"Bobby!" Cassidy cried, dropping to his knees to welcome his previously dead dog.

The Cockerpoo scurried to its owner and jumped into the outstretched arms. Cass hugged the animal, and tears rimmed his eyes.

"I thought he was dead," Ethan said bluntly.

"How did you get that wrong?" asked Jazz as she scratched behind the puppy's ears, smiling warmly.

"I... I didn't! He was dead!"

"You're not just making all this shit up, right?" Ethan asked.

He knew the answer, but his mouth wanted to ask anyway, regardless of any offence caused. Sometimes his brain and mouth forgot to communicate with each other, so there'd been multiple times when he'd had to apologise. So many, in fact, that he didn't bother any more. People knew him and what he was like. They either dealt with it or didn't.

"No, of course not," Cassidy retorted. "You know I wouldn't!"

"We know," agreed Jazz. "You can't blame him for asking, though. This little doggo is meant to be dead."

"Yeah," said Ethan. "But he's not."

"I know! Don't you think I know? He really was, but..."

He didn't finish his sentence. Bobby had nuzzled in under his chin and Cass forgot what he was going to say.

"You said Amy took him?" Jazz asked, taking the dog from her brother's arms and cradling him herself.

"Yeah, she did."

"Maybe she gave him back, somehow?"

Cassidy frowned. Was that possible? Was asking that a stupid question, given what he'd seen? Maybe she could do that!

"Let's go ask her, shall we?"

The siblings hurried upstairs and huddled into the bedroom in front of the mirror. It was clear apart from the smudge near the top.

"That's from..." Cass began. He stopped and shook his head.

"The dad?" Ethan asked quietly, as if saying so could cause the reappearance of both the man and the abuse.

Yes.

Jazz gasped. Ethan smiled, though it was one heavy with the knowledge of what Amy's answer meant. Cassidy let out a higher pitched sound than he intended, and his own grin outshone his brother's. He didn't acknowledge the reason behind the smudge. There was no need to.

"Hello Amy," he said.

Hi Cass Cass.

He hadn't missed the way she was speaking to them. Gone was her face and gone was her voice. She had reverted to her original method. The extra energy she'd had, enabling her to become more... whole, must have dissipated. Cass felt for her. It must have been so liberating to be able to interact with him as fully as she had. Did she feel lost without it? Did it make a difference to her either way? Dead was dead?

"Amy!" Jazz clapped her hands together and bounced on her tip toes. "It is you! This is... this is..."

What was it? Scary? No. Unbelievable? Fuck, yeah. Happening? Oh, absolutely!

Hello Jazz.

It's nice to see you again.

"And you. I've missed you! I can't believe I'm talking to you again after... you know."

After my father murdered me?

"Yeah, that."

And dumped my body?

"That too."

And got away with it?

"Erm.... Yes..."

Jazz looked at Cassidy helplessly.

"Help?" she mouthed silently.

I can see you, you know.

"Fuck!"

"Amy, don't. Play nice, please," Cass said, taking and squeezing his sister's hand.

I'm playing.

Spoilsport.

"I know you are, but she doesn't."

OK.

Sorry Jazz.

Just murdered girl humour.

"Amy!"

🤣

"See what I mean? She's just messing with you. I got the same."

"Fucking hilarious. Really."

You would do the same.

If you're still the Jazz I knew.

"She's not wrong, Sis," Ethan said, failing to hide his smirk. "You so would."

"Whatever, shitheads."

You still like your insults.

"They're much more fun than trying to be nice all the time," said Jazz. "Besides, you've met my brothers. It's too easy."

😂

"Emojis have even made it into the fucking afterlife. Is there no escape?"

💩

"Well said, Amy," said Ethan, laughing.

His siblings joined in and, for a moment, they were all back at school, making jokes and avoiding homework. Everyone was alive and step fathers were unpleasant but had yet to become killers.

Amy brought them back to the present.

When is your baby due?

Jazz put her hand to her mouth.

Cass stared at his sister.

