Ghosts In Regis

Mr. Johnson slowly picks up his face from the ground. His nose is broken and bloodied, his face is even more bruised than it was before. When he sees what she's holding he starts trembling in fear. "Wh-where did you find those. It's not possible. You shouldn't have them. I had them with me…"

"I don't-"

Something starts to happen, the vial in her hand starts vibrating and feels warm but she doesn't dare drop it. The Shadow Beast, Bradley, also starts whimpering and scratching the ground just like before. Behind her she feels the air become colder and denser. Sophia slowly turns around to see the painting levitating from the ground. Perhaps because she's seen so much already and is so very tired that she doesn't scream. All she can do is stare in horror and awe as a dark mist comes out from the frame and is shaped like a hand. The eyes that were the only thing on the painting are now blinking.

In the movies it's always a creepy, distorted figure coming out of something but this figure is anything but that. They step out of the frame with elegance and eagerness, still creepy but not as much. The figure looks like shadow with form and they stand there, taking in their surroundings. Their eyes are the only thing that have a sense of normalcy and they look directly at Sophia. She doesn't say anything, she can't find anything to say. The figure tilts their head in confusion but she doesn't try to come close to her. Then the shadowy figure notices the man on the floor who's a beast and the trembling beast who's actually a man. They walk, or float?, slowly and gracefully to Bradley. They don't say anything but instead they pet his head and soothe him!

The figure opens their mouth a few times but no words come out. They try again and the voice sounds gravelly but soft, "What… have you… done to me? To… us?"

"Aurora? Is that really you?"

Aurora? Could this be Mrs. Johnson? Sophia low-key suspected that it was a self portrait painting of her, so she was bound to it after all. Also, strange how she didn't know their first names not that Sophia really cares to learn Mr. Johnson's first name.

She's not looking at him but she still says, "How… could you do this?"

"I…"

"I didn't want to come back. I couldn't leave here… but I wasn't going to come back to you."

"Then why are you back now?"

This time she does turn to face him, her eyes are filled with tears, "Silence… and pain… is all I am. Silence is all I had. Trapped in my own pain. But then I heard it… the voices of the people I cherish the most. And then a red light. A bloodied light. I have a form now only to tell you what needs to be told. I'm leaving you for good this time. Don't you dare try to bring me back. Let me go."

"I can't… please…"

"You won't have me in life or death. I was never yours, I was always a person and even now, I am still a person who owns herself."

"No! I won't let you… slip through my grasp again." He tries to get up and reach for her but then a burst of magical energy hits him and he falls back down! They both look to find Ms. Ipruk leaning against the wall.

Sophia forgets about everything and goes towards her, "You're awake! I'm so happy! Oh my gods…"

"Yes. I'm okay now dear. Thank you for keeping me safe."

"Ha… you say your trying to save my son but you keep hitting me. You realize this is his body right?"

"Don't misunderstand. That spell was targeted it for you, Mr. Johnson."

Madame Johnson walks cautiously to his side, "Set things right… give our son his life back… please let go."

He stares at her and then sighs deeply, "You won't leave with me?"

"No."

A long pause before he speaks up again, "Did you ever, love me?"

She hesitates but answers with, "I did."

"Do you love me now?"

"No."

"Do you… hate me?"

"I… don't hate you… I don't think much of you anymore. In the silence I only thought of those I loved. But I will never forgive you for hurting everyone else… and for hurting yourself."

"I know this means nothing but… I'm sorry for everything."

"I know you're sorry but that won't change anything."

"You're right, as always," he gives her one last bitter smile, closes his eyes and turns his head away from her, "Goodbye Aurora. I hope that we never see each other again."

The heaviness in the air lightens up.

He's finally gone.

But the Shadow Beast is still there…

Ms. Ipruk, with help from Sophia, examines Bradley's body.

"Good news his body is stable but the bad news is that his soul hasn't returned. Something else must be holding him back."

"Let go of them… the eyes… "

Sophia still has them in her vial. "How? How do we-?"

