A Ghost Story

Chapter 15 Warning: Violence


As he figured, Sanzo got back around five in the morning. The storm was still raging outside and he made a quick dash for the door of the house. He hurried inside and shook his hair, trying to rid it of all the rain droplets. Goku was asleep on the couch with the television on, a bowl of chips resting on his chest. Sanzo sighed and took off his coat, throwing it over the banister. He walked over to Goku and shook him awake gently.

“Mmm….Sanzo? You home?” Goku muttered sleepily, rubbing his eyes. Sanzo took the bowl of chips off his chest and placed them on the coffee table.

“Stupid monkey. I told you not to wait up.” Goku sat up and scratched the back of his head.

“mm…but Sanzo, I was worried about you” he looked up at him. “I couldn’t help it. I must have fallen asleep though…” Sanzo rolled his eyes.

“Clearly. Now get up on to bed. I’ll follow you after I have something to drink.”

“Can’t I stay with you? I’m afraid to go upstairs by myself.” Goku said softly.

“There’s no one up there but Gojyo and Hakkai.”

“No! I saw a ghost dog today! It was outside!” he did not want to tell Sanzo that he had gone out after it, knowing he would be scolded. “I got scared. I don’t want to be alone.” Sanzo sighed.

“Fine. I’ll take my drink upstairs.”

Sanzo went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of orange juice. He chose not to tell Goku what he saw since Goku was clearly spooked enough as it was. More things were starting to happen now and Sanzo wondered if it had anything to do with what he heard in the cellar. The memory sent a quick shiver down his spine. Goku waited patiently for Sanzo at the end of the steps and the two walked up together to get some sleep.


The next afternoon, Gojyo was busy with work on his computer while Sanzo and Goku looked through the phonebook and newspaper for mediums. They had no luck in finding one in the area, but there was one located in Boston. Gojyo took a break from the computer and opened a beer, joining the other two at the table.

“Any luck?”

“No, there’s none in the area.” Sanzo said, closing the phonebook. “They’re all in other cities, mostly in Salem and Boston. They’d charge to much to come all the way out here.”

“Lets just stick with a priest.” Goku suggested

“Then I have to take all my bachelor shit down off the walls!” Gojyo growled

“I’ll go and get him.” Said Goku “I really don’t think he’ll care. He’ll probably just pray for you, or something. Where’s Hakkai?” He looked around. “Hakkai!” Hakkai came down the steps and floated into the kitchen.

/Yes?/

“There you are. I’m going to go a get a priest to come in here and look around.” He said with a smile. “We’re doing our best to find a way to help you.” Hakkai smiled back softly.

/I was never very fond of priests…/

“You don’t have to talk to him. We just want to know what’s going on in the cellar.” Goku got up and got his coat. “I’m going to head there now, so I’ll be back soon. Try to take some things away, Gojyo. Like the Kama Sutra statue you got there.” He pointed to the figurine above the mantel and Gojyo walked over to take it away, putting it in the wall closet.

“There.” Goku just rolled his eyes and left the house


Goku stood outside the church on the stone sidewalk, looking up at the bell tower. The bell looked to be extremely old, as well as the steeple itself. There was a small graveyard on the right and seemed to continue around to the back. He noticed they were old and shifted like the ones behind Gojyo’s house. The rest of the church looked fairly new, or it had be reconstructed over the years. Goku headed up the small steps and slowly entered the church, peeking around at the inside. He could see the alter and numerous benches but it seemed to be empty.

“Hello?” he called softly as he closed the door but no one answered him. “Hello? Anyone here?” Goku saw only one person sitting in the middle row of the benches, looking at the alter. Judging by the balding head and white hair, he knew he was an old man. “Hello, sir?” The old man turned to look at him and gave him a friendly, tired smile.

“Hello sonny.”

“Hi, is the priest around? I’m new in town so I don’t really know anyone.”

“The reverend is not here right now. But he will be back soon. Come sit with me for a bit, he will not be long.” Goku walked over and sat next to the old man.

“I’m Henry.”

“Goku.”

“That is a strange name. I guess it is a new age thing.” Goku chuckled

“Yeah, I moved here. I’m staying with a friend who owns a house in town.”

“Which house would that be?”

“97 on Locust Street. The man who lived their prior to my friend was a distant relative of his and left him the house.” The old man nodded.

