CHAPTER I
The first time I saw a ghost, no one believed me.
I was seven and I dropped the steaming mug I was holding—hot cocoa splashed everywhere and the mug shattered. My parents scolded me, insisting that I had made up the story so I could avoid chastisement.
But I am not a liar by nature.
— ✦ —
It’s cold, cold enough that everyone I pass is covered in coats and hats, scarves and gloves. The wind is icy and the ground is covered in a thick layer of hard, crunchy snow. I don’t have to pay attention to where I’m going, my feet already know the way. I’ve only been a student at Voltamare University for two months, but I’ve already memorized the complete layout of the grounds. My mind drifts to all the things I need to work on today. Calm yourself, Dawn. Focus on getting through lectures first, assignments second. One thing at a time. I’m just stepping into Kolyra Hall—the home for almost all of the literature and language classes—when I’m waylaid by a ghost.
This is not an uncommon occurrence at Voltamare University, or really anywhere else in Veitis. It’s also not particularly uncommon to see them, though it’s true that many people can’t. I am just one of the lucky ten percent of the population that can see and interact with the spirits that roam this world. Normally, this doesn’t bother me.
But it just so happens that I don’t have the time for it today.
“Let me pass,” I mutter.
Signora Kolyra crosses her arms as she looks down at me.
“Signorina Dawn, I’ve already warned you about those manners of yours.”
I sigh. “Per favore let me pass, Signora, so I may continue with my formal education,” I say.
Signora Kolyra makes a big deal of pretending to think about my response. “Va bene. But you really should try to be on time more often, you know.”
I resist the temptation to argue that she was the one making me late—but I know it’s pointless. Better to just do as she asks; it will take far less time.
I hurry down the hallway and slide into my seat with what I hope is an apologetic look on my face for the benefit of the professor. He frowns, but doesn’t comment on my lack of punctuality, so I can breathe a little easier. I mean, really, if an entire one-tenth of students are getting harassed by ghosts, you’d think that the University staff would be understanding about it. I would certainly appreciate it, at the very least. I have enough going on already without Signora Kolyra commenting on my posture and my manners like a very stern governess from a century long past.
Soon, though, thoughts of the Signora have floated from my mind as I pay close attention to the professor’s lecture, and I find momentary distraction in my subject.
— ✦ —
I’m already exhausted as I make the journey across the frozen wasteland of Voltamare University to the student dormitories. But I don’t have the time to be tired today—I have too much work to do. Once I get inside, I quickly head down the hall until I reach my room, all the way at the end. A small sign on the door says Room 221: Dawn Aevus & Salia Barona.
When I walk in, the first thing I notice is my roommate, standing on her bed and sticking brightly colored pins into a huge map that now adorns the previously empty wall.
“Are you going to be around for dinner?” she asks in lieu of a hello.
“No, I’m not hungry. I’m heading to the library tonight,” I reply. “I just needed to grab some books.”
“Geez, how much work do they give you literature students? You’re always doing schoolwork at the library,” Salia says. Instead of responding, I locate the books I was searching for and shove them into my bag.
“Your map looks nice,” I say, turning to face Salia. Her long black hair is tied up today, which usually means she’s been painting. I can be friendly. I’m being friendly.
“Thanks,” Salia doesn’t appear to notice my change of subject, or, if she does, apparently she doesn’t care. Either way, I’m relieved.
“What are all of the pins for?”
“Green is for all the places I’ve already been, red is for the places I’m going to go to one day.”
“That’s a lot of places.”
“I think that traveling makes for the most valuable experiences you can have. Have you ever traveled?”
“Hah, no. I’ve never left Veitis.”
Salia’s jaw drops. “Seriously?”
“Coming here—to Volta Sonis—for university is the biggest trip I’ve ever taken,” I answer truthfully.
“Dawn, going to the capital city of the country you live in is not traveling. I am quite horrified.”
I laugh and I hope it’s convincing.
“Did you ever make plans to travel?” she asks.
“Some vague ideas, a while ago. But they never materialized.”
“Sorry to hear that. I hope you’ll consider trying again in the future. Seriously, you need to get out in the world.”
I laugh it off and make the necessary apologies for leaving her alone for dinner once again. She has other friends, though, so it really doesn’t matter. My presence wouldn’t add much even if I did attend.
Besides, what I have to do in the library tonight is much more important than my coursework. But, of course, Salia doesn’t need to know that.
No one does, really.
— ✦ —
It’s late when I get back. It’s almost always late when I get back, but what’s unusual today is that the light is on in Salia and I’s room. She’s almost always dead asleep hours before I get back to our room. In fact, it’s what’s made us quite good roommates thus far—there’s no space for disagreements, because we hardly ever see each other.
“Did you hear about it?” she says as soon as I’m in the room.
“Hear about what?” I ask, taking off my coat.
“There was a train crash just outside of the university grounds. It only happened a few hours ago.”
There’s something in her tone that makes me pause. I turn to face her.
“Did anyone get hurt?”
Salia nods slowly. “Everyone on board was killed.”
“That’s horrible. How did it even happen? I thought the train lines had rigid schedules so they would never interfere with one another.”
“They don’t know how it happened, but one of them couldn’t stop when it was supposed to. It was supposed to stop and wait for another train to pass, like usual. Except the brakes stopped working. No one knows why, as of yet, at least.”
“That’s terrifying.”
“Just crazy that it happened so close. Like, students are on those trains all the time, and…you know…” Salia sounds like she has more to say, but trails off. I frown.
“Yeah, that’s really sad to hear about. I feel so sorry for the families.” My sincerity is genuine, but it almost feels as though there’s something that Salia isn’t telling me. For spirits’ sake, Dawn, I chide myself. You’re so paranoid. Salia hasn’t done anything to earn your suspicion. If I really think there’s something off—which I don’t—then I’ll just read about it in the newspaper tomorrow.
Salia nods, sighs, and turns off the light.
I head to the hall bathroom to shower and wash my face. As I’m standing in front of the sink, I realize that I look…borderline unhealthily pale. I need to get outside more. I gently pull the magenta ribbon out of my shoulder-length brown hair and loosely tie it around my wrist. It’s a habit I’ve gotten into since arriving at university—I want to keep it safe, and always with me.
I quickly get changed and head back to the room. I ensure that my alarm is set so I’ll be on time for my lectures tomorrow, and finally crawl into bed. Despite my long day of classes and studying, sleep is elusive. I know Salia is still awake as well, because I can hear her moving around.
It’s a long time before either of us actually drift off.
