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I hum a lullaby as I float around the abandoned mansion, feeling quite bored as usual. I did air circles and air flips until my head started to hurt, not that I could feel pain anyway. I was stuck in the same mansion, doing the same thing, over and over and over again. All of the guests ran off before they even saw me, and the other ghosts that came in here got scared and ran away easily. The only thing I know about me is that I'm a girl, with no home in the past. I guess...I also know that when I first arrived in the spirit world, I woke up here in this abandoned mansion.
I stopped humming once the door to the front of the mansion creaked, ever so slightly. I made myself invisible and went towards the front of the house, passing through walls until I could see the person who just came in. I widened my eyes, for there was a girl, holding a book. I couldn't see the cover, but it must be interesting. She was wearing all white, with a sun hat, and on top sat bright red flowers. She had either a skirt or dress on and when she turned to close the door behind her, I noticed she had a white bow going around her waist like she was some sort of present.
Naturally, I became curious. I made sure I was transparent so that I could study her features. Oh damn, was my first thought, quickly followed by, she's so pretty and precious... I shook my head and observed her more. She was looking at the floor, her blonde hair falling to her side. I'm quite surprised a girl came here, most guests were teenage boys who were about the same age as her, 16 or 17 years old. She had some makeup on, so I assume she's from a wealthy family. What's she doing here, I wonder?
She looks up, looking like she could see me. We stared at each other for a minute, then she walked right through me. I widened my eyes and turned around, it was clear she couldn't see me nor know I was watching her. I was relieved but suddenly felt....afraid? I want her to see me. But....what if she runs away and never comes back, just like the others before her?
She turned the pages of her book quickly, and I went over to glance at her shoulder. I almost gasped at what I saw but stayed quiet so I wouldn't get caught. Her book wasn't a book, but a journal. I saw notes and pieces of information about ghosts, where they would live, and any sightings of them in the area we were in. I saw someone that looked vaguely familiar to me, but then I couldn't remember who it was.
Her voice spoke clearly and beautifully. "Belle Wartford...Age, 15. Sex, F. Died to unknown causes...place of death unknown...not much else is known about her..." She started pacing back and forth, and I floated alongside her, confused at what she was saying. What is this "sex" that she said? Was it the intercourse thing in school that we had to learn about? What even was school again?...Oh, so many questions, no people to get answers.
The human stood still as she looked up at the ceiling, and mumbled something about upstairs. I quickly went through my walls and looked for anything embarrassing for her to find. I gathered my celebrity crush photos and stuffed them inside a chest with a lock. I gathered my stuffed animals and lined them along my bed, not that I needed sleep anyway. I looked proudly at my neat room and went back to the girl, who just started to go up the stairs. She took a direction that was unusual for guests to take, but fine. I followed her to a room full of fresh food, my pantry.
"What the..." She scanned the food and I gulped nervously. Even though I'm dead, I still miss eating. She lifts a piece of bread, observing the features. "This is freshly baked...no mold, no signs of going bad...and the smell..." She sniffs and looks at my bread in curiosity. She finally put my bread down where she found it and left, leaving the pantry door open. I closed it quite loudly and she whips around, her pupils scanning the door in confusion. She calls out. "Hello? Is someone there?"
I cursed in my head and floated into a wall, my head poking out. She squinted her eyes, keeping her journal close to her like she was its mother. As she turned, I silently thanked God. I don't usually pray, but you know for damn sure I was praying as hard as I could while panicking. The girl walked so fast, that my dress was dragging behind me. I couldn't tell where she was, but a loud grunt made me move in the right direction. My bedroom.
Nooo. Nooooo shit holy fucking shit- I cursed in my head and probably out loud, unsure if she could hear me or not. I made my way into my bedroom and saw the human digging through my closet, eventually coming before my locked chest. I frowned and floated towards her, looking as she tried to unlock it. Haha, take that! It needs a key- wait- wait wait wait- This damn girl had a little lock pick! I frantically scanned my eyes over to her fingers - which looked so soft - as she tried to unlock the chest. Finally, the lock fell to the floor, and she hummed in satisfaction. This girl really likes to invade people's privacy, doesn't she?