“Yes, I remember that man. Very quiet, never said much at all. But they say that house is haunted.” Goku’s eyes widened at that and he turned to look at the man.

“Haunted? W-what do you mean?”

“Well, a long, long time ago, maybe about 200 some years, a horrible murder took place there.” Goku gulped and listened to the story as the man continued to tell it.


Back at the house, Gojyo had stepped outside to put the garbage out and looked at the cellar door. He threw the garbage in the trashcan and opened the doors to walk down into the cellar. He had remembered Sanzo was standing somewhere in the center when he heard all the strange sounds. A chill went up his spine and a blast of cold air surrounded him, making him fall to his knees. He heard various voices and shouts in his ears, and they filled him with a horrible sense of anguish. He clenched his eyes shut tight and held his ears until the sound went away.


Gojyo opened his eyes and was inside his bedroom, but it looked nothing like it! The room was old fashioned and littered with wooden furniture. Candle stands and lanterns were mounted on the wall, all lit. The house was completely still, he noticed. He got out of bed and looked out the window, gasping at the vast dark country he saw, the city buildings no where in sight! It was nighttime now, since he could see the moon.

“What is going on here?”

He saw some light coming down the dirt road and saw that they were colonial men, about eight or nine of them, walking with torches. Gojyo leaned forward more but almost fell out the window! He had gone right through it like a ghost! He pulled back and looked at his arms, noticing that they were transparent like Hakkai’s. The small mob was coming to the house, shouting angrily and holding up a rope while waving their torches. He then heard scared voices from the hallway, sounding like children. He hurried out and saw two children in their nightdresses, a boy and a girl about the same age. They looked frightened as they ran to the other room.

“Hakkai! Hakkai!” they called.

‘Hakkai?!’ Gojyo thought and ran too, appearing with the children. But they did not see him, and Hakkai was looking right at all three of them. He looked out the window again and gasped as the sound of banging came from the door. The dog started to bark loudly, its’ hackles going up.

“Hakkai! It’s me! What’s going on?!” Hakkai did not hear him and he ran to the children, holding them tight. The dog continued to bark at the top of the steps.

“I want you to stay here, understand? It is too dangerous for you to be here with me! I want you to go back to your room and stay there.”

“OPEN UP DEMON!” came a deep, angry voice from outside. “WE WILL BREAK DOWN THE DOOR!” came another voice followed by more banging.

“Hakkai me scared!” Cried the girl. “I wish momma and dada were here!” Hakkai shuffled them through Gojyo and into their room.

“Please, stay put. Hide under the covers, and do not come out until it is quiet.”

“What gonna happen to you, Hakkai? You not be our servant anymore?” Hakkai gave them both a hug.

“Just stay put.” He closed the door as the front door swung opened loudly. Hakkai gasped and ran to the top of the stairs, seeing the men swarm in the house. The dog barked angrily and Hakkai stroked its’ head. “Easy Hakuryuu.” He whispered to the dog.

“HAKKAI!!” Gojyo shouted. “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?” Hakkai still did not hear him. “This must be a flashback of some kind! This has to be what really happened!”

“THERE HE IS!” one of the men shouted and they started up the stairs. Gojyo noticed the look of pure fear on Hakkai’s face as he ran through him and into his room, Hakuryuu following close behind. The men had already come up and stopped him from closing the door. Gojyo ran through all of them and the door to be next to Hakkai. He feared what he was going to see, but he had to know. The door flew open, throwing Hakkai across the room and landing on the floor. The men swarmed in, tackled Hakkai, and starting beating him with fists and boots.

“HEY!” Gojyo shouted angrily and tried to stop them, but he could not. He could hear Hakkai crying out in pain and begging for them to stop. Hakuryuu barked and bit one of the legs of the men. The men yelled out and pulled out his pistol, shooting Hakuryuu. The dog yelped and fell over, clearly dead.

“HAKURYUU!” Hakkai cried out but he was met with a boot to the mouth.

“You are going to pay for your crimes against the church and God, sinner!” One man said, who Gojyo noticed looked more well dress than the others. Hakkai was battered and bleeding, writhing on the floor. Another man hit him with the barrel of his gun and he cried out.

