Immediately, she takes my hand and leads me back to the couch. One look in her eyes tells me she’s on the verge of putting me in an involuntary psychiatric hold. I can tell she is trying to be understanding with her long pauses, but when you tell someonethat you are seeing things nobody else can see, it makes it kind of hard to do that…
Knowing this logic, I still keep going. The relief outweighs her bewildered look.
“Lena, there was a girl who died in the unit directly across from mine a few weeks ago. It took me a while to put the pieces together, but somehow, it’s all making sense. Holden picking on me. Chris letting me handle the PR mess. Things going south with Aidan. Quitting my job.”
Lena clears her throat before her tone becomes stronger and firmer than before. “What do you mean you quit your job? Chris said you called in sick for the past few days?”
“Wait, what?”
I bet he thought I would come crawling back, begging for my job.
Lena is still quiet and my stomach is growling. Apparently, my big reveal that I can see a dead person doesn’t seem to be the thing that sticks.
“I am going to make some popcorn while you process all of that.”
Lena is stunned as I walk away. I unwrap the plastic covering and throw it in the microwave, watching the kernels slowly pop one by one.
“You are leaving me with Chris, alone? To fend for myself?” She yells across the room.
“I mean, everyone needs you there. Chris relies on you for everything.”
She doubles down and I am not even sure how to reply. Except with, “Good luck.”
“I am sure he will find another assistant to do everything.”
“Is she around us right now? Did she make you do this?”
She wags her fingers in multiple directions. Her concern makes me want to laugh. Lena is manically looking at every inch of my apartment.
The gust of wind and blue glow suddenly appears. Skye is dancing around Lena, a chilling image that she can’t see.
“No, she didn’t,” I say firmly.
“Maybe he just wanted you to pay your dues a little longer. Really see the ins and outs before throwing you in?”
“It’s been two years, Lena.” I turn back to the living room, stuffing my face with popcorn.
“Look, I am sorry. That was insensitive. I know how rough it can be to work there.”
“It’s okay.”
A booming voice ripples throughout the apartment, saying the same chant: “A luz sabe.” The same lyrical introduction to Skye that never felt like her. The voice was too deep, too ancient sounding. Nothing that compared to the Skye I know now.
“What is going on?” Lena looks horrified.
“You heard that too?” I question. For the first time since I’ve had this necklace, it vocalized something to someone else other than me.
“What does the chant even mean?”
“I don’t know, Skye, what does it mean?” I stare blankly at her, waiting for the answer I’ve been wanting to know this whole time.
“I don’t even know myself. It started chanting this when I woke up after the fire.” Skye whispers to me only.
“Did she answer you?” Lena asks eagerly. A twinge of sadness hits when I realize she is only able to hear the chant, not her.
I nod my head yes. Lena’s bug eyes are still scanning my apartment for Skye.
“What does she look like?”
