To those wishing to make a discovery, take the moment in your hand and never let it go. Clasp the moment tightly like how an eagle or hawk snatches its prey harshly with its talons to seize its life. Mysteries were fun but also dangerous. I had to make sure Jackson didn't sense me leaving Allerdale once again. Once the moment is created, it's hard to release it. Take the risks and let it guide you to later years. Mother or even anyone I met as a child would say that to me. Never let it go.
Oct. 19th, 1829
Greenwich was here to embrace me once again but I was having a hard time attempting to find the male witch or his little goblin disguised in human form. Greison was beside the stallion I owned from that night in human form but his cat eyes and senses were acting up. He sniffed the air a few times but no scent of the witch or goblin was present. He was growing frustrated since the human guise of his was inhibiting his cat senses. I watch him blink quickly to conceal his cat eyes from humans or quickly conceal his cat tail in his garments.
"You do remember what they looked like, yes?" Grei glanced back at me as I flipped through the pages of my journal's earlier entries. I was sure I'd written their descriptions well but I was better at names. Greison even questioned passing Greenwich residents but all we got was someone who was close to the male witch. "If I were a witch, where would I be?" I pondered to myself but later heard a few children giggling along with either mother or father. I glanced at what seemed to be an alchemist's shop along with a doctor's office. A little curl against my light carnation lips formed as the idea came into mind. It was too simple since he gave me the little remedy when we first met and his background.
Without further delay, the two of us made our way there and went inside the front door. Inside were hundreds of bottles full of tonics and elixirs. All of them ranged in green, clear, or dark amber bottles with labels of certain minerals or materials. All the items ranged from herbs to even spice blends. You'd be rather surprised to even hear this from my own mouth but I was rather surprised to see a few soda fountains placed on the counter. I saw a few women giggling and gossiping about something but I noticed someone behind the counter. Someone that looked too familiar and I even smirked a little. "Hey~ How rude!" "Line is back here." "Ugh~ Why're you, a woman of your age, wearing male clothing?" "A woman like you should be wearing a dress and not a frock and waistcoat." "That red hair, from what I heard, is bad luck. Get that fixed at the salon, you man slut." I didn't care what the women commented as I knocked on the counter and out came a face I knew from our first encounter. He smiled and I saw the shimmer of those red eyes, "Well~ Look who decided to come back. Sorry, but I seem to be a little busy with these girls here." "Chris, this isn't funny! Where's your little friend?" I gave the goblin a serious look and he rolled his strange eyes at me, "You're going to have to make an appointment later. Right now, I'm busy with these girls and their elixirs." I glanced back at the girls who were giving me a nasty look. I didn't even notice that Chris looked entirely different from what I saw earlier. Did the male witch give him those garments? He looked rather nice in the waistcoat and shirt. Not to mention the cravat, gloves, pants, and well made boots. Was it part of the human disguise? I noticed his matted hair was cleaned up and tied back to hide those strange pointed ears of his. I didn't see him own the dark ebony marks on his face. Did the male witch use a spell to conceal them? If so, I was shocked and rather amazed with his looks. I'd see him as any other human and not even blink an eye.
"Okay~ One indigestion elixir for Mistress Adeline. Remember to have it three times a day.," he handed it over to a women dressed in light lilac from head to toe, "One beauty tonic for Mrs. William. Cleanse it against your face and body each night before bed and don't get it in your hair." I watched him hand a little bottle to a middle aged woman dressed in ivory and she was rather polite to even give him an extra tip. "Last but not least, one migraine spice blend tonic for Mistress Audrey. Make sure to stir it well with your drinks." The last woman giggled amid Chris smiling, seeing the woman dressed in a light emerald green shade while walking out the door to the shop.
"Are you done now?" I was rather annoyed while he created a little drink for himself from the soda fountain, "Plus, you're eating on your own--" He laughed while enjoying the fizzy drink, "Little girl, you're quite the annoying little bug. I'd eat your cat but can't since my master enjoys your little fighting spirit." Greison slammed his fist against the counter, "Where's that witch? We need to see him right now." Chris rolled his eyes while taking a little sip, "Goodness, are you all nothing but annoying little meows, little kitty? Time is money for our kind." "Well~You can tell that we need his time since time is precious. We found something a few days ago," I was quick to pull out the little vial Mrs. Hewitt potentially left behind in Northeastern Allerdale. I watched his little red eyes widen in shock amid that tail of his slipping out from his pants and taking the vial from my own hand. I heard a little chirp come from his throat and was quick to uncork the vial, letting it spill a little bit into his gloved hand. He sniffed it and his eyes widened but softened with a serious look on his face. "Give me a second."
~~~
"Well~ Never thought I'd see you in this manner." The witch hung what seemed to a doctor's coat on a coat rack and coming to the desk in a serious manner. Aside from the look of ivory walls which was rather rare to see, books of all sorts of current science slept on their shelves. I never even imagined seeing a full human skeleton being hung nearby his desk or even the oddities of medicine. I was left rather curious, "What's in that vial?" "Where did you even get this?" The witch raised a brow while snatching it quickly from my hand, "This better be good." I never imagined him being presented as a doctor but I guess that's what you get whenever you're looking for money to make a living. Not to mention being a witch and goblin duo working in a town and disguising themselves as humans. I'd do the same if I were them. For them, they were doing it for years and no one ever noticed. The witch's older self was always a secret and only Grei and I knew about it. Ever since, we never told anyone. It was the same for Chris since looks could be deceiving to the naked eye.
