A Pocket Full of Posies (Book 3)

Chapter Twenty

I'm certain it's because we have no idea what the hell else to do at this point, but once Lily has left, we decide to stroll into town as if my psychiatrist didn't just mysteriously drop dead after leaving me a panicked, largely nonsensical voicemail. I must have missed a memo or something, but Wales has too many hills. Ava had to roll the car down one huge hill to reach this caravan site, yet somehow, we're having to walk down another one to reach the centre of the small seaside town.

We'll be entering the pits of hell at this rate. It's a good thing I've already got myself some connections there. I make this joke out loud as we're passing through a tiny, colourful housing estate, but no one laughs. Instead, Annabel, alongside each one of my friends, turns to me like I just asked them to tuck and roll all the way down to the town we're trying to reach.

We break through a row of houses, and find ourselves atop another goddamn hill. Before I have the chance to whine about it, I spot the seaside, and something bright flickers inside the empty black space that's rapidly replacing my soul. I never see the seaside. We saw plenty of ocean and a few harbours when we were in Scotland and Ireland way back, but not an actual beach with sand and waves and sandcastles and tourist shops and stuff. I wish I could enjoy it.

There's a clear view of the entire town from where we've found ourselves, and it looks like it could fit in the palm of my hand. A blue, metal fence runs along the pavement, twisting with the road as it turns and drops, and it's the sole thing separating us from a steep decline into the rocky ocean below. A small child could easily climb it and jump over, but I don't want to insult Carmen's holiday hometown, so keep my mouth shut.

Once we reach the bottom of this one, I'm relieved to realise we've maxxed out on hills. Then it occurs to me that we're going to have to walk back up all these hills because there's no public bus, train, or anything here, and I swear to God, I nearly start crying. Bloody hills.

The air somehow feels fresher down here, as if the sea salt from the ocean is cleansing it. As we pass through the town, people give us warm smiles and sing-song hellos, and it's rapidly making me consider moving here. Everyone seems so nice, and despite the dire situation we're in, it's giving me a spring in my step.

We explore the town in a state of caution, as if we're afraid that the consequence of not watching our backs for a second will be a non-stop train to deadsville. I'm the least paranoid of the bunch, which is definitely not how it should be, but that's not to say I'm not on edge. Just less so. Besides, now that I'm aware of my ability to screw up a sheep's internal organs, I figure I can transform that into something useful.

Granted, that won't help me much in the ghost department, but it could help in the Connor one. Despite everything, the thought of hurting him--of hurting anyone--intentionally stirs an uneasy feeling in my gut, but there has to be something in it. Maybe I can cause enough damage to corner him, give him nowhere to run. Invite the police to the whole charade, and bam, everyone lives happily ever after. Without Connor, the dark spirits have no direction and no way of organising themselves.

I'd have to figure out how to orchestrate all of this without giving away my I see dead people thing to the authorities, but I can figure that out. We've got time. Sort of. Maybe. I should probably say something about the whole sheep intestines and what not scenario to some--An elbow suddenly wedges itself into my side, and I stumble forward as my mind resurfaces to reality. I blink, but not before Annabel, whose face is needlessly close to my own, flicks my forehead.

"Ow!" I yelp as I rub the space just above my left eyebrow.

I lower my hand from my head to realise we've stopped inside a dessert restaurant. Despite the sun gleaming outside, the ceiling is illuminated by harsh, yellow lights, and the tables here are exclusively fashioned with bright pink booths. I think it's meant to resemble an American diner, but it looks more like a cheap nightclub for under eighteens. I don't even remember walking into the place.