Spirits 04-Spirits of Seacliff Manor

by Morgan Hannah MacDonald

  She continued to the third floor and down to the end of the hall. The scratching noises had ceased. She pulled her smart phone from her pocket and snapped a picture of the wall. She looked at the photo, but found nothing. Undeterred, she began filming the hall.

  “Is anyone here?” She aimed the lens at the wall itself before she continued down the hall all the while letting the video run. “Is there anyone here who would like to communicate with me?” She panned the lens right to left as she walked. When she got to the stairs, she turned it off and replayed it. At first she only saw an empty hall and then orbs began flying around the screen. She counted four.

  “Is anyone here?” her voice broke through.

  “Yeeeeeees.” It was a long drawn out whisper.

  Courtney couldn’t believe it. She rewound the recording and listened again. Excitement flooded her bloodstream. She decided to watch the rest of the tape before she rewound it again.

  “Is there anyone here who wishes to communicate with me?” Courtney didn’t like the way she sounded on tape.

  “Yes.” The word came out crisp.

  Then she swore she saw a shadow.

  Courtney rewound it and played it again. “Yes.” Someone was standing there, she could see their profile. She searched the hall, but saw nothing with the naked eye. She put the phone back up and began filming again. Once she reviewed the footage, she found it was gone. Her hopes dashed, she put the phone away and headed back down to her room.

  She really wanted to wake Alyssa and share the tape, but she’d probably just be pissed. It would be best to wait until morning. She brushed her teeth and climbed into bed. Just as she was about to turn out the light, she grabbed her phone and replayed the video.

  *

  Elizabeth ‘Bess’ McKay MacDougall stood in the east tower, scanning the horizon. The full moon hung low leaving a trail of light along the ocean that led straight to her. The night sky could not be more brilliant than if it were day, but still there was no sign of sails.

  Her husband had sent word that his ship should have arrived two days ago. As she gazed out at the tumultuous sea, she prayed he had not met with trouble. Every time Patrick left, she worried it would be the last time she would see him.

  She cursed her husband for taking her away from her family and dumping her in this desolate wilderness on the other side of the country. Bess missed Boston, the culture, the shops.

  Civilization.

  But most of all she missed her husband. She collapsed on the settee and buried her face in her hands as she wept.

  “Excuse me, mum. The children are waiting for you to say goodnight.”

  Bess pulled out her handkerchief and wiped her tearstained cheeks. “Thank you, Fanny. I’ll be right down.”

  The Irish nanny curtsied. “Very good, mum.” She turned to take her leave.

  Bess cleaned herself up. She couldn’t let the children know she’d been crying. She studied the view once more before she turned, lifted her petticoats and descended the stairs with all the grace instilled in her from birth.

  Alyssa awoke abruptly with a deep sense of sorrow. She spied Brandon’s side of the bed. It was empty. She brushed her cheek and found it moist as if she’d been crying. She glanced at the clock and noticed it was 3:33 AM. She’d been waking at the same time every night as if her bladder were on a schedule.

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed and heard a scratching noise overhead. She stared at the ceiling and wondered if it had been there all along, or if her sister had conjured up these imaginary rats.

  After she returned from the bathroom, she climbed back under the covers and began to drift off. Then she heard the thunder of tiny feet above. Her heart drummed in her chest. Alyssa jumped out of bed, stepped into her slippers and grabbed her robe. The nights were always chilly in this big house.

  She hurried down to Courtney’s room and peeked inside. Her sister was sound asleep, so she continued on. When she got to the stairs, she grabbed the banister and ran up to the third floor. By then the noise had stopped, the hall was empty. Then she heard the sound of children giggling. A chill ran up her spine.

  Dreaming, that’s it. She had to be dreaming. All of Courtney’s talk about ghosts must have planted a seed. She turned on her heel and fled to Vera’s room, where she promptly dove under the covers, head and all.

