Geek Culture, Writing and Other Junk from Writer C. A. Wilke
 
FlashFic: Alan and The Ice Ghost

FlashFic: Alan and The Ice Ghost

So, this is the first in a series of Flash Fiction pieces I’m working on for the month of October, each one inspired by an image. I’m starting kind of late, so I’ve got some making up to do. Anyway, without further ado… Alan and the Ice Ghost.

 

creepyicemanAlan had done it. He’d actually done it. After years of chasing orbs and listening to electronic voice phenomenon samplings, he’d finally found a real ghost. Even more than that, he’d actually caught it!

He scratched at the two-week old stubble on his chin with near-frostbitten fingers. His heart pounded in his chest and he vibrated with excitement. They’ll all see now.

Since he’d gotten out of the hospital, he’d seen hundreds of apparitions and spirits, just wandering the streets like… well, like lost souls. Twice he’d even seen them move an object. Those instances had proven to him that he was not just hallucinating, despite what the doctors had said.

But, now he had the proof. He just had to figure out how to transport it.

Just a few minutes earlier, he’d been sitting at his computer, doing research and posting his findings on RealUFOlogist.com, when he’d spotted something through the window. Just inches from the other side of the glass and iron security bars, a semitransparent face had hovered. Neither specifically male or female, the face just watched, unblinking.

At first he tried to ignore it. None had ever responded to his attempts at communication before. But, the way it stared, Alan was sure it was actually watching him.

Finally, he’d looked up at it and saw recognition it it’s hazy eyes. Like a flash of lightning, he bolted out the door. He knew what he had to do. Alan had grabbed his garden hose and cranked the spigot to full strength. When he whipped around the corner, the specter was still there, still watching him.

The ghost’s gaze had traveled down to the hose for a second, just before the jet of water hit it. Of course, the water didn’t really hit it per se. Rather, it sort of filled it up.

Alan’s plan had worked even better than he’d expected. It only took a few seconds for the water to begin freezing, holding the apparition in place.

Still staring at the frozen almost-human shape, he smiled to himself. Now they’ll listen to me. They’ll have to.

With a start, he realized that the hose was still running. Alan turned to go turn off the spigot but jerked when he realized his feet wouldn’t move. He looked down and saw his slippers frozen to the concrete patio. At that moment, he also realized his feet were numb. Numb to the point of aching. In all of his excitement, he’d not even felt the water splashing over his feet or the near-zero temperature outside.

Kinking the hose, he frantically tried to think of what to do. He had nothing to break the ice. He hadn’t even thought to bring his phone with him to catch a picture.

A crack brought his attention back to the frozen ghost. His eyes wide, Alan watched in horror as the ice-ghost splintered and cracked all over. Just as the ice-prison exploded outward, he flung his arms up to shield his face. Shards of the frozen liquid jabbed into the tender parts of his flesh. 

A strange, warbling voice growled.

Alan lowered his arms and found himself face to face with the ghost. And it was not happy. Irritation radiated from it as its gaze tried to bore into Alan.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I… I just wanted to prove th-that you’re real.”

The thing sighed. In a spooky voice it replied with a thick, unidentifiable accent. “Of course I’m real.”

Alan’s breaths came faster and faster. “Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod. You can talk!” His head started to feel a little woozy. Realizing he was starting to hyperventilate, he focused on controlling his breathing.

“Yes, we can talk.”

“Am… Am I the only one who can see you?” He looked around, hoping he wasn’t just hallucinating out in the open for anyone to see.

The ghost’s face scrunched in confusion. “Yes. Everyone can see me. I’m as real as you are. In fact, I work for the government. My whole family has for at least the past sixty years.”

“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod. The government has been working with ghosts for sixty years. Ohmygod.” He started to hyperventilate again.

“What?” The specter reared back, looking even more confused. “Ghost? That’s just crazy. There’s no such thing as ghosts.”

Of course. It doesn’t know it’s dead. Alan put on the most sympathetic expression he could manage. “Look, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’re dead. It’s time to move on. You’re supposed to go into the light and travel to the other side. But let me go get my phone and get a picture first.”

The ghost let out a weird sound that Alan took as some kind of laugh. “I’m not dead. I’m not a ghost, you moron.”

“Of course you are.” Alan smiled. “I can see right through you. You’re clearly a ghost.”

“Oh that? That’s just my damaged cloaking field.”

This time it was Alan’s turn to be confused. “Huh?”

The thing laughed again. “I’m not a ghost, Alan. I’m an alien. And I’ve come for you. It’s time for your probing.”

Alan stared in soundless horror as the creature stepped forward, a wicked, inhuman smile covering its face.

 

Special thanks to Bliss for starting Nightmare Fuel. 

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