For the rest of the day, all Charlie could do was work on her book. She stopped only once and that was to eat dinner when it was served, and as soon as she ate her fill it was back to work. She would probably would have worked on that book all night and not have gotten a wink of asleep had Vaggie not walked into the library and asked,
"Charlie have you heard from Angel? It's almost nine and he still isn't back yet."
"No I haven't." She answered. "Did you try calling him?"
"I called him six times today and he hasn't picked up. Did you try calling him?"
"No. I mean I was a little concerned when he didn't show up for dinner but that's kind of a regular with him. Remember my birthday dinner? It was at five and he didn't show up til eleven."
"True but he at least informs us that he's going to be late and it's not like him to not answer his phone."
"You know Vaggie, if I didn't know any better I'd say that you were worried about him."
"I'm not worried." She denied. "At least not about him. He can take care of himself. I'm just worried he might do something stupid that'll get us in trouble with the cops. Like that flashing incident last New Year's Eve."
"You're not fooling me Vaggie." Charlie giggled. "I know he annoys the crap out of you but I also know you'd never want anything bad to happen to him."
"Well yeah I don't want anything bad to happen to him but that doesn't mean I care about him. I'm just a decent human being. Like can't stand random losers who get drunk and walk around rambling but I wouldn't wish for them to get by a truck. Most of the time."
"Whatever you wanna tell yourself." Charlie smiled and rolled her eyes. "Listen why don't we go into town and try to find him?"
"I don't think that would be a good idea. It's too dark out now. I'll try calling him again in an hour and if he doesn't pick up we'll call the police."
"But the police don't start looking for people until they've been missing for twenty-four hours."
"Well it's the safest approach for now. I don't have a good feeling about the people in this house but I will admit that they are right about us staying indoors after dark. I wouldn't want to be gator food."
"I guess."
"We'll go look for him in the morning. Right now I'm going to take a shower and when I get out I'm going to give him another call. If there still isn't any change, we call the police."
Charlie agreed but shortly after Vaggie left for her shower, she couldn't help but feel responsible for Angel in this circumstance. After all he was her friend and she had insisted he come with her on this trip. And if something bad happened to him out there then it would be her fault.
"I should go look for him." She decided. "Vaggie might be right about it not being safe but for friends, you always have to be willing to take risks."
She left the library and went back to her room to neatly put away all her writing tools and manuscript, grab her jacket from her bag, and then leave her room to search for a flashlight or anything that could be useful in the dark. She went down the first hall and looked for a closet. Hall closets were among the most common locations for flashlights and even lanterns but none appeared to be in sight. She started to go down the stairway but stopped when she heard something that resembled the sound of footsteps from behind.
She turned around but she saw no one. She started going down steps again and again she heard the footsteps behind her. Again she stopped to look back and again she did not see anyone.
"Hello?" She called. "Vaggie is that you?"
No answer. She proceeded with her trip down the stairs and although she continued to hear those steps, she did not stop to look back until she reached the very end. Suddenly the air was filled with a scent. A mixture of tobacco and lilac. The aftermath of perfume on a woman and possibly a man who had been smoking a pipe. Next she could hear deep breathing all around her. The deep breathing of countless people. She felt like she was among a great crowd, but she was alone wasn't, she?
"Flee." A voice whispered up close to into her ear. "Flee child. Take your friends and flee this place while there's still air in your lungs and blood in your veins and warmth in your heart. You all must flee while you still have your minds and your souls."
"No." Another voice whispered into her other ear. "Do not go yet, young miss. You cannot go even if you wished to, they will not let you leave. They will keep you and your friends here just as they have kept us here. Your only escape is to help us. Help us please."
"What are you talking about?!" She cried out.
"Fool!" The first voice scolded. "We cannot expect her to aid us. We have made our bed and now we must lie in it. Do not lead an innocent to suffer as we have."
"But we cannot help ourselves!" The second voice responded. "Only the living can help us! We need her!"
"Leave Charlotte!" The first voice rasped. "Leave now!"
Charlie could only run. She reverberated along the passageway, her heart pounding and her breath panting.
"I'm not really hearing this!" She thought. "I'm not really hearing this! I'm imaging it! I have to be!"
The front door came into her sight and she darted for it. She was just about to put her hands on the knob when she heard Alastor's voice speak.
"Charlotte what are you doing?" He asked. "It's after dark and I specifically instructed you to never leave this house at night."
She turned around to meet his gaze. He took note of her pale face and trembling body.
"Charlotte what's the matter?" He slowly approached her, careful not to get too close.
"I...I...I." She didn't think he would believe her about what she heard or thought she heard. So she instead told him only of her goal for leaving. "Angel hasn't come back and Vaggie says he's not answering his phone. I'm going outside to look for him."
"I must advise against that my dear." He said calmly. "The bayou is very unsafe at this hour and you are not familiar with where everything is. You could become lost or attacked by one of the beasts out there. Allow me to send one of my staff to retrieve him."
"Thank you but I feel that Angel is my responsibility while on this trip. I should be the one to find him. At least let me go with your staff member."
"With all due respect, you would probably slow them down since again, you're unfamiliar with the surroundings here. To save time and for your own safety, I must insist you stay."
"I appreciate your concern and I understand what you're trying to say. But I just wouldn't feel good leaving Angel alone at there all night."
"Very well." He consented. "If that is what you prefer I will not stop you."
"Thank you."
She headed for the front door again.
"Though I must say I am surprised that you have the energy to go out and search. You've been working so hard on that book of yours for so long, I figured you must be very tired by now."
He then mouthed some words and Charlie was suddenly over come by exhaustion. Her eyelids were growing heavy, she could barely keep them open. She willed herself to stay awake but the lure of slumber was too powerful.
"Strange." She yawned. "I feel...I feel so sleepy."
The strength in her legs was fading. She found that she could no longer stand at the moment. She started to fall but Alastor was instantly there to catch her in his arms. She didn't have the energy to fight him, she could only lay there in his hold as he carried her back up the stairs.
"Alastor." She struggled sleepily. "I must-"
"Angel will be fine. Do not worry." He assured her.
"Please I-"
"Shhh." He hushed softly to her. "Sleep now my belle. You have nothing to fear. You are as safe with me as you will ever be."
His voice was so gentle and his arms were so secure and warm. This should have been off putting to her but for some reason she was not afraid. To the contrary, she felt completely safe and at ease. She felt that she could trust him. She moved her head to lay against his chest and looked up into his eyes. In those eyes she could see a gentle, familiar glow and found herself never wanting to leave him. But why? Why did she feel this way? What was happening? And why did this all seem like it has happened before?
"Who are you?" Her lips moved, almost silently. "I know you?"
"Just sleep." He whispered softly. "And dream."
With those words given, she finally let herself glide into the warm, safe darkness.