She opened the chest and her eyes lit up, looking over my collection of stuff I've managed to collect over the years. She gently takes a picture and a pin, pinning the old photograph onto the wall. "For memory..." She says, pinning another one up. I stare at her silently, not knowing what to do now. If I move it in the future, and she comes back, she'll notice the change and freak out. I squint my eyes, accepting it for now. She pins the last one up and steps back in pride. Pride my ass girl, you just filled my wall with holes.
She tilts her head, letting her neck pop. I stare with wide eyes. This girl clearly wants to die. She sighs and looks down at her journal, writing something down. I peer over her shoulder. Something about pinning pictures up. Wow, what a detailed sentence, young lady. Hope you can get a scholarship with that masterpiece cause that was just awful. I smirk silently. If it was one thing I loved, it was teasing the humans and all of their stupidity. Yeah, I was a human too, but this generation of humans are even dumber with their dumb "phones" and "video games". Like, find a good book and read for a bit. Phone addicts.
The human turns, leaving me to stare at the wall. I quickly noticed she was gone and followed her again. She walked into a room with a chandelier hanging overhead. She awed and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of the ballroom before her. She hummed and started to sway from side to side. At first, I thought she was about to collapse and pass out before I realized she was dancing. Her elegant footsteps seemed to draw me into the moment, as I leaned against the doorframe and crossed my arms, listening to her beautiful humming.
She eventually stopped, and I frowned in dissatisfaction. I wanted more of that, or at least expected more. She looked forward, downward it seemed and I tilted my head in curiosity. I realized what she was looking at and looked away in shame. I've forgotten to clean the mess up. I wasn't expecting any guests to make it this far into the mansion. I kinda wanted to see her reaction, so I floated toward her and took a look at her face. I widened my eyes. Her face showed sympathy and grief. Was she dancing because of the mess I wonder?...
I looked onto the floor, where there lay dead bodies of all those souls that died. The human silently prayed and walked away, I followed her and looked down, floating next to her. If I wanted, I could become translucent again and comfort her, but she looks like she doesn't need it. What a strange girl...I continued to float as she kept walking, her journal close to her chest and her eyes peeled forward like a watchdog. I sighed, annoyed at how she acted like a perfect princess. Her outfit, her clothes, her makeup, her looks, her face, her lips, and let's not forget how she acts! What a nerd, keeping journals like that. As far as I know, I never kept a journal or a diary around because I've watched those movies and read the books about when you keep them. Someone will always expose them in front of everyone.
I completely zoned out and walked through a wall, not knowing where I was looking. I snapped out of my imagination and floated back where the girl was. I poked my head out of the wall I floated in, wondering how I didn't notice her not turning a corner. She was putting a hand on her neck, looking around in dismay, though I could see a bit of interest in her eyes. I widened my eyes, realizing why she had stopped.
She heard my sigh. Not that the reason why she was putting her hand on her neck really made sense. But ghosts were made out of the cold...could she have felt that? I don't know, and I want to find out. I tested it, getting close to her hand and sighed again. She shivered and looked down, lifting her hand that was on her side. Um, okay, cool. She spoke with an uneasy voice. "Is anyone there? Please come out, talk to me. I want to see or hear you..."
This girl is bold. Some ghosts won't take that and forcefully use all their energy to get the creature out of their territory. I don't want to be that kind of ghost, so I won't do that. But I will stay quiet and transparent. She looks side to side of the empty hallway. Well, not so empty. The human sighs, muttering to herself that she should get going, it's almost 12 o'clock, or something like that. I raise an eyebrow as she walks towards the stairs that led her down. Humans still have curfews? Or is she just not enjoying the fun of the night? Either way, she's bound to have some interesting moments in her life at some point, like breaking the rules!
I followed her down the stairs, sad that she had to go, an emotion I didn't know I had anymore. She opens the front door to the mansion, looking like she was staring at me with those eyes. I felt my face rising in heat as I stared back at her. I want her to see me. Now's my chance. I open my mouth to speak, but the sound of a door slamming beat me to it. I hear a car roaring away, the engine pouting likely filled with toxins. I blush in embarrassment, my mouth still hanging open.
I look up to confirm she's gone, and seeing she is I become translucent again. I float down to the bottom of the staircase, sitting at the bottom step as I take in the experience from this evening to now. I bury my head into my lap, my face red. Damn it you fool. You have a crush, a feeling you have never felt before. And you didn't even catch her name...