MAGDALENA'S GHOST: THE HAUNTING OF THE HOUSE IN GALLOWS LANE

by Peppi Hilton

  She walked up to him and greeted him with a hug but he didn’t respond.

  “If you sit at the table, breakfast is ready, it won’t be a minute,” he said brusquely.

  Lucy obeyed him like a child who had just been scolded for being naughty. She was mystified by this new Anton and had no idea what had come over him. And why was it that whenever Anton moved that old rocker anywhere, it didn’t move itself back to its original position in front of the scullery range? She couldn’t even walk past it without feeling threatened. She was convinced it was that old woman who was stealing Anton from her. Yes, of course, that’s it! Her thoughts were spiralling out of control again. If that woman wants Anton so strongly, that she is prepared to drive Lucy away by putting the fear of god into her, then she will have a fight on her hands because Lucy did not intend to give in. She was still convinced that the child she saw disappearing through the sealed door was trying to communicate with her, and it was up to Lucy to toughen up and spur Anton into action. But it was easy to contemplate, but not so easy to do, so she decided to wait until they’d eaten breakfast before attempting to pluck up sufficient courage to face the music.

  They ate in silence, although Lucy had made several attempts to converse, but he clearly was having none of it. Then she began to wonder if his mood was perhaps nothing to do with the cat saga at all. Maybe he’d had some problems whilst working away. She hadn’t thought of that before, and she was beginning to feel guilty all at once. Maybe he was upset about something – maybe he’d lost his job. Oh god! That thought had never occurred to her. One thing was for certain, he was deep in thought and she needed to find out why.

  “Is there something wrong Anton? Anything I need to know about?”

  “No!” came his frosty reply.

  She was a little taken aback, because at least she’d expected the courtesy of a more reasonable response.

  “Well something’s clearly wrong and I think I have a right to know what it is.”

  But he just got up from the table, cleared the dishes and proceeded to take them into the scullery.

  Lucy jumped up and followed him. “Here, let me do the dishes.”

  Anton ignored her and continued to do them himself. It was so out of character that Lucy was beginning to get tetchy. She grabbed his arm and stopped him from carrying on.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong or not? You’ve been like this ever since you arrived back – or at least ever since I heard that cat.”

  What she had just said evidently touched a raw nerve. He swung round and stared at her like a madman.

  “Can’t you get it into your silly head – there was no cat!” he bellowed, causing Lucy to jump back in alarm.

  So that was it! The cat saga had turned him into a monster and it was one that she didn’t much like. She wanted her old Anton back because somehow something, or someone, had possessed him, and she needed to act fast otherwise he was dangerously close to turning into one of the demons that was unmistakably inhabiting Juniper House.

  “Well, whether you like it or not, this house is haunted!” she blurted.

  Lucy was getting her mad up which was evident by her rebellious stance, and there was no stopping her.

  “That cat isn’t all I’ve heard, and what’s more I’ve even seen it as it disappeared through that door under the stairs – and what’s more the door was closed when it went through it.”

  She wagged her finger towards the sitting room.

  “And what’s more that stupid old rocker that you seem to have adopted is haunted as well.”

  She stamped her foot in retaliation and winced as it hit the hard stone floor.

  He stared at her as if she’d grown two heads. But it didn’t deter her. Her eyes flashed in defiance as she pelted him with all the experiences she’d witnessed over the past few weeks.

  Having got up on her soap-box there was no holding her back.

  “You’d better believe it Anton this house has other inhabitants besides us. And what’s more they don’t want me here. Or to be more precise: SHE doesn’t want me here.” She pointed her finger to the old rocker. “She wants YOU!”

  Anton glowered at Lucy, his face clouding in anger as he turned on her.

