《Ellie and her adventures》


 chapter 1

    "It was a breezy day, when ominous black clouds began to cover the beautiful sky. I sauntered around, looking for preys. It was all going well until-- until I met you," I said with a dramatic pause. "You had the aura of Satan, your eyes were bloody and you laughed like a maniac. Hehehahahaheeeeeeeeeeeeee" I gave a maniacal laugh.


    "Shut up. And stop scaring her. " Christine scolded me shoving down a loaf of bread that fell to the ground with a thud. "Don''t you listen to him. You were a lovely baby, with beautiful brown eyes. Your curly brown hair with chubby cheeks made you so cute." She said in a motherly tone.


    Ellie looked at me, squinting her eyes as if judging me. "Why did you compare me to Satan?"


    Before I could speak, Christine did. "He is just a big baby, afraid that you''d find a new mentor in the Office of Justice."


    I shot her a look, pretending what she said was a lie.


    Ellie gave me a bright smile.Oh, that smile! She walked towards me and hugged me. "Don''t worry, no one can take your position. You were, you are and you will be my mentor."


    I smiled, melted by her smile. She went off to the kitchen after a moment. You''re probably wondering who I am, aren''t you? I am the KING OF HELLLL. Just kidding, I am a ghost. I can''t eat or drink but I can touch things. Ellie is the only person who can see us and touch us. She was 6 when I first saw her, a dirty girl playing with her horse. I was...to accept scared when I found she could see us. She ran to me for a hug but I dodged her off with ease. I have only one friend other than Ellie, Christine. She is also a ghost. She is a tough nut. Warning!Don''t mess with her.


    I followed Ellie to her first day at work. As her mentor, I have to help her out. She skipped on the road happily like a child. We lived near a forest, or say in it. The usual smell of the trees, plants and animals floated in the air. And yes, I can smell. And I float.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    We entered the city, which was filled with chatter batter unlike the peace and tranquility of the forest. The streets were filled with unruly children running around flying a kite, the sharp and loud wares of the shopkeepers felt like needles in my ear. I wished to smash their shops.


    But Ellie called out, "Control, don''t unleash your anger."


    I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Fortunately, the Office of Justice wasn''t far. Ellie placed her badge on the roll-call and moved to report to her senior. "I, Ellie, have arrived, sir."


    "So, what do I do? Roll out the red carpet for you." remarked the grumpy man. His huge belly shaked as he got up with the help of his assistant.


    "Go and clean the morgue." He ordered. If not for Ellie, I would have turned you into a plump. No, I do not possess magic. I am not a wizard.


    Ellie complied with his order and left the room. The morgue was filled with stench but it didn''t bother me after all working as a coroner all your life does make you resistant. Ellie covered her nose with a cloth and cleaned the morgue. I sat near one of the dead bodies.


    "If you had a little courage," I taunted her.


    As defiant as she is, how could she not talk back. "Yeah, I have seen your brilliant courage in front of Christine."


    I scoffed, and she continued to clean. I floated around the morgue wanting to examine the bodies but she rebuked me, "Don''t touch anything. I can''t afford it if anything gets damaged."


    "As if," I replied, and continued to look at a human''s head.


    "If you don''t stop. I will tell Christine about what you did the other night."


    I quickly let go of its head and covered it with the white cloth and sat near it, drumming my fingers and whistling for time pass.


    Ellie cleaned the morgue and she went to report back. I followed her. "Sir, I have cleaned the morgue." She stated. The man was holding a scroll while his attendant carried the rest on a big tray.


    "You''re quick," he replied. He definetely doesn''t like you. The man glanced at the scrolls and then ordered Ellie, "Go and deliever this scrolls to the Chancellor."


    Ellie took the scroll tray and walked out. "This is the work of the delieveryman or the attendant, not of the coroner.He is clearly bullying you." I said with rage.


    "I also know that. But I can''t do anything. I have to follow his order. Unlike you, I need money to survive." She replied with a sigh.

 A ghost

    The Chancellor''s house wasn''t far, but it was still a considerable distance. The sun hung high in the sky indicating it was noon. Ellie was sweating profusely. That pig. May he get more and more fat. I cursed him in my head.


    The Chancellor''s office was grand. Although it wasn''t as big as the Office of Justice. It was more elegant and efficient. There were high walls surrounding the place. There was one weird thing the architecture was very different from other offcial buildings. It was definetely inspired by the greeks. Two burly guards stopped us at the gate.


    "Who are you?", one asked coldly.