  The alarm clock pealed at 7:45 AM. Alyssa swatted the damn thing, hoping to hit the snooze button, but knocked it to the floor instead. She covered her head with the pillow and begged for five more minutes of sleep, but the infernal noise was making her crazy so out of the bed she went.

  She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and dressed for the day before she headed down to unlock the front door for the workmen. On her way, she met Bailey coming in with his toolbox.

  “How did you get in?”

  Bailey had a funny look on his face. “The front door was open. I thought maybe you went out into the yard or something.”

  “This is the first time I’ve been downstairs. Maybe it was Courtney. She’s always had a problem closing a door behind her.”

  “Did I hear my name?” Courtney bounded down the stairs.

  “Did you leave the front door open?” Alyssa asked.

  “Not me. I just got up.”

  Bailey shrugged his shoulders.

  “I told you this place is haunted.” Courtney smirked.

  “Where did you hear that?” Bailey said.

  “The pizza delivery guy,” Alyssa said.

  “I have proof.” Courtney pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “Look.”

  Alyssa and Bailey crowded around to view the screen. “What are we looking at?” Alyssa asked.

  “See all those orbs?” Courtney pointed to rays of light floating around the picture.

  “Looks like dust particles,” Bailey said.

  “Nope. Those are spirits and you have many,” Courtney assured them.

  “If you say so,” Bailey answered.

  “Shh. Listen,” The video continued. “Is there anyone here?” There was silence. “Yeeeees.” The machine hissed. Courtney paused the screen. “Did you hear that?”

  Alyssa didn’t answer.

  “Hear what?” Bailey said.

  “Fine, you can hear it better later.” Courtney took off the pause button and showed them her phone.

  “Okay, check this out.” Courtney stopped the tape.

  “I don’t see anything,” Alyssa said.

  Courtney pointed to the right side of the screen. “See this here. It’s the shadow of a man standing half-in and half-out of the bedroom door.”

  “You got all that, huh?” Bailey chuckled.

  But Alyssa could see it.

  “Now listen.” Courtney hit the play button. “Is there anyone here who wishes to communicate with me?” Static. “Yes!”

  Suddenly Alyssa remembered the incident from the night before, the children running and giggling in the hall. She mentally shook her head. Her sister was getting the best of her.

  “I have a busy day. I don’t have time to be messing around with your theories. The electrician is due any minute and I’ve got to call the exterminator.” Alyssa turned to Bailey. “We heard rats in the walls.”

  “The man swore he’d cleaned the place out,” Bailey exclaimed.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t know how else to explain the scratching we heard,” Alyssa answered.

  “I told you, the place is haunted,” Courtney answered emphatically.

  “And there she goes again.” Alyssa made her way into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. Before she knew it, Bailey had joined her.

  “There have been rumors,” he said quietly.

  Alyssa hit the brew button and faced him. “Not you too?”

  “I didn’t want to say anything before, but now that it’s out in the open, I think you should know. Remember Danny?”

  “The guy who had to be replaced because his mother was ill?”

  “His mother isn�
��t ill, or at least that’s not the reason he left.” Bailey’s serious expression made her uncomfortable.

  Alyssa leaned back against the counter. “So what is the real reason?”

  “He was working alone on the fourth floor windows. Next thing we knew, he came running down the stairs white as a sheet. He didn’t say a word to anyone. Just headed for the front door, jumped into his truck and burned rubber.”

  The silence between them grew until Alyssa felt the need to fill it. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”

  “Jack tried to contact him, but he wouldn’t pick up the phone or call him back. So he headed to his apartment, but Danny wouldn’t answer the door. Jack told him he wouldn’t leave until he knew he was okay. Finally Danny yelled that he quit. He wasn’t going back to that house. Now go away.”

  The news was distressing to say the least, but Alyssa couldn’t accept what Bailey was implying. “The guy obviously has some mental issues.”

  “Jack told me that Danny was one of his best employees. The guy had worked for him for seven years without a single problem.”

  “And you, what do you think, Bailey?”

