(Author's note: Before we return to Emily/Eleanor we will briefly view the goings on in the underworld)
Mayhew leaned back in his chair, smoking his pipe. He loved the underworld. Here he could smoke as much as he pleased without having to cough. No breath meant no coughs. As he was about to fall asleep, scraps burst into the bar, barking his little skull off. Everyone turned to him.
"What's wrong scraps?" Mayhew asked. Scraps ran to him and tugged at his trouser leg. Mayhew didn't like the look in Scraps' eye. Something was wrong.
"I think he wants us to follow him" cried Paul, the head waiter. "Someone pick me up!" Bonejangles grabbed Paul and everyone followed the yapping Scraps. He led them through the second hand shop, through the museum, and down alleys most of them had never seen before. Scraps finally stopped dead at a dead end. He pointed his paw at something. Mayhew cautiosly approached it. He gasped when he saw what it was. Bonejangles dropped Paul (who complained quite a bit), some of the ladies fainted. Curled up in a heap on the floor was Emily.
****
Emily danced around in front of the hall mirror. Victoria had found her a silk nightgown, and Emily loved it. She twirled in front of the mirror, admiring it.
"Uh, excuse me?" Emily turned round to see Victor on the staircase. She blushed. It had been a long time since she felt her cheeks burning.
"I see Victoria found you a nightgown" Victor chuckled.
"It's lovely" Emily mumbled.
"Well, I'm glad you like it Eleanor." Eleanor? Emily was about to protest that her name was Emily, then remembered her lie.
"But may I give you some advice?" Victor continued. Emily nodded. "Next time you want to go prancing around in a gentleman's hall, wear a dressing gown." Victor chuckled and Emily beamed, although she was still hot with embarrassment.
"Victoria will be up to show you your room soon" Victor called as he trotted downstairs. Soon after Victoria came up. She had calmed down a bit, although there were great dark circles under her eyes.
"This way, miss Eleanor." She led Emily along to the spare room. It was cream with a cream canopy bed and a red carpet.
"It's lovely" Emily murmured.
"Well, it's getting late, and we'll need some sleep for the search tommorow. Goodnight, miss Eleanor."
"Goodnight, Mrs van dort."
"Call me Victoria." And with that Victoria closed them door. Emily blew out the candle by her bed, but she did not get into bed yet. Instead, she sat on the window sill, gazing out at the sky. It was a cloudless night, and the stars twinkled light diamonds on a black velvet. The moon illuminated Emily's bedroom, and for the first time since she came upstairs, she thought of her friends in the underworld. Had they even noticed she was gone?
****
Some of the skeletons were quivering.
"W-w-hat happened to her?" Mayhew shook Emily's shoulder.
"Emily?" he whispered in her ear. "Can you hear me?" No reply.
"We should take her to Gutknect (Yes his name is really spelt like that, I checked)" said Paul. "He'll know what's happened." Bonejangles picked up Paul and Mayhew put Emily over his shoulder, and Scraps led the way back.
****
Emily awoke with a start. She was still on the windowsill. She turned around, and shivered. She could sense someone in the room, but it was pitch black and was impossible to tell.
"Victoria?" Emily whispered.
"Guess again" called a hoarse, low voice.
"The creeper." The creeper laughed so hard he began to choke.
"Long time no see, Emily, or should I say Eleanor" he laughed again, but stopped short.
"Anyway, I have a job for you."
"A - job?"
"Yes. You didn't think I would just give you life and not ask for a few things in return?"
"I was afraid you were going to say that." Emily stood up and walked towards the spot where she thought the creeper was. She strechted her hands out to touch him. Her hand pressed against the wall.
"You can't touch me Emily" the creeper said from the other side of the room. "I cannot exist in this world. So what you are seeing, or hearing is the shadow of my form. Please, let's continue. Tomorrow the van dorts are going to fetch the constable. There will be a old man, and a young officer with him. The first thing I want you to do is gain the trust of that young man."
"But why?"
"That doesn't matter. But bear this in mind, I can always undo what I have done." Then there was silence.
"Creeper?" Emily called quietly. There was no reply. Emily lit the candle on her bedside and looked around the room. She was quite alone. She then heard a strange noise. She grabbed her dressing gown and grabbed her candle. She crept out into the landing. The noise was clearer now. It sounded like a soft weeping. Emily crept along the landing, following the sound. It got a little louder, and Emily softly pushed on a door. She entered what appeared to be a nursery. A figure sat in a rocking chair, weeping.
"Miss Victoria?"
_______________
Oh no! A cliffhanger (if not a very good one). What does the creeper want with the constable? What is Victoria doing in the nursery? What has Mayhew found in the underworld? Find out in chapter 5. I hope you liked chapter four of my first fanfic!
