Ghost Beach, Part 2

No report of the shower incident was made to the manager, and the family woke to a new day. Melissa peeked out from behind the curtain and saw that the parking lot, which had room for many vehicles, was still rather empty compared to another motel, similar in size across the street. Last night, on the way back to the Sea Breeze, she noticed the parking lot of the other place was full. “Who are you looking for?” asked Janie from under the covers.
“No one. Just looking around,” Melissa remarked. “I was just wondering why there aren’t many people here, since they have lots of rooms here.”
“Maybe they charge too much,” Janie suggested.
“Then Mom and Dad wouldn’t have come here!” Melissa stated. There must be another reason.”
The Cassidy family was up and about by nine o’clock and had breakfast at a nearby pancake house. They headed to the beach for a day of water, sun tan lotion and sand castles. Parking along the seawall was not a problem in the morning. The family set up camp with umbrella’s, chairs, coolers of drinks and food, and other needed supplies for the day. The crowds grew along the beach as the day progressed, and this gave Melissa, and girls like her, the chance to see many boys. She went walking alone briefly before lunch, with permission from her mother, of course.
Melissa, sporting a new bikini, gave a chance for people to see see her, as well. She had several young men checking her out as she toured the beach, but only for a few minutes did she feel the stare she felt while she was in the motel room alone. When she came across this different feeling, she became more aggressive in looking at the crowd. “Who is looking at me that way!” she wondered. Frustrated and tired, she stopped where she stood, found an open place, and sat down.
“Hello! Tired of walking around?’ asked a voice behind her. It was a dark, male voice and she had that same feeling she had felt a few minutes before. She started to turn around, but stopped. “Can you hear me, Melissa?”
She quickly turned around and saw a muscular boy, about 16 years old , with blond curly hair around a tanned face. “How did you know my name? Who are you? Have I seen you before?” she asked quickly.
He moved in front of her and kneeled near her feet. “So many questions, so fast. First, my name is Nathan. Yes, you have seen me before, and I found out your name the first day you came to Sea Breeze Motel,” the boy explained. “You have been looking for me all day. So here I am.” Melissa had no reply. “For a girl who talks a lot, you sure aren’t talking now,” he laughed slightly.
“I don’t understand. I don’t know what’s happening. I get this feeling when you look at me. It’s hard to explain,” she muttered.
“I know what you mean. About the feeling. I can feel you around, too,” Nathan said.
“How come I couldn’t see you through that motel window, if you could see me?” Melissa asked.
“That’s a secret, for now. I promise I will tell you. I really will,” Nathan declared.
“What about the TV and the shower burning my mom. Do you have something to do with it?” Melissa asked.
“Yes, but I can’t tell you now,” Nathan stated.
“I know. Later. You promise,” Melissa started.
“I do. I really do.” Nathan said.
“I like the way you said that,” smiled Melissa.
“Don’t get any quick ideas. I just want to have some fun at the beach today,” Nathan said. She offered up her arm as if it was his duty to pull her up. Nathan got up and guided Melissa to her feet.
She heard another voice beside her, an older man in a chair with a beer in his hand. “Who were you talking to, Missy? It looked like you were talking to yourself!”
“I was talking to Nathan, for your information!” she said as she turned her head and walked away with Nathan escorting her.
“Kids these days. They still are playing pretend, when she has a beach full of boys to choose from,” he complained as he drank another sip of the beer.
The couple walked down the beach as if no one saw them, and they talked a few minutes. “I’ve got to go now. Your Mom will be looking for you soon,” Nathan said.
He ran to a group of people coming towards them. “I’ll be back, I promise,” he finished as his voice faded with the sound of the surf and a loud radio nearby. She turned to see who had the loud radio. When she faced the front, he disappeared in the crowd.
Soon she heard a familiar giggle. Janie was putting the finishing touches on a sand castle project made in cooperation with her dad. “Just in time to help me with lunch,” her mom commented as she approached her family’s camp. “Did you find someone you liked?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Melissa responded.
“What’s his name?” her mom continued.
“Nathan. He has golden blond hair, a round face with a cute smile and just the right amount of muscles. He’s from around here,” Melissa resumed the inquest.
