The monsters. Man where do I even start? Before then I hadn't ever seen so many monsters in all my life. See, things were different back then. Monsters didn't just go shopping at the Maul or out for a stroll or none of that crap. Monsters were the things normies was scared of and sure as heck were never wanted around. You think things are bad now? Ha. You don't know shit. Back then monsters that were stupid enough to go above ground and out of the catacombs risked the trick or treatment. I heard bout what happened to that Hyde guy last Halloween, and not to make what happened to him sound like no big deal or nothing, but that sort of thing was pretty commonplace in my day. Monsters, when I did see them, were usually running to save their own skin- or losing it. So what I saw when I drifted down there, down into the catacombs, was well, terrifying.
I'm not gonna sugarcoat it or try and act like a bigger man than I am or anything; I was freaking scared. I knew I'd see monsters but somehow I figured I wouldn't see so many or that the ones I did see would be like me: basically human and stuff. Boy was I wrong. I saw hairy monsters, multi-eyed monsters, monsters in every color and size; one was even on fire. It was crazy. At first I did my best to cling to the wall; which is hard to do when you're incorporeal, but then I started to realize that none of them cared bout me. They didn't try to eat me or hurt me or run and scream for that matter. They treated me like people. They didn't treat me like a monster, they didn't treat me like a monster. I was a monster but… but I was people too, ya know?
Once I realized things were cool, I started drifting in with the monsters rather than trying to avoid them and stuff. Pretty quick I learned the ins and outs of things. Turned out that underneath all of New Salem were these Catacombs, an underground monsters only city. Normies didn't know bout them, and if they were stupid enough to wander down into them then they regretted it, straight and simple. And while they weren't no paradise, the catacombs were safe. A monster could raise a family down there without worrying about them getting the silver bullet. Some monsters hadn't ever gone above ground even, they'd spent their whole lives in the wandering sprawling mess of halls that was the catacombs.
I quickly learned that some monsters wanted that to change, one Miss Bloodgood to be exact. Believe or not but Bloodgood was sorta young once. She's always been a total pain in the rear, but fact is she's a serious rule pusher and while she'd never admit it but she's probably one of the greatest assets to monster rights since well, ever. As for me, well… I'll get to that. Anyways Bloodgood wanted to do something crazy. She wanted to start a school for monsters, better yet, all sorts of monsters. See while lots of types of monsters lived in the catacombs, specific kinds tended to stick to their own districts. Vampires lived here, werewolves there, gargoyles elsewhere. If you thought normie-monster relations were bad, monster to monster relations were almost just as bad. Vamps and wolves just didn't mix, ya know? But Bloodgood, see, she was crazy. Not only did she want to make them mingle, but she wanted them to do it above ground- that's right. An above ground school. She's lucky she didn't get stoned or something for that kinda crazy. She was literally suggesting that monsters send their young next door to the chopping block. She only got away with talking bout any of it at all cause her Daddys so important, headless horseman and all that.
I remember she came to me specific, literally picked me off the street and asked if I'd want to do learning at this school she was wanting to build. At first I told her I didn't want nothing to do with it. But then well, she made me an offer I just couldn't refuse. See, while I'd been hanging round in the Catacombs and all that, I didn't have anyplace to stay. I'd been sleeping in alcoves and corners. Since I'm a ghost eating didn't matter, ghosts eat only for pleasure not for need, but it was rough. Not having anywhere to stay. I could hang out at the local theater and play violin whenever I want, but I couldn't spend the night there so it was no home. It was just a hang. I didn't have a place to call home. So I was getting chased from one doorstep to another, not belonging anywhere. Since we ghosts are so rare we didn't have a 'district' or a section like the vamps or wolves, and I guess most normally stay near wherever they died. So I was something of an oddity for those who knew stuff bout ghosts. I wasn't tethered to anywhere, I just drifted wherever. I'd been sitting on that night's doorstep, violin in one hand, and a half-eaten sandwich in the other. I don't know why I'd wasted good money on food. I didn't need it. Heck if anything it was a waste for me to eat it. It could have gone to some were-pup or something that needed it. It just… I dunno, it just made me feel more... alive? It was silly. Anyways I'd been sitting and eating when she came riding on over on that giant horse of hers.
"Johnny Spirit?" She had said curtly. I'd grimaced. Spirit was the last name I'd taken on. Since I didn't know my real one after all, whenever people asked for my name I'd just sorta tack Spirit on. It fit I guess.
"What'dya want?" I'd huffed, glaring up at this rich-lady looking all domineering like over me on that giant-ass horse.
"I was wondering if I might interest you in a project of mine." Bloodgood had said, getting off her horse.
"I ain't interested in helping you with your charity work lady," I glowered, taking the wrapper to my sandwich and tossing it a little ways out.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's not a matter of charity. I am starting a school." She'd replied all serious like. I remember I'd looked up at her like she was crazy or something.
"Sounds awful charitable to me." I'd said darkly.
"Well if it were a conventional school, then yes, it would be. Unfortunately it's the popular opinion that I'm actually doing the public a disservice. As a result, it is not an act of charity." Now I was interested, what was this rich-chick talking bout?
"Lady, what kinda school are we talking here?" I'd asked.
"One for monsters. Of all kinds. In New Salem." She'd replied simply.
"New Salem- what like in the main underground or-" She'd cut me off before I could continue.
"No, New Salem, above ground."
"A school above ground? Lady you must be some kinda crazy." I'd said, shaking my head back in forth in disbelief.
"Hence the fact that I am apparently doing a disservice."
"So what'dya want me to do with this?" I'd asked then.
"I was hoping that you would be interested in becoming one of my first students. At present we have only a small few from very ranging families, but I understand you started your unlife very recently and might be interested in furthering your education."
"Huh." I'd grunted, taking it all in.
"There would also be room and board available to those students in need." She'd added, aha. Bingo. That's why she targeted me. I had nowhere to go, and here she was offering me a place on a silver platter. And frankly... that silver platter looked good. Real good. Heck, I'd get to feel the sun again. And that'd feel more alive than just eating sandwiches that get mildewy from all the underground damp. Almost alive.
"Sign me up." I'd said, getting to my feet, and that was that.