As we debated what to do, I heard a woman's voice from somewhere on the first floor. She sounded angry, shouting at someone. I was reminded of elementary school, and a teacher that used to yell a lot. Was she shouting at us? I had to listen hard, because the words were echoing in the empty rooms and hallways.
'...clean and tidy! Beds are supposed to be made and belongings picked up! We have too many children here to allow a slob to clutter up the place for everyone else!"
I felt a slight chill, joined by resentment. The woman sounded like a harpy, screeching out her tirade against some poor kid. Problem was, she had to be a ghost - there was nothing to pick up in this place, no furniture or toys. It was an empty, abandoned building.
Shane tugged at my sleeve and pointed. Patrick had disappeared, gone down whatever hallway was at the top of the stairs. The woman started shouting again, and we looked at each other nervously. Shane looked around. "This place is definitely haunted. I think we should grab Patrick and get the Hell out of here."
I almost agreed with him, but that nasty tirade really bugged me. Was some poor kid doomed to an eternity of being screamed at for leaving his toys on the floor? I remembered a scene rom an old movie I remembered seeing on TV - a guy accidentally gets between two ghosts just as one stabs the other. He wasn't hurt, but it broke the cycle somehow, and the victim was able to get away. Should I see if I could do that? Or follow Shane's idea and find Patrick so we can escape?