Panting and wiping sweat from his forehead, Jesse turned to Gail. "I guess we’re ready for Nick again."
Before he could say anything else, Nick appeared in front of him and nodded. The priest looked tired and frightened, but there was also determination and steel in his features. Jesse knew he had to have been tough to come this far without being corrupted.
"Can you get us in?" Jesse asked.
Nick nodded, but stood where he was and reached into his pocket, drawing out a 3-inch-long silver cross on a chain. He handed it to Gail. I don’t know why, but I want to give you this.
Gail looked at the cross and then at Nick. Jesse understood her confusion. Would she be able to hold it? Was it real? He had heard about this before and knew that she must take it. Nick was strong and old, and if his intuition was telling him she needed it, then she did.
“Take it,” Jesse said.
Gail smiled and reached for the cross. Her smile widened as she clasped the chain, lifting it and putting it around her neck. “Thank you,” she said.
Nick nodded and approached the door. He went straight through it without even a hesitation. For a moment, Jesse wondered if he would take his vengeance alone, but before he could voice his concern, he heard the sound of a bolt being drawn back... Nick opened the door.
They were in.
They walked into the room which was completely dark, and as Gail crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind them. She turned around and tried to find the handle.
"Jesse, there’s no handle. I can't get out."
Jesse switched on a torch and looked where the door should be. It was gone. There was just a wood-paneled wall. The varnish was flaking from the boards, and in places, it was holed with woodworm.
Nick was back at their side. He shrugged his shoulders. Do not worry about this. As I said, the spirits, the owners of the house forgot this door was here. Because of that, it is hidden, but we can find it if we need it again.
"Then we can get out?" Gail asked, her voice high and on the verge of panic.
Yes, we can get out whenever we want, Nick said, but he turned quickly to walk into the room.
Jesse believed there was more to it than he was saying. He had come across this before a long, long time ago and it was not as easy as Nick was making out. The chances were that they could get out, but the chances were also that it wouldn’t be quick. If they were in a hurry, if they were in trouble... Jesse decided not to say anything. Gail was worried, tired, and it was best if she was confident. They would probably need her talent before too long. If she was self-doubting, it would go a long way to her losing that talent.
As they started to cross the room, they came across bunk bed after bunk bed. The wooden beds were pitiful and rickety. Straw mattresses laid atop some of them, stained, ripped, and full of moths and creeping insects. From some, threadbare blankets draped over the side. These two were stained and stank of something best forgotten. It looked like this had once been a dormitory and Jesse could sense the pain and despair that had lived here. It seeped into him, crushing down on his shoulders, shortening his breath, and weakening his legs. Was this some form of sensitivity? Was he feeling the emotions of the spirits that had once been here, or was it just intuition brought on by the stories he had heard and the terrible state of the room?
Placing their feet carefully, trying their hardest not to make a sound, they walked across the room. The wooden floorboards creaked and groaned as if they were telling of the horrors they had witnessed. In places, he could see stains on the walls and stains on the floor. There was no proof, but Jesse knew they were bloodstains. The children who had lived here had not been happy. They had not been cared for. If these were the same ones that now haunted the place, they would be powerful. They would bring with them their rage and a sense of revenge that they carried from their pitiful lives. Maybe they would no longer believe in salvation or the fact that they could, at last, find peace. That would make them harder to deal with. The easy spirits to send away were those who welcomed the peace, those who understood it. If these children had never seen the goodness in anything, then maybe they would fight to stay on the principle that anything was better than nothing, or even because they feared a hell worse than this.
They crossed the large room and arrived at the door. Jesse came past Nick and listened for a moment.
There was nothing. Normally in an old house there would be creaking, groaning, the sound of the wind in the trees outside, or the wind where it had entered the decrepit building. But RedRise House was as quiet as the grave. It made him wonder if they were already too late.
70
With Shelly's help, Jack was able to make it across the sacrificial chamber and out of the door. They hobbled along the corridor, as best they could in the dim light. Bit by bit they made their way back to the narrow stairs which would lead them back up and into the house.
We should hurry, Stacey said in both of their minds. We don't know where they've gone or when they will be back. We have to find a way to get you two out of here.
"No," Shelly stopped and eased Jack on her shoulder. "We can't leave now. I came here… I came here to free these children... I have to see it through.
