,,Oh Salem is such a wonderful town! Such lovely people! Such great cuisine! The architecture is simply breathtaking!”
,,You make it appear as if it’s heaven on earth” Mily frowned in pure disgust. Wendy rolled her eyes at Erika.
,,Look at you, praising it. And yet, you had one of the worst lives there” Kevin declared and took a bite out of the sandwich Millie had prepared for them.
,,Everyone knows that you were a poor woman that loved doing nothing the whole day” Wendy added ,,Hand over the salt Kevin!”
,,In Erika’s defense, my mom took her in” Mily lowered her voice ,,turns out Erika is a great teacher!”
,,And you never even bothered to listen to meeeee” Erika cried.
,,That’s because what you taught me was extremely boring!” Wendy laughed at this but immediately stooped to hand Millie a napkin.
,,But let’s return to my original question: how is Salem EXACTLY?” I interrupted the so called fight.
,,Shit. That’s the only word to describe it” Kevin took another bite out of the sandwich.
,,Disgusting” Mily shared her opinion.
,,Wow! You’re so positive everyone!” I exclaimed.
,,Yay! Let’s talk positive about the place where we all died!” Mily hit us with sarcasm. Millie smiled at what her friend said.
,,By the way!” Erika added ,,It’s Midari’s birthday soon.”
,,Oh my, what a timeskip. We’re already in April” I tried to joke, but no one laughed. This is what Lord must feel like.
,,Party?” Wendy questioned.
,,…Please no…” Millie quietly added.
,,Midari sure will like it. But let’s keep it a simple as possible.”
,,..So no big party..?” Wendy sadly asked.
,,No big party” Mily decided ,,I’ll organize it.”
,,I…I mean, WE, can help!” Wendy pointed at herself and then at Millie and Kevin.
,,I would prefer working alone. Except Saki, you can help me.”
,,I, uhm, well…I’ll help you.”
I left, upset that I didn’t get included. That wasn’t the first time Mily did that. Always her organizing, always her deciding what was best for us. Why? Just because she was old? Everything always goes as she planned! And if you don’t agree, she’ll simply cast a spell on you, leaving you with no other option but to obey.
I talked with Edgar about this and he told me that that was just Mily’s nature. And that she was right most of the time. Even more, Millie always executed what she said, not questioning anything.
I wanted to organize Midari the party! I wanted to spend time with Millie! I was the one who brought Millie here! I gave her advice on everything! I helped her with her classmates! I helped her make friends! Me, me, me! Not this random ghost girl!
And on top of that she tried doing something to Millie. I don’t know what she was trying to do and I was sure that Edgar and Erika knew something.
Thinking all of this, my thoughts shifted to Edgar. Always starting something and never finishing. He was hiding something for sure, but I just couldn’t figure it out.
Those two are getting on my last nerves.
Maybe it was the right time to visit Midari. She told me that if I needed help with anything, at anytime, I could disturb her…creative process.
My friend was still working at the resurrection thingy, the one that Mily wasn’t happy about. What can I say, I admired Midari’s concentrating skills. Despite talking very, very much, she was a good listener, who can always find solutions for everything.
Saki once told me that Midari was a literal genius. And I couldn’t agree more with him.
,,That girl…a genius what can I say. Her brother too. It’s a shame they died. Maybe they could have made the world a better place. For everyone.”
,,Midari? Are you in there” I called her, but she didn’t answer.
Her room was probably one of my favorites. With the lively painted walls, it felt like there was a positive energy floating through the atmosphere.
It was extremely hard to believe that the place was owned by a girl that would turn 21 in short time. At first I used to think that being friends with these people was weird, because of the age difference, but Saki took the time to explain this as well (totally didn’t tie him up to a chair making him confess haha): ,,Alright, I’ll tell you. But don’t make me say it twice. The thing is, age doesn’t matter here. Why? Because being a ghost means that you’re stuck at the age you died. For the rest of your death. So, in your case, you’re stuck at twelve, even though you turn 15 this year. Millie, your sister I mean, is stuck at 14. Erika at around 20, Mily, as in my friend, don’t make that face, is technically 16. Your friend Midari here, she’s…Midari died when she was 8 years old. I assume she told you about her death.”