"I got it from a woman within Northeastern Allerdale." I felt my hands twitch as that violet eye of his shimmered with curiosity. I was quick to notice his hands were gloved instead of bare. "It's to not contaminate our little sample." I saw him pull out a strange item from the cabinet after placing the strange dust back into the vial. Even Greison was left curious and I had to restrain him in his cat form. He, too, was rather curious, and I never saw such a strange piece of equipment. It looked like a sailor's telescope but with a twist with a little bed under the lens. The more I watched him, the more curious I became with the strange device. "Tell me, little girl, about this woman…I'm quite curious about our little woman that left you this little gift." He narrowed his eyes and continued to play around with the sample and the device. "Well, I…" I was a little scared to say something while pacing around to examine some of the items within his office but I felt a little sensation in which I retracted my hand before my fingers even touched some of the strange devices or equipment. I turned and I was alarmed that the witch was in front of me with a serious shimmer in his violet eye, "Don't touch anything. Just retrieving it wasn't easy and I don't like any of this to be broken by a curious little girl like yourself." "Did you at least--"
"Dr. Anri, a patient needs you." I turned around as the male witch's eye narrowed, "You're quite the persistent one to tell me." I was alarmed to find Chris at the door. He had a serious look on his face and I was surprised to be seeing his little ebony spots on his face. Not to mention having his ears poking out from his hair along with that cow tail. "Goodness, showing off again, aren't you?" The male witch known as Dr. Anri snatched a hair ribbon and tied the black silk tresses, "How bad must I work with this one?" "Can't say since there's a girl and cat here." Chris looked at me amid Greison rubbing his face against my lower leg. "Sounds like fun." Dr. Anri smirked amid his eyes, shimmered a deep violet but turned to me, "Stay here and don't touch anything. That goes the same with your little black cat lingering here. Make sure he doesn't get any molting cat hair on my equipment." I quickly nodded but left curious once again. I watched him snatch a coat and apron with the leather gloves remaining on his hands. "He'll be back," Chris winked and I watched his human guise come into play while leaving Grei and I in the office.
Being alone with Grei beside me left me a little easy but I was curious about the equipment and many volumes of anatomy upon the shelves. I knew what Dr. Anri told me but I did pick up some of the volumes. Perhaps they'd be of some use to me. Some of them aged and held that musty book scent libraries owned. Illustrations of human anatomy were present upon pages from time to time while others were full of text I never thought I'd see. I did like how the paper felt against my fingertips or even the weight. Yes, they were rather old from time and use. I wondered how long Dr. Anri would play this game in front of people like me. He was a witch and I was a human girl. How long would he play the game until someone screamed out that he was a witch? What would they even do to him?
"Your mind is owning rather dark thoughts…" I heard Greison and peeked from the pages. I removed myself from the book and pulled out a little log about some patient Dr. Anri had, "It's scary but true. He's kept this game played over and over since he arrived here. I hope no one finds out the horrid truth." I felt Greison's human self beside me and his inhumanly human eyes gaze, "Hm~ Adeline Carlon…" He began reading the log with a curious look on his face. The woman was young but held something rather odd. As Greison continued reading it, I continued skimming through the book spines. "How unfortunate that she didn't get out alive…"Greison shut the book and I left curious, "How come?" He told me that Mrs. Carlon died of an unknown disease with the same symptoms: Strange black veins running across her skin amid suffering from dizziness, fainting spells, nausea, and vomiting. Following the rather gruesome trail was hallucinations, paranoia, heart failure, total organ failure, coma, and death. The woman died a few years ago and I never knew that this bizarre disease was going on for some time. Of course, no one in the medical field knew of this except for Dr. Anri, Chris, and the two of us followed by those who went through the horrid experience.
"Did you see her?" I was speaking of a rather morbid subject and I felt my hand shiver, "You're a cat, right? You see things that no other person can see." Greison remained silent while placing the log back in its proper place. "I can't reveal that, Laura. You're curious, and that's good, but sometimes that curiosity can kill you." I shook my head slowly, "Did you see her or not?" He knew I wasn't going to budge. I learned some rather nasty male habits from Jackson. Persistence was one of them. He laughed while ruffling his own black hair and I saw little crescents form, "You're a rascal, lass, but alas, I didn't. I assume some other cat came to her." I was already familiar once again with the subject of cats being guides to the afterlife. Frightening as it may sound but they remained upon neutral ground. They weren't judges, only escorts to the underworld. I made my mind clear with him with a strong grip and he felt it. He felt my little callouses from holding that German pistol Jackson gave me. I've been practicing and he felt it. I liked it when Grei felt them. He knew the bond Jackson and I owned but he was cursed to be this way. A cat and no one else. A little four legged animal covered in black fur and inhuman eyes always looking at something or even someone like me. "If so, I hope she's well. She didn't deserve to die the way she did." I felt lament about Mrs. Carlon's short life. Greison shook his head slowly, "Lass, there's nothing you can do about it. Life is cruel and it's not your fault. Humans are built this way." I was human… It felt sickening but it was the reality I was within. Greison was a brother to me but he was a cat in human guise.
"I apologize for coming in here but he's almost finished." I heard Chris come through the office door. I brought my attention back to reality as Chris told me he'd continue Dr. Anri's antics are the sample. I was a little surprised to find blood on his now discarded apron and coat. "Just relax, human," he was quick to cease any questions that'd escape from my mouth, "Just any other day for him." "Sounds fair, goblin," Greison narrowed his eyes and I saw his pupils turn into little thin lines instead of circles, "About the sample Laura brought in…Are you going to--" "What's with you cats nowadays? You're rather picky. I'd kill you and have your skin as a belt right now but he wouldn't let me." Chris rolled his eyes while heading to the odd telescope device and taking a peek. "Why you--!" Grei growled and saw his body twitch but I was quick to intervene. "Look, cat, you're lucky to have that girl beside you, but I sense some needed attention." He played with the little knobs, "I sense that the two of you haven't seen each other in years." "Well, actually, that's rather true." I was quick to interject before Grei lost his nerve. He was rather tense from the little hunting session and finding that unidentified body.
I noticed Chris was looking paler than before. I was scared that he wasn't going to live long due to this unknown disease living inside his body. "Chris, I--" "You're going on about that disease that's inside me. Yes, it's getting worse but Dr. Anri is trying to help me stay alive. It's not easy hiding it but the spells help me remain kicking a little bit longer." I didn't understand what he meant but he explained to me that he's been given a rather strange medication: Electric shock therapy along with different tonics and elixirs. It assisted stimulating his heart to race at a greater pace, giving his body more stimulation to fight back. They started small at first with little spells and charms but they've gradually gotten longer and harder. To me, it was cruel, and I began thinking that Chris was the creature from Mary Shelley's "The Modern Prometheus". Greison thought the same way as well but Chris reassured me that he was fine. No, he wasn't fine, and Greison saw it as a violation to life. Certain things held a certain date of death, and Chris was beyond that date by who knew how many years because of Dr. Anri's extensive research into this unknown disease. He was known as another patient whereas the person dubbed 'Patient 0' was nowhere to be found and already tens, or worse, thousands of people were exposed.
