Ghosts

Shaking.

I stood outside the dark, rusty door for more than a few mintutes, trying to calm myself. It wasn't working though. The lightning got closer to me; it was now attacking trees behind me! But then, sudden trembling made me jump. I looked over to the window on my right, and noticed it was shaking. SMASH. The window smashed inwards!

I spun around, ready to go home, when I noticed a grey figure, crawling up the stairs behind me. It got closer, cornering me in the door way. When it looked up, the light from the moon illuminated its face. It was covered in blood. Zombies. That was it. I ran without hesitation into the castle, and slammed the door shut. It echoed through the deadly silence.

The enterance hall was filled with cobwebs, a bureau, and a dimly lit light in the corner. When my eyes adjusted to the dark, there was also a grand staircase in the centre. And footsteps came running down from it.

I screamed.

"Hey, it's okay! Don't worry! I'm not gonna hurt you." Said a very friendly, soft voice. Who is it?

I just whimpered, not able to use my voice properly.

"Listen." He said. I stopped whimpering, to listen to the silence. Why did he want me to listen? "See? Nothing. Thats how safe it is here."

"B-but there w-w-was a z-z-ombie outside!" I squeaked.

"A zombie? That is highly doubtful. It's just your imagination running wild."

And I believed him. His voice was so certain; how could I not?

"Come here." He started to run gracefully along the hall. He seemed very active. As I walked, I noticed something grey and transparent in the corner. A GHOST! I stood still in the corner.

"Excuse me!" I shouted. The mysterious man turned his head, his black curls swinging around. "Look over there, in the c-corner!"

He spun around to the corner where I was pointing, and as soon as he looked, the ghost vanished!

"What? There isn't anything there. Come on." He said, laughing.

I just followed him. He held the door open for me, and it led to a big room that was basically grey. The floor, walls, lights, windows, and curtains were all grey. But the wooden floor shone.

He span on his left foot, going for quite a few seconds. He was carefully balanced and elegant. Suddenly, he came to a sudden stop, and smiled brightly at me.

"Okay. My name is Michael. I am basically a lost soul here, blah blah blah. So who are you?" He said.

"Well, my name is Rosie. But can I ask, what do you mean a lost soul?"

"Err... I will explain later."

"Fair enough. Why do you live here? You could live with all the other people down at the village!"

"Yeah, sounds nice, but no-one likes me! They think I'm some freak of nature. They think I'm a wizard, a magician of some sort." I frowned, unamused. "But they're not wrong..." He mumbled to himself.

"You're a magician?" I asked, wearily.

"Well, if you count this as magic-" He produced blue and gold sparkles from his hand, wafting them around everywhere. They all vanished as they hit the floor. "-then yeah, I am."

I had always been a big believer of magic. Something had to make the Earth, and it certainly wasn't a man. I just stood there, wide-eyed.

"Sorry, did that freak you out?" He asked, his bright smile vanishing into a look of concern.

"No! I thought it was amazing!" He just smiled back at me. "Can you do anything else?"

"Hmmmm, come to think of it..." He clapped his hands loudly, and through the walls, came a group of ghosts, all dressed in Victorian and Elizabethan clothing. I didn't move, I just stood there, almost hypnotized. There was something about these ghosts that made you stare at them, unaware about the fact that they are ghosts. They all stopped in sync and turned to face me. Uh-oh.

Michael clicked his fingers, and they copied at the same time. This just totally amazed me, the fact that there are ghosts, standing there. All the ghosts started walking up the walls, completley ignoring gravity. Michael held his arms out fiercly, and started to tap his feet, in a rhythm.

There was about 5 minutes of this mind-blowing performance. Michael started to dance properly, and he was brilliant. I was surprised. Although, if you live by yourself, and have nothing to do, dancing is the most entertaining thing. And boy could he sing.

He clicked his fingers for the final time, and all the ghosts disappeared. I clapped loudly and he smiled and took a bow. Suddenly, I remembered that he was going to tell me about the lost soul thing.

"Michael? Where you going to tell me about the soul thing?.." I said, shyly.

