"Deceiver… Betrayer… Liar. Give in and rest now. Let me show you the way to eternity," the words were so persuasive.
Gail wanted to listen, she wanted to believe them, and she had to shake herself to not fall under their spell.
Gradually, the spirit pushed them out of the room and along the corridor. Every step was like a nightmare that she wanted to escape from. She did not know how much more her heart could take and yet for the moment the pain had gone from her head. Maybe it was the adrenaline surging through her veins maybe it was just plain old fear. She did not know, and she did not care, she had to think of a way to help Jesse. Maybe if she prayed? So she did, she prayed and stepped back inch by tiny inch making sure that she kept away from the spirit. All the time she wondered why Jesse didn’t just turn and run. Soon they would be at the stairs, and they could run down and escape.
"Where is the key?" she asked.
Jesse kept chanting, but he reached into his pocket and handed her the key as they slowly backed away down the corridor. The stronger the woman got, the less light the lantern gave out, and the colder the house seemed to become. If they tripped, then it was over, and so they inched back step by careful step giving up as little ground as they could.
Gail felt her hopes rising as they moved towards the stairs. There was no way the woman could stop them bolting down them, and once they did, they would be out the door. She didn't dare to think what would happen if it wasn't there. She hadn't mentioned that to Jesse, so she pushed it to the back of her mind. With each step, her legs felt weaker, and she was breathing so fast she feared she would hyperventilate and faint.
Jesse put a hand on her arm.
"Control the fear," he said, and she could see him gritting his teeth, his face was red, and his eyes were darker than they should be.
"I can't."
She wanted to mention the door, wanted to tell him there was no way out and yet that way was terror. So, she bit down on her lip and took a deep breath. Letting it out really slowly she managed to think of just the next step. That's all she had to do, just think of one second at a time. Every second they survived was one more victory, and they could beat this woman... this ghost. As she controlled her breathing the woman before her shimmered and was gone for just a second. It was a small victory, but it was a victory, and she took another breath, clearing her mind and just concentrating on her feet. Grabbing Jesse's arm, she hurried them back down the corridor, and they arrived at the stairs. As they turned the seed of hope was destroyed.
Standing three steps down was Sarah, her arms folded across her chest and an evil smile on her face.
The woman was back, the grin on her face one of victory. She moved closer to them, but Gail decided she had had enough. Taking Jesse's hands, she pulled him around to face her.
"This is where we make a stand," she said.
Jesse nodded and they linked arms and faced her. "We're going no further, do what you will."
Chapter 14
As they held hands, Jesse continued to chant. “I cast you out, unclean spirit; in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be gone from these creatures of God.”
A laugh sliced through the air as effectively as a knife. It was deep and thick with phlegm, and it blasted them with more cold air. “You will die, you cannot defy me. It does not matter where this happens,” she hissed. “Die as all who come within my house must die.”
The house began to shudder, almost as if it was being shaken by an earthquake. Gail screamed, and Jesse pulled her close and yet he never stopped chanting.
Why wasn’t it working?
Beneath them, the floorboards moved. It was as if they were made of rubber, the wood rose up, and they rushed backward, trying to race the undulating floor. Somehow, they knew that staying still meant death and yet there was nowhere to run. Back and back they went until they had a choice. Enter the room, the room with the window of death or run into the outside wall.
Without even a word they went past the door and stopped only when their backs were against the wall. Jesse pulled her to him and held her close, kissing the top of her head as they felt the floor boards move beneath their feet. At first, they were lifted up, but then the boards seemed to crumble away from them and shattered into a million pieces. For the briefest of instants, they were standing on nothing.
Gail felt her stomach fall as well as her feet and she was plummeting down, and down. Jesse was trying to hold on to her, but it was no use. He was heavier, and they tumbled apart. A scream was ripped from her as her hand reached out to grab him. Only, he was falling faster, and then there was a great crash, and he disappeared through the next floor. She screamed his name, afraid that he would be dead. Maybe it didn’t matter, maybe she would join him soon.
