by Alexie Aaron
The man looked at them and over at Murphy, confused.
“I think he thinks we’re the ones that were digging in the house. We are only here to help. Who enclosed the ring?”
Murphy pointed into the forest. And mimed driving.
“The forester? Sam Centers?” she asked.
Murphy nodded. She turned to the entity. “Is this true?”
The giant tilted his head and slowly nodded.
“What is he looking for?” Ted asked.
The man raised his hands.
“You don’t have to tell us, but I bet you that he is in your sanctum right now. He thinks you’re trapped here,” Ted pointed out.
Mia pulled out her cell phone and dialed Burt. “Sam Centers is in the house or under it, right now. Be careful.”
The man became a black mass again and moved quickly in the direction of the house.
Murphy tipped his hat and followed him.
Mia moved to return to the house, but Ted grabbed her arm. “Did you mean it? What you said in there?”
Mia looked up at him and answered, “Yes. The second she finished her question was the first time I knew. Now don’t worry, I know you may have had a different answer. I just answered how I feel.”
Ted picked her up and swung her around. “You make me the happiest man alive or dead. I am way happier than Murphy. Tons happier than Sanctum Man.”
Mia giggled. “I’m glad. You want to put me down before I puke? If I puke, they are going to take bets I’m pregnant. I’d rather not deal with that tonight.”
Ted stopped and hugged her hard before gently putting her on the ground. He took her hand and said. “Let’s go watch Sanctum Man throw Sam Centers around a bit.”
“You are so bad. Must be why I love you,” Mia said and ran to keep up with Ted’s long strides.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Burt winced as he put his bad ankle up on the footrest.
“Here, let me,” Audrey said and set an icepack on the still-swollen ankle.
They had rushed out to the command center. Mike and Cid had grabbed their ear coms and Mia’s sports equipment and headed down to the basement. Cid carried a small infrared camera and a pocket full of Ted’s lights.
The front door opened, and Ted and Mia rushed in. They popped their communication links in their ears.
“What happened out there?” Burt questioned them.
“Murphy was following the black mass into the woods. Next thing he knows, he’s in a large salt ring. We don’t have a verbal account, but I gathered that Sam Centers lured the mass away from the house and enclosed it in a salt ring. Murph, who was following the mass unseen, was caught too,” Mia explained.
“The thing is,” Ted started, “that whatever this – we call him Sanctum Man – is, he seems reasonable.”
“Is this the same entity that blackened Cid’s eye and tossed expensive platters at Mike?”
“He manifested the same way. Yes, I’m prepared to say it’s the same entity,” Ted acknowledged.
Burt looked over at Mia and she nodded.
“I sent Cid and Mike down there. You want to back them up?”
Mia nodded and walked over and dug into her duffle, pulling out the sawed-off shotgun. She loaded it with the rock salt packed cartridges. “This is just in case Sanctum Man becomes unreasonable with one of our team. Or he’s killing Centers,” she explained to a wide-eyed Audrey. “I won’t shoot the human. I don’t want to go to jail.”
“Audrey is going to stay and help me here. I’m quite vulnerable at the moment,” Burt explained.
“Cool beans,” Mia said and looked up at Ted who slid into a harness that held several cameras close to his chest. He also had night vision goggles pushed back on his head. “You look like a Borg,” Mia said.
This made Ted smile. “You will be assimilated,” he said in a robotic voice.
“Resistance is futile,” Mia replied as the two walked into the kitchen towards the stairs.
Burt shook his head at the pair.
“You can see it now,” Audrey observed.
“See what?”
“That Mia was destined to be with Ted. I know you two must have had a past. I can see it in both of your eyes. But it wasn’t meant to last.”
“I blew that relationship out of the water with my ego, but if you want to tell me fate had a hand so I can save face, then, by jiminy, I’ll take it,” Burt said in an even voice.
“I wasn’t there. I’m sorry if I brought up a bad subject,” Audrey apologized.
