Part of your World | Twisted Wonderland

- Chapter 4 -

Yuichi went through a door, looking for seals. He soon found himself in a dark corridor, not far from a staircase.
Suddenly, he was startled and turned round when he heard laughter, a worried expression appearing slightly on his face.
-Who's there?!
-We haven't had any visitors for a long time! said a voice.
-Oh, I can't wait to meet some new friends! Interjected a second.
A third laughed. Then three people appeared. Or rather, three white ghosts dressed in blue cloaks. One was rather imposing, another slim and one short.

The two-coloured man's eyes widened in surprise. Then the sound of footsteps was heard, accompanied by a blue light.
-Hey, keep it down! Grim ordered. What are you... laughing about...
The animal fell silent for a moment before shouting back.
-Gh...- Ghost
-All the people who lived here got scared of us and ran away. Explained the smaller one.
-We just want a new ghost to play with! What do you say, pal? said the taller one.

Yuichi blinked before calming down. Magic, a talking cat, coffins for doors... and now ghosts. It wasn't all that surprising.
-I'm a master mage ! I'm not afraid of ghosts! Myahaaa!
As before, Grim spat flames, but this time at white things.
-Huhu. Not even close! laughed the skinniest one, who hadn't been touched by the flames.
-This way! This way! Ah ha ha ha! called the little one as he appeared somewhere else.
-Argh! They're enthusiastic
keep disappearing and reappearing! Grumbled the feline.

-Wait Grim.
He turned to the human, who was showing no emotion whatsoever.
-What ?
-Don't take it out on them, it won't do any good. You ghosts are alone here, aren't you?
There was a silence as the three got closer to the young boy.
-Yes, we are. We're glad to have new friends! replied one.
-Why don't you join us and become a ghost yourself? suggested a second.
-You won't have to suffer or be afraid of death any more! concluded the last one.
-Ah... Yuichi stammered.

A noise stopped everyone, the ghosts disappearing. Crowley emerged from the darkness, approaching the two-coloured man.
-Good evening. In another gesture of my immense kindness, I've brought you dinner.
He took a moment of silence, discovering the cat's presence.
-Wait a moment. That's the creature we ejected for causing orientation problems! What's it doing here?
-It's...

He paused for a moment to think about the words he was going to use.
-In fact, I don't know how he got back but I found him here... and as it was raining I didn't want to put him outside.
-Oh, well... You're remarkably kind. But he can't stay here indefinitely. He'll have to leave tomorrow.
-Hmph! As if I would...
-Grim would really like to go to this school. Is there any way he could get in?
-What ? A monster, staying here? The headmaster was startled by this request.
Even the animal was surprised.
-I'm letting him have the student place I was supposed to have. In exchange, I can do whatever you want, such as look after him.
He took the time to think a little.

-Hmmm... I suppose I can't refuse your request. Very well, then! Crowley finally replied.
-Myah?! Really? Grim exclaimed.
-Let me be clear: under no circumstances will I admit anyone to the Night Raven College who hasn't been selected by the Mirror of Darkness - especially not a monster! I have no intention of letting you parasitize until you can go home, Yuichi. Forewarned the man
-Hrmph. I should never have got my hopes up... purred the feline.
-Thank you, sir.

-Allow me to explain. It was the Mirror of Darkness that transported you here. That's why the school has a certain responsibility for your well-being. I am therefore allowing you to stay in this dormitory, free of charge. However, you will have to pay for your own food, clothing and accessories. As to how you will manage, penniless as you are... Ah. Ah ha. Yes, it's a good plan.
A shiver ran through the two young people, one lighter than the other, before they looked at each other with little reassurance. What was he up to?
-There's nothing for you to worry about. I'm just going to ask you to do some odd jobs around the campus. How would you like to work together as a team of caretakers? If you agree, I'll make an exception and allow you to stay on campus, and I'll also let you use the library, so you can study and look for ways to get home. What boundless charity from me!

Caretaker? That couldn't be a bad idea. It would keep you busy, and then it was only temporary.
-That's fine by me!
The young boy smiled very slightly.
-What's all this about? I want to put on one of those nice uniforms and be a student! Not sweep up people's rubbish! Grim snapped.
-If you're not happy with my offer, I can have you thrown out again. said the man.
-Myah?! All right, fine! Let's get on with it.
-Marvellous. So I implore you both to work hard as the newest members of the Night Raven College janitorial staff! I'll come and wake you myself tomorrow.
The cat mumbled a few words while the two-coloured one merely made a gesture of understanding.

Crowley left the building after the agreement he had just made with the two youngsters. Grim and Yuichi went in silence into what served as a living room - if you could call it that - the boy carrying the famous seals he had found. He placed them everywhere while the animal rushed to the table.
-Bon appétit! he said to himself.
The boy looked at him indifferently before joining him.

Yuichi sat down and began to eat. The meal was silent, but it wasn't unpleasant. It was pleasant to be here, for the moment. But for how long?

Once the meal was finished, the young boy got up.
-I'm going to sleep, good night.
-Good night.
Without further ado, he climbed the stairs. He reached the first floor where the water leaks were worse. It was risky to walk on the floor, as it could give way with every step. And the floor creaked at the slightest change in weight. A lot of work was going to have to be done to make it more comfortable.

Yuichi found a room containing a mirror. The furniture was dusty, as was the bed. On the plus side, there weren't too many water leaks.
With tired steps, he made his way to the bed before letting himself fall onto it. A cloud of dust rose up, giving the blond a coughing fit.
-I should have been more careful. he grumbled.
He looked at his now dusty clothes and tried to clean them up a bit. This made him remember that the little jacket he was wearing as well as his T-shirt were wet. As he had no other clothes, he was going to have to keep these two. Well, at least he could leave the jacket to dry.

So he put it down in a corner, trying to get rid of a minimum of dust, before taking off his shoes and gloves and getting into bed. It was going to be a long night...

The day had arrived. Yuichi had already been awake for a while. He'd had a very bad night, even if it confirmed that he hadn't been dreaming the night before. This unfamiliar place hadn't given him a full night's sleep, not to mention the presence of Grim in his bed. Grim had come to join him, probably because it was the least humid room. On the other hand, the animal had a tendency to talk in his sleep. A lot of talking. And that didn't help.

-Hee hee hee...
This laugh startled the young boy slightly, who sat up slowly and looked around. It wasn't Grim's voice, and there was no one there. It sounded more like he'd heard it yesterday.
-Aren't you supposed to be cleaning the school today?
At these words, a ghost appeared. Tall and skinny. Yuichi widened his eyes a little before reaching out and shaking the cat.
-Mmmmm... Nngh... Let me sleep...
-Go ahead, sleep all day.
And you may never have to wake up again. Said the fat man, who had just appeared.
-Just like us! Ah ha ha ha ha ha! laughed the little one.

Grim finally woke up from the laughter. He stretched before finally realising the presence of the three spirits.
-Myah?! The ghosts are back!
-That's why I was waking you up...
-Hmph! They won't escape!

Enraged, the feline attacked the ghosts, sending them blue flames. This only provoked laughter from the spirits.
-I hear you're going to be living here from now on?
-I hope you like pranks as much as we do! Hya ha ha!
And they disappeared.
-We've got to get rid of these things for good! And you'd better not stop me!
-Agreed. Yuichi agreed almost immediately.