“How old is he?” her mom inquired.
“He said he’s 16. He also said I looked like a 14 or 15 year old!” she smiled
“Where is he?” her mom asked.
“He had to leave, all of a sudden. The closer he got to the family, the more he had to leave,” she explained.
“Then you won’t be seeing him again?” she asked as a question meant as a statement.
“Oh, I will. He promised he would be back,” Melissa declared. “Besides, he has some things to tell me.”
“Don’t always believe in those kind of promises,” her mom paused. “And what kind of things does he need to tell you?”
“I love you, too mom. So what do you want me to do for lunch,” she asked to change the subject. Melissa felt a tapping on her back. It was Janie pointing to her sand castle.
“Look what we did!” she pointed to a four-feet tall castle with corner towers and detailed windows. “Daddy helped a little bit,” she admitted.
“Yeah, a little bit. It looks nice, Janie. Real nice. Dad did a good job, too,” she smiled at her dad who was holding Michael. What did you say I needed to do for lunch, Mom?”
“Get the paper plates and the wicker paper plate holders from the basket, and then make sure everyone had something to drink,” her mom suggested.
“Okay, “ she obeyed and lunch on the beach was served. Pre-made sandwiches, chips, cookies, and sodas were on the menu. After their food settled, everyone, including Michael, got a feeling of the rushing waves upon them since the afternoon sun was heating up the sand and the air around them. By four o’clock, the Cassidy’s were ready to go back to the motel. All supplies were packed up and put in the trunk of the car. Towels were used to keep the sand and water from going all over the interior of the vehicle.
Melissa’s father accelerated the car after stopping at a red light when everything shifted to the right. The right side lowered instantly as a popping sound scared Michael to tears. A truck from the right lane sped up to avoid a collision and the vehicle can to a rest at a slight angle at the side of the busy road just a few hundred feet from the intersection. Melissa’s father immediately turned to the back seat.
“Everyone okay? he asked as he surveyed the expressions of relief from the passengers. He heard a siren approach, and it suddenly stopped near him. A police car pulled in front of their car, lights flashing. Her father rolled the left front window down.
“Everyone okay?” the officer asked as he looked around. He seemed pleased that there were no injuries. The girl’s moved up in the seat to get a look at the officer. They smiled.
“Yes, Thank God. That was close!” Melissa’s father reported. “I saw the whole thing. Looks like the right front tire popped,” the officer stated. “Do you need a tow truck? I can call for one.”
“That would be great,” Melissa’s father answered.
“I’ll call it in, and then stay here until it arrives,” the officer stated. The wrecker came and the car was towed to a Goodyear Tire store, where the tires were under a road hazard warranty. The tire was replaced and the car was like new a few hours later. By then, the family was hungry, and the spirit of adventure had faded for these explorers. The nearest Burger King was the answer to their hunger. It had been a long day and all they wanted to was rest. They drove back to the motel without any further incident.
“I found out why there all the cars are at the motel across the street,” Janie beamed as if she was telling a big secret. She was spread out on the bed in the room.
“Why, and how did you find this out, miss smarty pants?” asked Melissa, who was in a chair by a small table.
“Mom was talking to another lady next to us at the beach about the funny things that happened here at this motel. This other lady said something happened here. Someone died, and the mother put a curse on the place. The lady said the manager gets angry when anyone complains about these things. That’s why the lady said only people from out of town come here.” Janie reported.
“Who died?” Melissa asked.
“A teenager, a boy the lady said. There was an accident at the beach, and was saved,” Janie continued.
“Why did he die?” Melissa wondered.
“He had a re-something and got to a coma,” Janie started.
“A relapse?” Melissa asked.
“Yeah, that’s it. He died at the hospital.” Janie finished.
“So this place is cursed,” Melissa said slowly as she looked around the room. She stared strangely at Janie, who had her head propped up with her right arm, bent at the elbow while she lazed on the bed. Her feet were crossed. “Do you think the boy was in this room? Is his spirit possessed? Is he making all these strange things happening?”
“Don’t scare me like that, Melissa! Besides, the lady at the beach said the mother put the curse on the motel, not the boy. The lady said there was a problem with the phone. It didn’t work when she called for help when the boy had he re, re, relapse,” Janie remembered.
