by Rose Pressey
“I can walk you back to the cemetery,” he said.
Oh, no. Just as I had suspected.
“Okay,” I said with a forced smile.
I hoped he didn’t pick up on my anxiousness. He looked at me with a quirk of his eyebrow. Maybe he had picked up on it, but he didn’t say anything.
We all got out of the car and gathered on the sidewalk. Then I realized I had to go to the tavern to get the flashlights as well. Walking around a dark graveyard with no lights was just too much. Not only was it spooky, but I didn’t want people walking into anything. Tammy kept the flashlights stored behind the bar for me so that I would have them for the tours. The tavern owner also was nice enough to sell tickets for the tour for me at the tavern. I gave them a small fee for providing the service for me. It worked out nicely.
As we were headed in the direction of the tavern we had to pass the alleyway that led back to the old cemetery. The tavern was one of the oldest buildings in town. And of course, it was haunted as well. Made entirely of stone, the building had originally been a stagecoach stop. Brannon opened the tavern’s door and we stepped inside.
A lot of people were at the bar already. The barstools and tables were full. A band was setting up at the back of the room, ready to play for the evening. Brannon and I followed Tammy over to the bar so that she could grab the flashlights for me. I wondered if she would question why I hadn’t sold tickets for tonight’s tour. I’d taken care of the arrangements over the phone with the group. Brannon received a call on his phone.
“I’ll be right back, Rip, I need to take this call,” Brannon said.
I nodded and watched him as he stepped outside. Tammy had already stepped behind the bar to held with customers.
I held the bag of flashlights and studied the crowd. When I turned my attention back to the bar, I saw Tammy at the bar pouring a drink for a customer. The dark-haired man sat the end of the bar watching Tammy as she poured the bourbon into the glass. I noticed something odd about him right away. He was dressed in old-fashioned attire, a suit that was definitely not from the latest season’s fashions. Tammy glanced over at me and waved.
The man never looked to see who she was waving at. Something seemed familiar about him. That was when it hit me. Could this be the man I’d seen at the library? One of the ghosts? That was impossible. The clothing though. Why else would he wear something like that?
Grabbing the glass as soon as Tammy placed it in front of him, he took a drink, but as soon as he put the glass down, the man disappeared. Tammy was looking at me when it happened, so she hadn’t seen him. Of course, I gasped at the sight. It wasn’t every day that I saw a person disappear right before my eyes. Tammy noticed me staring at the barstool. She looked that way. Of course, the man was gone, but the glass was still there.
I raced over to the counter. “Did you see that?”
“No, what happened?” she asked.
“The man you just served a drink, he disappeared.”
“I see that he’s gone, but I thought maybe he just went around the corner,” Tammy said.
“No, he definitely disappeared,” I said. “I’m positive that he didn’t walk around the corner.”
Now that she said it, I was beginning to doubt myself. Maybe I had let all the stress get to me. I took off across the bar toward the back area near the restrooms to see if I’d find the man. I weaved around the guy setting up his drums. When I got there, Tammy walked up right behind me. The man was nowhere in sight.
“Do you think he’s in the men’s room?” I asked.
“Well, I’m not going in there to find out,” Tammy said.
“I’m not either,” I said.
Tammy and I stood there for a few moments staring at the door.
“This is awkward,” I said
“A little bit,” Tammy said. “What if the guy was real and we’re waiting for him in the hallway? It’ll probably creep him out.”
“Well, he’ll have to get over it because I’m not going anywhere until I figure this out.”
Just then another man walked out of the bathroom.
“Excuse me, sir,” Tammy said. “Is anyone else in there?”
He shook his head and walked away. Tammy opened the door and slowly peeked inside.
“It’s empty,” she said.
I blew the hair out of my eyes. “The ghosts are extremely active.”
I still couldn’t bring myself to tell her I’d seen the three ghosts at the library. Now the ghost had shown up at the tavern. I’d tell her later. Maybe tomorrow. Or next week.