"Will that at least make him happy? Finding this 'Patient 0' and ending this unknown disease with a cure? Will you at least be at peace once it's over?" I didn't wish to make it sound like he was committing his life to a suicidal death but Chris remained cold with his tone amid working on the sample. Did I offend him? If so, I wished to apologize rather quickly for doing so. "We'll see if I get the eternal rest I deserve. Our kind is rather tough compared to yours," He placed the sample within his hand and began sniffing it. "Odd~" He tilted his head, "Smells rather familiar. Cat, shouldn't you know of this as well?" "What?" Greison came close to him and he sniffed the sample. Unfortunately, due to his human form, he wasn't able to smell it correctly. "What is it?" I became curious and Chris nodded amid placing the sample back into the vial in which I gave him. "Plant origin…" He began and I was bewildered, "Excuse me?"
He proceeded to tell me the scent of plants and I was left rather surprised. He began with Chinese lily and Japanese cherry blossom, followed by Persian cypress bark, Greek rosemary, Ottoman hyacinth, and English poppy and wisteria. He told me many other flowers, tree barks, herbs, and spices were blended into the ashes and even Grei was rather shocked but kept a serious but confused composure. I glanced at Grei and he told me that the blend must always be dried, never burnt to ashes and dust. "You know this for sure, cat?" Chris narrowed his strangely red eyes at Greison. He nodded in return, responding that it's payment not only for the cat but for the deity representing either eternal paradise or torture. Like he told me before, he was a guide, not a deity. He wasn't a judge, but an escort. The road to either paradise or torture was dark and he along with other cats knew the way. The grotesque architecture I saw when I was a little girl was a guard to that road, not a guide nor judge. They had no saying in the soul's passing except in part that no one gets in or out.
"I've been doing this for years before I met Laura," Grei paced around amid examining the bottle, "But I know that this isn't right. Someone is accomplishing foul play and it's starting with Death's bouquet." "But who or what's to blame?" I shook my head slowly and Chris agreed, "Anyone is a suspect, infected or not, and I have to keep my distance from humans. It's not simple when you're running an alchemist's shop and doctor's office. The shocks can keep my body going for so long until I flop on the ground." Chris was always on the deadline and I had another clue. Yet, it wasn't the full answer. My mind was spinning with hundreds of inquiries and questions now unearthed and displaying their ugly heads. I had to know something but this was only the beginning. Someone or something is at fault. I'll need some extra assistance but it doesn't just start with Dr. Anri or even Chris slowly being less and less alive by each passing day. Even his human guise was losing it. I hoped to see another day with him by our side.
"Human girl, before you leave," Chris was quick to use that little tail of his just to pull me away from Greison. He gave me a little smile and gave me a little tin full of tea leaves, "Enjoy and it's on the house. Your payment will be from me." He winked and I nodded with a little sad smile. I didn't wish to leave him behind but Dr. Anri had him in good hands. It was cruel but it was all he'd accomplish with his work and magical abilities. I said my farewells amid Greison turning to his cat form, meowing with a cheeky smile and little whip of his fluffy tail. I wish to see you some time for this adventure and mystery. Oh, and I didn't forget the strange bird creature and figure that saved my life. I'd bring them whenever I came back to Greenwich or whenever they wished to see me in Allerdale.
Oct. 24th, 1829
I took my chances once again with Jackson as he washed his face within the river water. He relieved himself of the pains from his recent hunting session as I did. I despised having gunsmoke and gunpowder burn my face but he told me it'd be something to adjust over time. I told him of my recent findings when I was within Greenwich but my memories were slowly returning as well. I recalled the days of Charlie Sharp and it'd be a surprise to him that the boy may have owned a little romantic relationship. Yet, those days were over since he went missing. I was getting somewhere but nowhere at the same time. Perhaps I'd go back to Peckerton's club house just to see if I missed anything. He'd be there with me, and also attempting to search the premises for the mysterious Melissa Hewitt.
"Okay, let me get this straight." He snatched a kerchief from his pocket to dry himself off the river water, "You're telling me that this Charlie lad went missing when you were a kid back in New York City, the odd cases here in Allerdale and now Greenwich, and this Melissa lassie are all connected." He gave me an odd look on my face as I nodded and held the journal tightly. I was fortunate to have Greison pocket pick from the Greenwich police archives and hold some of the files for our little investigation. Not so much when it came to New York City since it was across the sea in more than a month. After all, the time when the seas were nasty came around and it wasn't a good time to go back to check. "Yes, and they've been going on for over the last few years," I pulled out one of the files and displayed it to Jackson, "Mark Seres, age 26, male sex, last seen around the floral shop upon the eve of August 24th, 1823. Described having dark ginger hair and silver gray eyes with the slightest ray of blue in his left eye. Nothing was left except for the floral bouquet for his soon-to-be wife, Anna Bouquet. Hasn't been seen in the last five to six years." He sat beside me while examining the file and also a medical and police file. He pointed out that Mr. Seres was a highwayman back in his earlier years to impress his lover, starting at the age of 13. Yet, what caught Jackson's attention was he was showing signs of paranoia at the age of 21, and locked away at the East Dock Sanitorium in Norfolk until being relieved two to three years later. He claimed that he saw a blue-eyed devil holding a wine bottle in hand and wished to kill him if he didn't cease his 'heinous actions' against God and Man. I rolled my eyes, "Just because he went mad doesn't mean someone was going to end his life. Devils lie, right?" Jackson did agree and I watched him hold onto the cross against his rosary. How his fingers fumbled around the shorter extensions or with the beads near the cross. They smelled of rosemary and it shimmered under the shine of the autumnal sun. Was he afraid of dying every time he left me behind? "You know I'm here." I brought his hand away from the rosary and into mine, "Don't look away. It's not like the Devil is going to get me." My eyes shimmered orange and umber as his only eye did in the light. It was reassuring and he smiled with that little stubble of his creasing. "I know, lass," he smiled and I felt his hand against my face, "Sorry about that."
I nodded and continued glancing and examining the notes and archives from my journal. Jackson pulled out another file about another female that went missing back in 1824 but I wasn't able to catch all the details. I pulled out another one but I was quite surprised to see the name. My jaw went languid and my mouth became agape in shock. "Laura?" Jackson attempted to snap me out of my trance. The name inscribed in the file left me shook. It was Melissa's file but the shocking part was the fact she went missing some time ago but they found her body lying in a field of grass. The last time she was seen was near the northeastern border of Allerdale and Norfolk. I recalled she was from there and I was able to now see what she looked like under the black veil. She was a gorgeous woman but I was shocked to find out she had been dead for over thirty years! Did she even know she was dead? Yet, I continued looking at her file and found out she went through a few symptoms of an unknown disease. I began recalling what she told me, or more so her spirit, and what the women were doing to her.
