You didn't know how much tickets were to go the earliest baseball game this or next week, and you didn't really want to spend all that much money since you were basically broke as it was.

"Alright then, I guess we're going hiking."

"Sweet, I've like going to the mountains, my dad found an arrowhead one time when we went really far out!" Owen brags to everyone.

Even though Baron didn't get his suggestion, he still nods in approval while Gwen still doesn't really seem to give much of a shit.

----

This was really going to suck if you were the only one who was going to get tired out of this. Though on the bright side that meant you only had to pack for yourself, which made everything much lighter.

You were glad that Owen and Veronica were pretty enthusiastic about this trip, as they were already running ahead of the trail as far as the boundary would let them go. Baron and Nick were walking beside each other, talking about some grown-up stuff that would have probably bored you if you decided to join them.

Ashley was the slowest one of everyone else, dragging her feet as she just looked at the ground while she walked, making you anxious that she would bump into a cactus or something if she wasn't careful. These ghosts could touch things, you had no idea if they were susceptible to pain depending on what they touched.

Everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves out here, as you took suggestions on which routes to travel on and which spots to stay and just look at.

Though the one thing that really kept on bugging you on this trip was Ashley and her mopping in the back.

Maybe it was just best to ignore it and let her be down on her own.

You leave her alone

It was best to just leave the girl alone. She had her own problems, and if she wanted to keep them to herself until she left this world for good, then it was on her. It would only cause problems if you tried to get involved and she started freaking out or something, besides everyone seemed to be having a happy day today, best not to ruin it.

The hike continued late into the night as Owen was the one who kept on asking to stay longer. It seemed since they guys didn't get fatigued, the only thing that was stopping them was boredom, which they didn't seem to have any of.

That was a very enjoyable night, one you wish they would remember.

You day of Ascension

Ever since the day in which you all had fun. You had decided that it would be best to continue this as much as you could, continuing to take suggestions from everyone to places in which you could go and have fun. Each time everyone enjoyed themselves as all tensions seemed to fade off, except for Ashley's dilemma.

It wasn't until the day that Ruby had said everything would be ending that you realized you would be missing everyone here. The time in which you've spent with them made you mad sometimes, yes. But on the other hand, they had become sort of like family.

While Ashley herself seemed pretty happy as you all entered the abandoned warehouse in which you would be doing the ritual, Owen himself seemed pretty down.

"Bout time you guys showed up, haven't you ever heard of being early? I thought you guys would be hurrying here with how much you wanted to leave." Ruby complains as she sees all of you enter the warehouse.

"Why are we even doing it here?" You ask, getting really creepy vibes.

"There are some cases in which ascension rituals get sort of.....unpredictable. They're really rare occurrences but it's best that were in a place in which nobody would bother to visit."

That really didn't make you feel all that comfortable, but not like you could call this off or anything.

"So what does this ritual entail then?" You ask.

"A very simple process. Each spirit here stands before you, and they each shake your hand. Depending on their attitude, fulfillment's, regrets, it decides whether or not they ascend, a lot of things are taken into the factor."

This explanation immediately made you look over at Ashley, as did everyone else who was there.

Ashley's eyes were wide open, as her head shook a little.

"What happens if it doesn't work..." She lets out with a hoarse voice.

"Simple. You don't ascend." Ruby says matter-of-factly.

Ashley's mouth dropped open as Ruby continued to smile.

"Alright, everyone in line! Let's get this show on the road!" She states gleefully.


Everyone does as she says, with Gwen's knees trembling as the ritual begins.

"Alright let's make this quick, I got shit to do," Ruby says as she claps her hands.

The first person to step up to you is Baron.

You're about to speak first but he cuts you off.

"Listen, kid, I know I didn't talk all that much when I first came with you. I think I was just a little shocked that I had lost during my last fight. Thanks for giving me the time to enjoy life without having to worry about all that other shit that I had to deal with for most of my life, I really enjoyed it." He says raising up his hand.