As she passed through the next floor, she felt debris hit her face and scratch down her right arm. Then she was falling in pitch darkness, the lantern tumbling away before her. Automatically her arms wheeled, and her legs ran in the air and then she hit the floor.
Landing hard on her back, the air was forced from her lungs in a great whoosh and pain seared through her body. She was engulfed in a great cloud of dust. It was so dark, and yet the lantern had landed not far away from her. Something was blocking the light. A cough escaped her battered lungs, and for a few moments, she could not move. Every part of her hurt and tears leaked from her eyes. Though she desperately wanted to look for Jesse, to call his name, she could not move, could not even speak.
Closing her eyes, she tried to take a deep breath. It hurt in her chest and back. Was something broken? Did it matter? Shaking off such negative thoughts she took another, shallower breath. This one was less excruciating, and she could feel the pain receding and sensation coming back into her arms and legs. They hurt, she would no doubt be covered in bruises, but it looked like she would survive... for a little while anyway!
With great trepidation, she tried to sit up. A gasp of pain left her, but she made it.
“Jesse,” she called softly.
The cellar was so dark, she needed to get to the lantern and to find Jesse. Could he have survived? It seemed doubtful. He had hit the second floor and had fallen through it. She had been lucky and had only gone through the hole. Yet she could feel blood on her arm and cheek. Carefully, she checked her arm. The blood was flowing, but not fast, she would survive. Then she gingerly touched her cheek. It hurt like hell, but the blood had stopped.
Gradually, her eyes were adjusting to the dark, and she looked around as she felt a cold breeze rush past her. It seemed to freeze her very soul, and she knew the spirits were here.
“Jesse, oh, my God, Jesse, we have to get out of here.”
Gail scanned the room and then she saw him. He was lying between her and the lamp. He was not moving.
Gail tried to stand as she peered into the darkness. Her legs would not hold her, she still felt too dizzy, so she dragged herself across the dirt floor. All the time she could feel her panic rising, and she was making small choking sounds as she tried to hold it together.
What if he was dead?
At last, she was at his side, and she reached out a hand to touch him. He was warm but did not move. The lantern was on the other side of him, and she reached over to grab it. It was almost too far, but she stretched, feeling a stabbing pain in her ribs. It was too far, and she started to sob. This was it, she would die in this cellar with Jesse. For a moment, she thought about lying down next to him and giving in. Then she felt angry. She had never given in to anything, and she was not starting now. So, she scrambled to her knees. Ignoring the pain that wanted her to scream, she reached over and grabbed the lantern.
Taking a breath and steadying herself, she looked at Jesse. He had a gash on his forehead. It was deep but not bleeding, and it was starting to bruise. That had to be a good sign, right? He could not bruise if he was dead. He looked so pale, but that could be the light, and she could not see if he was breathing.
Gently, she reached for his neck and as her fingers prodded his skin
his eyes opened. The pupils dilated and then focused, and she wanted to let out a whoop of joy.
“Jesse,” she said and hugged him close.
“Where are we?” he tried to sit up but his eyes closed and he sank back down.
“Steady now, you had a bad fall. We fell from the top floor, and you hit all the debris.” She did not know how to describe what had happened. Would probably never know but she knew he must take his time... and yet she also knew they must hurry.
“Are we alone?” he asked.
Gail held the lamp up and looked around the cellar, it did not reach all that far but from what she could see they were. “I think so.” Though she knew the spirits were here, they had not manifested yet.
“I think so, but I think they are coming. What should I do?” She wanted to cry, to tell him how frightened she was, how much she loved him and how she did not want him to die. Yet somehow, she knew that would just make things worse. Despite the terror in her stomach and the way her hands were shaking, she must appear to be calm.
Jesse took her hand. “You have to be strong. It will weaken them... that is why they are not here straight away. We stood up to them, and it has sent them back, but it will not hold. Listen to me, for this is very important.”
