Halls of Splintered Souls (Wandering Souls #1)

Chapter Three

We met Adrien on Sunday. There were a lot of picnic spots around campus so we spread a mat and ate our lunch on the grass. There was a foreign student association and Adrien was helping us fill the application forms. This was the first time we see Adrien in person. He had a distinctive French accent that would make any girl swoon. Honestly, he could be a model for his looks alone. That accent just brings him to a whole other level.

"So, Adrien," Ayn started, "is there any urban legends or rituals we should know about?"

Adrien stopped eating his sandwich and thought for a moment. He pretended to be deep in thought but stopped when Ayn pinched his arm. I rolled my eyes at their subtle flirting. Well, that was fast.

"I mean, this is a really old castle. Obviously, there'd be urban legends. Hundreds of ghosts probably stay here," he told us, shrugging nonchalantly and taking a bite of his sandwich.

I tensed when I heard the word 'ghosts'. I was still shocked by the silhouette girl. I haven't told anyone about it. Someone once told me that if you tell a ghost story to another person, the ghost will become stronger. It's something Magis tell their children so they don't go around trying to contact the dead. Believe me, you do NOT want to have to banish a ghost.

"Actually," he began, "There are a few cool stories. Care to hear some?"

I said No, thank you at the exact same time Ayn said Yes, please! You probably guessed which of us Adrien decided to entertain. I braced myself and tried not to get too scared.

Adrien started to tell us some lame ghost stories that could easily be dismissed as the wind or the shadow of a tree. But then as it progressed, the stories became more and more bone chilling. I found myself listening intently. My mind going back to the knocks and the silhouette girl and her shrilling laughter.

"In 1979 there was a murder," Adrien taunted, "it was in the main building. The council tried to cover it up and they pretty much succeeded. But the students, teachers, and staffs knew it happened so it became the hottest gossip. All of the evidence was destroyed, though. No one could prove if it really happened or not."

"Wait, why did the council hide something as crucial as a murder?" I asked.

"Guess they were afraid the school would be dismissed," he replied, paying little attention to the disturbing fact, "you know the council grooms us to be their successors, right?"

Adrien has decided to start a game of rock, paper, scissors with Ayn, beating her every time. Ayn complained that he cheated with his clairvoyance skill. Meanwhile, my mind was stuck on the intriguing murder case.

"Who was the victim? Didn't anyone look for the victim or something?" I asked.

"Uh, well, it was said to be this guy, I don't know. I guess they said he's about to become a rogue conjuror or something," he explained, not at all fazed by the information he was spewing.

A guy. That doesn't explain the existence of my silhouette ghost.

He continued to joke around with Ayn, effectively turning me into a third wheel. I try to get his attention to ask for further information. I didn't know why I decided Adrien was a reliable informant, but he was the only informant. It was better than nothing.

"Hey, Adrien," I called him, which he didn't hear so I tried again, "Adrien!"

My calls didn't seem to grab his attention so I casted a spell that made him have no choice but to face me. He frowned at me disapprovingly. I'd hate if someone did something similar to me too so I don't blame him. Ayn laughed looking at Adrien not being able to move and gave me a thumbs up.

"Is there any incident in which a girl died?" I asked.

Adrien scrunched his nose and was about to say no when his eyes lit up. "Well, actually, there is. It was only a few years ago, in like, 2005. This girl committed suicide. She was said to be anti-social, never went home on holidays and prefer to stay here. A major troublemaker too, sometimes she stayed up way past curfew and often she got into detention. Many thought she had an abusive family, but as it turns out her family was very loving and supportive. They were shocked when they found out about her suicide. It was like she got possessed or something."

Ayn narrowed her eyes at the story. This one wasn't a rumor, so she seemed somewhat unnerved by it. She looked at me and raised an eyebrow, like asking if I think it was true. Ayn liked mysteries and supernatural stuffs. She hates it only when it's happening or happened near her.

"Did you know where her dorm was?" I asked, once again thinking about the silhouette girl.

Adrien grinned teasingly at me. "You're on the third floor, right?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Careful," he half-joked. "Her ghost is said to haunt room 330."

***

I felt sick as soon as I heard Adrien's reply. I asked Ayn to accompany me to the bathroom and we told Adrien we'd see him at dinner. Ayn saw my face paled and felt my hands grew colder by the second. I wanted to throw up. The silhouette girl might be a real ghost. I saw a ghost. I saw a ghost and the ghost is practically my neighbor.

"Hey, are you okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost," she asked me as I pulled her into the girls' bathroom.

"That's because I did!" I half shouted. "I did see a ghost."

"Err, could you maybe, you know, repeat that statement? Cause I thought I heard you said you saw a ghost."

I shot her an exasperated look. I was trembling and I'm so not getting any sleep tonight. I can't believe I believe in ghosts. I mean, to be fair, I am studying magic. But ghosts are ghosts whether you have magical powers or not.

"I saw a ghost. The other night, after going to your room. I saw room 330 opened and I saw a silhouette, of a girl."

Ayn raised her eyebrows. I threw my hands in the air, frustrated. I couldn't blame her for not believing me though, I sound crazy. I probably am.

"Look, we're new to this school. And you know about all those stupid senior rituals. They're probably messing with us by taking advantage of local ghost stories. Just, don't think about it. Okay?"

"But..." I began. "There was also a knock on my door. I thought it was you. And, and, did someone knock on your door too? On the first day? I opened the door and no one was there."

Ayn sighed and smiled pitifully. I don't like how she doesn't believe me, but I could swear she was afraid too.

"Like I said before, it's probably just the seniors. They're doing it to make us afraid. Don't worry about it, okay?"

Not having the energy to argue, I helplessly nodded. I was too tired and scared to even argue with her. But I know that I wasn't going to stop thinking about it anytime soon. I will have to dig deeper into my silhouette ghost.

After I calmed down, we went to the dining hall for dinner, it was seven o'clock. We sat next to Adrien and I specifically requested to not talk about supernatural things. Right after that I made sure I'm inside my own dorm before nine o'clock. I don't fancy seeing the ghost again. But I know that some other night I must. I need to make sure if she is really a ghost or not.