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Sylvie chuckled. “Ah, no. I’m not admitting to anything of the sort. I’m only admitting that my initial theory that it was a guest isn’t the answer. There’s still another rational explanation, I’m sure.”
“Well, there’s only one way to solve this,” Marge said.
“And what’s that?” Alice asked. “Because your arguing is giving me a headache.”
Marge leaned forward onto her elbows, her troublesome gaze passing across us. “We stake out the gardens tonight. Catch the ghosts in the act.”
“What?” I sat back. “You want to go out into the gardens?Withthe ghosts? No! No way!”
Alice scoffed. “I’m with Doris. No thank you. I’ll be upstairs watchingOutlanderwhile you’re all slaughtered by spirits.”
Marge kept her gaze fixated on Sylvie. “You in? Or are you yellow too?”
Sylvie quirked a smile. “Oh, I’m in. I can’t wait to prove you wrong. There is a very rational explanation for the voices in the garden.”
“Oh, that could be a good book name, couldn’t it?” Alice said. “The Voices in the Garden.I bet that’s what they’ll call the movie they make about the murders that are going to happen tonight. Don’t worry, having stayed in my room, I’ll still be alive to tell the gruesome tale. I’ll do you all justice.”
“No way I’m going!” I shook my head so hard I cricked my neck.
Marge’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, come on, ladies. Don’t you want to have a little adventure with us tonight? It will be fun! And then we’ll know for sure who is right. Me or Sylvie. We have to do this together.”
“Nope. I’m out.” Alice took a long sip of her coffee.
“Me too. No way,” I answered.
Marge sat back, crossing her arms across her chest. “Well, then. If we aren’t going ghost hunting tonight, then I suppose it will have to be my next wish. Yep. Stay in a truly haunted house, the scariest one in the world, and go ghost hunting at night. I can see the wish written down now.”
“Marge! No!” I pleaded. “I can’t do that!”
“You’re joking.” Alice set her coffee down. “Tell me you’re joking.”
Marge shook her head slowly. “Nope. You ladies get one chance to get out of staying at a haunted house and going ghost hunting. We do it. Tonight. One night at a haunted castle we’re already at. It will be over in an hour, and then I swear I won’t ever make staying at a haunted house my wish.”
Nerves and terror crackled inside of me. “I don’t want to, Marge. I’m too scared!”
“I’ll protect you, Doris. I always do, don’t I?”
I bit my lip. “Well, yes. You do, I suppose.”
“And I’ll protect you again. We can do this, ladies. Tonight, we stake out the garden and find out what’s out there.”
“Well, I suppose it’s better than having to go to some horrifying stinky old house.” Alice rolled her eyes. “I don’t like it, but if it means avoiding that fate, then fine. I’m in.”
“Yes!” Marge pumped a fist in the air.
“I don’t want to be alone in my room!” I blubbered, tears starting. “Please don’t leave me alone. And I don’t want to go see the ghosts.”
Sylvie reached over and placed her hand over mine. “Doris, there are no ghosts. We are only going to go for a nice moonlit walk in the garden, prove Marge wrong, and then nevereverhave to go stay in some stupid ‘haunted’ house again. We’ll all be there together, and you’ll be safe.”
I twisted my hands into my dress, then after a long moment, I said, “You promise it will be safe?”
Alice nodded. “If we see some ghosts, all we have to do is show them Marge’s messed up face and it will be them running away from us. In fact, her face will probably haunt them.”
“Can it, Alice.” Marge turned toward her and gave her a snarl, showing off the missing tooth and causing Alice to spin away.
“Put it away!”
Marge laughed then let out a sigh. “Okay. So, it’s agreed? We meet tonight and stake out the garden?”
