The Third Skull (Book Two - The Revelation): A Paranormal Mystery Thriller

by Andrew Stafford

  A voice came from behind.

  “Maynard, keep digging and don’t stop until you find the bones.”

  He looked around but saw no one.

  Then he heard it again.

  “Don’t stop. With every strike of that pick, you will become stronger.”

  Finn continued to hack away at the hardcore and dumped the smashed rocks in the garden. The pain in his arms and back became unbearable.

  Every time the pick struck a rock, a little part of him became possessed by the life-force of Alexander Drake. It was Drake’s essence that pushed Finn to continue, despite every muscle in his body pleading for him to stop.

  Chapter 60

  Gabriel Butler looked down upon the body of Ruth Jackson as it lay contorted on the bed. She'd been dead for just over three hours and her outstretched arm was rigid.

  He’d killed her as he was almost certain that Alice Donaldson’s spirit was guiding her. Ruth asked too many questions and Butler couldn’t take any chances.

  Alice proved herself to be an indomitable and resolute nemesis. She’d been the one who’d stopped the wicked and evil ceremonial ritual that Alexander Drake, Joseph Morris, Rupert Snow and Albert Cromwell intended to carry out on December 14th 1804.

  During the past two-hundred years she’d been lying in wait to obstruct any attempts of the vile ritual.

  Her benevolent spirit guided chosen mortals to obstruct the evil plan.

  Likewise, Joseph Morris had always been around in one form or another to make sure the invocation to summon Azazel would happen.

  But he couldn’t do it alone. He needed Drake, Snow and Cromwell. And importantly, he needed the children.

  He had relentlessly searched for the bodies of William and Louisa, but never had he got so near as he was today.

  But he also needed Mathias. The infant he’d thrown in the frozen lake on the day the ritual should have happened. He’d assumed because Alice hid William and Louisa and put an end to the sacrifice, there would be no need for Mathias. How wrong he had been.

  Now Finn was close to finding the skulls, Butler had never been more certain that this time it really would happen. On the 14th December Azazel would stand before them.

  He, Drake, Snow and Cromwell would sit at the right hand of the King of the Devils.

  But before the ceremony could happen he needed to find the body of the missing infant Mathias. He also needed to ensure Drake, Snow and Cromwell were with him.

  Drake wasn’t a problem. Soon, Finn Maynard would no longer exist. The closer Maynard came to the skulls, the more Alexander Drake would take over. The instant Maynard touched the skulls would be the tipping point. His body would exist, but it would be a host for Drake’s life force.

  Rupert Snow was already on board. He’d lured Maynard to the antique shop and given him the ring.

  Albert Cromwell was the problem. Without him, the ritual couldn’t go ahead.

  There was plenty of work to do.

  Butler pulled Ruth’s body from the bed and dragged it across the floor to the top of the stairs. He held her by her ankles and pulled her step by step down the stairs, hauled her to the utility room, dumped her into the chest freezer and slammed the lid.

  Killing Ruth Jackson wouldn’t stop Alice Donaldson, but hopefully it would buy time before she returned in the next incarnation.

  Chapter 61

  Sophie slammed the phone on the bed.

  “Bloody police, a fat lot of good they are!”

  “What did they say?” asked Heather.

  “They asked whether I was at risk, or if Finn possessed a weapon blah, blah, blah. I told them what was happening to him, but because neither me nor the kids are at risk they’re not making it a priority.”

  “So are they sending anyone?”

  “They said they would, but I'm not sure when. They’re not treating it as an emergency.”

  “I suppose we should consider things from the police’s point of view, if he’s not a risk to anyone, then he’s not at the top of their list.”

  “IF HE’S NOT A RISK TO ANYONE?” shouted Sophie. “He’s a risk to himself. I’m sure he'll end up dead. Every man who’d lived in that house killed himself, and Finn’s heading the same way for sure,” she added.

  Heather shrugged her shoulders.

  “Maybe we should go back and ask a few of your neighbours to keep an eye on things and tell you if anything happens, or if the police arrive,” suggested Heather.

  “We’ve not got to know any of our neighbours other than the Tempest’s, but they’ve moved out. We do know Ruth next door in number 11, but let’s say things are a little frosty between us right now.”

  Sophie paused and let out a large stress induced sigh.

  “I guess we should just wait to find out what the police say,” she added sounding defeatist.

  “Fingers crossed he’ll be referred to Social Services, and he’ll get counselling,” said Heather.

  Sophie nodded.

  “I guess this is what it’s all about, it’s his mental health. He’s having a massive breakdown, and he needs help. Maybe I shouldn’t have called the police, perhaps I should have called his doctor.”

  Sophie looked at her sister as she stared towards the middle distance. She considered the recent events and how they were both embroiled.

  “Heather, have you had any recent visits from any of the ghosts?”

  “Don’t call them ghosts, that’s not what they are,” snapped Heather.

  “What are they then?”

  “I'm not certain, but I don’t consider them ghosts. It’s not like they’re dead, it’s as if they’re………..,” she paused as she thought of the best way to describe Charles Nash, Alice Donaldson and Elizabeth, “it’s as if they’re alive, but living on a different plain. They’re living on a surreal abstract plain.”

