Sorry for not updating. My charger broke :/
Chapter 3 : Mystic Moon
I sat, if you can even call it that, on the chair beside Vaughn. The table was deadly silent. I watched Mirabelle, Julia and Vaughn eat. I moaned and rubbed my ghost stomach. I miss food...
After a long wait, Vaughn stood up and put his plate next to the sink. He was about to walk upstairs when Julia called him back.
"V-Vaughn... th-thanks for today... I, um, I know you didn't know Chelsea but she did die coming to collect you so I think you should come to her funeral tomorrow. For her and for... moral support..."
Vaughn walked over to Julia and gave her a hug. "Sure."
Julia nodded, smiled and wiped a tear away. Vaughn walked upstairs. I wanted to stay with Mirabelle and Julia, but I was pulled upstairs, through a wall (like you do) and into Vaughn's room. I was greeted with Vaughn getting ready for bed.
"Really? Do you sleep with no clothes on?" I groaned and went into the bathroom, praying that he didn't need a shower.
...
I must have stayed in the bathroom for an hour. I was getting bored but then I heard someone snoring loudly. He must be asleep. I walked towards the door but something stopped me from going through the door. The mirror.
I slowly walked to it, scared of what I'd see. I finally reached the front of it. My heart sank. There was no one in it. Just the shower in the background. I wasn't there. I guess I don't exist anymore.
...
I woke up the next morning, hovering above the bed. I floated into a sitting position and rubbed my eyes. Vaughn was sitting at the desk, playing with a pen. I walked over to him and sat on the desk.
"So it's my funeral? But my body's already in the grave, isn't it?" Obviously, he didn't answer. I really need someone to answer me.
After 10 minutes of nothing, Julia knocked on the door. She popped her head around it and said softly, "We're leaving now."
Vaughn nodded and stood up. He left through the door and I followed him through the wall. I don't know why, I find it fascinating walking through walls. It feels like I'm defying physics and the universe and science.
Down in the kitchen, Julia and Mirabelle were waiting. Juia was wearing a long, black dress and had her hair up in a bun with little strands coming around her face. Mirabelle was also wearing a black dress but she had a hat that covered half of her face. When Vaughn came down, they left through the door, leaving me to follow them through the wall again.
...
When we reached the church, everyone outside was weeping and/or hugging each other. Lanna saw Julia and ran up to her wrapping her in a big hug. Lanna was wearing a black version of her usual green dress. How many versions of it did she have? I knew she had a purple one, pink one, an awful yellow one and the usual green one. Now she has a black one too?
"How are you, Jules?" Lanna asked.
Julia sniffed and offered a weak smile. "I-I'm managing. It's just so hard. Chelsea was like my sister. I keep expecting her to come into the shop with her usual smile..." Tears were welling up in her eyes. Lanna gave her another hug and took her by the hand.
"Come on, Natalie, Sabrina and Lily want to see you." She pulled Julia over to her friends and they all started hugging her and comforting her. Sabrina was in tears and kept taking out her handkerchief to wipe them away.
I turned back to Mirabelle and Vaughn. She was talking to him and he was nodding.
"Oh Vaughn... Chelsea was such a lovely girl. She was always so friendly to everyone and she was like my own daughter. Everyone will miss her so much. I'm sure even you would have liked her, she had this way with even the most coldest of people," Mirabelle said.
"Who's gonna look after her farm? And the animals?" Vaughn asked.
Mirabelle blew a strand of hair out of her eye. "I don't know, we'll have to try and find a will. But if there is none, I presume it'll be given to her apprentice, Mark."
Vaughn looked like he was about to say something but the church doors opened and everyone began to head in. Vaughn and I followed them.
When I stepped into the church, I was blown away. There were flowers every where, in wreaths, bunches, garlands and hanging form the ceiling like tinsel or something. Little toadstools were placed around the coffin, which was up on the altar. A large bunch of daffodils (my favourite flower) were placed on the coffin.
Everyone sat down and the priest came out. He stood at the top at the reading place.
"Welcome everyone, welcome. I must say, this is the most unusual funeral I've ever been to. But Chelsea was the most unusual girl I'd ever met. She was unbelievable kind to everyone she met and never hesitated to help out anyone. I think everyone here has experienced her kindness and knows how special she was. You don't meet people like Chelsea everyday, and I have a feeling we won't meet anyone quite like her again. It is a terrible tradgedy she had to leave before her time. But I'm sure the Harvest Goddess will meet her at the clouds and welcome her to the Sanctuary(1). Now, I do believe some of Chelsea's friends have a few words to say. If anyone has written a short speech, please come up to the altar."
