The Ghosts of RedRise House

by Caroline Clark

  Giving a gentle smile she tried to encourage Rosie, to let her know that she understood and that she was on her side. It was impossible to tell if she saw or understood the gesture because she was pushed backward and her image faded.

  A rush of dread filled Gail’s veins with ice. Rosie didn’t have long. How she knew that, she wasn’t sure, but something told her that if they didn’t free her soon that Rosie would be irreparably damaged.

  The spirit still looked confused and Gail repeated the question. “Why are you selling the computer?” As she waited for an answer she tried to draw in a breath. The air was cold and there was a pressure on her chest that squeezed her lungs like a bellows. Was the spirit doing this?

  For a moment there was confusion before them, and then Rosie surfaced once more. Maybe the spirit needed to bring her back to answer such questions. Then she was gone again, yanked back inside her skull.

  “I don’t think it suits my lifestyle,” the spirit said.

  “I understand, and I think we’re interested. May we come and see it?” Gail wanted to reach out and touch her hand, to give Rosie some comfort, and to see if she could feel anything else. She inched her hands closer to those of Rosie, which were folded before her on the table. As she looked at them she saw that they were old, thin, with swollen and crippled knuckles.

  Rosie shook before them as the spirit fought for control then she gave a terrible smile. It was all teeth and no eyes and it made Gail jerk her hands. As she did their fingers touched for just a fraction of a second.

  The air crackled, and Gail felt such terrible cold and despair. A gasp escaped her throat.

  The spirit was standing. The face beneath the face was afraid. The smile was replaced with a snarl and she turned to go.

  “Rosie, what is it?” Amy shouted.

  Gail wanted to reach out and grab her. To pull her back to the table, but she couldn’t do it, not here, not in front of people. They were losing her, and if she left then she was sure Rosie would be lost.

  “I really want to see your computer,” she said in desperation, and started to stand.

  Jesse put a hand on her shoulder and held her there. “If she flees, then let her go,” he whispered.

  “I changed my mind,” the spirit said. “Amy come and have a coffee with me, please. I demand your company.”

  Rosie’s body turned and raced from the café, but Gail saw her frightened face lingering before them for long seconds after she had gone.

  Amy stood, about to follow. Her mouth was open and there were tears in her eyes. Jesse grabbed hold of her and pulled her back down.

  As the café door closed, Gail felt as if the room was suddenly brighter and she drew in a big breath.

  40

  Moments before:

  The conversation continued and fear filled Rosie’s mind as Matron forced her back. The spirit was so strong, even without her acolytes. The last thing she saw was Amy smile, and she could swear that the smile was meant for her. Pulling back, she rushed into her vault and slammed the door. Normally she would have stayed there for a long while. She would listen if she could and rebuild her strength, but time was short.

  Already she had so little free will, and soon it would be gone forever. Taking a metaphoric breath, she steeled herself and pushed with all she had.

  Matron fought back and squealed inside her mind. The sound was loud and painful. It made her feel as if her eardrums had burst, and she imagined she could feel blood running down her cheeks. But it worked. She peeked out and saw Amy and the new couple. They had power, but Matron knew. How could she help them? How could she explain what they had to do?

  Her body began to shake as Matron fought for control. She could see by the look on Amy’s face that she could see through the façade Matron had built.

  Rosie fought harder than she had ever fought in her life. Her body ached and convulsed and shook. Her teeth rattled in her skull and she could feel the ice cold as the spirit fought to remain in control.

  Her face contorted into a terrible grimace that was meant to be a smile, and she felt pushed back by pain and sheer strength.

  But Gail jerked her hands as the battle continued, and it touched her fingers. Rosie felt it. A real touch; not the second-hand feeling she had been getting while Matron was in control.

  The air crackled between them and Gail let out a gasp.