  Sophie struggled to understand what her sister was saying.

  “But, no. I’ve not seen any of ‘the ghosts’ since I was in hospital,” she added.

  “You should find a way of speaking with them again, you should try to rekindle whatever it was you had," said Sophie with an air of desperation. “Social Services or counsellors won't get to the bottom of what’s going on in Finn’s head, we need to hear it from the ghosts of Christmas past,” she added.

  Heather huffed.

  “I can’t just make them appear! Elizabeth says I'm blessed with an extra special gift, the veil of tears, but to be honest with you, she’s wrong, and Charles and Alice are wrong. I’ve nothing special to offer.”

  “You must have a gift. How else would you have known of Alice and the two children?"

  Heather shrugged and looked nonchalantly at her sister.

  “Would you like to hear what I think?” asked Heather.

  Sophie looked up, the strain of what was happening reflected in the lines across her forehead.

  “We have to get him out of that house.”

  “Well that’ll not happen anytime soon. He’s wielding a pickaxe, and he’s losing his mind. How do you expect us to get him out?”

  “We’ll get help. I’ll ask Mark and Hugh from work to come with us, they’re built like two brick shit houses and they don’t scare easy.”

  Heather was right. It was what lay beneath the house that affected Finn, and the further from that place he was the better.

  But it would take more than two burly rugby players to drag Finn Maynard from his home.

  Chapter 62

  With every strike of the pick he became mentally stronger.

  Finn had been through a rollercoaster of emotions and personality swings over the past few months.

  The once ‘family man’ had briefly turned into a self-centred person, whose only consideration was for himself. He’d alienated his wife, and his daughter couldn’t understand why daddy had stopped loving her. Jack was too young to understand.

  After discovering the elusive third archetypon, he’d become a confused and vulnerable man. His brain was
muddled, and he lived in a chaotic existence somewhere between Finn Maynard and Alexander Drake. Drake’s overpowering character had been taking over. The transition between the two personalities had been gradual and as Finn evolved into Drake he’d found solace in Gabriel Butler.

  He had cleared the hardcore and was making good progress breaking through clay and stone beneath the foundations of his house. The hole was becoming deep. Finn had used floorboards to shore the sides to prevent them from falling in and burying him alive. He used a ladder to climb in and out of the hole.

  He stopped digging and admired his work.

  “Not bad, not bad at all,” he whispered to himself.

  He deserved a well-earned drink. He climbed from the hole and grabbed a glass of water. It felt good as it hit his dry and dusty throat. He stretched his arms and rubbed his shoulders. In a strange way the pain felt good. He strolled to the lounge, leaving muddy footprints behind him and stood by the window. He watched a young police officer walk up the path. Their eyes met as the policeman knocked on his door.

  Gabriel Butler opened his door to take a black bag of waste to the wheelie bin when he saw the officer knocking on Finn’s door.

  Shit, he’s checking up on the Jackson woman, he thought as he watched Finn open the door.

  She’d been dead less than twenty-four hours and Butler thought it odd that someone reported her missing so soon. It wasn’t as if she was a person people would particularly miss.

  He’d intended to haul the body to the boot of his Silver Cloud and dispose of her that evening. Everything was coming together and the last thing he wanted was the police snooping around. Although, all they would do at this stage is make general enquiries. They wouldn’t be searching his house for a body.

  Butler didn’t care either way whether he went to prison. He’d been inside several times over the past two hundred years and conditions today were much better compared to what they were in the nineteenth century. But what he didn’t want was to delay the next opportunity to attempt the ritual.

  Finn reluctantly opened the door to the police officer. Finn's dishevelled and dirty appearance shocked the young policeman. The ugly scar on his face made him appear menacing.

  “How can I help you?”

  “Are you Finn Maynard?" asked the officer.

  Finn thought for a second, he wasn’t sure who he was anymore.

  “I believe I am,” replied Finn.

  The officer sighed.

  “Do you mind if I come in? I have some questions for you.”

  Finn shrugged his shoulders, nodded and pulled the door open wide to let him in.

  The officer was hit by the stale stench and the complete disarray of Finn's house. Uninvited, he entered the lounge, sat on the corner of the settee and pulled his notebook from his pocket.

  “We’ve had a call from your wife sir, Sophie Maynard, I understand that there are issues between the two of you and she’s put a call in as she’s concerned about your well-being.”

  Finn didn’t answer.

  “Don’t worry sir, you’re not in any trouble, as far as we’re aware you’ve not broken any laws, but it would be prudent to make sure everything is okay.”

  “Everything’s just fine officer.”

  “I understand that you’ve not been into work for over a week, nor have you contacted your employer.” The officer checked his notebook. "SOS Graphics, sir?"

  The name SOS Graphics sounded familiar to Finn.

  “Sorry officer, I remember little.”

  “You don’t remember who you work for?”

  Finn didn’t answer.

  “Your wife has told us that you're digging a hole beneath your house.”

  “Uh huh,” said Finn slowly nodding.

  “Why?”

