My Immortal

Notes and Disclaimer: Clue does not belong to me and neither does the song “My Immortal” by Evanescence. (Note: I loathe Evanescence and I apologize to all their fans. I’m not big on their music but this song was begging to be written as a songfic. And hell, every serious author ends up making an Evanescence songfic eventually.)

* * *

~I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears~

Mrs. White looked out the Study window at the birds pecking the ground. A few would come down in search of some worms and other bugs. Then they would take off into the sky and never return. As soon as they were gone, she would go back to reading the letter. Her late employer and lover, Reginald Boddy, had written it. It was still incomplete and it would never be finished.

Two days ago, Reginald Boddy finally took his last breath. For the first time, neither his maid nor his five guests had anything to do with his demise. Many suspected them because they had attempted to kill him before. But Reginald was really sick this time. He had double pneumonia and passed away before anyone could try to save him. His death had shocked everyone and they didn’t he would be missed. Now he was gone, things were different. The skies were dull and lifeless. The mansion that Boddy lived in was quiet and cold. Mrs. White had no one to work for and the others had no one steal from.

On Boddy’s last day, the guests had all gathered in the Ball Room while the doctor’s checked him out. No one spoke up because they had been feeling the same. They knew how fond Boddy was of Mrs. White. Their relationship had blossomed over the past few years. From maid and employer, they became lovers. She stopped making fun of Boddy behind his back the moment he declared his love for her. From that day forth, she vowed never to deceive him. But then Boddy began to fall ill. It wasn’t long before he was bed-ridden and too weak to walk on his own. Now he had pneumonia and no one knew if he’d survive.

“I can’t believe it.” Mr. Green whistled softly. “This is it. This is the end and none of us did a thing.”

“Don’t remind me.” Miss Scarlet sniffed.

“I’ll have an easy time forgetting what Mr. Green just said.” Professor Plum mumbled. For once, he was glad that he had a bad memory. “I only wish I could take back everything bad that I did to Boddy. I’d start anew, I swear!”

“So would I!” Mrs. Peacock coughed. “I regret my rude actions now! I want to change and if I can go back, I will be more polite and kind to Reginald that I was in the past!”

The other guests started nodded and throwing in what they would do. But Mrs. White had heard enough from them. They were only saying that to make themselves feel better. Only she knew about Boddy’s true feelings. Only she was hurting inside.

“What do you understand?” She snapped at the guests. “Do you know that Boddy could have asked for anything from me? I know I don’t have much but if he wanted a slice of the sun, I would die getting it for him!”

Colonel Mustard grabbed her by the shoulders. “Mrs. White, you_”

“I am not overreacting!” She screamed, getting away from the others. With angry eyes, she glared them. “Yes, I’ve stolen from Boddy and I have plotted to kill him. I’ve done the same things you all have. But unlike you, I cared about him! He was the only person I ever knew that would give me a break when I needed it. He complimented me when I did something good. He was kind to me! He never…he never…”

It was then that she broke off like a twig and fell to the ground. Mustard was able to catch her before she hurt herself but he didn’t try pulling her up.

Mrs. Peacock approached her. “You are indeed right about all those things, Mrs. White. Mr. Boddy was a good person. We loved his valuables and, later on in life, I too came to love him. He was always polite and apologized whenever he found himself acting rude. He was a fair, just man. And I miss him.” She began drying her own eyes, which had started filling up. “It’s everything else, all of us, that aren’t fair and just.”

Mrs. White shivered and the guests held onto each other for the first time in their lives. They didn’t say a word but stayed together for the night. The next morning, the doctor found them sleeping in the Ball Room and woke them up to tell them Boddy’s status.

“He’s gone.” He whispered. “I’m sorry.”

It was then that life, as the guests and Mrs. White had known, was over.

~And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave~

“Oh, Reginald.” She sighed. The tears were starting to come back again as she remembered her boss. He had been a wonderful person. No matter how many times she deceived him, he forgave her. He kept her because he liked her as a person. No he loved her. The funeral had been most painful. Everyone came dressed in black except for the Professor who forgot what he needed to wear at a funeral. Nonetheless, he hadn’t forgotten to come. Boddy was buried in the cemetery with the rest of his family. Millions had come but only the six guests stayed at the gravesite all day. His name had been printed cleanly across the lifeless stone and marked where he now rested. The others laid flowers and visited him. Some were even found talking to the gravestone but it did no good. No one would answer back.

“Reginald, why?” She asked before bursting into sobs. She was so glad to be alone in the study, Boddy’s study, so she could cry by herself. It would be the last time she would be in this room. In two weeks time, demolishers were coming over and breaking the mansion down. That’s what Boddy had instructed for them to do in his will. He set Mrs. White free and left all the other guests with some valuable mementos. But he didn’t want any of them to have the mansion.

