Chapter 6
The hallway was long and dark. I kept bumping into things. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Dottie, close your eyes and count to 5." Lucy said. I nodded then shut my eyes.
One.
I felt Lucy's hand leave my shoulder.
Two.
I heard the shuffling of our boots on the rug.
Three.
I heard my silent breaths.
Four.
A reassuring arm wrapped around my shoulder.
Five.
I opened my eyes. They adjusted to the dark. I look to my. Shoulder. Zachary was side hugging me. I blush. He looked at me and Relized I could see him. His face turned red. He took his arm off of my shoulder, awkwardly. I awkwardly stood there. I glance at Lucy. She was grinning. I blush harder. Zachary coughed.
"This is the room." He signed, pointing at the door next to him. I repeated it in my book and handed it to Lucy.
"Alright, let's head in." We walked inside the room. It was a quaint little office. I looked around. Lucy head for the desk on one side of the room. I look to the other. There was a cabinet in the far corner. It seemed familiar. I walked toward it and opened it up. Different sticks stood straight up in a row. I knew what these were. I flinched, my back stiffened. Whips. Zachary must have saw. Soon he was by my side, soothing my back. My back flinched then relaxed, tears pricked my eyes. I wiped them away.
Zachary stopped rubbing my back but stayed near me. He looked around for the ghost. I looked around the cabinet, hoping to find something that could be the Source. I felt around, waiting for my Talent to perk up. Nothing. I stared at the whips. Worry, and fear filled my chest. I slowly reached for one.
The feeling hit me like a tidal wave. I felt Mr. Brill raise the whip above his head, like I was doing it as well. It crashed down. I felt the impact on the servant he was beating as well. My back stung, my arm throbbed. I drop the whip. I was shaking. I fell to my knees. Zachary kneeled down next to me. A concerned look on his face. Lucy must have heard me because she was running towards me.
"What happened?" She asked, worried. I was staring at the whip I threw. It had thorns around it's slim body. I flinched. She saw the whip on the ground as well.
"Is that the Source?" She asked. I didn't move. It was or it wasn't. I didn't know.
Zachary rubbed my back once more, giving me comfort. Tears spilled from my eyes. I leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around me.
Lucy grabs the whip, then drops it.
"It's freezing." She pulled on a pair of gloves. I glanced at my hands. I wasn't wearing gloves. How did I not feel it freezing cold?" I watched Lucy. She picked it up, listening and feeling it. When she was done, she put it down, then looked at me.
"I'm sorry for what you felt." She said, soberly. She reached into her bag to retrieve a silver chain net. Nothing. I look in my bag. We left them with the supplies. Then there was a scream.
"That was Holly!" She exclaimed. She stood up, then glanced at me, noticing the iron chains on my bag.
"Set up a chain circle for you and Zachary. I'm going to help Holly." She runs out. I hurried and pulled out the chains, setting them up in a circle. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Dots.. don't move." He signed slowly at me. I stared at him. He slowly reached for my rapier, his hazel eyes staring at the doorway. Once he had my rapier, he hurries and grabs me, pulling me into the iron circle. We stood there, huddled close. I miscalculated the amount of people. I glanced around. I was as blind as a bat when it came to ghosts. Zachary kept his eyes on the doorway. A chill ran up my spin. The temperature dropped. I could see our breaths. I felt anger in the air. He was here.
Zachary pulled me closer. The anger in the air grew. I glance at the chains, making sure they were secure. I look back at Zachary. He was watching the doorway. I grasp his hand, giving him some reassurance. He looked down at me, his face softened, then looked back at the door. His expression changed. He looked around. The ghost must have left.
No, that's not possible. It's foolish to even say that. The room was still cold. Zachary lowered my rapier, handing it back to me. I grasp the handle, but didn't put it away. We both waited. He looked around the room, while I waited for a sense. The hair on my neck stood. I swung my rapier to my right. Ectoplasm sizzled, some flung at my rapier arm. I scream, the ectoplasm burning my flesh. I drop my rapier, clutching my right arm. Zachary grabbed my rapier. He swung at the air in front of him. I assumed the ghost was there. My armed burned. I seethed through my teeth. I heard footsteps running into the room. There stood the rest of the group. Holly's hair was mangled. Lucy was holding a silver chain net.
"Rapiers out!" Lockwood called out. Kipps and Lockwood pull out their rapiers. George pulled out a canister and a salt bomb. Lucy held the chain ready. Holly came over to me with a first aid kit. I was dizzy. I watched as Kipps and Lockwood join in with Zachary. George threw some salt bombs. Lucy ran for the whip. As soon as she threw the chain over the whip, everybody stopped.
"Charming fellow." Lockwood said, looking at everyone.
I just looked at him, dazed. I winced, pulling my arm away from Holly. She pulled it back toward her. I cried out as she wrapped the bandages over it. Zachary came over and sat next to me, pulling me into a reassuring hug. I gave him a weak smile.
"At least it's over." He signed, smiling.
I nodded, but doubt filled my chest. Was it over?