by Nathan Roden
Twenty minutes later, the man pulled into the parking lot of some rental cottages. He stopped next to the last unit. The man got out of the car and looked around. There was no one else around. The man carried the girl into the cottage.
Duncan could hardly breathe. He didn’t want to follow the man. He was horrified by what might happen next—and he had no way of stopping it.
The man laid the girl on a bed. He opened his backpack and took out a coil of rope and three rolls of tape. He laid these next to the girl.
Duncan felt sick. He wanted to scream, but it would make no difference. No difference at all.
Duncan turned his back and clenched his fists. He cursed at his helplessness. He had no desire to see what the man was going to do—there was nothing to do, but leave.
Duncan stopped when he heard the man speak. He was talking into a cell phone.
“This is the Doctor,” he said. “Just shut up and listen. I have no further need of your services. The ‘associate’ that you gave access to your network is dead.”
The man paused to listen.
“He was killed by the same man whose name I paid you for! I saw the dead man, myself. By all indications, that man was compromised. He was attempting to extract damning evidence from Mr. Wellmore.”
Duncan’s ear perked at the sound of the name.
“I would suggest that you cease operations and disappear,” the man continued. “I advise you to leave the country. Yes, I think it is that serious, Maurice!”
“Yes, I know your name, Maurice. I can understand that you are upset and that you feel betrayed by our mutual acquaintance. But, you see, I leave nothing to chance. You have nothing to fear from me unless you make the same mistake that the antique merchant did. Lose this phone number. It no longer exists.”
The man dropped the phone to the floor and crushed it with the heel of his boot. He gathered the pieces and put them in the backpack. The man winced as he stretched his shoulder. He picked up a roll of tape. Duncan stared as the man began to bind the girl’s legs together.
The man used one entire roll of tape to immobilize the girl. He reached for another.
“A man from an old Scottish family,” the man spoke aloud, “living in a deliciously evil old castle, turns out to be an accomplished killer. And he just happens to be searching for your cousin.”
The man leaned over the mummified, unconscious girl. He hovered over her face.
“Just what draws you to Sebastian Wellmore, Miss Jamison?”
“Miss Jamison? Duncan’s thoughts exploded.
“This is Tara? Holly’s cousin? Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man! I have to find Holly!
Duncan flew from the room. He flew through the walls of the other cottages. Few of them were occupied. He flew down the street to the nearest Inn and searched every room. He encountered some local ghosts who followed him for a while, asking him what he was doing. Duncan did not stop to explain.
Duncan searched Inns, cottages, and hotel rooms for the next two hours. He crossed the street toward yet another parking lot. He saw another group of ghosts and started to circle around them. He noticed that the street lamps reflected light from one of the ghost’s outfits.
“Delbert?” Duncan said.
“Duncan?” Arabella McIntyre said. “Duncan Westerhouse?”
“Is that really you, Spiderman?” Bruiser Brady asked.
Arabella led them through the door of a cottage.
Holly wound a towel around her wet hair as she came out of the bathroom. She almost dropped the towel that covered the rest of her when she was surrounded by five ghosts. They were all talking at the same time.
“Wait, wait!” Holly waved one hand. “Duncan—what is it?”
“It’s Sebastian Wellmore! He has Wylie!”
“What?” Holly said. “Where?”
“We went to the castle this afternoon—to go on the tour and look around,” Duncan said. “Wellmore pulled a gun on him—he tied Wylie up and put him in a closet!”
“I’ll get Robert!” Holly said. She pulled open the door and stepped outside. She looked in both directions.
“Oh, no! He hasn’t come back yet.”
Holly ran into the bathroom. She came out a minute later in her clothes. She grabbed the phone and dialed Robert’s number. She slammed down the receiver.
“His phone isn’t working. He just left to get something to eat with two other men from the army.”
“That’s not everything, Holly,” Duncan said. “I know where your cousin is.”
“Tara?” Holly said. “Where is she?”
“In a rental cottage—not far from here. A man shot her and took her there.”
“Shot her?” Holly screamed.
“He shot her with a dart—a tranquilizer, I think. He put tape over her mouth and put her in a…”
“A what?” Holly said.
“A straitjacket,” Duncan said.
Holly reached for her shoes.
“We have to go. Delbert, stay here in case Robert comes back. Do you know the name of those cottages, Duncan?”
Duncan shook his head.
“There are pictures of apples on the sign,” he said.
“Which direction are they?” Holly asked.
“That way,” Duncan pointed.
“Your uncle can’t see me,” Delbert said. “Dougie should stay. He can at least break something.”
“Good idea,” Holly said. “Stay, Dougie.”
“Stay, Dougie,” Dougie Day said in a mocking voice. “Fetch, Dougie. Don’t pee on the floor, Dougie.”
“Fer Pete’s sake, why don’t you write the man a note?” Arabella asked.
Holly snatched up pen and paper. Without looking, she pointed at Arabella.
“She’s in charge,” Holly said. “Let’s go.”
Minutes later, Holly and the ghosts stood outside the cottage where Tara Jamison was.
“Tara could see me,” Duncan whispered to Holly. “Did you know that?”
