Sam screamed and frantically waved her arms around as she found herself falling from the air. She landed facedown onto the bedroom floor with a loud THUD. The impact caused all of the wind to go right out of her. Moaning, she rolled onto her back and started to pant, her body aching from the fall. A second later, the phantom fell right beside her and landed on his stomach with a grunt.
"God, I hate the landings," he muttered as he stood up and dusted himself.
"I'd thought you'd be used to them by now," Sam answered, finally able to control her breathing again.
"I am, I just don't like it," he offered her his hand and helped her up to her feet, "You'd think after five years of going through these pages, I'd find some less painful way of landing, but apparently not."
"Five years of going through these pages?" Sam looked at him quizzically, "Why? What's the point? I'm the only one you've led around here, right?"
"Yes, you are. But sometimes, I like to go through these entries myself and relive these memories. It's a bit comforting in an odd way."
"Doesn't that get kind of lonely?"
"It is, yes," the phantom sighed and turned around. He continued on in that same sorrowful tone, "Especially since that's all everything is, a memory. No one here is real, not anymore. You can't walk with them, or talk to them, or laugh or cry along with them. They're all just memories."
They were both silent for a moment. Sam couldn't help but feel sorry for this poor phantom. Hving no one to turn to, no one to chat with, no one to call a friend. She just couldn't imagine what that must feel like. As demanding and controlling as her mother was, at least she was there. At least she made sure that Sam's life was never boring, not as long as there was an argument or a fight around the corner, and it always was. But the for the phantom, having nothing but memories to claim as company, it's a wonder he hadn't gone insane. But then again, these aren't his memories, they're Dan's. So why was the phantom reliving them? Why wasn't Dan? After all, this is his journal.
"Who are you? she asked.
The phantom walked to the door and gestured at Sam to follow him.
"May 7th, 1888," he started, "Today is Vlad's birthday. Unfortunately, Ember the maid is sick with the flu, so the cook Paulina has taken over her duties."
A moment later, they were in the dining room. Everyone was seated at the table with satisfied grins on their faces. The dishes in front were all empty except for a few crumbs. Paulina and Bertrand began to collect the dirty plates.
"Ah," Vlad sighed contently, "Another fine birthday meal as always, Ms. Sanchez."
"Thank you," the girl took the compliment with a smile
"Is Ember still not feeling well, darling?" Mrs. Masters.
"Unfortunatley, no she's not. She kept me up all night with her constant moaning about her stomach."
"Oh dear. I think I'll go and visit her. I know the perfect tea that should help.
Paulina moved on to the next seat. A puzzled look crossed her face when she noticed the chair was empty.
"Where's-"
"She's out playing in the back garden with her cousin," Vlad answered.
"Really," Mrs. Masters clucked her tongue, "I can't believe they just ruched off like that so soon after dinner. And on your birthday, too. You would think those girls would have learned proper manners by now."
"Now, now, Penny," he patted her hand, "Calm down. They're just children, after all."
"They may be children, but they're still old enough to know better. Personally, I'm starting to think your niece may be a bad influence for your daughter. It would probably be best to seperate those two."
"What?" Sam exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips, "Who the hell does she think she is?"
"You can't do that!" Dan exclaimed, "They grew up together! They're best friends!"
"They can make other friends. More acceptable friends."
"Acceptable?" Sam snorted, "You know, it's bad enough that my mother tries to control me. I don't need my future mother-in-law to do it, too."
"My cousin is perfectly 'acceptable!'" Dan shot back.
"Dan, calm down," Vlad said sternly, "No one's seperating anyone just yet."
"What do you mean yet?"
"Daniel," he growled in warning before returning his voice back to normal, "You know, Penny does have a point. Those girls do need to find other friends. Your sister does nothing but stay either in this house or her aunt's. And heaven knows what sort of atrocities Alicia's got at her place."
"Alicia?" Sam asked.
"Dan's aunt," the phantom replied, "His mother's sister."
"That reminds me," Paulina spoke up, "She sent you a telegram. She said she's terribly disappointed that you lived for another year."
"Did I mention she and Vlad hated each other?" the phantom grinned at Sam.
"I can't wait until that fudging little butter biscuit finally goes back to Arkansas." Vlad grumbled.
"What's stopping her?" Mrs. Masters asked.
"She wants to wait until her daughter's finished with her schooling," he continued to grumble, "And until that day, I'm forced to put up with that little fudgenutters."
"Ooh!" Paulina interrupted as she reached Mrs. Master's place and bent down to admire her necklace, "Pretty!"
Sam had to admit, it was pretty. Hanging on a golden chain was a bright, lime-green gemstone that had been cut into a roundish shape. A golden border surrounded the stone and held it onto the chain.
