Bettany made a decision there and then to skedaddle. “Let’s head back, Lilly.”
The mention of a ghost did not scare Lilly.
That was great. Pablo was most keen when it came to ghosts.
With Pablo levitating away, Lilly ran and chased after him. She said, “Be good, Granny. Just wait for me here.”
Bettany was not having it.
“Lilly!” Anxious, Bettany tried to keep up as she whipped out her phone to give Anthony a call.
By the time they passed the tree line, darkness had overtaken the sky.
Bettany could see Lilly ahead a moment ago, but Lilly quickly disappeared in the blink of an eye.
With an unknown bird hooted and flew by the deserted woods, Bettany was left alone, scared, and on the verge of tears.
“Lilly! Lilly!”
Bettany called out.
Following the sudden rustle among the bushes, Bettany nervously looked around and saw Lilly carrying a ghost on her back.
The ghost was covered in blood. Its drooping arms were black.
Its clothes were wet, and its hair draped over its face.
As a matter of fact, Lilly did not have a hard time piggybacking the ghost. That was why all Bettany saw was a ghost floating behind Lilly.
The thing that popped into Bettany’s head was a ghost haunting Lilly.
“Lilly…” Bettany put her hand on her chest. The quiver in her voice did not go unnoticed.
Lilly picked her head up in a daze, only realizing now that Bettany came along too. The old lady looked frightened.
She immediately ditched the ghost. Wham. The ghost fell onto the ground and let out a grunt…
That was the least of Lilly’s worries as she ran over to give Bettany a hug.
Thinking Lilly was scared, Bettany wanted to offer solace only to find the little girl comforting her instead.
“There, there, Granny. Don’t be scared.
“I’m here.”
Bettany was at a loss for words.
She did not feel much at first, but Lilly’s gesture made her eyes well up.
“Don’t abandon me, Lilly.” Bettany sobbed while holding Lilly.
The fear of losing Lilly finally sank in.
Blaming herself, Lilly gently patted Bettany’s back. “My bad. I’m sorry, Granny…”
She promised Mom to take good care of Granny. Yet, she ditched Granny just now.
Sob, sob. Lilly did not want to be an irresponsible kid.
Anthony rushed to the scene to find the adult and child locking arms and crying away.
He was speechless.
“What’s going on?” Anthony went up to them and spotted the ghost not too far away. He immediately stood before Bettany and Lilly in defense.
The other family members soon arrived.
Hunkering down on a nearby tree branch, the parrot flapped its wings and cawed, “My, oh, my. It’s a ghost! Check it now!”
Anthony had no words.
Narrowing his eyes, Anthony drew close and tipped the ghost with his toes to turn it over.
It turned out to be a child instead of a ghost.
“It’s a boy,” Anthony said. “No need to be alarmed.”
Holding Lilly by the hand, Bettany asked, “A boy? Is he dead?”
Lilly shook her head. “No.”
She initially thought it was a ghost too, but she realized it was a boy upon closer inspection.
Pablo mentioned something about saving a life as a doorway to never-never land. While she carried him out of there, she managed to frighten her granny.
Anthony got down and felt the boy’s pulse before uttering, “He’s not dead.”
Edward furrowed his brows. “Why is there a child in the middle of the woods?”
The Crawford brothers examined the child on the ground. Since the boy was still breathing, it was the family’s duty to give him a fighting chance to live.
Gilbert went up to examine his breathing and heartbeat while Edward called the police and ambulance.
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