Holly shook her head.
“Not for sure. But I suspect you’re right. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“Well, there appears to be one big difference between you two,” Duncan said. “She doesn’t transfer it. She didn’t transfer it to that man, anyway. I waved my hands right in his face while he was carrying her.”
“That’s good to know,” Holly said.
“It’s time for a scout mission,” Arabella said. “Duncan, you and I will go in through the front. Bruiser, take the back wall. Delbert, you come in through the left wall. Dougie, the right wall. Everybody got it? Good. Let’s move.”
The ghosts were in and out in a manner of seconds.
“Do you know the way to tell if a man has lost his mind?” Arabella asked Holly with her hands on her hips. “He can lie right down next to the devil himself and take a nap!”
“He’s got that girl wrapped up like a mummy,” Bruiser said. “He even has her tied to the bed while he’s asleep on the other one.”
“He was having a hard time carrying her through the woods,” Duncan said. “Plus, there’s something wrong with one of his arms.”
“I thought Robert would be here by now,” Holly said.
“That psycho could wake up any second,” Duncan said. “Who knows what he has planned?”
“We can’t wait,” Holly said.
“Bruiser,” Holly said. “I need for you to create a distraction—to draw him outside. We have to draw him out of that cottage so that I can get inside.”
“What are you going to do inside?” Duncan asked.
“I need to get Tara untied,” Holly said.
“That man is dangerous, Holly!” Duncan said. “I doubt that a tranquilizer gun is his only weapon!”
“I’ve seen what Tara is capable of,” Holly said. “If I can get her free, that man will be the one in danger. Just be careful that you don’t get in her way.”
Holly crept around the corner at the side of the cottage.
&n
bsp; Bruiser Brady had located a shovel outside of a maintenance shed. He swung the shovel at the passenger window of the man’s car.
A light came on in one of the neighboring cottages. A man stepped out onto the steps of his cottage, wearing only an undershirt and a pair of boxer briefs. He looked both directions, sniffed the air, and went back inside.
Adrian Crane pushed open the door of his cottage with the barrel of an automatic pistol. He peered out until the curious neighbor went back inside. Crane slipped out of the door. He crept to his car and saw the broken glass. He squinted and scanned the parking lot.
The door to his rented cottage slammed shut.
Crane ran to the door and turned the doorknob. The door was locked—from the inside.
Holly shoved the dresser in front of the door.
“C’mon, Bruiser,” she said between her clenched teeth. “I’m going to need your help.”
Crane pulled his pistol from his pocket. Bruiser swung his hand and knocked the pistol to the ground. Crane reached down for it, but Dougie Day swung his leg and kicked the pistol away.
Adrian Crane swore.
“After I drink the blood of this little witch, then I will deal with you insignificant imps!”
“Imps?” Bruiser said. “Aw, he’s gonna pay for that!”
Crane grabbed his pistol and aimed it at the door. Dougie flung himself at the gun, but Crane held on.
Bruiser flew through the door and braced himself against it, alongside Holly.
“Get to it, girl!” Bruiser screamed at Holly. “I’ll hold him off!”
“Or die trying?” Holly said.
“Yeah!” Bruiser said.
Holly ran to Tara’s side. She unwound the tape around Tara’s head.
Tara coughed twice.
“Holly?”
“Yes! It’s me, Tara!”
Holly pulled at the buckles of the straitjacket.
“There’s a knife inside of his backpack!” Tara said.
Holly grabbed the backpack from the floor. She took out the gruesome looking dagger. She began sawing at the canvas straps of the straitjacket.
A bullet passed through the door and hit the wall near Holly’s head.
Holly whipped her head toward the door. There was a splintered hole near Bruiser Brady’s head.
“He’s using a silencer,” Bruiser said. “We don’t have much time.”
“Hurry,” Tara said. “Cut my hands free!”
Holly cut through one of the straps of the straitjacket. She sawed the dagger back and forth against the rope that held the fingers of Tara’s right hand captive. Another bullet hit the headboard of the bed. Holly looked toward the door. Bruiser pushed against the door—Dougie Day had joined him. Delbert Scoggins shouted encouragement.
Bruiser and Dougie slipped backward. Crane roared from the other side of the door. He forced it open—inch-by-inch.
Holly slowed her sawing with the dagger and looked toward the door.
“Bruiser! I need a few more time—!”
Tara screamed.
Holly looked down in horror. She had sliced open the side of Tara’s hand.
A thin spout of blood shot into the air and landed on the bed. The front door swung open and crashed against the wall. Bruiser Brady fell backward on top of Dougie Day. The man raised his pistol—
Tara roared as she ripped her hand free—shredding the thick canvas of the straitjacket. Holly shut her eyes when lightning exploded from Tara’s hand. The lamp and dresser mirror exploded. Glass rained down on Adrian Crane as he fell backward. He fired a shot that went into the ceiling. He dropped his gun when he fell.
“Don’t stop!” Tara screamed at Holly. “Cut me loose!”
