The Haunting of Shadow Hill House

by Caroline Clark

They were so close that they were eye to eye and Jenny found it hard to look into the cold gray orbs before her. They reminded her of the gravestone, the one in the woods. They reminded her of death. There was nothing behind them, nothing there but an abyss so big it could suck her in and she would be lost forever.

  Victoria squeezed harder and suddenly the room was gone. She was back in Abby's room, only it was different. The walls were lined with shelves and on them were row after row of old dolls. Their sightless eyes all stared into the room and it was very creepy. It was dark in the room and yet somehow she could see. From somewhere, she could hear shouting and she was afraid.

  Closing her eyes, she hugged Mr. Good Bear to her chest. He was her favorite. A recent present from her mummy and he was a brave bear. Mummy told her he would always keep her safe and so far he always had. Jenny knew the thoughts were not her own, she was living what Victoria thought and she tried to talk to her. Nothing happened.

  Outside it was raining and the candle had gone out long ago, leaving the room dark, cold, and scary. Lightning flashed across the sky and she jumped off the bed onto the floor and scrambled beneath it. It was safe under here, it was somewhere where the monster wouldn't find her.

  Jenny understood she was living Victoria's last night and she tried to keep herself separate from the child, tried to watch it and not become fully immersed. If she did she wondered if she would be able to pull back or if Victoria would tell her to jump from the balcony and she would do as she was told.

  She could feel the child's terror, feel her shivering and each time her father shouted she would squeal with dread and crawl further under the bed. Until now, there was nowhere else to go because her feet were against the wall and still the sound reached them.

  Victoria thought the monster was coming. Jenny couldn't work out what the monster was. It could be a figment of her imagination, it could have been her father, but from what she had seen over the last few weeks it could be anything.

  Victoria was whispering over and over again. “Safe,” she whispered. “Safe in my bubble.” Tears escaped her eyes and slipped down her face to land on Mr. Good Bear. “Keep quiet, must keep quiet."

  Now she was talking to the bear. Jenny saw it and felt it as if she was inside the child.

  “Would you help me hide Mummy?” she asked, and automatically she tilted the bear to nod his approval. It made her feel better. She was not alone.

  Victoria got out from under the bed and started to walk down the corridor. Jenny was with her, seeing through her eyes and yet she wanted her to stop. Inside, she was screaming, telling Victoria not to go, to stay in her room and to hide. Yet, no matter what she said, no matter how much she shouted, Victoria kept going, now she was running. On and on down the corridor towards the monster.

  Soon they were stood outside the master bedroom. The room that had always felt wrong to Jenny and now she would find out why.

  As they went into the room she saw her mummy lying on the floor in front of the bed. Right where the stain was, right where it would never leave. Jenny wanted to turn and run, she tried to turn but she could not move.

  Blood and bruises covered the woman's face and there was terror in her eyes. Jenny clutched Mr. Good Bear, holding him to her chest, she sucked on his ear. Normally, this would calm her but not tonight. Tears were streaming down her face and she wanted to go to Mummy’s side but she could not move because the monster had gotten around her and was blocking her way. It was bigger than she remembered and twice as scary. Once more, the monster roared and Victoria wanted to cover her ears and dive beneath Mummy's bed but she could not get to it. She tried to point, tried to talk, to tell Mummy to get under the bed but no words came out and Mummy just sat there. Didn't she realize it was safe under the bed?

  Lightning flooded the room and the monster turned to Victoria and suddenly it all made sense.

  The monster was Daddy and he was going to eat her.

  Light glinted off a blade in his right hand and then the room was plunged into darkness once more. Victoria could hear moving but she could not see anything. Standing as still as she could she tried to make herself small. That was another way to beat the monster. If you were so small, quiet, and so still it wouldn't see you. Maybe it would go right on past you.

  Jenny stood in the dark, trying to be small and insignificant as she listened to Victoria’s mummy sobbing.