"I wonder…" I began to ponder deeply, "Did the women know she was infected and they were attempting to mercy kill her?" "I'm sorry?" Jackson perked his head as I began making a possible theory about the events when she was alive. She told me it was through money but it didn't seem that way. "Melissa…" I began, "Was infected with an unknown disease which was within the women's conversation circle. She had the symptoms and one of the girls snatched the gun from Armand's archives to end her life to stop the disease. Yet, the men…" The men must have heard the women arguing and ceased the fight, eventually exiling her before the deluge took place. Unbeknownst, and I assumed it was Marianne's husband, Armand, and Peckerton, must have been exposed to the disease when Melissa was present. He must have scratched himself or inhaled it by mistake. The miasma went inside his body and began the infection, and passed it to Marianne unknowingly. Someone must have mercy killed Melissa just to cease the actions of this disease spreading to others but it may have been too late. The miasma was already in the air and now for over the last thirty years, people were getting infected both in Allerdale and Greenwich. It was why people were going missing but Jackson shook his head, "But I recalled from your earlier recollections that someone could be the blame. You can't just blame the unknown disease, Laura. What if someone created it?" "Are you saying that this disease isn't of natural origin?" I began to ponder and my arm rubbed the stone's sharp edge. How it threatened to lacerate my coat and shirt sleeve just to reach my skin. "We know that Peckerton's clubhouse was the first place but what if it also infected other places outside Allerdale and Greenwich? What about Norfolk? What about Havendar? What about Blackwood? Someone could be mass producing this disease and we don't know how to stop it!" Jackson stood up amid pacing around, "We also need to ask questions. Besides the air, can this disease be passed through contact or through water and food? What about human or animal waste contact? Can it survive either in warm or cool temperatures? How does it affect people and animals?" "Dr. Anri could be of some use. If I recall, our climate is like that of London, England: Mild and temperate. At the same time, our winters are like Prussia while our summers are moderate like London." I recalled looking back at those medical books he owned in his office, "Perhaps when he's away from his patients, we can look into this. Do experiments and see what takes place." I glanced at the stone and it seemed Greison had a say in it as well. "You may be right, Laura and Jackson, but you're forgetting something!" He meowed with a certain degree, "What if it already went outside the borders of the country you love dearly and spread to other continents? You're forgetting about New York! What if New York was hit? What about Berlin? What about London? You have to think about that part as well! How long does it remain alive if it's outside its natural environment? If it does remain alive, can it evolve? How does chaos become order? What form does it take?" He owned a point as I felt the heat against my chest and I glanced at Jackson. He nodded but also shook his head, "If someone like us told the mayor about this, panic would ensue. We can't tell anyone but we have to tell someone about this. Damn it all! It makes my head spin."
Just as soon as I was about to say something, I heard the sound of a horse coming our way. I turned and saw the dark garbed Allen Fowler upon his stallion. "What is it?" I was shocked to see him amid concealing the stone. "Is something wrong, Allen?" Jackson was alarmed to see him but that brother of Ethean's just kept his mouth shut. His horse whined and we agreed to follow him. Something in the pit of my stomach grew and I hated the feeling growing inside me. I saw Jackson's face turn white and felt fear coming off his body. I swiftly went on his stallion as he rode it. Something wasn't right and the two of us felt it. Allen, what was going on? Tell us something! Please! Tell us right now!
~~~
We made our way to the Lady White Inn and Tavern, a popular place to eat and reside, but also the location where the Fowler brothers took residence. The owner, Mr. Byron Gerald, a man who kept his word with keeping everyone comfortable in his inn, was worried to see the two of us make our arrival. "Give us everything you know." I made it clear to him as day and the late fifty-year-old male told us the details. My goodness, the poor obtuse sized male was up in a sweat and shaking when rushing upstairs to the second floor. One of the maids, Mrs. Mary Allen, was walking through her usual night routine and came to check on Ethaen in case he needed anything through the night. But when checking up on him, there was no response, and she assumed he was outside having either a late night chat or cigar, but a rather gruesome smell began to rise. It smelled sweet but grotesque and she went inside to investigate. The details in what she found were too much for her to bear and went screaming in horror, waking everyone up including the Lost Children of Allerdale and even him. She retreated to his quarters upon the third floor, telling him everything. "I called for the police but they were wrapped up in the missing persons cases. I heard a little bit of gossip that the two of you were working on a few murder cases and Allen knew both of you. I sent him to fetch both of you." He was in shock from what took place last night. "We'll take a look into this." Jackson began heading inside with me close behind but Mr. Gerald's grip was like iron and it startled the two of us. "I don't know what took place in there, but I'm going to give you a good warning. Please, don't let the--" I showed him my pistol and he was a little shocked to see me hold my German pistol. I gave him a serious shimmer in my fiery orange and umber eyes, "Let no guest inside and let us take care of this. That goes the same for your staff." Jackson swatted my gun possessed hand away from Mr. Gerald as he pulled himself away from Mr. Gerald's grip.
"The nerve of men…" I grew irritated while placing the German pistol back in the sling. "It'd be best for a woman to hold one." "Laura, take it easy." Jackson reassured me amid my head perking to the sound of rushing footsteps. I was quick to snatch the pistol in case anything horrid was coming but placed it aside when I saw the shadow upon the wall. Allen came rushing upstairs still dressed in the scarf and garbs from earlier. His eyes were full of worry and it was like he was telling me to not go inside. I gave him a reassuring demeanor but it was cold as ice. It was the look I knew when one saw something horrific one too many times and I knew experience from reading alone wasn't going to be enough. It'd speak for itself and Greison was going to give us a few answers as well if anything was present. If Ethean's ghost was present in the room, we'd let him speak and Grei would bring him to the afterlife once finished. "Is your cat ready?" Jackson whispered in my ear and I nodded with my bare hand against the sharp edge. He nodded and told everyone to leave the premises including Allen. Allen wished to remain but I reassured him not to see it. It was best for Greison to be with those trusted with deep bonds in him and not ones with a fragile structure. It was how he worked, after all. His bonding time with Jackson was rather quick and I bet luck.
