“I’m not sure, but maybe you’ll find those answers, too. While you were at the top trying to make up your mind, I looked around a bit. This place is creepy. Don’t get scared. I don’t want to stay long, so I’m going to take pics with my phone. We can figure it out later.”
“Pics of what?” Marilyn asked.
Kellie turned the light onto the opposite wall, and the strangest sight met Marilyn’s eyes.
“What the heck is all that?”
Kellie shrugged.
She faced the wall with her phone in hand. Her first shot was wide to take in the old wooden table and shelves with the various jars, candles, and a few metal boxes. She took close up shots of the jars containing dried liquids or dehydrated plants. There were two antique oil lamps on the table along with several candles. A few were new and unburned.
The metal boxes were stacked on the table. The first contained matches. Some were old box matches and the boxes had yellowed with age. A few were newer matchbooks from a bar in town. The second box contained scissors, tweezers, needles, and black thread. The last box contained a skeleton of what Kellie thought to be a rat. She closed the box after Marilyn gasped, but not before she snapped a picture.
“That does it, let’s go.”
“You first,” Marilyn said.
Kellie held up the lantern, and the young women entered the tunnel.
Chapter Seven
Taylor stared out the window and dropped her fork on her plate when Hunter’s voice startled her. “What’s wrong? You aren’t eating. Don’t you like your own cooking?” Hunter grinned.
“I’m worried. I have a bad feeling. I can’t get ahold of Kellie. My calls go straight to voicemail.” She looked at Hunter. Her face tried to hide her anxiety, but Hunter knew her too well.
“Marilyn lives out in the country in the woods. Maybe she can’t get reception. Did you try Marilyn’s land line?” He cocked his head and looked at her hoping to lighten the mood.
“Kellie didn’t give it to me and it isn’t listed.” Taylor frowned.
“I’m sure she’ll call a little later. She’s on vacation and needs distance from the stress she left behind.”
“Not from me,” Taylor insisted. “We’re closer than sisters. I’ll worry until she calls.”
“I understand, but this pot roast is delicious. Eat. You’ll need strength to worry,” he lifted another forkful of dinner to his mouth.
“Okay, but after dinner I’m calling Andrea. I bet she and Cole are worried, too.”
Hunter raised his eyebrows. “I’m sure they are.”
Taylor’s eyes shot daggers at Hunter, and he laughed. “You’re overreacting again, Taylor.”
“Yeah, right.” She continued to scowl.
#####
“The tunnel was well planned. Look at this, Marilyn.” Kellie held the lantern a bit higher.
Marilyn saw the roughly carved niches in the walls every few feet. Each held a stub of a candle in them. She also saw strange symbols carved into the wall next to each candle niche.
“That makes sense. If it were built along with the original crypt, there wouldn’t be any way to have electricity down here. Candles give off enough light to see if placed close enough together. I don’t understand what those symbols are.” Marilyn added.
“I agree the candles would give off light, but what the symbols are for is beyond me.” She used her phone and snapped pics of the odd wall carvings. “There are several places in front of us where the tunnel has been shorn up with wood. I want to take a closer look at it. If some of it is newer and similar to the ladder rungs, we’ll know someone comes down here now.”
Marilyn shuddered at the thought. She wondered could this be where my kidnapper took me? I’m glad he let me go. She fought off the panic she felt in the enclosed space and caught up to Kellie.
Kellie was inspecting the wood holding up the braces that ran across the ceiling of the tunnel. “Look at this, Marilyn. Some of the boards appear newer, and many of the nails aren’t rusty. Someone has taken care of this place.”
“Let’s keep moving. I want to get out.” Marilyn was beginning to hyperventilate. She stopped and bent forward trying to catch her breath.
“Are you all right?” Kellie hurried to Marilyn’s side.
“My mind has been wandering to when he kidnapped me. I wonder if he brought me here. I’m beginning to think I was here. I also think it’s where I heard two voices.” The panic Marilyn felt showed in her eyes.
“Why do you think that?” Kellie tried to calm her down. She raised her hand and lifted the lantern higher, so it lit more of the tunnel.
