Just Lucky that Way by Andy Slayde, Ali Wilde Page B

close to Alex's other side. "But yeah, I'm outta here."
    "Poor Phil," Alex commented. "I don't think he'll get anyone to stay and help renovate."
    "If I were them, I'd sell the place," Becca said weakly, as if she didn't want to be overheard by the ghost.
    "I just want to get in the car and drive home." Zed gently nudged Alex toward the door.
    Twilight had descended over the farm. The booms, cracks, and fizzes of fireworks cluttered the distant night. High, shrieking whistles pierced the air and colored stars flashed in the black evening. Purple, blue, red, silver, gold, green -- reminding Zed of the opal he'd found earlier. People were having fun and celebrating and partying while all hell was breaking loose here. Zed never had good luck with anything. No, that wasn't entirely true. He did have Alex.
    Heated voices overshadowed the fireworks the closer they got to the impromptu parking lot.
    "What the fuck?" Travis barked. "Mine's dead, too."
    "What's wrong?" Alex asked.
    "Zed, start your car." Travis climbed down from his Jeep and headed toward the Mustang.
    "I'm sure Zed's car will be the only one to work." Blake stood next to Travis and was soon joined by the others. "Even if it does, we can't all fit in there. What are we going to do? Draw straws for the backseat?"
    "What're you talking about?" Zed asked fishing the keys out of his pocket.
    "All the cars are dead!" Mel panicked. "Our cell phones too!"
    "We could always walk," Blake, ever practical, suggested.
    "I wouldn't advise it." Phil's voice was surprisingly calm. "It's dark. There aren't any street lights. It's the Fourth of July -- drunk drivers aplenty. And not to mention the occasional black bear that swims across the river looking for something to eat. But if you want to risk it -- go right ahead"
    Everyone huddled together as they contemplated their options. It reminded Zed of those maritime stories of sinking ships, and the people treading water in large groups -- each praying they wouldn't be the first to fall to the sharks. Zed's fingers clutched around his keys, the metal biting into his skin.
    "Let me try my car." Zed walked over and unlocked the door. "The ghost likes me; maybe she spared my baby."
    Alex grabbed Zed's arm. "It's you. You're the connection. Whenever she's been around, you have too."
    Zed rolled his eyes. Nothing new to him, but he was hoping he was wrong. "Yeah, I know." He unlocked his car and slid into the driver's seat, immediately wishing he'd left the windows open a crack to relieve the blast furnace conditions. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zed pumped the gas once and turned the key.
    Nothing.
    Not the dying whirr of an engine trying to kick over.
    Not even the driving beat and darkness of My Chemical Romance's 'This Is How I Disappear' coming from the CD player. And that was very sad.
    "She wants to keep you here," Travis grouched. "And for that to happen, we're all stuck as well."
    As if Zed couldn't feel any worse. "Not my fault," he mumbled, unreasonably depressed that his car didn't work.
    "I like having you here."
    Silence.
    A few fireworks whistled and popped, but it was like a vacuum. Kitty's eyes went wide and, for once, she reached for Travis instead of her camera. Mel and Becca screamed, shifting closer to each other and the group. Blake pointed to the roof of Zed's car before Becca bumped into him. He dropped his arm around her.
    "Fuck..." Seemed to be the general word that covered an event like this.
    Zed twisted out of his car and there was his ghost, a mere two feet away from him. He backed up, straight into Alex. "Tell me you can see that."
    "Short black hair, white lace Flapper style dress, mottled neck -- glowing? Yeah, I see her." Alex rested his hand on Zed's hip. "She's pretty strong for such a petite girl."
    Zed nodded, quietly snorting a mirthless laugh. The ghost appeared to be ignoring them all, but no one moved. Where were all the questions everyone was throwing at him before? Where was the bravado?