  She had felt her, she understood. Maybe not everything but something. Rosie withdrew before Matron could read her mind. She feigned panic and drew back as quickly as she could. Once inside her vault she slammed the door and collapsed inside her own mind. The pain still permeated every fiber of her being, but the horror was starting to fade. For the first time in a long while she had hope.

  Moments before.

  Matron could tell that the couple before her had power. It reverberated around them. The man understood, but he was blocked and that brought a smile to her face. Maybe she could get what she wanted from these fools and entice Amy to the house, for the woman was inexperienced. There was talent, she felt something, but she couldn’t channel it. She was an amateur… there was no way she could threaten Matron.

  Only Rosie wouldn’t keep down. She surged into Matron’s mind and shouted in her head. There was hope and excitement in her thoughts and Matron couldn’t allow that. So she piled pain and humiliation on Rosie’s mind, but the woman kept fighting back. It was as if she was a boxer, trained for endurance and for power.

  Matron jerked as she sent more pain, but this time it worked as she felt Rosie withdraw. Before she could celebrate her victory, her fingers touched the brown-haired woman, and a shock greater than any she had ever felt bolted through her.

  This woman may be inexperienced but she was dangerous. It was time to go before she suspected anything.

  Matron sprang to her feet, hiding her fear as she turned to go.

  “Rosie, what is it?” Amy shouted.

  Why wouldn’t the idiotic woman just do as she was instructed? Well, hopefully Matron had convinced her she was a friend, and she could salvage something from this meeting.

  “I really want to see your computer,” Gail said, and she bobbed in her seat.

  Was she about to stand or actually giving some reverence? It was hard to tell, but Matron wouldn’t trust her, not now.

  “I changed my mind,” Matron said, and wished she could understand why she was here. “Amy come and have a coffee with me, soon. I demand your company.”

  Fear was like a snake curled in her gut. It was strange to feel something so alien and she didn’t like it. As she tried to walk, her legs were weak and her fingers were shaking. This wouldn’t do. No, this wouldn’t do at all. If she saw these two again then she would kill them and add them to her harem of souls.

  Once through the door she felt better, her legs moving faster. She raced down the street and away from the café as fast as she could.

  “Oh my God!” Gail said, as the café door swung closed behind Rosie’s retreating body. She had rushed out of there in the strangest of ways. Bent over and then rushing forward. The sneer on her face and the ridiculous demand, that was no doubt meant to sound friendly. The only thing Gail didn’t understand was why Jesse wouldn’t let her follow.

  Surely if they stopped the spirit now then it would be better for Rosie, better for everyone. She sensed something so dark it scared her and that was saying a lot. Gail had seen her share of bad spirits and hauntings. She had been scared, terrified, but this time she felt desolate and small. It was so strange.

  Jesse was looking at her and smiling. He nodded to see that she was listening and then he turned to Amy.

  “You need to tell us everything,” he said, his voice firm, commanding, and yet there was something in the tone that made her want to trust him.

  Amy was fighting back her tears. Her hands were on top of the table clasping and unclasping in a kind of compulsive fashion. She looked close to going into shock.

  “Amy,” Jesse lowered his voice even fur
ther. “We can help her, but we have to know everything.”

  Amy let the tears fall and sobbed openly. The few patrons in the café looked for a moment, but then had the good manners to turn back to their meals. To leave them in peace.

  Gail got up from her chair and went to sit next to Amy. She handed her a handkerchief and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  The tears slowed. Amy looked up, wiped her eyes, blew her nose and then gulped hard. She was fighting for control and it looked like she was winning.

  “I wanted to tell someone, but I’m so afraid of getting Rosie into trouble. She could go to jail for what has been done and I truly don’t think it’s her fault.”

  “You really do need to tell us everything,” Gail said as she rubbed her shoulder.

  Amy sniffed and nodded. “I know. I told you how strange Rosie’s been. You’ve now seen that. It’s as if she’s fighting a battle for her body.” Amy stopped and looked at Gail. Her eyes were wide and unbelieving. She was challenging Gail to laugh at her.