"What," Mrs. Masters smiled and picked up the pendant in the palm of her hand, "You mean this old thing? Oh, it's just some silly little trinket I've had for years. Isn't that right, Dashiel?"
"Trinket?" Dashiel looked puzzled, "What's a trinket? Sounds like drink it. You drink from it?"
Everyone just stared at him in disappointment. Just then, Dan caught something moving from the corner of his eye. At the window that was just behind Dashiel, Tucker frantically waved at him and urged him to come outside.
"Why the hell are you staring at me like that, Don?" Dashiel demanded irritably.
"Uh," Dan stammered, "No reason. I'm going to go check and the girls."
"Huh," Sam said, "Funny. He didn't correct him."
"He didn't think there would be a point," the phantom explained, "By this time, Dashiel has had over a month to get Dan's name right, yet never did. Dan figured if Dashiel hadn't learned his name by now, he never would."
"Good point."
Dan stood up and walked out. Sam and the phantom followed him as he snuck into the back to use the servant's entrance. They could hear the poor maid moaning in one of the rooms provided for the help. Finally, they followed him outside and straight to Tucker.
"Hey," Dan greeted, "What's going on?"
"Dan," Tucker grabbed his friend and started shaking him, "You've got to get your father to call off the wedding! You've got to do it! Now! That woman is absolutely evil! What are you standing here for! Why haven't you told your father yet!"
"Calm down!" Dan managed to escape Tucker's grip, "What's going on?"
"Dan, that woman is evil!"
"What else is new?"
"No! I'm serious! You have to tell your father to call off the wedding or else!"
"Or else what, Tucker? What in the world are you talking about?"
"You know that job I got down at the paper?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, the paper's going to run a three year anniversary article on the death of some novelist. Apparently, this guy ghostwrited novels for other people for a living. He was such a popular ghostwriter, that he earned a ton of money for it. I mean, this guy was rich!"
"What does that have to do with Penelope?"
"I'm getting there, I'm getting there! So for the article, my boss had me go down to the archives to get this guy's obituary. I get there and look at it and you will never believe who he was married to!"
"Penelope?" Dan widened his eyes.
"What?" Sam gasped.
"Exactly! The obituary mentioned he left behind a wife and a stepson, Dashiel!"
"Dashiel's his stepson? But both his and Penelope's last names are Baxter. I thought Penelope kept her former husband's last name?"
"Apparently not. I forget what the guy's last name was, but it wasn't Baxter. But that's not the point! The point is that woman was married to him, and now he's dead!"
"What did he die of?"
"No one knows! There weren't any injuries on him and he was completely healthy! All he had was this horrified look on his face like he saw something horrible! It was Penelope! She did it! She's evil! You have to warn your father now!"
"Well, is there any proof she did it?" Dan asked warily.
"I just told you!" Tucker shouted irritably, "She was married to him!"
"And what else?"
"And-And-" he stammered, "Okay, fine! I don't have anything else! But still, you've got to do something!"
"Father's not going to believe me. I'm not sure if I even believe it myself. Besides, we have no proof."
"She was married to him and now he's dead! That's not proof enough?!"
Suddenly, a loud scream interrupted them. Tucker and Dan looked at each other for a moment then sped towards the servant's quarters with Sam and the phantom close on their heels. They all entered to find Paulina quivering and crying on the floor.
"What happened?" Dan demanded.
"It's Ember!" she sobbed, "She's-she's-Oh my god!"
"What's going on?" Vlad and Penelope raced in, "What's happened, Ms. Sanchez? Why were you screaming?"
Paulina didn't answer. Instead she pointed at the doorway into Ember's room. Just then Bertrand came out. He sighed and sadly shook his head.
"I'm afraid Ms. McLean is no longer with us, Mr. Masters."
"What!"
"She's dead!" Paulina let out another sob.
Tucker and Dan stood silently staring at each other. Sam could see Tucker silently mouthing the words, "Told you" to his friend. Dan just stood there, still in shock.
"What happened," Sam turned to the phantom, "What happened with Ember?"
The wind picked up again. The phantom held out his hand to her and smiled. She took it and allowed herself to be against him. As he wrapped her in a protective embrace, Sam felt herself turn red. She smiled shyly. She had to admit, she felt safe against him. Not at all like Dashiel.
She was interrupted in her thoughts when she felt the phantom's fiery hair blow into her face. Sam flinched in anticpation for the burning, but surprisingly, she didn't feel it. In fact, his hair didn't even feel hot. She put up her hand to touch it, shocked that it actually felt solid in her hand. It felt cold. This was a cold fire.
Just then, Sam's veil was ripped from her head along with her mother's flower crown. Seeing she had nothing protecting her face, the phantom pulled her even closer. Sam smiled again as she snuggled against his chest as the wind grew stronger. She didn't even notice herself getting sucked in and taken to the next entry.
