The Haret (The Haret Series)

by Denise Daisy

  She shuddered.

  “It’s all so creepy.”

  Ian pulled his wallet from his back pocket and removed a business card then opened his cell phone and began dialing.

  “Hello Detective Russell? Hi this is Ian Carlton, I think my friend and I might have found something important, something Felicitas was hiding from all of us…”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Esther’s cell vibrated on her desk. She glanced at her phone; it was an incoming text from an unknown number. She opened the message. Ordinarily she would not have her phone out in class, but since Felicitas disappearance last week she kept her phone on just in case.

  Hey it’s Reed. Can you get away tonight and come to my place?

  Esther’s heart raced. It had been a week since she had talked with him.

  Her fingers shook as she returned the text.

  Sure

  The phone vibrated again.

  Great. Meet me at nine at the fire spot.

  Esther wondered how she would get away. Nine o’clock was pretty late to be leaving the house. Her mother would never approve especially given the latest events. Everyone was on edge since Felicitas disappearance last week. Even though she was classified as a runaway those who knew her well knew that was not the whole truth. Most believed she was a victim of an internet night stalker who snuck in her room late at night and drugged her. Rumors had been running rampant ever since Ian made a copy of the nocturnal journal and let it fall into the hands of the media. Her mother would be suspicious and never approve of her leaving the house so late.

  Her worries were resolved later that afternoon when she found out a group of her friends were holding a candle light vigil at the high school. It was a perfect way to escape. She would go there and sneak away around eight-thirty.

  Esther ran a brush through her dark hair and then applied a layer of cherry scented gloss over her lips. She looked at herself in the mirror almost feeling shameful for caring how she looked. Since Felicitas disappearance nothing had seemed to matter. But tonight she would be seeing Reed again and the female in her wanted to look pretty. She had chosen a pair of hipster boot cut jeans, a pale green v neck tee, a white scarf and a black leather jacket. She picked up her striped bottle of Pink Sugar; squirting the delicious scent behind both ears. She fluffed her hair, tossed her flashlight and cell phone into her oversized bag and headed outdoors.

  The amount of people who turned out for the vigil was overwhelming. No doubt about it Felicitas was well loved. Everyone in the Purity club was there along with most of the senior class. Several of the teachers attended feeling it was their duty to try and keep order and perhaps council those who were distraught. A couple of news reporters filtered through the crowd interviewing those eager to be on camera by feigning amazing friendships with Felicitas. Esther was angry. How could people be so pathetic? Then she realized that that was exactly how Felicitas made everyone feel, as if they were all her closest friend. She felt shame for her critical spirit.

  She was handed a flyer as she approached the group. A lump formed in her throat as she saw Felicitas smiling face with the word MISSING printed at the bottom. It didn’t take long before a group of girls approached her in hushed whispers wanting confirmation and details about Felicitas pregnancy to a much older man. Esther fumed inside when she found out the source of their information was none other than Catlin. She wasn’t surprised when she saw Catlin standing near a camera rattling on enforcing the fact that Ian was not the father. Esther wanted to go grab her by her overly bleached hair and embarrass her in front of her TV audience but instead she spent the better part of two hours dispelling rumors and was relieved when her phone alarm signaled it was eight-thirty and time to head for Reed’s house.

  The anxiety was growing inside of her at alarming rate putting her nerves on overload. She had heard before that stress was the silent killer. If that was true she figured she should be dead by morning. Her apprehensions heightened when she realized she was driving across one of the supposedly most haunted places alone. Then there was meeting up with Reed, too many emotions at once.

  She pulled up into the clearing. It was a bit daunting being the only car there. She killed the engine shutting off the headlights which immediately cast her into darkness. Fear gripped her. It was quiet, still and spooky and worst of all no one knew where she was. She strained to look out of the windshield. The night was pitch black, the trees seemed menacing standing before her guarding the secrets of the woods. Trees had always unnerved her for some reason. She stared at them feeling as if they knew what happened to Felicitas like they were part of a dark treachery hiding a secret coven that stole her friend away. Fear crawled into the car; its presence was overwhelming.

  A sudden rap on her window just about caused her to lose consciousness. Reed grinned as he peered through the glass and opened the door.

  “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Esther felt foolish. She could only imagine how pathetic she must have looked to Reed, reacting in such fear. He looked hot tonight too in his jeans and a white t-shirt and his hair greased back away from his face. Her heart pounded against her chest at the sight of him.

  “So what’s up?” She tried sounding nonchalant to hide her nerves.

  “I did some research this week on the property here. I tried to find out anything I could on the spot.” he handed her a flashlight and led her towards the woods before continuing. “There’s an old legend dating back to the 1700’s of a man who lived on this very property and went hunting in the woods and never returned home. His wife and kids supposedly searched for him and it was like he disappeared. They finally gave up assuming he died or was eaten by wild animals or that Indians had attacked and carried him off. Then he shows up fifty years later. His wife is old; his kids are grown, but get this….he hasn’t aged a bit. He still looks the same as they day he disappeared.”

