The Ghost's Diary 👻 ✓

30. Belle

I open my eyes and see the familiar grey atmosphere around me. I wade my arms through the clouds so that I can see properly again.

This is getting so old...

The clouds grow thinner and thinner and I can make out a basic outline of this scene.

I think I see something glowing and I hear fire crackling.

What the...

The clouds completely dissipate and
I look behind myself. Dylan, Allison and Ethan are also here with me.

I rotate my neck to see the rest of this place.

There is a bed in the centre of this large room and also a wardrobe near the side.

Dylan, Allison and Ethan are also peering around this bed chamber.

The light is really dim here.
The only source of it, is the fireplace.
But even its light is as dim and dull as the twilight from the side window.

Why are we here?

"I suppose that you have seen Isabelle and Timothy Ingram in the library?"

I look where the voice came and turn my head to the left.

Henry is standing by that same window from which moonlight was pouring through. The twilight is in patches because of some tree outside the window. He turns towards us and puts his hands in his pockets.

"Yes, we did," Dylan says while folding his arms across his chest.

Henry's eyes flicker to Dylan for a second before he turns to gazing out of the window again.

Is there some tension between them?

"Um, if you don't mind me asking...
Why are we here now?" Allison puts her right index finger on the side of her lips.

"To answer a question that I am quite sure, every one in this room would like to know." He scans the room and presses his lips together in a straight but tight line.

All of us stay quiet for a good minute or two, the only sound between us is of tree twigs colliding with the window's glass.

Ethan runs a hand through his hair and says,
"Why are you a ghost? How come only you can see us?"

Henry considers Ethan's question for a moment before answering,
"When I told you all that all of this is happening due to a spell... I used the positive connotation..."

"What?" I ask.

"According to the person to cast this wretched enchantment upon this family, 'tis a spell. However, it a curse.
A curse that gave me immortality when I didn't want it. It is a curse due to which I have to endure my family's tragedies over and over.... and over again."

"Wait, how can you be immortal and a ghost? Aren't ghosts supposed to be dead?" Dylan interjects.

"Immortaily does not require for the soul and body, both, to remain above the ground for all eternity. The only necessary requirement is of the soul.

"After I died, my soul did not Transcend to the next realm, it stayed in the mortal world.
And in answer to Mr Ingram's second question, nobody else can see you all because you do not actually travel through time when you come here. The happenings of the 1890 Edenfield is only but a recording of the past. I, being the one who wrote about these events myself, can see you. It is against the laws of nature to travel in time, whether it be the future or the past."

Whoah, that's just... I don't know what to say about it...

"What about Matthew Knightley? Who's he and how are you related to him?" Allison asks.