“But it could be anyone, and we need to solve the puzzle, because the haunting is getting worse. Maybe the new spirits are messing with me, not the castle spirits.” My eyes widened in fear. “What if they kill me or something?”
“They are forbidden from it. If they do, they will be sent to Lavita.”
“What’s that?”
“A level of Hell for murderous spirits…and it is a place no spirit wants to go, no matter how sinister they are. Your life is not at stake, Zoey. I know you have considered taking your leave, but please stay and help us. You’re the only one who can.”
“I will. I’ll set you all free.”
“I so wish to cross over into the light. I hear it’s beautiful over there, and we all dream of going. Our lives were stolen from us far too early, and now we long for peace.” With that, he disappeared.
I glanced around, confused but a little clearer on what we had to do.
Chapter 17
I found Pam and Shantal hanging out in one of the luxurious rooms. “Guys,” I said, “you’re not gonna believe what happened to me.”
“What?” Shantal asked.
“I just talked to a ghost—like, really talked.”
Pam cocked a brow. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow.”
“So you believe me?”
“Completely.”
I sighed in relief. “Good. I was scared you might think I’m nuts.”
“That’s beside the point,” she said with a coy smile on her face, “but maybe believing you makes me nuts too.”
Grinning, I playfully nudged her.
“Do you think your mom’s gift is kicking in?” she asked.
I sighed. “It must be, because nobody else could see him. He started talking to me in the kitchen, and I about dropped my glass of juice. Then he asked me to go on a walk, so I did.”
They listened intently as I explained my conversation with William, and they stared at me in astonishment. I couldn’t really blame my friends, because I was having trouble believing it myself.
“He might just be telling you what you wanna hear. Remember that, Zoey…and be careful.”
“I know, but I kinda trust him.”
“Trust him? After the things he does to us?”
“I didn’t say I like him, but I know he wants out of here bad. It would do him no good to lie to me or try to trick me.”
“Maybe,” she said. “Remember that he’ll do or say anything to get what he wants. You said he mentioned that he misses being human, right?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“What if he wants to jump into one of us, possesses us for good?”
“I didn’t get that vibe from him. He doesn’t really seem like a bad guy.”
“A vibe? Zoey, if he is only after a body, he’s not going to tell you what’s really going on. He could be leading a group of them and preparing them to take us over, and it’s easy enough for him to cover up his silence by pretending he’ll get in trouble for telling the truth,” Pam said.
“That seems a little farfetched to me.”
“As farfetched as when Shantal thought somebody here was drugging us?”
“That might not be so farfetched at all. I’m not sure how, but I think some of the staff or faculty are in on it,” I said. “In fact, there’s not a doubt in my mind. They didn’t bring us all the way over to Scotland for nothing. Now that they’ve distanced us from our friends and family, they really have complete control over what happens to us.”
“All the more reason to leave.”
“You’re back to that again?”
“Yeah. Look, Zoey, none of us knows what’s really going on, what we’ve really gotten ourselves into. You’re talking to ghosts, for goodness sake. We’re in a haunted castle, and we’ve got no idea why we were brought here. You know as well as I do that it has nothing to do with our grades. They couldn’t care less if we get into college or not.”
“We have to help the spirits,” I said. “I owe them that.”
“What if there are no spirits trapped here?” she said. “What if it’s nothing but a big hoax, and this William character is out to get you, if he is even William? It’s not like he can show you a photo ID or anything.”
“It’s him. He looks just like the guy in the history books.”
“So? Maybe he’s just some kind of hallucination or another ghost in disguise or something.” She placed her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
“How about we just keep digging and see if we can find more answers?”
“Tell William if he wants our help, he needs to quit kidnapping us in our dreams like some kind of freaky sandman.”
“I’ll talk to him about it if he reappears.”
“Okay. In the meantime, where do we start?”
“That’s the thing. I have absolutely no idea.” Smacking my lips together, I realized I was quite parched. “Hey, do you guys want anything to drink?”
“Sure,” Shantal said.
“Okay, but I’m not going alone,” I said.
“Field trip!” Pam squealed.
We headed to the kitchen in search of some snacks and drinks. Pam and Shantal raided the cupboards, looking for chips. I opened the fridge and found three Pepsis, something sweet to complement the salty.” Any luck on the chi—” I started to ask, but just as I turned around, I dropped the soda cans in horror, sending a sticky, fizzy mess all over the floor. “Ah!” I screamed, staring at a huge, masked executioner who was holding a decapitated knight’s head out toward me. He disappeared as soon as I screamed, and I just stood there, clutching my chest and heaving.
“Oh my gosh, Zoey? Are you okay?” Shantal asked.
“You saw something, didn’t you?” Pam asked.
Shantal rolled her eyes. “No, Pam. She just likes exploding pop cans all over the floor for no reason. Of course she saw something!”
I nodded, still wide-eyed. “I’m so glad I didn’t come in here alone.”
“What was it?”
I explained my vision in full, gory detail.
Pam shook her head and tossed the pretzels and chips back down on the counter. “C’mon. I’ve kinda lost my appetite,” she said.