  It was unreal, she could feel the child's fear as if it was her own and yet she had no control over her limbs. The thoughts in her head were Victoria’s. She was scared of the daddy monster. Jenny understood and knew what was going to happen. The man roared with hate and lightning lit up the room. Victoria let out a scream as she saw the monster stalking closer to her mummy. A knife was raised in his hand and just before the darkness fell it slashed down. Victoria screamed and Jenny felt something warm and wet splash across her face and arms. It covered Mr. Good Bear and that made her want to cry.

  She had been right all along, the stain on the bear was blood.

  As her eyes became accustomed to the dark she saw the man turn towards her. Jenny tried to steer the child away, tried to make her run but instead, she felt warm liquid running down her legs and knew that Victoria had wet herself. She wept for the child but she wanted this to stop now and managed to say it.

  "Stop this, you don't have to live through this again."

  The vision was gone and she was back in the room.

  "Have you seen enough?" Victoria asked.

  Jenny nodded. She wanted to pull Victoria to her and hug her. How could any parent do this, how could the poor child have gone through such terrors? Of course, she had done so by losing her mind. That was why she became a spirit and that was why she wouldn't leave.

  "Let me hold you," Jenny said and she opened her arms.

  Victoria's cheeks flushed red and the room chilled. "Not until you are dead. Come with me now!"

  Jenny wanted to resist but she felt cold and weak and for some reason, as Victoria offered her the noose, she put it around her neck. It was heavy and she wanted to lie down and sleep and yet Victoria was going. She faded through the walls and Jenny knew she must follow her. It was important, it was to save someone, she just couldn't remember who. So she dropped down onto the floor and crawled out of the little room and into the attic with the rope dragging behind her. Soon this would be over and then she could rest.

  Chapter 27

  They had made it out of the woodland and piled the sheet with the bones into the back of Luke’s aging Ford Mondeo. Quickly, they climbed into the car and Mason looked up at the house. It seemed so peaceful, so quaint and yet he knew that inside it was full of terrors.

  "We have to hurry," Mason said.

  Luke was fiddling with the ignition key, he nodded and turned it. The car turned over lazily but did not fire. The priest pumped the accelerator pedal a few times and tried again. This time there was nothing.

  Mason wanted to scream, instead, he clenched his fists and prayed the next time it would work. Once more the priest turned the ignition and this time the engine fired and roared into life.

  Soon they were driving along the small and twisty roads going much too slow for Mason's liking.

  "My wife is with that… spirit, ghost, child, whatever it is, she has my wife and she is in danger."

  Luke pushed the accelerator a little bit faster and the car sped forward. Still, the journey seemed to take forever and Mason wished he had stayed at the house. There was nothing he could do now, nothing he could help with here and if he had stayed maybe he could have saved Jenny. For the longer it took them, the further he went from the house, the more he believed that his wife was already dead.

  At last, they pulled up into the churchyard and Luke stopped the car before an open grave. They both got out and went to the back seat to grab the sheet. Before they lifted it, Luke stopped.

  “We need salt,” he said. “Wait here, while I fetch some, but don’t do anything.”

  Mason nod
ded and he looked at his watch, it was almost one o’clock. What had taken so much time?

  Jenny followed Victoria down the two sets of stairs and to the main hallway. Dread filled her as they walked past the master bedroom but the door was closed and nothing happened. Soon, they were on the balcony at the corner of the hallway. It was directly above the stain on the carpet and she knew what would happen.

  Desperately, she tried to stop. To dig in her heels and at least slow down but it was as if she was being pulled by Victoria and she must just follow on wherever she led. Stood leaning over the balcony was the monster. She shook her head as he was just a man. A bad father and husband and he meant her harm but just a man, nevertheless. Dark brows were scrunched down and a long nose made him look mean and evil. Jenny wondered if he ever smiled, for his face did not seem capable of it.

  She tried to clench her fists. To dig her nails into her palms but her hands wouldn’t obey as she watched the man grab hold of Victoria.

