Haunted

Chapter 10: The lake's dark waters tempt me for a dive

Slipping between corridors as silent as a ghost, I wander through the halls of Blackwell Manor after having eaten breakfast alone. My boredom eats away at me. Mother and Victoria left before I woke to buy new shoes and Father is off in town meeting with upcoming authors and checking new silver plates for photoengraving images into newspapers. My loneliness is cumbersome and certainly not a skill I'm adept at navigating.

I spin on my heels at the rustle of the drapes behind me. They sway in front of the window, an occurrence that shouldn't be possible since there was nothing to move them. I stalk toward them, ready to investigate the strangeness of it when a shadow darts in the corner of my eye.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I turn to the sudden movement. My heart jumps in my throat at the culprits' proximity. A young man with gangly limbs tucked into a gray suit, slicked-back red hair, and forest-green eyes that shine with mischief, stands in front of me. He flashes a bright smile, delighted at my fear.

"Thomas!" I exclaim, wrapping my arms around my older brother's neck. "I hadn't realized you'd be home so soon!"

"I missed you too much to stay away," he confesses, hugging me back. "Shall we play a game? I've missed those too. None of the students at King's College know how to play a truly thrilling game of tag."

"I can imagine," I muse, grateful that he's here. "We can play with Victoria after she gets back with Mother. That's assuming she'll join in." I press a hand to my mouth, my smile deepening. "Oh my goodness! Do Mother and Father even know you're here? What a pleasant surprise!"

"Indeed it is. Now, let's play that game." He insists as he tugs me down the hall.

"Right now? But I don't have the proper shoes, in fact, I don't even have any shoes." I pout, trying to pull free from his bruising grip. "You have an unfair advantage."

"Life is unfair my dear sister. We must learn to play regardless." He taps the tip of my nose, a playful smirk on his face. "You're it."

"Wait! Thomas!" I call out as he bolts down the halls, taking a sharp left down one of the corridors. "Thomas!" I pick up my skirt and chase after my brother as tears spring in my eyes. They cloud my vision, making it impossible to see anything straight.

Why is he leaving me again? Have I done something wrong? Is he afraid of my madness too?

Desperation fuels my pace but Thomas has grown fast while he's been away. He's always just out of reach, slipping around another corner just before I can catch him.

It's like we're children again, playing games to pass the time, but nothing about this is innocent fun. It's as though the manor favors him winning as the halls stretch around me. They warp until I find myself lost in their labyrinth. I run past whispering paintings with eyes that follow my every move and through corridors that cut off abruptly, causing cold sweat to dampen my clothes. My labored breaths and heavy footsteps fill the empty manor as I follow flashes of Thomas. I eventually make it to the foyer, my lungs burning and my legs aching from the exertion.

My eyes dart around the room, searching for any sight of him. I'm almost certain he came this way. "Thomas? Where have you gone? Can we just end this foolishness? I concede: you win," I plead, taking deep gulps of air. I'm terrified he won't show up, cementing my insignificance. My throat burns with unshed tears as I wring my hands together. "Please, I just want my brother back. Can't we play this game some other time?"

Thomas left me alone and he's not coming back. He chose to leave me. He ran away. Am I really that terrible, that horrid?

Doubt floods my mind as I recount my time with Thomas. He has to be here somewhere. I hugged him, I held an entire conversation with him. But, I had a conversation with Aunt Ligeia and Grandmother Jane too. No, this is different. This has to be different. I'm not that hysteric, right?