"Of course it makes sense! He used one of the eyes to bring back his son. If we destroy them now then he might go back but I have no idea how the curse might react."

Her eyes are warm and determined, "It's okay. Things will be okay."

"I see. Then, Sophie dear hand them over. I'll take care of it."

"No… I'll do it. It's my curse to break…"

Sophia and Ms. Ipruk give each other a look of understanding. Sophia hands her the vial and she also hands her the locket, somehow Madame Johnson is able to hold them. "You were the only who gave me this right?"

"Yes. I've been holding on to this for so long. I couldn't leave here and I couldn't let this go. But when I sensed your brightness in this broken and cursed mansion, I felt something like hope and I decided to let go…" She puts on the locket around her neck and smiles. Then she takes out one of the eyes from the vial and crushes it under her foot.

Then she goes to the Shadow Beast and gives him the other eye, he also crushes it but between his sharp teeth.

Nothing happens for a moment. But then the dark mist surrounding Madame Johnson starts to lift and she becomes brighter. She looks almost like when she was alive except well, transparent. The Shadow Beast begins to disappear as if it was never there at all. Bradley doesn't move much but Sophia can sense his life energy returning to him. A sigh of relief leaves her.

What's more unexpected is that the journal also begins to take on a different form of a very familiar maid.

"Mae?... Is that really you?"

"Madame… you're here. I'm sorry for-"

"No. No more apologies between us. We can finally leave together." She grabs her hand.

"Yes… Yes. But what about, the young master."

"Bradley. He will live and we'll watch over him from afar. That's all we can do now since we aren't part of the living anymore."

"You're right." She looks hesitant but confesses, "Madame I need you to know that I care for you more deeply than you think."

"I know. I do too and I regret that my words weren't clear enough. I wanted us to leave together as partners."

"Really? Me? But what about-"

"He's gone. It's just us now."

Ms. Ipruk coughs, "Sorry to interrupt this heartfelt reunion but you're not completely alone."

Darmae Farona finally seems to notice the mentor and apprentice duo. "You are Sophia Fauve? Thank you. Thank you both. I wish that I could bake you some yummy treats as a gift but all I have are my words."

"No need for that I'm just grateful to have fulfilled my promise!"

"Sophia Fauve and Master Ipruk, I wish you the best in this life."

Ms. Ipruk smiles, "That's very kind of you."

"Don't worry Ms. Farona, I will live my best life. I hope you two will finally be happy now."

"We will."

The happy atmosphere doesn't last long for the entire mansion begins to shake!

It's actually falling apart!

So this is how the cursed decided to act, huh.

"We need to get out of here!"

"Yes! I'll take Bradley and you fly out of here immediately!"

"But you're still weakened…"

"I can run! Now go!"

//Very well then! I apologize for being polite.//

Oh no! The front doors of the library are being blocked by pillars and other clutter.

"What now!"

"We'll have to make an exit ourselves!" They run towards the side of the library with the least amount of damage.

"We can watch over Bradley. You two focus on making an exit!" says Madame Johnson.

Both of them are exhausted but together they have enough energy to blast a huge hole on the wall. Ms. Ipruk uses her magical aurora to prevent it from collapsing in on itself. And luckily for them it leads directly outside. They don't waste time putting distance from themselves and the crumbling mansion.

In the distance all that could be seen was an old building finally giving out and turning into shambles.

Two figures set down their precious son from a safe distance. With a promise to love and watch over him, they walk away together, far from this cursed place, holding hands.

Ms. Ipruk goes to check over Bradley to make sure he's still okay. Sophia continues to watch where the mansion used to stand. She notices how the sun's already down. Miraculously she made it out alive, a little bruised and worn out, but everything intact. Even her phone survived. It starts ringing. She absentmindedly picks it up.

"Hello?"

"Sophia. Why haven't you been answering my messages? Are you busy? Well, I'm calling you so you don't forget I'm visiting tomorrow. Sophia? Answer me? Are those sirens in the background? Where are you? Sophia Fauve you will answer your mother this instant!"

She hangs up.

Goddess help her.