I am the ghost in your house.
Hi, my name is Liam. I'm a fairly typical guy, average build, 6'2, hair colour? I'm not sure how to describe that as I've never seen it, you see; I'm invisible. No I don't mean that as some kind of metaphor, I'm literally invisible. I can see me and so can my parents, but that's probably because they're invisible too. To each other we're an iridescent soap bubble colour. My dad says that we can see an extra sliver of the colour spectrum that normal people can't and that's what we're using to see each other. I mean there's apparently only about 100 invisible people left in all of the western world although there could be much more, or less in the world as we're pretty hard to find.
My parents live in the town near by but I'm trying to find a place closer to school. As "opacity challenged" people, we can't exactly own property or rent so we squat in houses. Some of those houses are lived in, some are empty. Those are the best as we can talk openly without sign language because although we're invisible, we're not silent. Too many times I was on a train and coughed too loudly and my mom signed at me to be quiet. For transit we prefer the train as there's more room so it's easier to get on and off without bumping into people.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Hi, my name is Liam and I'm currently going to school to become a Doctor. One time as a kid my parents and I were taking the train when we met an old invisible man who seemed to be quite sick. It was at that point I decided to become a Doctor so I could help those who can't be seen by regular Doctors. (See what I did there? (and there?)) I take the train from the town my parents live in to the city near by and attend the university. The university doesn't know of course but I sit in on all the classes and even swiped a schedule so I wouldn't miss anything. Fun fact, I have to wear gloves all the time because whenever something touches my skin it also becomes invisible. Whenever I want to steal something I take off one glove and grab it when no one's looking. I can hear my parent's words in my head "Make sure no one sees you grab something, don't be too loud, don't walk in fresh snow, don't walk in the rain." Or what? "Or someone from the government will hunt you down." I don't really know if the government knows about us but it's entirely possible.
Right now I'm waiting for the train to take me back home for the night. Near the end of the station there are less people so I usually stand there. Today however I'm finding it difficult to make it there. My stomach is off and I want to move as little as possible. The train stops, the doors open, and I almost bump into an old lady getting off the car. I have to perform a circus act to avoid touching her, it doesn't improve my situation but I crossed my fingers hoping the ride is quick. The train stops twice in my parent's town, once in the old section, and once in the new section where my parents are currently. I figure I could always get off one stop early and try to find a place to stop and then get back on the train after. This gives me some peace as I settle into a pair of seats where one of them appears to be wet. It's advantageous to do this as other people often avoid seats that look dirty, it reduces the chance of being sat on.
It doesn't take long for the train to make it to the next station which is good because I can't last much longer. Eating food laying around at fast food places is a good way to get a meal unnoticed but occasionally it has its downsides. I made my way to the only place that doesn't require a key to the bathroom, a small coffee shop near the station that seems like it's been around forever. I haven't gotten off here to many times but it's an interesting mix of people who have lived there their whole lives and fellow med students renting out old houses.
When I got to the shop the bathroom was currently out of order. I let out an audible "Fuck." under my breath. Some guy at the end of the line turned around to see who was there and was greeted with the seemingly empty space where I stood. It was at that point I noticed a girl in navy blue scrubs leaving holding two coffees one in each hand. Classes were done for the day so it seemed likely that she lived in one of the nearby houses that were rented out so I decided to follow her. I'd be lying if I didn't say I also found her attractive.
I walked down the street behind her trying my best to be silent. On a busy street it was easy but once we turned down a small side road I had to be careful. It looked like she had a good figure from behind but it's hard to tell in scrubs. A bit shorter than me, dark curly hair with a tinge of brown in it, I couldn't see much else until she turned to go into one of the houses. What a face, cute smile with a few freckles, I was hooked. She went up the front steps, unlocked the door, stepped in and closed it behind her. This was the perfect opportunity to slip in. I opened the door wide and left it open to make it look like the wind blew it open.
Girl "Dam, must not have closed it all the way."
She turned around putting her coffees on a near by table and closed the front door. I must admit I almost forgot about why I followed her while watching, I was a little too entranced by her. She then grabbed some very large textbooks, the coffee, put some headphones on and muttered something about studying for a test tomorrow while heading upstairs. I knew this was my opportunity to be alone so I found a bathroom in the basement and did my business.
After that I decided to check out the rest of the house. TV room downstairs, main floor kitchen behind the stairs, and a sitting/dining room behind that. I was standing looking out the back sliding door when I felt something soft brush up against my leg. "Holly fucking shit!" I said as I just about jumped three feet in the air. Turns out this girl has a cat. Pets are strange as dogs tend to be fearful and bark but cats seem to have no trouble seeing us. If fact they'll often stare at us for no reason. Maybe you had a cat stare off into a corner, maybe it was staring at me.
I reached down to pet it and noticed a name tag, "Boots." That worked for a black cat with some while on it's paws. "Hi Boots." I said softly giving it back scratches.
I heard the front door open again and someone else entered. Another girl walked in carrying her text book and shouted to the house "El? Where are you? Are we goanna study or not?" I herd no response from the girl I followed. New mystery girl sighed and muttered "She's probably got headphones on..." She then took off her boots and made her way up stairs.
I thought that this might be a place I can say, at least for the night. I could sleep down stairs on the couch and not disturb her. I'd be lying if I didn't want to see more of El, she clearly had enough money to afford this place by herself. Of coarse I didn't know that for sure but I wanted to justify it to my parents as to why I'd stay somewhere else... maybe for more than a night? I texted them (yes they're stolen phones shuh!) and let them know I might have found a closer place to stay.
Before I made my way up stairs I took off my shoes and left them in the basement laundry room. As soon as my skin wasn't touching them they popped into existence. At least that's what it would look like for a normal person. While yes I had socks on, there were intentional holes for my big toe so it could keep my shoes from looking like a ghost was walking around. Why doesn't the floor disappear when my feet touch it? Don't ask me, I don't know. I crept up the stairs to see what they were doing and went to the door, I herd talking behind. The door was closed over so I couldn't open it without arising suspicion. Lucky for me Boots had followed me up the stairs and opened the door for me.
El "Oh there you are boots! I was wondering why you didn't come up here."
Other girl "I love your cat! Are you going to get another one?"
El "Nope one's enough, why do you ask?" Other girl "Well with your dating life, I wouldn't be surprised if you turned into a crazy cat lady!"
El replied somewhat forcefully "Very funny Amy. Remind me why I invited you over again?"
Amy "Because we need to study for the quiz tomorrow and you wanted me to keep you company since your roommate left? By the way I'm currently looking for a place, just saying."
El "Yea this house does feel less empty with you in it." Then she looked down at boots "And you too!" she gave them a good pet.
Amy "Well maybe we need to have a party here, introduce you to a couple of guys!"
El "I mean, maybe..." Amy "It's settled then! A Halloween party at Eleanor's house tomorrow! Maybe I'll even invite Josh for you!"
Eleanor blushed a little "He's hot but I don't think I'd ever end up with him."
Amy "Who cares where you end up, I'm just trying to get a girl laid!"
