Just Lucky that Way by Andy Slayde, Ali Wilde

believe it. But Zed knew what he'd heard in the barn and a trick of the light wasn't going to explain that as easily.
    "I've never seen light do that," Kitty retorted, still examining the photo.
    "It's possible." Rhys crossed his arms in front of his chest. "The window panes reflecting something in the barn -- there's so much junk in there."
    "Not anymore." Zed shook his head. "Me and Alex got most of it out yesterday."
    "You're convinced the place is haunted, aren't you?" Blake gave a derisive laugh. "Is that your ghost? Is that any easier to explain?"
    "Guess not," Zed mumbled. "But it does look like the shape of a woman."
    "Not that you're any expert, but I guess," Jon conceded.
    "I do know what one looks like, asshole. I've got eyes."
    "So have I," Kitty broke in, stopping another potential argument. "And there was nothing there but Zed when I took that photo. That's why I took it; it's beautiful, poignant."
    "Only one way to settle this." Alex grinned. "Grab your camera and we'll go investigate the barn. We'll see if 'she' makes another appearance."
    "I'm not going back in there." Zed was decisive on that matter.
    "Ghosts never hurt anyone," Travis said. "It'll be great -- just like those ghost hunters on TV--"
    "Yeah, maybe they'll do a show about the farm," Jon interrupted. "We'll be on TV."
    "If you guys think I'm having you anywhere around decent TV folk, you can think again." Phil laughed. "Go on then, if anyone can get rid of a ghost from my barn, it's you."
    They moved, as one, to the barn. Zed trailed the group, not wanting to be left alone, but no way was he going in there. He leaned against the door, watching his friends deep in the barn, listening to the dull echoes of their voices. The air grew chill, the scent of Chanel strong.
    "I loved you."
    "Fuck!" Zed didn't bother looking around; he just ran. Into the barn where his friends were. He didn't give a flying fuck whether ghosts hurt people or not; this one was scaring the crap out of him.
    "'Sup, Zed?" Travis asked. "Ghosties after ya?"
    Zed gave Travis a withering look. "Yes."
    "Bullshit, he just loves the drama," Alex muttered.
    Zed chose to ignore that, after one more shard pierced his already broken heart. He shook his head, much rather the drama was happening to someone else or, better still, not happening at all.
    "Can you see her?" Kitty asked pointing her camera in Zed's face.
    "Stop pointing that in his face," Travis snapped. "You're freaking him out."
    "Shut up." Kitty turned her attention back to Zed. "Can you still sense her? I'm taping you, maybe we'll see her."
    Zed hesitated and shrugged. It was hot and humid again in the back of the barn. "Don't think she's here."
    "They ask questions on Ghost Hunters," Becca informed them. She moved a little away from the group and looked into the murky gloom. "What is your name?"
    "Blake," Blake said, from behind her.
    Becca jumped, and rolled her eyes, laughing. "Not you, idiot."
    "I'm not answering them." The thin voice came from behind Zed, who shivered as icy air enveloped him.
    "We might not be able to hear her until we watch the video," Kitty said. "Keep talking to her."
    "Are you Opal Townsend?" Becca asked.
    "She says she's not answering you," Zed told them. For some reason, hearing the voices with a lot of people around didn't bother him half as much as hearing them when alone. He'd have thought either way would terrify him. But, as he was still unsure as to whether what he was hearing was a ghost or purely part of his fucked up psyche, Zed was happy to go along with the ghost theory. It made him seem less crazy -- and he wasn't exactly sure how that was. Probably because everyone else went along with that theory, even though they knew his history.
    "Is she there?" Kitty squealed and reeled off half a dozen photos of Zed and the area around him.
    "Look, you can see his breath," Mel chimed in.
    "Oh, my God, you're shivering." Rhys moved closer to Zed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you