by Hazel Holmes
It revealed an old set of wooden steps, hidden mostly by darkness. Nathaniel felt around the walls and found an old flashlight.
“If this doesn’t work, I’m going home,” he said, hoping it wouldn’t. It turned on easily though, and Nathaniel always did what he said he would do. So, he started down the steps.
The dank, musty smell overwhelmed the pine scent as spiderwebs clung to his clothes. He ducked as he walked through the cramped, underground corridor, trying not to touch anything.
When his father had been the caretaker of the property, this space was always cleaned out. It was important to have plenty of ways guests and the family members could leave the property if a fire broke out, or some other danger befell them. Even when Billy was at his angriest, he always made sure this corridor was available for use.
Nathaniel cursed himself for not telling Clara and Ezra about the space sooner as a spider fell on his shoulder. He flicked it off and hurried down the claustrophobic space until he reached the end where a loose wall board waited. Oddly enough, a charm from a bracelet was on the ground in front of it. Nathaniel took note of it, not caring much at first. As he moved the board though, he considered what that could mean.
He bent down and picked the charm up. It was a little dusty, but not overly so. It was dropped here recently. Someone had been using the passageway, but probably not someone as tall as him. Not someone whose hair would get tangled in the higher spiderwebs that hadn’t been swept away.
Brittany’s car was in the driveway, and Billy had been so convinced that Brittany and Sam were up to something. Brittany was shorter than him, and the charm did look like something she might wear…
Nathaniel hurried into the basement, terrified for Ezra and Clara. Terrified for himself.
He thought about turning back. He was putting himself in danger for a couple who thought he was dangerous. He could simply call the police and let them deal with it. They’d probably have better luck than he would. But what proof did he have, really? People already looked at him suspiciously. What would they think if he told them he found a charm while sneaking into the basement of Clara and Ezra’s house?
He’d be arrested for sure. If Ezra and Clara were okay, his life would be ruined. He would be just another member of his family with a bad reputation.
Yet he couldn’t just leave them either. Not before at least making sure they were safe. He decided he’d simply have to be careful regardless and make sure not to get caught. If he saw Ezra or Clara and they were safe, he’d sneak back out. If they weren’t… he’d deal with that as it came.
He went up the stairs much slower than he wanted to, quiet and careful. He listened intently but couldn’t hear a thing. It didn’t sound like anyone was downstairs, but he opened the door gently regardless and listened for any sounds of life.
The familiar house felt like a maze as he stepped out from behind the door and into the hallway. He closed the door almost all the way, leaving just a crack for him to sneak back through if he saw anyone.
He walked towards the kitchen, where he imagined Ezra would be. He paused at the dining room. A bag was on the table, its contents laid out. They didn’t look good. Matches, lighter fluid, knives, needles, chemicals, gags, binds. They were all professionally organized, like an experienced serial killer’s tool kit.
Nathaniel realized all his father’s warnings were true. Brittany and Sam were dangerous, and they were methodical about it. It was clear a lot of thought had been put into this attack. Nathaniel wasn’t sure he was a match for them. He didn’t know how to face such a threat, and he thought about turning back.
His thoughts froze as a scream fell from the attic and rang through the house.
53
The scream terrified Clara and Ezra, but not as much as it did Brittany and Sam. It sounded like it was coming from a young girl, and Clara and Ezra were both confused at first of where it could be coming from. Why would a little girl be in their house? Was someone harming her? It sounded like it. They were helpless to stop it and it was the worst feeling.
Brittany and Sam’s expressions explained it though, defusing some of Ezra and Clara’s fear. Their eyes widened; cheeks went white. They looked at each other in horror, disbelief.
“It can’t be,” Brittany whispered.
“It’s not,” Sam replied with more confidence in his voice than Brittany had. Still, he didn’t sound quite as sure of himself as usual. He looked over at Clara and Ezra. “I’m not impressed. If you think that’s going to scare us, you’re going to have to try harder than that.”
“Olivia,” Clara whispered. The scream had sounded slightly familiar. It had to be Olivia. That had to be why they were so upset by it.
“She’s dead,” Brittany hissed, her words shaky and unsure. Tears begged her eyes to show some empathy.
“She is,” Sam assured her. He took her hands and kissed them. “We went to her funeral. Olivia’s not in the house.”
Brittany nodded, but then the scream rang out again, this time from the opposite direction. This time it sounded like she was in the attic with them. Close.
“I’m going to see what’s up,” Sam promised her. He glared at Ezra and Clara. “When I get back, we’ll deal with them. You’ll see how far your little trick gets you.”
Clara and Ezra were curious to see how far the help of a ghost could get them. They weren’t too hopeful. So far, the ghosts hadn’t been able to physically do a lot in the world of the living. They doubted they’d be able to undo their binds or subdue Brittany and Sam. Still, hearing Olivia’s voice made them feel a little less alone. If Olivia was here, the rest of her family had to be close by too.
“At least if we die, we have good company,” Ezra said.
