Chapter 20: Foolishness

George was right. I was foolish, why on earth would I risk my life for someone I hardly even knew and who was already dead. The fact was that I could not bring myself to leave, things like this were not even supposed to happen. Yet it did, I was here right now and I was going to help no matter what. Most would run, it's human nature to run when your life is threatened. It's called flight or fight. In the face of certain harm your body reacts for you, it's basically the only animal like instinct humans have. Maybe I should run, follow that instinct that tells me it's not safe to be here. It isn't, I knew that to well. If I stayed I would be hurt. I was a fool, but I would rather be a fool than one who would not help another in a time of need. Even if the one in need was already dead.


“Yes, I know.” I replied softly, “But I'm the fool who is going to help you. Whether you like it or not.”


I looked around Georges room, the furnishings were coated in dust. Yet I could still see what once was. I shook my head, there was no time to dwell on unimportant things. I studied Georges reaction, for a moment he almost looked angry. I cocked an eyebrow, it seemed of late George always was angry. I didn't blame him he had much to be angered about. His face eventually softened, his features almost had a pleading look. He shook his head and turned away from me.


“I don't like it. I don't like the fact that I cannot even save myself. How pitiful is that? I was so blindly foolish. I've ruined my life and countless others lives by my greed.  Because of me many are cursed, it's because of me that my house fell into ruin. Because of me your here, in harms way. Can't you see that I just want you out of this safely...” George turned to me. His bottom lip quivered for a moment. He seemed to be suffering, he became a little more transparent. Leota was still draining him


“That's why you must go-- you don't have to be here.” he continued slowly,  “There is no hope for me, I was blind and ignorant. So I only deserve my complete death, you don't deserve to die. You were brought here at my request because I thought maybe a presence of a living soul would drive the evil out of this place and maybe break the curse and help me move on.”


I shook my head, “Well can't I? That's what I'm trying to do help you break the curse. That's what you wanted in the first place. Why can't I help? I know you want my safety but that does not matter right now. I just want to help so let me.”


“Your safety does matter!” George snapped, “Can't you see this is a fate that I will not let you suffer. It's torturous facing every day and night with no rest. You cannot put your mind at ease, everything reminds you of what you could have had!” George calmed himself a little as he was clearly becoming more and more distressed. Heaving a sigh he continued, “It's not state of living it's a state of suffering. Do you know what it's like to see things you cannot have because of your choices? I cannot live as a normal man, even if I touch I cannot feel. All I once had is gone. Death, true death is a welcome visitor compared to this fate!”


I stared at him for a moment. Words would not come to me, the apparent suffering on his behalf was heart breaking. Finally I found my voice, even if it was a weak one. “Just because I want to help doesn't mean I will suffer this fate...”


“If you die you will, that's the curse. I cannot be changed, it's happened to all who died here after me.” he said darkly, “Why don't you run? Any sane person would run, you should. I would have if I knew what was to happen”


Anger eventually manifested itself inside of me, why should he run? You can't run away from your problems. If you do it will come back to haunt you. I stared at George for a moment, not quite knowing how to continue. Slowly I restrained myself from exploding on George. “Perhaps the reason you are fading away is because you have no will to exist...” I whispered softly.


I waited for Georges eyes to meet mine before I continued. Convinced I had his full attention I replied. “I'm helping, so you might as well just accept that I'm staying.”


George opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. Letting out a slight groan he shook his head. Slowly he walked closer to me, he seemed to be studying my face. Looking for  clues of some sort.  “Very well” he then said backing away just as quickly as he came toward. “I'm sorry... I know you just want to help. I just don't want to put anyone else through this type of existence, especially you. Your the first person who has entered my … life since I died. You made me remember what it was like to have joy, that's why I kept you here. It was greedy and wrong of me to use you that way--”


I slowly started to realize exactly what I was to George. A taste of what it was to be alive. It all started to make sense, why he did all he did. “Ah”


George's eyes widened, “No don't think—I--”


“Think what? I'm just here to help aren't I?” I inhaled deeply, what was George to me anyway. I didn't know who he was. He was dead after all, nothing would ever come out of my experience here. I would help then disappear forever. Carry on with my life, keeping all I've seen a secret.


“No, well at first. Yet, you became more than that-- can't you see that?” George seemed to be pleading with me. “Your more than that.”


“How? George, listen...” I started only to be interrupted by George.


“To what? Rosalie do you have any idea how much you mean to me? I know we just only met yet what you have done for me... I will be forever grateful for it.” George sighed heavily, “Ever since you came you made me want to be alive again. Oh, If only I was alive!”