  “You never wanted to come here, did you? You had your mind set on staying where we were forever. You just wanted things to stay the same because you don’t like change. All that talk about having a B & B was all it was – just talk. You never intended to live the dream it was just a fantasy to you and nothing else. Well we obviously don’t think the same, do we? Because I do want to live the dream, I do want to better myself and I intend to do just that.” His tone was sneering, his face twisting in rage.

  Lucy was stupefied and stared after him as he stormed off. She heard the door slam, and minutes later she heard the van driving off. She couldn’t take it in. Was this really happening? She flopped down in the nearest chair and tried to think.

  As she began to simmer down the tears came. She adored Anton, she didn’t want to lose him and she must get her head together. If she continued to antagonise him in a way that would compromise their relationship there would be no turning back, and the house and that old woman would win. She needed to think clearly. She had to have a master-plan if she wanted to keep Anton and fight off the demons. At least that row had forced her to confront the truth: that she could not lose Anton, as he was all she had and all she wanted. And deep down Lucy knew that it wasn’t Anton’s fault. He had been taken over by some strange and sinister force which belonged to the house and he was helpless against it, unless she could find a way to overturn it. And overturn it she must.

  Common sense always prevails in the end, and as she analysed the situation she came to the conclusion that she needed to show more interest in the property, otherwise she was playing into the hands of the evil forces who were seeking to destroy their relationship. She needed to show more enthusiasm for their new home and share the challenges that they faced in achieving their final goal. She should encourage him more and show more gratitude – the list was endless; and she was also beginning to realise how unfair she’d been about it all. Anton had been over the moon when he first discovered Juniper on that eventful day in Judge Fields, which had begun with them both looking for a former site where gallows may have once been erected. That intriguing search caused them to stumble across the house hidden behind that chaotic garden. She felt a warm breath of happiness sweep through her as she recalled their happiness that day, until she’d spoilt it all by insisting that she’d seen an old woman peering at her from within the house. From that very moment she’d shown absolute disinterest, only wanting to continue their journey to their favourite destination. How selfish of her and how disappointed Anton must have felt. But through his persistence and sheer determination, they had ended up as property owners instead of renters. Why could she not have been more encouraging and more grateful? She was now seeing herself in her true colours, instead of constantly brooding about the dark side of Anton. No wonder he felt the way he did. He had directed his anger towards her because she’d let him down, and not because he didn’t care as she had so vehemently convinced herself ever since they’d bought the house. He was right when he’d said she didn’t like change. She didn’t want to spoil their perfect little life. She wanted it to go on and on. Well now she knew the truth there was only one course of action. She had to make it up to him, and hopefully break the spell that the spirits had cast on her unsuspecting Anton.

  But that didn’t sort out Lucy’s dilemma regarding the ghosts, because she knew they existed and she knew she was never going to convince him. However, she would worry about that later. First of all she had to regain control of their love for each other, and remove the sinister hold which had been put on Anton. One thing for certain they couldn’t all live under the same roof together.

  But maybe it was simpler than she thought. Perhaps if she changed her attitude towards the house – and that rocking chair – maybe t
he ghosts would disappear, and that would solve her problem of having to tell Anton after all. Maybe they were antagonised by her negativity towards Juniper, and maybe their intention had simply been a warning call to wake her up to the fact that if she continued in her crusade against Juniper she would lose Anton. Yes, that’s the reason behind it all, she thought. So they were friendly ghosts really, if she gave them half a chance, and to do that she must learn not to fear them.

  She had covered every scenario possible during her time at Juniper – and right now she was convinced she’d just hit on the real truth once more, and therefore she could safely reject all of her earlier suspicions. She felt elated and relieved, as if an enormous weight had been removed from her tiny shoulders.

  She jumped up from the chair and considered how best to put her plans in motion. She would make Anton his favourite stew again. She still had time to catch a bus to the shops and get what she needed. She was determined to let him see she was still the same person that she’d always been, the one he’d fallen in love with at first sight. And she knew how to make him happy. That big black cloud which had followed her around since moving to Judge Fields had now gone, and she was feeling much happier.

