As Emmeline watched the car speed off into the morning sun, she had to remain behind. Unlike most ghosts who could travel wherever they wanted (except over water), she was stuck here, on the grounds of the Octagon House. But, it was more than that. There were many instances that made her different from typical ghosts.
When she told Gregory the other day was her anniversary, her death day, she had lied and made up the day. She told the fake day when Ania decided to come stay with her and had asked her about her death day. Emmeline didn't know exactly when she died. She didn't know how she died. She discovered from listening to Ania and Gregory and the various other ghosts that she had come across that it was different. For most ghosts the thing they hold on to the most is their death. How one died as a ghost is very important it was what their afterlife consisted of, but she couldn't recall her death, or her life for that matter. She knew her name, but other that that she didn't really know. Emmeline knew about the time period in which she lived, but nothing specific to her own life. Occasionally she would get flashes of her life, but they were gone as quickly as she recalled them.
Another thing that made her strange; she had never found her body. Emmeline didn't know where she was buried. When asked by Ania or Gregory, she took them to the tomb located on the property, but she wasn't there. It was just another story to satisfy her ghost companions and to make her feel normal (whatever that meant as a ghost). She didn't know where it was and it made her a little sad and melancholic.
Her entire existence made her sad, she was surprised the entire house and estate wasn't a cold spot! She lamented her existence and how she came to be. She had no recollection of when she was alive, she had no stories to share. When they were doing laundry earlier, Ania shared about her experiences with helping her mother. Emmeline didn't have that. Did she send out her laundry? Did she do it herself? Even this home, she felt like she had a connection as she couldn't leave the place, but she didn't recall anything particular. Deep down she felt the connection to the Octagon House, she just didn't know why or what that connection was.
She would never voice this to the others, but it hurt, it felt like a constant pain bubbling inside her. The lack of memories. The lack of everything. Did she have unfinished business, was that why she was here? She didn't even know what her unfinished business would be...she didn't remember anything from her life. Maybe one day she would have the chance to cross over...maybe...
Emmeline moved her hand on top of her heart. When Matthew and her touched she felt something strange. Maybe he was the key? "The key to what?" she whispered out loud. It almost seemed as if her body remembered something even when her mind could not.
Then it dawned on her the feeling that she had when Matthew held her hand was similar to the connection to the Octagon House. Not identical, but similar that it had to be more than a coincidence. She wanted to get more information ask Matthew more questions, but he was gone. He would be with his family and in time he would forget about this place and the dead that resided here.
After she stood at the gates for quite some time she decided to head back to the home. Maybe, just maybe he would come back. She had a lot of work to do, the house was a complete disaster and frankly she was ashamed. Emmeline smiled and laughed at her own thoughts. The dead didn't need to feel shame. She shrugged her shoulders and floated down the path back to the Octagon House.
Emmeline took care of the dishes, set everything next to the laundry tub that had to be washed. She used the fire that was already lit for the stove and started boiling water. The process really did go faster when she had Ania's second pair of helping hands. It didn't really matter she said to herself, she had all the time in the world.
Emmeline was working on washing the clothes when she heard a car pull up. Had she not been actively listening for the sound it would have gone unnoticed by the ghost woman. Emmeline dropped the clothes to the side and headed out the front door. She was going to ask Ania and Gregory about Matthew and his family.
But there was no need, in Gregory's arms was Matthew. Emmeline's stomach dropped and she anxiously approached them moving at full speed. Emmeline peaked at the boy and then looked up at the man holding him. Gregory was walking inside and took the stairs, no doubt to take the boy to the master bedroom.
Emmeline turned to Ania, "What happened?"
Ania shrugged her shoulders, "You'll have to ask him."