Chapter 2

The next morning, Constance had a meeting with the Abbot. She felt it wasn't right to take away Matthias's title as Abbey Warrior. The Abbot reassured her about the rules, and that they couldn't be broken.

"Father Abbot. It was all an accident. I know Matthias killed Vitch, but it was an accident. He was protecting his son from death. It was an act of self-defense, not on purpose."

"Constance, I know you're angry, but we have a rule here that clearly states that we shall not harm a living creature inside this abbey. Even if they cause it. I'm sorry Constance, but that is our order."

Constance stormed out of the room, angry at the decision the Abbot made. Then she turned a corner and bumped right into Matthias.

"Matthias, I tried reasoning with the Abbot about the incident, but I couldn't get through to him. I'm sorry."

"It's ok Constance. You tried your best to get my title back, and it didn't work. I know that our order says we can't harm a living creature in the abbey, and I still have to pay with a consequence."

"I still think you should have your sword, because you saved Mattimeo from death in an act of self-defense."

"I know that, and I am angry too. Although, after I accidentally killed Vitch, I've been hearing his voice, but I know he's dead. Then last night I had a bad dream that Vitch's ghost was causing trouble all over the abbey."

Then one of the windows in Great Hall shattered, and they both took cover. They got up and searched for whatever caused it to break, but found nothing. Then Matthias heard Vitch's sniggering, and looked around to find where it was coming from, but there was no trace of Vitch.

"Constance, I think that Vitch is haunting this abbey. He's trying to make things right by killing me, and I don't know how to get through to him that it was all an accident."

Just then they heard a knock on the main gates. They rushed outside and looked over the parapet, and saw a cloaked mouse at the gate.

"Who goes there?" Constance shouted.

The cloaked mouse was silent, and then she spoke.

"I'm looking for Matthias of Redwall," she shouted back.

Then it was Matthias who answered back down.

"Who wishes to see me?"

"I am Synatra, fortune teller and can talk to spirits."

"We'll let you in Synatra."
The gates opened, and Synatra walked in, her cloak still covering her body. She went over to Matthias, and looked straight into his eyes.

"Be still Matthias. I'm trying to see what your problem is."

She looked very hard, and she saw a young rat's spirit inside his eyes.

"Matthias, you are being haunted by a young rat's ghost. His name is Vitch."

Matthias looked at her wide-eyed, and wondered how she knew that.

"I can help you Matthias, but only if you pay me with a certain fee."

"How much do you charge for this kind of stuff?"

"About 500 gold pieces. That should cover it."

Then Matthias turned to Constance, and asked, "Do we even have that kind of money, Constance?"

"I'll have to check with the Abbot on that one, Matthias."

"Ok please do."

She went off to find the Abbot, and Matthias looked back at Synatra.

"Are you sure you can help me?"

"Yes. I can see ghosts very easily, but some of them don't want to talk."

"I don't blame you. I'm guessing they are stubborn, and don't want to move on."

"Yes, that actually covers it."

Then Synatra closed her eyes, and then opened them quickly.

"That ghost is also haunting your son. He is always in a place where the ghost can harm him, and that is with objects."

"Where is he right now Synatra?"

"He is over by the pond, trying to fish on a boat. The boat has just flipped over, and has knocked him out. He is floating down to the bottom of the pond. I suggest you hurry Matthias."

Matthias ran as fast as he could over to the pond, and dived in. He could vaguely see Mattimeo floating down, and knew he couldn't go down that far. Matthias came up and shouted for Winifred, and her band of otters. Winifred and her crew came as fast as they could, and dived down to save Mattimeo. A couple minutes went by, and then Winifred came up holding Mattimeo. She put him on shore, and Matthias took over from there. Matthias did CPR on Mattimeo as best as he could.

"Mattimeo, please don't go. Come on Mattimeo, breath."

Then Mattimeo coughed a few times, and recovered. Matthias hugged Mattimeo tightly on his wet habit, and Mattimeo hugged back.

"I thought I had lost you, Mattimeo."

"I'm fine dad."

Then Matthias gave Mattimeo to Winifred, and told her to take Mattimeo to the Infirmary. Matthias headed back to Synatra, and she was still there, in the same position when he last left her.

"Matthias thank you for your pay. I will try my best to help you get this ghost problem over with."

"Thank you Synatra. You're a very good creature, and I respect that."

Then Synatra took her leave, and went somewhere in the abbey. Something was telling her that the ghost was somewhere inside the abbey. She headed over towards the Infirmary, and then she felt a chill pass her. Vitch's ghost had just passed her, and was on his way to terrorize either Matthias, or Mattimeo. She could see him, and began pursuing the ghost. It was heading toward the Infirmary where Mattimeo was trying to recover. She caught up with the ghost, and stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"You can see me? Wait, am I alive or dead."

"You're dead, and I can see your ghost Vitch."

"How did you know my name mouse?"

"I'm a fortune teller, and someone who sees ghosts, trying to help them."

"I don't need your help!"

"I'm trying to help you go into the light."

"I don't want the light. I want to terrorize Mattimeo, and Matthias."

"You don't have to do this."

"Yes I do. I won't rest until both of them are dead."

"Is there something you're looking for?"

"Yes. I'm trying to find my body. Can you help me find it?"

"I don't know where it is, but I can help you."

"Never mind. I don't need your help."

Then he vanished, leaving Synatra alone in the hallway.