The Haunting of RedRise House
Ghosts and Haunted Houses
Caroline Gebbie
Spooky Night Books
Do not watch the petals fall from the rose with sadness, know that, like life, things sometimes must fade, before they can bloom again.
- Unknown
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Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Called From Beyond
Preview: The Haunting of Brynlee House
Preview: The Haunting of Seafield House
Also by Caroline Clark:
About the Author
Prologue
October 31st 1750
RedRise House
Yorkshire Moors
England.
10 pm
Alice knew it would be tonight. She was eight now. Sometimes it seemed that she had waited for this day for more years than she could count. Every year, on this night, they came for someone and tonight it would be her. She knew this wasn’t logical. There were seven girls her age and it could be any one of them. Only, she knew it would be her. She felt it, and the fear was like a beast inside. Clawing to take control and to pull her down into its pit of dark despair. None of the other girls believed her tales. They said the missing ones had simply run away. Only there was no escape.
Alice knew, she had tried. She had been watching and one girl went missing this week every year. That had to be more than a coincidence. It had to be! Tonight, if she let them they would take her and she would never return.
The moon shone down through the thin curtains. Its silvery rays painted shadows across the walls. They were like monsters with long creepy fingers that pointed at her. Others were like the crone from the storybooks they were sometimes allowed to read. Bent and wizened and yet as powerful as the dark. She screwed her eyes tight to shut out the dancing figures created by the wind and the moon as it shone through the trees. Only, she dare not shut them for too long. If she fell asleep, she would lose and somehow she knew this was the battle she had to win.
Gradually the house grew silent. All the other children were asleep and she just had to wait for the hourly check and then she could make her move. In the darkness her heart beat in her throat and the blood rushed through her ears. How would she hear when they came if her head was filled with the sound of her own pulse?
The minutes passed so slowly and she started to get tired. Was Mary already asleep? Could she leave her? How could she have such a thought? Mary was just a year younger and if they could not take Alice then maybe they would take Mary.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor outside. They approached quickly and confidently. It would be the last check of the night. The one to make sure that they were all asleep. The lantern would shine over her and she must make sure that she did not blink, did not move and yet what if she had mistimed this? What if she had slept and the last check had already gone. What if this time the footsteps were the man in the hood? The one who would take her away.
The thought was so frightening that she felt sick and her eyes burst open. She had to close them, had to lay still and yet she did not think she could.
The door opened and the lamp light swung into the room. Footsteps approached the first bed. It was two away from her and she tried to close her eyes. They didn’t want to shut but eventually she managed to force them closed. Only now she couldn’t breathe. She had to breathe slowly and quietly and yet she was gasping for each breath. Almost hyperventilating in her panic. The lamp light flared which meant it was raised above the first bed. The footsteps had stopped as Matron looked down on Jennifer. She would be asleep, at only six she was always tired and often asleep just as her head hit the pillow.
The light was moving, coming closer and she held her breath for a few seconds. The light was over Mary’s bed now and once more it was lifted. She crossed her fingers hoping that Mary would be asleep. That she wouldn’t move and risk the belt. The lamp was raised and she screwed her own eyes down tight and took another breath. In the silence it sounded like a gulp and she knew she had to calm down. If they suspected then maybe they would take her now and then it would all be over. Who would save Mary if she were already gone?
The lamp lowered and the footsteps moved across the hard concrete floor. Each one was like a slap, slap, slap and Alice had to screw her eyes tight to not jump at every sound. Slowly she let out a breath and relaxed her eyes and face. This had to look natural. Matron was hard to fool and if she was found awake then the least of her problems would be the belt. It had happened only five times in her four years at the home. Each time had left deep welts on her buttocks and legs and as matron approached some of the scars began to itch. It was as if they could sense the belt, sense the punishment she deserved for defying her betters and staying awake.
Breathe, slowly, calmly. The footsteps stopped at the side of her bed. Through her eyelids, she could sense the light as it rose above her. How she wanted to gasp or breathe. To pull the thin and stiff blanket over her head and hide beneath its perceived safety but she must not. Stay calm, stay still as a dormouse.
In her mind she could see Matron. Her thin lips drawn tight over sharp pointy teeth. Her dark eyes sunken into her sallow skin. Her gray hair pulled back into a severe bun that stretched the skin across her bones making it look as if it would tear if she ever dared to smile. She didn’t of course, she was always angry, always mean and yet after each disappearance she looked younger, more alive. Did she eat the girls?
