Ghostly Plea

Ashlyn

Walking down the familiar corridor of my home always puts my anxieties at ease. And those corridors are usually where you would find me. But this evening I find myself sitting on a bench looking out upon the maze. It's probably one of my favorite things about my home, the maze. It's an endless puzzle, just waiting to be put together and be solved. And if you truly know me, you know that I love a good puzzle to solve.

"Miss Harper, there you are! Your mother wishes for you to go inside and wash up for dinner." Geoffrey, the groundskeeper, walks over to me, knowing he'll have to practically drag me to go inside.

"But it's the perfect time of day for an adventure, Geoffrey, please just a few more minutes," I plead.

"Your mother seems ill at ease; I don't think it would be wise to keep her waiting."

I stand up fully aware of what he is saying about my mother. She's been acting very peculiar of late, and it's quite worrisome.

"Well, let's be off then." I start to bite my nails in worry. A ten-year-old like myself shouldn't have to worry about her mother. It should be the opposite in fact. Lately I find I have become somewhat of a mother. My little brother, Danny, has been very frightened of Mother's behavior lately. He tells me stories about her coming into his room, tears streaming down her face while she rocks, back and forth, back and forth in the rocking chair as she watches him sleep. I don't blame him, mother has been showing signs of a mental person, which is quite frightening indeed.

What I'm too afraid to admit to my brother is that mothers psychotic break is my fault. I discovered something terrible about my father and informed her of that secret. That night the shouting coming from his office was so loud it frightened the birds out of the trees. Mother was shouting that she knew, and father said if she ever spoke about it again, she would pay. I always knew my father was a bad man, but his wickedness had never come out before. It was always simmering below the surface. But now that it's been released there has been hell to pay. If I had just kept my mouth shut none of it would have happened...

"Miss Harper, are you well? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Oh, I'm fine Geoffrey, just pondering life choices."

"No doubt that a brilliant mind like yours is pondering." Geoffrey opens the front door waiting for me to enter. Walking across the threshold I feel something sinister in the air. I'm about to turn around to walk back into the peaceful night when I find Geoffrey has gone, and the door is closed.

I'll just have to make it through dinner. I walk past the leather furniture in the grand foyer and head to the dining room. The rectangular table is filled with roast beef, vegetables, wine and little chocolate puddings. In the center is a massive bouquet of white roses, but with one thing missing. My family. Strange, why did mother call me in here if they're not even here yet?

Maybe there in Father's study? I walk up the oak staircase and head to the study. No one is in there, but a few books are strewn about the floor. I continue to walk past when I discover Danny hiding behind a potted fern in the hall.

"Whatever are you do-" I realize that Danny has silent tears running down his apple cheeks. He lifts his finger to his lips indicating to be quiet. He points to the library door. I don't know how I missed it before. The huge wooden door is cracked by the hinges. Most likely from being slammed shut. I crack open the door slightly and see mothers silver dagger laying in the ground. I open the door just a tiny bit more and see mother face first on the ground, scarlet droplets speck the floor.

I'm about to rush to her when I see father walk up to her, bend down and whisper something in her ear. He gives her a whisper of a kiss on her neck then snaps back up and kicks her in the ribs. Horrified, I scream.