    Ellie replied, "I am a coroner at the Office of Justice. I am here to deliver this scrolls."


    "A coroner delivering scrolls, you are definetely not liked by the Head,'' the other commented taking the tray of scrolls from Ellie.


    Ellie bit her lip and we went back. As we reached the gate of Office of Justice, we saw a dead body carried in.


    "Huh, a case. Be a good one." I said with a big smile.


    Ellie chuckled and we entered. The body laid on the ground covered with a white cloth. The grumpy man walked in with his belly shaking. He looked at Ellie almost as if she owed him a debt.


    "Perform the autopsy," he barked.


    The body was outside. The autopsy must be conducted in the morgue.


    Ellie knew this and said, "Sir, can we move the body into the morgue?"


    Suprisingly enough, he complied and ordered the porters to move the body. Ellie and I entered the morgue. The body was placed on the slate. Ellie covered her nose with cloth and wore the gloves.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Don''t get anxious." I reassured her. Her hands trembled as she removed the cloth. "We have done this before."


    She took a long breath and checked the body thoroughly for injuries. After completing the autopsy, we stepped out to report.


    "The man was likely in his 50s. He was delivered a blow by a heavy metal rod at his occiput causing him to fall down. He has facial fractures and calluses on his middle finger and thumb. He was most probably a scribe. The time of death should be betwenn 8:00-9:00 pm."


    "Note it down and bring it to me before leaving," the senior ordered before walking out of the courtyard.


    Ellie complied as usual and we went to the record room.


    "What do you think about the case?" I asked her.


    "Well, he is definitely a middle class man from his clothing. As for the culprit, I think he is right handed. From the strong hit, I think it''s a man."


    I nodded and she went back to writing. I opened the door wanting to take a stroll. But if life could go easy on me, I was jump scared by a ghost waving at me. I shrieked and so did he. Ellie was scared and jumped in her seat.


    "Another ghost," she said grinning. I let out a scowl.


    She ran forward and welcomed him, "Come in, come in." She gestured.


    I squinted my eyes. Why don''t I ever get such treatment? Then, I noticed, the ghost was of the dead man.


    "Eh, you are the dead man, aren''t you?" I asked stopping him in his track.


    "Yes, I am Robert. Robert Clarke. I have come to ask of your help." He replied, curling his lips inward.


    "First, you answer our questions. Who killed you and why did they?" I asked, my eyes pentrating through his thick skin.


    "I don''t know who killed me and why did they. I was reading a book in my room when I was hit from the back. I fell front so I couldn''t see the culprit."


    "Then we are sorry, we can''t help you."


    "Shh." Ellie pulled me close and whispered, "Although he doesn''t know the culprit, we might get more information from him than others."


    She then turned to Robert. "Say, what do you want from us?"


    "I want your help to register my daughter in the family genealogy." He said bowing slightly.


    "Why wasn''t she registered in the first place?"


    "I married my wife in secret without my family''s knowledge. Later when they found out, they separated us." He weeped. So weak.


    "Alright, I will help you. In return, you will help me find who killed you."


    "I will. Thank you, thank you." He bowed his head continuosly.


    Poor man. I took pity on him. "Stop bowing, or your head will fall out."

 Ghosts, Guides, and Registrations

    Ellie and I were on our way back home.


    "How do we help him register his daughter?", Ellie asked.


    "Well... I don''t know." I replied.


    "What is the good use of your experience? You have been floating around for ages and you don''t know anything?"


    "What do you think? I know everything there is. I was never interested in such official work. I worked as a coroner and investigator my whole life." I took a pause and said, "Christine might know something."


    Ellie sighed, turning away, clearly done with the conversation. So, I turned toward you instead. Let me tell you how the ghost world works.


    Spirits can go to the afterlife whenever they want, but there¡¯s no coming back¡ªunless, like me, they come back as a ghost guide. Ghost guides¡ªthink of us as investigators¡ªare tasked with keeping bad ghosts from causing chaos. I, as a ghost guide, have certain powers: I can teleport and walk through walls. It¡¯s not glamorous, but it¡¯s important work.


    We report to the ghost council in our respective areas. They keep things organized, make the rules, and hand out assignments.


    As for why Ellie can see us? No one, not even the council, knows the answer. Ellie, of course, hates not knowing the answer. But no matter how much she digs, the reason she can see us remains a mystery.


    But enough about the ghost world¡ªback to life, or something close to it. We¡¯d reached home.¡±


    The table was set with pie. Oh, the smell. It must taste good.