And that was the explanation Mily’s most loyal and trustworthy devotee (also her nr.1 fan) gave.
Midari was literally hiding behind a pile of papers. With a quick hand gesture she pushed away some pens, who ended up on the floor, but it looked like she didn’t care. Searching for a new one, I assume the others didn’t work anymore, the girl also threw some other papers on the floor, not caring about that either. They looked very unimportant in comparison to the other few hundred that were scattered all around the room. How does she manage to write so fast?!
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
And then, the absolute worst thing that could ever happen to anyone, happened. Really. Please take me seriously.
In a corner of Midari’s room, on top on some random sheets of paper, I noticed the prettiest jar there is. It was decorated with little red hearts and a little drawing, which I couldn’t quite see. I moved a little closer, to inspect it. Midari wasn’t aware that I was there after all, thought I might play her a prank after the jar-inspection, scare her a little, you know?
The jar was empty, with the lid just a few meters away.
Wait…meteres?!
I slowly turned my head, upon hearing some papers being moved. At first, I thought it was Midari, who finally acknowledged my entrance. But it wasn’t. Midari was still at her desk, writing. What was behind her bothered me more.
A tall figure watched her. But it wasn’t normal. I mean, if you would consider a figure made out of a black substance normal, then I don’t know what to say.
The creature raised their arm (?), who looked more like a blade than an arm at that moment. Like Mily’s butter knife, but sharp. The black thingy was about to hit Midari, who was still concentrating. How did she not notice that?!
I didn’t even have time to debate if I should attack that monster or not. So I charged at it, while infusing the katana with fire. And that, was the stupidest idea I’ve ever had.
The monster evaporated as the blade sliced it in half, so I felt relieved that Midari was safe. Though, it surprised me that the thing was so easy to beat. Wished I could beat Edgar in training that easily.
Unfortunately, my victory was interrupted by Midari’s loud shriek, which was a combination of a loud cry and anger. Still, I’m not good with words, so I don’t know how to exactly describe it.
Turns out, the generated fire accidentally set almost all the papers on fire. Even the pens that were lying on the floor started melting at the high temperature.
Midari sprang up from her chair, trying to gather the sheets that weren’t burning, in a desperate attempt to save them, while also trying to put out the fire. Later on, I would learn how to put out the fire using my power, but at that time I couldn’t do it.
It took me a few seconds to realize what Midari was trying to do and I tried to help her, but soon enough we had to exit.
I just lit up her room, in an attempt to save her.
Mily came running towards us, because Erika told her that she heard screams from inside Midari’s room. Saki followed her immediately, but rushed into the room to put out the fire. He was done in no time, because of magic.
Edgar came running towards me, hugged me and asked if I was ok. I told him I was fine, but he didn’t seem reassured. I was kind of sad that Edgar was there before Millie, but she followed soon after.
In the opposite side of the hallway, Midari was analyzing every single paper she managed to save, only to throw it away, because it was either ripped or burned. She gave up after the tenth paper and started crying on the floor.
,,Aw, Midari…” Mily laid down on the floor next to her ,,…It’s ok, come on, don’t cry. What did your brother tell you, mhm? That’s right, mimic breathing, count to ten.”
Midari tried doing what Mily told her, but she only started crying more, so Mily decided a different approach, rubbing circles on Midari’s back.
,,Still no hugs?” Midari joked, trying to make herself feel better.
,,Nope. Midari look, I’m really sorry this happened. But uhm can’t you redo the project?”
,,Haha…try memorizing years of hard work. Plus a few over 1000 pages” Midari slowly began to rise up ,,and don’t apologize Mily. I know that deep down, you wanted me to succeed. And plus, it wasn’t your fault” Midari looked me straight in the eye, before charging at me with full speed.
I tried moving out of her way, but I wasn’t fast enough. Instead she tackled me to the ground. Midari tried punching me, but her hand was caught mid-air by Edgar, who pulled her back, so that she fell.
,,Midari!” Mily ran towards her ,,You didn’t let me finish! It’s not Luna’s fault, surprisingly. Calm down first and then I’ll tell you.” Mily looked up at Edgar, who had the most angry expression I’ve ever seen. He was looking at both Midari and Miy in pure disgust, probably cursing them in his head.