For now, luck wasn't going to be on our side unless Ethaen's ghost was present with us. Greison would have to create necessary steps in order for the ghost to be present within the room. The stench of death was right beyond the door and Jackson quickly kicked it, breaking the hinges somewhat. His pistol was in hand along with mine in my own hands but the area was safe. The room was a horrible scene and I saw Ethaen's body strung up in fright and terror. I covered my mouth to at least conceal the terror I had. I only knew this man for a few good years since he came over to our resident from time to time with food in hand. Jackson knew him since day one when he arrived in Allerdale and the shocked expression was present. Blood was on the wall and window along with the odd smell of what seemed to be roses. I did see a few on the ceiling and walls and they were growing in the last few hours. I was amazed by their rapid growth when seeing the body of Ethaen Fowler being used as plant food to keep them alive. "Cut the roses free of the corpse." I lacerated my hand and Grei's horrid cat human hybrid self came out. The black and violet mist surrounded him as he took my order seriously. I watched him destroy the vines and the two of us heard screams of agony and pain when they perished. He knew something wasn't right in the room and it seemed it was common for him to be the monstrous form he was currently. His unnatural eyes shimmered at me with rage and loyalty as a few heavy breaths came out of him. "Brush your bullets and claws…" I quickly loaded my pistol while searching the room, "Something is here." It was cool and I didn't like the feeling inside me. Jackson did the same and stood close to me, back to back. I felt the fear in Jackson's spine and Grei went low to the ground. I saw my breath as I took a heavy exhale and felt my lungs ache. This wasn't right for a normal October twilight. I heard something slither against the ground like serpents and I felt something against my leg. "Stop touching me!" I glanced back at Jackson but he retorted, "I'm not touching you." Grei let out a low angered meow as he felt something as well caressing his body.
The moment grew quick and the three of us heard something against the ground. The wood creaked and splintered and we felt it give way. "Keep close." Jackson kept himself close to me and the wood underneath our feet continued to give way. I saw the shattered and ripped vines break the wood under our feet and the two of us including Greison shook. "Get ready!" Jackson prepared his gun, "Hold together!" The wood finally gave way and the three of us screamed in shock when feeling ourselves leave the world we knew behind. I noticed Allen looking at us in shock but I didn't know why. He left us rather quickly and I felt the cold surrounding our bodies. We were already so far away from the hole and Allen threw a rope but it was too short to reach us. I felt nothing surrounding us and I was spinning out of control. "Laura, over here!" Jackson snatched my hand and the two of us were together. Greison roared amid trying to snatch anything but I was quick to snatch his cat human hybrid arm.
"Hold together!" Jackson made us aim headfirst into what seemed to be a mirror. I began seeing what looked like snowflakes passing and hitting our faces. "Greison, shatter the mirror!" I gave him the order and Jackson's face turned to shock, "What did you say?" "Would you rather be a splat by the time we get there?" I threw Grei forward and he screamed out with nails outstretched. His human body covered in mist and fury flew forward and he was quick to shatter the pieces. "Hold on tightly, lassie! We're about to make contact!" Jackson barricaded my body with his own when the pieces went flying. Our speed began to increase and I covered my eyes "Where are we going?" I questioned Greison amid his body turning slightly human. There was a look of fear on his face as we continued descending. It was like I heard a thousand violin strings shatter as we continued hitting quicker speeds until the three of us landed on a large pile of hard snow.
I popped my head quickly out of the snow while the boys did the same, shaking the cold powder off their bodies. "Is everyone alright?" I was quick to reach them as they recovered. Greison shook his body like a cat coming out of the water and shivered from the cold. We were able to see our breaths and the world that surrounded us was a dismal realm of white with shades of blue. Ice surrounded us in many patterns and I felt myself suffocate from the cold. How come I was feeling like this? "Easy, lassie," Jackson embraced me while I wandered through the large hall, "Just stay near me. Don't want to catch anything." I warmly smiled but the moment felt colder than before. I felt like something or someone was watching us from the shadowed distance and Greison was quick to have that arm blade come into play. I haven't seen that thing in years and I was terrified. I wondered if it acted like his claws but I was even more frightened by the feeling inside me. We heard something growl and Grei's inner cat made him hiss angrily. He backed up towards us and the three of us saw blurs of white within the snow move swiftly. "Brush your hand against that pistol of yours, lass. Something's here with us." Jackson recovered his bullets and began loading them, "Make sure not to waste them." Always the first lesson and I saw something move and growl in the snow and ice. Did I see eyes stare at us? I quickly snatched my German pistol and aimed at anything moving but didn't fire. One false move would equal one less bullet for me to use. I only had five bullets in the magazine while Jackson owned six. He owned an advantage in shots. "Get ready. I hate the smell that's in the air." Greison sharpened that arm blade of his and I heard a howl in the distance.
The three of us looked high and saw a figure looming over us. With it was a larger figure and it growled as Grei hissed at it. I saw him reach out his arm blade, "Fire!" Jackson and I had our backs towards each other and we fired at the same time. The figure beside the other one vanished while the larger one dodged. "It dodged our bullets?" I was shocked but jolted when I heard a snarl. No no no! Not a wolf! Not good! Its horrid eyes glanced at me and pounced harshly with wide jaws hungry for my flesh. I fired a shot and blood came out of it when it fell onto its side. "Large pack and I think we found its alpha above us." Jackson fired another shot but it didn't back down. It attempted to take away his pistol but he fired another shot. I saw its brains fly and the body retreated. "My orders are clear as day, Greison." I fired another two shots at a wolf, "Kill these beasts with everything you got on that arm blade. Defend us before the alpha gets over here." I felt him near the two of us and he couldn't refuse the order. I felt the warmth against my chest and he roared. I wasn't paying attention to him since my own hands were busy. "Get out of here!" I kicked up some snow at the wolf trying to kill me and fired another shot. I heard it whimper but I knew I missed. I knew those bar fights Jackson did when I was a kid were of use. I kicked more snow and the wolves knew what my game was. I wasn't as graceful as Jackson nor Grei but I gave them the order, "The snow blinds them but we need something to disorient their minds. I'll go find something around here while you two take care of these beasts." I recalled from when I was a little girl that Aunt Maria told me there was a time one of her brothers owned a whistle that'd disorient their dog's mind. It was so high pitched that a human wasn't able to hear it. If there was something close to that whistle, I'd take that chance. "Keep them busy." I rushed off and one of the wolves began chasing me. I fired another two shots and began heading to a heavy door covered in ice. It'd take for me to reload but another wolf was gaining on me. "Bad dog!" I whipped the pistol at its face, "Now stay!" It whimpered and I threw snow and ice at its face. I knew their leader would chase me but I didn't care about it. I was already at the door and began pushing amid reloading my pistol. I was fumbling due to the cold and I felt the ice begin to freeze it. I felt the ice against my face form but froze in shock as that same wolf that tried killing me came back. I was shocked to see it alive but with what looked like thorny vines coming out of its body. Its face was rotting, turning the ashen silken fur into a matted deep scarlet. "C'mon~!" I pushed more at the heavy ice clad door, "Open!" It snarled as blood dripped from its mouth and I pushed myself inside the ice decorated corridor. "Now stay out!" I finally reloaded the pistol and fired a shot. It went away but the vines pushed the door open.