    Christine came from the kitchen holding a glass of ale. She smiled at Ellie and said, "How did your day go?".


    "It was fine." Ellie replied.


    Christine placed the glass on the table and embraced Ellie in a tight hug. "I made pie to celebrate your first day at work." Ellie embraced her back, grateful for the love. Huh, poor girl.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    I swear if she hadn''t let go of Ellie, Ellie would have crumbled by now. "Did anyone make things tough for you?" Christine inquired, giving Ellie an interrogative look.


    Don''t tell her, she will kill him.


    "No, no one bullied me. And Bryn helped me." She gave me a glancing smile.


    "What good is he?" She shot a look of mock disapproval my way.


    She made Ellie sit down on the chair, holding her by shoulders. "Taste the pie. What do you think?"


    God, I miss eating. The syrup rolling over my tongue, the crisp edges, the softness filling my mouth.


    My daze broke when Ellie asked Christine, "Do you know how we could register his daughter?"


    Christine stated in a serious tone, "First, you will need the family''s approval. Then, you would need the help of the magistrate if you want to fasten up the process."


    Ellie nodded. I yawned loudly, attracting the attention of the ladies.


    "I am off to sleep," I said.


    I went to sleep in my bed. Yes, I own a bed. Okay, not a bed but a mattress. And I dozed off to sleep. Zzzzzz.......


    The next morning, I am woken up by an angry Christine. "Do you know what time is it? If you don''t get up now, Ellie is going to be late." She scolded me.


    I flinched slightly and stood up the next moment. We aren''t formless, but we can choose between floating and walking. That right is reserved only for ghost guides.


    After I set my hair and we bid goodbye to Christine, we exited the house. The tranquility and peace in the forest, the beautiful smell. And then, here we are in the city with the chit chit of people¡ªyes, that¡¯s what I call it.


    As we entered the Office, we were met by a grinning Robert.  ¡°Hello, how are you?¡± Robert¡¯s voice was cheerful, almost too cheerful. Of course, he was eager¡ªwe were the only ones who could help him.


    Why so energetic?


    Ellie gave Robert a brief glance, her jaw tightening. She looked around. There were guards at the gate and the sweeper. She walked past Robert, ignoring him.


    Robert''s face fell. I said with a hint of frustration, "Don''t you understand? She can''t talk to you with people around. Or they''d think she has gone mad."


    Robert nodded and we followed Ellie. He walked by my side and spoke near my ear, "So, when are you going to get my daughter registered?"


    This psych, speaking so close to my ear. It feels wiggly. I stepped back and said in a high voice, "What are you whispering about? Only Ellie can her us."


    Robert¡¯s grin faltered. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down like a scolded child. Huh, he is such a big baby. I said in a normal voice this time, "We would need the family''s permission and then the help of the magistrate to speed up the process." I took a pause, seeing that he was thinking about something. I don''t know what.


    "So, would your family agree?"


    "You would have to help me with that too. I don''t think they would agree."


    "All right, let''s talk about it later," I said, following Ellie to report to her senior.

 Roberts Family

    "Greetings, sir," Ellie reported to her senior.


    "You''re here." He looked up from his scrolls. "Go get your things. You''re gonna visit the victim''s family with Mr. Smith. Don''t mess up anything."


    Ellie nodded, beaming with happiness. "It''s my first case," she whispered, her voice full of joy.


    I smiled back. He is treating her better today. We were met with Robert in the morgue. Ellie closed the door and said, "I am going to visit your family. You''d better come with us. I will need your help to deal with them."


    Robert nodded and we went out. Mr.Smith was a man in his 30s, with a common appearance. But the scar on his neck, even if it was slight made him stand out. Alright, I am reading too much into it. He and Ellie hold the same rank but he is more respected because of his experience.


    Ellie greeted Mr. Smith. "How do you do?" Her voice a little too bright.


    "I am fine. Shall we head out?" he replied, gesturing with his hands. His voice was very pleasant, suprising for someone in this profession.


    "Absolutely, after you." Ellie politely said.


    He led her outside, where two horses waited. They were being attended to by a stable boy. The stable boy, a freckled teenager with hay stuck in his hair handed the horse''s rein to Mr.Smith before scurrying off.


    "You know horseriding, right?" he inquired.


    "Yes, I do." Ellie acknowledged.


    She mounted the horse, taking the rein and so did Mr.Smith.


    "Go and sit behind Ellie," I ordered Robert.


    He looked at me with questioning eyes.