  It was not this Victoria but one from long ago. She does not know if the man was here or if this was a vision that Victoria wanted her to see. The older version of the child was terrified, as was the younger. Her red face all scrunched up and she was crying and trying to get away. Only, she was weak and so afraid that she thought it better to stand still. That was so like a child that Jenny felt her heart break. How could this happen?

  As she watched, the man tied the rope to the banister and put the noose around the child’s neck. Then he lifted her.

  “No,” Jenny screamed but he could not hear her for he was not there. This was just a memory.

  For a moment, Victoria turned and her desperate eyes seemed to find Jenny. They cried out for help, for justice, for anything to stop the horror that was happening. Only the man didn’t care. Rage was coming off him in waves and like a physical force. Once the noose was around her neck he lifted her onto the banister rail. The child whimpered and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. In a desperate effort her hands clasped onto her father’s shirt. She was so afraid she would not let go. Anger clouded his face and he grasped her fingers so roughly that Jenny heard one break as he peeled them from him.

  She let out a gasp and her own hands could move. It was as if she felt the pain of the break in her own fingers and for a moment she had control. Instead of moving back she rushed forward. Maybe she could save the child.

  As she watched him peel finger after finger from his shirt she was getting closer. Reaching out now, maybe she could clasp onto the child’s nightdress? Maybe she could save her. Only it was too late. As she watched, he grinned at his daughter.

  With big gray eyes filled with tears she looked up at him and her final words were brave, “You will pay for this,” she whispered in a voice that was barely a breeze. “All who ignore me will pay.”

  As Jenny reached out as far as she could he pushed Victoria from the railing and Jenny’s fingers touched only empty space.

  Like an angel, the child fell out into the blackness. Soaring down so beautifully until the rope snapped her to a stop and the sound of her neck breaking was like a gunshot in the quiet house.

  “Now, it is your turn,” Victoria said. “Then we can be together, forever.”

  Jenny felt herself moving towards the banister rail. She had every intention of climbing over and jumping into the abyss and yet she didn’t know why. Tears were streaming down her face and she wanted to help this child. If being with her would do that then was it too much to ask?

  Slowly, she stepped up to the banister. There was a chair next to it and she was ready to climb up and take that final step.

  Mason paced by the tiny grave. What was taking so long? He was doing his best to not look at the grave or the bones. Everything seemed so small and each time he did he felt tears prickle at the back of his eyes. Though he was desperate to have this finished and to get back to the house and check on Jenny, seeing the grave had affected him deeply. There was a small and rather plain wooden box in the grave. It had a cross on the lid but had obviously been put together quickly and was not quite what he expected of a coffin. For a moment he thought of Abby and worried about her being left alone in the hospital. Would she be scared? How would a parent ever cope with the loss of a child? He did not think he could, just the thought was enough to break him.

  Luke was coming back towards him and the sight of the priest running across the grass was enough to lift his head. In his hands he carried a big pot of salt and a Bible. Breathlessly, he arrived at the side of the grave.

  “I need to do this,” Luke said. “To make sure I will pray and lay her to rest. Please, be patient just a few moments longer.”

  Mason shook his head and yet inside he was screaming hurry!

  Luke went to the grave and lifted the lid of the little coffin. It was lined with sheets and a small pillow. Then he came to the car and took out the bones. All the time he was praying but it was in Latin and Mason could not understand.

  Gently, he laid the sheet in the coffin and then he opened it up. As he did the wind whipped around the trees in the churchyard and they both looked up.

  Was it the child? Was she fighting this?

  As they shared a glance, the wind fell and Mason let out a breath. Hopefully, that was natural and Jenny was keeping the spirit busy.

  “Stay strong, my love,” he whispered. “We are coming for you, just stay strong.”

  Looking back at the grave he could see the priest had arranged the bones in a rough order.

  “Hurry!” he called.

