Haunted -- Part Two

"That's the last of them," Cassie said, dropping an armload of essays on Philip's desk. They made a very satisfying thwup.

"Fantastic," he said, picking up the papers in lots and squaring them before sliding them into the "inbox" on his desk. "Any problems?"

"Not with the marking." Cassie shook her head. "But some of your students could certainly use a course in basic english grammar and spelling."

Philip sighed. "Yes, I know. We run into the same problem every year. To be sure, it's recommended that they take a basic essay writing course in their first semester, but it seems the ones who most need to never do."

"Oh, and I ran into a couple of students in the hallway. They needed to speak to Professor MacDonald, but they said her courses have been cancelled for a week now." She paused and grinned slyly. "They want to know if their papers are still due tomorrow."

Philip pressed his lips together. "Yes, well, they'll have to ask at the department desk. Though I'm afraid I don't know when she'll be back. No one does." He swivelled back and forth in his chair and then added, almost to himself, "They may need to find someone to take over her courses if this keeps up."

"Take over her courses?" Cassie asked. "What happened? Is she sick?" She'd only seen Professor MacDonald a few times since the year had started, mostly ducking into and out of her office. She'd seemed young, for a professor at least. Cassie had heard good things about her classes from the English Students' Society.

"Not sick, no." Philip frowned and paused, as if debating whether to share what was going on. Cassie sensed gossip in the wind. "You've heard about that little girl who's missing?"

"Rebecca MacDonald? Yeah." She blinked. "They're related?"

"It's Kim's daughter. That's why she hasn't been in."

"Her daughter? Oh my god." Cassie's eyes widened. "That's terrible! And they haven't found her and..."

"...and they called off the search for her this morning," Philip finished.

"That's awful."

"Yes. So that's why she hasn't been here. Of course, it's not general knowledge why she's off, so I'd appreciate it if you kept it from the students. But that's what's been happening."

"Of course. I'll just tell them to ask the department secretary then?"

"Yes. They'll know all about the deadlines and things."

"Right. Well, thank you." Cassie began packing up her bag again. "I'll be in tomorrow morning if that's all right?"

"Yes. Absolutely. I'm working at home tomorrow, but I'll leave you a note with the things that need doing. You can call me if you need anything."

"Great. See you!" She picked up her bag, nodded at Philip, and left.

She passed Dr. MacDonald's office on the way out. There was a course cancellation notice on the door. Cassie felt her stomach clench.

That poor woman, not knowing where her daughter is. And the daughter...

Cassie hated to think about it.

There's too much Goddamn tragedy in the world.
And she's so young.

Outside, the afternoon was mockingly bright and clear, with a tang of the fall weather on the way. She crossed the street, her mind wandering. She had a whole evening free, an increasing rarity. She took pleasure in planning several different ways to spend her time as she strolled home.

It wasn't until she was halfway to the apartment that she realized she'd told Gilhen he could bring Kameko over to talk about her problem. Her stomach knotted up again.

I don't want to do this.
Why did I say that I would?
Maybe I can call them and tell them I've changed my mind.
No. Of course I can't. I said I would.

***

"This is Kameko," Gilhen said, gesturing unnecessarily to the girl coming in the door behind him. She smiled shyly and inclined her head in Cassie's direction.

"Nice to meet you," Cassie said, "Come on in. Have a seat." She indicated the sofas.

Kameko went to sit down, but Gilhen remained in the doorway, his hands in his pockets. Cassie looked at him inquiringly.

"I thought, um, maybe you'd like to talk by yourselves, just the two of you," he said. Cassie noticed Kameko stopping in surprise and looking at him. She imagined the girl's face was probably as surprised and dismayed as Cassie's was at that moment.

Oh, yes. Leave me alone with your girlfriend who I just met.
That's just exactly what I would like you to do.
You're staying right here, pal.

"No, it's okay," she said as evenly as she could manage. "You're welcome to stay. You probably have some...insight on this whole thing."

It was a few uncomfortable and dragging seconds more before Cassie realized that her guests were both waiting for her to speak.

"So, what can I do to help you?" she finally managed.

"Well," Kameko began, after giving Gilhen a nervous glance, "There's some weird stuff that's been going on at the residence. Really odd. Gilhen said he thought you might be able to help."

I could say no.
No, I can't help you.
It wouldn't be a lie.

"I might be able to," she said after a hesitation. "I don't know how much Gilhen's told you...." She raised her eyes to look at him. He shook his head.

