Chapter 25

The Second Encounter

They walked around for awhile, when all of a sudden a voice said, "Well! You certainly have a way of popping up unexpectedly!"

"I could say the same for you", Scarlet said to the ghost host.

"Well, it's lucky I ran into you. Do you realize that it's 11:50p.m.?"

"Um…", said Scarlet looking at her watch, "yeah, so?"

"It's only ten minuets till midnight!" bellowed the ghost host. "And", he said quieter, "you don't want to be walking around after midnight."

"Why?" quizzed Scarlet.

"Because that's when your coach turns back into a pumpkin, I DON"T KNOW! That's just the rules! Don't you ever read ghost stories?"

"Of course I read ghost stories! 24-7! How do you think I know all I know? I must have read every ghost book there is!"

"I doubt that highly. Do you know how many ghost stories there are?"

"Uh…"

"An infinite number. And we have every one."

"Huh? How can you –"

"We do."

"Alright, but is there any one specific reason why we can't be out at midnight?"

"Uh…it's past your bedtime?"

"Alright, you win. But where do I sleep?"

"I will show you to your room. Do you have a place to stay?" he said, addressing Emily.

Emily opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

"Say something!" hissed Scarlet.

"N-n-no!" stuttered Emily, while she nodded her head.

"Well, yes or no, which is it?"

"N-no! No!" shouted Emily.

"Well alright, you don't have to shout! You can stay with Scarlet. Alright?"

But Emily had had enough, and refused to say anymore.

"She means yes", said Scarlet.

"Very well then", said the ghost host, "follow me."

"How?" asked Scarlet, "It's not like we can see you!"

Suddenly she saw a door open, and a picture get a little crooked on the wall.

"I guess that's how", said Scarlet. "Come on Emily. Emily?"

Emily was standing behind her, looking like she had just found out that Christmas was tomorrow.

"D-did you see that?" she squeaked. "I talked to him! I talked to him!"

"Yeah, aren't you special. You just said no!"

"I said no!" shouted Emily. "I'm the queen of saying no! No no no no, no no no no, n-n-n-n-n-no, NO!"

"Alright alright! How bout next time you say a little more? Maybe a whole sentence!"

"No is a whole sentence!" exclaimed Emily.

Suddenly they both burst out laughing.

"Are you coming or not?" bellowed the ghost host from somewhere down the hallway.

"Coming!" called Scarlet. "Coming?" she said to Emily.

"Coming", whispered Emily, as she followed her down the hall.