Chapter 35: Before the curtain falls
As a human, Arthur had made mistakes and learned to swallow his pride when necessary. But as a ghost... he didn't know. And yet, this time, he prayed he was wrong.
That Mikel—this teen—would prove him wrong.
Even when every sense of his ghostly form screamed that things could go worse, he remained rooted to the ground. Eyes fixed on Mikel. Heart praying sincerely.
"Is there... Mikel?" he asked, his voice barely breaking out of his throat.
[So quick to trust, so easy to break. How fragile.]
Mikel didn't answer, didn't react. He just stared blankly. Or rather, unreadably.
"Is there?" Mikel repeated, stepping closer.
Arthur's ghostly senses tingled, alarms blaring in his head. He swallowed hard, almost unable to believe that he had instinctively taken a step back, just to maintain distance.
Mikel paused, noticing the reaction.
"Hah..." A shallow laugh escaped him as he lifted his eyes to meet Arthur's. "Arthur... are you afraid of me?"
The irony of asking a ghost that.