Charlie gazed out the window at the ruins of the old castle. He could remember running around inside it and getting lost.
It was yet another Saturday staying at Bloor's. This time he didn't even know why! He didn't do anything wrong, right? He had his cape, his trumpet. Nothing was missing. Still, Dr. Bloor had told him to stay on Saturday. Charlie had waited up for hours, but no one came to tell him what he did wrong.
"Charlie? You're hear?"
Charlie almost didn't want to answer. Billy Raven was a betrayer, no matter how bad he felt about himself. He spied and told on Charlie every time Charlie confided in him. Billy did all Ezekiel's biddings, and spying on Charlie whenever he could was one of them. "Go away, Billy."
He didn't turn, but could feel Billy frown behind him. "I'm sorry, Charlie. Ezekiel said-"
"Ezekiel this, Ezekiel that," Charlie interrupted angrily. He was surprised with himself. Charlie was never rude or cruel to anyone. Less Billy. "Why don't you just leave me alone because you're not going to get anything out of me, okay? I didn't do anything this time, stop checking up on me."
Billy's red eyes blinked back tears. He held his head down so his white hair covered his face. "I-I'm not checking up on you Charlie. Really."
Charlie frowned and turned back to the window. "Why am I here, anyways?"
Billy sniffed and looked up. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Manfred wanted to meet up with you after dinner. He said it's important."
"Really?" No, not Manfred. Charlie shivered inwardly, remembering Manfred's dark gem eyes, hypnotizing.
"Yeah, maybe it's about the reason why you're here. You really have no idea?"
"Nope."
"Billy," the matron, Charlie's aunt, stood in the doorway. Cook's dog, Blessed, was with her. "You are needed."
Billy nodded. "Bye then, Charlie," he said, smiling. But his small mouth waned to a frown when Charlie ignored him. He sighed, and left.