  Luke nodded and sprinkled salt over the bones. Nothing happened. Mason was not sure what he expected but he had expected something. Despair came over him and he looked at Luke.

  “Is it over?”

  “No, I have to pray, just be patient.”

  Mason nodded but patience had never been his strong point.

  “Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them.”

  Jenny felt the rope dragging as she climbed up onto the chair. It was just a step up now and she could fall and be with her friend forever more. She was excited and yet, something nagged at the back of her mind. There was something wrong. Something waiting for her but she couldn’t quite remember what it was. As she looked over she felt herself giggle and the sound shocked her. She sounded older than she expected. Wasn’t she young?

  “You have to jump now,” Victoria said and reached out a hand to push her.

  Jenny looked down and remembered Victoria flying through the air. It had looked such fun and she wanted to try it. It was as if she was compelled to do as she was told and yet there was something telling her not to. Every now and then she saw a young girl’s face. She had pretty black hair and a sweet smile. She wanted to play with her and yet she was tired. If she fell then she would be able to rest and maybe they could play with the dolls again.

  “Can we play with the dolls?” Jenny asked as she got off the chair.

  Victoria was angry. She knew because it always went cold when she was angry. Then her cheeks pinched and her lips thinned to almost a line. The last thing she wanted was to make her friend angry but why did she have to play this game? She was tired.

  “You have to jump first,” Victoria said, and she grabbed Jenny’s arm. Her fingers were like ice and they dug painfully into Jenny’s skin. Then she pushed and pulled Jenny until she was back on the chair.

  “You have to jump so that we can be a family, you, me and the baby.”

  “Baby?” Jenny asked. There were so many questions back in her mind. Baby? Family? Didn’t she already have a family? Then she remembered the name, Abby. Her beautiful daughter, Abby. If she jumped she would be leaving her, leaving Mason and the baby! Was that why she had felt so sick, why she craved ice cream? There was no way she could do this. No way she could jump.

  “We can have parties and be together, forever. We will make it so no one wants to live here and we can be all alone,” Victoria said as she tried to s
hove her towards the balcony.

  As she touched her, Jenny felt her mind wandering and she wanted to do as she was told. Quickly, she clenched her fists and dug her nails into her hands. The sharp pain brought her back and she saw where she was. Fear made her gasp and she felt her arms prickle with adrenaline. What was she doing?

  “No,” Jenny shouted. “No, I won’t do this.”

  She tried to step off the chair but rage hit her hard and she was pushed towards the edge. The ice cold spirit was like a whirlwind as she pushed and pulled and tugged Jenny towards the void. The noose tightened on her neck and she felt herself slip. The chasm below was like a great yawning hole and she tried to pull back. Hands grabbed her as her own tried to release the noose and fight off the attack. Soon, she did not know which way was which and panic filled her as fear clawed at her chest.

  “Keep calm,” the sound steadied her a little. “I am not afraid. You are not welcome here!” she shouted the words but she was getting weaker and the urge to take that step was strong. “No. No, never!”

  Luke continued to pray and sprinkled holy water over the bones, followed by another layer of salt.

  Mason was watching him, waiting for something to happen, anything to show them that this had worked. There was a feeling of desperation inside him. A feeling of failure and despair and yet he must not give in. So, he closed his eyes and tried to send help to Jenny.

  “I love you so much. Fight her, fight her for Abby and for me. Fight her for life and because it is right.”

  The wind picked up and the trees around them were suddenly waving and tossing as a gust of air raced down the driveway and up to the grave. Mason had to spread his legs to keep his ground and he watched Luke as he too was knocked about. The wind was dark, like a shadow, and Mason felt a lump form in his throat. Was this it? Was she here?

  Luke was almost blown over but he steadied himself and continued to pray. His hand was on his Bible. “O Lord, grant eternal rest unto this poor soul. Let Your perpetual light shine upon Victoria Pennyford. May the soul of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” Luke closed the Bible and looked up as if to challenge the very wind itself.