Chapter 18
Exhausted from all that had been going on and from the mind-numbing studying I’d been doing with Hunter, I quickly dozed off.
A short while later, I sat up and looked at the clock; it was 2:08 a.m. The closet door slowly creaked open, and I froze. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Footsteps echoed in my ears. When I peered intently into the darkness, I spotted a creature looking back at me, like some kind of deformed, mangled wolf, right there in my room. I gasped at its red eyes and sharp fangs.
Without warning, it pounced on me.
I screamed and struggled with every ounce of strength I had, trying to fight it off of me, but it was strong, and I was easily conquered. It ripped into my chest with its vile, sharp claws, and pain exploded throughout my entire body. When it bit into my neck, causing blood to spurt from my throat, I screamed hysterically.
“Huh? What time is it?” I muttered as my eyes fluttered open. “Did that really happen? Was I dreaming?” My gaze drifted to the clock; now, it was 2:06 a.m. The room was empty, and I was somewhat relieved to realize the whole horrible scenario was nothing more than a nightmare.
I wiped the sweat off my brow and took a deep breath. I pondered the terrible dream and shuddered. It had seemed so lucid, so real.
As I tried to slow my racing heart, I glanced at the clock again. Two minutes had passed. At precisely 2:08, just as in my dream, the closet door creaked open.
I gasped as I realized the horrible truth: “It was not just a dream. It was…a premonition!”
My heart thundered as I gasped for air. The room was ice cold, so chilly that I could see my frosty breath in the darkness. Something flitted across the room, a dark shadow dancing so fast that I couldn�
��t discern what it was. I blinked, feeling uneasy, especially when I felt something jump on the foot of my bed. The moonlight shone through the window and I could see indentations pressing deep into the covers as something slowly crept toward me. I blinked. I wasn’t imagining it.
Oh my gosh! Something’s on the bed!
My heart stopped.
I saw its footsteps and thought I might faint right there and then. Suddenly, a raspy growl echoed a few feet away, and I couldn’t help but remember the wolf from my dream.
Am I dreaming? I wondered, frozen in terror. Just imagining things? The hair on my neck stood on end as the growling intensified. When I felt its hot breath against my face, I was freed from my petrified paralysis long enough to scream.
At that point, I couldn’t get out of that room quick enough. I sprinted for the door and wrapped my hands around the knob, only to discover that I was locked in. My breath caught in my throat as I furiously jiggled it. When I heard growling directly behind me, I was engulfed in full panic. Something inhuman was in there with me, and I could not get out. Imagining it tearing into my flesh at any moment, I pounded on the door and screamed like a woman gone mad.
“Zoey?” Shantal said from the other side of the door in a concerned whisper.
Suddenly, the door released, and I leapt into her arms.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “I heard you screaming, and—”
“Something was…” I said, cutting her off, trembling from head to toe. “It was growling in my bed.”
“Are you sure you weren’t just dreaming?” she asked.
“I’m positive. I was wide awake.”
“Come on,” Shantal said. “You can sleep in my room.”
“Thanks,” I said, still shaking. “I so don’t wanna go back into that room.”
“I don’t blame you.”
* * *
After waking up in Shantal’s roomy, comfortable king-sized bed, I got up to go back to my room to get ready for school.
“Are you sure you wanna go back in there?” Shantal asked. “I mean, what if the wolf is still there?”
“Then I’ll just have to face it,” I said. “All my stuff is in there, and I have to get ready for class.”
“Fine, but you’re not going by yourself,” Shantal said. She quickly got dressed, and we headed out her door.
In the hallway, Pam stopped us. We filled her in on the events of the evening, and she quickly said, “Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. C’mon.” In my room, she rushed over to open the drapes, allowing sunlight to stream in. “See? Ghost free.”
I peered around, and everything seemed normal. I lifted the covers and looked for any sign of dog hair, almost hoping to find some; I wanted there to be some sort of clue to prove I wasn’t completely insane.
“Think the ghost dog left a puddle?” Shantal joked.
“No. I’m just looking for…evidence that I’m not losing my mind.”
“You don’t need Exhibit A, Zoey. We already believe you,” Shantal said. “I know it’s real, because I’ve heard things banging around in this castle myself.”
“Yeah, well, just because we’re not the ones going all Sixth Sense and seeing dead people, that doesn’t mean Zoey’s a nutcase. There’s something creepy going on here for sure.”
“Why would they target me though?” I asked.
“Maybe they’re attracted to your aura or something. I mean, talking to ghosts does run in your family, right?”
“I guess,” I complained, “but some people call it a gift, but I hate it.”
“Well, you’re stuck with it, girl.” Pam looked down at her watch. “You’d better get ready for school.”
“I’m okay now. You guys can go if you want. I don’t want you to be late.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. This room isn’t so scary in all this daylight.”
“Okay. See ya down there then.”
I smiled, thankful for the support of my friends. “See ya.”
After they left, I took another look around the room. I was positive something was in there with me the previous night. I could still hear the growl in my mind, still feel its breath on my skin. It had been so vivid, so real, and I couldn’t possibly blame it on my imagination.