  Later that day when Lucy returned from the shops, she noticed the van in the drive so she knew Anton was back. She felt happy and relieved, and there was a spring in her step as she opened the front door. Somewhere in the distance she could hear him hammering and banging and so she disappeared into their make-shift kitchen to prepare the tea. She weighed up how content she ought to be as Anton worked away in the house and she prepared dinner. This was the bliss that all loving relationships were made of – what more could she want and how could she have been so blind? Working together on their new home, and knowing they owned it, was the stuff every young couple dreams of, and from now on she would be a changed person with a totally different view about Juniper.

  She laid the table with a pretty tablecloth which she had treated herself to whilst out shopping and placed a candle in the middle of it. It was simple and cheap but it gave the right ambience. She had treated them both to a bottle of wine, as part of her plan to create an intimate and romantic setting. It was a delayed celebration to welcome him home, and she hoped that Anton would be pleased at her efforts.

  By the time she was ready to serve dinner, Anton had finished what he was doing and had gone for a shower. When he came back down the table was set, the candle was lit and the wine was served. He walked into the room and evidently couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. She knew her plan was working.

  “Sit down Anton I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite.” She pulled a chair out for him before disappearing into the scullery. She returned with two dishes of stew which she placed on the table. Before sitting down she put her arms around his neck and whispered sultrily in his ear: “I’m sorry for making you mad and for being so unreasonable and silly. I’ll make it up to you later.”

  There was a distinct improvement in Anton’s mood, and the cloud of thunder which had spread across his features earlier had disappeared. Lucy was thrilled.

  They tucked into their meal, and after clearing the dishes away they sat in front of the fire. Anton relaxed in his rocker as they both finished the bottle of wine. The heat of the fire was making them feel drowsy after a hot meal and alcohol, and when Lucy saw his eyes drooping, she suggested they go to bed early and spend some time together. Anton knew exactly what she meant and he woke up in an instant at her recommendation. They mounted the stairs arm in arm, and everything felt as it should be. It was like starting all over again.

  As they settled down to enjoy a romantic moment together, Lucy took the lead in an effort to make him feel good, and he responded with a passionate kiss as he settled into some serious love-making. But at that crucial moment, Lucy thought she could hear music playing from somewhere downstairs. A soft melancholy tune resonated throughout the house, and there was no mistaking that it was real. It sounded like someone was playing a violin.

  Lucy pulled away from him and said: “Listen, can you hear that?”

  Anton tried to pull her back towards him again, but she was too distracted.

  “Listen, can’t you hear it?”

  “Hear what?” he said in a sensual voice, his only concern being to stimulate her passions.

  “That music,” she hissed, pulling away from him altogether to sit up.

  Anton didn’t seem to know what was happening. One minute he was enjoying a seductive moment – or two, and the next he was sitting alone on the bed. He was perplexed as he’d stared blankly ahead and watched Lucy’s naked body disappear out of the door. She had scrambled out of bed and was listening from the landing.

  “Anton, come on, you’ll be able to hear it from here,” she called to him in a low voice.

  He crawled of the bed and reluctantly joined her on the landing. He couldn’t hear a thing. In fact everything seemed peaceful and quiet, and he wondered why they were both shivering out there in the cold.

  “Come on Luce,” he pleaded seductively as he nibbled her ear. “I can make much better music than someone outside passing in their car.”

  But she pushed him away. “Listen,” she insisted. “You must be able to hear that. And it’s not outside, it’s in the house!”

  “I can’t hear anything,” he said, as he pulled himself together with a jolt. “All I can hear is you rabbiting on about something and nothing. What does it matter if someone’s playing music outside anyway? Maybe someone’s having a party – so what!”

  “A party – in Judge Fields, this dead hole, you must be joking! They wouldn’t know a party here if it hit them in the face.” She was at it again and had just ruined what she had begun, but she couldn’t stop herself.

