Chapter 156

About an hour later, the black Bentley pulled up to the gates of Pinecrest High. Outside vehicles were not allowed on campus; visitors had to sign in.

The security guard, Mr. Frank, walked over. "Hello, what's your business at Pinecrest High?"

Theobald had graduated from Pinecrest and recognized the guard. "Mr. Frank, we're here to handle a school transfer."

"A transfer?" Mr. Frank took a closer look and immediately recognized Theobald.

Who didn't know Northpine Wraith? "A relative of yours?" he asked casually, handing Theobald the sign-in book.

Just then, he noticed a stunningly beautiful girl in the passenger seat. She was smiling at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Mr. Frank."

Mr. Frank froze. He closed his eyes, then opened them again. The girl was still there.

He immediately whipped out a handful of salt and threw it at the passenger seat. "Begone! Begone, I say!"

He was certain it was Marguerite the academic champion who had died eleven years ago. She was just as beautiful as he remembered, but a line had to be drawn between the living and the dead. He couldn't let her just sit in Northpine Wraith's car. He hadn't reacted quickly enough when she was in George's car last time.

A shower of salt rained down on the three people in the car, leaving them stunned for a moment.

Then Marguerite burst out laughing. "Hahaha, Mr. Frank, I'm a person, not a ghost!"

Mr. Frank didn't believe her. "Quick, Wraith, grab your prayer beads! There's a ghost in your passenger seat!"

Theobald calmly brushed the salt from his lap onto the center console. "She's not a ghost, really. Maggie didn't die."

The three of them had already concocted a story on the way over. Claiming she had traveled through time would get her locked up.

Theobald's voice was steady. "Here's what happened. Maggie was rescued back then but fell into a coma. She only just woke up recently."

Mr. Frank was still skeptical until Marguerite got out of the car and took his hand. "See? I have a pulse. It's me, Marguerite, back from the... well, back!"

That convinced him. Tears welled up in the old guard's eyes. "It really is you! This is wonderful! When I heard you died, I was so sad I lost thirty all so young

pounds. Look at you still so young. and beautiful, while old Mr. Frank has gotten old."

"Not at all, Mr Frank! You're still as handsome as ever! The cleaning ladies must still be swooning over you, Marguerite teased. in the Bac day, so many of the schools cleaning staff had a crush on Mr.

Frank. He might be bald, but he was a good, dependable man

Mr. Frank blushed. "Ah, that was a long time ago. I'm married now, and I love my

wife very much. Anyway, sorry about the salt."

"Let me get that. I was going to take it home to my wife to make rice tonight."

Northpine Wraith couldn't believe he was getting a lecture on marital bliss from the security guard. He kicked an imaginary dog bowl. Handing back the sign-in book, he said, "It's all dirty now. I'm taking Maggie inside."

Mr. Frank didn't insist. Another car

was pulling up behind them. He pressed the button to raise the gate. "Stop by on your way out, Marguerite! Mr. Frank will get you some fruit!" he called after them with

a smile. The girl had always loved fruit. He used to see her walking

around campus, munching on something. She was so was so adorable

that he often brought fruit from home-an orange or an apple-to give to her when he saw her.

People said being a security guard was a meaningless, dead-end job.

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