“No, I’m fine with it. I’m over it. I know both participants and have seen the chemistry myself when she was with another Martin. Mia’s had a tough life. She’s vulnerable, and between you and I, needs a protector. Don’t tell her that though, she will bitch slap you with words.”
“Clever turn of phrase, you ever consider writing?” Audrey said as she pulled over a chair and sat next to Burt.
“Comic books,” he admitted blushing.
“What kid doesn’t?”
“I didn’t get the idea until quite recently. Audrey, you have fallen in with a pack of nerds, geeks and freaks. We collect comic books, have dolls and call them action figures, are afraid of women, run after ghosts, eat bad food, have the social maturity of eight-year-olds,” he listed and continued, “We tall and mighty males depend on a five-foot and scratch, young woman to get us out of scrapes, and we sometimes resent it.”
“Sound like normal males to me,” Audrey said in mock seriousness.
Burt glared briefly at her and then smiled. He typed furiously on the keyboard for a moment. “Heads up, campers, we are all connected,” he announced. “Mike, Cid, Ted and Mia are in the basement now.”
Mike turned around and saw a red dot of light floating towards them. “Ted, is that you?”
“Yes. When did the lights go out?”
“A few minutes ago. We hung back, not wanting to be confused as defilers of the inner sanctum,” Cid said. “Plus, I’m trying to rig a safety so the bars don’t impale us on our way through to the subbasement. I’ve got the old steering wheel lock from the van and can’t quite get it settled.”
Ted moved around and spotted some steel L-beams leaning in the corner. He and Cid worked together, and soon even Mike was comfortable enough to take a step through the entrance to the subbasement. Mia felt it the moment the door was opened. The evil pushed at her. She closed her eyes and closed the flower of her soul. “Mike, shut the windows,” she instructed as she heard him groan.
Ted placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, it caught me by surprise. There’s something evil down there. It is very strong. It could influence Sanctum Man and Murphy, so we better be on our toes,” Mia warned.
Mia followed Mike down the stairs. She kept her mind in a tight bud. When they rounded the corner and began to descend the last few steps, she felt the icy breeze that heralded paranormal activity.
The ground was packed earth which was what the team pretty much imagined, so it didn’t come as a surprise. What did surprise them was the string of lights, illuminating all but the dark corners of the empty space.
“I thought we’d find a dungeon,” Mike said under his breath. “The bars…” his voice trailed off as he caught a movement and a shot rang out.
“Stay right there. I’m not afraid to shoot you,” a man’s voice echoed off the stone foundation walls.
“Centers, you have no business being here. Leave now, and we won’t call the police,” Mike ordered.
“I seriously doubt they would come,” Centers said arrogantly.
“What are you looking for?” Mia asked, looking for a movement in the shadows to indicate where Centers was standing.
“That’s none of your business, little lady.”
“You’re upsetting the ghost that dwells here. I won’t be responsible for what he will do to you,” Mia warned.
“I took care of that wisp of black smoke. He’ll not bother me h
ere.”
“You mean that salt ring in the woods?” Mia asked. “I broke the ring and set him free,” she informed him.
“You did what? You bitch!” Centers screamed before they heard the shot. It whizzed by the group, imbedding in the staircase behind them.
“Up and out,” ordered Mike.
They scrambled up the stairs, and Ted and Cid pulled their stop apart. Mike pulled the lever and lowered the bars. “Time to call the cops.”
“They’re on their way. I suggest you guys pull back. Mia, there is some activity in the morning glory room. Mind taking Audrey up to check it out?” Burt asked.
“On my way.” She looked at Ted and the others and said, “Be safe. No treasure is worth getting hurt over.”
A shot rang out. Centers was at the top of the steps. “Let me out, you assholes!”
“Toss out your gun and we’ll think about it,” Mike called.
Centers took a more careful aim and squeezed the trigger. This time he managed to splinter the floor joist over Mike’s head.
“Gentlemen, I suggest you stay out of the direct line of fire,” Mia said before she started up the kitchen stairs.
