Salt & Saws

Later that night we broke into the shop, it turns out Claire is every skilled with a lock pick, which proves that there is still so much I don't know about her and that kinda frightens me. Once were in side she pulls out a cassette player,and puts her head phones on. "I know the best time to listen to your jams." I ask as I shake my head.

She shakes her head. "Its not what you think, it's a home made emf reader."

Suddenly the lights on her emf start to blink rapidly, and I can hear a slight whining from her head phones. "What's that mean."

I snicker. "Did you make it."

She shakes her head. "No a good friend of mine made it before we lost contact."

Suddenly the light on her emf begins to flash rapidly and a low whine can be heard from her headphones. "What's going on."

She smiles. "We have an abnormal electronic magnetic field near this saw."

I nod. "Ok so."

She smiles, "Ether there is a magnetic battery here our we have a ghost in class." She puts the emf reader away. "Ok lets leave we need to do some research."

We split up after we get out, I head home and she headed toward the lumber yard. I woke to my radio. "Late last night the janitor of a local school was killed in a freak accident while cleaning the shop class."

I jump out of bed. "Holy shit, that could have been me."

I head to the kitchen and find my brother trying to get into the cookie jar. "You know mom will kill you if she finds out right." I reach up and left him back down to the floor, then turn and grab a couple cookies. "Here don't say I never do anything for you Jimmy."

Jimmy smiles. "Thanks  Ben, you walking to school today or riding the bus." He looks at me worried.

I half heartedly smile. "James you know I won't always be there to battle your battles right."

James nods. "I know I just feel safe when your around."

I smile. "But you need to stand up for yourself our they will always walk over you."

Lisa clears her throat. "Ben we do not condone violates in this house."

I roll my eyes. "Sometimes violates is the only answer, mom." Lisa shakes her head. The bus honks its horn. "Whatever we got to go."

My mom stands and watches as we run to the bus. "Ben we will finish this talk later." She shouts as we get on the bus.

James takes a seat closer to the front as I make my way to the back of the bus, its pretty empty considering we are only the second stop in the morning. The next stop should be jill but its not instead we turn toward the lumber yard and we pick up Claire at and old run down cabin. When she steps on the bus she smiles and waves. She sits a few seats back from my brother as the bus begins to move I move up and sit with her. "What did you find out about the ghost of the woodwork."

She smiles. "The ghost of woodwork, that has a good ring to it." I roll my eye. "Ok grumpy, there was a teach who worked here about thirty years ago he died in a accident when he was replacing one of the saw blades."

I stare at the back of the seat. "ok how does this help us."

She shakes her head. "It helps us realize that it's just a lost soul who needs our help, and I got his name."

"Leave me alone." Shouts Jimmy, Tim is now sitting behind him hitting the seat with his knees. "Tim your a jerk." Tim reaches his hand over the seat and slaps Jimmy on the face, and of course the bus driver doesn't see anything.

My rage takes over and I go to stand but clarie stops me. "Let him fight this battle."

Jimmy stands and removes his backpack. "Tim I'm warning you, stop now."

Tim stands up, "what are you going to do short shit."

Jimmy turns and stares. "This is your last warning."

Tim laughs and slaps him on the face. I jump out of my seat but before I can take a few step Jimmy  hits him with his backpack so hard that Tim falls to the floor. When Tim stands back up blood is gushing  out of his nose, he wobbles and falls to the ground. The bus hits its brakes. "What's going on back there Jimmy."

Lesson Two: Salt & Ghosts part 2

Sunday night was a train wreck, packing bullets till eleven and she had me do some balance exercise's until at least one in the morning. I ended up crawling back into my bed around two just to have my mom wake me up at six for school, what I wouldn't do to be a normal kid again.
The bus ride was to relaxing I found myself drifting off more then once, then Tim would run his mouth about who knows what but I didn't even have the energy to deal with his shit today.

The rest of the day was normal which was a relief cause did I ever need to rest. When the lunch Bell rings I drag myself to the closet table and use my backpack as a pillow, thinking I could get a nap in. I should have known better though. Claire slams her books down on the table next to my head.  "hey slacker, we need to talk."