  “I won’t leave you.”

  Alyssa placed her hand on his arm. “You have no idea how much that means to me, but it doesn’t answer my question. Do you think this place is haunted?”

  His quiet stare said it all.

  “Come on, Bailey. You’re the only one I trust here. Courtney tends to exaggerate, which has gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion. If you know something, please tell me.”

  “I’d feel better if you stayed away from the center tower.”

  “That’s silly.” But the look he gave her said he was serious. “You think I’m in danger?”

  “I wouldn’t say that, but…”

  Bailey was frightening her. “Quit being so evasive.”

  “I’m not trying to be, but why scare you unnecessarily?”

  Alyssa let out a big sigh. “I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I would like to hear what you know.”

  “Well.” He took a deep breath. “I was heading down the hall on the fourth floor when I noticed a woman in a nineteenth century gown floating down the stairs. I stopped dead in my tracks. When she got to the bottom, she disappeared.”

  It sounded like the woman from Alyssa’s dream. “When did this happen?”

  “Last week.”

  “Bailey, you should have told me. I hope you know I consider you a friend.”

  “And I you. That’s why I said nothing.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Alyssa, I know the stress this house has put on your marriage. This may be a big place, but voices carry. I’ve heard you and Brandon arguing about the cost of renovations and the mounting bills. I wouldn’t dream of adding to your anxiety. Besides, it’s not like I was harmed in any way.”

  “I’m glad you decided to stay.” She reached up on tip-toe and kissed his cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  The doorbell chimed.

  “I’ll get that, you enjoy your coffee,” Bailey said.

  Alyssa turned back toward the kitchen and said over her shoulder, “Can I pour you a cup?”

  “No thanks, if I have any more I’ll float away.”

  “Keep your fingers crossed it’s the electrician,” Alyssa called after him.

  “Will do.”

  SEVEN

  That afternoon Alyssa and Courtney ran out to the grocery store so they could stock up on some of Courtney’s favorite foods and beverages. On the way back they decided to stop for frozen yogurt. They selected a table out on the patio.

  “So is it a good time for you to tell me the truth about why you’ve decided to quit school?” Alyssa asked.

  Courtney sighed. “I guess.” She put down her spoon. “You know Taylor?”

  “Of course, you dated all through high school. What about him?”

  “The douche bag cheated on me with some conservative little preppy type.”

  “What? I thought you two were talking marriage?”

  “Exactly. He’d started acting weird, busy all the time. He said his classes were kicking his ass. I’d barely seen him in the last month. Then my roommate said she saw him in town being all cozy with this Brittany Something-or-other.

  “When I confronted him, he said he was sorry. He didn’t mean for it to happen, but he was glad everything was out in the open now. Then he dumped me! Can you believe it?”

  “Oh, Court, I’m so sorry. You must be devastated.”

  “Uh, yeah. He’s going to be sorry too. She’s probably only dating him to walk on the wild side. Her type doesn’t marry the bad boy with the tattoos.”

  Alyssa grabbed her hand. “You’re too good for him.”

  A tear escaped Courtney’s eye. “You bet your sweet ass I am.”

  “So that’s why you quit school? It’s a big campus. It’s not like you would be running into him all the time.”

  Courtney picked up her spoon and began to play with her yogurt. “He’s the reason I was going to college in the first place.”

  “Seriously?” Alyssa stared at her sister. “Do you know how much Mom and Dad had to scrimp to come up with the money for you to go?”

  Courtney wouldn’t look at her. “I know. But don’t worry, I’ll pay them back.”

  “And how do you suppose you’re going to do that working at a video store?”

  Angry eyes flashed at Alyssa. “Gee, condescending much?”

  “Well, where else do you think you’re going to be working without a college diploma?”

  “I’m going to be a hairstylist.”

  Alyssa began to relax. “That’s not a bad idea. You’ve been messing with your hair all your life and I’d bet they wouldn’t think twice about hiring a girl with a pierced nose.”

