Chapter 14: It's Not Until You Lose Everything That You Can Truly Appreciate Everything

I looked at Allister, my brows furrowed in confusion. I lightly shook my head, trying to process this new found information. "I'm sorry, a White .. what?"

His shoulders fell and he released a sigh of what could've been defeat or relief that I didn't know what a White Widow was. "Follow me," he deeply said, then turned around and began to walk off.

I was still a bit confused, so I ended up jogging after him. "Are you implying that Milo is in some sort of danger?" I asked, a bit out of breath.

"Potentially. But it's possible for us to help him. And by us, I mean you."

"That's promising," I muttered.

Without a falter in his step, Allister looked down at me with a smirk. "What? Don't believe in yourself?"

"It's not that. It's just … it's just everyone is putting their trust into me, their hope, and dare I say, even prayers. Everyone is relying on me. It gets a bit overwhelming sometimes. I still don't know how to handle it."

"Well, from what I can gather, you've done quite well for yourself. No past Saviour has made it this far."

"So I've been told time and time again. But I've had help."

"So? There was only one other Saviour who had a partner besides Dusk, and even they didn't make it this far."

"Yeah? Well I plead shear luck."

"Or you just believe more than the others. I can see it in your eyes." His smirk grew into a cheeky grin, wide and proud. I only sent him a narrow glare.

"We'll just see how much I believe after you explain to me this current ordeal. Just from your body language alone it seems serious."

"At least it can grow serious. At the moment she's testing these shallow waters. And once her feet are wet enough, she'll dive deeper, and eventually take your friend with her."

"I'd appreciate it if you spoke english, please. This victorian talk is making me think things are or could be worse than they really are."

"Trust me, you're gonna wish this victorian talk is all you heard when I'm finished explaining it to you. But we need a private space away from prying ears, which is why we're going here."

We were now standing in front of the Haunted Mansion, which was absolutely flooded with guests. The wait time was 90 minutes and seemed to grow the later the day got. The attraction was opportune to ride at night. "And what exactly are we doing here?"

"Can you get us in?" I simply looked at him as if he had lost his mind. Did he not see the dozens of people elbow to elbow, filling up every corner of this attraction? It was standing room only, and hardly any people were moving in line as they were exiting.

Besides, I had never entered a ride whilst it was still operating. What if it didn't transform? I'd have to come up with some excuse as to why we were there. And what if it did transform and a bunch of people travelled with me? That would be hard to explain to Gordon.

I pushed my shoulders back, breathed in and out to clear my swirling mind, and approached the Cast Member standing at the gate. I showed her my Imagineer badge and she swiftly let us in. Upon approaching the doors of the mansion, I had to show them my badge again, but this time they stopped the flow of people entering the attraction to gain us easy access.

I stole a quick glance at Allister, then walked over the threshold.

It was dark, as it usually is during a transformation, but then again, this is a dark ride. The noise of chattering guests faded from existence until there was nothing but silence.

I stopped walking, my heartbeat fluttering heavily. I didn't know what to expect. This was the Haunted Mansion. I'm expecting what the attraction gives you; ghosts, ghouls, malevolent spirits, and the such. But instead, when the darkness cleared, I found myself in the most dazzling mansion I had ever seen.

Everything was pristine, the color theme being chestnut brown mahogany and marble white. It was breathtaking to behold. "This … how …"

"It's not much, but it does me well."

"I gathered that you were a Toon once you mentioned Milo's endangerment, but this is a bit much."

"A Toon? Me? You flatter me, dear. I'm not an official Toon, hardly anyone knows of my proper existence, only the feet that hangs above them."

My head whipped towards Allister, who was now sitting in a shiny brown leather loveseat. That reference was just too obvious. "You're the hanging body?" When I entered to decorate last night, the hanging body in the portrait room was already gone. I didn't think much of it at the time, assuming another Imagineer took it down for me to make mt job a tad bit easier, but this revelation makes more sense.

"That's all anyone ever knows me as, it's quite dull. The holiday season is my only days out of the year that I can rest and enjoy the life I made for myself. Well, what's left of it. Now, I believe we came here to discuss business."

"Right. Now, for starters, where does Eleanor fit in to any of this? She seems very out of place."

"That's because she is. You see, this attraction is filled with spirits of good and bad intention. Eleanor rests right in the middle, just shadowing the bad side of the spectrum."

"She's from this attraction?"

