The Ghosts We Carry
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment
written by James Rada, Jr.
THE CLASS OF ‘16
1: The Reunion
As the morning light filtered through the curtains of his hotel room, Brian Peyton slowly stirred awake. He groaned, his head pounding from the excess of whiskey he had consumed the night before. With a heavy sigh, he managed to sit up and swing his legs over the side of the bed. He saw he was still dressed in his clothes from the day before.
His stomach churned uncomfortably as he stumbled towards the bathroom, his unsteady steps betraying just how intoxicated he still was.
It had been a long time since he had been this drunk, not since that fateful night with Jack…for some reason, he had gotten completely wasted again.
With a groan, Brian splashed cold water on his face. Then he tried to steady himself and clear his mind. He filled a plastic cup with water and gulped it down, grateful for the cool relief it brought to his parched throat.
He needed to sober up quickly. Tonight was the Catoctin High Class of 2016 reunion at Thurmont Ambulance Company Event Complex, and he needed to be alert and coherent for whatever was waiting for him there. Someone had blackmailed him into coming back to Thurmont, sending him Jack Davis’s senior picture with a threatening message scrawled on the back. It was all too familiar, a reminder of the past he had tried to bury.
After a refreshing shower and some breakfast in the hotel’s breakfast room that included a large cup of strong coffee, Brian returned to his room and hung the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the doorknob. He needed some time alone to collect his thoughts and mentally prepare for the evening ahead.
But even as he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, sleep eluded him. Troubling memories from ten years ago resurfaced in his dreams, causing him to toss and turn restlessly.
Brian had thought he had put that part of his life behind him after college. He never thought he would have nightmares about it again. But this unwelcome reunion had brought back all the old fears and guilt. It was clear that someone else hadn’t let go of the past, and he couldn’t help but wonder who it could be. Was it Jack? Thomas? Will? The thought of facing them again filled Brian with unease and dread.
He had thought he’d left it all behind, the memories and the pain. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease creeping into his stomach. He had tried to push away the memories, to bury them deep within his mind, but someone else hadn’t forgotten.
When he woke again, it was already late afternoon. He stepped into the shower again, hoping the hot water would wash away the feeling of dread that lingered on his skin. Dressed for the reunion, he debated whether to eat, knowing that the stress and anxiety of being back in this place might make it difficult to keep anything down. But eventually, his hunger won out, and he found himself at a Mexican restaurant that used to be a Pizza Hut when he was still living here.
Truth be told, while his stomach grumbled with hunger, he was using dinner as an excuse to delay facing his past. Yet as time passed, he knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. With a heavy sigh, he paid his bill and drove towards the event complex where his high school reunion was being held.
As he turned onto the road leading to the venue, Brian’s heart raced as he saw a line of cars already parked and groups of people making their way inside. He parked and sat in his car for a moment, gathering his thoughts and mustering the courage to face whatever awaited him inside. With a deep breath, he finally stepped out of the car and walked towards the entrance alone. He had no plus-one to bring with him, no wife or girlfriend. And why would he? This wasn’t a place he wanted to be.
Alone, with no plus-one to bring with him, Brian made his way towards the entrance. His chest tightened as he saw name tags lined alphabetically on a table, each one displaying an alumni’s name and senior picture. Names from his past jumped out at him, bringing back memories of high school and old friends. He searched for Thomas and Will’s name tags. They were gone. Perhaps they had already entered, or maybe they had been lucky enough to avoid this torturous gathering. With a heavy heart, Brian found his own name tag and pinned it to his shirt, dreading the inevitable reunion with his past.
But then, one name in particular caught his eye: Jack Davis. He turned to face the woman sitting at the table, her gaze curious as she noticed his hesitation.
“Why do you have a name tag for Jack Davis?” he asked, trying to mask the sadness in his voice.
“I guess he hasn’t shown up yet,” she replied nonchalantly.
“He won’t. He’s dead,” Brian stated bluntly.
“Oh,” the woman’s hand flew to her mouth in surprise.
“Aren’t you a member of the class?” Brian pressed on.
“I am, but I didn’t keep up with everyone,” she confessed, picking up the name tag and removing it from the table.
“Jack died right before our graduation,” Brian explained solemnly.
