“Are you ready?” the man asked the woman in the black dress.

“Yes, Hal, thank you. Let’s get started.”

Hal looked around at the five other participants and gestured to the round table with candles already burning. He waited until everyone was seated. “Thank you all for coming. I think I speak for Genevieve when I say we are all still reeling from losing Leo. It turns out the Great Almani couldn’t escape a heart attack,” he paused and a murmur that could have been a sad chuckle went around the table. “However, Genevieve was clear that her husband vowed he could escape death itself and return to communicate with the living. And, in fact, he stipulated this gathering in his will.”

Hal nodded to the man standing by the door who dutifully dimmed the lights.

“I’m no medium,” Hal said. “And lord knows Leo did his best to discredit as many as he could. But I’ll serve as our voice tonight. Please. Let’s all join hands.”

Each person took a hand of the person next to them.

“I want you to think about Leo, about what he meant to you, about who he was. Focus your minds and act as a conduit so we might contact Leo.” Then he affected a more commanding voice, “Leo Almani, your friends and your wife have gathered here to contact you so you can fulfill your promise to communicate from beyond the grave. Please, Leo, give us a sign you’re here.”

Everyone was quiet. Everyone waited. And waited. And waited.

“Leo, please, if you’re here, give us a sign – knock on the table, speak in one of our ears, knock a book off one of the shelves.”

There was silence. No one spoke. No one moved.

This went on for an hour – Hal asking Leo to make a sign and nothing.

Finally, Genevieve broke the silence. “I don’t think he’s going to communicate, Hal,” she said sadly. “If you’re here, Leo, know you’re loved and we hope you’re at peace.”

A murmur of agreement and the other members started to get up and move out of the room.

However, this went differently from a different perspective…

“Leo Almani, your friends and your wife have gathered here to contact you so you can fulfill your promise to communicate from beyond the grave. Please, Leo, give us a sign you’re here.”

“I’m right here, Hal,” Leo stood behind him. When no one noticed he said more loudly, “I’m right here! Hello! Anyone? Hello? Come on!”

“Leo, please, if you’re here, give us a sign – knock on the table, speak in one of our ears, knock a book off one of the shelves,” Hal said.

“I’m trying, Hal! Jesus, I’m trying!” he tried knocking on the table but he hand repeatedly passed right through it. He went to the bookshelf and tried to push a book but, again, his hand passed right through it. “Damn it!” He cursed.

Leo was panting with exertion from running around the table waving his arms in everyone’s faces, yelling profanities, jumping on the table at one point. Finally, Genevieve started “I don’t think he’s going to communicate, Hal,”

Leo stood behind his wife, “I’m right here Genny! Can’t you hear me?!” He pleaded.

“If you’re here, Leo, know you’re loved and we hope you’re at peace,” she said.

Leo started to cry. He walked through the wall out of the building and into the alley behind the club that had been reserved for the séance.

A woman in a long dress leaned against the wall and laughed as Leo emerged.

“You!” he recognized her.

“One of the ‘fake mediums’ you supposedly ‘outed’? Yeah, that’s me,” she laughed.

“You…. You can see me?”

“Not so fake now am I, Leo?”

“You have to go in there! You have to tell them I’m really here!”

“Leo, you didn’t believe me when you’re alive, and I only came here to laugh at your ghost,” she turned and started down the alley.

“But, but…”

“Guess you can’t escape this!” she laughed as the kept walking.