  Anton looked at her in exasperation, his erotic notions having now gone completely out of his head and out of his system altogether. She had put a stop to that good and proper. He rushed into the bedroom, grabbed his dressing gown and bounded downstairs. He searched the hall and sitting room, and moved around the house slamming doors on his way. The music by now had stopped, so Lucy knew she was well and truly in deep trouble.

  She followed sheepishly down the stairs, not sure if she could face him or not. He was right of course the music had probably been coming from someone’s car, maybe someone visiting a neighbour. She’d really put her foot in it now, and she doubted her ability to resurrect any further urges from Anton of a passionate night together. She’d blown it and she knew it.

  He marched back into the sitting room where Lucy was waiting with a guilty expression on her face. She had boiled the kettle in an attempt to pacify him with a brew. He didn’t say a word, which only acted to make Lucy look, and feel, more embarrassed and shamefaced. She wished she could crawl under the table without him noticing. But he noticed.

  “You’ve got a serious mental problem, do you know that?” he bellowed.

  His stormy outburst came out of the blue and made her jump.

  Lucy looked at him dumbstruck. There was no way she was standing for that.

  “And you are just a male chauvinistic …” she was struggling for words.

  “Just listen to yourself babbling – you can’t even finish a sentence can you? That’s all you seem to do these days – babble, babble, babble. You’re driving me insane! If I listen to you much longer I’ll be following in the footsteps of whatever mad hatters lived here in the past.”

  He was fuming and she had never seen him quite like that before. She gawped at him, her mouth open and her thoughts racing. She was absolutely flabbergasted. Where did this guy come from? Had she met him before somewhere? Was he an imposter? And where was her lovely, docile Anton? She voiced her thoughts loud and clear.

  “I don’t know who you are anymore. You’re not the person I met – far from it – you’re just an imbecile, a madman who can’t see what’s right under your nose.” She’d never yelled before and her voice was beginning to croak.

  “I sug
gest you take a good look at yourself before you start throwing slurs at anyone else. Anyway, I’ve had enough of all this, you’re just a complete nutter, you should be locked away.”

  Lucy marched right up to him, and tilted her chin so she could scream in his face.

  “Now you listen to me. You’re the most selfish, self-centred sod I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. Whether you like it or not, this house is haunted. Just because you haven’t seen anything, or heard anything, means absolutely nothing. You’ve been wearing blinkers ever since you first set eyes on this place. I HAVE seen what’s occupying this place, and we’ve invaded their sanctuary and they don’t like it!”

  She suddenly realised she’d caused a crick in her neck through tilting her head back so far and screaming out loud. It was his fault of course; why did he have to be six foot and four inches tall when she was only five foot two? She had to massage the back of her neck before she could continue, which only acted to give him more time and space to jump back in whilst she was temporarily disarmed.

  “Well you clearly don’t like this house, so it might be a better idea if you go back to the flat. I’m sure there won’t have been a queue of people waiting to take a poxy little ‘pied-a-terre’ – because that’s all it was, a glorified bed-sit! Little places suit little people.”

  It was getting nasty.

  “How dare you?” Lucy spat at him. “And you’d better remember that this house is part mine as well as yours and I could force a sale.” He didn’t like that and it rendered him speechless.

  At that point they both clammed up. Neither of them knew quite what they were fighting over, or how it had all begun and why on earth it had got so out of control. Anton was suddenly scratching his head, and he seemed confused as if he’d just wakened up from a trance. He suddenly remembered that Lucy had interrupted a crucial moment in bed with her insane ramblings and he felt rightfully peeved; but he would never have normally reacted in such a manner. He felt ashamed and guilty and couldn’t understand what was going on. Could he be wrong? Could she have seen or heard something? But he answered his own question: No, she couldn’t have, after all he would have seen or heard it too. His head was being invaded by a sudden attack of numerous thoughts, as he toiled and laboured to work it all out.