Vapor (A Warden of Ghosts Story)

Chapter Three

The bleak days blended together, one right after another. Grey and ugly, just like the sweaters we all wore.

I tried not to fall into the contagious depression that hung in the air, but it was unavoidable. The depression of the place clung to me, as well as the other girls. I fully expected there to be cliques, groups and bullies. But the mood of the place seemed to suck the life and the fight out of all of us.

I kept watching for Ruby though. I hoped to see her again. I had so many questions, and even though I was scared out of my mind over what I had seen in the basement, a part of me desperately wanted to go back down there. But I didn't dare go alone.

Day after dull day, I waited for either Ruby to come back or for a chance to talk to Molly, but it seemed almost as if Madame Aundive knew what I was wanting to do and was deliberately keeping Molly and me apart.

Sitting in English class—I wasn't sure if it was Monday or Tuesday—I kept desperately trying to catch Molly's eye. I had a feeling that she knew I was trying to get her attention, but she kept her head down and her eyes glued to her work.

"Melanie!" I heard Madame Aundive bark out my name like a bullet from a gun. "Eyes on your own work or you will have no meals."

"Yes, ma'am," I said contritely, turning my eyes down to the work that I could hardly see in front of me. I don't know why, but I felt tears prickling behind my eyes. It was all a part of the depression that was so heavy in the air.

"Meet me there tonight, Melanie," I heard a voice in the room state strongly, and I had that same cold feeling run over my arms again. I looked up, and my tears froze in my eyes when I saw that the one who had spoken those words was Madame Aundive. I looked around the room to see if anyone else had heard that, but to my surprise, everyone appeared to be frozen in time.

"What?" I whispered horrified.

"Melanie, it's me. Ruby. You have to listen to me. I don't know how much longer I can hold my mother. You must meet me downstairs tonight. You cannot tell anyone that you are going to meet me, and don't let anyone keep you from going!"

"Ruby, I don't understand," I said. Even though I was happy to hear from her, I somehow felt sick hearing her words coming out of her callous mother's mouth. "Why me?"

"Because you are the only one who can free us all," she said as her voice faded, her mother blinked her eyes, and the room caught up with time once again.

"Well, what are you staring at?" Madame Aundive demanded.

"S-sorry," I stuttered. "I was just thinking about the assignment."

"Humph," she grunted and turned, marching back to her desk.

The quiet in the room resumed, but my mind was spinning with what had just happened. I have always seen things and known things that most people don't even think are real, but I had never experienced anything as powerful as what had just happened.

Unlike most days, time seemed to fly by. One class after another was just a blur, and all I could think about was getting to the basement to see Ruby. There was also a tingling vibe in the air; something was going on. I could not quite put my finger on it, but I knew it. I hope more than anything that Ruby could help me figure everything out.

The soft chiming of the small hand bell that Madame Aundive rang to let us all know that the last class of the day was over broke me out of my thoughts. I jumped to my feet, hastily grabbed my stuff, took off out the door. But before I could get more than a few steps into the hall, I felt a cold hard hand clamp down on my shoulder, halting my flight.

"Just where are you going in such a hurry, young lady?" sneered Madame Aundive.

"I w-was just headed to the r-restroom," I said stumbling over my words in fear.

"Well, you can slow down, because you don't have anywhere to go tonight."

"What do you mean?" I asked, knowing full well what she meant.

"You are excused from the evening meal tonight, and you will remain in your room."

My stomach rumbled at her mention of dinner, such as it was. "But... but..." I stuttered.

"Melanie," she interrupted me. "Just because your mother and I were once friends does not mean that you get to do whatever you want, breaking all the rules. I have worked and sacrificed in order to keep this place functioning smoothly."

I was so stunned to hear her speak of my beloved dead mother that I could not choke out a response past my tears.

"Now move!" she yelled in my face.

With my head bowed, I walked with a quiet reserve to my room and shut the door behind me. Only seconds later, I heard a key scrape in the lock, letting me know that I was not going anywhere.

I flung myself onto my bed. The tears in my eyes were now tears of frustration. Ruby had told me not to let anyone keep me from meeting her downstairs, and even though I was terrified of what was floating in those glass boxes, I desperately wanted to see her. I needed answers.

"Bide your time," I heard someone whisper, but I almost mistook it as a breeze that had blown in from my open window. "Rest now, work later," said the voice in a soothing manner. There was something about that voice. I didn't think it was Ruby's, but there was something familiar about it.

I laid back and tried to relax as I pondered over who could be whispering to me on the breeze. Before long, I felt my eyes grow heavy, and I drifted off to sleep.