I thought maybe William could explain it to me, but he didn’t come when I called for him. Seeing that there was no use in asking for his help, I hurried up and took a shower, then got dressed and ready for the day.
* * *
Walking through the castle during the day didn’t seem so creepy. All the drapes were open in the main rooms, allowing an abundance of light to flood in. I grabbed a bagel in the cafeteria, then hurried to class. When I ran into Hunter, my heart skipped a beat.
He pulled me into one of the empty rooms, a dark room with the drapes pulled shut, then captured my lips in a hungry, greedy kiss. I met his soft tongue with mine, dropping my books to wrap my arms around his neck. I loved the way his lips moved against mine in perfect rhythm. I felt like I was on some kind of high, floating in the most perfect ecstasy. A euphoria washed over me, so overwhelming that I almost couldn’t breathe.
“We’ve gotta get to class,” I managed to breathe out.
He grinned. “Yes, I know, but what a way to start the morning.”
I kissed his lips softly. “I’ll think about you all day.”
“Does that mean you’ll hang out with me after class?”
“Only if you’ll have dinner with me.”
“Only if you’ll study with me.”
“Hmm. So we’ll basically spend all day together?”
He pushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“This chemistry between us is just…crazy,” I said.
“Yeah, tell me about it. That’s why I had to kiss you. I just saw your beautiful face and couldn’t resist. I always want to touch you, to be close to you.”
“Well, the feeling is mutual,” I said. “It’s a…magnetic attraction, like we were actually just studying in chemistry a few days ago.”
We kissed each other goodbye, then he playfully smacked me on my butt. I laughed, and then we were both on our way.
Chapter 19
After class, Shantal and I watched television. Noticing the troubled look on my friend’s face, I asked, “What’s going on?”
“Oh, nothing much. It’s just that doors keep flying open, and I keep hearing voices and footsteps. Nothing stays where I put it. The paranormal activity is getting worse. I don’t know how I’m supposed to concentrate on my studies when I’m spooked all the time. I’m afraid if I don’t get out of here, my GPA is gonna suffer…or worse.”
“But if you leave—”
“I know Mom will lose the house, but being haunted wasn’t even in the fine print.”
“It’s freaking me out too. I’ve had some horrible experiences.”
Her voice shook as she said, “Last night, this ball of light hovered over my bed. It was like a colorful nebula, like something from outer space. I jumped out of bed, and it disappeared.”
“Maybe the castle is triggering our own supernatural or psychic abilities or something,” I said.
“I don’t know, but I’m tired of thinking about it. I’m starving,” she said. “Let’s go get chow.”
We headed downstairs for dinner and sat down at one of the bigger tables. Underneath it, Hunter squeezed my hand tight. I was dying to kiss him, a slave to our chemistry, but I knew any public display of affection would land us in detention or on dirty dish duty, something we both hated.
“Mmm. I love spaghetti and meatballs,” Shantal said.
“Me too,” I said, recalling that it was the only edible dish my mother could make.
“Rita made it,” Hunter said, “so I know it’ll be delicious.”
Just as I was twisting some noodles onto my fork, the principal walked over to our table. “How are you all?” he asked. Then he turned specifically t
o Hunter. “Keeping out of trouble, I trust.”
When I glanced up, he suddenly looked possessed. His eyes were big and black as if some unseen entity had completely inhabited his body. “Uh, Mr.—”
“I love spaghetti,” he said, pulling a long, squirmy worm from Hunter’s plate.
I about gagged when I looked down at Hunter’s plate and spotted a writhing pile of long tapeworms. Upon closer look, I realized the meatballs were actually eyeballs. It took everything in me not to vomit when the principal picked one up, popped it into his mouth, and bit into it, causing some sort of grotesque liquid goo to squirt out of it. It only made things more nauseating that everyone at our table was happily devouring their disgusting food, slurping it up like it was some sort of delicacy.
“What’s the matter, Zoey? Don’t you like it?” the principal asked.
“Something’s not right,” I whispered, my stomach clenching.
He looked at me with a big smirk on his face. “Hmm. Perhaps you are correct,” he said. “What’s going on?” I asked.
“Why, dinnertime, of course,” he said, “and they’re serving my favorite!” Then, just like that, he rammed his fist through Hunter’s chest and ripped out his beating heart, showering me and the table with blood.
Without so much as a groan, Hunter fell, facedown, into his plate of worms.
“Would you like to try it,” the principal asked, holding the bloody organ out to me, “or would you prefer brains?”
I screamed and struggled not to faint. When I blinked, I saw everyone staring at me as if I was crazy.
“Are you okay?” Hunter asked, alive and breathing.
“I-I…” I stuttered, unable to come up with a viable excuse. “Just a spider,” I eventually lied. “It crawled off that way.”
“Miss Sanders, you are much larger than any arachnid. There is no excuse to cause such a scene.”
“I’m scared to death of them.”
He shook his head and walked off.
“Zoey, you’re as pale as a ghost,” Pam said.
“Ghosts are doing this to me!” I said.
“Huh?” she asked.
Enchanted Dreams - Book 3 (The Enchanted Castle Series) Page 10