Matron let out a breath and she almost jumped. The sound was coarse and phlegmy. Though she did not understand the consumption that was gradually killing the old woman, she sensed that her time was near. It made the old matron even more angry and prone to dish out punishment even when it wasn’t warranted. Yet, Alice knew she deserved it tonight. She had defied them and forced herself to stay awake. What would be the punishment for that, if they knew?
Alice almost shuddered at the thought but she clenched her fists beneath the covers and kept still. Soon she would have to take a breath and then it would be over. How she wished that the matron would move away. Would go look at one of the other nine beds in this room or move on down the corridor to one of the other rooms.
The woman seemed to hesitate too long and Alice was sure she had been caught. Any second now a hand would reach down and snatch her thin frame from the bed. Any second...
Matron coughed causing the lamp to shake in her hand and the light from it to bounce across her eyelids. Then she heard the slap, slap, slap as the footsteps moved away.
Slowly she let out a whistle of air and relaxed just a little. The footsteps were moving on, the lamp was fading.
Alice gripped tightly to her covers as Matron checked each bed and then she slap, slap, slapped back to the door and was gone. The footsteps faded down the corridor and went into another room. A yawn escaped Alice and she wondered how much longer she would be able to stay awake. They had worked extra hard these last two weeks. Scrubbing the massive hou
se from top to bottom as well as working in the gardens and on the farm. There would be visitors tonight and so they had needed to prepare laundry and extra rooms. It was exhausting work and their rations had not been increased so they went to bed hungry each night and woke up weak for the following day’s work.
Alice heard Matron approaching the door again. It did not bother her this time, as she would simply walk past and then go up the stairs to her own quarters. Once she heard her door close she would be sure that it was almost time. Maybe she would just give it a little longer. Enough time for Matron to get into bed and fall asleep. Did she sleep? Maybe she sat there waiting for one of the girls to move. Maybe she sat at the top of the stairs looking down and just waiting?
Alice pushed that thought away and concentrated on her plan. She intended to wake Mary and then go down the stairs into the basement. She knew where there was a lamp and a flint kept in the kitchen, she would grab it on her way out. With that she would go to the basement where she had been told there was a tunnel that led out of the house and under the wall. If she could find it then they would escape and go somewhere nice. Maybe into the woods. They could live in a tree and hide from everyone who came near. It was a lovely dream and it filled her with hope. Just her and Mary safe and cocooned at the base of a tree. They would find mushrooms to eat and maybe catch rabbits and fish from the river. She had never caught a fish but how hard could it be?
Soon she would find out, for it was time.
* * *
“Mary, Mary wake up please,” Alice whispered into the little blonde girl’s ear as she pulled back her lank and dirty curls.
Mary’s eyes shot open, they were a pure blue and filled with fear. Alice placed a hand over her mouth before she could let out a squeal of terror.
“You are safe,” she whispered. “It’s just me, like I told you. We’re leaving.”
Mary rubbed her eyes and tried to keep them open. “I’m very tired and it will be time to get up soon.”
“It’s time now and then tomorrow you can sleep until dinner.”
Mary’s eyes opened even wider. The whites almost shone in the dark. “Really?”
“Yes, if... once we are out of here we can do what we want.” Alice pulled back the covers and handed her a dress. “Only, hurry, we don’t want to be caught. Not tonight!”
Soon they were sneaking from the room, their bare feet silent in the darkness. Alice knew her way to the kitchen. She had practiced counting out the steps for the last month. So she took Mary’s hand and began to walk. The fingers clasped in hers were hesitant. They began to shake as the door closed behind them and the darkness settled over them like a shroud.
“It’s ok,” she whispered, “trust me.”
Mary’s arm shook as she nodded and Alice smiled into the darkness and began to count her steps. It was important that she kept her stride at the same length or she would miss the door. Twenty, then thirty just four more steps and she reached out for the door. Her hand banged into the wood and the slight sound seemed so loud in the darkness. Alice froze and listened.
There was nothing there and yet she thought she heard whispers from far away. Was someone else awake? Or were they already coming for her?
Quickly she searched for the handle and found it. Turning it in the darkness she slipped into the kitchen and reached behind the door. There on the side should be a lamp and flint. At first she could not find them and started to panic. She had never been in the basement. It was off limits. No doubt because of the escape route. Without the lantern she would never find her way and she would disappear tonight!
Then her fingers hit something hard and there was the sound of scrapping. She had the lantern and then the flint. Almost letting out a yelp of joy she grabbed them and turned away from the door.
“Hold tight to my dress,” she whispered to Mary. “I need my hands now. So hold tight and stay quiet.”
“I’m frightened,” Mary’s voice was but a whisper.
Alice leaned in close to her and moved her hair so she could reply right into her ear. “Don’t be, we will soon be free.”