The wolf wasn't dead and I began rushing away from the beast. Why was this wolf alive with rose vines inside its body? I felt water against my feet and it seemed there were areas the ice melted and I was having a hard time moving. The beast took it as an advantage and snapped its jaws at me. I fired another shot but was shocked that the theory of gravity was quite cruel to me. I slipped and fell on my back against the icy floor and the creature continued to pull itself closer to me. How strange it seemed that the ice and snow gave the vines a rather difficult time to move. I found that its paws were slipping as much as my feet did on the watery ground. Good, I took it to my advantage. I stabilized my body and began heading for the next set of doors. Great! The place was a labyrinth of ice and snow. I only had seconds before that thing came back for me. I swiftly took the right door and slammed it shut. I fired a shot at some ice and shoved a large icicle at the door. "Ow~ At least it'll buy me time." I hopped a few times to restore heat but ceased when I heard it screaming. No way either in Heaven or Hell was I going to get killed. My feet did all the talking and sprinted me away from the frozen corridor. I glanced around with my gun in hand when seeing hundreds of frozen bodies on the ground covered in armor or older garments. I continued moving through the halls and went left. I found myself in another corridor but the ice and snow continued to fill its walls. I saw traces of distant and antique life but no current life. Only the horrid snow and ice covered the past, leaving it in a cloudy mass of white.
I passed through many more corridors full of life that was nothing but the past. I saw bodies of animals once alive but now frozen and lost in the cold. As I glanced at them, some of their organs were spilled from their bodies and left me horridly terrified. Yet, one was at the end of the corridor and I had to deal with it. I prepared my pistol as I made my way closer to it and I felt a shiver against my spine. It was a wolf but it was larger than the others I saw earlier with Jackson and Grei. But, if I was correct, I saw something close to the wolf and I was shocked. I dropped my pistol as I sprinted towards the figure that I thought I lost forever. I never thought I'd say the name but I did. The beautiful yet strange blonde and multicolored hair and his eyes closed. I came to his side but he was bigger than me than the last time I saw him.
"Charlie… Charlie!" I shook his figure, "Wake up! Please, wake up!" He didn't move amid his head bobbing to one side. He was warm and alive but not the same boy I knew all those years ago. "Charlie Sharp, for goodness sake! Wake up!" I hit him a few times, "Wake up, you silly boy!" I hit and began wanting to kick him but kept the thought back. Yet, the thought became reality and I hated doing it, "You stupid boy, wake up!" I was enraged by what he did to me all those years ago. How dare he do this to me? How dare he go missing and then show himself years later? He got taller and a bit stronger too. I continued going hard on him but ceased until I heard something come from his throat. I ceased immediately and came to his side like earlier, "Charlie? Charlie, wake up." I watched that face of his twitch and move and those beautiful eyes of his blinked. He gasped and moved away from me but didn't touch the large wolf cadaver frozen in ice, "Wh-Wh-What? Ah~" "Charlie! It's me, Laura!" I came to him, "I'm so happy that you're alive! I never knew you were here!" He looked at me in shock and his body shook in fear, "Laura?" I nodded a few times, "You remember, right? The little girl with the violin by her side? The girl in the tennant window? Laura Cempage. Charlie, tell me you remember." I watched his multicolored eyes scan my body and I smiled warmly with a little giggle. I was trying to hide my rage but he was shocked, "How--How did you get here?" "What do you think? By some random chance! Your parents are worried sick about you." I brought him close but he pushed me away, "Get away from me!"
"Charlie, I--"
"No! You…You can't be here! Leave this place!" Charlie screamed at me in fright, "You don't know what you're doing!" I didn't understand what was going on with him but he seemed frightened by my approach. I was bewildered beyond recognition, "What're you saying? Aren't you happy to see me after all these years?" "Laura, I…I do remember you but you need to leave. Leave this place behind. Forget about me!" Charlie backed away while tears began to stream from his face, "I know how you feel right now but he--" "He what? What're you talking about?" I didn't know what was going on with his mind. "Laura, he's haunting me! I can't take it!" Charlie backed away further from me, "I can't take him out anymore. I can't fight back. He's been hard on me and getting on me harder and harder each time he finds me." He? He who? "Charlie, what're you saying?" I wanted to help him but he kept pushing himself away from me. "Laura, leave this place! I can't take it anymore!" He shivered in fear, "He knows you're here because of me. It's taken him so long just to get ready. He's-- Argh~!"
"Charlie!" I held my hand out as he began convulsing out in agony and holding onto his head in pain. I heard him scream amid his body turning to ice. I watched him grow in height and his face began to warp along with his mouth protruding with teeth gnarled and in a destructive manner. I watched him cover his horrid mouth and heard his bones crack in horrid manners. I watched his legs grow into something horrid and a tail formed behind him. Ice began to spike in horrid manners on his arms and legs now hairy and horrid. He revealed his face, and I was shocked to see a wolf face. There were no human features left on his body and he was nothing but a monster. I was quick to find my pistol back near my foot and have it aimed at the newly formed Charlie now nothing, a horrid wolfman beast covered in ice. Fear surged through my body as the newly formed Charlie looked at me with dead eyes. Those dead eyes watched me and I may have felt a tear drip from my eyes. I didn't want to do this but I needed to stay alive. "I'm sorry…" I fired the first shot but I missed and he screamed loudly in rage.
Oh no…I've done it now.