Holly grabbed the knife. She dove across Tara’s body to the opposite side of the bed. She sliced pieces of tape and rope, too afraid now to worry about injuring her cousin. Tara tore her arm loose from the straitjacket. Crane crawled across the floor and grabbed his gun. Tara raised her arm. The ceiling fan and light fixture tore loose from the ceiling and fell on top of Crane.
Tara grabbed the dagger away from Holly and began hacking away at the ropes and tape. She freed her arms and was only seconds away from freeing her legs—
With a yell of defiance, Crane drove himself into the bed. The bed flipped onto its side.
Crane turned toward Holly and raised his gun. Bruiser and Dougie threw themselves at Crane. They missed the gun, but they both passed through Crane’s body. Crane spun around. As he stumbled, with his gun at his side, he began to laugh. He started to turn—
Holly launched a kick at Adrian Crane’s groin.
Crane dropped the gun. He fell sideways to the floor with a faint grunt.
Tara yelled for help. She was hanging from the upended bed by one leg.
Bruiser, Dougie, and Holly righted the bed.
Holly pointed to Adrian Crane, who was writhing in agony on the floor.
“Watch him,” Holly said to Bruiser.
Holly cut the rest of the straps and ropes.
“Are you all right, Tara?” Holly asked.
Holly felt pressure against her foot. She looked down. Adrian Crane was flailing around. His arms and legs appeared to be out of his control. His wrist rested against Holly’s ankle.
“I’m going to kill him,” Tara said. “If you do not want to watch, I suggest you leave.”
“We’ll tie him up, Tara,” Holly said. “Your father will be here any moment. If you kill him, they’ll take you away. Forever.”
Tara laughed maniacally.
“You don’t get it, do you? My life is over! I’ll never be allowed to go home.”
“We don’t have time for this discussion, Tara,” Holly said. “I need your help.”
“You have help.”
Arabella cut in front of Holly.
“Why don’t you shut up and listen?” Arabella asked.
“I remember you,” Tara glared at Arabella. “From twelve years ago. You were too good to have anything to do with everyone else—you and your snob brother. Are you twins? Where is he?”
“My brother moved beyond this world,” Arabella said. “I do not have time to argue with you. We need your help.”
“Help with what?” Tara asked.
“My friend is being held captive,” Holly said. “At Wellmore Castle.”
“Her boyfriend,” Arabella said.
“All right,” Holly said. “My boyfriend.”
Tara’s eyes narrowed.
“Do you have any idea what lives there?” Tara whispered. “Inside that castle?”
Holly nodded.
“Evil.”
Holly felt a hand grip her ankle. She screamed and kicked her foot at Adrian Crane’s hand. He raised his other hand. He pointed his pistol at Holly’s head.
“No!” Bruiser, Arabella, Dougie and Delbert screamed and lunged at Adrian Crane’s arm.
The room exploded. Flames burst from the ceiling and every wall. The force blew Holly backward into a corner, where she had a view of a sight she would never forget.
Tara Jamison hovered in mid-air. Pieces of duct tape clung to her legs and feet. Her hair stood out from her head and her eyes glowed a fiery orange. Electricity crackled around her body. Adrian Crane screamed curses as his body rose from the floor. His gun flew across the room and crashed through a window pane.
“Get out of here! Go!” Arabella yelled. Holly and the ghosts ran through the door and into the trees behind the cottage.
Lights came on in the neighboring cottages. Sirens sounded in the distance.
“Look!” Arabella said.
They watched as Adrian Crane’s car sped away from the cottage.
“She didn’t kill him,” Holly said.
A voice sounded behind them.
“I didn’t kill him—yet,” Tara said. “He found me here. And I’ll bet he knows exactly where we’re going.”
Thirty-Seven
Holly McFadden
Wellmore Village, Scotlan
d
Holly and Tara made their way through the woods. Fire trucks pulled into the parking lot and firemen began unrolling their hoses. The police were not far behind. They blocked off the access to the blazing cottage and directed the guests of other cottages to leave.
Holly saw what she had been waiting for—Major Jamison’s car.
Robert leaped from his car and ran toward the fire.
“Uncle Robert!” Holly yelled.
Robert stopped and looked around.
“Holly?” he yelled toward the trees. Holly stepped out and waved Robert over.
Robert ran over. He was shaking. His lip quivered.
“Tara!” Robert threw his arms around his daughter and wept.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Dr. Crane nabbed me,” Tara said.
“How did he find you?” Holly asked.
“I was hiding in the trees outside of Wellmore’s castle,” Tara said. “I found out that you worked there.”
Tara grabbed Holly’s sleeve and pulled their faces close together. Robert Jamison panicked.
“Tara! What are you doing?”
“Do you know what lives there? In that dungeon?” Tara growled.
Holly grabbed Tara’s hand and tried to pull herself free.
“I told you!” Holly said. “Evil!”
Robert put his hand on top of Tara’s.
“Please, Tara.”
“Let her go!” Bruiser Brady grabbed Tara’s arm. Robert gripped Tara’s hand tighter.
Tara puffed her cheeks and blew at Bruiser’s chest. His feet left the ground and he flew backward into a tree trunk.
“Hoooooly crap!” Delbert Scoggins and Duncan said together. Dougie Day and Arabella looked on in stunned silence.