Audrey was waiting for Mia on the top step. “I heard shots, is everyone alright?”
“If they aren’t stupid, they will be fine. Now, I understand Rebecca is moving around.”
“She’s pitching a shit fit,” Audrey clarified.
Mia hid her amusement and asked, “You sure you want to venture forth? Spirits, even well-raised ones, can be unpredictable.”
“Yes, let’s see if we can calm at least one ghost. I’m starting to feel a bit like they are running the show instead of us.”
Mia smiled at Burt on their way to the main staircase. “They are running the show,” she corrected. “We just observe, and if we get the opportunity, we try to help. Make no mistake about who is in charge here. Mediums are just vessels. They don’t force the spirit to speak to them – if they’re real that is. Pastors and priests are only effective if the spirit is a believer of the same dogma. Just when we think we have a handle on how an entity is going to behave, it changes.”
“So you’re saying this is just guesswork at best.”
“Pretty much. Now let’s go in and ask Rebecca what seems to be the problem?” Mia knocked on the door, waited and then opened it.
The room was a mess. Books were tossed against the wall. The curtains hung half torn from their rings.
Mia moved in a slow circle until she saw the child in the corner. “Rebecca, what’s wrong?”
“I can’t find it. I had it and now it’s gone.”
“What did you lose,” Mia asked softly.
“My confirmation cross. It was around my neck, and now it’s not!”
Mia tried to remember if the ghost had a cross on when she saw her earlier. No. “Did your mother take it off when you were being nursed?”
Rebecca’s hand grabbed at her throat. “No. It’s always here, and now it’s not.”
Mia turned to Audrey and explained, “Rebecca’s cross is missing. She had it on when she died, and now it’s gone.”
“Could they have buried it with her?”
“If they did then it would be on her,” Mia explained. “At least I think so?” Mia looked at the distortion and said, “Who do you think took it?” Mia turned to Audrey and said, “Someone named Maryanne.”
Audrey’s eyes lit up. “There’s a Maryanne in the family bible. She would be Rebecca’s younger sister.”
Mia looked at Rebecca and asked, “Where is her room?”
“She’s in the nursery.”
“Actually, Rebecca, Maryanne is long dead. Maybe she took the cross to remember you by?”
Rebecca’s face softened.
Audrey spoke up, “Maryanne died sixty years after Rebecca, if memory serves me.”
“Maryanne would have been very lonely after you died. Let’s go into the nursery and see what we can see.”
“I can’t leave my room. I will be punished if I leave my room without permission.”
Mia considered this a moment. “There’s no one here now to punish you, is there?”
Rebecca stomped to the drapes and pointed down. “He’s in there. He will know!”
Mia walked to the window and looked down. She didn’t see anything, but she didn’t let on to the spirit. “I’ll explain. I’ll take the punishment,” she offered.
This seemed to settle Rebecca. Mia opened the door and headed to the nursery. “Did you know there’s a secret passage in the closet?” Mia asked.
Rebecca shook her head.
“There is, I found it.” Mia waited for Audrey to take a few pictures before she opened the door.
Rebecca moved in quickly and over to the chest of drawers. She began pulling them out. “Her stuff is gone!”
“Maybe it’s been moved,” suggested Mia.
Rebecca walked over to the wall between the two beds and pounded on it. A panel opened. She tried to reach inside but her energy was fading.
“Let me,” Mia offered. She pushed the door wide open and reached inside. She came out with a broken china cup and a small journal.
“That’s the cup, I broke. Maryanne hid it for me so I wouldn’t be punished again,” the girl told Mia.
Mia handed the book to Audrey who sat on the bed and opened it up. “It’s Maryanne’s journal,” she announced. Audrey flipped the pages until she came to a tear-stained page and read, “Today, my sister died. Measles is what the doctor said, but I think it was something else. Uncle Richard took the strap to her and left her too long without food and then she got sick. I hate Uncle Richard. Momma gave me Rebecca’s cross when I asked for it. I will keep it always…” Audrey looked at the distortion and said, “I think Maryanne does have it.”
