The library of the Bernstein Domain was open to the public. Still, anyone who didn’t mind their manners was in for a stern reprimand. Okay, correction: usually only those who mistreated the books.
Once inside for the first time in ages, I began to search the vast labyrinth of a building for my mistress. She wasn’t in any of the reading rooms, nor the lounges. It occurred to me that, given the size of the place, it would probably be smarter to wait for her by the entrance, but just as I turned a few bookshelves, I finally spotted her.
I opened my mouth to call out to her. But then...I saw it.
The shadow dancing around my mistress. The translucent thing that was not of this world.
~.~.~.~
I am the Library Ghost.
No need to introduce myself a second time, eh?
That evening, an unusual situation arose at my usual haunt of the Bernstein library. Late at night, a crowd of children had swarmed together from who-knows-where. I could see a glimmer of bravery in their faces as they held their lanterns aloft.
What’s this? A test of courage? It’s the wrong time of year for that, but I suppose I wouldn’t mind spicing things up for them.
The leader of the group was a girl of about twelve. Barking orders at the rest of the children, she was a sharp contrast to my archenemy.
“When the ghost shows up, we attack him with our respective exorcism tools. Don’t get cold feet now. What’s our motto, boys?”
“If we stick together, there’s nothing to fear!” the boys of about ten shouted in unison.
She next instructed them to break into pairs and start searching, and to shout as soon as they found anything. With that, the group went their separate ways.
I beg your pardon?! A ghost hunt?! And they’re treating me like an evil spirit, to boot!
I wasn’t sure whether to be offended or pleased. I wasn’t an evil spirit. Nothing of the sort. Still, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to make a name for myself as a ghost? And to reclaim my rightful title from that little girl?
Hmm... I’d rather avoid an exorcism, though. That would spell the end of my life as a ghost.
Although I didn’t feel too threatened by what amounted to a child’s game, I was aware that kids could pull off outrageous feats from time to time. One could never be too careful. Plus, I recalled what one of the children had been holding: a ring of garlic. The last thing I wanted was for my home to end up covered in that.
Just as I was debating what to do, there came a loud scream. “Did you find it?!” the other kids shouted back, rushing in from all directions.
No, I’m over here...
Following the sound to its source, I found one boy had been taken hostage by an unfamiliar man. The boorish-looking fellow was clearly neither a scholar nor researcher.
“What’re a bunch of kids doing here this late at night?! Go home and get to bed, you little shits!”
Well said. Trespassing in the middle of the night could get you kids punished by the regional lord, you know.
“Oh!” The leader girl seemed to have had a revelation. “You must be a thief! My father warned me about this. The Bernstein library is full of valuable books and art, so it’s a popular place to rob. He told me to let him know if I saw anyone suspicious!”
The man looked flustered for a moment, but it wasn’t long before he was shouting at her to shut her trap. He tightened his grip on the other child, insisting that this was none of their business.
“If you care about your friend, you’ll pipe down. Nobody move a muscle.”
The captive child choked out a few words: he told the girl called Nora to run. The other kids shouted his name—Dieter—in distress, while I gave a snort. I couldn’t believe that some petty thief had the nerve to ransack my turf. I was going to take it upon myself to personally put him down.
Floating behind the children, I put on my signature scary look. With the light from their lanterns shining up at me, I could tell my face was illuminated for maximum effect.
The petty thief noticed me there, his jaw dropping and his eyes going wide. Yet just as he had relaxed his grip on the boy in his arms, someone else suddenly popped up behind him and struck the back of his neck, rendering him unconscious.
Excuse me? That was supposed to be my moment. Who goes there?
“Oh, Jean!” The girl called Nora identified the man. He looked rather lifeless. One of my kind, perhaps?
“I was on patrol. I’ve already apprehended the rest of his gang, so it should be safe now.”
“Wow, Jean... I didn’t realize you were actually good at your job.”
He listlessly restrained the bandit, expressing his offense at that comment, before casting a glance at Dieter, who was hacking and coughing, with the children fussing over him.
Then, he seemed to put the puzzle pieces together. “I think I’ve figured out what’s goin’ on, more or less... Uhh. If you ever see somethin’ strange hangin’ around, don’t worry. It’s harmless.”
With a word of goodbye, he slung the thief over his shoulder and disappeared into the darkness. If you asked me, he was even more suspicious than the crooks.
The children exchanged glances, deflated, then turned to their leader for further instruction. Nora crossed her arms with a conflicted look, but a few moments later, she sighed and let them fall to her sides. She said it was time to call it quits.
“Jean is milady’s personal manservant, and Master Alfred hasn’t said anything about it either. It must really be harmless, then. We don’t need to go out of our way to exorcise it.”
The children sighed, finding the outcome a letdown. Groaning in disappointment, they took their leave.
I was as frustrated as they were. I’d hoped this fiasco might boost my ghostly image, but so much for that.
However, it was one of the children’s parting remarks that I truly couldn’t stomach. “I guess Her Ladyship will have to keep on being the Library Ghost. And here I was hoping to clear her good name by way of apology.”
Come again?! Hold on, son! Get back here and exorcise me! Clear my good name! I am the true Library Ghost! Not heeeer!