The Ghost of Christmas Future's Arc

Chapter 9 of 9

The Ghost stepped through the hospital door and into the waiting room. His book felt lighter now that he understood his task. He didn't need to guess at every death or chase shadows through the streets. He needed to witness the moments that mattered and record them with care. A nurse walked past carrying folded linens. She didn't see him. No one ever did. That was his advantage—he could watch without being watched, listen without being heard. The Ghost moved down the hallway toward the rooms where the sick lay resting. Today he would observe. Today he would learn to see the signs more clearly. When the time came to write a name, his hand would be steady and sure. He spent three days watching patients breathe their last breaths. Each time, he wrote the name and date in his book. But the Ghost knew he needed more than hospital visits to complete his collection. Many people died at home, surrounded by family he would never see. He needed another way—a method that brought the names to him instead. That night, he built a wooden chest with a hinged lid and carved careful words into the front: "For those whose time draws near." He placed it where families gathered to mourn. Inside, he left blank pages and a pen. The living would help him now, writing down names of loved ones who were fading. The chest would fill with truth he couldn't find alone. But knowing names wasn't enough. The Ghost needed to sharpen his timing—to see not just who would die, but when. He walked to the town's edge and built a platform from old wooden boards. On top, he raised a tall pole with a crossbeam. A gallows. He didn't need it for death—death came on its own. He needed it to practice. Each morning, he would stand before it and predict the hour someone would pass. Then he would visit them and see if he was right. Day by day, his guesses grew closer to the truth. The Ghost opened his book and ran one bone finger down the list of names. His collection was growing. His timing was improving. Soon, he would be ready to fulfill his purpose completely.