darker_london | Blessed Autumn Spirits (Lavannah, Gavin) (Reply)

There was something about autumn that made Lavannah feel alive. Maybe it was because around her the world was getting ready to sleep for the winter and she had no such need. Or because she'd been rescued in the autumn. It was almost a year ago now when David and Peter had come to her in the hospital. They'd learned how to listen when no one else could. More importantly, they'd learned how to speak to her when she had no ears to hear. And they'd given her Louise. Her filter. Her constant companion. Without the spirit of Louise always with her, Lavannah would be doomed to hearing the constant voices of the dead. It never stopped. They never stopped.

Walking in the park was a relaxing thing to do, with the leaves falling all around her. Gavin was with her, but he had split off to get some food from a vendor as was his wont. Lavannah continued on to a little playground and she sat on a bench on the edge of it, smiling as she saw two children chasing each other around. They laughed and squealed, playing some form of tag, though it didn't seem to have any rules. Another one approached her slowly, and she turned and offered the little boy a wide smile. That seemed to put the boy at ease. "Hello." He said smiling right back.

"Hi. My name is Lavannah." She leaned forward.

"Nathaniel." The boy whispered. He wasn't used to talking to strangers. He looked over at the other two children, still chasing each other relentlessly.

"How old are you, Nathaniel?"

"7." He replied. "They never stop." His voice was wistful. "I've been watching for so long."

Lavannah watched them as well for a moment and then she turned back to Nathaniel. "Why don't you join them?"

"I don't know if they'd let me." The look on his face was shy. "People don't...talk to me..."

"I think they would." She gave Nathaniel a reassuring smile. "I could stay right here. Just to make sure everything's okay?"

"You promise you won't leave?" Everybody left.

Lavannah nodded and she held up one hand. "I promise."

Nathaniel ran off and Lavannah watched as the boy and girl stopped chasing each other so they could speak to him. She was pleased to see that almost immediately, he was included in their game, and he ran from the older boy with a huge grin on his face.

"Hey there." Gavin showed up and he kissed Lavannah's neck before taking a seat beside her. He handed her a hot dog and then he glanced out at the empty playground in front of them. "Guess it's too cold for kids today, hmm?"

Lavannah smiled to herself. To Louise. They alone knew it wasn't the wind moving the empty swings. It was just three little ghost children, playing a never-ending game of tag.