He yelled and howled at me aggressively and I began firing my bullets into his body out of fright. I didn't see any blood come out of his body but I lost a few along the way. I felt his long icy claws attempt to scratch my face and body. I saw him attempt three strikes and it was followed by the rumbling sound of the ground quaking beneath my feet. I glanced high into the ceiling and saw what looked like icicles coming to pierce me. I saw them, both large and minute in size, and dodged a few but one or two hit me. I screamed out when feeling ice lacerate my skin or even attempt to impale me. I fired a few more rounds after doing many repeat reloads. I just wished that this German pistol had more in its chamber. I'd give myself a few more shots. I don't know how many shots I did but I knew Charlie was angered by my flames. I slipped underneath but tripped, feeling the wind of those claws against my face and body. Good thing I was a little tiny. I got back up on my feet, firing a few more rounds. Charlie screamed and ice covered his wolven body. How was he able to do that? Jackson was better than me when it came to sticky situations! I felt myself slip again from another strike and I may have felt it against my arm. Did he nick me?
I heard another roar come from him and I glanced at him after recovering from my recent fall. My body was aching from the cold and I felt my lungs were burning from all the dodging and breathing. Did the cold make the human body suffer? He howled loudly once again but this time was different. I watched him snatch one of the large icicles and lift it like he was a strongman with the strength of a hundred men. My eyes grew wide in shock and awe but turned quickly to horror and realization that he wasn't doing it for show. He was aiming it at me.
"No~ Don't--," I backed away as fear took over me but I began fleeing once he threw it at me. I heard the sound of it sliding against the ground and I was having a difficult time keeping myself away from it. I slipped against the ice and rolled to my side. I groaned from the pain as the cold continued being my inhibitor. The blasted German pistol Jackson gave me was no longer my catalyst. I didn't know how to fight back since my bullets were low. If only Grei or Jack were here right now. I despised playing the fear-filled female role in this little game. I'm not a little girl. I heard Charlie scream again and he pounded the ground with his large strange wolfman hybrid hands. I panicked, and attempted to dodge the icicles but felt one descend into my right leg. I screamed out in agony and attempted to pull it out. I didn't know this was going to happen! It slipped within my fingers and I felt Charlie coming closer to me. I fired another few shots into Charlie's body but he guarded his wolven face with those arms now covered in ice. I wasn't doing anything to him? Oh, God! Send me a miracle! Something! Grei! Jackson! Anything! Don't let Charlie kill me at this moment! I wasn't a woman for religion but I was now starting to see what Jack would go through. I fired a few shots back at Charlie's face covered in more ice than fur. My friend shouldn't be doing this! Let alone be suffering from this! "Charlie, please!" I begged amid pausing to take out the icicle stuck in my leg, "Stop this right now! I beg of you! Wake up! Why are you doing this?" He screamed again and another round of icicles came from the higher levels of the room that made our arena. I felt like someone was watching me, smiling at my agony and the rage Charlie inflicted upon me. Was this meant for me? Was this rage from all the times I left him?
I began firing the next few sessions fiery with my fear and rage. How could this happen? Who would do this to you? I fired at Charlie's face while limping away from the gnarled beast he became. He sent more of those large icicles at me and I was lucky not to be caught in them. The only one within my leg limited my speed and I fired a bullet within my leg just to set it free. I felt as if it was the wrong thing to do since the ice shards attempted to pierce my skin. I may have felt the cold enter my body and it was worse with the bullet shattering them. I began limping away from him to recover from the pain. It was a painful experience to endure. Picking the ice away from my leg and body was hard. I made a promise to Grei that I'd remain alive. Please! Where are you? Calm the inner beast inside of Charlie's mind and body. Tell me! What was wrong with him? I felt the calm take over me and I felt anticipation and fear take control of me. I quaked in trepidation as I heard Charlie search for me. I heard his nose shift and sniff the ground for my scent like a real wolf would. How those memories of my first few months being alone scared me. Those rabid wolves attempting to reach me. I heard them and cowered in fear. I wanted to scream amid having my ears against my head just to block it. I wasn't going to act like a child. I was no longer ten years old. I was a girl at the fresh age of fifteen. Those long five years being with Jackson by my side made me close to him. I'd love him, I'd admit it, but not the kind of love you'd expect. He was like a second father to me when my real father wasn't there for me. I know my biological father would be shocked to see me dressed as I was and acting the ways of a man. I knew it but a woman had to keep herself alive. I heard him coming closer and I was running out of time to recover. I was feeling the beads of sweat freeze and burn my skin. My fingers were numb from the cold and red as some of the streaks of my hair. My bangs were beginning to stick and freeze to my head. I had to free myself from this cursed pain and agony. I had to free myself from this situation. I was a butterfly caught in a spider's web and the spider was about ready to eat me. But I wasn't going to play the role of the butterfly being caught in the web. Would it be possible that the butterfly would catch itself on fire and burn the spider along with its web? I had to move. I had to light myself aflame. I had to run but my legs were tangled in the threads of pain and trepidation. If so, I'd do it.
"Charlie!" I screamed whilst making my way in front of him. My bullets were loaded with a shaky hand on the handle of my pistol. His dead eyes looked at me amid going on his fours and growling like a mad dog inside the ring. It was cruel of me to do this but I had to try. "C'mon…" I told him while backing away slowly, "You want me? Tell me!" He screamed and began charging towards me. My legs began doing all the work even with the shards of ice stuck in them. I felt fiery tears of pain inside my legs and eyes. I screamed amid firing the five shots and reloading them every few sessions. I heard him snap his giant jaws behind me and felt him snap closer to the ends of my hair. A blaze of orange and red within an icy realm. I had to keep that flame going amid my flame slowly dying away. I felt my feet trip once again and Charlie took the advantage. He roared loudly and more ice surrounded his body. I attempted to fire at him but the ice made me miss the shots. "No no no~" I felt the box in which the bullets were held. I was running out! No no! Not good! I felt him fire his icy bullets at me and felt one hit my coat pocket. I was rather quick to injure the garment but the bullets kept coming. Charlie leaped back and screamed again, smiling at the glory he committed. He was ready to kill me.
Yet, something caught my attention with the sound of something rolling on the ground. I glanced to where my left hand was located and found a medium sized spool. My eyes widened while Charlie came closer towards me. The scythe wire? It had to work, right? Dr. Anri told me to use it in case of emergencies. I was running out of bullets and Charlie was getting closer. The large icicles hit the ground and blocked my arm. I rose from my crawling form and limped another way to that spool. Charlie continued his onslaught towards me and fear gripped me like a vice. I began feeling the ice lift from the ground and felt it swirl around him. Great! This is new! I had to shatter everything before it was too late. I felt like some mad maestro was conducting this mad scene of us fighting against each other.