The woman’s expression turned to one of horror. “Oh, he’s that person. But someone had to pay for him for us to have printed a name tag. That’s cruel.”
Brian nodded in agreement before walking past the check-in table and into the event area. The room was alive with chatter and laughter as people caught up with each other after many years apart. Round tables were filling up quickly with groups of classmates reuniting like high school cliques. On stage, a DJ was setting up her equipment while the walls were adorned with enlarged yearbook photos and nostalgic decorations. There were also a couple of tables set up with displays showcasing old photographs and memorabilia from their time together in high school.
Brian took it all in with a sense of detachment. This wasn’t really his scene anymore, but he had come out of obligation and curiosity. As he stopped scanning the room, he suddenly realized what he had been subconsciously looking for: Will and Thomas.
Their eyes met and a wave of mixed emotions washed over him. Will still looked much the same as he did in high school, but Thomas had put on at least 40 pounds. Brian wasn’t sure what to say, but Will broke the awkward silence.
“Figured we’d be seeing you,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.
Brian shrugged. “Not by choice.”
“I would have come just to see if Jennifer Teargarden is still hot,” Will joked, trying to lighten the mood. “She’s got a kid and looks like she’s carrying another, but it’s definitely her.”
Thomas let out a heavy sigh, his weary eyes scanning the faces of his two companions. “We can’t all be Peter Pan and never grow up,” he muttered with a hint of bitterness.
Brian shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his nerves palpable in the tense air. “I know the feeling,” Thomas replied, offering a small gesture of empathy.
“So, which one of you sent the picture?” Brian asked, getting straight to the point.
Blank stares met him in response.
“We thought it was you,” Will spoke up at last.
“Why would I do that? I’ve been trying to forget that night,” Brian stated firmly.
“And you think we want to remember it?” Thomas added with a tinge of sarcasm.
Brian’s gaze swept around the room, searching for answers. “Somebody wants us to. Did anyone notice the name tag for Jack at the check-in table?”
The other two men shook their heads, equally perplexed.
“I was too busy looking around to see who might have been staring back,” Will admitted. “I arrived early just so I could observe everyone coming in.” After a pause, he added, “Wait a minute. I helped set out those name tags on the table. If Jack had one, I would have seen it.”
“Well, I saw it when I checked in,” Brian interjected. “Someone purposely placed it there.”
Thomas shook his head and began to pace around the room. “I should have stayed in Florida, but I was too scared of what would happen if I didn’t show up…and what would happen if I did.”
He walked over to the window that served as the makeshift bar and ordered himself another drink, needing something to calm his nerves.
“At this rate, he’ll be falling down drunk by the end of the night,” Will commented wryly.
Brian nodded in agreement. “I understand him. I was like that last night.”
“I just eat,” Thomas confessed with a hint of self-deprecation.
The trio sat down at an empty table, the tension beginning to dissipate as they caught up on each other’s lives. However, Jack’s absence loomed over them like a dark cloud. They were here because of him, yet he wasn’t here with them.
The atmosphere in the room was electric, a mix of nostalgia and excitement as old friends caught up and danced to the pulsing beats of the DJ. But amidst the joyful chaos, Brian, Will, and Thomas had no interest in anyone else, and eventually people began to leave them alone, struggling to talk over the loud music.
As Brian’s stomach grumbled, he made his way to the kitchen window for some food. However, just as he stepped onto the dance floor, he heard the DJ announce, “This next song is a request from Jack Davis.”
Suddenly, the melody of “The Hanging Tree” from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 filled the room.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where dead man called out
For his love to flee
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the hanging tree
Goosebumps erupted on Brian’s skin as he froze in place. He turned back to look at his friends. Will had gone pale and Thomas’ eyes were wide with fear. Even from a distance, Brian could see his lip quivering uncontrollably.
The once lively dance floor fell silent as people realized Jack Davis was dead. How could he have requested this song?
Confused and scared, they all looked around for answers. But none were as terrified as Brian, who knew something strange was happening.
In a panic, Thomas stood up and rushed out of the event complex. Will, looking like a ghost, simply finished off Thomas’ beer in one gulp.
Yes, indeed. Strange things did happen here.
