What She Concealed

by Jannat Bhat

  The next morning was a blur of activities around the lobby area as the students gathered around Ms. Diaz and got on the bus. Julian left his car in the hotel lobby so he and Eliana could travel with the rest of the class. Reaching the House of Seven Gables, Ms. Diaz met the museum docent and discussed the tour with him for a few minutes before they began. He enlightened them how the house was built in 1668 for Capt. John Turner and had been in his family for three generations. It was of the oldest surviving timber-framed mansion houses in continental North America, with 17 rooms and over 8,000 square feet including its large cellars. Eliana marveled at this wonder she where she stood. The docent told them that that the first floor had a narrow passageway added by one of the house’s many owners that where they can see displays on Hawthorne’s life, work, and historic Salem in general. Ms. Diaz gave them the permission to the students to go about the first floor whoever pleased. “

  “Please tell me this place isn’t haunted.” Eliana whispered. “And witches won’t attack me in the middle of the night and take away my soul.”

  “We already have a witch with us,” Julian commented. Ethan smacked the back of his head. Carter laughed loudly and Jax hid a smile. Mia and Naomi were admiring the view of the Salem harbor so Eliana went up on her own. Reaching the passageway because it was crowded she got shoved and stumbled. She would’ve hurt her head from one of the framed hanging on the wall if it wasn’t for two strong hands which held her. She turned to see grey eyes. “Be careful, will you?” Julian said straightening her and dropped his hands.

  She nodded and murmured her thanks. They shared a moment before he walked on with the rest of the class. Eliana was coming back down when she saw Ms. Diaz carrying a heavy box of brochures alone and seemed to be struggling with it. She was about to help but saw Jax go to her aid.

  “Don’t bother,” Mia said joining Eliana.

  “What?”

  “To help Ms. Diaz.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, Jax won’t let you. You should’ve seen him yesterday. He wouldn’t let her touch anything. He even helped everyone with their bags after we got here.”

  “That’s no surprise. Jax has always been a gentleman. To anyone he’s met.” Eliana said observing the hesitant way the other two were smiling at each other.

  “Either that, or he’s sporting a crush on our young teacher.”

  “Jax and Ms. Diaz? Are you serious?” Eliana asked in disbelief.

  “I could be wrong. I just thought you should know.” Mia said. “Time will tell.”

  That night, after wrapping up for the day the students were resting in the lounge, relaxing away from the day’s visit. The room was crowded and the lamps burned bright as Julian stared at them, his own eyes shining from the light, looked like jewels.

  “Okay, I’m done being with my thoughts. Who wants to play a game of truth or dare?” Carter asked, a bottle of water spinning in his hands.

  “I’m in,” Naomi said sitting up from where she was leaning in her chair.

  “Me too.” Mia joined in.

  “I have better things to do but you kids feel free to play.” Jax stood up and left towards the bar, his eyes searching for the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about.

  “Of course I’m playing,” Julian said, inclined back in his seat, peaceful. All four turned to look at Eliana.

  “You guys carry on. I’m not playing.” She said without a beat, warming her hands by rubbing them together.

  “Why not?” Carter asked.

  “It’s boring.” She shrugged at him.

  “It’s not the game Bennett, it’s you who is boring. There’s a difference. And leave her be Carter, this game is for people with guts.” Julian said, giving Eliana a challenging look. “No way little old Bennett would play with the adults.”

  “Count me in,” Eliana said defiantly and Julian couldn’t help grinning at his triumph.

  “Are you sure, little girl?” Julian poked her further.

  “Shut up and spin!” Eliana scowled.

  “Alright. Let’s do this.” Carter spun the bottle in the middle of the table where they sat surrounding it. It pointed towards Mia and Naomi.

  “So Mia, truth or dare?” Naomi asked.

  “Truth.”

  “Have you ever loved anyone?” Naomi asked her, wagging her eyebrows.

  Julian groaned, “That question is such a cliché.”

  “So what? She still has to answer it.” Carter said, looking at Mia who turned a little pink.

  “Well, yes, I have.” Mia didn’t want to elaborate. Yet.

  “Who is it?” Julian questioned. “Do we know him? Is he in our class?”

  “Hey! It’s one question per turn.” Eliana said to Julian.

  “I’ll spin it next,” Mia said leaning forward to touch the bottle. It pointed to herself and Julian.

  “Okay, Julian truth or dare?” Mia asked as the others looked on.

  “Truth,” Julian said, now completely eyes closed. Interesting, he seemed like a dare guy, Eliana thought.

  “If a person apologizes to you for a mistake they made in ignorance, would you forgive them?” Mia gave a meaningful look towards Eliana, whose heart started beating harder. Julian thought about it for a few moments.

  “In ignorance, yes, if intentional, then no.” He said, looking up at the ceiling. “Me next!” Julian jerked up and spun the bottle which ended up on Carter.

