Inside the stone walls

The things you can not see

      The house was a pale mustard yellow and the lawn was brown and dry. I walked up the smooth chalky drive way with one hand gripping everything I owned, which wasn't much and, the other was wrapped delicately in her hand. It was a strong and feminine and it seemed to fit her perfectly. Her name was Leanna and she was going to be my new mom, she was already my hero. Her figure hugging purple dress was my new favorite color and the kindness she offered was my new way of life.
     Inside the old oak wood floors creaked a soft hello and the flat off white paint gave me a humble welcome. The steep stairs to my room hurt my knees but it wasn't too bad. Then there was my room, it was almost as perfect as Leanna. Pink and furnished for a princess. An actual bed with actual blankets and a pillow. I felt undeserving but she assured me it was no trick.
     I unpacked my small bag when she left to start dinner. I couldn't tell her. I could never tell her. I set my plush bunny on the foot of my bed and on the bottom there was a rusty zipper. I could hear it whisper to me. His deep raspy voice calling me to him. It once was my only solace but now it only drives uncertain fear into me.
     My hands tremble as I open it to reveal a leather box no bigger than my old father's wallet. Inside she could never see. I kissed the small lock and it gave a sickly click. Four things of my previous life sat inside, alone and virulent. The first, a small iron key covered in dried black blood. The second an antique watch, small and silver and broken, Frozen in time. The third a ring, far to large for me. I slid it on to my small thin finger the emerald and black opal sparkled seductively as it always had before .
     "If you miss me just say hello." He whispered as if someone other than me could hear him.
      " not yet." I say under my breath. " what if she walks in?"
       " she won't" he said. I could feel his dominating presence but something was off.
       " what is that feeling?" I asked confused. I've felt his spirit many times and that was not it. It's too... human.
        " it's a boy." he explained. " a ghost stuck in a loop. "
        " he's in here isn't he?" I ask with my heart in my throat.
        " yes. He's very scared. Maybe you should speak to him later. He's been harassing that woman you care so much about." His voice had a hint of possessive bitterness to it but that was to be expected. Finally I set the promise ring back into the the leather box and I grab my fourth item. A inky black stone that weighed far more than its size. A normal man could go mad from staring at for to long. I would know, my father did. In this stone was carved in a language no one alive could read, it wrote out  his name beautifully. The stone hung loosely on a black piece of yarn that used to hang around my neck. "Read it out loud." He demanded.
     "No dinners done." I said softly. I put the necklace back into the box and locked it with a kiss. I put it back into hoppers my favorite and only toy. Leanna knocks on the door way as she gracefully walks in, something my drunken mother could never do.
     "Hey jun dinners ready" she says with a red lipped smile.
     "Okay. Can you call me by name? I'm not jun anymore. I want to be a new person." I say looking at my feet. My fear not subsiding.
      "Of course juniper." She says in a gentle voice. " I must say I've never heard an eight year old say they want to be a new person." She chuckled.
      "I'm turning nine next month!" I say in a brighter tone.
      "Yes on Halloween. I remember but what I'm trying to say is... I'm new to this. I'm going to make mistakes but I will do my best to protect you always. And I'm going to be here to help you to become who ever you want to be."
      " it's okay. I mess up a lot too. I'll do my best. I wanna be a good daughter!"
        She gave me a desperate hug and held me tightly. She was warm and kind and made me feel human for once.
        Then he whispered in my ear "she can live as long as she keeps her promise. I won't let anyone else hurt you."
         Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. She just signed her own death warrant and it's my fault. No one keeps promises especially to me. No one but him.