Chapter 4: Gracey's Greeting
After much explaining and use of props provided by the assortment of junk in Phineas' carpetbag, Adam finally started to catch on.
"So you guys are…dead?" he asked them in pure disbelief.
"Yup."
"And…you're trapped here as ghosts?"
"Yup."
"And now I'm one too?"
"Correct, Einstein," Ezra said sarcastically.
"He ain't the sharpest tool in the chandelier," Gus whispered to Phineas. Phineas stared at his diminutive pal and then turned back to Adam.
"So, welcome to the digs. Better get comfortable; you'll be stayin' here for a loooong time," Phineas quipped.
"This can't be happening!" Adam cried, "I can't be dead! I have a wife, a job…a life!"
Ezra snorted. "Not anymore."
"No. I can't be dead. This is all a big mistake."
"Believe me…" Ezra said, standing up. He walked over to Adam, and suddenly put his hand right through Adam's chest. It went through completely, sticking out through the other side, but Adam felt no pain.
"…You're dead."
Clarisse began to climb the staircase.
When she reached the top, she found herself in front of a hallway. Seeing as it was the only way to go on, she started walking down it. The house was quiet, but Clarisse had this feeling that something was going to jump out at her at any moment. She soon found herself at a "T" intersection, with another hallway branched off the one she was following. Just as she was about to debate whether or not to go down it, Clarisse looked at the hallway, and she knew that she was definitely not going to, for two reasons.
One: The hallway seemed to go on forever…she could not see an end. It was just rooms, rooms, and more rooms, as far as the eye could see…
And Two: There was a candelabra in the hallway. This would be normal, except for one important fact – it was floating.
The candles in their holder gently floated up and down, back and forth, seeming to patrol the corridors. Clarisse stared at it in awe, wondering if it was some sort of optical illusion or special effects trick. But all of a sudden, the candle turned again, and paused for a moment. Then, instead of making its usual rounds, it headed for Clarisse.
As soon as Clarisse realized that the candle was headed for her, she froze on the spot. She tried to run, but her legs were fixated on the ground, watching the candelabra come closer and closer…
And all of a sudden…
"Can I help you?" asked a droll female voice.
Clarisse screamed.
"Ma'am, please. You'll wake up the guests," the voice said. It seemed to be coming from near the candle. Clarisse immediately stopped screaming, but her eyes were still wide with shock.
"Wha…wha…what-" Clarisse babbled, but the maid interrupted her.
"Oh, you're alive, aren't you," the voice said, "I miss being alive. Then again, I miss being visible, but what are ya gonna do."
"Who are you?" Clarisse finally managed to get out.
"I'm Prudence, head maid of the Gracey estate. And eternal slave to everyone in this mansion. I'd take hell over this any day," the maid drawled.
"Um…c-can you please tell me who's in charge here?" Clarisse asked meekly. She had questions and wanted answers, but wasn't sure where to start with them.
"One moment please, I'll summon him."
The candle headed back down the hallway at a slightly faster pace, and soon disappeared from sight. Clarisse waited for a few minutes, not aware of what to expect. All of a sudden, she saw someone coming down the hall. Someone visible.
As they got closer, she could see them more clearly – it was a man, with black hair and sideburns, wearing a black suit and blue vest and bowtie. His eyes were a brilliant bright blue, and he smiled at Clarisse as he got closer.
"Ah, Miss Parker – pleasure to meet you," he said with a bow. And Clarisse recognized his voice.
"You," she said with malice, glaring at him, "I recognize that voice. You're the one from that room! You killed my husband, didn't you!"
The expression on the man's face changed from cool to nervous.
"Um…what do you mean?" he said, trying to maintain his composure.
"Don't give me that, you bastard," Clarisse said, glaring at him and backing him against the wall next to the hallway, "I know you did it. And I want answers."
"P-please," the man stuttered, "I'd prefer it if you called me Master Gracey. Or George."
"Fine, 'George,'" Clarisse said, her eyes full of hatred, "Tell me why you killed Adam."
"It was an accident! He was on that ladder, trying to fix the beams, and the noose was hanging there, and he tried to shove it out of the way and somehow got tangled up in it, and then some playful spooks decided to try and scare him by making the room stretch, and…" George made a slicing motion across his neck.
Clarisse glowered at him.
"If that's true…then what did you mean by 'There's always my way!'?"
"Oh," George said cheerily, "That's how I died. I didn't know Adam was up there until the lights went off – usually my corpse is hanging there. But the construction crews must've removed it."
"Are you sure you didn't have anything to do with this?" She said, staring him down.
"I've already reprimanded the ghosts responsible," George said quickly, "They will receive the most severe punishment possible."
"Okay…" Clarisse said slowly, "But there's one little problem... My husband's still dead!"
"Oh yes, terribly sorry about that. But don't worry, I'm sure he's wandering around here somewhere."
Clarisse promptly kicked George in the nuts.
"WHAT?" she cried angrily as George collapsed to the floor, eyes scrunched shut with pain, "Are you saying he's become a…a…"
"Ghost? Yes. Just like the other residents here." He gasped.
"I'm pegging this on you," Clarisse said icily to George, "And you better help me find him."
"Well…there might be a way to bring him back."
"What?" Clarisse asked, her cold shoulder faltering. Was this true?
"Yes…we have a…er…woman…here, who's got some magic. She might be able to save him," George said, slowly getting to his feet. He became transparent, then corporeal again, causing any and all pain to vanish.
"Take me to her," Clarisse ordered.
"All right, all right!" George said, throwing his hands up and walking through Clarisse to lead her on. The mortal felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice water on her head when he walked through her, but soon felt normal again.
The ghost and girl continued down the hall, many more surprises waiting.