Soul Asylum-pt. 2

I had a name once, but no one knows it now.  It was charred and blackened to ash along with the hospital.  Few people have seen me, mostly the psychics that walk around in search of 'Lost Souls' who were left behind because of the trauma.  I was not the only ghost there...there was one other girl, but she had crossed over long ago.  I was left behind.1

A construction crew tore down the hospital in the summer of 2004 and they began building shortly after.  By November, they had built a beautiful house; it was painted white with beige borders and at least two windows in every room.  I stayed perched among the pine trees and bushes while I watched them build.  A small smile on my lips the entire time. 2

In January, a family had moved in, they seemed happy enough.  Two young parents, a teenage son...and Dolly.  From the moment I laid my eyes on Dolly, I knew she was special.3

She was six years old with curly blonde hair and green eyes that seemed too large for her heart shaped face.  She held a Raggedy Anne doll in her chubby arms and wore a blue Beauty and the Beast sundress.  4

Her eyes skated over the house and stopped when they stumbled upon my image.  She opened her mouth to speak to me but I held my pointer finger to my lips to shush her.  She gave me a smile that said 'our little secret.'  I nodded.5

- - - - 6

The first time Dolly spoke to me was three weeks after they moved.  She was in her room, playing with her dolls.  Her Raggedy Anne was performing some sideways two-step dance when Dolly looked up and saw me.  7

"Who're you?"  She asked, her eyes never leaving the dolls.8

I sat down in front of her, outlining the hair of one of the dolls.  "Charlotte."9

She blew a blonde ringlet out of her face and started singing some hit from the radio.  I smiled, watching her make the dolls dance around the door.  10

"Why are you in my house?" 11

"I've been here a lot longer than you have."  I replied, crossing my legs beneath me.  She gave me a questioning look and I added, "I was here before this house was even built."12

"Mmmhmmm."  She chirped, still off in her own world.  13

"Dolly c'mon!  We have to go!"  Her brother Trent shouted. 14

She dropped her dolls and left, "bye Charlotte!"  She called over her shoulder.15

I waved, hearing the door slam and a car start up.  One thing I'd learned in my years of being here was that things have gotten faster.16

I kept thinking back to before the hospital burned down.  The torture I faced there was sickening.  They forced us to bathe in ice water, and tested medications on us.  It was not uncommon for the doctors to perform experimental procedures on the patients of the hospital.  The memories of my days there are with me constantly.  It's a constant nightmare that I cannot escape.17

I would tell you what it's like-I would explain it all to you but there's too much to go over.  There are too many skeletons in my closet.  Not even in death have I escaped what was once my life. 18