“Quick, check our phone, does it work?” asked Melissa. They both raced for the phone, and the device was silent. “Are we supposed to press a button to make it work?” she asked.
“Let me hear! You‘re scaring me,” Janie demanded as she grabbed the phone. She put it to her ear. “It works already. Don’t do that to me!” She put the phone back forcefully.
“I swear it didn’t work when I had it,” Melissa stated. “Besides, I hope you didn’t break the phone.”
“I’m going to tell mom that you’re scaring me,” Melissa cried in frustration. She started to get off the bed.
“You started it. You said this place was cursed, not me!” Melissa exclaimed. There was a silence, a sign of a truce. Let’s watch something on TV,okay?”
“Okay,” Janie agreed. They relaxed with the TV show, and their mom made sure they were ready for bed.
Melissa stretched out in her bed and remembered about Nathan, about the curse, the flat tire, the TV and shower incidents and the comment that the old man on the beach made when she was talking with Nathan. “Only Nathan can solve the mystery, and he did promise to see me again,” she thought before she went to sleep. Her eyes closed and put her arms against her chest, safe for the night, for the next few hours. She turned on her back and felt a familiar, but strange feeling. She kept her eyes closed, only to feel them open almost by force. She saw Nathan standing next to her bed, with his finger over his perched lips. He had a glow around him.
“Shhhhhh,” he sounded.
“Nathan!” she exclaimed.
“Meet me outside,” he said softly and dissolved away.
Melissa got out of bed, put a robe on which was hanging on a chair, and grabbed the room key, remembering what her dad had asked earlier. She opened the door into the warm, still air. She looked by the pool.
“Not by the pool. I don’t like water anymore,” Nathan recalled as he stood under a light in the parking lot. Melissa took small steps, being cautious. She stopped a few feet away from him. “I promised I’d be back.”
“I heard about the curse, and about an accident on the beach and…”
“People have nothing else to talk about do they,” smirked Nathan. I saw you sleeping, and I had to let you rest before I talked with you. You are so beautiful sleeping, so quiet. Almost like death.”
That word made Melissa shutter. “You were the boy that….”
“Technically I drowned, but I was revived. I was taken to the hospital and released. There was still more fluid in my lungs. They didn’t get it all,” Nathan explained.
“And the curse?” Melissa wondered.
“That’s not me. The flat tire, the TV, the shower problem. All small things that are related to the motel or people staying here. They aren’t meant to hurt anyone, just scare them away because my mother hates this place so much. The phone..” he went on.
“I know, it didn’t work.” Melissa finished.
“My mother blames the manager for my death since it took so long to get help here. She put the curse on these little things. Not me. I’m here to protect you and your family from these things. I have been with you and your family since you arrived.” Nathan explained.
“Why don’t you appear before the others. The old man at the beach thought I was talking to myself,” Melissa started.
“And your mom thinks you are talking to yourself now. She just looked out of the window,” Nathan paused. “ I… I appear before you for a special reason. I see many people and help them out, like I have with your family. Some, like you are different. I guess, those living on earth call it … love.”
She took a step forward as he stepped closer. He touched her shoulders with
his big strong hands. “I just had to tell you. I know that we..” he continued as she moved closer and she gently touched his lips with hers. The glow around him moved around her. Her arms moved to his back and they separated their heads only inches apart.
“I know that we can’t always be together. Is that what you were going to say?” Melissa asked. He smiled. “That doesn’t make this minute. Just hold me now.” They held each other for what seemed forever, but slowly they moved apart, with the glow still around her.
Nathan spread his arms wide away from his body and said, “I love you. I always will, Melissa,” and dissolved into the humid air.
“I love you, too,” she cried. Tears came from her eyes. She turned to the motel, arms by her side, and with the key in her hand, went back into her room.
The next morning at breakfast, her mother asked nothing of Melissa relating to the night’s events, and the rest of the vacation was incident free.

Read Part 1 of Ghost Beach.

See more short stories here.

Did you know that Elias Tobias has published two books, and one is an anthology of 145 poems, and the other a short story murder mystery. For complete information about these books and how to purchase them, click here.