“The smell, it’s what I remember from my dreams. Damp earth, rotting leaves, and burnt candle wax. It’s nauseating. I can smell it now. We have to go home.” Fear consumed her. She had trouble breathing, her chest hurt, and her balance was unsteady. Her voice cracked, and she fought off the tears she felt burning her eyes.
“Don’t worry we will. The way the tunnel was designed to be straight makes me think it is man-made and not part of a cave system. Someone needed a quick, straight shot from Point A to Point B.” Kellie lifted the lantern higher. “Look, another ladder, come on let’s see if it’s our way out.”
#####
The sight of the ladder and the possibility of escape broke through Marilyn’s panic, and she began to cry. A few minutes passed and her breathing was under control. “I hate panic attacks. I never have them unless I’m reminded of the kidnapping or feel trapped.” She inhaled deeply. “I feel better.”
Kellie looked at the ladder. “I think it’ll be safe. It looks exactly like the one at the other end. I need to take the lantern with me. Your small flashlight won’t offer much light. Will you be okay?”
“I think so, look there’s a table in the corner. It has an oil lamp. I hope there are matches. Oh, Kellie, I found matches.” Marilyn struck a match and lit the lantern. The lantern emitted enough light to make the small area less frightening. “I’ll be okay now.”
“When I get to the top I will aim the light toward you the way we did when we climbed down here. I won’t be long. Breathe slowly and deeply. Talk to me if it helps. I’ll answer.” She hugged Marilyn and began the climb.
Marilyn could see Kellie as she climbed several rungs, but the further she climbed all she could see was the light. Each rung Kellie climbed; the light grew dimmer. Marilyn gripped the sides of the ladder and waited for Kellie to tell her it was safe to climb.
Kellie reached the top of the ladder and looked for some way to get out. She found a lever and pushed it. Hearing a large object above her head move, she climbed down three rungs to feel safer. When the noise stopped, Kellie looked up and could see the night sky and smell fresh air.
“I made it Marilyn and there’s a way out. Just climb the ladder.” Kellie tilted the lantern to help light Marilyn’s climb.
A few minutes later, Marilyn climbed out and onto the cemetery grass and stood at Kellie’s side. “We’re free, this is wonderful. The air smells fresh. Let’s go home.”
The latch was near the top of what Kellie discovered was a huge marble headstone. She tapped it with her foot, and the headstone moved back into place.
Moonlight lit up the area and cast shadows from the tombstones. Marilyn could see the roof of her house. “We go this way. Come on. I need to get back to my house.” She walked around the large headstone toward home. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she fell to her knees. Kellie hurried to her side.
“What’s wrong?”
Marilyn pointed to the headstone. One name was carved into the huge monument—SCHULAND
“I must have been here.” Marilyn was crying. Kellie helped her to her feet.
“We’ll go to your house and call the sheriff. He may discover something we missed in that tunnel.” She placed her arm around Marilyn, and they walked back to her house.
#####
Kellie had a difficult time keeping up with Marilyn on the way home. She wanted to walk t
hrough the cemetery under the bridge again, but Marilyn never stopped. She ran across the bridge, and Kellie followed. A fleeting sense of spirits hit Kellie as she ran across the bridge, but once she crossed over the feeling disappeared. She thought the spirits under the bridge are trapped. I’ll have to go back.
Marilyn was out of breath but smiling when she unlocked the back door of the house. Once Kellie was inside, and Marilyn locked the door she released a large sigh. “We made it home. I’m cold. Want some hot chocolate. I can make it while I call the sheriff.”
“Sure,” Kellie agreed. “Hot chocolate would be perfect and I’ll make sandwiches.”
Marilyn smiled as she dialed the sheriff’s office. She explained their experience and listened. She shrugged and said, “Uh huh. Okay, I look forward to his call.” She hung up and turned toward Kellie. “The sheriff is home for the night. Since we aren’t hurt, and no one is after us, the sheriff will call me in the morning.” She poured the hot chocolate into two mugs.
