Chapter 12: Down into darkness.
Crystal took in the story, releasing Tim from the embrace. He smiled at her, and the four stood up, ready to leave the attic and reveal their discovery to the other servants, allowing Tim to be buried with his sister and her lover. The group walked down the stairs, Tim floating next to Crystal, chatting companionably. The attic seemed a lot lighter now, the sorrow having been removed. Crystal suddenly turned back, remembering her music box, and Tim followed, the two promising they would come back momentarily. She felt the stair creak and decided to lift it, knowing Melanie had done the same a long time ago. Nothing but dust was left, a good sign. The manor's past was all coming to light, few secrets being left to uncover, and as Crystal took the music box, she felt something inside it break. Timothy held it for a moment, before sighing. "I think it broke because the truth has finally been revealed. It never stopped playing until then." He whispered. "Sorry Mel…" he finally spoke, and she nodded, slightly sad. "It was never mine to begin with. You should have had the chance to give it to your sister." She whispered, but he shook his head. "I want it to be yours now." He responded, giving it back to her and beaming.
The two met up with Avery and Florence downstairs, the group walking into the bedroom with the intent to surprise the others with news of Tim. But, as Florence opened the door, his face contorted with terror. Tim stepped forward, his eyes wide, and the group gazed upon the bodies of the rest of the staff, laying on the ground and cold, almost all of them dead. Renee still breathing, Avery approached her cautiously as she whispered something that made the maid's blood run cold. Instantly, Avery grabbed Crystal's wrist and pulled her, making her drop the music box and Florence following after them, Tim disappearing into the shadows and following them invisibly. He refused to let whoever…or whatever…had killed those people see him. Being sighted made you weak. Hiding in the shadows, or not allowing people to know your name, for example, were ways of staying strong, even in dire circumstances. Florence ran in front of the two, sure he knew what Renee had said and ready to protect Crystal with his life. As they approached the banister, Marie and Alec stood at the foot of the stairs, both of them just staring. It was unsettling, and Crystal felt her heart thumping as the three of them descended the stairs, unsure of what was to come. Marie held a piece of rope in her hands, while Alec's pocket was bulging with a metallic object, shining as it reflected light. A gasp ricocheted off the walls- Tim! - and Marie stepped forward, her eyes glinting and cold. "Crystal. Is it true you are related to those people?" She asked, her gloved palm reaching out and grabbing the girl's locket, clutching it in her fist. Crystal nodded, steeling herself, before realizing she hadn't seen her grandfather all afternoon. "Where's Jake?" She whispered, Marie's eyes cold and her face becoming pale. "We hung him." She responded, Crystal's heart stopping for a moment.
Tears began spilling down her face as she envisioned the pain, the suffering he had gone through in his final moments. Marie turned away from her. Crystal heard Avery's breath catching, as Florence stepped forward. "Why would you wish to kill such a sweet, innocent girl?" He asked, hoping to reason with the two. Alec stepped forward, meeting Florence's firm gaze. "We were told that if we did so, we would become rich beyond our fathoming. And what can we lose? She's just a brat with no parents who disappoints us constantly." He smirked, the little girl sniffling. Avery suddenly stood in front of her. "That's where you're wrong, Alec." She spoke, her voice clear and cold. "I'm her mother." She whispered, reaching to take Crystal's shaking hand. Squeezing it, Crystal stepped in between the two, her former parents looking at her with apathy. "I'm the last Ravenswood, owner of this manor. And I want you both to leave my home." She commanded; her voice low. Alec's eyes changed, his confident demeanour becoming stiff at this. Suddenly, a crack of thunder sounded, everyone jumping and scrambling to move as the power tripped. Alec seized Crystal's arm in the dark, her letting out a pained yell, and the click of a gun stopping everything. Crystal felt something move in between her and her former father, the warmth of a person combined with the starched fabric of the servant uniform. The lights flickered and Alec's finger pushed the trigger, sending the person tumbling into Crystal and Alec letting go of her arm.
As the lights came on again, Crystal found her bearings and prepared to run, before freezing for a moment. Florence had been shot, his head hitting the bottom stair and bleeding from his heart. He met her gaze and gave a typical sweet smile as he begged her, with his last few breaths, to "just run". So, her hand firmly in Avery's, the two sprinted away from the manor as Marie and Alec pursued, shots ringing out from an old gun. Behind them, a call echoed, a cry for help from someone hidden in the shadows, following them, and the storm began to move with them, intent on finishing the job. As they all ran toward Thunder Mountain, it occurred to Crystal that they did not know their way. The mountain was dark at night, the orange hue of the day becoming a deep coral under shadow. Nothing illuminated it- the passageways would be impossible to trek, but the storm was fast approaching, a dark cloud in the sky, and it pursued Crystal.