  “Okay that’s creepy.” Esther said wishing she hadn’t heard the story while traipsing through the same woods late at night. “So what ended up happening to him?”

  “There’s not much of the story documented after that except that he supposedly wrote a book about where he had been all those years and gave it to his children and instructed them to pass it down to future generations.

  “Great. Anything else?”

  “Well…there are reports of apparitions and strange sounds coming from inside of the woods and spontaneous fires erupting out of nowhere.”

  “Anything about the well?”

  “No I couldn’t find anything on it.”

  “So, why are we trekking through the woods?

  “We’re looking for the cabin that belonged to the man who disappeared.”

  Esther stopped suddenly, caution taking over.

  “What? Why?”

  “I think it might still be here. I’m curious aren’t you?”

  “No I’m not curious. I’m terrified.”

  Reed smiled behind his flashlight but it was too dark for Esther to see.

  “This month always freaks me out anyway with Halloween and all. I mean I like to have fun like everyone else but as long as it’s fake you know… harmless. I really don’t like delving into the paranormal.”

  “You don’t need to worry when you’re with me Esther. I’ll take care of you.”

  His words were rapturous giving her courage and a taste for adventure. These were the kind of moments she loved to share with Felicitas. She imagined telling her of how she and Reed had searched the woods together last week, and that he held her hand. When the text came from Reed earlier today she would have immediately forwarded it to Felicitas. Her heart ached. Would she ever see her friend again? A deep fear gnawed inside of her saying she wouldn’t. She heard when someone is missing the chances of them being found alive grow more slim with each day that passes. Now that Reed had told her the legend of the disappearing man she was even more afraid.

  The woods became thick as they forged their way through. Reed pulled ou
t a rather impressive knife and hacked away at most of the overgrowth, clearing a path. A cloud of birds took flight scattering from an enormous tree startling Esther. She let out another scream identical to the one back in her car when Reed informed her they were actually bats and not birds.

  Several times Esther thought she heard whispering within the trees and Reed confirmed her suspicion. This time it was Esther who grabbed his hand first. They listened for a moment and the sound of the whispering sent a chill. The words were fast and forceful like some sort of incantation and even though she could not make out the message she feared a spell was being cast on them for trespassing in forbidden territory. She wanted to turn back and run to the safety of her car but Reed didn’t seem the least bit afraid so she continued on in spite her fear.

  They were two hours into their hunt when they reached a small clearing in the woods. The duo stopped in awe when the beams of their lights illuminated a small log cabin.

  “My God it’s really here.” Reed gripped Esther’s hand a bit tighter.

  “Wanna go in?”

  Any other time Esther would have turned and ran but the feel of Reed’s hand clamped firmly around hers heightened her sense of adventure.

  He slowed his pace and scanned the ground with his light.

  “Someone’s been here recently.”

  His statement turned her blood to ice. She had no desire to run into the two hundred year old man.

  “How can you tell?”

  “Foot prints in the dirt and broken branches. It looks like someone recently cleared away the area.”

  Esther scanned the location with her light. He was right. There were fresh footprints all around the cabin. Her mind grasped at a new thought. Ghosts do not leave foot prints, let alone wear boots. Then her nose picked up on a familiar scent.

  “I smell cigarettes.”

  “I do too. And a fire was burned here recently look.”

  Reed stooped over a small fire pit and held his hand over the ashes. “Still warm.”

  Esther glanced around nervously. She suddenly felt as if she and Reed were being watched. She wanted to suggest that they leave but he seemed intrigued and intent on investigating.

  “Let’s look inside.”

  Her heart fell. She anticipated him suggesting that. She took a deep breath and surprisingly led the way to the door thinking that there was a chance Felicitas might be held captive inside.

  “Shouldn’t we call the cops first?”

  He shook his head and stepped in front of her; his knife fixed firmly in his hand, ready to protect and defend them if need be. It gave her some sense of security as he pushed the weathered door open. It creaked and groaned at the intrusion. He moved his light back and forth across the dark room as they entered the cabin ready to investigate. It seemed to Esther as if they had stepped back in time. The original furniture still occupied the small abode and was surprisingly in good condition. Reed’s light revealed a small homemade table with two long benches tucked away in the corner. A potbellied stove and a hand pump rested against the far wall along with two wooden cupboards. Reed ran his hand across the rustic table.

  “Someone’s been here.”

  Esther hung close.

  “How can you tell?”

  “No dust, everything seems clean and the house is airtight no holes in the roof, a cabin this old would have fallen apart over the years.” He walked toward the cupboards.

  “What you bet they’re stocked full?”

  Esther shivered. Reed was right, someone had been there recently. Her heart dropped as her mind thought of two possible scenarios. Either someone had snatched Felicitas last week in the woods and had been holding her here against her will, or Felicitas had willingly run off with the Raine fellow from her journal and had been hiding out in the cabin with him. Either way there should be some signs that Felicitas had been here.