Gail squeezed his hand. “I’m listening.”
“Gail, my love, you have to leave. Go now and do not look back.”
Gail felt as if the floor had collapsed once more. She could not leave him here, could not abandon him to those evil ghosts, spirits, apparitions or whatever they were. If she died it did not matter, but not Jesse, he had his whole life ahead of him, and she would not leave.
“No,” was all she could say.
“You always were so darn pig-headed,” he said, but there was a laugh in his voice. Only it ended in a coughing fit, and as he pulled his hand away, Gail could see blood on his fingers.
“Jesse!” she yelled. “How badly are you hurt?”
For a moment, she could see he was going to lie, but then he shook his head. “I think I broke a rib, possibly my ankle but I will survive. We just need to be strong and beat these bitches, and we will get out of here. Together,” he said.
“Together.”
“Can you help me move to the wall, to sit up?” he asked.
Gail wanted to say no, she wanted to keep him still but she could see it was a better position. They would be able to see the rest of the cellar from there.
“I’ll try, can you stand?”
“For maybe a few paces.”
Gail lifted, and Jesse pushed down on his arms and levered up onto one leg. His right ankle hung at a strange angle, and it almost made Gail wretch. Together, she helped as he hopped to the wall. When she put him down, she could see he was almost white and looked as if he would faint at any moment. Gently, she slapped his cheeks.
“Stay with me,” she said.
“I’m OK. I just need a moment.”
Only they didn’t have a moment for the spirit of Sarah, and the woman flashed into view.
"Be strong," Jesse said, though his voice was weak and she could see he was fading. "The stronger you are, the weaker they will be." Then he took her hand. The gesture comforted her, made her think of home. It gave her strength and yet she could tell that his grasp was weak.
"I want to ask you to do something for me," Jesse said. "I need you to leave, I need you to leave me and to get out of here and then I will be happy."
"No!" Gail wailed. "There is no way I could leave you, no way I will."
"Please, please, just save yourself. This was my foolish dream... I need you to go." His voice faded away and as she watched his eyes closed.
Gail let out a sob and reached over to feel for his pulse. At first, she could not find it and tears formed in her eyes. Then there it was, weak, weak but steady. What should she do? She wanted to shake him, to slap him, anything to wake him up. Wasn't that what you were supposed to do? It was all too much, and she let the tears fall until she heard the mocking laughter of the child, Sarah.
There was something about that sound that incensed her. Fear wanted to bury her beneath a blanket of terror, but she would not let it. What did it matter? She was dead in a few months anyway, and so she would fight these bitches, and she would win. Raising her eyes, she looked at them.
They weren't fully corporeal but were more like shining figures of dark mist and yet the sight of them almost broke her resolve. The woman stood behind Sarah, her hands were on the child's shoulders. Gail looked closer and she could see bone poking through the skin and for some reason that gave her hope.
"You're not getting him, and if you know what's good for you, you will get out of here and leave us alone." She said the words with conviction and yet she did not know what else to do. The exorcism hadn't seemed to be working, and she was not sure she could remember it anyway. So, what could she do except be strong and stay with Jesse?
The ghost before her seemed to shimmer, it was as if her defiance weakened them and that gave her strength. So, she thought back through all the years, and all she had heard from Jesse and something came to her. The exorcism had to be complete before it could work and that the spirit would try to stop you doing that. This was what must be happening. She didn't know the exorcism, but she knew some of the words and she remembered hearing Jesse say that intent was as important as the words.
Getting to her feet, she walked towards the ghosts, and she started to chant, "Be gone, unclean spirit... be gone. I cast you out in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Be gone."
Sarah screamed, and the woman blinked out of existence for just a moment. When she returned the smile on her face was softer somehow, and she nodded as if in encouragement. Gail found herself staring at the woman. Their eyes met, and suddenly she was no longer as afraid. Was it because she did not fear death, or had something changed?
As she held the woman's glance, a dark mist traveled past her, and she turned to see Sarah in front of Jesse.
