Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee Read Free Book Online Page B

each other’s words and stories, going over and over them, whispering into each other’s ears.
    She felt them move away from her, pacing, then running, barreling at breakneck speed, and then they were turning, rushing back toward her.
    We are Millie, who liked to run; we could run like the wind
, said the voices.
We are Katie, who liked to climb in the apple tree. We are Paulette, and our mother had hands that were pink and soft. They sat in her lap, just like this. We are so lonely
. They wept suddenly.
    “What are you doing here?” whispered Ophelia.
    We’ve already told you
, said the voices.
You are safe with us. Please tell us your story
.
    But Ophelia didn’t feel safe with them. Not really. She remembered now what the boy had told her.
Be careful not to tell them too much about yourself
. She felt tiny things touching her. It was as if she were walking through a spiderweb. She wiped at her face and put her hands out before her. The ghost girls whispered and whispered and whispered.
    “It’s very rude to whisper so,” said Ophelia, shivering in the cold, dim air. The white stuff was falling solidly now, exactly like snow.
    The voices grew clearer and closer again.
    We think you should stay here with us
, they said quite loudly.
Here is safe. Here is good. Nothing can harm you. There is no harm here. Would you like to play with us? We have much to tell you. Can’t you stay awhile? We can make you warm. We can make you happy. Are you listening?
    “Thank you,” said Ophelia. “But I’m very busy. I have to get back as soon as possible. I have to go ice-skating.”
    I have to go ice-skating
. They mimicked her voice.
    A thunderclap of laughter.
    The ghost girls stopped being so polite. They touchedher with their invisible hands, little fluttering touches. One brushed her face. One kissed her cheek. She felt an icy breath there. Something touched her back. Someone pulled her braid.
    We think you are wrong
, they said.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. We think you should stay and play games. That boy can never be rescued. His charm will be broken, and he will be gone, and he will be dead and buried. The Queen will rule the world
.
    The voices circled her now. Someone very rough pushed her to the ground on her knees. Her glasses fell off—she felt for them in the dark in the leaves.
    Leave her alone
, came one voice from the invisible crowd.
We shouldn’t have done that
.
    Ophelia pulled herself up, her glasses in her hand. She checked to see that she still had the key.
    “Who are you?” she asked, but there was no reply.
    “The one who said, ‘Leave her alone’?” she asked again.
    Nothing.
    A low whispering.
    Careful, Kyra
, said the voices.
    We are Kyra
, said the voice of Kyra, very softly.
    Careful
, whispered the voices together again.
    She cannot harm us
, said Kyra.
    We are all for one and one for all
, said the ghost girls.
    Kyra did not move closer.
    “Kyra?” said Ophelia. “How did you come here?”
    We were a girl just like you
, said Kyra.
Then we were stolen and put in the Queen’s machine so she could be full of strength and live forever. All that was left of us was given to this dark place
.
    The agony
, moaned the children together.
    “The machine?” said Ophelia.
    Oh, the agony
, moaned the children even louder.
    She took so much of us that we must always stay together or we fade
, said Kyra.
And we have to remind each other who we are or we fade, and we cannot go near the light or we fade. Our stories make us strong
.
    Our stories make us strong
, recited the voices.
Tell us your story
.
    And we cannot look at the light
, said Kyra,
or it will tear us apart
.
    There is no light, thought Ophelia, and she fancied turning back because she suddenly felt so cold and hungry and alone, even though she was surrounded by the voices. But the thought of walking back the way she had come, with these ghostly companions, was unbearable, and surely she was closer now to the end of the room than the