‘It wouldn’t feel the same.’ He had written in his diary. Mrs. White found it only two days after Boddy passed away along with a letter he wrote to her. ‘My poor maid will be alone. My friends will feel empty without my company. I love them too much. True, they have been my worst enemies at times. But I can forgive them. The whole world is full of mistakes. No, it’s full of people who make mistakes. If we never learn the art of forgiveness, we can never keep the same errors from happening. It would go on forever.’

Boddy was right about that. The world was full of people who did wrong and even they needed to be forgiven. This time, though, none of the guests were forgiven. Their punishments were justified by Boddy’s untimely death. And this time, no one had a thing to do with it.

“Why?” Mrs. White asked as she cried. “Why?”

~'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone~

“Mrs. White?”

She looked up to see Professor Plum dressed nicely in a purple tux and holding a purple handkerchief. He was known for forgetting several important occasions but Boddy’s death wasn’t one of them. He too committed his share of crimes and he regretted it now. Evidently, he forgot what it felt like when someone was truly gone. An illness took Boddy from them and he wasn’t coming back.

Mrs. White wiped her eyes. “Come in, Professor. Are you okay?”

“I forgot what it feels like to be okay.” The professor sighed and dabbed his eyes with the handkerchief. Then he looked around the study. “Such a wonderful place. It’s so sad that it’ll be gone. Why did it happen? I don’t remember. But if I did, I wouldn’t want to be reminded.”

“That makes two of us.” Mrs. White muttered. “Do you really miss him? Are you just saying that because you miss stealing from him and all that hoopla?”

“Mrs. White! I’m shocked you’d think that!” Plum gasped. “Boddy was my friend! I can never forget a friendship.”

From the look in his eyes, Mrs. White knew he was telling the truth. Plum was running his hand across the desk where Boddy used to sit at and do paperwork. He would even sign checks and leave valuables in this room.

“I remember when I was caught forging a bond of $25,000.” Plum reminisced. “I don’t like the fact that Boddy punished me but…I suppose I deserved it.” He sighed and wiped away a tear. “Ironic that I would be remembering something bad when I suppose to remember the good times.”

“Oh, but he loved you too.” A new voice popped up. They both turned around to find an ashen faced Miss Scarlet. She was still beautiful but the glow that usual radiated around her was gone. “Remember when you saved us from that terrible thunderstorm? Granted I didn’t like the fact that we had to listen to the news on the radio for the next week but I knew Boddy liked you a lot. I think he wanted to marry me.”

“You?” Mrs. White felt like snorting out loud but she didn’t. Besides, Miss Scarlet looked genuinely unhappy that Reginald was gone. She used to flirt with him all the time and he’d flirt back. They had a sweet relationship going on but it was nothing like the one Boddy had with his maid. Knowing that Boddy loved Mrs. White hurt Miss Scarlet deeply. Still, she let him be.

~These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase~

“It’s nice he left stuff for us in his will.” Miss Scarlet added softly. “But I wish he would have kept his mansion. How could he let something so grand and beautiful be torn to bits? That’s the same as me having a plastic surgery that went completely wrong. It would be erasing the past.”

“It is erasing the past.” Mrs. White sighed. “I don’t want to see the mansion go either but it did belong to Reginald Boddy. Not to us. He had the right to do what he wanted with it.”

“He should have still asked us first.” Colonel Mustard burst into the room. Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t crying. But like the others, he was in mourning. “I was just in Conservatory preparing for a duel next week. While in that room, I thought about the things I had done there. Then I remembered it’s going to be blown up in two weeks. Not fair if you ask me.”

“You’re worried over a room?” Miss Scarlet asked sarcastically. “Why don’t you worry about something a little more important? The man that owns that room, along with the rest of this place, is gone! What are we going to do now?!”

“You dare call me insensitive?!” Mustard boomed. “I challenge you to a duel!”

“A duel?” Miss Scarlet groaned. “Oh please, can’t you make things any worse?”

“Are you saying that I caused everything bad to happen? I challenge you to a duel!”

“You already challenged me once. Can’t we leave it at that?”

“Are you mocking me, Miss Scarlet? I challenge you again!”

”And you_”

“Stop it!” Mrs. White screamed, pulling her hair. She fell to her knees and went on screaming. “Stop it, all of you! He’s gone! He left me! Can’t you show a little sympathy?! I lost the man I loved!”

~When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me~

Professor Plum rushed to her aid. “There, there, Mrs. White. Everything will be fine.”

“No, it won’t.” She wept. “We can’t go back to the way things were before. Boddy is gone and nothing will be the same.”