Ethan said:

"What the fuck?"

"Oh yeah," Jazz said. "I'm pregnant."

"I got that! When were you gonna tell me?"

Sorry.

I thought they'd know.

"Well," said Cassidy. "I do..."

"Huh? So, you know, a ghost knows, and I don't?"

Not a ghost.

"You know what I mean."

"Fishy, chill. I was going to get round to it. We had other things on our minds."

"Not more important than me being an uncle!"

"So, your pride and ego are more important than catching Amy's killer?"

"Oh, you know what I mean. Don't twist it."

"Get a grip, Fish Face," Jazz said. "I'm winding you up."

He's too easy.

"I've gotta agree there. He always has been."

"Gang up on me, why don't you?"

OK, we will.

"You heard the girl."

"Come on, bro, ain't you gonna back me up?"

"Leave me out of this," Cass said, holding up his hands. "I'm not getting involved."

"Typical. Scared of a couple of girls."

Fuck you, Ethan.

"Yeah, fuck you," Jazz agreed.

"Now who can't take a joke?"

You're not as funny as your sister.

Or brother.

"That's not the same as not being funny at all. I'll take that, thanks."

"How did you know I'm pregnant?" Jazz asked.

The mood changed abruptly, with the banter suddenly forgotten. Jazz's question reminded them they weren't there to have fun, and they were talking to someone they shouldn't have been able to.

I can feel her.

"Her? It's a girl?"

You didn't know?

Sorry.

I thought you would.

You always needed to know the far end of a fart.

"I didn't know. You're right about me, but we decided to wait."

Sorry.

"It's OK. It's good. Nice."

"We're going to be uncles, Fucker," said Ethan. "We're going to have a niece!"

"Cool! I always wanted a niece."

"Did you though?" Jazz asked.

"Well, maybe not, but now I do."

So, you see why you need to stop.

"What do you mean? Stop what?"

Going after my father.

Too dangerous before.

Worse now.

"Amy, I'll be fine. I'm pregnant, not disabled. I'll let the boys do the hard work. The risky stuff."

"Risky stuff? You're always telling us you don't need men."

"Ethan, don't. If you want me to go in, just say so."

"Ignore me. I'm just being... me."

"Try not to sometimes, eh?"

"Sure. Of course we'll do... whatever needs doing, right bro?"

Cass nodded.

"Of course, sis."

Am I talking to myself?

I'm asking you to leave it.

Leave him.

He's not worth it.

"Amy, we have to," said Cassidy. "We can't leave you... like this."

Like this?

Dead?

That's not your choice.

If it means him

doing the same to you,

Then no.

Cassidy stepped forward, so he was close to the mirror. He touched the glass.

"Yes, Amy. You won't stop us. We've come too far. If he's done this to you, and to your mum, he could do it to someone else. And someone else after that. What if he already has? Multiple times? Some people get a taste for it. They enjoy it."

What if he hasn't?

He might have stopped.

After me.

"What if he has? He should still pay. He's still walking around! You're not, and never will!"

Bobby moved his head from under Cass's chin and yawned. Cass remembered the dog was impossibly there.

"How is Bobby alive?"

I gave him back to you.

"I can see that, and thank you. But how? Is he some sort of, I don't know, zombie dog?"

Does he look like one?

Act like one?

"Well, no, he doesn't."

No.

He's your Bobby.

"Really? That's..." Cassidy brought Bobby close to him again, and started stroking his side. "How is that possible?"

Energy.

Life force I suppose.

I was stronger

I gave that strength to Bobby.

He didn't deserve to die.

Not like that.

"Is that why we can't see or hear you anymore?"

Yes.

"I don't know what to say. Thank you."

No need.

I had to.

He shouldn't have been killed.

"And nor should you," Cass said. "Which is why we have to."

The lipstick ants were drawn into the centre of the glass, as if sucked together. They stayed there, rippling lightly. The three onlookers had the impression Amy was thinking. Then they spread back out.

OK.

https://youtu.be/Z2CZn966cUg