Transmigrated as Jane’s Ghostly Godmother - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Rescuing the Fallen—A Rather Useful Ghost

It was such a remote spot that Lin Zhao hadn’t even bothered to clear away the camouflaging debris she’d found earlier. They navigated several narrow, overgrown paths; even without a map, Jane could feel they had veered far beyond the designated competition boundaries.

“Beatrice! Betty!”

“Miss Knox!”

“Unresponsive Beatrice Knox!”

With no one else around, Jane’s shouts grew increasingly dramatic.

“Jane Eyre!” Finally, a faint, strained response echoed from a corner of the woods.

Lin Zhao signaled Jane to stop and moved toward the source of the voice herself. It was indeed the deep pit she remembered. Beatrice was standing at the bottom, her face pale as she stared upward. Receiving an affirmative nod from Lin Zhao, Jane hurried over.

“Thank you, God, I’ve found you.” Jane tactfully glossed over Beatrice’s embarrassing predicament. “Are you hurt? Eleanor has gone for the teachers. Once they arrive, you’ll be out of there.”

Beatrice’s eyes welled up the moment she saw Jane, but she bit her lip and stayed silent until the final sentence. “No—no! You can’t let the teachers come here!”

Her dark trousers hid the worst of it, but her light-colored blouse beneath her vest was a mess of mud. Her sleeves were torn and caked in dirt—telltale signs that she had been desperately trying to claw her way out.

“Jane… please, can you find a way to pull me up?” Beatrice’s voice was hoarse, her usual haughty air completely gone. “I’m begging you. I’ll thank you properly once I’m out.”

“There’s no need for that…” Jane muttered. It sounded like Beatrice expected her to just walk away. Jane looked hesitantly at Lin Zhao.

On her own, Jane couldn’t possibly pull Beatrice out. Beatrice was a head taller; Jane was more likely to be dragged into the pit than to pull her roommate out of it. But if Lin Zhao interfered, it would be a silent confirmation that Beatrice’s previous “haunting” fears were grounded in reality.

“…What are you looking at? Didn’t you say Lina went for the teachers?” Beatrice noticed Jane’s shifting gaze and whispered, a look of realization dawning on her face. “You really are…”

Jane looked back at her and said nothing. From a purely logical standpoint, Jane had no reason to take this risk. If she exposed Lin Zhao’s existence, would Beatrice remain grateful, or would she become even more guarded and fearful?

“No, I didn’t mean anything. Please, I can’t let them find me like this…” Beatrice’s tone grew frantic.

“Betty, if you’re worried about your reputation, it’s too late. Eleanor is already getting help. I can’t get you out alone,” Jane said firmly. Beatrice’s pride wasn’t a good enough reason to risk Lin Zhao’s secret. “Wait here. I’ll go lead them to you.”

Jane backed away from the edge, but Lin Zhao didn’t follow.

“Go ahead,” Lin Zhao said. “I can help.”

“But…” Jane whispered, knowing Lin Zhao understood her concerns.

“She can’t say anything if you aren’t here. Go. It’s not safe for her down there,” Lin Zhao gave her a reassuring look. “Trust me. I’ll handle it.”

Jane nodded and turned back the way they came. Once Jane was gone, Lin Zhao jumped into the pit. The branches at the bottom crunched under her weight. Beatrice jumped, looking around in a panic.

“Jane? Are you still there?” she cried out, but of course, there was no answer.

Lin Zhao had discovered back at Gateshead that while others couldn’t hear her speak, whispering in their ear could produce a powerful psychological effect—a sort of subconscious suggestion.

“Sorry, Beatrice. Bear with me.” She leaned close to Beatrice’s ear and began to murmur.

Beatrice felt a sudden, icy chill bloom against her ear, as if someone were leaning right against her. She tried to move, but her limbs felt like lead. Was I right? she thought. Did I bring something ‘unclean’ upon myself by suspecting Jane? But Jane was gone.

Her legs gave way. She sank to a sitting position. It was her own fault; if she had just stayed with the group, none of this would have happened. But she was terrified of these things, and Jane wouldn’t just lie to her and say they didn’t exist.

The cold deepened. Between the exertion of her struggle and the mounting terror, Beatrice’s vision swam. She slumped over and lost consciousness.

Lin Zhao caught her before her face hit the mud. She looked up. The pit was about six feet deep—impossible for a child to climb, but manageable for an adult-sized spirit who could touch the rim.

She adjusted Beatrice in her arms and removed her own outer jacket to help secure the girl. Then, holding her breath to control her transparency and physical presence, she braced herself against the muddy walls and climbed upward, inch by inch.

Jane was halfway back when she ran into Eleanor and the teachers.

