I don’t know why I decided to oblige him.

  I knew I was taking a major risk, I knew barring the possibility he had saved an extra tooth or two, my bonus payment would probably be in pocket lint or faerie points. But I knew most of all, as much as he might want it, I wasn't doing him a favour.

  Perhaps this was just the path of least resistance; My unwillingness to swat away a disgruntled client overwhelming my unwillingness to contend with a spectre on the edge.

  I readied myself once again.

  “She’s likely to be less stable the second time, so don’t you dare break my rules again, understand? If something does go horribly wrong I’m going to abandon you here, got it?”

  “I understand,” he replied. If that turned out to be a lie, I would sleep no worse for him joining his daughter.

  “good.” I took a deep breath and recited the calling once again.

  As before her spectral form parsed through the air.

  “what…? what is-?”

  “-Dear me you passed out before, you must still be tired. The healing process can be greatly fatiguing, so that’s to be expected.”

  “I see, thank you again, for everything. I’m so greatful.”

  Her form seemed to be flickering more frequently, more erratically now, the shell of her skin briefly giving way to reveal the ethereal blood and organs beneath, spectral veins pumping blood out of time to a heart beating out of pace.

  The flames of the candles now seemed to react in time with her, flickering in unison as her body did.

  “As you should be.” I smiled in the most harmless fashion I could manage.

  “Now then Pharisa…” Am I really going to do this? “The good Doctor asked me to inquire as to your accident, to ensure there are no repeat occurrences to you or anyone else.”

  A pensive expression washed over the spectre's face making the hairs stand up on my neck.

  “yes I… remember falling… so very, very far…”

  “The brush you landed on greatly cushioned your impact, you were lucky of course but its not an unheard of phenomenon. You have the good doctor to thank for patching you up so well.”

  “Then why do I feel so… far away?”

  Questions like that are not a good sign, she might be starting to release.

  “That’s a mild side effect of the medication still working its wonders, it should wear off in a few hours.”

  “That's good, I’m glad.”

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  Yes, yes of course you are, we’ve been over this!

  “Very good dear, now, regarding your accident?” I urged.

  “Well, I remember looking out over the edge but…”

  Would she even admit to throwing herself off? Even as a spirit they can still lie.

  “there was… something behind me…”

  “What do you mean?” asked Ernard.

  “I think… something pushed me.”

  “What?!” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

  “w-what do you mean, something pushed you off?”

  “I think it was a person… they must have… I remember feeling the shove on my back.”

  I turned to look at Ernard but he just stared at her, mouth hanging open.

  “Pharisa... you wouldn’t happen to-?”

  “-Who?! Who was it?! Pharisa you have-”

  “-Calm down now Ernard, don’t lose your head.” I ground my heel into his foot.

  “Pharisa, I don’t suppose you know who this assailant was, they seem to have meant you harm…” I asked sympathetically.

  “I… I don’t know, they must have come up behind me… I never saw them.”

  Uh oh… I don’t know if this is better or worse than suicide but its not good news either way.

  “Well, we’re all just relieved you’re alive and well, that’s what's… most important.”

  “Yes, it does give me the shivers to think about but I’m here thanks to you.”

  Ernard looked to be on the edge of a breakdown, and at this point even I couldn’t blame him.

  “indeed… You look tired, Pharisa, perhaps you should rest some more, you’ll be able to recall more in the morning.”

  “Yes, I do feel… rather tired.”

  “Let's all say goodnight then, until the morning.” I suggested.

  “Goodnight father, miss, thank you again for all you’ve done.”

  “Goodnight dear, Ernard, why don’t you wish your daughter a pleasant sleep so that we may also call it a night?”

  But he said nothing.

  What are you doing?!

  I gave him a light kick.

  “Pharisa… I’ll never, ever forget you.” Said Ernard

  NO!

  She giggled softly. “Oh father, you don’t need to be so dramatic, I’m only… “ the spectre trailed off and its expression changed.

  The warm smile it had held up to now slowly seemed to melt, the skin fading in and out to display the skull behind it.

  “wait… what do you…?” the air around it began to warp, the spectres ethereal form flickering more rapidly as it parsed further into the world. Its head turned around frantically left and right, desperately searching for some piece of critical evidence to prove it wrong.

  Uh oh.

  “What are you?” it turned back and spoke directly to me, the sweetness in its tone entirely gone.

  “As- As I said, I’m the assistant of the Great Healer Walten.”

  The spectre’s face almost appeared opaque now, no longer flicking, it was solidified as a skinless skull, eyeballs glaring out from their sockets, the rictus grin static as it was, somehow appearing as a scowl.

  “No.” Its voice resounded through the entire building, resolute and cold. “You’re not.”

  It reached out its skeletal arm towards me, its bony hands quivering with unknown emotion.

  Oh no!

  I threw out my hands and made the signs of cessation.

  “Begone from this world, Displaced creature of the void! I banish you! Return from whence you came!”

  The creature’s form resisted for a moment before erupting into a blinding light as a harrowing shriek pierced the air.

  After only a moment, nothing of her remained. The candles extinguished by her abrupt departure leaving the room in near pitch darkness. The only sound left was the faint pattering of rain upon the roof.

  Cut it way to close there…

  Too bad she couldn’t just go quietly.