Chapter IV: A Ghost in Darkness
He could hardly believe himself as he leaned his back against the cold stone wall beside his favorite window. He was usually so much more careful than what he had been in the last two days. She had seen him gazing down toward her house yet again. He found it impossible to not satisfy his curiosity in her. Last night he even walked right up to her house, the little lights drawing him in like he was a moth.
When he arrived to her house and saw what the lights were, his jaw dropped. There were bright hanging lanterns, stars, bugs, and even luminescent tufts of grass. Little green lights were wrapped around the railing to represent a line of hedges. It was similar to the lights that people put on their Christmas trees and houses. He remembered Christmastime in the town and how he loved the look of the little lights. This was different than those, but he loved it even more.
He had found that the source of the noise was several wind chimes. Some were made of wood, and some were metal and glass. One of them was made from flattened utensils, and another from seashells. They looked unusual and interesting to him and he loved the sounds they made when they were hit by the breeze. He grinned broadly and was completely mesmerized by the display. What a strange feeling....to smile.
As he stood there gazing with wonder he realized he was making noise. He stopped his hands from moving so as not to wake her up. He had learned to control the nervous twitching of the blades over the years, but he had been so excited that he forgot himself. Not long after that the lights went on inside the house. He gasped and ran back home afraid she may see him. He didn't want his presence to scare her.
And now here he was frightened that she had seen him again. If I keep this up they will find me and come after me with pitchforks and torches just like Frankenstein's monster. I have to be more careful. I can't go back there again. It's dark now. I can go outside and work in the garden.
Sighing, he pushed himself from the wall using his elbows. He listlessly walked down the flights of stairs and out the door. He paced around the grounds within the inner wall deciding what he needed to work on. He pruned the hedges here and there where they were getting slightly overgrown. This time it didn't seem so enjoyable. His mind kept wandering so he couldn't focus on his work. He stood frowning at a hedge animal and breathed deeply. He was so tired of his only companions being hedge creatures.
A clear noise cut through the air, shaking him out of his gloomy thoughts. He wondered if maybe she was playing music like she had before. This time it was a single note and it was clearer and louder than yesterday. It sounded like a stringed instrument to him. Maybe a violin. Another note followed and then another. He stopped looking at the green reindeer and walked to the gate and pushed it open. Without another thought he went to the crumbled area of the wall and over it; drawn to the sound.
Just as he arrived to the trees surrounding her house the single notes stopped and she started playing a song...and singing! He hid behind a large tree and listened. Her voice was beautiful and her song was sad. She sounded so hurt and lonely. It was like she was showing her soul as she played and sang. His heart ached, yet he was overjoyed and enraptured in the music.
He decided he had to risk being seen so that he could see her. He shifted to the side slightly and his ghostly pale face peeked out from behind the tree. He looked up at her with wonder. He stopped breathing as his eyes grew wide. He thought she was gorgeous. She reminded him of the porcelain dolls he had once seen in a store. Light skin with delicate features and large eyes. The lights reflected off her skin and hair. She was playing an instrument much larger than a violin, but that made sounds similar to one. He had never seen anyone play an instrument before. She looked like an angel as she played.
He recognized the feelings that were stirring within him. I have felt this way before and it only caused pain; a long time of sorrow. What is wrong with me? Someone like that could never love someone like me. I would just scare her. Or maybe not...she seems so lonely too, maybe she would be nice to me. She is like a beautiful siren from the Greek myths father used to read. I can't help but feel drawn to her. Maybe she really is like a siren and if I get too close to her it will be the end of me. I shouldn't have come here, so close to another human being. If she sees me she would scream and call the police. Perhaps if I just came here to listen to her and stayed hidden. Perhaps that would be enough, just to gaze at her and enjoy her songs.
He stopped listening to his inner battle and just enjoyed the music. She played a couple more songs that he found strange and beautiful. The wind chimes sang as well, creating a wonderful symphony to his ears. He felt like he should shut his eyes and let himself drift away with the notes on the breeze. Such a thing was impossible. He could barely blink. The whole time she played he could not tear his eyes away from her.
When her songs ended she packed up her instrument in its case. Picking it up with one hand and a small black cat in the other, she went inside. She set both down on the floor and shut the door. She took her jacket off and tossed it across the room, and then started to pull her clothes off.
He shifted his eyes away; embarrassed and nervous at invading her privacy by seeing her half dressed. His hands twitched nervously, making snipping sounds. He gasped at the realization of the noises he was making and stopped his hands from moving. He looked back up at her to see if she heard it, and saw that she was frozen in place looking out the glass door in his direction. He shifted over so he was completely hidden by the tree. He stayed frozen in place while his heart raced madly.
After a few seconds he heard the sounds of the windows closing. He remained hidden and motionless for several minutes. He then heard the noises of the plumbing, and after a while nothing. He waited for what seemed like hours before he felt confident enough to peek out again.
All of the house's lights were off except for the enchanting little colored ones on the balcony. He gazed at them and wondered what he should do. He wanted so badly to introduce himself to her and get to know her, but he was too afraid to do so. He was sure that she would hate him. He didn't want to go back to his inanimate creatures and quiet house; so he remained there all night looking at the lights and lost in dreams.