  “Why not?” replied Finn, “It’s something to do.”

  “Can I take a look please?”

  The officer was on his feet before Finn replied.

  He didn’t need to be told where the hole was, he followed Finn’s dirty footprints on the carpet which led to the kitchen.

  “What the hell?” whispered the officer as he peered into the hole.

  Finn stood behind the officer. Drake’s persona was fighting to get through. Drake mustn’t let the officer stop the search for William and Louisa. Under Drake’s command, Finn picked up a spade and was going to strike the young officer on the back of his head. Finn looked at the spade. He had no recollection of picking it up. He looked at the officer crouching and surveying the hole. He placed the spade back on the floor. Enough of Finn’s judgment remained to know right from wrong.

  “This shaft is as deep as I'm tall,” said the officer.

  Finn nodded.

  The officer was right. It was no longer just a hole. What Finn had dug was so deep it had become a shaft, propped up with wooden boards to stop it from collapsing in on itself.

  "What’s it for?”

  Drake took over and answered the officer’s question.

  “Treasure.”

  “I beg your pardon?” asked the officer.

  “Roman coins,” added Finn. “It’s my belief that if I carry on I will find one of the biggest hoards of Roman coins ever found in the West Country.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “I’ve been undertaking years of research. It’s something I’ve been searching for all of my adult life. I couldn’t believe it when I worked out that the most likely place to find them was under my home.”

  The officer looked at him disbelievingly.

  “So you’ve searched all your life for treasure, and it just happens to be under your home?”

  “I know, it’s incredible isn’t it!…… I’ve not broken any laws have I?”

  “Not that I’m aware of, but I’m not certain if what you are doing is safe. You could interfere with the foundations of this house. I’m no expert, but I suggest that you seek advice from a professional.”

  “You’re right officer. I’ll get on it right away.”

  Drake’s instinct prevented what would have been a disaster. He was sure the officer didn’t believe him, but it would put him off the scent for the time being.

  Drake’s persona diminished and Finn’s came to the forefront.

  “Let's go back to the lounge” said the officer.

  Butler paced up and down. He was agitated and desperate to know what was happening. The policeman had been there for half an hour. Surely it shouldn’t take that long to ask a few questions about a missing person?

  And then he realised.

  “Shit! The hole.”

  Butler considered what must be going through the police officer’s mind. He would surely link the report of Ruth Jackson with what appeared to be a shallow grave being dug beneath Finn’s kitchen.

  “This is just fucking great!” cursed Butler.

  Butler had to intervene. He was certain that Finn would be arrested.

  A missing woman, and the next door neighbour found digging a hole beneath his house, pondered Butler, the police would put two and two together and make five.

  There was no way that Finn/Drake could stop digging now. And it had to be Drake who found the bodies, and no one else, otherwise the ritual couldn’t go ahead on the 14th December.

  “Why should things be so fucking complicated?“ he whispered.

  Butler needed to go to Finn’s and intervene. Even though Butler had Ruth’s body in the chest freezer, he couldn’t risk Finn being pulled in for questioning by the police. He was taking a big chance, and he had to be careful not to raise the suspicions of the police officer.

  He crossed the road and rapped on the door. Through the window he could see the police officer taking notes as Finn sat on the settee looking vacant. Finn stood up when he saw Butler at the door.

  “It’s my neighbour, I'll find out what he wants.” said Finn.

  The officer nodded and sighed.

  He watched Finn traipse to the door, looking like a vagrant.

  �
��Hello Finn mate, I thought I’d check up on you. See how you’re getting on, can I come in?”

  “I don't know. There's a policeman here."

  “The police, what in heaven’s name do they want?”

  “I’m not too sure, they’re not happy with the hole.”

  Butler frowned and put his fingers to his lips to shush Finn from saying anything else.

  Butler followed him to the lounge where the officer was waiting.

  “Oh, hello, I hope I’m not interrupting,” said Butler.

  “May I ask who you are?” asked the officer.

  “My name’s Gabriel Butler, I live across the road, Finn and I are friends,” he lowered his voice and continued in a whisper, “to be honest, I’m concerned, he’s been having a tough time of it these past few weeks and I’ve come over to check he’s okay.”

  The officer nodded.

  “Well Mr. Maynard, we're done here. Would you mind if I had a quick word with your friend?”

  Finn nodded.

  The officer gestured to Butler to follow him to the hall.

  “I understand Mr. Maynard has been having family issues, and it appears he’s having a breakdown.”

  Butler nodded.

  “His wife left him and took the children. It’s become complicated, and he’s not taking it well.”

  The officer looked thoughtful.

  “In my report I'll suggest that he receives counselling.”

  “I’m already on it. Finn may not have told you, but I’ve arranged for a home visit. Someone from Social Services will visit him during the next few days.”

  “No, he didn’t mention it.”

  “It doesn’t surprise me, he’s become very confused lately, it’s very sad.”

  “How do you know Mr. Maynard?”

  “Oh, Finn and I go back a long time,“ lied Butler, “is this why you’ve visited him today?”

  “Yes, his wife is concerned and asked us to pay a visit.”