Tammy gestured. “Let’s go back to the bar. It’s always spooky back here. If he was a ghost I hope he doesn’t come back.”
“Yeah, me too,” I said, glancing over my shoulder.
Tammy grabbed the bag with the flashlights from the floor and handed it to me. “I hope you have a good tour tonight. I wish you didn’t have to do this.”
The glass the man had drank from was gone now too. I supposed one of the other bartenders had taken it away.
“Yeah, well, it’ll be fine,” I said, forcing a smile.
Brannon and Tammy probably just thought that I was upset about what happened at the library. Little did they know I had the other anxiety playing with my thoughts as well.
“Have a good night,” I said. “I’ll talk to you after I’m done.”
Would she tell me if that ghost showed up again? She waved as she grabbed an apron and tied it around her tiny waist. Brannon had stepped back in just then and taken the bag of flashlights from my hand. He’d missed the entire ordeal with the apparition of the man. Brannon carried the flashlights for me as we headed toward the door.
When we stepped out onto the sidewalk, he said, “Are you sure you’re all right? I just worry that you’re not up for this.”
“Oh, I’ll be fine,” I said with a wave of my hand.
We turned to the left and headed down the dark alleyway. Our footsteps echoed on the cobblestone street.
“How many people do you have on the tour tonight?” he asked.
Oh, no. I’d forgotten he would ask questions like that. Now I had to once again act as if nothing was wrong.
“Six,” I said.
Why did I say six? Why not tell the truth and say four? That was how many people who had paid for the haunted woods tour. I didn’t sound confident about my answer. It was tough when a detective asked questions.
“Wow, big crowd. Will you promise me that you’ll call as soon as you’re done?” Brannon asked.
“I promise,” I said.
We made it to the end of the alley. At the edge of the buildings it opened up into the graveyard space. Darkness cloaked the area. Brannon reached down and pulled out one of the flashlights. When he flicked it on a small area in front of us was illuminated. The rest of the space was still dark. The full moon put off the only light, definitely not enough to see our way around. I wouldn’t lie and say this place wasn’t spooky.
The wind whistled through the branches. Stone angels, marble and granite headstones of differing heights were surrounded by large oak trees, providing perfect spots for anyone to hide behind, including the numerous ghosts.
Mrs. Clatterbuck was the ghost who haunted this place the most. This was her space and she reminded me of that almost on a daily basis. As the ghostly guardian of the graveyard, she didn’t like that I brought people here for tours. She felt as if I was disturbing the dead. I’d explained to her that I meant no harm. I’d been able to help the cemetery quite a bit since I started the tours. I raised funds to help keep the place maintained. Plus, I was only trying to find answers to the unexplained. It was my little way of helping people to understand.
The old owl that made the treetop his home greeted me. He probably thought that I was here for the night’s tour. I wasn’t here every night, but almost. Sometimes more in the summer and sometimes less in the winter. Weather permitting of course.
We reached the black iron gate that opened up into the c
emetery and paused.
“I can wait here with you until they arrive,” Brannon said.
Oh, no, I’d forgotten that he might offer that. Now I had to get rid of him quickly. What excuse would I give for that?
“Oh, I know you’re really busy and it’s not necessary. You know I’ve been through this a million times. I can handle myself.”
I’d just make him think that I wanted to do this on my own. After all, maybe he was being a bit too protective. I mean, yes, there had been a murder, but we were already pretty sure who had done it. There was no reason to be fearful of a killer walking around. Though she hadn’t been arrested yet. She wouldn’t be after me though, right?
“You seem upset. Is it because of what happened at the library?” he asked, crossing his muscular arms in front of his chest.
“I guess what happened is upsetting me,” I said. “But I didn’t realize I was acting weird.”
“A little bit strange, yes, but it’s understandable for you to feel this way. I can tell you’d rather stay here alone in this location,” he said.