Nothing then?
Oh, thanks just a whole lot.

"Well, okay then. It's probably best if you start by telling me what things have been happening," Cassie said.

Kameko did. It was pretty much what Cassie had been expecting, much what Gilhen had told her before. Things were disappearing, doors swinging open, and things turning on when there was no one there to turn them on. Odd banging noises that sounded like they were coming from inside the walls, rather than from any other room.

"I don't think anyone's noticed aside from me," Kameko said quietly. Cassie had notice that everything the girl said was quiet. It was as if she were afraid to raise her voice above a whisper. Cassie wondered whether this was a recent development, or if Kameko had always been this shy. She suspected the latter, and wondered what a girl like that was doing dating Gilhen, of all people.

"Have you asked anyone about it?" Cassie said.

"Not really, no." Kameko shook her head. "I've heard other people complain about the doors opening and closing, but I haven't told anyone what I think."

"You think it's something supernatural."

"Well." Kameko looked down at her hands and blushed."It sounds a little silly, I'll admit."

It sounds a lot silly, actually.

"I have to say, I'm not really convinced there's anything going on here other than what usually happens in a residence," Cassie said as gently as she could manage. True, Kameko could be imagining things, but she did look concerned, and it was hard to say no to her worried look. "Doors that don't shut properly and strange noises don't have to mean a ghost."

"There's more to it than that, actually." Kameko shot a nervous glance in Gilhen's direction. He'd remained oddly quiet through the whole thing, just leaning back and tenting his fingers with an intensely interested look that made Cassie want to slap him. "I've...seen some things."

"What things?"

"Well...late at night, I see lights in the hallway sometimes. Not through the door. It's not like there are people going by. There are...like candles. And if I open the door and go out, I see...shapes."

"You mean people?"

"Not people. They're smaller, and they float. They look almost like birds, but they're... blurry around the edges. When they move it's like..." she reached her hands up in a complicated gesture "...a sheet, blowing, I think would be the best way to say it. And when I go into the hallway, they come toward me and I run away." Kameko wouldn't meet Cassie's eyes any more. Her voice had become even quieter and her eyes had widened. It was apparent that she'd seen something. That or she was acting terrified, but that didn't seem likely. Gilhen shot a significant glance at Cassie.

"In our first year, when we came to the residence," Kameko continued, "the RAs sit up with you in the common room. Some of them do, anyway. And they tell ghost stories, about a girl who was in the residence, and her love was killed in the war, so she hung herself in the attic. They say her ghost still haunts the halls." Kameko caught Cassie's dubious expression. "Of course, I know it's a trick. They come around once you're asleep and moan at the door and laugh when you get terrified. But I've been thinking that the building is really old. The story might be partly true."

Cassie shook her head. "But you're not seeing a girl. You said you saw shapes."

"Maybe she forgot how to look like a human. She's been dead a long time," Kameko said.

There were a few seconds of silence while Cassie thought up and discarded several replies to that statement. Kameko continued before she could respond.

"I know it sounds silly, but I really did see these things. And I think there's a restless spirit...and if it isn't sent away, then I don't know what's going to happen. It might start attacking people. I think it's trying to attack me, but it can't get at me yet...and I don't know what to do. Can you help me? Please."

It took a few moments before Cassie could formulate a reply. She didn't know what to say. Given the terror on Kameko's face, just saying 'no' was out of the question. Of course, Gilhen would have known that when he suggested that they come over.

Damn the sneaky bastard.
But she looks so scared.
Maybe she really is seeing something.

"I have a question for you," she began. Kameko nodded. "Have you ever seen anything like this before?"

Kameko thought for a minute, then shook her head. "They said my great-grandmother had second sight, if you're thinking it's a family thing, but I've never seen anything, no."

"Okay. Have you been really sick recently, had to spend any time in the hospital at all?"

"No." Kameko shook her head. "Why?" she asked, suspiciously.

"Nothing. Sometimes," she paused and took a deep breath. "Sometimes supernatural sightings can manifest after the seer's had a major illness."

Wow.
That even sounded like I knew what I was talking about.

"No. I haven't had anything like that happen, either." Kameko looked at Gilhen, almost as if for confirmation.

There's really only one way out of this.
I'm just going to have to pretend I know what I'm doing.
And if I can't help I'll have to fake it.

"All right." Cassie said, nodding, "I'll try to get rid of this thing, whatever it is."

***

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