Thank you for the reviews, I encourage you to take a minute to say something about this chapter or the story so far, it would mean a lot to me.
Army of Doom by X-Ray Dog is perfect for this chapter, you can listen to the version I intended by clicking on the link on my homepage.
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I lead her to where the functional part of the school ends and to the permanently closed one starts, putting the antique key into the door and turning the stiff lock. We have to use both our body weights in order to open even one of the massive doors and when we are both inside we turn on our flashlights.
"What's the full story about why this is closed off?", she whispers.
"Well, long before I came this was the senior wing, it had private rooms like mine, a bigger common room, a beautiful library, and a few more classrooms for classes that they can no longer hold. Apparently there was an accident over on those stairs", I flick my wrist to the left and a smaller version of the main grand staircase looms in the dark, "And the girl was seriously injured. Her parent's were going to sue the school but the girl had already claimed that it was a ghost that made her trip and it wouldn't hold up in court. They settled on closing this part of the school, because it would still hurt the school financially and that's what they wanted".
"Wow, do you think that it was one of your ghosts?".
For the first time in a really long time I feel like maybe I don't know my friends as well as I thought, there was always a vibe of secrecy but why wouldn't there be? They are ghosts. But for some reason I was stuck in the mindset that the ghosts that I grew up with had never done anything wrong. Maybe they are fairly innocent but they are stuck in limbo for a reason, "If so, then it was probably an accident", I say numbly.
"Oh ya, for sure", she quickly changes the subject in embarrassment for asking such a question, "I mean you should see the way Chris looks at you, like a grandpa doting on his only granddaughter".
I smile in thanks, "Wait until you meet Edmund".
We walk in silence for a minute, admiring the beauty of what I think has always been the most beautiful part of the school, even through layers of dust and cobwebs. The antiques in this floor of the school alone, could pay for at least 15 girls' full educations here; and that does not come cheaply. Not that I would ever think about selling the school or anything in it if I ever had a say, it's a school but it's much more than that as well; it's the only home I have ever known, or remember knowing that is.
"You know that staircase I pointed out? Well that is the most direct route to the second floor of this wing. It's always been closed, even since the start of the school. It's for historical purposes and out of respect for the family, since that's where all their bedrooms are, but I still what to see it so badly", I confide in Alice, "Since I stole this key though, the others have been well hidden".
I can see Alice's eyes glimmer mischievously, even in the dim light, "What if I said I could get you up there without a key?".
"I would say your brill...".
"Izzy!", I turn around to find Edmund standing there grinning away like usual.
"Hey Eddie! Long time to see", we do our secret handshake, which isn't actually a handshake because we can't touch each others hands, but it's the thought that counts, "What happened to the pranks this year? I was looking forward to them".
His face darkens slightly, "I haven't felt up to it...see...", he seems to struggle for words and it occurs to me that I have never seen him this down. He couldn't have been more than 13 when he died but the weight of what is keeping him here never seemed to matter before. Perhaps Ava coming back means much more that we first thought?
"It's alright, this is Alice by the way. We were hoping you could tell us a bit about Ava and even Hayden if you think it will help".
"I'd love to help you Iz, you know I would, but I just can't", he pleads at me with his eyes and a wave of guilt and disappointment washes over me.
"I understand Eddie, but why?", I use the nickname that I have always used for him, and I can see his resolve softening a little. He steps forward a little.
"Because were family, and family sticks together. She's my sister-in-law and she's come back for my brother, my father and I. I owe my brother loyalty at the least, no offense Iz".
I gasp in surprise. Why didn't it ever occur to me that they were all related? "I had no idea, I'm so sorry".
He shrugs his shoulders, "Your like a sister so me Iz, and I am always happy to see you but I don't think now is the best time. You should go right now in case my brother decides to come by".
"We know the danger of being here, but we really want to help", Alice speaks to Edmund for the first time, "We understand that you are loyal to your brother but is there anything that we can do to help...indirectly even...?".
He seems to think about it for a moment, but before he can say anything Hayden appears behind him; his eyes look stormy with emotion and I look away before they can cause me the pain they did last time. I take Alice's arm and start to turn, but Hayden stops us.
"What are you doing here? I thought I made it clear that you were not welcome near my family", he says this in a voice that is strangely calm, but I know that he is anything but calm.
"Well actually...", Alice starts to say that he did not specifically mention his brother.
"Enough!", I can almost see his calm facade starting to crack.
I start to think furiously of a reason why he should listen to us, or at least officially ask for our help to buy more time, but I can't. I do know that if Ms. Felch thinks that Ava's messages are a risk to anyone in the school then she will go to drastic measures.
Alice apparently has an idea though, "We came to warn you... about what could happen if things don't change".
Hayden laughs without humor, "Do you really think that you know something that we don't? We can be everywhere at once if we choose".
Alice seems to be at a loss for words when it suddenly occurs to me what she must have meant, "You wouldn't know about it yet because the decision hasn't been made. She means that if Ms. Felch thinks that anyone is in danger she will bring someone in to get rid of all of you... and it won't be pretty. I have reason to believe that when a spirit or a ghost is exorcised they don't go to a better place".
Hayden looks so shocked that he almost doesn't look angry anymore, "I can't...my Ava...why?".
Alice patiently but confidently continues, "Nothing good can come from being forced to do something you don't want to do, especially when you do not feel ready to be at peace just yet. Please we really care about what happens to you", she looks him straight in the eyes, without a hint of pain I have had, evident on her face. After a moment his shoulders slump and he bows his head, supposedly willing to believe us that we mean well. Although Ms. Felch probably would never have the nerve to actually call someone to have them exorcised, it's a very real possibility and the only chance we had. Then I notice that Edmund looks even paler than usual and his fists are clenched at his sides, shaking in fear. He looks at me and mouths the words, 'Run now' just as Hayden raises his head. I catch only a glimpse of what is in his eyes, but it is enough for me to know that if we don't leave this instant we will not make it out alive.
Alice sees the panic in my eyes, "Come on let's go!".
We start to run, but Hayden has already made up his mind that we have overstayed our already unwelcome welcome and the ground starts to shake, making it even harder to run. Since I have never been a co-ordinated person I can't run as fast as Alice and I fall behind, when she notices this she starts to come back but I shake my head furiously and yell "No! You have to open the door! We won't make it if you don't", she reluctantly nods and keeps on running.
"Perhaps I should finish this right now??", Hayden's voice booms mockingly and unusually loud from behind us, the full amount of his fury released. I can only see Alice's flashlight flashing wildly ahead as the shaking becomes more violent and I lose my balance; before I have a chance to regain it though I feel a pocket of dense air form beneath my right foot and I fall so hard I feel dazed. My flashlight flies out of my hand and I hear it hit the far wall, I try to ignore the sharp pain in my arm as the dust that I stirred up blocks my vision on which way to go, which is nearly impossible to figure out in the dark anyway. I am so disoriented I am almost ready to give up, when Alice comes over and picks me up off the floor, dragging me towards the exit. The last thing I see is Edmund, my dear friend, with a mask of hatred on his face as his brother steadily comes towards us. When we are through the safety of the double doors Hayden's scream reverberates throughout the entire school.