“Well, that’s true. But_”

“Staying in one place like this will do you no good.” Mrs. Peacock finished up, waltzing into the room. Her eyes were red and dry from crying all night. As a proper lady, she did her best to hide her dark circles with some makeup but everyone could tell how she felt. Then she shot an angry look at Scarlet and Mustard. “You both ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Arguing like this, especially when Mrs. White is in this condition? Apologize at once!”

Colonel Mustard lowered his head. “You’re right. Please accept my apologies, my dear Mrs. White. My behavior was inappropriate for this situation.”

“I’m sorry too.” Miss Scarlet mumbled.

“It’s not your fault.” Mrs. White whimpered. “I’m just…out of my mind. I’ve been feeling this way since I lost Reginald.”

Mustard looked around the room. “Where is that snake, Mr. Green? Why isn’t he here yet?”

Mrs. Peacock gasped. “Good sir, please do not call anyone a ‘snake’ at this time!”

“Yeah!” An upset Mr. Green barged in. “How would Mr. Boddy feel if he heard you calling me names, huh?”

Hearing Mr. Boddy’s name again caused Mrs. White to sob loudly. She fell into Professor Plum’s arms and hugged him. Confused, Plum did the right thing and hugged her back.

“Reginald…” She murmured. The professor began stroking her hair underneath her white maid cap. “Oh, Reginald, why did you leave me?”

~You used to captivate me
by your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind~

“Way to go.” Miss Scarlet rolled her eyes. You made her feel ten thousand times worse, Green. I hope you’re happy.”

“Happy?” Green snorted. “The guy I’ve been friends with forever is dead! How could you think I’m happy?!”

“Don’t say that!” Mrs. Peacock warned, pointing to the saddened Mrs. White. The professor kissed her on the head. “Please, sir, it’s not polite to talk about the deceased in such a manner. I know you are grieving but still…please be polite.”

“How can I?” Mr. Green collapsed into a chair. “Everything I’ve known and loved is gone. Boddy is dead, this mansion is going to be turned rubble, and I’ll have nothing to steal anymore. Yeah, my life is one wonderful party.” He didn’t bother trying to hide his sarcasm. Instead, he grabbed a book from the desk and tried to read it. Minutes later, he just put it down and looked at everyone in disgust.

“This is pathetic.” He sighed. “It’s too quiet in here.”

“Quiet?” A familiar voice perked up. The six of them turned to see Reginald Boddy standing in the doorway, healthy and grinning. He strode into the room with confidence. “Well, we need to fix that, my guests!” And they all reacted at once.

“Boddy!” Plum exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Oh my!” Mrs. Peacock almost fainted. “You…you…”

“You’re supposed to be dead.” Colonel Mustard said. The others nodded. Only Mrs. White stood silently, just staring at her boss. This couldn’t have been Reginald Boddy. But it was. He was okay, happy, and alive. He bounded playfully into the room and clapped his hands. Then he laughed.

“Dead?! Oh my poor guests! How could you think that? I’m fit and happy as I’ve always been!”

“But…but…” Scarlet began to stammer.

“Now, now, let’s bring some life back into this mansion! I’ve bought a yummy treat for all of you and it’s waiting in the Dining Room! Mrs. White didn’t make it but I’m sure you’ll still enjoy it.”

“A treat?” Colonel Mustard, who had a never-ending appetite, perked up.

Boddy nodded. “If you want it, go and get it!”

Excited that their friend was no longer dead, the guests rushed to the Dining Room for their treat. All except Mrs. White. She just stood in the middle of the room, staring at Boddy. He did look fine. He sounded like himself. But it wasn’t him. The real Boddy was dead and buried. She was sure of it. At that point, Boddy turned around and saw her.

“Aren’t you going them, Blanche?” He asked, using her first name. She shook her head.

“I can’t. It’s just…just…” She sat back down. Then she saw the letter on the desk. “It’s your letter. It bothers me.”

“Bothers you?” Boddy approached her and put an arm around her shoulder. “Have you read the entire thing?”

“No, I still have to finish it.” She picked it up and took it out of the gold- sealed envelope. “I’m scared to.”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Boddy chortled. “Open it! I want you to read everything!”

“Well…” Mrs. White was skeptical but she did as he said. “Okay, here goes.”

~Your face it haunts
my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me~’

She started to read the letter. ‘My dearest Blanche, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say to anyone. After my wife passed away, I never thought I would have anyone. I thought I would die alone without a friend to watch me pass on. But then I met you. And everything changed. Slowly, I met the others and I felt complete. You were fun, kind-hearted people and I liked you. You were always my favorite servant. Anything I wanted you did it without questioning or complaining. You are truly a lovely woman.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Boddy.” Mrs. White smirked behind her tears. Mr. Boddy looked somewhat disappointed when he read that line to himself.

