Read All the Pretty Ghosts (The Never Alone Series Book 1) for Free Online Page A

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “You can’t ask that much of me, Olly. I’m not strong enough to act as some kind of psychic mediator. I can’t handle the spirits that won’t leave me now.”
    “Look, I really am sorry.” The sadness in his eyes made me stop for a second to hear him out. “Just stick around for a little while longer. I promise I won’t mention it again. You can think about it for a while.”
    “I’m not going to change my mind.”
    He chuckled with a nervous laugh. “You rarely do. But please think about it. You’ve got a gift. I can help you use it, I can be there for you.”
    Oliver was one of the nicest guys on the planet, but he didn’t know what it was like constantly being hounded by the spirits. He couldn’t know what it was like to listen to their pain and know there was nothing I could do about it.
    “I’ll find some food for you to take home.” He left me alone in the courtyard.
    I sat back down again and leaned against the cold brick wall of the building. Pulling my legs up to my chest, I wished I was somewhere else. I wished the Event didn’t happen and I was sitting in the schoolyard again waiting for sixth period English class with Mr. Brown. If I concentrated hard enough, I could still picture all the students, laughing and talking in groups.
    But Mr. Brown was dead now.
    All the teachers were.
    Many of the students, too.
    I shook my head to get rid of the memories. That was the reason why I didn’t want to come into the city. The memories were too strong when everything looked so familiar.
    Across the way, a little girl of about seven waved to me. Her red curly hair shone, even though the sky was still cloudy with smoke and blocking out the sun. I didn’t wave back, I couldn’t risk it. I would make no connections here, I couldn’t.
    As I went to turn away, a piece of food in her hand was ripped away by a group of boys as they moved past her. They knocked her to the ground as they ran away.
    I hurried over and helped her to her feet. She swatted at the dirt caked on her knees and hands. “Are you okay?” I asked. Up close, I could see her big green eyes as they fought back tears. She nodded, trying to be brave. “Are you hungry? Do you want more food?”
    She shook her head and her curls bounced with the movement. “I was almost finished. I can’t go back for more, it’s against the rules.”
    “Is there someone we can tell? They shouldn’t get away with stealing your food or knocking you down.” Stupidly, I looked around for a teacher. Of course there wasn’t going to be anyone supervising the courtyard, they were all dead.
    “There’s no-one. What’s your name?”
    I didn’t want to tell her my name because then she would tell me hers and then she would be a real person to me. Yet looking into her innocent eyes, I couldn’t just walk away. Not when she reminded me so much of Faith. “My name is Everly.”
    “That’s pretty. I’m Lilia. Are you staying here?”
    “No, just visiting.”
    “I don’t live here either.”
    I stared at the little girl. She had a sadness that no child should ever know. But every child here did know it, they knew it well like a worn teddy bear. “Who is looking after you?” I asked. If I could hand her over to someone, I could walk away.
    And I needed to walk away.
    “Nobody. I’m looking after myself,” Lilia said proudly. My heart leaped for her. Even in the broken world, she still took pride in her ability to survive. I guessed it was something to be proud of since the Event.
    It was either survive or perish.
    “Do you know a girl named Faith?” It was worth a shot, I had to ask.
    She pursed her little lips together as she gave it great thought. My hopes lifted, perhaps she had seen my sister. “I don’t think so. Who is she?”
    “Nobody.”
    “Will you help me wash my hair? I’m not very good at it.” Lilia gave me that piercing look again, the one that was just like Faith. I guessed I