I shrugged, I wished he was alive as well. I wish that this bloody place was not haunted, I wish this was a normal situation. But it wasn't it never would be. I had to come to grips that I could never keep anything here, only memories. After I helped George he was going to move on. Why did it hurt!? I was angry at myself, this was completely idiotic. Why was I feeling such things toward George. Why?


“But you can't ever be alive again... After all of this you are going to move on.” I choked out.


George stared long and hard at me. Slowly he stepped toward me, as he came closer I started to feel the chill radiating off of him. He tried to place a hand on my cheek but instead his hand just went right on through. I felt nothing, George let out a cry of agony. “I can't even touch you!”


I did not reply just shut my eyes, George was fading fast. I knew we had to act quickly if there was any chance of breaking the curse. Opening my eyes I could see George was in a state of complete torment. I wanted nothing more than to comfort him, but time was growing thin. I had to start pulling away. Isolate myself, if I didn't I knew I might become lost once he leaves.  “We have to hurry. I think I know a way to stop Leota... This book, why exactly would she bury it? I think it's the source of her power.”


George nodded solemnly. Obviously he was in a great deal of pain but I knew I couldn't help as much as I wanted to. It was my task now to take lead, even If all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and cry. The pain that I was keeping bottled up would eventually surface, I knew that much. Yet as of now I had to be strong, I would pay the price later.


“I-- have an idea” looking around the room I saw an old gas light. Brushing off some dust I turned the dile. Slowly the lamp flickered to life, taking of the glass to reveal the wick with a small slow burning flame. George looked at me curiously yet said nothing. I held up the book to the flame. At first nothing happened, the flame did not catch on the old tattered fabric. It seemed to deflect the flames. “Great... I thought I could destroy the book this way.” The book seemed to jolt from my hands and fall to the floor, it fell open to a page that had one word in large Victorian writing “Death”.  As soon as I mumbled the words on the page a gush of wind burst into the windowless room.


The room seemed to grow darker as another unseen presence entered it. Something sinister was in hiding, waiting to pounce. With the presence and unbearable pain was brought into our midst. It seemed with every breath I took the air was becoming thicker. George seemed to grow even weaker in an instant, “Rosalie... she's here.” He whispered.


Menacing laughter erupted from no where. It was Leota's voice, I shuttered and started to panic. How could she do this? Before I had time to act she started to chant, she was reading the book.  Without thinking I grabbed the book. I tried to shut it but it would not budge.  I watched in horror as a dark shadow materialized in front of me. It had a face of a skull yet was shrouded in black robed clothing.  The creatures' gaping holes, where the eyes should have been, seemed to be focused strongly on me. “Give me the book” it hissed reaching out it's skeletal hands.


I shook my head backing away. When I resisted it grabbed my arm, Instantly my whole being felt like it was being consumed by flames. My body seemed out of my control, as much as I tried to resist I unwillingly handed the book over to the creature. Yet it did not let go of me, I felt as if the life was being drained out of me. However I wanted to I could not scream, the pain that pulsed through me was slowly making all my thoughts incoherent. My sight was slowly becoming blurry as I started to tremble uncontrollably. Unable to hold myself up any longer I collapsed to the floor, I felt like... I was about to fade away.


What happened next all seemed to occur to quickly to fathom. George ran in front of the spirit he seemed... stronger. Before he was fading, now he seemed as clear as if he was alive. He grabbed the creature and hurled it against a wardrobe. The glass mounted on the wardrobe shattered. The creature seemed to be piled in a heap, it arched upward like a wounded animal.  The book flew from it's hands, George swiftly grabbed it. A furious scream echoed through out the room, it was Leota.


“She has been marked for death, Foolish boy! Soon she will join all of us... it's only a matter of time now.”, Said the creature. Yet it's voice was not it's own. It was Leota speaking through this being. In a blast of black mist the creature disappeared.  I tried to sit up yet my attempts only brought me pain. I let out a muffled cry, every joint seemed to be locked in awkward positions. My body was broken, at least that's what it felt like.


Feeling a small gust of cold air at my side I could only assume it was George, sure enough when I looked he was by my side. The look on his face went from frustration to pure agony in a matter of seconds at the sight of me.


“It's all my fault--” he mumbled, “Are you all right?”


I shook my head trying one more time to lift myself upright. “I'm alive aren't I?” I gasped as I fell back to the floor. George helped me sit upright, supporting me so I wouldn't fall again. “Look, You can touch again.” I said my voice broken.


George let out a shattered sob as he pulled me closer. His arms were tightly wrapped around me. For once in what seemed like the longest time I felt safe.