“It’s what I do,” I said with a smile.
He sighed. “All right, but remember, call me when you’re finished. Maybe we can have some pizza.”
“I’m not sure if I’m in the mood for pizza after all the pies. My stomach is still a bit upset,” I said.
“I’ll talk to you soon.” Brannon leaned down and kissed me goodbye. “Have a good tour. Tell the ghosts to behave.”
Not being honest with him made my stomach twist into a knot and brought a heavy feeling like a concrete block on my chest. Maybe I should call out to him and confess. No, no, it was too late for that now. I would stick with my plan. He glanced back as he started down the alleyway. When he waved, I tossed my hand up in return. I had to make sure I waited long enough so that he would be gone. The last thing I needed was for him to see me walking out by the tavern.
Good thing I’d told the tour group to meet an hour later than normal for the tour because I needed the extra time to get back to my car. I’d never thought there would be such a commotion at the library today. I checked the time on my phone. Okay, it had only been a minute since Brannon had walked down the alleyway. What would I do until enough time had passed?
A shuffling noise caught my attention. I whipped around, shining the flashlight behind me and onto the old gravestones. Thank goodness no ghost was around. I’d witnessed my daily dose of paranormal activity already. But what had made that noise? The old owl with his bright green eyes watched me. He wasn’t moving though so it wasn’t him. The sound came again.
I whipped the flashlight’s light down onto the ground and saw the leaves shuffle across the ground. I released a deep breath. Oh, thank goodness. I really was on edge. It was just the leaves. No reason to be afraid. I checked the time again. It had been three minutes. I supposed that was enough time now. I was ready to get this started. I wouldn’t lie and say I wasn’t apprehensive about this new endeavor. Things would be fine, I reminded myself.
With my bag of flashlights in hand, I hurried down the alleyway. Things would be just fine, right?
Chapter 4
When I reached the end of the alleyway, I stopped. I peeked out around the edge of the building, looking to the left and right for any sign of Brannon. His car was nowhere in sight. I just had to make it past the tavern without Tammy seeing me. She would be so busy that I was almost sure she wouldn’t look out the window and notice me.
I hurried out from the side of the building and down the sidewalk. I told myself not to look over at the tavern, but I couldn’t help it. I just had to glance. At that moment I spotted Tammy by the window. She was cleaning a table by the front of the room. What were the odds? She glanced up and out the window. I was almost positive that she saw me. I quickened my step so that I could get away from the tavern before she popped out from the door and yelled at me.
My nerves were a wreck. I couldn’t get away from there fast enough. As I shuffled down the sidewalk, I was practically running. I glanced over my shoulder. Thank goodness Tammy hadn’t come out of the tavern. For all she knew there might be a group with me. However, if she saw me alone she’d know something was up. I released a deep breath. Apparently I’d gotten away without being spotted. Thank goodness. The clear sky made a dark canvas for the twinkling array of stars. I was just glad it wasn’t raining.
As I walked I felt like someone was behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see if Tammy had popped up, but it wasn’t her. No one was back there. My mind was playing tricks on me again. I was good at letting that happen. I needed to remind myself that in a few hours all of this would be over and I would be home trying to decompress from the day with comfy pajamas, a warm bed, and a good book. Even with that to look forward to I would still have to think about what happened at the library. It would take some time to shake that off. I just felt so helpless and in shock about the murder.
The sensation of being watched stayed with me. When I glanced over my shoulder again I spotted them. The three ghosts I’d seen at the library were walking side by side behind me. Their attention was definitely focused on me. What did they want and why were they following me? The creepy looks on their faces made me think that they were bad news. Stopping to make small talk was out of the question. I didn’t want to find out why they were interested in me was the least of my worries at the moment.
Quickening my steps, I hurried down the sidewalk. I sure hoped they didn’t catch up with me. Walking any faster wasn’t possible unless I started running. I didn’t want to do that. People would think something was seriously wrong with me. They wouldn’t see the ghosts behind me. Maybe they’d think there had been another murder. The last thing I wanted was to cause more panic around town.