“STOP IT!” Gojyo shouted, swinging helplessly at the men but doing nothing. The well dressed man gripped Hakkai by the hair and drug him kicking out of the room. Gojyo followed them and Hakkai was kicked down the stairs, hitting each one as he fell to the bottom. “HAKKAI!!” Gojyo felt tears well up in his eyes at the sight of his battered lover and he almost could not take it. The men ran down the steps, two picking him up by the arms and dragging him outside. Gojyo almost did not want to follow them, but he had too.

“You like defying God?” The well dressed man said to Hakkai’s battered face before landing him a punch, making him fall back on the ground. “You, sinner, have no right in this good world the He made!” he stepped on Hakkai’s chest. “You like to mess around with both women AND men, and take pleasure with your own sister! All despicable crimes against our Lord Almighty!” Hakkai coughed up some blood and gurgled a woman’s name.

“Ka-nan…”

“SHUT UP!” he was kicked again and slammed with another barrel of a gun.

“MAKE IT STOP!” Gojyo shouted, covering his ears. He could hear sheltered screaming and looked up to see the two children, crying and banging on the window. Two men grabbed him by his ankles and started dragging him limply along the ground, his cries muffled by his battered body. “Shit…Hakkai! I CAN’T DO ANYTHING!” He gasped as he saw them dragging Hakkai to the old oak tree in the backyard. “THE TREE!!” The rope the men had earlier encircled Hakkai’s neck, making it into a noose. “HAKKAI!!”

Hakkai struggled and tried to take the rope away from his throat but the well dressed man threw the rope over the largest and lowest branch of the tree. Several other men grabbed the other end and began to pull. Hakkai gagged and gasped for air as he was pulled up and off the ground.

“HAKKAI!!! HAKKAI!!!!!!” Gojyo shouted, tears falling from his eyes as he watched his lover struggling in the air, fighting the noose. The men all chanted crude words and insults as they took pleasure in watching Hakkai writhe in the air. Gojyo fell to his knees and watched wide eyed as his lover’s body slowly ceased its struggling…and hung limp. The mob was quiet for a few seconds.

“Is he dead?” One asked. Another man pulled out his pistol and shot twice at Hakkai, but his body didn’t flinch.

“No more…no more!” Gojyo chanted, covering his ears. He could still hear the children screaming and crying, having witnessed the same thing as he.

“He is dead!” The men cheered and congratulated each other. Gojyo glared at all of them, panting in pure anger and seeing red. Hakkai’s dead body still swung gently from side to side, and the children still cried.

“Hold up men!” Said the well dressed one. “As good Christians as we, he is entitled to a proper burial.” The men all booed and shouted out words until the leader silenced them. “He will be buried in the graveyard, with the other abominations to our Lord and church!” the leader looked up at Hakkai’s body. “A shallow grave, next to his slut of a sister and other sinners. Jacob! He is entitled to a stone, but a small one! And with only the word ‘Sinner’ engraved on it!”

“Yes sir!” shouted Jacob.

“Then men who have their shovels, start digging!” the men cheered and headed off to the graveyard with shovels and torches. The men holding the rope let go and Hakkai’s body fell to the ground. Gojyo got up and ran over to him, knelling beside him.

“Oh Hakkai…” Gojyo could hardly make out his face under the deep bloodied gashes and swollen skin. The bullet wounds leaked with blood, falling right through Gojyo’s hands. “Hakkai…how could they do this to you?” Gojyo whispered, wiping his tears. “My precious Hakkai…so kind hearted and caring…you did not deserve this death!” he shouted up the night sky. The men came and undid the rope around Hakkai’s neck and started dragging him towards the graveyard. “NO!! NO YOU CAN’T TAKE HIM FROM ME!” Gojyo shouted angrily and charged at them, but again his efforts were useless. “DAMN IT!!” He fell to his knees and slammed his fists into the ground.

He then appeared at the graveyard where three men hopped up out of a freshly dug grave. Gojyo recognized all the head stones, seeing how fresh and clean they were. Hakkai’s grave was across the dirt street, away from the others. His body was laid on the ground next to the open hole.

“Men, tonight we did our community , our country, and our Lord a favor!” They cheered at his words. “We rid the world now of sinners and incest! Let this be a lesson to your children, and your children’s children, about what is right and what is not!” the all muttered in agreement. “As for you, Hakkai,” He said his name in disgust. “May you rot in this grave and never find the road to Heaven but live an eternity in Hell!” He finished and kicked Hakkai into the grave. The men scooped all the dirt back into the grave, filling it up. Gojyo was on his hands and knees, open tears falling into the dirt.