  Gail nodded. “She is. We understand and I can feel the spirit, I can see her beneath the façade of Rosie’s face. I can also see your friend. She’s strong and she’s fighting. She won’t give in, but we need to know everything to help her.”

  Amy’s mouth relaxed and her shoulders sank. “I thought I was going crazy... I heard Rosie talking about... about... she was arguing with herself. Then I saw a bloody handprint on her wall. It was just after... oh it is so awful, I can’t tell you. If I’m wrong I could destroy her life.”

  Jesse took Amy’s hand. “You will destroy her life if you let this spirit take over. She is strong and she is ancient. I believe she is what is known as an Old Hag. They possess people by taking souls. They force those souls to submit to their will and then those poor people become the spirits power base. Usually... usually though, they are stuck in a property.”

  “Then how did she get here?”

  Jesse looked at Gail he didn’t like what he had to say. He almost couldn’t’ believe it himself, but it was the only explanation. For a moment, he wanted to leave the café and take some time. To contact his Spirit Guides and ask them for help. But that was stupid and pointless. It had been weeks since any of them would make contact with him.

  Gail smiled. She trusted him, and for a second he closed his eyes and concentrated. Drawing on all his experience, he centered his mind and asked himself the question. Has an Old Hag possessed Rosie?

  Taking a deep breath he waited for his mind to clear and the answer to come. Instead, he heard a voice.

  “Yes.”

  41

  Jesse couldn’t believe that his grandmother, Sylvia, was finally communicating with him. She was the most elusive of his Spirit Guides and had spoken to him only once many years ago. For months he had been trying to contact his Spirit Guides and had achieved nothing, zero, squat, nada.

  His childhood dog Rose, the big brindle boxer that was such a big part of his youth, had helped him out on a few occasions. She had saved Gail’s life and led them where they needed to go.

  Occasionally she would touch his mind and appear before him bringing a feeling of love and warmth.

  Then there was the old man, laughing and strange, he had appeared to Jesse since he was a child. Once he had helped, but it was hard to know what his motivations were. In the past, his presence was disturbing more than helpful.

  It frustrated him that the person he always wanted to contact, his grandmother, Sylvia. The one who knew so much about spirits and how to deal with them had resolutely refused to be contacted, even when Jesse was in dire need of help. Why?

  Because you don’t need me, Sylvia whispered inside his mind.

  “I do,” he spoke the words aloud and ignored the strange looks from Amy and Gail. “I often need your support and counsel.”

  No, you don’t; you just think you do. Jesse, my beautiful boy you are so talented, and yet you block that talent through fear and guilt. Neither are justified nor necessary. Let them go and you can help so many.

  Jesse felt his world turning and his mind struggled to keep up. He knew why he had the guilt. He had caused his grandfather, Sylvia’s husband, to die. That was fact, and even though he was just a boy, he should have known better.

  “How did she get here?” Amy asked again.

  Jesse raised his hand to stop her speaking, but he knew she was right. He had to bring his mind back to the job at hand. How could he save Rosie from this possession?

  “She has possessed this girl, taken control of her body, and is using it to... to move about, but why?” Jesse was talking to both Amy and Sylvia.

  Trust your instincts and reach for your power. Sylvia’s voice was fading. You know what is happening and you must be strong if you are to save this woman’s soul. Amy has the answers you seek. You must push her to get them. Be strong, my boy. This one is tricky, mean, and dangerous. You must not fear or you will all die.

  For a moment, he could smell a sweet lavender perfume and he was wrapped in warm loving arms. It took him back to his childhood and filled him with both joy and sadness. There was so much he wanted to ask. So much he wanted to say. Bathing in the feeling, he ordered his thoughts. He was determined to tell her he was sorry for Charles, for his grandfather, but before he could speak, the warmth was gone and he knew that Sylvia was gone, also. She would not answer him again. All he could do was take her advice and help – if he could.

