Love Beyond the Grave

Chapter One

I was sitting at my old oak desk in my room. It was worn with age, my room was pale yellow, the wall adorned with pictures I had drawn, or taken. My large bed with my favourite purple sheets sat on the far corner of my room. My room had many memories of my best friend Raphael and I having long chats about what our lives were like, our parents, our hobbies and most of all- our time periods.

Raphael was born in 1602 and was murdered in 1619. He never spoke much about what happened then and I don't blame him, it must of been awful. He was only 17 when it happened, just a year older then me.
 
"Rosetta, look at you... come now, let us clean you off," Raphael had just entered my room. He startled me so much I knocked my bandages off of my desk.

He was so striking, the tan skin, dark mysterious eyes, chiseled features, and the small scar underneath his right eye, it was enough to make me melt. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a crisp clean white v-neck shirt.

I found it odd that even though he died in 1619 he was able to wear clothes that fit this century. He looked at my wrists which were covered with cuts, scars and new blood with a face full of horror and pain.

"You promised you'd stop this." He said harshly his Spanish accent thickening because of his tone of voice.

"I'm so sorry Raphael. I am so sorry. I just... I had to..." I whispered to him my eyes filling with tears. His face softened, he took me by the hand very gently and led me into the bathroom that adjoined to my room.
 
It was odd, I was the only one who could speak, see or even touch Raphael. No one else could, and because of this Raphael and I had grown close. He used to accompany to school everyday but when I spoke to him everyone thought I was crazy. "Oh gosh look, it's the ghost girl!" The students used to say. They used to beat on me and tease me and bully me and all Raphael could do was sit and watch and tell me it's ok, he apologizes everyday to me because of it, I couldn't handle it anymore and used the blade. It Felt like sweet relief to me until Raphael came in and screamed in horror as he saw the blood trickle down my wrist, since then I've tried to stop but I just can't and keep doing it.

"You made such a mess of yourself this time... if only I was able to help you to step in, you wouldn't be doing this to yourself... I will find a way to show them that I am real. They will feel my wrath, and they will suffer the same way you did." Raphael muttered as he ran the tap and stuck my wrists under the cool water to see my cuts.

He dried my wrists gently and began to wrap them after determining that they were alright. For such a strong man he was gentle, he treated my cuts as though I was a baby bird with a broken wing.

"If I catch you with a blade in your hand again Rosetta my dear, mark my words I shall not hold back my anger next time." He looked up at me, the gentle face that had just been there had been replaced by one twisted with anger, worry and fear. He frightened me when he looks at me like that but I'd never let it show.

"You don't scare me you know!" I said sharply. Raphael stood up, towering over me, the lights started to flicker in the bathroom. A light bulb burst and I jumped. Raphael noticed and gave me a wicked smile, he knew i was lying to him.

"Oh really, you are not scared now? You know what we ghosts can do. You should be scared my dear, you should be terrified." I stood up from where I was sitting on the cold porcelain tub, i only came up to Raphael's chest.

I saw my reflection in the mirror. A skinny girl with slight shoulders, long wavey dark brown hair, pale skin, big green eyes and freckles across my round button nose.

He will never love me, he will never feel the same I thought. He looked at me triumphantly a huge smile appearing in his face.