For a Ghost-Free Time, Call: Episode Three

By Sean Kelly

For a Ghost-Free Time, Call is an episodic supernatural adventure set in the emerald city of Eugene, Oregon which follows a young man, who–since he was a boy–has had the irritating ability to see ghosts all around him. Episode Three picks up the morning following the harrowing events of the previous installment.

Jared has been shaken by loss and doesn't want anything to do with the ghastly forces that put him into his miserable state of self-doubt. However, a cry for help quickly breathes new life into his resolve and sets him on a path to finally do some good, real good, the kind he'd been pretending to offer gullible souls for so many years. Driven to figure out what's causing the increase in supernatural disturbances, Jared strikes out on his own before realizing that he may need to repair a friendship that had started on the wrong foot and bring those who understand his abilities together so that he can try to be more than just a seedy, paranormal con man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mythic Tale Studios
• Release date: Jan 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215056424

Book preview

For a Ghost-Free Time, Call

Episode Three

Mythic Tale Studios

2023

Published by Mythic Tale Studios

© 2016 by Sean Kelly

All rights reserved

Written and Published in the Pacific Northwest

Second Edition, 2023

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the author or publisher, except in the case of brief quotations, reviews, and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests email Sean Kelly and Mythic Tale Studios at the email address below:

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Cover art by Emerald Inkwell

Book format & design by Sean Kelly

For a Ghost-Free Time, Call

Episode Three

I

AFTER WHAT COULD only be described as a really shitty day—you know, the stuff with Sam and those weird creatures, not to mention the whole...Amelia…thing—I needed a good night’s rest, which was hard fought. To top it all off, at about four-thirty in the morning, not three hours after I’d finally fallen asleep from tossing and turning all night, thinking that Amelia’s death was somehow my fault, someone came knocking—no, let’s say pounding—on my door. That someone was the last person I wanted to see right about then.

Jared! Dizzy repeatedly banged on my front door while her screaming penetrated my paper-thin walls. Open up! We need to talk. She paused and waited for a response that I had no intention of giving. "Jar-ed!"

I tried to pull the thin comforter over my head and ignore her, but the yelling was incessant. Eventually, I reluctantly crawled out of bed, wearing nothing but my boxers, and stomped out to the door and tore it open. She was leaning on the door and nearly fell through the open frame.

No, Dizzy. Not today. Just…not today. I slammed the door and started heading back towards my room.

God damn it, Jared. Open the door. Now! She hit it a few more times. I need to talk to you, Jared… She paused and the silence was unsettling; I couldn’t help but feel like things weren’t about to get any better.

Honey…

What the hell? I stopped in my tracks.

The baby, Jar-bear, it’s yours.

You’ve got to be kidding me, I hissed.

I love you, sweetie. I don’t care that you got the clap from some stripper in Vegas.

I ran back and ripped open the door. "What the hell’s wrong with you!? You come to where I live and start making up this bullshit?"

"I told you, I need to talk to you. Besides, this is more believable than why I’m actually here. Dizzy peered over my shoulder and waved with her free hand; the other was clutching a worn and tattered book. Hi, Toby."

Right on cue. I turned around to find Toby standing in the kitchen, watching us. And where the hell have you been? I barked at him. You couldn’t have told her I wasn’t here? I pointed at Dizzy like this was all his fault. If Toby was a real boy, I’m betting that he would have just shrugged indifferently, like the asshole that he is, seeing how he just ignored my question and casually sat down on his favorite spot on the couch. That’s about right. I threw my hands up submissively and turned back to Dizzy. What the hell do you want, Dizz?

Jared? Jane’s voice whispered from down the hall.

I peeked out and saw her rubbing her drowsy eyes and standing halfway out of her apartment. Hey, Jane. Everything okay?

What’s going on? She was clearly eyeballing Dizzy, wondering who the cute girl in the skinny jeans waking me up during booty-call hours was.

N-Nothing. Sorry. Just…um…my… I looked over at Dizzy for help with an explanation, but she only smiled, getting some sick satisfaction out of my suffering. "My sister! Yeah, my sister just likes to play stupid jokes. Sometimes she takes them too far." My sharp glares and emphatic words only made Dizzy smile wider.

Yeah, sorry, Dizzy said to Jane. "I just can’t help messin’ with my big bro!" She reeled back and punched me in the arm like we were siblings goofing around.

Oh…okay… Jane looked surprised to find out that I had a sister. She was hesitant, almost skeptical with her dodgy stare. Night, I guess, Jared. She gave us both one last unsure glance, then disappeared back into her apartment.

Night! I hollered at her, wishing there was something more endearing I could say before resuming my pissy attitude with Dizzy. What the hell do you want?

I found it! She pushed past me and made a direct route for the brown card table standing in my kitchen. Making herself at home, she flopped down in a chair and threw down the old leather book.

Reluctantly—a common emotion over the last couple days—I closed the door and picked up a dirty T-shirt off the back of the couch. I sniffed it for cleanliness—it smelled like