  “Truth or Dare? And stop with the truths. It’s getting dull already.” Julian said.

  “If you say so, bro.” Carter said, wanting the game to be more fun. “Dare.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” Julian said excitedly. “I want you to go and get that’s girl’s number.” He said pointing behind Carter at a blonde woman with pretty hair standing in the distance. It was the same receptionist who had been on duty that morning. Eliana rolled her eyes.

  “What! Are you serious?” Carter was surprised that Julian would ask that. “Wouldn’t it be easier for you to do it? I mean just look at you, she’d give you her address in a blink.”

  “Address and much more.” Eliana muttered.

  “Easy for me, not you. What did you expect? This game isn’t supposed to be easy. Haven’t you seen the movie?” Julian asked.

  “He’s right about that.” Naomi supported. “A dare is something you wouldn’t do willingly.”

  “True that,” Mia said.

  “Alright, I’ll do it.” Carter stood up and made his way to the woman even though he was freaked that she might stake him alive. But he worried in vain and since he pointed towards Julian, she quickly scribbled her number on a paper napkin and handed it to Carter giving Julian a naughty wink. Carter came back to his friends with the number in his hands.

  “There. Phew. I did it.” He gave it to Julian, who took it graciously and pocketed it. Eliana looked at Julian with distaste. Such a player, she huffed silently.

  “You did. I’m proud of you.” Mia encouraged Carter giving him a high-five.

  Carter spun the bottle next and it stopped at Eliana and Julian. “Well, well, Bennett. Truth or Dare?” He asked with a gleam in his eyes. Eliana was about to pick truth but she didn’t want to be predictable and knew that is exactly what Julian was expecting. Jax came back and sat down next to her without a word. None of the others asked him anything, all intent on Eliana’s answer.

  “Dare.” She chose. Julian was amused at the way he could provoke her with just a look.

  “You sure you don’t want to choose the truth? Because you know, you seem the type.” He commented as she narrowed her eyes.

  “You know nothing of my type. Dare.” She repeated, not wanting to give him the satisfaction to goad her.

  “In that case, I want you to go up to the third floor to room 325 and spend at least twenty minutes in there,” Julian said.

  “Julian, I don’t think it’s safe to go in there,” Mia said looking concerned. “Why not?” Naomi questioned.

&n
bsp; “Haven’t you heard?” Carter worried. “It’s haunted.”

  “Haunted how?” Jax asked.

  “It is believed to be the most haunted room in the hotel, and many guests have reported seeing the figure of a woman standing outside the door. People have witnessed faucets turning on by themselves, lights flickering, and the sound of a baby crying being heard. Employees and guests of the hotel believe Bridget Bishop is source of these paranormal encounters you know, the first victim of the witch trials.” Eliana looked spooked already, as did the other two girls.

  Jax looked at his sister. “You don’t have to do this El. You can refuse.”

  “Yeah El, you don’t have to do this,” Julian smirked at her.

  “But how would she go in without a key card?” Naomi asked.

  “About that.” Julian stood up and went to the receptionist whose number rested in his jeans pocket. Eliana saw him flash a million dollar smile at her and she could literally see the result it had on the woman who struggled with breathing. They both left the lounge together.

  “Did he just walked out on us to get hooked up in the middle of a game?” Mia asked.

  “I’m not sure.” Carter said. “Let’s wait and see.” They didn’t wait long because Julian came back minutes later looking smug. “Bro, what was that?”

  “That.” Julian said producing a key card to room 325. “Was me getting this.”

  “Wow.” Naomi looked impressed. “Was she even allowed to do this?”

  “Don’t know, don’t care.” Julian shrugged.

  “You’re the man, bro.” Carter said, slapping Julian on the back.

  Eliana stood up. “Alright then, I’m doing this and I don’t scare easy anymore, Jax.” She snatched the card from Julian started to walk out towards the elevator. “If I don’t come back in twenty minutes, maybe get help.” She muttered on the way. “Wait.” Julian called out. Eliana turned at his voice. “No using the elevators.” She cursed him under her breath.

  She was on the second floor stairwell when Eliana starting to freak out.

  She heard all kinds of sounds, even the hotel seemed to be conspiring against her. She swept her bangs aside and tried to calm down. The lamps caused shadows and all she could see was scary monsters that hid under her bed. She jerked around when she heard sudden taps or bangs coming from the walls. She prayed to God to spare her from dying a gruesome ghostly death and cursed herself for leaving her phone behind at the table. This is all Julian’s fault, she started to take slow steps forward once she reached the third floor. She heard light footsteps coming towards her, heart racing she closed her eyes tight so didn’t see the female ghost Cater had mentioned. The steps came closer and then stopped. She let out a sigh of relief when she bumped into something and screamed her heart out. So did the person she had bumped into. Julian. “Julian! What are you doing here?” She said when she could breathe again.

  “What do think? I was looking for you.” He said.