“Heaven be praised, you’re safe!” Eleanor threw herself at Jane. “Did you find Betty?”

Jane panted, letting Eleanor take the map to point out the location. “Jane, I’ll need you to lead the way,” Miss Victor said, her brow furrowed. “Eleanor, go with the others. We cannot have any more accidents.”

Eleanor nodded and handed the map to Jane. Jane led Miss Victor and Henry, the porter, to the spot. When they arrived, Beatrice was leaning against a tree near the mouth of the pit, her eyes closed.

Lin Zhao waved to Jane from the shadows. The mud on her own form told the story of the effort she’d made. Jane could only offer her a quick, concerned glance before turning to the others.

Miss Victor checked Beatrice’s pulse. Relieved, she turned to the porter. “Henry, be gentle. Carry her back.”

“Wait…” Jane stepped forward before he could lift her. She unfastened the expensive wool shawl Eleanor had given her and wrapped it around Beatrice. “There. Thank you, Mr. Henry.”

Miss Victor said nothing, but her eyes brightened at Jane’s gesture. As they walked back, Miss Victor pulled Jane aside. “In these six months, Jane, your progress has been undeniable.” She patted Jane’s shoulder kindly. “The ‘Woodland Exploration’ has been suspended and won’t be scored. Congratulations on your team’s first-place finish. You are officially an Outstanding Student of the year.”

Jane’s heart raced. She was still nervous talking to authority figures, but the praise was a warm balm. “Thank you, Miss Victor.”

Lin Zhao, hearing this, was ecstatic. “Does this mean you can stay next year?”

Unfortunately, being an “Outstanding Student” didn’t guarantee a stipend; Jane still needed to win the individual competition for that. Since she had kept that part from Lin Zhao, she simply gave her a silent, knowing smile.

Beatrice stirred and coughed as she began to wake up. The group stopped. Jane stepped closer. “Betty? Are you feeling alright?”

Beatrice looked at Jane, confused. “Jane…? Weren’t you…”

“Miss Victor and Mr. Henry helped. We’re on our way out,” Jane said quickly, cutting off any questions about how she had gotten out of the hole. The explanation was vague enough that everyone interpreted it differently.

Realizing she was being carried, Beatrice panicked. “Mr. Henry? Please, put me down. I can walk.”

Once on her feet, Beatrice noticed the shawl. “Wait… Lina gave this to you for the ceremony. You can’t give it to me…” She blushed deeply, reaching to unwrap it.

“It’s fine. My clothes are clean; you can borrow it,” Jane held her hands to stop her. “Besides, we have to go up there together, don’t we?”

Beatrice looked at Jane with disbelief. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Thank you, Jane.”

They reached the edge of the woods, where the other students were being marshaled.

“Betty! Jane!” Eleanor cried out, running to embrace them both.

The Reeds, standing nearby, looked over at the mention of their names. John was missing—likely being treated for his “accident”—but Eliza watched silently while Georgiana marched toward them.

“Betty…” Georgiana began, her voice dripping with an exaggerated, theatrical tragedy. But as she got closer and saw the mud stains on Beatrice, she stopped dead in her tracks.

Beatrice watched her silently, clearly understanding why her “friend” had hesitated.

“Miss Reed,” Jane said, using Eleanor’s polite but distant address for Georgiana. She managed a small smile. “I assume you want to give Betty a consoling hug? I’ll move out of the way for you…”

“No!” Georgiana recoiled, stepping back.

The silence that followed was heavy. Beatrice looked at Jane, a faint, surprised smirk playing on her lips.

“I… I should go. The teachers said…” Georgiana stammered, turning and fleeing back to her own group.

Watching her run away, Jane decided to finally ask the question on her mind. “If you won’t tell me why we fought, can you at least tell me what you actually admire about Georgiana?”

Beatrice almost defaulted to her usual silence, but the soft wool of Jane’s shawl was a constant reminder of the girl’s kindness. “At first… it was because she’s very beautiful,” she whispered.

Jane stared. It was a shallow, absurdly honest reason. But it revealed a simplicity beneath Beatrice’s cold exterior.

“I see,” Jane said. She decided to swallow the question of why Beatrice disliked her.

But after a pause, Beatrice spoke again. “I’m sorry, Jane. My attitude toward you was terrible. I won’t be like that anymore.”

Jane didn’t know how to react; she’d grown accustomed to their daily bickering. Eleanor, however, looked ready to burst with joy. She grabbed both girls’ arms. “Good! Apologies and gratitude finished! Let’s go collect our awards!”

As she was pulled along, Jane looked around. Students were leaving; Miss Victor was talking to other teachers…

Wait, where is Lin Zhao?