Death and the Girl

"This is the oldest building on the campus." The dean said.

The building in question was a looming structure that towered over the area. Scaffolding was on one side, making it look like some bizarre skeleton. A few of the windows had been smashed and I couldn't see what was inside.

"How old is this place?" Keith asked.

"It was built in sometime before the Victorian era." The dean, Mr Abbott said.

He was a round man with a thinning hairline and he seemed to sweat more than most humans. He'd met us outside the campus early this morning to give us a tour of the old building. He'd seemed like a man of science since he said he had a PHd in Physics, but clearly he'd experienced something.

"And what phenomena has been reported?" Stevie asked.

Ah yes, Stevie. This was our first meeting this Saturday. When Keith had picked me up, she'd been with him. She was small, possibly just a few inches taller than me with long, blonde hair.

"Well, problems began three months ago when construction started. Parts of the building would collapse on their own. The builders claimed that they could see a face staring at them through the window on the first floor. Things would move on their own." He sounded ever more distressed.

"Were there signs the building was haunted before?" Keith asked.

"No, well, apart from the urban legends spread by children." Mr Abbott replied, mopping his brow.

I glanced across the brown grass towards the building. A figure was standing next to the building, cloaked in the shadow the old building allowed. I could see no features aside from a wide brimmed hat.

"Hey, earth to Junko." Keith said, waving a hand in my face.

"Of course there were rumours that the apparition was the teacher that had commit suicide." Mr Abbott was saying to Stevie.

"What about the man with the hat?" I blurted out.

Mr Abbott looked at me as did Stevie. She frowned at my weird statement. Her gaze went to Keith and he shrugged.

M-man with a hat? I haven't heard that one before." Mr Abbott said.

Eventually he departed, handing Keith the keys. We'd be spending the night in a nearby hotel since this place was far too dangerous to actually inhabit.

"A man with a hat?" Stevie appeared next to me.

"Yeah, he was right next to the building, just sorta watching us." I replied, and a chill went down my spine. Creepy even as I said it.

******************

The other two went to explore whilst I stayed in the entrance hall. Near the far wall was a flight of stairs that led up to the next floor. A door was at the end of the entrance hall that led directly into the place where church would have been held.

I walked over to the window and I could see the new campus buildings. They were modern and beautiful. A far cry from this place. Nothing popped out at me though. I wondered if I had to be directly in front of a ghost to see it. I wasn't a proper medium then.

My eyes went to my wrist. The bracelet glinted in the morning sun. Tris had kept our secret surprisingly well. I had no idea what I was doing. The bracelet lit up and I pressed one of the panels.

"Hello, Junko." Tris said. Someone was a morning person.

"Good morning." I replied.

"Anything so far?" She asked.

"Nope, nothing, well," I paused. Should I mention the weird hat man?

"Sounded like you had something to add." Chris was there.

I blushed and made some kind of unintelligeble noise. It was half way between a whimper and a groan of pain.

"I-i saw a figure. A guy in a hat." I said.

"A guy in a hat," Chris repeated. I heard the low conversation he shared with Tris. "Junko, be careful."

"What? I'm always careful." I laughed, nervously.

"I'm serious. Please be careful. Don't let yourself be alone." He murmured.

I was alone now and noticed that the hair on my arms was raised. The feeling of being watched made me gulp. A hand landed on my shoulder and I yelped.

"Sorry, sorry." Stevie said, waving her hands in front of herself.

"Why were you watching me just now?" I shrieked.

"Watching you? But I wasn't watching you. I just came round the corner just now." She replied.

Fear lanced through me. If Stevie hadn't been behind me then who was? My mind imagined all sorts of awful things. I shook my head to clear the distressing images.

"Stevie." Chris snapped. Her attention shifted to the bracelet. "Do not leave Junko alone."

****************

Dusk settled quickly and we actually got some back up in the form of my boyfriend. I was quite surprised when he showed up. We sat out front near the car. Chris sat next to me on the hood of the car.

"I didn't see a guy in a hat." Keith said.

"No, but Junko did and that in itself is worrying." Chris replied.

My eyes went to the building then to Chris. He was inches from me, but wasn't touching me. I settled for staring at my hands. Whilst on the job, I was simply an employee.

"What does it want?" Stevie asked.

"I'm not sure," Chris said. "It's getting late. We'll come back tomorrow."

Tonight seemed like a bad idea. If there was something bad in there then if would surely be waiting for us to do something. I thought Chris might go back to the other world, but instead came to the hotel with us.

"I trust you have no objection to sharing a room." He said, when Stevie and Keith had gone.

"S-sharing a r-room?" I said, flustered.

"It seems like a natural thing for a couple." He murmured, grasping my chin.

"Y-yeah." I agreed.

Sharing a room seemed easier than my brain was making it. I sat on the bed, flicking through tv stations in a vague attempt to avoid conversation. This was what couples did.

"Enough." Chris grabbed the remote, turning the tv off.

I smiled and laid down, taking a steadying breath when he pulled me closer.

"So, will you be coming to all the missions now?" I asked.

"Only the ones where shadow agents try and threaten your life." He replied.

"It was a threat." I pulled back abruptly, only for him to yank me closer.

"It could have been. I'm not sure." Chris stated.

I relaxed again and enjoyed the closeness.

"Sorry if I didn't act like we were together earlier. It's important that your safety isn't compromised." He murmured, toying with my hair.

"It's ok. I understand." I replied.

And I did understand. For now I wanted to spend time with Chris like we were normal. My eyes slipped shut and the world slipped away until it was just the two of us.

Notes