

“Because you just can.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Alice opened the door for a confused and concerned Shane. “Why are you crying? Who’s in there?”

“No one. I was…rehearsing.”

“Rehearsing?”

“Yeah, for…something going on at work.” Shane cocked an eyebrow. “It’s a journalist thing.”

“Right,” Shane said slowly. “Well, when you’re done, do you want to go to the Planet with me and Carmen? They’re throwing a huge party. Maybe you can pick someone up.”

“No!” Alice heard Lizzy say from behind her. She was about to ask why, but she remembered Shane was there.

“Sorry, Shane but I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“We have to get ready to go to New York,” Lizzy answered.

“I have to pack.”

“Pack? For what?”

“Uh… the newspaper’s sending me to New York tomorrow to write an article on…seafood.”

“Seafood? Why are they sending you to New York to write an article on seafood. We have seafood here.”

Alice jiggled the door knob. “They…have better seafood in New York than over here. Plus, don’t you think we’re a little too old to be partying. I mean, we’re in our late-30’s, we should be settling down and working and making money and-”

“Who are you and what have you done with Alice?”

“Shane-” Shane put a hand on Alice’s forehead. “What are you doing?”

“Checking to see if you have a fever. Do you want to go to the hospital? Are you taking you’re medicine?”

“No, and yes.”

“Okay.” Shane backed up. “Well, if you get done packing early or something, just come by. I’ll be in the same spot as usual.”

“Between someone’s legs?”

“Maybe.” Shane was about to walk off. “Hey, how long are you gonna be gone?”

Alice hesitated. “Two weeks.”

“Okay. See you when you get back.”

“Yeah,” Alice said in a small voice. Shane started walking down the hallway and when she reached the stairs Alice called her.

“What?”

“Tell…tell everyone I’ll miss them and that I love them.”

“Okay, Alice. Now get inside and start packing you slacker.” And with that, Shane walked down the stairs for the last time.

TBC