CLIENT: DOMINIC TATES
LOCATION: FREEDOM STADIUM RUINS, GATE 6, SUBLEVEL 3
The ghost mail stared back at Asher, pulsing with the new mission. The ghost broker union had gone silent after Marrick's contract was completed and Asher had begun to hope it was over.
Perhaps he could now focus on living, rather than the dead.
He was wrong.
"Are you alright?"
Asher quickly hid the mail, turning around to find Emmy rolling her IV stand as she made her way to him.
"You shouldn't be out here." He chided. "It's cold."
"You shouldn't be out here either." She replied, her eyes narrowed. "You may also catch a cold."
Asher revealed a small smile. She didn't know he had worked under much harsher weather for meagre pay.
"I'm not going in without you."
For a teenager, she was truly bossy.
"Go fetch your coat. Let's go get you something to eat." He murmured.
She nodded eagerly and hurried off. Asher returned his attention to the mail and then glanced up, sighing heavily.
There was one more reason Asher hadn't visited the hospital in days. His new career path had a certain downside.
Ghost sight wasn't limited to only his clients.
'Do you think he can see us?'
'I could have sworn, he looked me right in the eye.'
Asher kept a straight face.
Ghosts. They were everywhere. On the streets, in Knox Holdings, in his dingy apartment, at Marrick's tower, shadowing their loved ones, unable to cross over.
And hospitals were particularly cluttered with them. He had feared he would find his parents roaming around Emmy somewhere, but it seemed they didn't care any more in death than they had in life.
He had never been more relieved to be neglected.
"Ashy..." Emmy drew him out of his thoughts. "I think someone spilled saline on my coat. Now it smells like an OR."
He rolled his eyes, shrugging out of his coat. "You can have mine."
"But..."
"It's a short walk." He assured. "When we get back, I'll help you get settled into your new room and in the morning, I'll drop by with a new coat."
"Oh, but what if you're late to work?" She was genuinely concerned.
Asher wasn't certain if she fully understood what being CEO meant.
'Poor thing. Look how pale she is. She might join us soon.'
'Just because she's pale doesn't mean she's dying.'
'That's how I looked before I died.'
His fists clenched.
"The route to work goes by here." He said to Emmy, shoving his fists into his hoodie pocket. "Come on."
---
When they got back to the hospital lobby, George was parked right outside and Rick stood by the car waiting.
He sighted Asher and hurried over.
"Mr Knox." He greeted, glancing over at Emmy who stared back at him curiously.
"Rick, outside of work you can just call me Asher."
"This is my little sister, Emmy. Ems, Rick is my secretary. You will be seeing him often." He introduced.
Emmy waved, muttering a quiet 'Hi', still clutching Asher's elbow.
"I already met with the administration and everything is prepared. Miss Emmy can move whenever she's ready."
Asher nodded. He headed into the hospital, waving at the ever silent George who returned the greeting.
Rick trailed after them.
"The one in the car..." Emmy whispered to him.
"That was George. He's nice." Asher assured.
Rick made a sound that sounded like a masked scoff.
"Rick is nice too." Asher added.
He glanced back at Rick, eyes lingering for only a moment. His gaze shifted to another set of eyes he hadn't noticed before, and before the spectral figure could tell that he saw her, he diverted his gaze.
Not long after, Emmy was moved to the VIP ward. A flurry of smiling doctors accompanying them.
Asher knew what went on in their head. The VIP ward was horrifyingly overpriced, but none of that mattered now.
Emmy... she was the only person he had.
"It's going to be boring here." Emmy pouted, glancing around the luxurious hospital ward.
Asher snorted. "I thought you hated being a curtain away from Heather."
"Well..." She trailed off. "Heather considered, I'll miss everyone else."
"Want me to take you back down?"
"I have a coffee maker to myself?!" Emmy exclaimed in awe. Hurrying over to it.
Asher watched her, shaking his head slightly. He glanced down at his wrist watch.
"Ems, I have to go." Asher said. "I'll see you in the morning. Get some rest."
"Make sure you rest on time." He warned when she picked up the TV remote.
"Oh, be gone with you." She huffed.
---
After Emmy was settled, he was back outside the hospital where Rick and George waited for him.
"Where to?" George asked.
"The renovation at Marrick Tower should be done in a few days. I have a few hotel suites on standby." Rick, ever dutiful, offered.
Asher shook his head and provided his address.
When they arrived at his shoebox apartment, Rick and George exchanged glances.
"If you're not comfortable with a hotel suite, I can look into a short-let apartment. It'll only take a few minutes."
Asher passed Rick a look.
"Thanks for the ride. I'll be ready by 7am."
He didn't wait for Rick to get the door. He got out of the car and headed to his apartment.
Inside was exactly how he had left it. Cozy furniture that stood out like a sore thumb in the old apartment.
Asher plopped down on the couch, just as he was about drifting off to sleep, he recalled something.
With a sigh, he was up on his feet again. Changing quickly into an all black ensemble, he was out the door.
An Uber waited outside.
"Where to, Sir?"
Asher glanced down at the ghost mail.
"Freedom Stadium Ruins."
And then they were off.
The drive was silent, and after a half hour, they arrived at the ruins of what must have been a popular stadium in its day.
Asher paid the fare and got off. Staring up at the location he was to meet his new client.
Abandoned? Check.
Haunted? Most definitely.
A ghost mail arrived.
[Ghost Broker Dispatch]:
Welcome back, Agent Knox.
Client: Dominic Tates.
Manifestation Level: Malignant.
Suggested Entry: Gate 6, Sublevel 3.
Signature required to begin contract. Client is uncooperative.
Do not mention family. Do not enter with demolition records or property deeds.
Asher frowned.
"Malignant huh?"