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Hi, my name is Charles Rowland. I spend 95% of my time chasing after dead people. I promise it’s not as bad as it sounds. “Charles, if you could stop giving your monologue for five seconds! I need a little help here!” I look at Edwin. Then up. It’s a giant cat. Staring me down. “Holy shit! Where did that come from?” I grab my cricket bat. “Not so fast!” A voice cuts in. I look in the direction of the voice. A normal sized cat is sitting inches from my foot. Another cat king? Are you kidding me? “I believe he’s one of mine.” The cat says “Well if he’s one of yours, deal with him!” I yell. “Can’t you see I’m trying? It takes a while to control a cat that size!” The cat scolds. I cannot believe a house cat is scolding me. Me and Edwin stand, waiting for something, anything to happen. Then the cat started to shrink. A teenage girl stood in front of us, holding a black cat. The black cat that had just shrunk. She looks a lot like Crystal. Dyed, curly hair, tall, good sense of fashion. She just has a different skin tone. “Sorry about that. I’m Edwin, He’s Charles. We’re the dead boy detectives, just trying to solve a case.” “I’m Evangeline. I’m the cat queen here in london. If I catch you two with another cat, I will make you hurt in ways you can’t even imagine.” She turns around to leave. My god she pisses me off “Well, that's brills and all but both of us have escaped hell.” I reply, not thinking. She turns her head. “Charles, now might be a good time to run!” And just like that. She pulled out an iron sword. And hit me right across the leg. It burns. Edwin grabs my hand and we run till we can find a mirror.
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It takes us a couple tries but we manage our way back to the office. “My god, Charles. Are you alright?” “I’m aces.” “Charles, you don’t look ‘aces’.” “It doesn’t matter, I've been through worse.” Edwin grabs my hands. My head is all a flutter. “You shouldn’t have to bear this by yourself. At least let me see the scar.” “No.” I let go of his hands. I refuse to let him see me hurt. I try walking off to my room but- “Charlie, you're limping.” “Charlie? That's a new one.” I try to distract him. “Just sit down. It’s the only way I can inspect your wound.” “Can we atleast go to our room? I don’t really want someone to get the wrong idea as I'm taking my pants off.” Edwin looks flustered. But I can’t do this to myself. I limp into my room and sit on the floor. Edwin sits with me. “I really am fine.” I insist. Edwin gives me a look of annoyance “Charles, if you do not take your trousers off right now, I will rip them off you myself.” He says. It’s too late to realize the door has opened. Jenny is standing in the doorway, looking disgusted. “I guarantee you it’s not what you think.” “I was going to ask if you wanted anything from the store. I don't even want to know what this is.” She leaves and closes the door. “Oh god, the things you get me into.” Edwin complains “You're the one who said it!” I laugh. He laughs too but then changes his expression “Stop distracting me.” He says. I stand up and shimmy out of my tight jeans. “That’s one nasty burn. Bag?” I hand him my bag. He runs his fingers down the scar. I wince. “This is really not good.” I can tell he’s trying to freak out. But then I look at it. It goes all the way from my thigh to my calf. Then the door opens. “Why the fuck are both of you on the floor. Why is Charles not wearing pants?” Crystal asks. “Some witch hit him with an iron sword.” Edwin explains. He rummages through my bag. “Dont you have any healing stuff on you?” He scolds. Crystal stays frozen. I expect steam to be coming out of her ears. She’s just seething. Edwin doesn’t seem to get the hint though “Crystal, do me a favor. Go to the magic store for me and get some healing balm and anti iron cream. And get Niko to come in here.” Crystal leaves. “God, we need to get a lock for that door.” “I’ll put that on my to-do list.” Edwin stands up and starts looking through my closet. He throws me a pair of shorts “here, don’t want you to keep standing there in your pants.” I pull the shorts on. “Thanks.” I ignore the blush on Edwins face. I can't deal with this right now. Niko walks in, crystal guiding her. Crystal leaves and now it’s the three of us. “Niko, watch Charles. I’m going out for a bit.” “Where are you going?” I ask. “I’m about to fight a witch.” Edwin states.
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“Ugh it’s been hours, Niko! What if he needs my help?” “If he needs your help, you’ll know. But Edwin is really strong. I think he’ll be fine out there.” Niko says. “Yeah yeah, I'm sure it’s fine. It’s just… what if it’s not. You see what she did to me. Edwin doesn’t know how to fight. He knows how to run.” As if on cue, Edwin comes in from the mirror. I’m the first person to run to him. I hug him tighter than I ever have. I don’t know if I'll ever let go of him again. “I need to breathe too, Charlie.” Edwin reminds me. “Sorry.” I let him go, looking over to the rest of the group. “How’s your leg doing?” He asks. At that moment it’s like we’re the only two people in the world. I faintly register Crystal dragging Niko away. But first Niko says something. “どうなるか教えてくれ.” Something in Japanese I don’t understand. “そうするよ.” He responds. And now we’re alone again. That's when I see the blood on Edwins hands. “What did you do?” “I messed up. Let my emotions get the best of me. I’m sorry.” “Edwin-” “I was just so angry. I found her and I broke her nose. I can’t believe I did that. Now she hates me too though.” He broke her nose? I thought he’d killed her “Since when did you know how to fight?” “I have been… learning. Ever since Esther, it makes me sick to leave you to fight while I just stand there.” He’s been learning to fight so none of our friends get hurt again. “I love you.” I say. It clearly catches both of us off guard. “You’re not in love with me though.” Edwin says. I can feel the pain in his voice. “Edwin Payne, I have been in love with you for 35 years.” “But at the stairwell, you said-” “I was trying to figure out my feelings. But now I know. I’m in love with you.” I walk towards him even closer. We’re very close now. I hold his face in my hands. “Can I?” I ask. I don’t need Edwin to answer because I see him nod. Then, his mouth is on mine. It feels like the pieces of a puzzle coming together.
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The next day, Edwin, Niko and I go out to show her around the old town so she can meet some more ghosts. On our way back, she sees something moving in a back alley. And being Niko, she wants to investigate. And Edwin and I being Edwin and I come with her so she’s safe “Ooh it’s a cat!” Niko walks up to a tabby. “Neeks, you might want to walk away.” Edwin advises “Why?” “Let's just say cats and us don’t mix.” I tell her.