The metal of the token heated enough for me to feel it even though it hung against the purple fabric of the dress. The second I touched it with my fingers, a sudden noise like a light giggle echoed from the darkened hallway to my left.
“I should go back to my room,” I said out loud to myself, not believing my words for a second.
Another tittering giggle answered me, beckoning from further down the unlit corridor. The elephant token pulsed against my palm, and I made my choice.
Glancing around to see if I was truly alone, I risked a little magic and conjured a light orb. There was no carpet rolled down the stone floor of this hallway. Making sure to cast illumination to see where I stepped, I ventured on with caution. The coldness of the stone underneath my feet chilled me, and I gripped the token tighter, absorbing its little bit of warmth.
The pitter-pat of an animal scuttling across the floor near me stopped me in my tracks. Bringing the ball of light closer, I searched my perimeter and found a mouse with its beady eyes sitting on its haunches, staring at me.
“Shoo,” I called out, waving my hand at it. “Get away from me.”
It squeaked in response and ran right at me. Yelping, I jumped over its little body and landed on the other side. My legs couldn’t carry me fast enough away from the vermin.
My heart raced, and I exhaled in pants until I laughed. Thank goodness nobody saw my cowardly escape from such a tiny creature. Since I made it even further down the darkened corridor, I might as well keep going.
The further I progressed, the colder it became until chills broke over my entire body. I could swear I saw the moisture of my breath in the air.
“Curiosity may kill a cat, but it’s freezing me,” I said through my chattering teeth. “I should go back.”
Instead of another giggle, a faint female voice called out, and I perked up. Whoever it was couldn’t be that far away. Determined to catch her, I hustled a little faster until I came to a dead end.
A dark wooden door blocked my path, and I turned around to see if I’d missed any other hallways where the voice could have come from. Pushing my light orb closer to the door, I noticed small sparkles coming from the grain. I took a closer look and found a deliberate carving in the wood resembling vines with tiny delicate flowers. Jewels of different colors were inlaid into the design to accentuate the blossoms.
“Whoa,” I exclaimed, unable to resist touching one of the sparkling gems.
The second my hand touched the door, a loud click reverberated. It opened, giving way with a long, loud creak.
I stood in disbelief, half wanting to go inside and half wanting to take off in the opposite direction. The more rational part of my brain warned me that the demise of the young woman in horror movies started just like this.
A light floral scent wafted out of the room. It wrapped itself around me, and I drew it in with deep breaths. Something that smelled so fair couldn’t be that foul, right? Ignoring my rational side, I pushed the door open further and stepped through the threshold.
As soon as I stood far enough inside, the door slammed behind me with a thud and flames flickered to life in all of the candles in the room.
“That’s not in the least bit creepy,” I said, regretting my decision.
I gripped the door handle and attempted to pull it open. The heavy thing refused to budge despite my best efforts.
“Grits and ghosts,” I exclaimed. “Now, what am I supposed to do?”
“What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now, Ruby Mae?” a familiar voice scolded.
With a terrified screech, I startled, and my light orb snuffed out. Turning around, I found my ghostly great-grandmother staring back at me with her hands on her hips.
“Granny, you made me jump out of my skin,” I complained, touching the token. “What are you doing?”
“There’s a lot of energy in this room,” she said, floating around. “Enough that I could take a break from that dang blasted coin, even though I’ve been trying to get out since you put me back on. Didn’t we tell you to keep that thing on you at all times?”
I opened my mouth to explain why I’d chosen not to wear the chain with the dress but closed it fast. No amount of explanation in favor of fashion over family would get me anywhere.
“Trust me, I wish I hadn’t. But that still doesn’t explain why I can see you now.” I strode closer to her, so glad to see one of my beloved family members. Too bad she couldn’t give me a much-needed hug.
“I’m not rightly sure myself,” Granny Jo replied. “There’s something about this room that called to me.”
“Or someone,” I said. “I heard a giggle and a girl’s voice.”
“Young or old?” my great-grandmother asked.
I shrugged, unsure. “I followed the noise until I discovered this room.”
“Then we should figure out whose room it is,” Granny suggested.
“Do you think you can help?” I asked. “I mean, won’t it drain you to be too far away from the token?”
She considered my question while bobbing in the air. “I can’t explain it, but I think I’ll be fine.” Snapping her fingers, she lit up. “I know. It’s like you plugged me into the wall or something. I feel full of energy.”
As if needing to prove herself to me, she floated backwards further and further away. I held my breath, ready to rush to her if her incorporeal figure shimmered out of existence. But her spectral form stayed as strong as it did in our family home without wavering once.
“Okay, then. You take that side, and I’ll look over here.” Trusting my great-grandmother’s judgment, I turned to snoop through what I could find.
I could hear drawers opening and closing
