Phantom

The coffin lay in the bed of flowers. Someone must have been buried here. Someone precious. The thorns of the roses was covering the glass coffin and it looked like it was guarding it. I never would've intruded the dead which has rested. I decided to leave. It was then I heard someone sighed. I looked back and the lid was slowly opening. My mouth turned dry.

This is impossible. I scampered away from the bed of flowers as far as I could. The wind that blows became harsher, like it was stopping me to flee. I know something came out of the coffin. What have I done?

I swallowed. Would it kill me? Or make me a friend? Or maybe it is furious because I have awaken it from peace. This is the most stupidest thing I have done in my life, to create the cause of my own doom.

But this, somehow, is not right. A dead person will stay dead. How come that being just climbed out of it's coffin?

This valley filled with flowers is not just an ordinary valley you could also call this "graveyard". I stopped running, I stopped to lean my head against a tree. Catching my breath.

My throat was dry and I coughed. A sudden gust of wind blew on my hair harshly, that I closed my eyes. My hair was whipping harshly behind me. When I opened my eyes as if by instinct, they darted ahead towards a couple of tress, the blue light weakened and the place dimmed.

Not far from where I stood, I saw something move. It slowly emerged from the forest. Crossing thpassive with such an incredible speed. It was in the form of a man. Coming towards me. Although he was just walking, he did this with all grace, his movements so fluid that the way he walked almost look like gliding on the air his feet never touching the ground.

"Ghost!" My subconscious screamed.

I have to hide. I turned around the tree so that I could not be seen up front but, I bumped into something. My forehead hurt I massaged it and complained to myself. When I realized what I have bumped into I nearly fainted.

There was a man.

I lowered my head so that I would not see his face. I'm terrified of whatever I would see. I slowly turned around, as if I didn't know that I bumped into something, and run, but it was just a few paces when a firm hand caught my arm, turning me around. Before I could face him I closed my eyes shut.

"Forgive me" I said my voice shaking.

There was no answer so I continued.

"I didn't mean to wake you up" I clenched my hands into fists feeling the sting on my right finger.

It was then he spoke.

"Your trying to reason with the dead?"

At first he sounded amused but, as I listened as he speak these words, they felt lifeless and empty, even cold.

The dread I feel doubled.

" So you are a g-ghost?" I tried to sound brave but my voice faltered.

"What do you think?"  He asked. His words were still blank but it sounded as a matter of fact tone. So it was time for sarcasm eh?

I can't think of any answer.

"I don't know" I said.

There was a moment of cold silence.

"Open your eyes"

I finally heard him say. His cold grip tightened a little.

I hesitated.

"I shall help you get out of here" he added.

His proposal was tempting but I was unconvinced.

"How should I know it's true?" I asked him.

" I give you my word" he said each word with precision and they sounded true.

"I can't  trust you" I uttered.

"You don't have to" he remarked with a cold voice.

"Because you are a ghost" I pointed out. 

With this ghost around I don't care about being polite anymore.

" A ghost?, I can touch you now can't I?" He replied with not much enthusiasm.

Then what on earth would come out from a coffin? He must be surprised of my stupidity.

"Still" I muttered.

"Your choice" he said annoyed.

Should I allow my eyes to open? There is no choice left, if I won't accept his offer I have a feeling I would be stuck here forever. I sighed.

Mustering every courage I could get. I slowly opened my eyes. The light seemed to illuminate the whole place I can see so many details with a sharp vision. I can even determine the colors without having any trouble.

My eyes darted to his face. I was awed. My fears were replaced with wonder. I have never seen a face. He has such strong features, his eyes almond in shape under the thick long lashes was cold and intense, his irises were green. His brows, his nose, his lips, his jaw, his cheek bones, everything fitted at the right places. He looked so proud and arrogant which intimidated me at first. 

His hair was disheveled and naturally colored with a hue of brown and red mixed together the red color didn't sand out it just blended with his brown hair, it was strangely beautiful to look at. He was tall as well, he was towering over me I have to look up to meet his gaze. He was wearing a black tunic and a white undershirt which made him more intimidating to look at.

My throat was dry when the gust of wind passed us. It was only that moment I became aware that I was open mouthed all the time. I cleared my throat embarrassed I pressed my lips together. He doesn't have any expression written on his face it was hard to think what is inside his mind.

"Give me your hand" he said

I was hesitant but I slowly reached out to him he quickly held my hand and as soon as our skin touched. There was a blinding white light which made me drowsy without a reason at all.

