Ghostly Plea

Ashlyn

No one moves an inch. Why would we move when the very thing that has been keeping us locked in this house is now standing in front of us? The thing named Geoffrey is talking but I don't listen. All my attention goes to his appearance. When he first appeared, you could see through him the tiniest bit. But now he looked like any regular person. He was abnormally pale, and his eyes had a milky quality to them. He looks like a walking corpse. As I study him, he seems to look familiar to me. But the picture that comes to mind is a lively version of him. Images flash across my vision. Hands covered in dirt, the smell of tobacco and earth.

The last image fills me with a horrible amount of guilt. And I have no idea why. I see Geoffrey's face looking around the room horrified and the next thing I know, I see him face down, drowning in a pool of blood. Why, Miss? Why? He asked me. I'm torn out of the vision by Riley elbowing me in the ribs. I try to swallow the bile rising in my throat. What is happening to me? Am I going crazy? I look over at Riley and she tilts her head towards Geoffrey.

"Miss Turner, is that you?" He asks in old English. Confused, I look behind me. No one's there. Everyone's face looks as confused as mine.

"Me?" I whisper. He nods and comes closer, slowly. Calm washes over me as he puts his hands on my face. My mind is screaming at me to pull away, but a part of me knows he loves me, and will always take care of me.

"My sweet girl, where have you been?" He asks so quietly only I can hear. An anguished cry echoes throughout my mind. It holds all the sadness of the world. It pains me to hear it. I close my eyes trying to keep the sound in, not wanting it to get out.

I'm so sorry... Someone whispers in my head. With a jolt, I rip my face away from his hands. Why did I let him touch me?! Why do I feel so comfortable with him, and what was the voice in my head? There are way too many questions to be answered, but I'm afraid no one will have them. Geoffrey looks startled as do my friends. They all look scared. Like they're afraid of me. Not the actual ghost standing in front of them. I must look as crazy as I feel.

Choking back a sob I put as much distance in between me and Geoffrey as I can.

"I'm sorry, Miss?"

"Staco." Bella finishes for me.

"I'm very sorry Miss Staco, I must have mistaken you for someone else." He gives me one last long look at me before he begins to continue to speak about the topic previously.

Bella eyes me warily, while Poppy keeps studying me, trying to find what Geoffrey did. I duck my head down, not making eye contact with anyone.

"As I was saying before, we need your help. I need your help. Poppy did very well at giving you a summary of the family's story. It is true that none of us know the full story of what happened. But most of them, unlike myself, are too weary in their grief to be able to tell their portion. Sadly, the only person who lived through the whole event has not been seen since that terrible night. I do not know if she continued to live a full life, or if she was murdered as well." His gaze lingers on mine.

"But that is why you are here. To figure that out for us."

"Where's the rest of the family?" Riley asks quietly. I don't understand how they're taking this so well. Maybe that's why they picked us. I shiver at the thought.

"They are around the house, too blinded by their own anguish to know you are here."

"Why can't we see them then?" Charlie asks.

"They are concealing themselves. Like I have been until now. Does anyone else have questions?" Geoffrey asks. Complete and utter silence. We are all too shell shocked about what we are being told.

"I have one." Whintle says. We all look at him. "Who is he? The one in my head?"

Geoffrey looks to the ground. Trying to pick his next words carefully.

"Mr. Turner, he was the one in your mind."

It makes perfect sense now. Whintle was being possessed, like in the movies. It explains why he was having spontaneous seizures and saying horrible things that didn't make sense.

"You know he's going to kill us all before we can save you. He won't let it happen." Whintle says.

"We will just hope it doesn't come to that." He says to Whintle. His nostrils flare in anger.

"Wait," All eyes are on me. "You were the shadow outside; you took the keys!" I accuse. He nods grimly.

"No way am I gonna die for you! I never wanted to come here in the first place!" Charlie shouts.

"You never said my friends could die," Poppy says angrily.

"Give us the keys, and then we leave. I never agreed to any of this!" I say, resolute.

"I'm afraid I can't let that happen." Geoffrey says. He lifts his hands and all throughout the house you can hear things locking, and metal twisting to keep us inside.

"You liar! You said you would let us go any time we pleased!" Poppy shouts.

"This truly pains me. But over my many years I have learned that my wife and I must come first." He starts to become translucent again. "And remember, you can end it all." He says, his last sentence directed to me. And with that, he's gone.