Clara surprised herself by laughing, just a little. It was a needed sound among all the awful tension that had built up over the last few weeks. She was forced to face her fears now and there was nothing she could do about it. It made sense to laugh if she could. These might be the last moments she ever shared with her husband.
“It’s not funny,” Brittany hissed. She drew a knife out of her pocket. “This isn’t a joke. Maybe I need to prove that to you.”
Ezra noticed movement in the corner, on the opposite side of the attic of where Sam had taken off to. In the shadows, color flickered followed by a familiar smile. It was a smile that turned into a frown as he noticed the knife in Brittany’s hand. Nathaniel was at a loss of what to do, though he knew he needed to act quickly before this could get even more out of hand.
The lights went out.
Complete darkness fell over the attic. Or at least, almost complete.
Billy had taught Nathaniel a lot about survival. It was necessary when living in such an unforgiving region, especially since they continued their hikes through the winter. Among these trainings, Nathaniel had learned how to sharpen his night vision. There was just enough light in the attic for him to see by. He kept a knife at his side as he darted to Ezra and Clara.
“Sam!” Brittany shrieked. “What’s going on?”
Under the cover of darkness, Nathaniel handed Ezra and Clara each a weapon. “You can do this,” he whispered. “You’ll be able to get close enough to Brittany to stop her. I won’t leave you.”
Yet that’s what he did moments later. Clara and Ezra couldn’t see where he was going, but he was out of sight by the time the lights flickered back on.
It wasn’t enough time for Ezra to finish cutting through the binds with the knife Nathaniel had given him. He hoped Brittany wouldn’t notice as he worked his way through the ropes quicker.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Brittany asked as she walked over with her own knife in hand.
Ezra panicked. Her knife was bigger than his, and though he was close to freeing himself, he wasn’t free yet. He and his wife were bound and totally vulnerable to being completely slaughtered, and he hated himself for it. He hated himself for not protecting Clara.
Brittany lifted the k
nife and lunged at Ezra.
Lyla appeared, catching Brittany off-guard.
“It can’t be,” she whispered.
Ezra moved out of the way just in time, all the while knowing he couldn’t keep avoiding her. He was playing a dangerous game with time that he wouldn’t win if he couldn’t free himself quick enough.
Brittany was too distracted to stop herself from falling on the floor, giving Clara the perfect chance to wiggle closer. Before Brittany could get up, Clara plunged the needle into her neck.
“Sam!” Brittany screamed before the tranquilizer could sedate her.
“Brittany!” Sam called out, revealing the first real sign of panic in his voice. He dashed towards the sound without taking time to think of anything else. If this cost him his wife, it wasn’t worth it. Making her happy was the only thing he truly cared about aside from the lifestyle they lived.
His run was stopped midstride as he was tackled to the ground by a bulky body that hit him hard. The thud shook the attic. Nathaniel reached for the tranquilizer needle in his pocket as Sam gathered his bearings.
In that moment of a scramble, Sam saw the opening and punched Nathaniel in the face, sending him flying back in a mess of blood and excruciating pain. Color danced in his eyes as his ears rang, a deafening noise. Sam reached for his gun as he stood while Nathaniel lay splayed on the floor, half-conscious.
“Sam, what are you doing?” Richard asked.
Sam’s attention was diverted in the opposite direction as the family appeared. They all looked horribly distraught and disappointed. Sadness melted off them in black teardrops.
“This isn’t who you are,” Lyla said, shaking her head. “You and Brittany are so much better than this, so much more than this. How could you do this to us? Over a stupid dispute? Over money? A piece of property? I thought our friendship meant more than that.”
Before Sam could respond, Ezra barreled into him, knocking him off his feet. Nathaniel recovered just enough to bury the needle into Sam’s neck as Ezra wrestled the gun out of his hands.
Clara ran into the room and hugged her husband as Sam passed out and Nathaniel lay back. Finally, an end to their awful nightmare. As they kissed, Clara and Ezra could see the gold glimmer of a new beginning.
54
“Breakfast smells delicious,” Clara said as she walked into the bright kitchen full of crazy energy.
“I have something special for you,” Ezra replied, turning away from his cooking for just a moment so he could kiss his wife.
The couple had never been happier. The nightmare of what happened with Brittany and Sam still lingered in their minds. They still woke up to nightmares sometimes, they still double-checked to make sure their doors were locked at night, and they had difficulty trusting anyone aside from each other. Both decided to see therapists following the incident to help them move forward, and they secretly worried that bits of that trauma may never go away. The ghosts certainly hadn’t gone away.
Yet they were kind of glad to have the family there. They had the bed and breakfast of their dreams that drew in the literary, unique guests they wanted. Ezra and Nathaniel cooked incredible meals for them. Clara listened and heard so many interesting stories. She created the Victorian dollhouse of her dreams, while he was able to make the kind of food he always longed to make. They merged their passions and were making their dreams come true together.
“For me?” Clara asked as he handed her a plate of cream cheese crepes plated beautifully, with fresh berries adding color to the dish. Next to it was a cup of coffee with a heart Ezra made thanks to his careful studying of the latte art craze.
“Of course,” he said.