    "You have become a ghost just recently. You won''t have the speed to catch up." I seethed.


    Robert hesitated, fidling with his fingers. I grabbed his arm¡ªit felt like grabbing mist¡ªand flung him onto Ellie¡¯s horse. He let out a startled yelp as he landed behind her, clinging to her for balance.


    We went fast until we reached the busy markets. I floated beside Ellie. Robert looked at me with astonishing eyes. The curious eyes of the spectators followed us as we made our way. Ellie¡¯s heart raced as she whispered, ¡®It¡¯s my first case.¡¯ She tried to focus on keeping her smile steady, determined not to let her nerves show.


    We stopped in front of an affluent house. The house was built from sturdy stones, with weathered but well maintained walls. The roof was made out of tiles with a chimney. It was a two storey house although not comparable to an aristocrat''s manor. It stood out as respectable and comfortable.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "You didn''t tell us you were rich," Ellie whispered, enough for three of us to hear. She folded her hands at her chest as she studied the house.


    Robert scratched the back of his head and gave a wry smile.


    After a moment, we followed Mr.Smith who knocked at the carved wooden door. An old man peeped through as he nudged the door open slightly. He had no beard, and smiled wryly. His face bore marks of hardwork and his eyes looked heavy.


    Mr. Smith told the man, "We''re with the Office of Justice," showing his badge. "We are here to speak with the late Mr. Clarke''s family." He tucked his badge in his belt.


    The old man threw open the door and stepped aside to let us in. He gestured with his hands welcoming us in. We steppped into the modest courtyard. The trees stood in a neat row, their trunks aligned perfectly, with a vibrant garden of flowers blooming beside them. The courtyard was filled with floral scent from the blooming flowers.


    The old man led us to a big hall. I suppose this is to host for guests. There were 2 chairs at the threshold, while the rest stood on the sides of the hall.


    "I will go inform the family members. Please wait." He respectfully bowed, and exited the hall.


    "Tell us all about your family." I ordered Robert. And like a good child he began describing his family members.


    "There''s my grandparents, my parents and my brother. We all love each other very much."


    I cut him off, "I am not asking about your familial love but family dynamics."


    "Okay, my grandfather is the head but my father calls the shot most of the times... Then, there''s my grandmother and mother. They get along well. My brother is the youngest¡ªhe¡¯s 21¡ªand everyone dotes on him"


    "Your brother and you are quite far apart in years."


    "Yeah."


    And as soon as the discussion ended, we were greeted by a very old man and woman. Must be his grandparents. The woman was lost in a trance. The main although looked stern, his eyes were swollen from crying.


    The man greeted Mr.Smith bowing slightly, "We are sorry to arrive late. Please forgive us."


    Mr.Smith held the man''s elbow and stood him up, "Don''t do this. You are my grandfather''s age. I will be ashamed. I am Mr .Smith and this is my colleague, Ms. Frost." He said gesturing towards Ellie.


    Ellie stepped in and bowed slightly to the elderly gentleman.


    Mr.Smith continued, "We are here to ask about the late Mr. Clarke." He glanced at the gate and said, "Let''s start the questioning after all the family members are here."


    Soon, all the family members assembled in the hall taking their seats as the hierarchy. Robert''s father had a similiar appearance to his grandfather. He looked stern but his lips were curled. His mother''s eyes were red, probably from all the crying. Robert looked more similar to his mother.


    The brother however had inherited his mother''s beauty but his father''s aura. He looked charming, to say nonetheless.


    Wait a minute, his daughter is not present. I asked him, "Where''s your daughter?"


    "She lives alone. My family doesn''t know about her."


    I nodded. After everyone had taken their seats, Mr.Smith took the lead in questioning.


    "Where were you all at the time of victim''s death?" Mr.Smith asked, his voice full of buisness.


    The family had various kinds of reactions to it. But that''s how they all react most of the time. The grandmother was broken out of her trance and looked startled. The mother looked sad while the grandfather and father were angered and in disbelief. The brother looked sad and in disbelief at the same time. I can''t read him.


    Anyways, Ellie stepped in and said, "These are just routine questions. We will also be able to help you better if you tell us truthfully."


    Everyone seemed to gotten at ease now. The grandfather said, "Me and my wife were in our room. Our family ate dinner and everyone went to their rooms."


    The rest of the family nodded in affirmation.


    Mr.Smith then continued, "Very well. What did you talk about at dinner?"


    The father spoke this time, "Nothing much. Just family chat."