Fiction: Ghost Companions

The epistle was sent the day before the headmistress was found floating in the sea behind the school manor. All eyes were on the headmistress as she was carried away. After a moment of stillness, there erupted a spirited cheer which was quickly smothered by the stern looks from the school mistresses. But many kept their lips turned slightly upward.
    Everyone at the school called the headmistress Mistress. She ruled the school with iron fists that punished more than rewarded. At Mistress' funeral, there was a brief recital from the pastor but the children, school mistresses, five servants and two constables had nothing to say about the deceased.
    The epistle was later found in Mistress' room. It was addressed to Charlotte Jane Bell, Mistress' name that only a few knew. In brief sentences, the epistle mentioned a Weston Weightman's passing. In his last breath, he asked for Jane's forgiveness for breaking off the engagement. He wished only happiness for her. A dried, yellow primrose was tucked in the envelope.    
    Students walking from the hallways to the school rooms pondered the strangeness of the woman whom they thought had no heart but was once engaged. What ghost companions had Mistress been keeping? Mistress did not associate with anyone and was adamant about being left alone. At night, she was often seen roaming the hallways holding a candle and calling for someone but no one dared to inquire who she was searching for.
    Two nights after Mistress' passing, the sea behind the school was roaring. A voice began to echo through the hallways. The voice was very much like Mistress' - clear, crisp with a touch of rawness. You could distinguish the name she was calling: Weston. Was she looking for her lover? Several students and school mistresses who ventured out of their rooms at night saw a dimly lit candle going back and forth. No one was certain what they had seen since the lanterns in the hallways were out. But they all agreed there was a scent of honey that reminded them of primroses but there were no flowers. Mistress had prohibited flowers of any kind in or around the school grounds. For several nights, the voice faithfully called for Weston.
    A year later, the school was closed due to lack of funding.
    About fifty years afterward, the school was resurrected. During the day, students walked the hallways with bright sunlight filtering through the glass windows. At night, the hallways were in complete darkness. The lights hanging on the walls somehow kept going out even when the electrician found nothing wrong with the wiring. On windy nights, the sea behind the school could be heard followed by a voice calling for Weston.
    Students who dared to go out of their rooms at night reported in the morning of a floating lit candle going back and forth in the dark hallways. They remembered a honey scent in the air as well. Later, rumors of Mistress' ghost began to spread. Had Mistress returned in search of her lover? 
    The newly-hired headmistress was as strict as the previous one. She insisted students stop spreading the rumors. If anyone caught talking about ghosts, they would be punished.
    One late night, the headmistress found herself out in the hallway trying to get back to her room after a visit to the restroom. The lights were out. She flipped the switch several times but the hallway stayed dark. A candle flickered on. In the dim light, a pale face with down turned eyes with dark circles beneath them was staring back. The headmistress let out a squeak. But the face faded into the darkness and the candle burnt out. In the morning, the headmistress left the school leaving only a letter of resignation. One of the students who heard the story from another student who heard it from the janitor who overheard it from one of the cooks, told this tale to anyone who would listen though no one was certain of its authenticity.
    Later, one of the school mistresses was made temporary headmistress. She was much kinder than the previous one.
    Several nights after the headmistress left, there came a thunderstorm. The sea behind the school manor was in great tumult. Everyone inside their rooms could hear water splashing about. After the noise died down a bit, a man's voice came calling for Jane. Was he searching for Mistress? A female voice answered. The two voices began to converse though no one could hear what they were saying. They dropped into silence after awhile.
    Then a scream rung out. In one of the rooms on the top floor, the curtain had caught on fire. Students, school mistresses and servants began to pour out the school's double front doors. Outside, there was no moon to light them aside from the few who held flashlights. The rain fell and soaked everyone.
    Suddenly, the flames in the manor went out. Through the rain, everyone could make out two lights on the top floor floating back and forth.
    The fire truck arrived. As the firefighters prepared to go into the manor, the roof collapsed. Everyone started talking. Had the ghosts saved them? Did she drove away the headmistress for this reason? If the headmistress had not left, the students would have remained inside as she would insisted it was a small matter and no evacuation was needed.
    A bus was called to take the students, school mistresses and servants to hotels for the night.
    In the morning, the temporary headmistress and several school mistresses returned to the manor. The fallen roof had completely covered the first two top floors. There were bricks and debris blocking the front doors. That day, they closed the school.
    Fifty years afterward, the city torn down the school manor and a lighthouse was built over it. Only one man managed the lighthouse and he was hard of hearing and half blind. He heard no voices nor saw any floating candles. But somehow, a rumor began - Mistress and her reunited lover were haunting the place. Several witnesses had seen two floating candles inside the lighthouse on nights when the wind caused the sea to roar.

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This week's Words for Wednesday's prompts are: epistle, welfare, children, spirit, companions, primroses, sea, walk, faithful, happiness. I used every word except welfare. Go here for more Words for Wednesday.