Julia, Natalie, Lily, Lanna, Sabrina and Mark walked up to the altar. Five sceonds later Vaughn stood up and walked up to the altar too. He wasn't so far that I need to be beside him so I got to sit down and watch everyone's speech.
Julia got up first. She cleared her throat and leant towards the mike. "I-I'm not going to say much because I'll end up crying. Chelsea was like my sister. She was always there for me. It's going to be so hard to leave her behind. But no one is going to forget her and move on. We will all keep her in our hearts and minds." She quickly got down and ran over to her mother, burying her head in her shoulder and sobbing.
Natalie got up next. "Jules basically summed everything I wanted to say right there. Chelsea was special she could put up with anyone, even if you were bad tempered and arrogant. We are going to miss her."
Lanna stood up and coughed before speaking into the microphone. "Chelsea was amazing. She was so supportive of everyone. I hope the Harvest Goddess is nice to her in the Sanctuary."
Lily stood up. "Chelsea was a intriguing individual. I truely hope her life was a perplexing and full of wonder as she was."
Sabrina stood up to the microphone, clutching her handcherchief. "Chelsea was the person who introduced me to everyone on this island and helped me find my place. I'm truey glad to have known her."
Mark stood up, his emerald eyes shining with tears. "Chelsea was my mentor, co-worker and friend. In fact she was a friend to everyone who knew her. I can still see her, a smile on her face and working on her farm. The island will feel empty without her."
Mark got down from the altar and Vaughn stood up to the mike. I looked around quickly and saw people giving him a confused look. They either thought 'Who is this guy?' or 'Chelsea didn't know him. Why is he speaking?' Nevertheless, Vaughn cleared his throat and spoke into the mike.
"I didn't know Chelsea. I don't know who she is, her personality, background, anything. But I know that she died while coming to collect me from the city with Julia. I hope none of you blame me for her death."
He got down and sat beside Mirabelle again, taking deep breaths, Mirabelle patted his leg, and I guessed from his face that he didn't do this to often.
...
After the funeral, everyone went to the diner for the recepition. Everyone eexcept Vaughn and I. Vaughn excused himslef after the funeral and took a long stroll. I had to follow him. I was getting tired of walking so instead I floated after him. Eventually, we stopped. We were in the graveyard.
Vaughn walked through the graveyard, looking at each grave. He stopped suddenly at one and stared at it. It was mine. Eventually, he sat down across from it.
"I'm really sorry. Julia keeps on saying it's her faut but it's not, it's really mine. If I hadn't been coming to town, you never would have gotten on the ship and, thus, never drowned. Or got stabbed, or whatever..."
There was a moment of silence as Vaughn stared at the grave. He scoffed at himself. "What am I doing? I'm tallking to a freackin' headstone. I knew I was crazy..."
I smiled at him and flew over his head so I could sit in front of him. "No, no, it's really sweet. Please keep talking."
Vaughn sighed and, almost like he heard me, he looked up and looked me straight in the eyes. He was actually looking at the stone, but it looked like he was looking at me.
"People think I'm weird, hanging around graveyards but I find 'em kinda relaxing, ya know? I spent most of my time at graveyards when I was a kid, talking to my moter's grave and telling her stories. Maybe I was weird but there you go. I didn't really talk to people that much after she died but I need someway to socialize and that was how I did."
I nodded while listening to him. His voice was kind of gruff when he spoke to people but right now it was soothing and sweet.
"I don't even know why I'm telling you this, you wouldn't undrestand. According to the funeral today, everyone on this island liked and respected you. I hope they don't blame me for this..."
He stood up and brushed off his trousers. "I'll probably be coming by again tomorrow evening. Julia will want me to put down some more flowers. Thanks for listening, it feels good to talk to someone - something."
He walked off into the night, with me behind him. I saw a whole different side to him that night and I never knew hope much he would come to trust me.
1. The Sanctuary is where the Harvest Goddess takes anyone who dies. Except a few, clearly. (I made it up, I don't think they actually go to some place called the Sanctuary)
I know Vaughn seems a little OOC, but Julia is his cousin and she is upset after her best friend's death so he's not going to just completly ignore her. Anyhoot, I'll try to update this much more regualarlly, okay? Peace :)