Chapter 3
Jilly exploded with a sigh of relief, as the door to Madam Webb’s office clicked shut. She had just spent an hour and a half explaining why she was so interested in the murder in Dungeon 4C, what everyone called “The Haunted Dungeon”. It was a place no one in the Club wanted to talk about and no one went down there. Very few Club members knew it even existed.
The end result of Jilly’s queries was an order to report to the Head Mistress’ office and the hardest interrogation scene she ever had that didn’t end in a safeword. In the end, Madam Webb thrust a file folder at Jilly and tossed her from the room. Jilly looked down at the tan folder, cradled in her arms to her chest, and gave another sigh.
Most of the information in the folder was screamed at her by the Head Mistress. Dates, times, Police reports, autopsy findings, witness accounts, background material, even burial site for the remains. But most of all, it had a name.
His name.
Jilly bit her lip and held the folder tighter. Standing there in front of Madam Webb’s door, she didn’t know what to do next. “Which is a lie,” she told herself. She knew what she needed to do, but it scared the crap out of her. But that was a lie as well. Jilly knew she was scared but she was excited too. She would get to be with Him again.
Padding barefoot down the long basement hallway, Jilly stopped in front of the cherry stained wood door to Dungeon 4C. In her hand was the key that appeared in the lock after her last time in the room. Her other hand held the tan folder. The only other thing Jilly had with her was a red silk kimono, plain with no decoration.
Jilly went to insert the key to open the door when the lock suddenly snapped back by itself. Smiling, she opened the door and crossed the threshold. As she stepped into the room, Jill could see well enough in the semi darkness to notice things were not the same as she last saw them.
The padded table and other furniture had been pushed back against the walls, leaving the center of the room empty, except for one chair. Still the mirrored wall was uncluttered. It still showed a full reflection of the room before. But something was missing.
He wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
Jilly felt a slight panic descend upon her. She needed to talk with him! She needed to tell him things! WHERE WAS HE?!?!? As the panic within her rose, she spun around in circles, trying to see the whole room at once. Jilly knew she could only see Him in the mirror, but desperation stabbed at her. Again and again, she spun, trying to find him when she became dizzy and started to fall.
However, started was as far as she got. Cold, strong arms wrapped around her shoulders and kept her upright. Jilly’s eyes fluttered and stared into the space in front of her. Seeing nothing, she turned her head and looked once again into the mirrored wall. There, she saw herself being supported by Him.
Still wearing his black dress pants and collared shirt, unbuttoned to mid chest, He held her upright, bearing all her weight in his arms. What Jilly noticed most was He was staring at her face while she watched Him in the reflected surface. She could see a longing in His face. Longing for what, she didn’t know.
After some time, He shifted his gaze to up and down her body, making sure she was unhurt. Setting her back on her feet, He too looked into the mirror and locked eyes with her. A wave of His hand at within the refection and the word “Why?” appeared in the center of the wall.
Jilly’s breathing increased. Holding out the folder, she told Him “I have information for you. About you. I have your name and all about who you were.” Then she gulped, saying to Him:
“I also know how you died.”
The Man looked at her from the reflection. His eyes burned with rage and passion. With one hand, He pointed to the floor in front of the chair, with the other. He caused the a word to etch itself mirrored glass.
“Kneel”