>>>>>>>

In the morning, I lazily sat on the bed. My head hurts. I was wearing sky blue  pajamas with pictures of painted clouds, I don't even remember mom giving me this pajamas.

The room was very cold. I looked around, I don't recognise anything. The place was huge and wide. The furniture as the other ornaments I guessed to be from long ago antiquity.

Only a burning candle on the bedside table give light to the room. The paint on the wall was pale cream and the red curtain with gold seams contrast the wall greatly, the wide windows was sadly closed and the drapes drawn.

A nice dresser was across the room and a wardrobe. There was a sofa that was velvet blue facing my bed, and what caught my attention the most was a grand piano.

I went out of bed and approached the piano, I stroked a keyboard. A satisfying note made me smile. The old piano was still working and from the looks of it, it was well maintained. I sat on the seat and started to play.

My fingers passed the keys as the melody sounded. The tune made me think. A memory etched in my mind was playing an old piano way back home, I used to play it even though it was broken. The certain memory of home distracted me and I hit a different note. I stopped and sighed.

"Why did you stopped?"

Instantly I stood up and  turned around, I saw a man sitting on the sofa. It was him. I starred at him blankly. I took a step back. I was still afraid of him for unknown reasons but he looks harmful there on the sofa staring back at me calmly. Maybe he doesn't intend to harm me at all.

For a ghost last night, he is now looking very well in good light, much well than any other man I ever saw, even better but,  his attitude and shadowy character bothers me so.

He was wearing garments which was an aura from old times, he wears a simple white shirt and a black trouser neatly buttoned up, I imagine I went back in time probably around 17th century, he wasn't wearing a peasant clothes though I laughed in my mind, but even if he did he would still look good in it. I dismissed my nonsense thoughts about clothes.

" Where am I?" I asked him.

" I can't tell you" he frankly said. How could he be so rude.

I loathe this person.

"I want to go home" I said.

Keeping my head cool I touched my temples so I won't explode in anger right in front of him.

" I won't allow it" he said as a matter of fact.

He was reading a book with both hands.

"And why is that?" What is he talking about? Who is he to give such permission?

"You gave me your hand last night didn't you?" He answered

"What do you mean?" I was confused.

He sighed, closed the book he was holding and stood up from his seat he approached me.

"Though it is not my choice to make you my bride..."

My eyes widened with his words, I didn't let him finish what he said when my nerves bursted out.

"What?!" I shouted.

So much for self control. I can't help it anymore. Bride? what bride?

He seemed surprised at my reaction, then surprisingly he smiled. For a moment I was drawn to him.

He took a phone from his pocket. Where did that device came from? I thought I traveled to the past. I was lost in words while he dialed numbers on the screen. He placed the phone on his ear. He was speaking to another man on the phone.

"Willow, let us be excused for a moment" he calmly said.

The man answered on the phone but I can't illegibly make out the words.

"I understand, prepare everything" then he hung up.

He threw the phone on the sofa. I was suddenly disoriented.

"What's going on?" I asked sounding anxious.

Without saying anything he placed his hands on my shoulders.

" I wanted to ask you the same thing" He calmy said.

It was the first time I heard a tinge of care in his voice because most of the time he seems not to care at all but before I could say anything, my stomach growled. My cheeks flushed.

"Your human?" He asked amused. His expression was still passive, not very enthusiastic.

"What do you think?" I replied.

How silly of him to ask. Of course I'm... Wait, does this mean he's implying that he's not human at all? Then what exactly is he?

His eyebrows met and he laughed a little bit.

"Come" he placed a hand on my lower back and guided me out of the room.

I'm having a headache. I almost flinched at his touch but then I was calmed by his scent, the scent of the woods after rain. Instead of resisting his offer I followed him.

There was a dark corridor with many closed rooms, candles were lit on candle holders still, I could feel the chill biting my hands. I rubbed them as I passed the corridors. From the corner of my eye I saw him look at me but then he didn't said anything.

What more revelations would I have to discover for myself?

There was a large staircase and down we went, I noticed two twin stairs meeting at the landing of the large staircase at the center,  it has a small balcony over there, I imagined speaking at the spot to the many guests I  almost laughed at my own thoughts, that won't happen, because I knew very well that I can't speak in public normally, I have a terrible experience of stage frights, I wouldn't want to experience it again, I have such a public speaking defect.

Downstairs was a wide hall with a high dome and I can see giant buttresses supporting the walls.

The tiles were polished very well that I could see my reflection appear on the granite floor.