Jason and the Ghosts

Chapter one

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Jason flinched but couldn’t squirm out of the way. The shoulder barge smashed him into the wall sending his books crashing to the floor and skewing his glasses. He hated it when that happened; it happened every school break, including lunchtime. Even if he avoided Iron-boy Jenkins, Smudge Taylor would get him. They hunted as a pair. They said sorry every time, often before tripping him, or shoving him, or elbowing him. That was all they said before strolling away as if nothing had happened.

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Nothing had happened to them. They both clearly had some serious issues with their self-esteem, but as they were two years older and four years bigger, Jason thought it prudent not to discuss it.

 

The other kids stepped over him or skirted around while he collected his books along with his thoughts.

A girl’s voice chimed, ‘Jason Stein?’

Jason straightened his glasses and wrinkled his nose to keep them level. He looked up.

A slender girl dressed all in grey trotted in and out of the throngs of children, looking up into the faces of the larger boys and calling Jason’s name. The other kids ignored her as if she didn’t exist, and her actions became increasingly agitated until the corridor emptied.

The girl stood still, flopped her arms to her sides and stamped her left foot. She looked different from other kids. A straight skirt reached inches below her knees, just above long grey socks that led to open sandals. Her jacket hung on her a size too large. Shiny brown hair flowed in waves onto her shoulders and framed a grubby round face.

Jason stood and tucked his three books under his arm. ‘I’m Jason Mann.’

The girl swung round to face him. Jason was shocked by her soulful black eyes. She looked to his feet and back to his face. ‘You?’

‘Yes.’

The girl stared at him for several seconds. ‘Nah, don’t think so.’

‘I am.’

‘The Jason Mann?’

Jason shrugged. ‘Well, a Jason Mann.’

‘Gosh,’ said the girl.

‘No one says gosh,’ said Jason.

‘Don’t they? Crikey.’ The girl scrunched her face. ‘As sure as eggs, you ain’t him.’

‘Believe me,’ said Jason, ‘no one would own up to being me unless they were me, and even then, they’d think twice about it.’

The girl walked around him. ‘You ain’t very big. What’s your age?’

‘Twelve years two months.’

‘You’re not very tall, neither.’

‘I’m just old for my height, that’s all. Anyway, I’m taller than you.’

The girl shook her head. ‘I’ve a good notion of what you’ll have to face, and I’m not sure you’re up to it.’

‘I don’t have a clue what I’ll have to face, and I’m certain I’m not up to it.’

The girl tilted her head and placed her hands on her hips. Her large eyes were like portals to a clear night sky made darker by her ash-grey face. ‘Have you travelled through the shadows of death?’

Jason shook his head and shrugged. ‘I went to scout camp once.’

‘And do the beasts of Gehenna roam there?’

‘I don’t think so. Mainly spiders, slugs and a drunk Akela. Oh, I did see a rabbit; it chased me back to my tent.’

The girl stared at him for long seconds. ‘Only Jason Mann can save us. Only he can solve the mystery of shifting time and provide the sacrifice to defeat the oppressors.’ She sighed and shook her head. ‘You’re not him.’

‘Well, as you put it like that, I can’t say I’m sorry,’ said Jason. ‘Never mind, you’ll be gone as soon as my allergic reaction wears off.’

‘Reaction?’

‘Yes,’ said Jason. ‘You’re obviously a hallucination. Probably the sausage at lunch was a bit dodgy. Contained nuts.’

The girl wrinkled her nose. ‘You have nuts in bangers?’

‘Not in them,’ said Jason, ‘but processed with the same equipment. Soon I’ll have violent stomach cramps, my cheeks will swell like a hamster, I’ll vomit from one end and emit a hideous smell from the other, and it’ll all be over.’

The girl’s face screwed tight. ‘I don’t want to be here when that happens.’

‘Me neither,’ said Jason.

‘I’ll go and consult with the others,’ said the girl. She turned away from him, walked into the side wall, glanced back, and disappeared through it.

Jason shook his head. That can’t be right. Girls don’t walk through walls, do they? Or maybe they do, but only when boys aren’t looking. That would be cool and explain why they’re always sniggering.

His attention was drawn to the end of the corridor, where a figure stood tall and wide in the shadows. It was the head teacher. Their eyes locked. The man swung round to stride away and disappear around a bend, his cape flowing about him.