The Ghosts Caretaker

Prologue Chapter 1: Stranger Wakening

M/n's POV:
60 years, 60 years trapped in that god-forsaken hell they called the "Other-world" home of the baroness. I am still 16, barely aging from the time I stepped in that hell. Coraline saved me and her family took me in, I am now M/n Jones. It's horrible keeping away from my sister and her family, but it has to happen.

I was walking around the garden we planted a year ago. Mr. Bobinsky is still doing aerobics on the rooftop. Wuss Puss decided to stay by my side, although he's usually with Wybie. Life has quieted down. "Wuss Puss, whats that? Why is there a carriage in the garden and why- its heading right toward us!" I frantically grab Wuss Puss and crouch down before being enveloped in darkness.
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"Ah, My esteemed benefactor.... My proud, beautiful Flower of Evil. You are truly the fairest of them all. O Magic Mirror, thy wisdom I entreat... Reveal the visage I seek...You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth... If your hearts bid it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror."
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M/n POV:
'The hell was that? I'm not evil- why is it so cramped...' I wake to find myself trapped in a suffocating darkness. 'No, no, no, no,no....' I try to push my way out of the cramped space that I found was a coffin. Then I hear Wuss Puss meow, and I feel his fur against my legs. I try to take deep breaths. I hear a noise and I freeze, "W-what's that noise?"

"I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me...Urgggh... This lid weighs a ton!Try this on for size! Mya-ha!" I hear before the small space around me starts to increase in heat. "Wha- Fire?!" I exclaim when the voice opens my coffin. "Now to grab the goods...What?! You ain't supposed to be awake!" the...ferret exclaims. "A flying ferret? Or are you a weasel?" I ask in confusion.

"How... How DARE YOU! I am no WEASEL! I'm Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire! Tch. Whatever. You...human! Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it! 'Cause if you don't...you're gonna regret it!" the ferr- I mean Grim threatens. "This is a very weird dream...I think." I mutter to myself. "Well keep dreamin', 'cause I ain't no weasel!" Grim exclaims.

I find my chance at escape and I run away, entering what I can only guess to be a library. "Some realistic dream this is," I mumble. "Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME?" Grim yells. I turn back to see that he followed me, "Now, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that—Me-YEOW! That hurt! What gives?"

I turn to see a man in a bird mask holding Grim in a whip. "Consider it tough love. Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid. I trust you're one of this year's new students? My, were you ever eager to make your debut. And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules." the man says. "I'm sorry, but that is not-" I start. "As if I'd serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!" Grim interrupts.

"Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won't you?" the man says while putting something in his mouth. "Mmmrph!" Grim tries, and fails, at protesting. "Dear me. Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first with temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you? No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber." the man says.

'Wait what? First you don't listen to me and now this, hell no!' "I'm sorry, but what do you mean by, student? And those Coffins are gates?" I ask angrily. "You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates. Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up." the man explains.

"I see, so those coffins are gateways." I state. "The design is intended to symbolize a parting with your former world, and a rebirth into a new one. But now is not the time for such prattle. You've a student orientation to attend! Go on, now. Make haste." the man says. "Hold on, who even are you?" I ask, annoyed.

"Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories...Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless." the man says while walking out of the library. I reluctantly follow him after picking up Wuss Puss and holding him in my arms.

'This man cannot stop talking to himself about being so great, he has issues' We walk into what looks like a courtyard before he continues talking. "*Ahem* This is Night Raven College. It is an institution for students the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland. And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage." the man- Crowley explains.

"Hold on, magic?" I say skeptically. "Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those "gates," which can appear anywhere. A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you." Crowley explains. "That explains the creepy carriage part." I state unenthused.

"That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror. It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition." Crowley explains again. "Of course it is, and it dragged me here against my will, just when I thought things were getting back to normal," I sigh.

"Mmfff! Mmmmmmfff!" Grim once again tries, and fails, to speak. "Now, let us attend to your orientation." Crowley says. 'Lovely, time to go to a college that I never wanted to be apart of'