  “Why did you scream then?” She asked. Is he as scared as I am? She wondered. He didn’t seem the kind to be scared of anything.

  “Have you seen your face? You look even scarier in this light. I’m going to have nightmares for weeks. This is what I get for rescuing you.” He shook his head as if it was the worst decision he had made.

  “Why did you come? I didn’t ask you to.” She defended herself.

  “Yeah well, I didn’t want to hear Jax and the others continue to blame me if you ended up dead out here. So you know, it was self-defense.” He shrugged casually. “I don’t want you to haunt my ass in case I stay here in the future.”

  “Such a gallant knight you are.” She said sarcastically and opened the stairwell door ignoring him. “Go back, I’ll find the room on my own.”

  “You’re going in the wrong direction,” Julian said a moment later following her, hand on hips.

  “How do you know? Do you have the map?”

  “No, I have a brain.” He commented and pointed at the golden plate showing the arrow to room 610 through 615 in the opposite direction.

  “Whatever!” Eliana snapped and turned the other way and Julian followed her. “Stay away from me. What’s your height?” She asked unexpectedly.

  “Um, about 6 ft.”

  “So stay double the distance away. I don’t even want your shadow on me.” She said while Julian pouted. Eliana swiped the key card at the door and entered hesitantly expecting to see a mass of ghosts waiting for her. But all she saw was a room as ordinary as the one she was staying in. Julian was right behind her and he closed the door behind them. She sat in the bed and looked at the watch. It was almost midnight. Soon she threw down the pillow she was holding on her lap and walked to the door.

  “I think you’ve proved your point. We should head back.” Few minutes later from his seat on the sofa opposite the bed.

  “What else do you think I’m doing? I’ve been trying to open the door, unlike you. But it seems to be stuck.” She said glancing at his shadowed face in the lamp light. The main lights were out. Coincidence?

  “Argh!” She gasped.

  “You okay?” Julian asked, looking at Eliana who was sucking on her index finger.

  “The card sliced my finger!” She exclaimed. “I’ll be fine.”

  He took out his handkerchief from the back pocket of his jeans and stood next to her. “Here, let me.”

  “Stay away. I don’t trust you and your handkerchiefs.” She said remembering the last time he had offered it to her. Julian took her hand gently and wrapped the cloth around the cut. “This is all your fault.” She blamed him. “You’re the one who dared me to come up here.”

  “Just relax, I’ll let you out too.” He tried to take the key card from her but she refused to give it to him.

  “I know how to use this and the door won’t open. Call Jax from your phone, I left mine down at the lounge.”

  “No can do.” Julian said. “Battery’s drained.”

  “Then we need to call the reception so they can send someone up and unlock it.” Eliana said and sat down on the bed again.

  Julian knew how to open the lock but he didn’t. If you asked him why, he wouldn’t know. He picked up the intercom to do as she wished but put down the receiver in a few seconds. “It’s down too, just light the main lights.”

  “I don’t trust you.” She picked up the receiver herself and didn’t hear the dialer tone. She punched in the reception number regardless. The phone remained silent and she let out a frustrated sound. Julian gave her an amused look.

  “Don’t say another word.” She snapped. “I don’t want to hear your voice anymore.” She banged the receiver down and turned around only to stumble down over a hard round pillow which she’d thrown down. Julian twisted his lips in amusement. “Why didn’t you tell me it was there?” She asked in irritation.

  “You’re the one who asked me not to say a word.” Julian chuckled at the mess she was becoming.

  “You’re unbelievable!” She stood up and sat on the bed. The moment she did, the lamp that gave the room little light, flickered and blew out, leaving them in complete darkness. “What the hell!”

  She heard Julian move and then produce a semblance of orange glow from his lighter. “Don’t worry, I’m right here.”

  “I’m not worried.” She huffed. Seconds stretched into long minutes. “I’m tired.” She exhaled loudly. “And hungry.” She complained.

  “Wait here.” Julian got up from the sofa and went to the adjoining room.

  “Where are you going?” She asked, panicked.

  “Why? Are you scared?” He riled her.

  “Fine! Go wherever. I didn’t need you in the first place. You’re the one who insisted on tagging along like a kid.” Julian left smiling at her stubbornness.

  Eliana felt his absence as soon as he was gone. She bit her lip so she wouldn’t call out to him to come back. She would die before she admitted to him that she was scared. This was not very practical because she was scared
easily and when she felt something touching the back of her neck, she screamed and jumped directly into Julian’s arms, who had returned stealthily. Before Eliana could be aware of just how close she was to him again, Julian yelled, “HELP!” which made her jerk back.

  “Why are you yelling?” She questioned him and ran a hand over her neck to ward off the chill she had felt there.

  “Because you’re frightening me. You just had your hands around me and I have no idea of your sinful intentions. How dare you touch an innocent boy like me?” He pretended to cry.

  Eliana made a face at him. “Shut up!”