A Fate Totally Worse Than Death by Paul Fleischman

Tiffany.
    â€œAnd in real life, too! I’ve already seen two ghosts in my life before now. And let me tell you, they weren’t made up.” Danielle shivered at the thought “If
you
haven’t seen one, you just haven’t been in the right place at the right time. But you sure as hell are now.”
    The other two eyed her uncertainly.
    â€œIt’s a classic case. I should have caught on sooner.” Danielle kicked a rock. “All the signs were right there.”
    â€œLike what?” asked Brooke.
    â€œLike open your eyes! The first day of the first school year
without
Charity Chase, a new girl shows up, out of the blue. From a faraway country, at the ends of the earth.”
    Brooke and Tiffany pondered these facts with sudden trepidation.
    â€œWhen I went to her house, it
didn’t exist
Naturally! She’s a spirit!”
    Shaken, Brooke leaned on the car for support.
    â€œAnd her favorite place to sit?” pressed Danielle.
    â€œOn the bench in Clifftop Park,” Brooke and Tiffany answered in unison.
    â€œTalk about totally obvious,” Danielle scolded herself. “They
always
come back to the place where they died.”
    Tiffany swallowed. “If she’s a ghost, how come you can’t stick your hand right through her?”
    â€œThey get bodies when they come back to earth,” said Danielle. “But not like ours. They’re just shells. Just look at her. Her hair’s beyond blond. And her skin’s too pale and bloodless for a mortal’s.”
    â€œAnd it never sunburned,” remembered Brooke.
    Tiffany stiffened. “My god,” she muttered. “That’s why she left biology class the day we all pricked our fingers to draw blood.”
    Brooke screamed. “I can’t believe this is happening!”
    â€œWhy is she back?” Tiffany demanded.
    â€œFor the same reason ghosts
always
come back to earth,” said Danielle. “To avenge her death!”
    â€œYou’re sure she knows we did it?” asked Brooke.
    â€œOf course she does!” Danielle shot back. “You heard her yourself: ‘There will be justice.’”
    â€œâ€˜That’s why I’ve come,’” Tiffany repeated, suddenly understanding the words.
    â€œYou bet it’s why,” declared Danielle. “She really gave herself away with that line.”
    Brooke’s eyes were wild. “What’s she going to do to us?”
    â€œShe’s already started,” said Danielle.
    The other two girls locked their eyes on hers, waiting to learn their fates.
    â€œI didn’t want to tell anybody. But I’ve been having trouble breathing lately.” Danielle looked away from the others. “It’s been getting worse for a week now. It’s like I’m turning into a little old lady.” She considered removing her six false teeth, but decided that her point was clear.
    â€œThat’s weird,” said Brooke. She unbuttoned her right shirt cuff and pulled it back. Her audience grimaced. A dozen dark spots were spread out like islands over the back of her hand. One unmistakably resembled a skull.
    â€œJesus,” whispered Danielle. “Liver spots.”
    â€œWhat?”
asked Brooke.
    â€œLiver spots!
Old people get ’em. My grandmother’s even got ’em on—”
    Brooke pulled back her hair, revealing four more high on her forehead.
    â€œOn her head,” Danielle finished. She examined the skull-shaped spot and smirked. “Nice of her to make sure you got the message.”
    â€œAnd I think,” added Brooke, “that my hearing’s starting to go. A little.”
    â€œA lot,” said Tiffany. She noticed the other two looking at her.
    â€œWell?” asked Danielle.
    Tiffany was silent. Then tears began to overflow her eyes. “When I blew it that time? Taking Helga’s picture? It was all because of
this!”
She held out her