The ghost and Steve both held still in that eerie silence, two figures caught in a moment suspended outside of time. The ghost's hollow gaze bore into him, and in that frozen breath, Steve could feel his thoughts scatter like ash in the wind.
'Don't do anything rash.' he told himself firmly.
' I have to keep her alive. No matter what happens... if she can find Maggie... there's no way in hell I'm going to let her die.'
He held that thought tight like a shield and stared deeper into the specter's vacant eyes. There was something mournful in them, something ancient and patient — like it had seen lifetimes before this one, and Steve was only another blink.
Then, suddenly, it shifted — just a flicker — as if the ghost had missed him in time, like it had peered too far ahead and found something it didn't expect.
And then… a strange sensation rolled down his spine. A puff — soft and ghostly — pressed into the base of his back.
Steve's breath hitched.
"I hope…" the ghost whispered.
