Surviving in a School of Ghost Stories

Chapter 3

 

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My beloved younger brother, Raven, was dead.

His body was laid to rest in the Chesswind village cemetery.

All the villagers gathered around Raven’s tombstone to pay their respects.

For a whole month, I just held onto Raven’s tombstone and cried.

“Melody. That’s enough now. You need to live too.”

The villagers tried to persuade me as I sat blankly in front of the tombstone with tears in my eyes.

But such words couldn’t convince me.

“The only reason I’ve been alive until now was for Raven. What should I live for now?”

Whatever Raven had said in his letter just before he died didn’t matter.

Raven had been the sole reason for my existence, my very breath until now.

 

“Sister.”

 

If only I could hear Raven call me ‘Sister’ just one more time…

I’d do anything.

It all felt like my fault. I shouldn’t have sent him to that school.

Only after 30 days of continuous wailing did I make a decision.

I needed to visit the school.

 

If I die, it will be because of you.

So come to the school. I’ll be waiting.

 

Those lines from the letter kept bothering me.

Why did Raven ask me to come to the school?

What did he mean by saying if he dies, it would be because of me?

Could it be related to the ‘secret of birth’ he mentioned?

The school said the cause of death was suicide when they handed over Raven’s body.

But Raven wasn’t the type to commit suicide without reason.

The school officials didn’t provide any explanation about how Raven attempted suicide, why he made such a decision, or what had happened to Raven during his time there.

So I couldn’t accept his death at all.

‘What kind of brother Raven was to me…’

It was right after our mother passed away.

At that young age, life felt like an overwhelming wave, and I thought life was worthless. I didn’t want to live anymore.

It was Raven who saved me when I was dying helplessly, refusing to eat or drink.

 

“Sister. Are you trying to follow Mom? The living should live. At least try to eat something.”

“Sister, please just stay alive. It’s okay if you just breathe. So please…”

“I’m your family too. I need you too. Don’t leave me alone. Please.”

 

Raven, who had begged me like that, got into a big accident when he was fourteen, going out to sea on a fishing boat to make money.

At that time, Raven barely survived, having been on the brink of death.

I only came to my senses when Raven was driven to death. I was a terrible sister with no conscience.

I decided then. I would live my whole life for Raven. I would dedicate my life to Raven.

So I got a job as a maid, and with difficulty, got Raven admitted to a prestigious school.

I wanted him to live happily, at least.

But in the end, Raven returned to me as a cold corpse.

It’s all my fault.

I was a terrible sister.

My eyes welled up with tears, and I clung to the gravestone, crying once again.

Did the school properly investigate Raven’s incident?

Would they have handled things this way if we were nobles?

The school officials remained silent throughout, but I can’t just stay still like this.

‘I think this resentment and anger will only be resolved if I clearly ascertain the facts.’

Saint Gloria Private School is on a remote island 118 miles from Ramsport Harbor on the southern coast of the Kingdom of Brenden.

It was a long journey.

‘I need to steel myself.’

Having firmly decided, I immediately went home and started packing for the trip.

Knock knock.

Just as I finished packing and was about to leave, I heard a knock at the door.

When I opened it, it was that handsome postman from before.

“It’s been a while, Miss Hastings.”

Wiping away my tears, I said to him, standing in front of my house,

“There shouldn’t be any more letters for me now.”

“Today, my business is with you, Miss Hastings.”

“With me, not a letter?”

“I know a way to get into the school your brother attended. Will you follow me?”

Hearing that, I felt a moment of relief, but soon, suspicion followed.

The postman was dressed in neat, casual clothes. There was no mailbag in sight.

Something’s off. Is this man really a postman?

I asked him with a suspicious look.

“Is that true? But how did you know I was thinking of going to the school?”

The postman nodded and answered in a calm voice.

“There’s something you don’t know. If you follow me, I’ll tell you the truth.”

Truth? Suddenly talking about truth?

“What don’t I know? What truth? There is something about Raven’s death, isn’t there?!”

“It’s a bit difficult to explain here, trust me and come along.”

I hesitated a little.

What should I trust about this man?

Seeing my hesitation, the postman added an explanation.

“My name is Noah Eugene Eglinton. I’m the student council president of Saint Gloria Private School.”

“What?”

I was so surprised to learn his identity that I couldn’t continue speaking. Only then did I see the man in a new light.

I did think he had an extraordinary aura for a postman…

“Weren’t Saint Gloria Private School students forbidden from going out until graduation?”

“Top students have special privileges. And I’m a top student.”

The postman, no, the student council president, smiled.

“…..”

I had a brief inner conflict, but that was all.

Do I have the luxury to think or worry more deeply here?

Raven is dead, isn’t he?

And this man says he’ll tell me the secret?

Even if this man is deceiving me, it’s okay. I just wanted to believe those words.

I had my reasons for that.

I decided to steel myself. Then I grabbed the luggage I had packed and left the house.

How could I think of anything else when I had a way to find out about Raven’s death?

It was midday with the sun high in the sky.

I was about to say goodbye to the villagers and Madam Ranart, but then I remembered it was naptime.

‘It’ll be fine, I left a note.’

So, I followed the student council president.

Only when the village was no longer in sight did the student council president slow his pace a little.

An awkward silence fell.

Thud, thud. Only the sound of footsteps at regular intervals circled between us.

Finally, breaking the long silence, the student council president spoke.

“How long have you been living in Chesswind Village?”

“About two years. I settled down after wandering here and there.”

“I’ve been curious about something…”

The student council president completely erased all expression from his face. He asked me in a more serious voice.

“What have you been doing alone in that village, Miss Hastings?”

“What? Alone? I’ve been working as a maid at Baroness Ranart’s house…”

“No one lives in that village. Except for you, Miss Hastings.”

What?

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Thank you for reading! ♡