In the first dark tunnel at the mountain's base, Avery knew the basic path. Hours of reading at the library about myths and legends as a child taught her of this basic cave system which became more intricate as one descended deeper. Crystal held her hand tightly, afraid, and footsteps caused them to freeze and turn, but nobody was following them. They had already taken a few turns at this point- it would be easy to lose those two in the network. Avery pressed on, leading her daughter through the twists and turns of the underground, stalactites and stalagmites scattered around. A flurry of bats startled the two, but they couldn't afford to stop. Alec and Marie's echoing whispers were getting closer, and Avery was determined to keep them away from her only child. Crystal lagged behind, tired from the hiking and running, her feet dragging and aching. "Mum…" she whispered, almost whining even though she was too afraid to stop. Avery turned, before a thunderclap made her jump back, Crystal now stuck in between herself and her former parents. The ground began shaking, Crystal diving behind a rock and Avery falling to the ground, landing on her ankle badly and feeling it twist. She winced, examining it, before the rocks overhead began to crack, Avery's eyes locked onto Crystal. She could only offer one last phrase: "Cover your eyes, sweetheart."
When the dust settled, Crystal was already crying. The rocks above still shook, a passageway becoming revealed. She scraped her hands and kicked her feet as she climbed the boulders to reach it, ascending toward a higher part of the mountain, near Fort Comstock. Her first instinct was to head down that mine as Alec and Marie's voices got closer. She knew somewhat of a way, at least more than her former parents, and at the very least could always find her way to the sunken Thunder Mesa and hide there. The thunder became louder as more footsteps scared her, but her former parents still weren't there, suggesting Timothy or someone else had begun following her. She whispered his name to the darkness, hoping he would be there as he cast a little glow on everything and could probably show her a good hiding place to avoid her death.
Above, bolts of lightning struck the peak of Thunder Mountain, the residents of rebuilt Thunder Mesa watching in horror and claiming the Thunderbird was back. Suddenly, a small spectre appeared, floating toward the top of the mountain, as the tallest rock became loose and shifted in place. It gripped the rock with both hands, praying it could hold its' weight in its' weakened state, being a ghost and having little effect on physical matter.
Below, Crystal watched her former parents arrive, Alec's gun loaded and ready to shoot. The rumbling began again, the girl falling to her knees and beginning to cry once more. What had she ever done? She simply wanted a family, just like every other kid her age had. Instead, she was stuck with two cruel people as her caretakers, people who regarded her for looks alone. She felt her breath catch and began to sob, her hands on the ground in front of her becoming wet with her tears. In the shadows, someone watched, listening as Alec began to scream at the child. "All you've done is caused us shame, you worthless daughter! Get yourself together! You are not some silly Ravenswood, you're delusional and deserve to be taken away! NO WONDER YOUR BIRTH PARENTS GAVE YOU UP!" He yelled, as the girl just continued to cry, not even looking at him. The shadow observed. Then, it took its cue. "I hope you realize just how little you matter." Alec whispered, aiming the gun, and holding the trigger. At this, the rocks above the two fell, Crystal being momentarily saved.
Stepping out of the shadows was a man. His face was older, wrinkled and weathered with age. His hands bore signature black gloves, and he wore a smart suit, the only colour being a purple bow tie around his neck. His most defining feature was his ruby-red eyes, glinting in the darkness like a cat's would. He stepped forward, offering a hand to the girl who had just lost everything. But she hesitated. She looked from him to above, where the stars twinkled through the crack in the rock. "My name is Henry Ravenswood, child." The man spoke, once again offering his hand. Crystal was reluctant to trust him at all, considering his history, but she had nobody else to trust. She reached out to touch him and he took her hand, helping her stand. Bending down to her level, his eyes settled on the locket. "I gave this to my daughter Melanie…" he whispered, astonished. Crystal shifted uncomfortably. "Um…my name is Melanie Ravenswood too…" she responded, the man's eyes changing at this revelation. "It is just as I feared…" he whispered, turning away from her, before a bolt of lightning illuminated him, revealing his true form: The Phantom.
A skeletal form, eyes pinpoints in his face, glimmering in a blood-red hue. He wore the same formal clothes, albeit tattered, and his mouth was set in a grimace, his true feeling toward all. In truth, Henry was miserable, and had suffered for many years to get to his position of power. Yet this does not excuse his actions in the slightest. A deceitful, selfish man, whose own brother would even abandon him, and one who solely focused on monetary gain. As was drilled into him from a young age, business takes priority over family, and he would uphold this sentiment until his death, and beyond. Distance was a friend, a lack of human connection allowing for lack of emotion. Henry's nature as a greedy father was such. Distance between his children, his wife, even those he felt some sort of connection with, such as Anna, were given distance. Yet, as his eyes stared at Crystal, something inside his empty heart began to throb, and he let out a pained gasp.