  “Taz?” Esther called out as she stepped toward the back of the cabin and aimed her light at the unoccupied corner. Her legs went weak while a scream escaped her lips. Her light disclosed the face of an unshaven man hiding in the darkness. His eyes flashed in anger as he stepped toward her and in one swift move grabbed the light from her hands. His rasping voice shattered the silence.

  “What are you doin’ in my house?”

  Reed grabbed Esther’s hand and bolted outside. They sprinted across the clearing dashing into the forest hurdling fallen trunks and debris. Adrenaline gave Esther the strength she needed to keep up with Reed’s swift pace. She wasn’t sure if they were being pursued and she had no desire to look back. Reed took a sudden quick turn, yanking her along causing her to lose balance. She fell forcefully on top of him sending them both spiraling. Reed lost no time. He pulled her up nearly throwing her back down under a large bolder that looked like the mouth of an underground cave. He motioned for her to stay quiet. Her recent exertion left her gasping for breath. She covered her mouth hoping to stay as quiet as possible but her heart was accelerating by the second. She was sure Reed could hear it pounding against her chest.

  The snap of twigs announced the approach. She watched Reed grip his knife and felt her heart move to her throat. She could only imagine what might transpire next. The footsteps continued to grow closer and then stopped inched from their hiding place. Reed looked at her and motioned for her to stay still. She held her breath and peered through the foliage. The moon gave little light but it was enough for her to recognize the expensive leather boots standing in front of her. And then she heard a familiar voice call out.

  “Esther is that you?”

  She exchanged glances with Reed before scrambling to her feet.

  “Taz?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  “You want to tell me where you’ve been for the past week Miss Rebold?” Detective Russell stood by the side of her hospital bed enjoying the peppermint in his mouth.

  Felicitas shivered and looked around the room. His words caused her head to spin. A week? How could it have been a week? To her it had only been ten minutes since she jumped from the trailer and ran into the woods.

  “I already told the police I don’t know.” She answered him quietly. “The last thing I remember is running into the woods. I must have fallen and blacked out or something. The next thing I knew I was trying to find my way back to the bonfire when Esther jumped in front of me.”

  “So you are not aware an entire week has passed?”

  The statement terrified her every time she heard it. Esther surprised her when she jumped in front of her in the woods hugging her and crying and talking so fast that Felicitas could barely comprehend anything she was saying. Once Esther and Reed told her she had been missing for a week she nearly fainted, her mind not being able to sort through all the chaotic information and now the Detective hovering over her bed was doing nothing to put her at ease.

  “No. As far as I know it’s Friday October the first.”

  “Who’s the father of your baby Miss Rebold?”

  Felicitas paled and looked at her mother.

  “We know you’re pregnant.” Detective Russell was smug in his announcement. “The information surfaced during our investigation to locate you. Is the father your boyfriend Ian Carlton?

  Felicitas shut her eyes not believing everything that was taking place around her.

  “No.”

  “Who is Raine Zadock?”

  Felicitas didn’t answer so Detective Russell asked her again.

  “Who is Raine Zadock?”

  Her heart seized at the mention. There was only one way the Detective could know the name Raine Zadock. She swallowed hard and kept her eyes closed.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know or you don’t want to tell me?”

  Detective Russell crossed his arms in front of him.

  “Is that who you ran after in the woods last Friday night? Did you two plan a rendezvous to run off together?

  She didn’t answer and the room grew quiet. Melvin Rebold stood and wa
lked out.

  Felicitas looked up at her mother for help. Sharon interpreted her daughter’s plea.

  “Do you have to question her now? It’s one in the morning. She is confused and exhausted and I don’t think interrogating her at this late of an hour is going to do anything to jog her memory. Can you please allow her some rest and continue this in the morning?”

  Detective Russell eyed Felicitas; his stare made her uncomfortable. He said nothing but bit down on the remaining piece of peppermint in his mouth and crunched it loudly then without taking his eyes off her he pulled a tube of Chap Stick from his pocket and smeared it across his thin lips.

  “I’ll be back in the morning. I hope a good night’s rest will jog your memory.”

  A tear escaped her eye and made its way down her cheek as she watched him leave the room.

  “I’m sorry mother. I was going to tell you I was pregnant but I just found out today….or last week.”

  Sharon gave a half smile. “We’ll talk about that later hon. I need to go find your dad. Why don’t you try and get some rest.”

  “He’s upset huh?”

  “He was worried sick about you.”

  “Is he really mad…that I’m pregnant?”

  Sharon continued her professional smile. The one she always gave when she was postponing her inevitable conversations of doom.

  “Get some rest hon.” She leaned over and kissed Felicitas forehead.

  “I’ll be back in the morning.”

  “You’re seriously leaving me? I‘m terrified right now and don’t think I should be left alone.” There was anger in her tone that didn’t set well with Sharon. She pursed her lips in disapproval.

  “You are far from alone Felicitas. The hospital is fully staffed and there are nurses to see to your need. Your father however needs me right now and I think it is in your best interest that I go console him.” Having said her peace she collected her purse and jacket and left the room.