Mia looked at Rebecca and asked, “Tell me about Uncle Richard?”
“He’s my father’s older brother. He’s always sneaking around at night. One night I went to the bathroom, and I heard him in the hall hushing a maid. She’d been crying. I stuck out my head and he saw me. I was punished for being out of my bed. My mother told me I broke the rules, and she could do nothing about it. I had three swats of the belt and spent three days in the little gray room. I wasn’t even allowed out to pee. Then I got sick.”
“Did Uncle Richard do anything else to make you hate him?” Mia asked.
“He hit mother after father disappeared. He told her to stop sniveling. He was in charge now, and she had to listen to him.”
“Do you want me to find your cross?” Mia asked.
“No, now that I know why Maryanne has it, it is enough.” Rebecca moved to the bed and sat down next to a surprised Audrey.
“I felt the mattress give like someone is sitting next to me,” Audrey gasped.
“Rebecca is. She wants you to read the rest of the journal to her.”
Audrey obliged. Mia and the ghost of a girl lost to measles listened to the day to day concerns of the eight-year-old sister. At the end of the book, Maryanne mentioned she was being sent to Aunt Elizabeth’s house. She was very happy as Aunt Elizabeth was her mother’s sister and didn’t believe in little gray rooms and punishing little girls for leaving their rooms at night. Audrey closed the book and said, “That’s all there is. She must have forgotten the book when she left.” Audrey timidly faced the bed where Rebecca still sat. “If it helps you to know, in the family bible it says she married and had six children. She died an old lady.”
Rebecca reached out and touched Audrey’s arm. Mia smiled as Audrey’s mouth dropped open briefly, but she quickly recovered.
“She’s thanking you. She says she’s tired and wants to sleep now.”
Audrey got up and saw the mattress compress as the child lay full length on the bed. The bedroom door opened by itself. Audrey looked alarmed, but one look at Mia’s face calmed and moved her.
“There is a brightness, and an old woman is moving out of it. She is holding something in her hand,” Mia rep
orted.
“Maryanne?” Audrey dared to ask.
“Maybe, yes. Rebecca sees her and is smiling. The woman is moving towards the bed, you may want to stand by me, Audrey,” Mia cautioned.
Audrey moved and hid behind Mia.
“The woman has put something in Rebecca’s hand and closed it.”
“It’s got to be the cross,” Audrey whispered.
“They are both standing now,” she informed Audrey. “Go in peace, Rebecca,” Mia said to the distortion.
Audrey watched as the distortion formed into a little girl briefly before disappearing.
Audrey grabbed Mia’s hand, and the two of them stood silently for a good long while.
“Are you too still on com?” Burt asked breaking the spell. His voice was a bit nasal.
Mia turned to Audrey and mimed tears. “Yes, you old softy, we are still here. I think I have an idea of whose porn pit that is in the passage.”
“Uncle Richard, that old bastard. Good thing the sister left the house before she came of age,” Burt said gruffly. “The police are here, didn’t want to interrupt you earlier.”
“Do you want us to come down?” Mia asked.
“Maybe, your admirer asked about you on his way to the basement.”
“It’s so nice to be remembered. We’re on our way down, over.”
“We’re using over again, how nice,” Burt said sarcastically.
Mia made a face at Audrey which caused her to laugh.
“Ladies?” Burt asked. “Are you alright?”
“Fine,” Mia said and walked out into the hall. She looked briefly into the library as they passed and was pleased to see nothing changed there.
“Is she?”
“Still swinging. That one bugs me.”
“Hey, we have one sorted,” Audrey pointed out.
“Yes, but how many do we have to go?”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“Put your gun down and back away from the door,” the deputy demanded.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” insisted Centers.
“Put your gun down, and we’ll be able to discuss your case,” reasoned Deputy Doyle. “Otherwise we have to consider you’re taking a hostile position.”
