"GHOULS NIGHT OUT"

HALLOWEEN 2007 HARDY BOYS CONTEST ENTRY

GUARDIAN ANGELS

by

Author F

Chapter 5

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

Joe held Vanessa’s body in his arms, his voice hitching.  “She’s dead.”

“No, Joe,” Iola assured him, “she isn’t…”

Iola reached out and placed her right hand on Vanessa’s forehead, completely covering the bullet hole.  Iola closed her eyes and lifted her face towards the heavens and the starry night sky.  She raised her left arm high and suddenly the wind picked up, swirling around them. 

Joe stared at Iola, transfixed. Her lips were moving but Joe couldn’t make out what she was saying as the howling wind drowned out her voice.  There was a sudden crack of lightning. Iola’s hand that lay gently on Vanessa’s forehead suddenly glowed brightly and then as suddenly as it had begun, the wind stopped.  Iola’s lips parted slightly and she let out a soft breath.  A moment later she opened her eyes and looked down at Vanessa, still cradled in Joe’s arms. 

She removed her hand and Joe stared at Vanessa in disbelief. The small perfect circle the bullet had made in her forehead was now barely more than a scratch.  A very tiny trickle of blood oozed from the cut. 

Iola put a finger under Joe’s chin, nudging his head upward until he was looking at her.  “Hold her heart in your hands, cherish it, and you will never lose your way again.  She may be your guardian angel, Joe, but I am hers… ” Iola leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, soft and gentle. “Don’t lose her heart and you’ll have both of us…forever.”

Iola smiled and for a second sadness filled her eyes.  “I wish it could have been me…” she whispered.  “I love you, Joe.” She laid a hand on his forehead and Joe suddenly felt lightheaded.  Everything started to fade to gray as his eyes slid shut…

*****

“Joe!” Frank yelled, his hands cupped around his mouth. “ANSWER ME!”  He waited a moment then looked at Callie, frustrated and worried.  “Where are they?!” he demanded, spreading his arms helplessly.  “Joe would not just up and leave without letting me know.  Where could they be?”

Callie reacted to the worry in his voice and reached out, rubbing his back comfortingly.  “They have to be here somewhere,” she said. “Maybe – ”

A sharp ‘CRACK’ cut her off as a bolt of lightning shot from the sky, hitting the ground several rows over.  Callie jumped, startled, and grabbed Frank’s hand tightly.

“What the hell…” Frank muttered, looking from the clear night sky to the general direction where the lightning had struck. 

“Frank…that was…lightning!” Callie said in disbelief.  “But…there’s no storm!  There isn’t even a cloud in the sky!”

“Come on,” Frank said, pulling on her hand and taking off at a dead run.

*****

Joe felt himself regaining consciousness but still hovering just out of range when he thought heard a voice. ‘I love you, Joe…’

Joe gasped, flinched and violently came to. The first thing he saw was Vanessa lying on her side less than a foot away, her back to him.  He sat up and reached out, then hesitated, suddenly overcome with a strong sense of déjà vu.  He’d done this before and it had ended badly.

Swallowing thickly, Joe put a shaking hand on her shoulder and very slowly rolled her over.  His heart leapt to his throat, already knowing what he’d see…a bullet hole in the center of her forehead

Looking down, his eyes widened in shock and then his whole body went limp with relief.  There was a small crease in Vanessa’s forehead where the bullet had grazed her.  A tiny trickle of blood was already starting to dry.  Joe felt tears in his eyes, somehow knowing it wasn’t supposed to be like this.  Vanessa moaned and moved her head, slowly coming to. 

“Joe…” She murmured his name softly as her eyes fluttered open.

“Vanessa!” Joe lunged forward. Overcome with an intense sense of loss, he wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly to his chest. He had the oddest feeling he’d already lost her once tonight. ‘Not again,’ he vowed, almost crushing her against him. This time he was going to hold on forever.

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