Mimi tensed up the moment the cold, automatic doors closed behind them.

  ^Ever, I don’t like it here.^

  “Come on,” he said, gesturing for her to follow as he walked towards reception. With her shivering tail between her legs, she trailed him like a brown shadow.

  “Hi,” Ever said, getting to the front desk. “I’ve got an appointment with Zoe at 10.” Ever scanned the square waiting room: dogs, cats, birds, even a couple fishes. It brimmed with nervous energy - at least from the animals that were alive. Ever’s mouth opened slightly in shock. Were his eyes deceiving him?

  The receptionist with strawberry blonde hair that waved slightly at the ends stood up slightly and peered over the desk. “Your pet?”

  Ever tore his eyes away from the cacophony of animals in the room. “She…” Ever looked down. Mimi was nowhere to be seen. He doubled back down the hall, where she was hanging around the entrance. He bent down, scooped her up, putting the length of her body under his forearm.

  “She’s right here,” he said, coming back.

  “OK,” the receptionist said, “I’ve let her know, she’ll see you short-”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  A peach-colored door opened. Out came a disgruntled black cat with a cone around its neck, carried by its equally disgruntled owner.

  “She’ll see you now,” Zoe said with a grin. It wasn’t a brilliant, customer service smile, but something a bit more lop-sided, imperfect but warm like fall sunshine through a maple tree losing her leaves. “Hello again, ice cream boy, long time no see.” She beckoned him to come in, turning around and heading back into her room, her brunette ponytail swishing behind her. Mimi had stopped quivering and was now curiously turning her head to look at Ever.

  A nurse with a mask over her face was prepping in the corner of the room. In the center was a sterile-looking metal examination table. Plastered on the walls were posters and pictures. Some of them spoke of vaccinations, others were pictures of happy dogs or cats, playing with their owners.

  Mimi’s trembling had also resumed, which probably had something to do with the fact that there were also no fewer than a dozen animal souls in the room.

  “So,” Zoe said, putting her hands back and pressing into the bench behind her, “you mentioned that this poor girl was kicked in the face?”

  The ghost animals were noisy. They barked and miaowed. There was also one bird ghost that squawked. It was really hard to ignore them. One of the dog souls, a retriever whose long fur was more silver than gold, jumped up onto Zoe. While it fell through her, she seemed to shoo it away at it with her fingers.

  “Ever?” Zoe prompted. Hearing his name said by someone new snapped him back into focus. She smiled at him again. The subtle curve of her lips veiled an unspoken question.

  “Yeah,” Ever said, forcing himself to ignore the bird trying to perch on top of Zoe’s head. “It all started when…”