I tried not to let the ghosts scare me too much, but with their mean faces it was hard not to let them get to me. I kept glancing over my shoulder. They didn’t take their eyes off me. The grim looks on their faces let me know they were headed for me relentlessly. I had to get away from them. And even though I didn’t want to run, it looked as if that was my only option at the moment. Unfortunately, I was a terrible athlete. Always tumbling over my own feet. I would probably trip.
What did they want? I just wanted them to leave me alone. Unable to hold it together any longer, I took off running down the sidewalk as fast as my legs would allow. With my luck the ghosts would probably outrun me and pop up right in front of me at any moment. So basically, it was undoubtedly pointless to run away from them. They would get me no matter what.
I made it a few more steps and just as I had predicted my legs moved faster than the rest of my body. I tumbled forward, landing on the pavement with my hands catching my fall. Of course, now my palms throbbed. Absolute terror rushed through my entire body. It was as if I had been kicked and the air was knocked right out of me. A gust of wind had rushed right through me as I fell, almost as if something had moved through my body.
Checking over my shoulder, I completely expected the ghosts to be there and for them to reach out and grab me. They were nowhere in sight. I tried to catch my breath and calm down. I managed to turn around a bit, but I was still on the pavement. The ghosts were still nowhere in sight. Had I really gotten that lucky? Had the ghosts gone for good?
A couple people walked by and looked down at me as if I was crazy for being on the sidewalk. They stepped around me as if I was nothing more than a discarded food wrapper or cigarette butt.
“Thanks for the help,” I said.
They didn’t acknowledge me. Most people in Devil’s Moon were much nicer than that. Little did they know there were ghosts lurking around. I managed to get to my feet, finally catching my breath. Inspecting my hands, I realized they were a bit scratched, but nothing serious.
My phone alerted me to a text message. Maybe it was Annie. Had she seen a ghost at the library and wanted to warn me? Now I was thinking the sooner we got those cameras in the better off we’d be. As I hurried down the sidewalk
I pulled the phone from my bag. It was a text from Tammy.
Where are you?
She had seen me. Should I answer her now or wait for a little while? No, that would only make her worry if I didn’t answer. I always answered her text messages. I tried to figure out what was the best answer. I typed a message back.
Just walking down the sidewalk.
See, that wasn’t really lying. I was walking down the sidewalk. Now I just hoped she didn’t ask for more information. I glanced over my shoulder. Relief fell over me when I saw no sign of the ghosts. Another text came through from Tammy.
Oh, I thought I saw you walking alone on the sidewalk.
Must’ve been someone who looked like me. Ha ha. Maybe I have a doppleganger. I added a laughing face.
Call me when the tour is over.
I sent the thumbs up emoji.
Once at the streetlight I waited for traffic to go by and then crossed the street. My house was only a few streets away now. Thank goodness, because what if the ghosts were following me home? As I continued down the road and to my street, I released a deep breath trying to calm my nerves. Darkness surrounded me now. Thank goodness a street light illuminated the area. But still, it was like a scene out of a scary movie. I was all alone.
My little blue Toyota came into view. It wasn’t a fancy Bentley, but it would have to do until I hit the lottery. I thought it was a cute car and Tammy said it fit my personality perfectly. There was no time to go into the house. Luckily, I’d worn clothing that would be somewhat suitable for walking around in the woods. My durable khaki pants, a white blouse, and black cardigan sweater. I’d left my sneakers in the car.
After fumbling with the key fob, I finally got the door unlocked. When I slipped inside the car I locked the doors and took a moment to release a deep breath. I felt as if I was somewhat safe in my little cocoon of a car. I shoved the key into the ignition and started the engine. I had just enough time to get to the woods. Now that I thought about it, this was probably a crazy idea. But it was too late to change my mind now.