I grunt as I lift my head. "What could you possibly need right now, Claire."

She slaps my back. "Nothing right now, meet me by the football field after school."

Jill walks over and sits next to me as Claire walks away. "What was that about Ben?"

I smile. "Nothing Jill, whats new with you."

She fiddles with her book. "Nothing really except there was this guy who keeps ignoring my phone calls this weekend."

I raise my head from my backpack. "Shit that was this weekend wasn't it, Jill I'm so sorry."

She puts her books down. "Well its fine I have one more recital tonight at nine."

I smiles. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

She smiles. "I hope that's true,now finish your nap you look beat."

That's exactly what I did, I awoke feeling worse then when I went to sleep. No one was around and the lights were off. I jump off my seat rushing to woodworking shop, but as I open the door the air becomes cold. The lights flicker and the band saws are running. "Hello is anyone here." No one answered my calls. How could I have over slept surely Jill would have woke me.

Suddenly the saws stop all at once, saw dust is blown into the air, forming a face that just stares at me, it opens its mouth and let's out a scream. Everything vanishes and I'm back in the cafeteria, Jill is shaking my arm. "Ben its time for shop lets go, Ben were going to be late."

As me and Jill enter the shop there is a chill that runs down my spine. "Did you feel that?"

Jill shakes her head. "Feel what?"

I rub my arms as they adjust to the chill in the air. "That cold spot, we walked in."

Jill nods. "Ya its always cold out here, why?"

I shake my head. "Oh its nothing." 

The rest of the day was as normal as could be, that is until I met Claire after school as I walk over the football. Tim shouts. "Get off the field geek." I never understood why this sport was such a hit for the big ofes.

I clench my fists. "Don't start Tim, cause I'm not scared to finish it."

Tims grins. "Come on guys he isnt worth it."

Claire taps my shoulder. "You need to get that under control, anger is not a good trait for a hunter."

I shake my head. "What did you want to meet me here for?"

Claire sits on bleachers. "Well I heard a rumor that the wood shop is hunted."

Lesson two: Salt and Ghosts Part 1

The scar on my chest burns every time my shirt rubs it wrong, but I know I can't have a doctor look at it without my mom finding out and I can't put her through this too. Claire told me to get some rest because tomorrow we start the real training, but thanks to the stupid burn I barely got any sleep at all. She was knocking on my window at four in the morning. "Come on Ben let’s get a move on it."

I roll my eyes as I force myself out of bed. "Claire why can't we wait till the sun comes up at least."

With a straight face she says. "Will the monsters wait for you to wake up before they eat your face?" 

I shake my head. "I guess not." I slam my door and rush to the refrigerator and I leave a note next to moms shopping list. "Mom I'm heading to Tara's house see you tonight -love Ben." Then I rush out the door locking it before I followed Claire down to the river.

She stops at a tree that has fallen across the river forming a unstable bridge. “Today you will be learning about ghosts, their strength's and their weakness." She hopped on to the tree and slowly walks across it as she tries to balance as the tree shakes. 

I chuckle. "Ghosts like in the exorcism."

Claire nods. "Yes that is one kind but they tend to be vengeful spirits, but yes they can take control of your body, but that's what the scar will prevent."

I nod. "Okay so how do you stop them?"

She smiles. "Well first line of defense is a salt line, ghosts will not cross it. The second is more of a offensive move." 

I look at her confused. "What do you mean kinda?"

Her smile seems to grow.  "These are some of the weapons of our trade, they don't kill them but it can give you the time you need to save your ass." 

I smile. "That's always a good thing, so what are these weapons."

She pulls her bag off her shoulder and unzips it showing off a small arsenal of knives and guns. "The first thing up is a buck shot shell filled with rock salt." She tosses it to me. "We will get into that once we get to the yard. Next we have iron." I begin to chuckle. "Ya idjet laugh but this iron rod will save your ass when you’re out of shells."

I nod. "Okay that's all good but how do I kill them."

She smiles. "Feisty aren't you, well to kill you have to know there are two kinds of ghost. One is tied to its bones or hair the next is tied to and item that was once theirs." I nod. "But no matter what it is you salt it and light them up, just make sure it all burns."