"Oh, yeah. Well I've been alive for more years than you think. Round about one hundred and fifty." My eyes widened. "When I was...younger, I lived a normal life, showing off my magic tricks. The people in this village loved them. Until one day, a man called Troy McCullen came to the village. He found out about my tricks, and banished me from the village. But I kept returning, with more powers than the last time. When I came back for about the third time, he actually killed me. But, being as magical as I am-" He smiled. "I managed to keep my spirit here, and I fled up to this place. I've lived here for all this time. No-one knows I do." He said.

"Wait, McCullen?" I asked.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well, the last name of our mayor is called McCullen. Oliver McCullen. He's a meany."

"I'm not surprised. The people who were in this village in my time, are the grand parents of the people in the village in your time. But now, I'm basically a ghost myself. Watch." I watched him as he turned translucent, and glided along the wooden flooring. My heart sank. I really felt sorry for Michael.

"I think I may have to go now. My parents will be worrying about me."

"Oh. Thats okay." His face became so lonely.

"I will come and see you everyday!" I said.

"Really? That would be good! Thankyou." He said, suddenly happy.

We both froze as we heard the same thing. Footsteps.

"ROSIE? WHERE ARE YOU? Your parents are worried sick!" Said a booming voice.

"It's the mayor!" I said, worried.

He came plodding in. He was quite a fat man. Too many caramels. The mayor, Oliver McCullen, stopped when he saw me and Michael.

"YOU!" He obviously recognised Michael somehow. "MY GRANDFATHER, TROY, SAID YOU WERE DEAD!"

"Well, he wasn't right. I am dead, but a ghost. Thats why you can see me." He calmy said. Oliver became rather edgy.

"Rosie, come with me. You are never allowed here. And as for you! You are never allowed here! Ever!"

"And who is going to stop me?" He winked at me, laughing. I smirked.

"Well, we have quit a few willing people outside here, waiting to kill you."

"But like I said, you can't kill me. I'm a ghost." Michael became translucent again. "You really want me to go that bad?"

"Yes! We do!" Oliver said, quite bravely. At that point, about 10 people came marchig in, with flaming torches. They looked fierce to start off with, but the sight of Michael made them shiver. "Now, LEAVE!"

"You think you can make me leave with a bunch of people who look like they don't want to be here?" Michael said, a tone of humor to his voice.

"Yes. Freaky boy." He said. Michael became ridgid. I knew this hurt him.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" I shouted.

"Rosie, shut up!" The mayor shoved me to the back of the hall, and I squeaked, falling to the floor. Everyone gasped, except Oliver the mayor, who stared at Michael with pure hatred. Michael came further towards him, and he towered over him.

"Push her again, and you will be the one leaving." Michael said, nearly growling.

"N-no I won't! You will leave. Trust me." Oliver turned completely towards Michael, and done something which made even Michael jump. What did he do?

"That's not good." Michael said.

"Look, Michael has done nothing wrong! He's lonely, and you forcing him out will make him stay even more! I will leave this village if I have to, if you force him to leave. You once said to me that this village is filled with love, and no-one should have to leave. Now I know you are a complete liar." I said, courage rising to my throat.

Michael's brown eyes filled with tears.

"Rosie, I think I better leave. I'm not wanted here." He said, almost crying.

The mayor smiled evily.

Michael floated along the wooden hall. I ran after him, but I was caught by someone, I didn't know who. I screamed, I punched them, and kicked them, but I was not strong enough. I watched, tears filling my eyes as Michael left through the walls. He was gone. Forever.

"Ha! Now he's gone. I showed him. Rosie shut up." Said Oliver. "Now, lets go."

I rebelled. I didn't leave. But everyone managed to drag me out.

"LEAVE. NOW." Shouted the mayor. He led the way, and everyone followed.



The door slammed shut behind me, and I glanced behind me. Through the window on the top floor, a light shone through the curtains, and they moved slightly. I stood watching. A familiar face appeared through the window, and he smiled and waved happily like a little bunny. I laughed at him, and waved back.



The mayor didn't get rid of him that quick. Idiot.