“Also, for you,” Nathaniel replied, handing over a plate with a hearty slice of brown bread and maple butter on it.
“You two are the best,” she said.
They had all formed quite the friendship since the incident. Of course, Ezra and Clara apologized as they should have and gave Nathaniel a much-deserved raise. He was simply grateful for the opportunity to work and learn under Ezra’s guidance again. He had already saved up a good chunk of money for his own bed and breakfast someday, and he worked hard to add to it. Meanwhile, Ezra took extra time to teach him the business side of things, so he’d be prepared once he had the funds to turn that dream into a reality.
“Nathaniel’s wife and baby girl are joining us today,” Ezra told Clara. “They’re enjoying their drinks already.”
“I’ll have to go talk to them,” Clara said. “Are they joining us after for…”
“Of course,” Nathaniel replied as the mood turned somber. “Liza is going to her grandmother’s house for the day, but Lucy and I will be there. We wouldn’t miss it.”
Clara nodded. “They’d be grateful for it. Crazy timing though, isn’t it? I heard Brittany and Sam were sentenced to life.”
She and Ezra hadn’t attended the trial that concluded the day before. It was too difficult for them and they wanted to move on with their lives. Still, they couldn’t help but be curious about the outcome. Clara wanted to know they’d be safe forever.
“They were,” Nathaniel assured her. “They’re going to get what they deserved all along. Most importantly, they’re never going to hurt anyone ever again.”
“That’s a relief,” she admitted. “I’ll let you guys get back to work. You better be ready to leave by one though.”
“We will be,” Ezra promised. Clara left the kitchen to go put on her mourning dress far too soon after she’d worn it last.
55
Just as they promised, Ezra and Nathaniel were ready to go by one o’clock that afternoon. The two couples piled into Ezra’s car together, hoping there would be strength in numbers. Though they’d spent many evenings having dinner together and going on various outings, the drive was silent. No one knew what to say. No one had anything they wanted to say. Sure, there was some closure in this, but it still wasn’t pleasant. Closure rarely was.
The tragic loss of life was still felt every day in the little ways the ghosts reached out to them. But it was moments like these that really hit them hard and made them relive that awful day all over again. It was heartbreaking.
Ezra’s mind went back to his father as they pulled up to the cemetery. He thought about that day so long ago when he heard of his father’s death. He thought back to the complicated pain that news brought about, the shock of the money he inherited, and the drastic changes in his life since then. He didn’t feel like he was the same person anymore. He’d grown stronger, surer of himself, and he wished he could face his father once again. This time he knew he wouldn’t tremble before him. He would never fear him again.
It was too late for that though. Now, he didn’t have to prove anything to his father or anyone else. He was proud of himself. He didn’t need acceptance to be happy. He was grateful for what he had built with Clara, despite what anyone else might think of it.
He took her hand as they left the car. They followed the mourners to the gravesite and tried to hide their emotions. They were new in town. They were expected to be at the funeral to show respect to the family that had come before them. They were the ones who helped find Lyla and Richard’s bodies buried in that grove on their property. They were tied to them forever. But they weren’t expected to be sad. As far as everyone else knew, they didn’t know Lyla or Richard personally.
They’d gotten to know them though. They owed them their lives, and since that day, they all spent a little more time around each other in the strange but meaningful ways they were able to. The ghosts couldn’t interact with the world of the living too much without using up all their energy, but they came out every now and then to make the couple’s life easier and have conversations with them. Clara had grown fond of the family. Despite how odd it was, they became comfortable with the ghosts living in their house. Sometimes it was easy to forget they were dead.
As they looked at the shiny mahogany caskets, they were hit with that stark reality and grounded
in the truth. Near the bundles of flowers from people who previously thought the couple were murderers were the graves of Olivia and Kyle. The family’s bodies were reunited.
Of course, their souls never left each other. They never would. As Clara and Ezra listened to bittersweet stories of the family’s life before they met them, they saw them hovering at the edge of the woods. Lyla, Richard, Kyle, and Olivia listened to all the kind things others had to say about them. They joined in remembering the incredible memories and cried with their loved ones.
Despite knowing it would look out of place, Clara and Ezra cried too. They couldn’t hold back the tears. They felt awful for this poor family who they’d grown to care about. They didn’t deserve any of this. The children should’ve been allowed to live out their lives, fulfill the endless potential that lay before them. Their parents should’ve been able to provide the future they always dreamed of. Yet they were killed for a piece of property. It would never be worth it.
They were grateful they could at least give them this though. A proper burial and a chance at redemption. Their names had been cleared and at least now they were here to hear it. They could see how much others had cared about them.
Lyla had shared with Clara how difficult it had been to know others thought she killed her children. It had weighed them down, keeping them from rising into whatever waited in the afterlife. Yet, as their loved ones spoke, the ghosts grew bright. Brighter and brighter until they started to rise.
Clara and Ezra knew what was happening and it was bittersweet. They wanted the family to find peace, they knew they deserved it. But oh, how they’d miss them. It’d be another adjustment, and they were tired of adjusting. They wanted things to stay the same for a while. They wanted time to get used to a regular life again.
