Charlie slept through most of the night. She felt so soft and warm in that bed. She couldn't remember a time she had ever felt more comfortable and at peace. She almost felt like she was home. But even the most pleasant and deep of slumbers can be interrupted. Hers was interrupted by a particular sound that broke though the darkness. Her eyes flashed open and at first she thought that she had only dreamed the noise but when she tried to fall back asleep, she heard it again. It sounded like whispers. Strange. How could whispers wake her? For ten minutes she tried to ignore them and when that task proved impossible she decided to investigate.
She slowly stood from her bed, slipped on the lace robe that came with the nightgown she discovered, and began searching the room for a flashlight or lantern. None turned up but she did find a few candlesticks and a book of matches in one of the drawers. She lit one candlewick and slowly opened the door to her room.
On the other side there was just darkness. A night-black corridor that seemed as if things in it might be moving. She almost hesitated to leave but a feeling inside something told her to find out where those whispers came from so she slowly began her walk down the hall. She searched for someone who might be awake but she saw nobody. Still she felt a hundred set of eyes watching her every move.
She reached out to steady herself when she suspected she might trip and her hand touched something that felt cold. Something that felt like somebody's cheek and lips. She jumped back quietly.
"Who's there?" She called in a tone that was quiet enough not to wake anyone but not enough to where someone close couldn't hear her.
There weren't any responses to her call but she head the whispering continue.
"I know someone is there." She called again. "Who is it? Please answer?"
The whispering stopped. Something moved in close behind Charlie and whispered into her ear,
"You can hear us?"
She turned around but didn't see who had spoken to her.
"You can hear us?" It asked again.
"Yes." She answered trying very hard to locate the one who owned the voice. "Who is that? Show yourself."
"Hush." The voice whispered. "Do not be so loud. They must not know you can hear us."
"What do you mean? Where are you? Why can't I see you?" She felt a shiver go down her spine. "Angel if that's you trying to scare me, cut it out. It's not funny."
"No one is jesting child." She heard another voice whisper. "We cannot jest for we cannot laugh and it is because we can no longer feel joy."
"We cannot feel anything." Came a third voice. "All we feel is misery and all we can do is remember."
She trembled. She tried not to pant. She found it hard to keep standing. What was this? Why was she hearing voices but not seeing the faces attached to them? Why did she feel as if the hall was filled with people but emptiness was in her vision?
"Remember." They spoke all spoke at once. "Remember. We will always remember. We are not permitted to forget. He will not let us forget and that is our eternal suffering."
Charlie could stay still no more. She ran and in her haste she almost went tumbling down the stairway but a hand grabbed hers and pulled her to safety.
"Careful Charlotte. Many lives have been lost just by going downstairs the wrong way."
It was Alastor who had prevented her fall.
"Pardon my asking, but what are you doing up at this hour?"
"Well I..." His attire was not one worn by someone who had been sleeping. He was all dressed as if he was planning to go somewhere. "Do you mind if I ask you the same question?"
"Not at all. I'm up this early because I received an emergency call from one of my business associates. Apparently there's been a recent oil spill in the Atlantic and I want to make sure none of the fish we've caught have been infected by the pollution. It's vital that I look into it before production begins at seven."
"Oh." She said.
"Perhaps I should have waited a little longer but if someone were to eat polluted fish produced by my company I'd be sued for every penny I have. Not to mention being up this early prevented you from suffering a most terrible accident."
"Yes, thank you for that."
"Now what are your reasons for being up long before even the rooster?"
"I heard something. People talking."
"You probably heard me on the phone with my employees. I'm awfully sorry for waking you."
"No it wasn't you. It was...I...I...It's hard for me to explain. I heard someone whispering to me but I didn't see anybody. I was alone. At least I think I was."
"That's the thing about old houses like these." He chuckled quietly. "You never feel like you're a hundred percent alone. What with all the creaking old doors and floors, and the lifelike portraits. I was once left alone here for an entire week and I was certain that somebody had stayed behind with me."
"So no one else here is awake? Just you and me?"
"Yes indeedy."
"What about your staff? They get up early for work don't they?"
"Of course but not this early. I wouldn't dare wake my staff at this ungodly hour unless it was an emergency. I'm a strict employer but also a reasonable one. What you heard my dear was just the echoes of an antique estate. It's happened to all of us."