  “I’m sorry, Amy. I was just talking to one of my Spirit Guides. Just confirming what I already know. There is a spirit called Old Hag. She is ancient and malevolent. Normally she takes souls, binds them to her and forces them to work for her. But she has not only stolen Rosie’s soul, she has stolen her body. It is unheard of, unprecedented, and we must be careful in how we deal with her. I need to know everything if we are to help her, for if we don’t help soon, it will be too late.”

  Amy's eyes widened. The fear was apparent in her pale, waxy complexion, in the way her hands circled each other, and the nerve that jumped in her jaw. Her mouth opened; her moist eyes spoke volumes but the words wouldn’t come. She lowered her eyes to the table and picked up her coffee mug. Taking a large swallow of what must now be cold, she gulped and almost spluttered.

  "You can talk to us." Jesse reached out and took the cup from her hand. "I understand, some of this must be hard and difficult, but you can talk to us."

  Amy's eyes rose. Tears brimmed beneath her lashes, holding on by sheer force of will alone. "You don't understand. I can't betray her. I can't do this — what friend could?"

  Gail took Amy's hands in hers." Trust us."

  Amy looked at Gail. It was the look of a drowning woman who can see the shoreline but is not quite sure that she can swim that far. There was desperation, hope, fear, and resignation in that look. The knowledge that she had to swim as fast and as far as she could. That she had to give it all, if there was any chance of survival. Dropping her head, she nodded.

  "I heard Rosie speaking about killing someone," Amy said, taking her eyes off the table. "It was as if she was talking to someone, arguing with someone, and yet the voice that answered back was hers and not hers. How does that even make sense?"

  "What did she say exactly?" Jesse asked.

  Amy was quiet for so long that he thought that she would not answer. Then she took in a deep breath. "I can't remember the exact words but she was arguing about who had been killed. Then she replied in a voice so cold it stopped me dead. She said that she would kill all of her friends, including me."

  "Did you ever ask her about this?" Jesse knew he had to keep pushing, but maybe there was a simple explanation and that had to be ruled out first. That was the number one decree when dealing with the paranormal… always rule out the normal before you believe in the paranormal.

  Amy looked up and there was hope in her eyes. "I did. She said she was running through a scene from her book… The problem is I've read her books and there has never been a murder, not even the hint o
f violence in any of them. There was something about the way she spoke to me. At times I thought she was talking in code, that she was hiding things from somebody else. Other times she was arrogant and cruel. Nothing like the person I know. I just don't understand any of this." She pulled her hand free from Gail’s and dropped them hard onto the table. The thump caused a few heads to turn.

  Jesse knew she was holding back. That there was something worse, but he needed to gain her trust before he pushed any harder.

  "I believe your friend is very clever and very strong. She has worked out that this spirit does not understand the modern world. When Rosie is speaking, there is confidence. When the Old Hag talked about the computer, it is obvious she has no idea what it is. The way she demanded you come to see her, and yet she was trying to be your friend. This shows she does not understand relationships. Rosie has given us hints and shown us that she is still there. I am hoping she is strong enough to help, but I need to know everything. I know this is hard but you can’t hold back."

  Amy wiped the tears that had started to trace down her face, and she nodded.

  "I visited Rosie the night after the first murder. That was when I heard her talking about killing. When she let me in there was a bloody handprint on the staircase, and it seemed as if she was fighting with herself. I have tried to find a rational explanation. Maybe she cut herself?"

  "Do you really believe that?"

  "No."

  Jesse could see the pain that this was causing Amy and he kept quiet, giving her time to come to terms with what she must say.

  Beneath the table, he gently touched Gail's leg with his own. She had seemed to understand the situation and was learning how he worked, but this was a critical point. They had to let Amy come to terms with this and tell them in her own time.

  Gail reached out and took his hand beneath the table, squeezing it and giving him the support he needed. They could do this. They could help this girl. Though her life would never be the same. Jesse feared she had some terrible things to face. Things she didn't deserve, but still she would be alive and her soul would be intact.