"Yes sir." Cliff bowed.
"Have you found any evidence yet? Have any of the damn leads panned out?"
"No sir, I have sent my men on any possible whisper of a lead. No luck. We will keep searching."
"Mm." The man mumbled as he considered the options in front of him. He wasn't going to give up. He had so many avenues to search and one of them would eventually pan out. He would take as long as he needed. Time was irrelevant. "Good, keep me informed."
"Yes boss." Cliff stood up and left quietly closing the door as to not disturb the boss.
The boss looked at his computer added a couple of clicks of the keys and hit enter before he stood up and went to the swinging pendulum behind him. The amethyst swung in rhythmic circles over a simple world map. If one looked closely there was a lock of auburn hair tied around the amethyst. The pendulum in the last few weeks the movements have been getting jerky on occasion before returning to the smooth rhythm once again.
The man closed his eyes and slammed his fists on the table causing the legs to wobble and a cup to fall crashing to the floor, "I will find you and you will be mine. No matter how long it takes. I will not lose." He turned his attention to the broken cup; the cup returned to whole as if time reversed itself. "You are mine, you just have yet to realize it."
***
After Erin had left Emmeline went up to the spare room and looked at the dress hanging neatly in the corner. She touched the red taffeta and crinoline and closed her eyes. She tried clearing her mind tried to recall the hidden memories deep within her. She had been coming up to this room every day a couple times a day to attempt to recall the forgotten memories. Emmeline grabbed the red mask and held it up to her face in front of the mirror. Something stirred within her, but nothing came of it. "One day I'll remember." Emmeline whispered to the empty room.
"Emmeline?" Gregory said as he was opening the door.
Emmeline turned around dropping the mask and staring at Gregory in the doorway. She looked back at the dress for a brief second before walking towards him.
"What, what were you doing?" he asked cautiously afraid to further dampen her already dark mood.
"Trying to remember something I've forgotten." Emmeline spoke her voice sad and distant. Emmeline put her hand to her chest, "somewhere I remember. I just feel as if I need the right key to unlock the hidden memories. I have tried different things, but nothing yet has seemed to work." She paused for a moment considering everything, "Gregory, what did I do so badly in my life that I have to be punished in my death?"
Gregory reached for her shoulders holding them tight. "Look at me love, please." Emmeline raised her head meeting his eyes. Her eyes flickering between a brilliant emerald green and the dull hazy green eyes he was used to seeing. "You have done nothing and you need to stop torturing yourself. This isn't healthy."
Emmeline cackled. "What does that even mean?! I'm dead!! How can one be unhealthy if they are dead?" Emmeline wanted to yell but her voice came out shaky instead.
Gregory pulled her in to his embrace. She didn't fight, she just stood there unmoving, no different from a statue.
"If I can't have what I truly want, I at least want my memories. I want to know! Maybe that would help put me at ease and would me understand my binding to this place." Emmeline moved her arms gesturing the building around her. "It is odd for one to be dead and bound to this place or really any place."
Emmeline paused before continuing, "I want to hate that girl, but I can't! It would be better if she was vile, but she isn't. She wants to be a friend and spend time with me. I want her to disappear and never come back. What is happening to me? What is wrong with me?" Emmeline moaned.
"Emmy, I don't think it is in your nature to hate." Gregory spoke softly, "Why don't we take a walk? We could read from a book of your favorite poems? What can I do to help you? You should know by now that I will do whatever I can to lighten your burdens and increase your mood." His voice pleading. Her breaking was destroying him.
"Can you breathe air into my lungs and make my heart beat again? If not, there there really is no cure for my melancholy. I'm sorry dear but I have laundry to get to. Maybe we can go for a walk a different time?" Emmeline turned to begin walking out of the room and down the stairs.
Gregory tried to reach for he wrist to hold her back, but he only grabbed air. He watched as she departed and looked at his hand. What is happening to her? She is behaving like no ghost he had ever had the pleasure of knowing.
***
After Gregory and Emmeline parted ways she went to the library to grab her book of poems. She went up to the 'third floor' which was really just space for a chair and a small table. This little room was also in the shape of an octagon and it had 360 degree views of the world around her.
Emmeline could only think of being alone and the only things that could bring her back were out of her reach. So, she read one of her poems that seemed to speak her heart and soul, 'Solitude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.' She read it several times before closing the book and closing her eyes. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and when they landed on top of the book with a plop...plop...plop. What was happening to her real tears shouldn't be happening. She hugged herself and pulled her knees into her chest. What is wrong?