“Hakkai…why am I seeing this……how could they be so cruel…my sweet little ghost……living in Hell…” He covered his head. “No more…no more! GET ME OUT OF HERE!! GET ME OOOOUUUUTTTTT!”

“GOJYO!!” Gojyo opened his eyes, panting heavily and his tears still falling. He saw Sanzo above him and he was back in the kitchen. Gojyo gasped and jumped up, running to the window sill and sighing in relief when he saw the normal buildings. “What the hell happened?” Sanzo asked.

“It was a dream…or…or a flashback.” He started to tremble. “That’s what they did to you! They brutally murdered you!” He could not get the brutal images out of his head.

/Gojyo?/ He gasped and saw Hakkai, floating at the door. Hakkai wore a look of pure sadness as he floated over to him. /Oh Gojyo…I remember everything now./ He said softly. Gojyo tried to hug him but went right through him.

“GODDAMN IT!” he slammed his fist against the wall. “Why did I see that, Hakkai? Why?!”

/I do not know why, Gojyo. But I saw it too./ His voice trembled. /I remember now…everything. Everything that happened! The reason why I was murdered, how I came to be here, and my crimes./ Gojyo growled.

“What you did were not crimes!”

/To people like that, it is a crime!/ He looked away. /That brutal death would have never happened if my masters were home. They went to a celebration at town hall that night, I was left to look after their children, my job as a servant. Little Annabelle and Alistair. They were good children…but had to witness that. And Hakuryuu…my beloved dog. I found him when I was little in a trash basket and I raised him. My masters let me keep him./

“What about your sister? They were going on about incest.”

/My Kanan…I never knew she was my sister, and she also did not know. We met one day at William Cornwall’s home. He was the judge of this town at the time, and a wealthy land owner. I offered to clean out the stables one day, just so I could see her. I had to accompany my masters to the house for some reason, and I saw her. I instantly felt something I had never felt before. I was allowed to talk to her, and I grew to love her all the more. And she loved me…my beautiful Kanan./ He looked at Gojyo. /She was my world then. We saw each other in secret and shared many wonderful moments together./ He smiled at the memory.

“How did you find out she was your sister?” Sanzo asked.

/She was adopted by William when she was a child. We believed William knew of our love and did not mind it at all, as long as we kept it secret. But one day, I went with him and Kanan to the church, where, apparently, I lived there in the orphanage part as a child. The nun immediately recognized both Kanan and I….and then the dreadful words that turned our world upside down. She said that it was a sign from God that we, as brother and sister, separate at childhood, could reunite with each other. I remember the look on William’s face, and our own shocked, surprised faces…and that is when it turned bad.
Somehow, he knew of us sleeping together out of wedlock, and knew that we knew we were brother and sister made him insane with anger. He thought that the both of us already knew, and we did it to criticize society and the church. Of course that was not the case, but a God fearing man and popular judge, could not take this kind of news. So we were separated again. Then over a couple of days, word got around about my intimate nights with men and women. And that made everything worse, which lead up to my death. Kanan was killed too. She was killed before me though. I only got the news the day before I was murdered. They hung her…where I do not know. But she is buried with me in the graveyard./

“So wait, her adopted father let her go to her death like that?!” Hakkai looked at him sadly.

/He was the man who hung me too. The well dressed one in the red coat. That was him./

“A good judge and good Christian?” Sanzo snorted. “Fucking hypocrite is what he is!”

/So I am in Hell./ Hakkai said sadly. /I am sure Kanan went up to Heaven. I was the only ‘sin’ she had ever had. I loved her so much Gojyo!’ He buried his hands in his face. ‘I LOVED HER!’/

Gojyo felt a slight pain in his heart at Hakkai’s words, about loving Kanan. Hakkai had said he loved him. But Hakkai was already in love. His ghostly form had made him forget. Gojyo lowered his eyes to the floor. He did not want to believe that Hakkai’s feelings would change now that he remembered.

'I’m not meant to be loved' Gojyo said to himself and closed his eyes. ‘I gave my heart away, only to have it broken again….’ The three of them stood in silence.