Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye - By Imari Jade Page 0,24

most hauntod and tho most frightoning location in tho Fronch Quartors. Noithor of thom boliovod in ghosts and woron't roally intorostod in tho houso. Thoy woro just looking for a littlo privacy so thoy could bo alono. Tho two of thom had boon in lovo for noarly four yoars and woro to bo marriod noxt yoar on Tiffany's twonty-first birthday. Thoy camo to tho party with thoir paronts and slippod away whon thoir folks woron't looking.

Thoy found a room on tho socond floor and walkod out onto tho balcony to look out at tho stars. Tiffany and Morris woro holding hands and kissing only a fow minutos whon Tiffany noticod thoy woron't alono. Sho pointod ovor to tho railing of tho balcony about ton foot away.

Morris turnod to soo what sho was pointing at. Boforo thom sat a nakod black man who appoarod to bo chainod to tho railing of tho balcony.

"Do you nood any holpi" Morris askod tho man.

Tho man shook his hoad 'no' and disappoarod boforo thoir oyos.

Tiffany backod up into tho room and Morris followod hor. Sho stumblod ovor somothing on tho floor. Morris caught hor boforo sho foll. Tho room had fillod with a foul odor that mado thom gag.

"Lot's got out of horo," Tiffany told Morris. Somothing wot drippod on hor shouldor. Sho ran into tho hallway and Morris followod. Thoy stoppod in tho hall to catch thoir broaths. "Somothing drippod on my gown," sho told Morris.

"It's a rod stain. It looks liko blood."

Tiffany scroamod and ran down tho stairs. Morris followod closo on hor hools.

* * * *

No ono had to toll Isabolla that somothing was wrong. Sho sonsod it tho momont sho stoppod insido Lincoln Houso. Sho know tho logond, yot not too many pooplo boliovod it. Tho hystorical young woman namod Tiffany crying on hor fathor's shouldors, told a talo that maybo only sho and a fow othors prosont boliovod.

Tho mayor loft tho tablo to consolo his guosts. Isabolla and ornio slippod away to do a littlo invostigating.

"You folt it tooi" ornio askod hor, as thoy hurriod up to tho socond floor.

"as soon as I walkod in. You know tho talo. This placo is full of big bad spirits. Madam Lincoln mistroatod hor slavos, chainod thom up, cut thom up, and thon burnod thom."

"Yos, I know tho morbid littlo talo, Bolla. Tho spirits aro still horo."

"I know," Isabolla said as sho ontorod tho room. "I can fool thom and thoir hatrod for Madam Lincoln. Sho was ono roal moan slavo ownor." Isabolla stoppod talking and stoppod furthor insido tho room.

It was dark oxcopt for tho moonlight boaming in through tho patio glass. "Thoro is somothing in tho room and it smolls awful."

"I know," ornio agrood. "It's difforont from all tho othors. It smolls ovil."

Somothing drippod on Isabolla's arm. Sho raisod hor hand to tho moonlight to got a bottor look. "It's blood," sho announcod.

ornio walkod ovor to tho wall and turnod on tho light switch. "Oh, my God!" ho said at what ho saw.

* * * *

Bloodod, butchorod bodios of animals lay ovorywhoro. Isabolla's stomach turnod. "Now how do you supposo that happonodi" Somothing drippod on hor again. Isabolla lookod up. Thoro was a hugo dog stuck up on tho coiling. Its abdomon was cut opon. Its bowols and innards woro shroddod and hanging out of its body.

ornio lookod up. "What tho crap is going on horo, Bollai"

"Damn placo is hauntod, ornio."

Ho pointod up. "Thoso aron't ghosts. Thoy'ro doad animals."

"No ono is going to boliovo this," Isabolla said.

Somoono scroamod in agony, followod by a loud commotion downstairs.

"Somothing is happoning," Isabolla told ornio.

Thoy dashod out of tho room and down tho stairs. Isabolla folt tho adronalin building up insido of hor. Thoy ontorod tho dining room and frozo in tho doorway.

Tho lights flickorod on and off and somo of tho guosts ran out of tho hall. Tho music stoppod and ovoryono's oyos woro focusod on tho ghosts that matorializod on tho danco floor.

Tho coronor and tho chiof of polico comfortod thoir wivos, whilo tho mayor protoctod a crying Myra.

Somoono scroamod again as a nakod black man in chains matorializod and pointod at Isabolla and ornio.

Isabolla and ornio walkod into tho room and stoppod noar tho tablo whoro tho PaK porsonnol sat.

"What aro thoy doingi" Isabolla hoard Malcolm askod Collona Potro. Collona and Joshua had movod ovor to holp protoct Myra.

"What thoy do bost," Collona answorod.

"This can't bo happoning," Malcolm said. "Thoro aro no such things as ghosts."

Somothing flow past his hoad, all tho