"She was supposed to be my wife. But she was ultimately fooled, and she took her own life out of heartbreak. I followed soon after."

"You were in love …"

"Deeply."

"But why has she been fawning over Milo? And you called her a White Widow-"

"Eleanor isn't fond of the afterlife. She feels trapped here, a weeping spirit doomed to walk these halls indefinitely. I may even believe she regrets her death, it's the only sensible explanation for her actions. You see, Moira, Eleanor is simply building up a solid trust with your friend, and once she has him where she wants him, she'll bite, claiming him as her own, though only temporary."

"It doesn't matter if it's temporary or not, what does that mean for Milo?"

"If her plans succeed, she will have switched places with Milo, and he will be trapped here like she once was, while she is free to roam your reality, except on these celebratory occasions, of course."

My body and mind were plunged into shock. I didn't know what to say, I couldn't even move. My one attempt to just take a step forward sent me into a trembling mess and I ended up falling back into a second loveseat, facing Allister. At seeing my state, he jumped up from my seat and rushed towards me, taking my hand in his and squeezing it with reassurance, but what kind of reassurance was there? My best friend's life was in jeopardy … and I couldn't help but blame myself. I brought him into this mess, on more than one occasion he had been put in dangers way, and this seemed to be the worst. The Love Spell seems like child's play compared to this.

"I know it seems like all is lost, but I can assure you-"

"Assure me? Milo is having flings with his potential murderer! How is any of this okay? How can you assure me that any of this is going to be okay?"

"Because there is a definitive way to stop her. But I warn you, it is highly dangerous and risky."

I rose out my seat, eyes wide at him in excitement and anxiousness. "What it is?" I rushed out. I must've looked and sounded crazed. And he began to look wary at me.

"Moira, this task is very dangerous. I doubt even you could accomplish it."

"I'd do anything to save my best friend. Even if it means putting my life in danger. After all I've been through, I doubt it'll phase me. Please, Allister … how can I stop this?"

Allister looked deep into my eyes, seemingly searching for something. It could've been the belief he mentioned early, the piece of Walt I supposedly carry with me. And when he found it, he relaxed a bit, but stayed alert, not once breaking his intense eye contact. "At the very top of the mansion is a balcony. It faces the ocean, meant for a guiding light for my ship when I returned from my endeavors. It had become cursed after Eleanor and I sought our demise .. and there lays a Charm."

"A Charm?"

"Now hold on, Moira. It's not as easy as it seems. This mansion rests in a never ending storm, and that balcony is where the worst of it occurs."

"Show it to me."

"Now Moira-"

"Show it to me! Please, don't you understand? Milo is all I have! If lifting this curse brings him back to me, then I don't care how dangerous it is! Please … I miss him."

He looked apprehensive at me, before reluctantly standing up and nodding for me to follow after him, no words being exchanged.

As I followed, my heart rate increased with each step. I haven't collected a new Charm in a while, and it was refreshing to be able to find another one.

Several staircases later, we were standing before an old rickety wooden door. Allister put a hand on the handle and turned back towards me. "Be sure to keep your distance. This area is hardly stable, even for an old Ghoul." The creaked open, and my eyes widened at the sight, my bones freezing.

It was an old balcony with a lone tall table in the middle, and where a decorative lamp should've been facing the ocean was a Candelabra Charm. Surrounding us was indeed the worst rainstorm I have ever seen with constant lightning strikes. I attempted to take a step forward, my hand stretched out to grab the Charm, but a strike of lightning hit inches from my fingertips causing me to jump back in alarm. "I told you it was fruitless," said Allister. "It would be a miracle if you could break this Curse."

"I've broken many before. What makes this one any special?"

"Your courage and confidence is admirable."

"Really? I'm having trouble believing in it." Allister stepped the both of us backwards, closing the door. There was instant silence, no more sounds of rumbling thunder or thundering rain. "What exactly do I have to do?"

"I wish I could tell you, but I simply don't know. No one has ever attempted this task, or has lived to finish it. There's so many spirit's here for a reason. But belief is key. I can see that belief in your eyes, and if you keep on believing that this is doable, then I can assure you it can be done."

"It seems more than just that. I can't just believe something into existence."

"Why not? You've done it before."

Heyo! I got myself confused writing this, but I eventually understood it once I began transferring it to here, but if any of y'all gets confused, let me know and I'll edit it. Slan!