,,Come on, let’s get up” Mily stood up, waiting for Midari to do the same. The little girl got slowly up, hanging her head in shame. She followed Mily, who signaled Saki to do the same, and they all disappeared into Mily’s room.
,,Heh. Funny day isn’t it?” It was the first time I had heard Millie actually trying to joke.
,,Again, are you ok?” Edgar offered his hand to help me get up, but I didn’t take it and got up myself.
,,Yeah, I’m fine. I just…I didn’t want to burn her project. I didn’t want to hurt her! I DON”T KNOW WHAT THE THING THAT ATTACTED HER WAS! I DON’T KNOW, I DON’T KNOW!”
,,Calm down. I might have an idea” Millie turned her head in the direction of the bathrooms, with a displeased look on her face.
,,What is it Millie?” Edgar asked her.
,,I think I know who’s in charge of this. Have you guys noticed that the atmosphere changed? Ever since Monday the air felt different. It’s full of death” Millie decided ,, strange things have been happening. Also, if any of you” she glared at us ,,happened to listen to the teachers’ conversations, you’ll find out that students have gone missing.”
,,What are you implying?” Erika decided to speak ,,Do you think that maybe what happened to the students is related to the strange aura the school’s surrounded in?”
,,Precisely. But before I give my conclusion, Luna, why don’t to tell us what happened?”
I could hear Midari crying from Mily’s room and I hoped that we would still be friends after this.
,,So you see…” I began and told them every little detail I could remember. After my little storytime, Millie nodded in approval (for some reason).
,,Alright. Time to tell my story!” she clapped her hands, looking smart.
,,Waaaaaaaaaaait!” Erika turned around and entered a room I never noticed before. She went inside and grabbed some chairs.
,,I know we’re dead, but I want to sit down…” she randomly said. We had no choice but to do as she pleased. Millie didn’t want to sit down and instead continued:
,,So! Luna, you mentioned a certain lovely decorated jar. You described it as being pink and lovely.”
,,Actually it had red hearts…”
,,Same thing! Now, I saw the same jar in a certain box two days ago. Who wants to guess who was carrying it?”
Erika raised her arm.
,,Yes, Erika?”
,,Uh, Mily? She seems to be the most fit person to carry around weird jars.”
,,Nahhh, Mily wouldn’t do that. Any other guesses before I make the BIG reveal?” I did in facte have an idea. It was one of the stupidest ideas I’d ever had, but turn out, I was right.
,,Lord?” Millie’s eyes widened, probably because she didn’t think anyone could actually guess.
,,Yeah. I saw him pick them up from the main hallway. He had a box full of them and they all contained a weird liquid. The moment he noticed me he ran to his room. His actions seemed harmless and I thought he was just playing around, you know, cuz’ he’s just a kid. I don’t know what the jars contained, but from Luna’s story we can deduce that all of them contain some kind of weird entity.”
,,You’ve done some detective work” Erika looked pleased with Millie’s explanation ,,what are we going to do now? Tell Mily or confront Lord ourselves.”
,,Confront Lord ourselves” I impulsively answered.
,,I’d rather tell Mily. For what I’ve heard, she was the only one here who was actually close to beating Lord in a fight. I personally don’t want to risk him blowing me up or something” Millie shared her opinion.
,,That kid can do what?” was my only reaction.
,,Didn’t Mily tell you?”
,,At this point I think she only talks to you and Saki.”
,,Are you jealous?”
,,Yeah Luna, are you?” Erika decided to play Millie’s game and mess with me.
,,Why would I be jealous? You’re hanging out with the weirdo, not me.”
,,Luna, manners!” Edgar scolded me.
,,What? She is weird!”
,,Listen here, Luna. Stop insulting people you don’t know. And for God’s sake, stop insulting Mily! You know damn well that we’re friends.”
,,Luna, you sister’s right. Your behavior isn’t the best.”
,,Myeah, okay. So?” I glared at Millie ,,are you going to tell her or not?”
,,At this point” Saki’s angry voice could be heared ,,I think she heard everything” he opened the door to reveal Mily.
,,I’ll…I’ll go talk to Lord” she said end exited her room. Midari exited as well, following Mily. We all did the same.
I just hoped Lord didn’t do anything stupid…