Then she turned and felt Mary’s hand pulling on her dress. Together they snuck across the huge kitchen. The door to the basement was another twenty-two steps to their left. But she had to make sure she was central to the door before she started counting. Feeling the frame she got her position right and then with her eyes tightly closed she set off across the slate floor. At first she was rushing and knew the strides would be too long. Slow down, she told herself and adjusted her strides. She had counted this so many times she would not get it wrong.
Nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, they were so close she paused and listened. Her breath was coming fast and shallow and she was feeling a little dizzy. They were so close and soon they would be gone from here. Soon they would be safe. Twenty-two. She reached for the door. The unlit lantern in one hand the flint in the other. The flint scratched against the handle and she knew they were there. With the flint in her tiny hand she could not turn the handle and so she pushed it into the pocket of her dress and turned the handle. As she did she thought she heard whispers come from behind the door but they were gone so soon, she thought maybe it was just a gust of air.
Quickly, she pulled Mary through the door and onto the steps. They were stone and narrow and it was so dark but she knew she must shut the door before she lit the lantern. So she eased inside and felt Mary gasp as her foot missed a step. Using her body she stopped her falling and eased in a little further. It was so difficult in the dark. Before she had practiced, walking along the corridor with her eyes closed but here she was truly blind. Still it was not the time to turn back. She eased in a little more and felt Mary follow her. Reaching back she pulled the door closed and felt it click into place. They were safe. They had made it.
Feeling suddenly euphoric she pulled the flint from her pocket and struck it near to the lantern. It was something she had done a thousand times and light filled the stairwell.
She gave Mary a smile and was pleased to get one in return. Though the girl's face was pale and drawn she looked better than earlier.
“We just have to go down the stairs and to the left. There we will find a passage out of here.”
Mary nodded and Alice led her down the stairs. They seemed to go on forever and she estimated that they were at least three levels below the house. Occasionally she thought she heard voices but decided it must just be the echoes from their footsteps. She tried to ignore the fact that they slap, slap, slapped on the steps as they climbed down and down. Matron was in bed, she had to be if they were to escape.
“How much further,” Mary asked.
“Just a little.”
Soon the sound of their feet was replaced by the rushing of running water. There must be a river beneath them and then they were at the bottom. There was a wide passageway and she could see water running through it directly across from them. She turned to her left and could have sworn she saw a flash of light. Maybe it was a reflection off the water. It didn’t matter she was not turning back when they were so close.
Up ahead she saw a door and knew that must lead to the passage. Quickly she hurried towards it ignoring the cold and the ache in her legs. They passed an alcove filled with shelves lined with ancient books. With hardly a glance she rushed on, Mary still clinging to her dress. They both were afraid but it would all be worth it once they were free.
They reached the door and she turned around to smile at Mary. “We are nearly there. Soon you can sleep.” As she said the words she knew she should have brought their blankets. Thin as they were, they were better than nothing. Why was she such a fool? Maybe she could get Mary to safety and come back.
Pushing the thought aside she reached out to grab the handle, before she could turn it she felt it move in her fingers and the door pulled away from her.
She stumbled into a large room. It was lit by flickering torches and rough hands pushed her into the center. Mary let go of her dress and she t
urned to search for her but fear dropped her to her knees.
They were surrounded by over a dozen men in long black cloaks and hoods. She had run straight into the very thing she was trying to avoid. As she turned to try and escape she noticed something behind the men. There were bones. Small bones about the size of her arm and legs and further around was something she couldn’t believe. Was it real? Behind the men, in the darkest reaches of the room only just touched by the flickering light was a pile of skulls.
The men stepped back as if herding her towards that grisly pile.
Next to the skulls was a stone bench surrounding by flickering torches. What was it for?
Alice was grabbed from behind. One man clutching onto each of her arms and hauling her from her feet.
“Run, Mary, run,” she screamed as they carried her to the altar and lay her down on top of it. She tried to look for Mary as they held her down by her arms and legs, but it was not possible. No matter how she kicked and struggled she could not pull free. Their hands were so big around her skinny flesh.
Where was Mary, if at least she was safe then it didn’t matter. As she tried to look for her friend, all she could see were two hooded creatures looking down on her. There was just a black emptiness inside the dark hoods.
For a moment she could not breathe and then they both raised their hands up to the hoods. The light flickered and all the lanterns seemed to dim at once. Alice knew that it was over for her and yet she was intrigued. She wanted... needed to see into their eyes to let them know that she was not afraid. That she had accepted this and that she would hate them for all eternity. As she had the thought she wondered where it came from. Was it even her own.
The Haunting of RedRise House: Ghosts and Haunted Houses Page 1