“I guess I failed in being romantic.” He sighed. “Keep reading nonetheless. I’m sure you will like everything else I had to say.”

Mrs. White kissed him. “There’s only one way to find out.”

So she kept reading.

‘I loved you. My heart was overfilled with memories of you and I could not contain myself. Your presence left me speechless. I watched us as we grew older and I grew closer to you. I felt stuck to your side. I would watch you hang laundry outside as the spring blossoms danced around you and I wanted to melt through the ground. I loved your cooking, the way you kept my mansion in perfect shape, and the way you helped me carry out whatever plans I had. You were amazing and I adored you.’

“Repeating yourself, Boddy?”

“Keep reading!”

‘But lately, my wounds are breaking open. I’m bleeding inside and I need someone to save me. Save me, Mrs. White. Save me from whatever is killing me.’

Mrs. White’s hands felt warm and soft. She held onto the letter and read on. ‘I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to die unloved. Please promise you will be there at my final hour. I cannot bear to leave Earth without seeing you one last time.’

She paused at the moment and put down the letter. “Do I really mean that much to you, sir?”

~These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase~

Boddy blushed. “Yes, Blanche. You meant all that and more. I wanted you but I could never say it.” He sighed and looked down. “I wanted to let you know…the truth. But I could never say that. And I turned out to be a lousy lover. I just couldn’t let the woman I love know how I truly felt.”

“Oh, sir.” She reached over and touched his cheek. “Don’t say that.”

“You were always there for me.” Boddy began to cry. “You were no longer just my maid. You were the first friend I ever had.” Then his teary eyes locked into hers. “I love you, Blanche. I love you very much.”

~When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me~

This did it for Mrs. White. She began to sniffle and finally fell apart crying. Mr. Boddy just leaned over her and tried to look at her face.

“Why are you sad, Mrs. White?” He asked.

“Because…because…you are gone!”

“No, I’m not!”

“Shut up!” She yelled. “Shut up! Just shut up! You died…and that’s the truth. You died for some stupid reason and…and…I’m alone.” The last two words she whispered and Boddy let her rest on his shoulder. She began crying all over again, letting tear after tear trickle, and not bothering to hide how she truly felt. He squeezed her tight and let her cry on him. Her nose was starting to run but she didn’t care. He really was dead and she was being given one last chance to say goodbye.

“You…you’re right.” He said. “I think I may have worn out my welcome. But I had to see you again. I wanted to say goodbye.”

Mrs. White felt herself pulling away from him. Before long, she let him go and he started to back away.

“We will meet again!” He told her as he backed out of the door.

“Goodbye.” She croaked. “Wait for me.” She closed her eyes so he wouldn’t see her crying.

~I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along~

‘I’ll be with you, Mrs. White. Always.’

And she opened her eyes to see no one. The guests were gone. Boddy was gone. Someone had left a fire in the fireplace but other than that, everything felt dull again. Everything that had happened was only in her mind. The five guests were grieving in their own homes and she was here. Alone as she expected.

“It was all a dream.” She muttered, taking out the letter and starting to read it. “You are gone. The others were never here.”

‘And the night that I had you forever’, the letter read, ‘Oh, Blanche, that was the best night of my life. At that point I knew you were everything. You were what I wanted when my wife died. I only regret that I didn’t fall in love with you sooner. If we had done that, perhaps we could have children. A little boy or girl would have been nice, don’t you think so?’

Mrs. White laughed out loud when she read that. “Children? Oh Boddy, you thought way too far ahead!” Then she sighed. “But yes, a child would have been nice.”

‘‘You will never be alone, Blanche.’ The letter went on. ‘If I leave Earth before you, I will wait for you. You are my maid, my friend, and my love. I could never think of leaving you, even in the afterlife. I’ll be with you, Blanche. I promise.’

“Oh, Reginald.” Mrs. White whispered. She read the last two lines of the letter.

‘I love you, Mrs. Blanche White. I forgive you for everything.’

Forgiveness. Boddy had gone as far as to forgiving her. It made Mrs. White feel a little queasy and sad. But she managed to close the letter and put it back in the envelope. A bright fire was roaring and filled the room up with excessive light. She looked down at the envelope with Reginald’s careful handwriting on it. Her name was so pretty in the flowing script that he used. She let it fall into the fire.

“Rest in peace, dear Reginald.” She said, watching the edges of the envelope curl up and burn. It was the perfect night for a fireThen she reached into the Study drawer and pulled something out. “Rest in peace for now. I’ll always be with you.”

With that and not another thought, she put the Revolver against her temple and pulled the trigger.

~When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me~

~OWARI~

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