Ryan doesn’t expect too much from his weekend at the Shadows and Souls fan convention in Tahoe -- he wants to meet his online friends, engage in a few heated debates about the plot for the upcoming season, and maybe shake the hand of the TV show’s star, Johnny Marlowe. But his weekend goes off course almost immediately after his arrival. First, the hotel loses his booking. Then Johnny Marlowe talks to him like they’re actual friends. And while his head is still spinning, a ghost attacks him in the elevator.<br><br>Despite fighting ghosts every week on television, Johnny Marlowe does not believe in the spirit world. However, he does believe he should get to know Ryan better. Fan or not, the man is not only gorgeous, he’s down-to-earth, fun, and makes Johnny forget about the fake life he’s forced to lead and the ex-boyfriend who refused to participate in the charade. Unfortunately, every time Johnny tries to get close to the handsome ginger, something explodes or the earth shakes or lights blink out -- and none of that is as sexy as it sounds.<br><br>Johnny doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he knows he has to get to the bottom of this haunting if he ever wants to get close to his biggest fan.

Between the Shadow and the Soul

Though he wanted to throw up, Ryan held up his phone, casting green light over the figure. He was right. Oh God, he was so completely right. This was definitely something he did not want to see.


Flesh hung off the man’s jaw and nose in shreds, and his lips were a wreck of tissue and blood. One eye was swollen shut, the other missing entirely, leaving nothing but a giant, gaping hole.


“I see the door,” Johnny said. “Oh, wait, look.”


“What?” It was more of a grunt than a word.


“There’s a panel. Hold the phone right there. Don’t move.”


The man’s skin looked gray in the reflected light, and he didn’t move. Didn’t flinch away from the light. Didn’t turn his head or breathe or give Ryan a chance to catch his breath. But Ryan didn’t lower his arm. He kept his hand steady as Johnny pulled the panel open, revealing a red emergency phone. Great, great, now get us the fuck out of here before I start screaming and never stop.


Chapter 5