Ghostly Plea

Ashlyn

We all look at each other shocked. We waste no time running up the stairs and into the cream room. Whintle's sitting up in bed with panic gleaming in his eyes. None of us dare to walk closer to him, afraid if we spook him, seizures will overtake him again. That Whintle was terrifying, possessed, not really him. But the Whintle I'm looking at now has color in his cheeks, no shaking, and his gold eyes are fully aware.

Relief overtakes me. If he's okay, we can finally get out of here. I just need to find the keys first. Poppy runs over to Whintle and jumps in his arms. She hugs him tight for a moment before drawing away. All of us have the same expression of shock. We have never seen her show this much emotion towards Whintle. He looks just as surprised as us. Audrey looks seriously pissed. I guess jealousy is still a thing, even in dire situations such as this.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Poppy exclaims.

The momentary surprise is gone from Whintles face. "Thank you for helping." He then pulls Poppy into another hug. We all just stare, dumbfounded. Poppy nods her head in the crook of his shoulder.

"Enough! I'm so sick and tired of not knowing what the heck is going on!" Taken aback I look at Audrey. She's barely spoken a word sense we got here, apparently; it's all been stewing inside of her.

Poppy and Whintle stare at each other, as if deciding what to tell us. Then Poppy nods and looks at all of us. "You guys should probably change out of your wet clothes and clean Ashlyn up before we tell you anything." Audrey looks like she's about to throw fists, but Arthur quickly drags her out of the room. And what else is there to do but follow?

I'm abnormally pale as I look at myself in the mirror. My green eyes look as if a cats would because they are glowing so bright. I was able to take a bath and wash away the blood and grime. Bella layed out new clothes for me. A white t-shirt, blue jeans, raincoat, and rainboots. Where she got them, I don't know. I quickly French braid my wet hair. I look in the mirror one more time before I leave. But what greets me is not my own face. Well, it is, but what's disconcerting is the face next to mine.

A little girl with two blond braids with bows at the end stares back. Her chestnut eyes shine with malice. With a vicious smile she's gone. I blink, once, twice. Trying to understand what I had just witnessed. I splash cold water on my face and look into the mirror again. Just me. I must be paranoid, from trying to remember what happened last night. I shake my head when a knock comes from the other side of the door.

"Ash, honey, are you okay? You've been in there for a while now." Bella says through the door.

"Yeah," My voice cracks at the end. I open the door. "I'm fine." I give her what I hope is a reassuring smile. She doesn't look very convinced. But I can't crack again. I need to be strong. No more tears from me. Shoulders back, and head held high I take a seat next to Riley. I can't show them how rattled I am. I just need to pretend like nothing happened last night. I did not somehow end up outside, and I do not hear voices or see things. Riley smiles at me, then gives all her attention to Poppy and Whintle standing in front of us.

"I know you've been wanting answers," Poppy says. Audrey snorts, and Bella gives her a pointed look.

"But things are a little complicated. Whintle knows a little bit of what's going on," She continues.

"Just spit it out already!" Charlie shouts, angry. "We deserve to know!"

Bella positions herself towards the stairs, ready to flee whenever necessary. She hates conflict. Finn notices this and holds her hand. Confused at their newfound comradery I shoot her a questioning glance. She acts like she didn't notice me. I am definitely asking her later.

"I'm sorry!" Poppy says getting flustered. "I-I just don't know how to explain this without freaking you out."

"Just say it, we've already witnessed Whintle going insane, and Ashlyn was found covered in blood outside the same bench that caused Whintle to go crazy. I think we can take it." Charlie huffs out.

"First of all, we do not know if the bench was the problem, and second I was not covered in blood." I say matter of fact, to Charlie.

"Please, two crazy things happened, and it all goes back to that bench. Coincidence? I think not. And you looked like you were dead when we found you, Ash."

"You weren't even there Charlie! You were supposed to be with Whintle! So how in the actual heck would you know anything?!" She has always been able to push my buttons.

"I didn't need to be there honey to know you looked dead, you look like a dead girl walking right now!"

"Can you two just shut up! We don't need a flipping cat fight right now!" Finn bursts. "Ash is right, we don't know if the bench is causing everything, but Charlie's right too. You do look dead on your feet Ash. It looks like you need to lie down."

I scowl. "Can we just please listen to Poppy?!" We all looked at her again.

"Okay, um... I'll just say it. They need our help." She says in a rush.

"Who needs our help, Poppy?" I ask.

"Um, the previous owners of this house."

"Excuse me?" Audrey says.

"Sorry Poppy, but I'm a little confused as well.' Arthur says while pushing up his glasses.

"Let me start from the beginning. Years ago, a family lived here, in this home. The Turners. Liam, the husband; Eliza, the wife; Harper, their first child; and Danny, the youngest. They were a happy loving family. Eliza was a lovely English woman who fell instantly in love with the handsome Liam Turner. After they were married a few months, later Eliza became pregnant with Harper. She was Liam's pride and joy.

"A year later they tried to have another child, but Eliza miscarried. She thought she would never have another child, until four years later. Nine months went by and Danny was born. Eliza loved him. He was like a new toy to her. Wherever she went, she would take Danny with her. She was so careful with him, she wouldn't even let Martha, the maid, take care of him. As the two kids grew up Martha started to take care of Danny more, as Eliza would tire easily. But Martha was strong, even for her 50 years.

"Geoffrey, Martha's husband, and the groundskeeper tended to like Harper more. She was very smart for her 10 years of age and always kept him entertained. The two were seen walking the night, tragedy struck."

We all looked at Poppy hoping she'll continue. How does she know all of this? The room is deathly silent, all of us on the edge of our seats. She looks towards the door of the house and nods her head yes. Confused, and a little frightened, I look at the door too. But no one's there. I don't have time to think about it because She starts to speak again.

"The family, including Geoffrey and Martha, were all found dead in the library the next morning. All brutally killed."

"They were murdered in the same house we're staying in?! Are you saying this house is what? Haunted?" Charlie exclaims.

"Wait, didn't you say the family needed our help?" I ask.

"Yes, I did. Nobody knows fully how that night went. And they want us to figure it out." Poppy says.

"You keep saying them as in them, the family?" I say not understanding.

"Yes, you're correct."

"Poppy, they're dead." Finn says.

"Right again." Poppy tells us. "But they are still currently with us." We stare at her, not fully comprehending what she's telling us. She can't mean...

"They're spirits are still here. And they need us to save them."

"Are you telling me ghosts are real?" Riley asks.

"Yes..."

"I can take it from here Miss Poppy." A deep voice says from behind me. 

All of us whip our head towards the voice. Standing there is an old man, in overalls. Something is off though; his skin is translucent. Not so much that you can see straight through but appears as if you were looking through a very thin sheet of paper.

"Geoffrey," Poppy says in greeting.