"My Lips are Sealed" for Glenna's impromptu challenge 3/4/16

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

(The prompt) The spirit that I have seen May be the devil: and the devil hath powerTo assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds More relative than this: the play 's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king”

Napoleon recited the passage from Hamlet; it suddenly came to mind as he’d seen something, though he wasn’t quite sure what it was. In the darkest shadows of his moldy cell he thought he’d seen a ghost, staring at him with vacant eyes. For some reason Shakespeare immediately came to mind, as he shook his head, trying to deny what his tired eyes insisted they saw.

“Okay I’ll give...who are you?”

There was no answer as the translucent figure remained unmoving, its eyeless sockets somehow jabbing into Solo's soul like a pair of daggers.

It had to be the sleep deprivation. As soon as Napoleon would doze off, his guards would wake him, unmercifully taking turns banging on the cell bars with the barrels of their rifles and calling his name, taunting him.

“Are you the ghost of Christmas past.” Napoleon whimsically asked. Considering it was February, it was sort of a silly question but he figured what the heck. Since he believed the supposed ghost to be a figment of his imagination, so in his imagination he decided it was Christmas.

The spirit nodded a bony head and raised its equally bony arm and with its finger it pointed to the cell door.

Napoleon shrugged, not quite getting what that meant.

It pointed again, this time a bit more adamantly.

“You want me to go there?” Solo asked.

Again a nod…

He walked over the the bars and looked around; nothing unusual, that was until he spotted a piece of wire sticking in the keyhole. How it got there he had no idea but it was perfect to help him pick the lock. Trouble was there was a guard standing out there somewhere, waiting to come wake him up if he fell asleep again.

“So what do I do about the guards,” he felt foolish asking the ghost.

It waved a finger in the air, as if to say ‘not to worry’ and seconds later its skeletal mouth opened revealing a maw that looked blacker than black.  A blood curdling shriek came from it, long and drawn out it was and it chilled Solo to the bone.

The guards outside screamed and begged. “No no nooooo! Stay away please? Noooo!”

Napoleon pressed his face between the bars and watched as the men passed out, dropping one by one to the floor with a dull thud. He immediately picked the lock and turned, giving the spirit one last look and swore it gave him the thumbs up.

Solo took off, grabbing one of the rifles and found his way out of the castle to freedom. He met Illya waiting out on the moors for him as the Russian was trying to figure out a way of freeing his partner.

“How did you get out Napoleon? That Scottish castle was supposed to be virtually impregnable and escape proof.”

“Tovarish, you’ll never believe me.”

“Try me.”

“Nope, not this time. My lips are sealed. I have to protect my ...source. Let's say he showed great spirit in helping me to escape."

"Are you saying a spectre helped you out?" Illya snickered. "That is utterly ridiculous. Now tell me how you got out?"

"Tovarisch you don't have a ghost of a chance of getting it out of me."

Comments

[susanpr.livejournal.com]

Only Napoleon would be lucky enough to be rescued by a ghost! Great story.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Chuckle. Thank you! Have no idea where this idea came from but glad you liked it.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

'There are more things in heaven and earth, Illya, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'

Fantastic tale (in every sense of the word, lol) The punning at the end was painful, but funny :-)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I couldn't resist having Napoleon zing a couple, could I? Thank you and glad you liked the story!

[pfrye.livejournal.com]

Oh snicker......

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm liking snickers!

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

A small och/ouch at the last line.

Yes, I can believe ghosts don't want Thrush messing up their haunting. Of course, Scottish ghosts would be particularly territorial and stroppy.

I'm inclined to think Illya will worm it out of him in the long run.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I bet you're right! Thanks for the great comment!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Big yay on this one. The 'spirit' of the challenge rings loud and clear.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you I was in high spirits after writing it. Good challenge. :D

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

I like a ghost story with a happy ending. Well done.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

thank you! It was a boo-tiful ending wasn't it? (yeah I know, bad mrua, bad girl)

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Oh, very cute!

And of course, the ghost was on the side of right. ;-)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

But of course, chuckle. Thanks for the comment. :D