"Thanks for being so cool with us, I hope you end up somewhere good Baron, you honestly deserve it."

He laughs at that. "That's debatable."

You raise up your own hand as the two of you lock onto each other, and before you know it, he's gone.

Nick is next, and again he's the first one to speak.

"Thanks for getting me out of that house kid, coming from the stories of everyone else here I was probably the one who had to stay in their death place the shortest amount of time. I probably would have started going crazy if I had stayed there any longer, due to some personal reasons I've been trying to forget all this time. Thanks for taking the time to take us to different places so we could enjoy ourselves before we left, it was probably one of the best months I can recall in years, you take care of yourself kid, and keep on helping those who can't help themselves."

"You really helped me a lot with everyone, you made things a hell of a lot easier then they would have been if you weren't there. You kind of honestly normalized everything, thanks for that, I hope you find your peace."

You both smile as your hands meet, as he too ascends in a matter of seconds.

Veronica and Owen step up next, wanting to do the ascension together.

"Bout time I got you out of my hair." You joke at Owen, who smiles in return.

Though the smile itself does not last, as it starts to quickly quiver as Owen runs up to hug your abdomen.

His muffled voice covered by your shirt begins to speak.

"I'm going to miss you."

You place a hand on top of his head while another one wraps around his back.

"Wherever you end up, make sure to stay out of trouble kid. Either way, though I'll know everything is going to turn out good for you. Thanks for making everything so fun, and I'm sorry If I ever got too mad you."

Fuck, you were actually about to tear up a little bit, though were able to stop yourself as Owen reluctantly let go of you as you gave one last firm hug, wiping away at his eyes.

"Don't worry about it too much kid, we'll meet again someday. I'm sure we all end up in the same place." You say to raise his spirits.

He smiles. "I'll be waiting for you so I can mess with you again."

You both laugh as you take his tiny hand into yours. After a brief pause, you turn your wrist as you see Owen leave your eyes for good.

You really hope that kid ended up somewhere nice.

Veronica's ascension was much shorter, you two really never talked all that much. So you gave her your best wishes and she did the same, she ascended without any worry.

Last but not least was Ashley, who slowly made her way up to you with trembling knees.

You two didn't really bother saying a word to one another as both your hands raised up.

You felt pretty bad for her, but then again it was her own fault for her attitude.

You locked onto her wrist and gave it a twist.

She was still there.

"D-Do, it again!" She cries with panic.

You do as she asks and still, nothing.

"Well it looks like that's all the ascending that'll be needed today, come on dipshit I'll give you a ride home. My treat since our quota is done."

"Wait! What about me?!" Ashley yells at Ruby.

"Simple, you'll ascend the next time we do this when you get a better attitude and feel fulfilled. Though you're going to have to wait awhile since our quota is done for the next few months, I'm sure that's plenty of enough time to reflect on yourself." Ruby replies to her without looking back.

Man Ruby could be really fucking venomous when she wanted to be. You followed after her quickly since you didn't want to get the bus home and you doubt she would wait up for you with her offer.

Ashley followed from behind defeated. It was going to be pretty hell living with her for the next few months, but maybe in that time, you could help with her emotions until she was ready to leave. Maybe talking to her that one time would have helped, no use thinking about it now though, what's done is done.

As Ruby drove the two of you home, you thought about what had happened in the last couple of months.

All the spirits you had met, all the fun times you had spent together. Would it really be OK for you if it just kept on resetting every few months or so, having those you've gotten to know just be completely erased from this existence?

Would you become numb, or just really pissy like Ruby?

No, you wouldn't fall that low. You would continue to help spirits to the best of your ability until you were no longer capable. Maybe after your time in this world was over and done, maybe you could have one big meeting with everyone that you had met and helped, that would be so cool.

Or maybe everyone just reincarnated, and everyone you had just helped had already been reborn into this world.

Whichever way it was, you knew something was waiting for them. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here doing this.

and when your time came, something would be waiting for you too.

Until then, you had a job to do.