"No!" she screamed and rushed to him. It was too late.
Sarah picked Jesse up and tossed him across the cellar as if he was a ragdoll. He traveled beyond the scope of the light, and she heard a terrible crunch as he hit the wall. Picking up the lantern she raced towards him. Jesse was lying on the ground in front of the wall. Bricks had broken loose, and a few were scattered on top of him. Dropping to her knees, she grabbed the bricks and tossed them away. Fury gave her strength, and soon he was clear. Gently, she wiped the dust and dirt from his face.
"Jesse, Jesse, are you still… Jesse, please don't leave me, I beg you, don’t go."
Her hand was shaking as she reached down to his neck, it hesitated just a few centimeters above his flesh. What would she do if he was dead? Nothing would matter anymore... but she would get her revenge. She would end this in the name of her love. Swallowing, she placed her fingers on his neck and searched for his pulse. A sob escaped her because she couldn't find it, it was almost too much, and she felt filled with fury. No, she had to stay strong, so she took in a deep breath and tried again.
Yes, it was there, very weak, but it was there. She had to get him out of here. Closing her eyes, she focused her rage and let it build within her. Then she stood and picked up the lantern, and something caught her eye. Raising the lantern to shoulder height she noticed a hole in the wall where Jesse had hit. That shouldn't have happened, the house was old but no way should he have knocked through the wall. With her heart in her mouth, she approached the dark gap. Could he have knocked clear through to the outside? Did they have a way to escape? Quickly, she scrambled over to the hole. Even though she knew it was impossible, so many impossible things had happened this night that she would believe in anything and she would take the hope. Maybe she could smash out some more bricks and drag Jesse out, maybe they would be safe?
Disappointment weighed on her like an anvil on her back. It was not to the outside. It was a cavern, a cubby, something that had been created inside the house. Slowly,
she leaned forward. Every fiber of her was ready to move. Was this a trap? Had Sarah done this deliberately? Maybe she would be dragged into that hole and sealed inside. Though it was the last thing she wanted to do, she peered inside.
“No!”
Gail could not help but scream.
Chapter 15
Staring back at her from behind the bricks were the empty eye sockets of a skeleton. Gail’s knees started to buckle, and the breath froze in her throat. Quickly, she had to grab onto the wall to steady herself, and a brick came away in her hands. It landed on her foot and sent needle sharp pain through her toe. The pain focused her mind, and she steadied herself and forced her eyes back to the skeleton.
Its mouth was open in a silent scream. Had this woman been put here, still alive? Was this what would happen to her? To her and Jesse?
For what seemed like minutes, and yet could only have been seconds Gail just stood there and stared. Her mind could not comprehend what she was seeing. The ghost of the woman appeared beside her, and she seemed more real, almost human. Gail felt tears fill her eyes as she looked from the ghost to the skeleton trapped in the wall. Though there were little of the clothes left on the bones, the color of the material could be the same. Gail let out a sob. Had this woman been sealed in this wall alive?
The ghost raised her hands, and Gail was overcome with fear and nausea. The fingernails were broken, the ends of the fingers scratched and bleeding. The skin was worn almost down to the bone.
"You were buried alive?" Gail asked.
The spirit nodded.
"You did this to your hands?"
The spirit nodded once more.
Tears were streaming down Gail's face as she imagined the horror and fear the woman must have suffered. Sealed in a dark tomb, scratching at the bricks with your fingers until you ripped off your own nails and all the skin. How long had she clawed against that impenetrable fortress and yet there was no escape? The panic must have been unbearable, and how long had it taken for her to die? Hours, days? It did not bear thinking about. Trapped in the dark, was her greatest fear... but to be trapped with no hope and no chance of salvation? Had she starved to death? Or died of lack of oxygen? Or maybe her heart gave out under the sheer terror. However she had died, she had died alone and afraid, and suddenly, Gail felt sorry for her.
The Haunting of Seafield House (The Spirit Guide Book 1) Page 9