As Kellie placed the sandwiches on the table, she said, “That’s probably for the best. We can warm up, eat, sleep, and not have to go back until it is daylight. I’m sure the sheriff will want us to show him where we were and how to get into the tunnel.” Kellie placed a handful of chips on her plate.
“I’m not going back in that tunnel,” Marilyn took a bite of her sandwich.
“Neither am I, but the sheriff will need us to show him how to get in.” Kellie finished eating and said, “I should call Taylor; she’s probably worried.”
“Don’t give her all the details or she’ll haul you back home,” Marilyn laughed.
#####
“About time you called, I was worried,” Taylor said.
“Sorry, but phone service is spotty up here. We spent the day getting settled and took a long walk. It’s beautiful here. There are lots of woods and the plants are beginning to bud. How’s Rufus?”
“He’s doing fine. I think he thinks he’s Hunter’s dog. He ignores me for the most part. I let him out before dinner. He ran around both yards, jumped on your deck, turned and barked at me, and ran around the yards again. Maybe Hunter’s personality is rubbing off on him,” Taylor laughed.
“I’m glad you’re all doing fine. Call me anytime and if you can’t get through I’ll give you Marilyn’s land line number.” After speaking for a few minutes and giving Taylor the number, both women said goodnight.
#####
The ringing phone woke both Kellie and Marilyn at nine in the morning. A few minutes later Marilyn knocked at Kellie’s door.
“It’s open.”
Marilyn popped her head in the doorway. “Good morning that was the sheriff on the phone. He and a deputy will be here in thirty minutes to investigate. I’m going to get dressed, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
Kellie said, “Okay, I’ll be right down.”
Kellie dressed quickly and met Marilyn in the kitchen. Both young women had a warm, hearty breakfast and waited for the sheriff. He arrived about ten minutes later.
A deputy knocked at the door and asked Kellie and Marilyn if they were ready to accompany the sheriff and him to the cemetery.
They grabbed their jackets and walked to the police jeep sitting in the drive. The deputy held the door open and asked Marilyn to sit in the back seat so she could explain the situation to the sheriff. He would drive, and Kellie could sit in front.
#####
“Okay, Marilyn explain what all this nonsense concerning secret tunnels is about.” Sheriff Korder scowled at her.
Marilyn explained what had transpired, and Kellie added that what Marilyn said was true.
“Interesting,” the deputy commented.
The jeep was small enough to traverse the road over the stone bridge and park near the Carnfelder mausoleum. All four climbed out of the jeep and headed toward the mausoleum.
“We were trapped in that mausoleum. We couldn’t get the gates open,” Marilyn said.
The deputy pulled on one of the gates, and it opened.
“I’ll be,” muttered Marilyn.
The sheriff hiked his pants up. His belly still hung over his belt, and he groaned as he walked up the two steps into the mausoleum.
Kellie showed them how to open the empty crypt and the ladder that led to the tunnel.
The sheriff looked in and said, “I’m not going down there. Walden, grab your lantern and see what’s down there.”
“Yes, sir.” The deputy climbed up and into the empty crypt and disappeared down the ladder.
When he reached the bottom he yelled up, “I’m down. They’re right. There’s a small room and tunnel.”
Sheriff Korder stuck his head in the open crypt and yelled back, “Okay, take pictures of everything and follow the tunnel. We’ll meet you at the other end.” He closed the crypt door and said, “Let’s go.”
“We have to walk from here, sheriff. There’s no road,” Kellie said.
She heard the sheriff mumble an obscenity as he followed the young women toward the Shuland monument.
#####
The sheriff lumbered behind the young women as they headed up a slight incline toward the exit.
Marilyn whispered, “I’m afraid the sheriff is going to drop dead on us. He sounds awful.”
Kellie responded, “I think he’ll be okay. We’re almost there.”
They spotted the Shuland monument about thirty feet ahead of them, and it wasn’t as frightening as it had been the previous night. It sat alone near the edge of the cemetery. There weren’t any other grave markers within twenty feet of the monument.
