AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There’s many things my family didn’t teach me. This is my first chance to learn some of them firsthand from a ghost, and I’m not going to let it slide. I want to know. More than anything, I want to learn.
Meilin seems to ponder my suggestion. When she steps forward, it’s a quick, jerky motion, without stepping at all. It’s a bit off-putting, but I think I’m starting to get used to it, because my heart doesn’t lurch into my throat at her nearness.
I grab the obsidian egg laying on my lap and hold it toward her between two fingers. “So you played this game too, uh?”
Her expression twists into what I can only describe as a scowl of disgust, teeth snaring and nose wrinkling. It’s exaggerated and unnatural to the human eye, and yet I recognize the feeling behind it. I surprise both of us when I laugh. “Yeah, that’s kinda how I feel about it.”
Meilin doesn’t answer, not that I expected her to. Instead, she jerks toward the piano and sits — or rather, hovers — on the stool. Her eyes are focused on the piano, and I’m not certain what she’s trying to convey until they keys start lowering, shaking one by one, then a few at a time. She’s playing an off-key rendition of some classical piece. It’s more haunting than beautiful, but it’s music nevertheless, and a ghost is playing it.
Which gives me a mad idea. Before I can think better of it, I jump to my feet and join Meilin on the bench. She stops playing and snakes away, keeping distance between us but remaining perched on the very edge of the seat.
“I want to try something, if you’re up for it.”
Meilin hesitates before nodding. I press down a key and a single note resonates through the library. “This means yes.” I do the same with a key a few notes lower. “And this means no. Do you understand?”
After a brief pause, the higher note rings, making butterflies take flight in my stomach. I’m doing it. I’m communicating with a ghost.
“Okay, let’s start off simple. Is your name Meilin?”
Higher note.
“Is it true that you played the same game I’m playing?”
Higher note again.
“Did you win?”
Lower note.
A giddiness fills my lungs as I realize this is working. “Did you choose to stay a ghost?”
The higher note rings. I desperately want to ask her why, but she won’t be able to answer that. The more we play this little game of ours, the less frightening things I find about Meilin. Sure, her appearance isn’t wholly human, but then again neither is Teizel’s, and that didn’t turn out to be as much of an issue as I’d imagined. I shoo the thought.
“Do you have unfinished business in this world?”
I’m surprised when, after taking a pause, Meilin rings the higher note.
I can’t explain the sudden urge to know more, to unravel whatever is keeping her anchored to this world, to help her let go. It’s something seated deep in my belly, shoved down in the same dark corner where I’ve kept my secret all this time, but it’s gaining momentum, pressing harder, screaming louder. Whatever it is, I can’t find it in me to be scared of it. Something within me recognizes it as instinctive, second nature, like babies knowing to suck milk from their mother.
“Would you like to move on?”
Her pause is longer this time. Then, lower note. A moment later, higher note. Lower note again.
A laugh bubbles to the surface. “Sounds like you have some complicated feelings about it.”
Meilin smiles what looks more like a grimace, but I recognize the softness in her gaze. She rings the higher note.
I lean against the piano keys, pressing a few with my elbow, and prop by cheek against my hand. “I wish I could talk to you. Actually talk to you.”
“You can.” The voice comes from the entrance. I yelp, jumping from the stool, and turn around. Teizel stands against the open French doors with a tray of tea and biscuits in his hands. Judging by the way the teacups have ceased steaming, he’s been there a while.
“I didn’t hear you come back,” I admit.
“I can be stealthy.” Even carrying a tray full of china, it seems. He stops by the coffee table to set down the tea set before joining us by the piano, leaning against the instrument and towering over me. “Your color already looks better.”
“We got familiar. I’m finding my fears were mostly unfounded.” It’s only then that his first words register, and I perk up. “Wait. Did you say I can talk to her? Like, she can speak back?”
Teizel looks between me and Mei with furrowed eyebrows, and nods. “Ghosts are able to form coherent thoughts and sentences. It’s just that humans can’t hear them. But regular humans can’t see them, either, so…”