Behind Crystal, the same footsteps began again, causing her to turn and snapping Henry out of his thoughts. "Melanie…" he whispered, Crystal turning back around in confusion, but he looked beyond. A figure in white revealed herself, her brown hair, and sea-green eyes matching Crystal perfectly. Their faces bore a resemblance- the only difference being Crystal's little red coat and Melanie's perfectly white wedding gown. Behind her, in his signature overalls and hat, gifted from his father, revealed Jake, a hand on his wife's shoulder. More spectres revealed themselves, her grandfather, his father and wife, Ann, Henry, Ivana and their daughter Sara. Finally, stepping out of the shadows were the servants, led by Martha and Anna, their faces furious at Henry. Avery and Christopher rushed toward their daughter, Crystal beginning to cry as they hugged her tightly, Florence soon joining them. Everyone stared at Henry, waiting for him to either strike or back down, as he sighed.
"Young one…I must confess. I planned to kill you tonight, but…seeing how much love passes between all of them, toward you…I believe I will struggle to do so." He began, stuttering slightly as his ghostly heart throbbed inside his skeletal chest. Crystal looked at him once more. Originally, she had been afraid of this man, a man who had brought about so much pain and suffering, but now she was simply accepting. Henry had done deplorable and awful things to people, but she wished to know the reason behind it all. Surely, it was done from much more than greed, as he could have just struck and killed her instantaneously. Instead, he offered help momentarily, seemingly regretful of his actions. "Henry…" Crystal whispered, the man returning her gaze and nodding. Suddenly, a rumble startled all of them, Melanie and Jake looking upwards, their expressions becoming horrified. "Father…what have you done?!" Melanie cried, fury in her voice. Henry realized. He had dislodged the peak of the mountain with the storm of his anger, and could crush his own family member with it. He began to speak, hoping he could get his message across before it was too late and Crystal refused to trust him. "Little one, I did what I did out of spite! I refused to let the world defeat me, so I tried to conquer it with my business. But, I failed. I didn't want a beneficiary, I wanted to keep what I owned. That's why I murdered every person in my lineage, but I can't hurt you!" His eyes turned onto his own daughter, who put her hands on Crystal's shoulders as the rumbling worsened, Crystal once again falling to her knees. "I want you to keep the manor! Keep everything owed to you. And…be a good child." He whispered, looking up. The storm was worsening, his inner fury coming to a peak. Arthur would be proud of him, surely, but he struggled to accept this. He was too far down a deep, dark path to stop now, hence his heart tearing itself apart inside him. The rock cracked above, sending tremors down the mountain as lightning tore at it, Timothy begging for strength to keep his family safe.
Crystal couldn't move, trapped in memories of those she had lost, and the people Henry had hurt. She wanted to forgive him, but the only thing he'd ever done is torment and hurt her, playing cruel tricks and even almost killing her. The only merciful action he'd ever taken was not killing her, and it was only due to his own heartache. He'd called her unwanted, something she felt, and even tried to convince her former parents to kill her on promise of riches. She felt more tremors, the mountain itself falling to pieces as stones hit her on the head, causing her to become dazed and confused. A large stalactite fell next to her, deep coral stones pelting her, and she felt blood trickle down from her forehead, convinced she would die. She willed herself to stand, but her legs wouldn't move, sustaining injuries from the heavy stones collapsing around her, so she covered her head with both hands, whispering for someone to help her.
In a flurry of light, the spectres surrounding her threw themselves over her, hoping that their little physical matter would be enough to sustain the weight of the huge boulder, but they all doubted it. Melanie's hand reached out, gripping Crystal's locket, and she hugged the girl, the little girl who looked and acted so much like her, and who had lost so much too. More spectres appeared around her, four suitors running to her aid and covering the girl, while Jake saw Charles and Abigail appear next to him, the two of them sitting down next to Crystal and protecting her shoulders. Florence's parents appeared, Diamond Lil suddenly appearing too, and eventually, the whole of Thunder Mesa stood in the cavern, the cavern where Timothy had died and which was now becoming the place for the premature death of another young child. Leota met Henry's eyes, who still stood there, absolutely dumbfounded at the support, as Lucy, her husband Ash and her two twins threw themselves to cover Crystal, encased in light. Henry heard Timothy scream for more strength, yelling with all his might, and the cavern began to rumble again as bright blue lightning flashed overhead, Crystal sobbing in terror at her fate. Henry's heart began burning, tears in his eyes, and his feet moved before his brain, throwing himself over the rest of the spectres and reaching out for his daughter, managing to grab her hand before the rumbling stopped.
For a moment, all was still. Timothy, breathless, gave a weak smile. He, with what little strength he had, had managed to push the rock back into place, his hands scraped and bleeding. He'd saved her. He wasn't useless or shameful, but heroic. His breaths were ragged and uneven, his floating disjointed. He couldn't sustain it, and fell down the mountain, landing just above the opening created by the falling rocks. He couldn't find the strength to stand. He simply lay there, out of air and exhausted. Voices surrounded him, but he couldn't make them out, and slipped into slumber, sleeping silently.
Interlude: A dream
Grass below his feet. His father playing with him, Melanie, and mother close behind. They all are running together in the back garden of the manor, before running up the steps toward a new stone veranda. Henry laughs, and Tim laughs too. Happiness, dreamlike and slow. But, that was a long time ago.