"I suppose but it sounded very coherent for... Oh this is ridiculous. You're right. I didn't really hear anyone. I'm just not used to houses like these."
"Don't worry you'll become used to this one in time. I promise." He sounded so sure. "For now go on back to sleep. You'll need plenty of rest if you're going to be writing with my cousin tomorrow. She's gracious most of the time but when she wants to create a proper story she is ruthless."
Charlie smiled and bid Alastor goodnight before returning to her room. As she fell back asleep, she tried to convince herself that Alastor was right. That what she heard was only a trick caused by echoing and creaking sounds that old houses made. Her mind was convinced but her instincts weren't.
Angel woke up an hour and a half later when he felt the urge to grab a quick smoke. He opened the window and leaned out before lighting the cigarette. He had taken about three puffs when he saw Husk in the distance, moving about the cemetery. He was going through a pile of rocks and stones, looking for a particular type sediment.
"You'd have to be crazy to be in a graveyard at this hour." Angel thought.
"What do you think you're doing you jackass?!"
Angel heard someone shout harshly at Husk in an unrecognizable tone. It sounded like the real tone had been masked by some form of disturbing wavelength. The person who the strange tone belonged to was dressed in black and it had become so dark by now that Angel couldn't make him out.
"What do you think? I'm doing my job." Husk replied.
"You can't do it now!"
"It has to be done as soon as possible. You know what could happen if it's left in this condition too long."
"I don't care! The guests will be awake soon! What if they see you?! Did you ever think of that?! Oh wait, of course not! In it's in your nature to always be stupid!"
"Seeing me won't tip them off half as much as hearing you scream to the top of your lungs like this. You'll wake the whole house."
"You better watch that smart mouth of yours and remember your place. You wouldn't want to be punished again would you?"
Husk's eyes seem to flinch at the threat but he stood firm.
"You don't scare me. I'm not like the others. I don't whimper in fear of the likes of you. I've dealt with shitters like you my entire life, your threats are nothing to me."
"Big talk from someone who bears a lot of scars from running their mouth too much. You're lucky I'm in a good mood so I'll let you slide this time but mercy has never been my best virtue. Don't expect something like this to happen twice!"
He then dismissed Husk and followed after him back to the house.
"What was that about?" Angel thought suspiciously. "And who was that shooting their food hole out every two seconds?"
He thought about it for another minute then put out his cigarette, wrapped it in a tissue, and closed the window. He turned around to go to bed and was once again scared by Mr. Pentious standing really close behind him.
"Holy shit!" He cursed. "Dude, would you mind knocking next time?"
"Certainly." The butler replied. "Would you be ever so kind as to not spy on the staff?"
"What? Oh that." He pointed to the window. "I wasn't spying. I was just grabbing a smoke and I didn't want this room to smell like cigarettes so I opened the window, and just so happened to see that little spat out there. But what are you doing in my room at this hour?"
"The master said one of his guests was hearing voices within the house. He wanted me to look into it and make sure we didn't have any intruders. I was to see who was awake and who was asleep."
"You could have knocked or give a warning first. Did you do that with Vaggie and Charlie?"
"I merely cracked the door open to see if they were asleep. They were, unlike you. A bit of advice if you must grab a smoke would you kindly to do it at an hour when the household is awake?"
"From what I saw outside, it seemed pretty awake to me. What was going down there anyway?"
"Forgive my tone but that is none of your concern."
"Hey I'm not the one to be nosy but they were in a graveyard at night. That's never a good sign. Did something happen?"
"No. Part of Husk's occupation is to ensure that the cemetery is presentable and not disturbed by grave robbers."
"What idiot would rob a grave?"
"The master's ancestors were buried wearing expensive jewelry and watches that are worth more than this house. There are those greedy enough willing to steal them off a dead body."
"Okay. I can't argue that there are freaks like that out there. But what were the rocks and stones for?"
"I told you. Presentation. The master insists that his family be memorialized with dignity and respect. That is why Husk on occasion will replace the flowers left on the graves and use rocks or stones to scrape off damage or dents made to the tombstones over the years."
"I guess that makes sense but why would it be bad for him to do it now? And who was that out there with him? Was that you? No wait, that's not possible. You wouldn't have gotten back here so fast. Right?"
"You ask too many questions. I'd advise against that. Meddling in things you don't understand always cause trouble."
Before Angel could say anything further, Mr. Pentious walked away. His words only filling Angel's head with more questions.