Before I begin this story, let me explain the background. I got the Haunted Mansion Comic Book in October and I fell in love with these two comics called "While Fifi is Away" and "Night of the Ghost Fleas" both by Roman Dirge and both about the ghosts living in the pet cemetery. One character called Freddie the Bat caught my eye and immediately I wanted to write a story about him. So this story is mainly based on those comics. So I hope you like it. Please review.
December 5, 1830..."It's a bat!" Edward Gracey yelled. Both he and his brother, William Gracey, hid underneath the table in the library, watching the winged creature fly swiftly around the room. The poor thing cried out loud screeches, unaware of where he was and how to get out.
"One of us needs to kill it," William said. His comment only brought the bat even more fear. He did not understand these men's thinking. Why do they want to kill him? He's the one trapped in a place he did not understand, not them.
He knew he should have stayed in Brooklyn.
The bat's wings quickly began to tire. He needed to be let out and find a place to land soon, or he was going to die of exasperation.
His prayer was answered when a young boy opened the library door. The young boy stared at the men under the table with great confusion.
"Father? Uncle Edward?" he asked. "Why are you..."
"Junior!" William cried. "Close the door!"
But the bat was much quicker. Before the young boy could even speak, the bat was already out the door and flying through the hallways.
"No!" Edward yelled. "He's heading to April's room!"
The bat found the nearest room and flew inside. He did take notice of any of the room's features, save for a wooden desk. Immediately, he lifted his wings and landed safely on the desk. The bat's body fell against the wooden chair that was tucked in under the desk. He panted heavily, trying to catch his breath.
Creak . . . The bat opened his eyes and froze. The door was closed by a young girl, trapping him once again in an unknown room. The girl slowly walked toward to the bat. He immediately backed away, although he knew it would not do any good. He was in this girl's clutches and there was nothing he could do about it.
He awaited for whatever harm the girl would do to him, but nothing came. She just stood there, staring. The bat noticed something strange about this girl. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. She had a figure like a swan with dark hair that perfectly framed her feminine face.
However, her gray eyes revealed something different.
The bat had always heard of how the eyes were windows into one's soul, but he had not understood it until now. The young girl's eyes revealed not one soul, but two.
Her two souls were not shown together, but rather one at a time. The first soul was a young soul, both naive and full of hope. Suddenly, another soul began to take over. This soul was much older, wise, and jaded. The only similarity between these two souls was that they were both full of sadness.
The young girl did not smile. Her older soul would not allow it. But the bat knew she would not harm him. On the contrary, he felt that they established a strange tacit friendship. He could see the sadness in both of her souls and she could feel for his loneliness.
She placed her hand out and opened up her palm. The bat trusted her and stepped onto her palm. He held onto her fingers and she picked him up and walked out of her room. Edward, William, and Junior were waiting for them.
"April?" William questioned.
"No," Edward said. "It's December."
"You are not to harm Freddie," she demanded. The men's eyes widened in surprise, almost as though they were amazed by her ability to speak.
"Who . . . Who is Freddie?" Edward asked.
"He is," she said, lifting up the bat. "He is my friend and you are not to harm him." She placed the bat on her shoulder. The bat situated himself. He understood what was happening. The men thought he was becoming the girl's pet, but he knew better. Just as she said, he was her friend, not her slave.
She walked back into the room, with the bat on her shoulder, and closed the door. Junior could not help but smile. Poor April had been treated like a asylum patient, especially when December took over. December never took a liking to anyone, not even their cat, Lilac. He sensed something special about that bat, something good that would last even after he died...
...Present Day
"Freddie!" Fifi's voice yelled. "Dain it, Freddie, get up!"
As much I love Fifi, there are days when I just want to kill him. Sadly, he's already dead so there's nothing I can do about that.
"I'm up Fifi, I'm up," I said, peaking my head out of the dirt. The ghost dog floated above my grave, his pink sweater beginning to sag from his slumped shoulders. His eyebrows were so creased, his crown began to droop over his eyes.
"You were supposed to wake up an hour ago," Fifi growled.
I stretched out my arms and wings. I floated out of the ground and rubbed my eyes. I still never understood why he insisted on me waking up at four in the morning every other day. I mean, I knew why he wanted me too, but I understood why at four in the morning.
"Fifi, you know I hardly argue with you, but can't you let me sleep a little longer? I's having a good dream."
"But I need to know what's going on the inside now!" he whined. I smiled and sighed.
"Alright. Give me five minutes." I did one last stretch and flew up toward a second story window of Gracey Manor. I gazed inside to find the ballroom. Ghosts in beautiful ball gowns and handsome suits danced around the room, dancing to the same continuous song on the organ. Sad as it seemed, I could not feel sorry for them. Like me, they have gotten so used to the curse placed upon this mansion, they have actually learned to like living here.
I really do love haunting this place. Everyone is so friendly and so understanding. Plus, the ghost humans are able to understand the ghost pets which makes haunting here a lot better, seeing that my best friend is a human. The only bad thing about the curse, for me at least, is that outside ghosts are not allowed inside and inside ghosts are not allowed outside. My human friend is an inside ghost, so I not allowed to come inside and give her a hug or anything like that. As well, ghosts can't open windows or doors, so an outside talking to an inside ghost through that means barely happens.
Luckily for me, my human friend's room's window is one of the few that's open, so I am able to talk to her.
That's why Fifi wakes me up. He's obsessed with what's going on inside the mansion. Since I'm the only ghost he knows who has connections, I have become his daily gazette.
I was just about to leave until I spotted a female bat hanging on the chandelier. She was the most beautiful bat I've ever seen. She sported gray fur with big exotic eyes, wearing a small rope around her leg. I could not take my eyes off her she was so lovely.
Who was she? I had to find out. I had to ask April about her.