Sheriff Korder caught up with Kellie and Marilyn. “So what do we do now, just wait. I don’t see anything special out here.”
Kellie said, “The deputy will find the lever the way I did and the monument will move. That’ll be his way out.”
“We’ll see,” the sheriff said as he looked around the area.
“Sheriff, may I ask you a question?” Kellie asked.
“What?” He crossed his arms over his belly and stared at her.
“The Shuland monument is huge and appears it would have been placed here as a family monument. There aren’t any graves nearby, and there must be room for twenty or more. Also, there isn’t any date on the monument. It seems strange.”
“If I remember right, the family moved out of the town shortly after the monument was placed. The graves surrounding it are unused. They can’t be sold since no one knows where the family is now. The last Shuland we knew of was the jerk that kidnapped Marilyn, and he’s dead.”
Marilyn and Kellie looked at each other and nodded.
#####
The monument began to move, and the sheriff said, “I’ll be damned. I thought you two were drinking last night.”
“That’s insulting sheriff. I think I might have been held down there when I was kidnapped. I remember the smell of dirt and candles. Ask the deputy if he smelled it.” Marilyn stood in front of the sheriff and stared him in the eyes.
“That was twenty years ago. The mind plays tricks.” The sheriff watched the deputy climb out of the ground.
Marilyn rolled her eyes and walked toward Kellie. “That man’s an idiot,” Marilyn whispered.
Kellie turned away from the sheriff and bit her lip to keep from laughing.
“Hey sheriff,” the deputy said. “They were right. It’s creepy down there. There’s a table full of strange things, places cut in the wall with candles in them, weird symbols scratched on the walls, and some brown stains that might be old blood. I got pictures of everything.”
Sheriff Korder pointed to the jeep with his thumb. “Run back to the vehicle and call in for a tech to get out here and test those spots. Then wrap police tape around the mausoleum and this monument.”
He then looked at Kellie and Marilyn. “You two can walk home from here. You did it yesterday. If I need anything else, I’ll call.” He turned his back on them and walked to check out the shaft below the monument.
&nb
sp; #####
Kellie and Marilyn began the walk back to Marilyn’s house. It was a pleasant morning, and Kellie hoped spring would stay. Nearing the brick bridge Kellie said, “I know that part of the cemetery bothers you so if you want to wait on the bridge, I’ll walk through it alone. I need to see it again and find out if I can feel those spirits.”
“Okay, but I would prefer to stay on the bridge.” Marilyn clasped her hands together in front of her. “The cemetery frightens me now. I think I was held here and not just dropped off when I was kidnapped.”
“You stay up on the bridge, and I’ll walk under from one side to the other and we’ll go home.” Kellie began to walk down the incline toward the cemetery under the bridge.
When she reached the bottom of the hill, she called up to Marilyn. “Are you okay alone?”
“I’m doing fine up here.” Marilyn looked over the side and waved.
Kellie walked slowly from one side of the little cemetery under the bridge to the other. “These blank tombstones still confuse me,” she said. She felt several spirits, but none spoke to her. Kellie knew they were friendly. As she walked out from under the bridge and began her climb the hill, she glanced toward the major section of the cemetery. Her skin crawled, and the evil trying to surround her caused her to shout. “Get away from me.” The evil disappeared.
She hurried up the hill, and Marilyn asked her why she was yelling.
A bit out of breath, she answered. “There’s something evil in the main part of the cemetery. I felt it and told it to leave. Under the bridge, I only feel friendly, but sad spirits. An evil person is responsible for burying good people in unhallowed ground.”
Marilyn grabbed her arm. “Let’s go now.”
Kellie followed Marilyn as she hurried down the road towards the house.
Once they reached the house; they settled in chairs on the back patio to rest and talk. “I don’t understand how there can be evil in Prairieville Cemetery. My relatives are buried there.”
Kellie answered, “Evil can be anywhere. It’s not here in your house or yard. Don’t worry.”
Marilyn sighed and said, “I’m glad. I would hate not to be able to enjoy sitting out here especially when grandma’s roses begin to bloom.”
Abandoned Souls Page 6