  “I’m thinking about getting a tattoo.”

  “Oh hell no.” Alyssa vehemently shook her head. “That’s going too far. With a piercing the hole can close with time, but tattoos are forever.”

  “Duh, that’s the point.”

  “You’re going to send Dad to an early grave.”

  “Now look who’s being overdramatic?”

  Alyssa’s phone rang. “Hello?”

  “You need to get back here,” Bailey said. “Now.”

  Alyssa stared at Courtney. “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s something you need to see.”

  “Be right there.” Alyssa hung up and dropped her phone in her purse.

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know, but we have to leave.” Alyssa tossed the rest of her yogurt in the trash and rushed to the car.

  She’d barely shut off the engine when she leapt from the car and raced up the steps. The front door stood open. “Bailey!”

  She heard his footfalls thundering above so she ran toward the stairs to meet him halfway with Courtney on her heels. The moment she saw him she blurted, “What is it?”

  Bailey appeared alarmed. “You know Bob—”

  “Yes, the electrician,” Alyssa interrupted. “What about him? Is he okay?”

  Bailey turned around. “Follow me.” He led her up the rest of the stairs. “He was checking the walls for electrical surges when he came across one particular spot that was off the charts. He asked me if I minded if he busted into the wall, I said fine. I mean, he’d have to do it anyway to get to the wires to fix it.”

  At the top of the third flight, he made his way down to the end of the hall and stopped at the west tower, right above Vera’s room. Alyssa couldn’t see a thing for all the workmen crowding around.

  “Don’t tell me, you found a family of rats living there.”

  Bailey had a strange look on his face. “Not exactly.” He addressed the guys. “Let us through.”

  After they backed away, Alyssa and her sister peered into the hole in the wall.

  “Holy shit,” Courtney said.

  “Definitely not what
I was expecting,” Alyssa added.

  Bailey led the way, breaking apart spider webs as he walked. “Hey, Bob, did you find out where the surge was coming from?”

  “Not yet.” Bob glanced over his shoulder. “Oh hey, Alyssa. Isn’t this something?”

  “It’s a surprise, all right.”

  “A hidden room,” Courtney added. “How cool!”

  “How did you find this?” Alyssa asked.

  “He’d checked out the entire house and narrowed down the power surge at the end of this hall,” Bailey said.

  “I knocked on the wall and found it hollow. I pulled the wallpaper away and that’s when I found a door missing a knob. The lock was fused by rust or something, so I had to use an axe to bust through.”

  “Whoa, look at that,” Courtney said.

  Alyssa turned at the sound of her sister’s voice. She was using the flashlight app on her phone and shining it at the ceiling. It had been painted navy blue and was covered in tiny gold leaf stars that sparkled. She could make out several constellations.

  Courtney showed the light around the room. There wasn’t much in the way of furniture; just a large round table covered in layers of dust and some chairs cast about on their sides or backs, only one sat upright. Multiple candles burnt down in different stages were strategically placed around the room.

  “Maybe it would help you see better if you turned the light on,” Alyssa suggested.

  “Thank you, Captain Obvious.” Courtney giggled.

  “That’s just it. I can’t find where this room is wired for electricity,” Bob answered.

  “Oh look.” Courtney picked something up and cleaned it off. “An antique Ouija board. This thing would fetch good money on eBay.” She tucked it under her arm and continued searching the floor. She found the planchette, dusted it off on her pant leg and slipped it into her pocket.

  “This room was used for séances.” Courtney got down on all fours and crawled under the table, shining the light in front of her. She brushed at the dirt with her hand. “That can’t be good.”

  Alyssa squatted to see what she was talking about. “Isn’t that what they use for devil worshiping?”

  “Not necessarily. I mean, it is a pentagram, but it can be used for good or evil. It depends on where the top point of the star is placed, but I can’t tell because it’s in a round room. I have no idea which way it’s facing. An upright star is for protection, an inverted star would mean they were worshiping Satan.”