"C'mon!" I reached for the scythe wire between the large icicles with my left arm, "Get closer!" I had to gaslight myself, saying to myself that everything was going to work even if it wasn't going to work. My fingers now heated in deep vermillion and numb from the cold felt the wire attempt to be snatched. It bobbled and rolled around back and forth as the quaking shook the entire room. "C'mon~!" I screamed out again with my fingers only reaching the surface. The ice was growing stronger along with the wind ever increasing its strength. "Come to me!" I stretched my arm and felt my bones crack under the pressure of so much fear. I felt the spool against my hand and rejoiced when I retracted it.
"Charlie!" I screamed out while limping to him. He screamed and howled in rage while I hid the wire from his dead eyes. I lifted my head and felt the rage bubble and boil within my toiled body. I felt the blood come out of my wounds and it squirted from my leg. I growled and tightened my grip against the scythe wire. I felt my wounded hands bleed and it turned deep scarlet. I gave it the order once I felt the rage inside me boil out of control. "Come and get me!" I screamed finally and Charlie began snatching large icicles and minute icicles came towards me. The scythe wire shimmered deep red and I uncoiled it from the spool quicker than a drivesman snapping his whip against a helpless animal. I let it fly and I snapped it against a large icicle. The heat that came out of my blood and the wire blunted the tip and it shattered into a thousand pieces. Charlie's dead eyes widened in shock and I began my seige once again but with a twist. I wasn't good at dancing but I was going to waltz with him. Now~ How did that little rhyme go again? The one about English roses? I don't recall but it does injure my tomboy side. I swung the scythe wire and Charlie began acting desperate. He threw more claw attacks and I felt the painful movements against the wire. I just hoped the wire wasn't going to shatter as it lacerated through his long claws now nothing more than little blunt nails.
"I just want an answer when this is over!" I cut into his chest and he screamed, "How did this happen? Who did this to you? Answer me. Answer me!" I spun with the wire in hand and felt it lacerate against his throat. He screamed out in agony and I saw him climb high. "You're not fleeing!" I threw the wire and it lacerated the ledges he already leapt from and I watched him head higher. He screamed at me and I saw what looked like a viciously large vine come out from his arm. The same vines the little wolves owned compared and matched. I saw a large rose burst out of his chest and ice came out of it. I brushed my cut fingers against the pistol and I noticed only one bullet was left. I had one shot left and I had to make it count. Charlie was so high and I couldn't see him. "Charlie, what're you--?" He screamed out again and I watched him head towards me. No no no! He was quickly wishing to make me nothing but a splat on the ground. I began fleeing from him, wishing that he was still human inside that case of a wolven guise. "Charlie, please!" I limp sprinted away from him but the sound of him descending was getting louder. The vines snapped and I heard what sounded like his voice. My eyes widened in horror as he continued to scream from that massive rose infestation. Ice covered its petals but I saw the ashen slivers. The thorny vines snapped like a thousand bullwhips and I felt the violent edges rip and tear at my vulnerable leg. I screamed and began feeling my body lift from the ground. I was nothing but a rag doll compared to Charlie. The scythe wire was what I had left. Only I could remove it from his body. I felt the ground shatter from the weight of organic matter and ice following close behind me.
"Charlie…" I began feeling tears rush into my eyes, "For all the time we could've spent, I'm sorry for abandoning you. I'm sorry for leaving you that night!" I aimed for his chest amid the rose vines snapping at my arm and plunging their deep thorns into my skin. "I promise! I'll save you from all the shame I've done to you!" I fired the bullet at his chest and the vines ceased as if watching the scene unfold. It aimed for the rose infecting his body and I heard him scream out in agony. I saw him slowly turn back to his human self and those dead eyes became vibrant again. The rose screamed out as Charlie glanced at me with widened eyes. "Laura--?" Ice began to form against his body and the impact of him hitting the ground was harder. I felt him come close to me and embraced me tightly, "Please, I wished the same…"
He closed those beautiful eyes of his tightly amid coming close to my ear, "Tell Greison that I loved him. Tell him that I'd never spent any less time with both you and him and would love to see him again…" I felt my eyes widen in shock as I felt the impact of him leave me behind. I screamed and held my hand out for his but it was too late. I saw him turn to a frozen statue and descend closer to the ground. I was beginning to follow close behind but something snatched me in midair. I was left shocked and hanging by what felt like a human arm gripping onto mine. I watched in horror when seeing Charlie's body shatter to nothing but tiny shards of bloodstained ice. Time was cruel to slow the moment and make me realize what took place. I didn't even hear myself scream but I knew I did. I yelled out for him as I begged for the moment to rewind. My time with him was up and it was all my fault. I should've done something else! I should've been there to protect him! I felt the tears of horrid lament shed over my face and freeze to the ground. I felt my body being lifted and back onto the higher level. I wanted and yearned to join him but the figure that was close to me kept me away from him. I turned to the figure dressed in the garbs of some mysterious traveler and embraced that person so tightly. I may have even shattered that poor man or woman's rib cage just from that moment. I felt tears soak into the warm garment and a gloved hand patted my own. Pale filmed hazel eyes shimmered in lament within the scarf and hood that hid the face well from my fiery eyes. I felt myself collapse to my knees and that person comforted me. "Easy now…" His voice was like my father's but older and tougher, "It's alright…" His garments were torn at the edges but I was fond of the faded brown coat he wore. His scarf was the same but with hints of white intricate patterns and concealed everything except for his eyes. If that was you, father, after all these years, I missed you! I wanted to go back! Back to New York! Back to you, Mother, and Aunt Maria! I wanted to leave this place behind! Back to the tennant where the four of us stayed!
"Got something you might need." He pulled out a shimmering whistle that was small enough for my freezing and bleeding hands. I didn't care about the whistle. Everything hurt from my hands to my legs. I was a frozen mess and this man seemed to notice the pain I endured. "Alright… Come with me. I think I may have something for that broken body of yours." He turned around, "Hop on my back, little girl. It'll be okay." I didn't refuse his offer and I didn't care if this man was going to kill me or not. I did as he ordered and took the chance. For now, Jackson and Grei…I I hope you're safe.