You came here hoping to contact me, Stacey said, and you have. I felt the Ghost Hunters... they are here somewhere... let them deal with it, let me get you to safety.
Shelly didn't understand why, but she was suddenly filled with white-hot rage. It was as if her sister was trying to rule her life from beyond the grave, and she wouldn't let it happen. It never occurred to her that the spirits might be making her feel this way. That they might be manipulating her. All she could see was that Stacey didn't believe in her, and it hurt. She had sent two of the children to peace, and just thinking about that gave her such a sense of achievement and a sense of pride. It filled her with warmth, filled a hole that had been empty for so long. She could do this. She could free these children and she owed it to them to try. Why couldn’t Stacey see this?
"I have to stay. We know something is going on here and this,” she waved her free hand to emphasize, “is what I’ve wanted for so long. I can't just walk away. I can't leave these children suffering in eternal torment... not when I can free them."
Stacey turned in front of them, her eyes went black, her hair fanned out behind her, and she let out a shriek of anger that blasted them with cold fetid air. I just want you to be safe. Why won't you listen to me?
Shelly fell back, taking Jack with her. They stumbled, tripped and dropped down into the stone passage. As they hit the floor, shock and pain shot up Shelly's coccyx and she cried out.
"Stacey, what’s wrong with you? Are you one of them? Are you evil?"
Stacey deflated in front of their eyes, she was once more the young girl with the sweet face and the constant smile. I have been here a long time... when I get angry I change. I would never hurt you. I’m not one of them... how could you even say such a thing?
"Then maybe I should give you peace, too," Shelly said, as tears ran down her face.
"No," Jack said as he pulled her to her feet. "Stacey, I agree with Shelly we have to do something for those children they... there is something about them that is so terrible and so sad... I know they are in pain. If the Ghost Hunters are here, then they will find us soon, but we have time to release at least a few of the children."
Shelly was smiling and confident once more. Knowing Jack was on her side was all she needed. All the fear was forgotten. She had a mission and she was going to see that it was completed.
Stacey nodded, and with her head down, she led them to the stairway.
It was hard work climbing the steep, slippery stone steps as both of them were exhausted. Jack was battered and bruised, Stacey was hurt from her fall. So, they took the stairs agonizingly slowly. Despite her newfound confidence, Shelly worried. The dark passage was super creepy. She imagined a hand hauling them down and back to that chamber. At times she thought she heard footsteps behind them
or the children keening in the distance. It took all of her courage to keep her nerve and to keep going.
Jack was tiring too. He had been through so much, but step by step they struggled onward. It seemed to take an age before they finally reached the top. When they did, Shelly hesitated. She expected the door to be locked, but it opened easily and let them out.
As they stepped into the kitchen, they noticed the light. It looked like the power was back on, and the house was behaving once more. It was like stepping into the sunshine after a long dark night.
What do you plan to do? Stacey asked.
For a moment Shelly didn't know. The spirits had gone... the children had gone. Could she release them when they weren't even here? Somehow, she doubted it. Then it came to her.
"We will have a séance... and as each child comes to us... we will send it to peace."
Jack nodded. Shelly was so pleased with herself for finally making a plan, she didn't notice the pained expression that crossed her sister's face.
Euphoria surged in Shelly, she had never felt anything quite like it. The excitement, the adventure and of course, the fear. Now it was all compounded because she had come so close… they both had, but they’d survived and come out of the other side. Jack wasn't hurt badly, she wasn't hurt, and she had done some good. Maybe if she talked to some of the children, if she recorded what they said, she could not only set them free... she also could help Rosie. Suddenly it felt like coming here had been the right decision, that it was worth it. Maybe this was all a test and she had passed.
"I want to do this properly," she said as she went across to put the kettle on. The house was fueled by an old wood burning range-cooker, but some time across the years it had been converted to use city gas. It took a few moments to work it out, but she lit the gas and set the kettle on to boil up some water.
"We'll all feel better with a hot drink inside of us." She nodded to her sister and Jack not even thinking that Stacey wouldn't be able to drink, and she turned away before she saw her sister’s despair.
"Now that that's sorted, we have a little bit of time. I think we should record this. We can set up some cameras in here, and who knows what good we can do with some of these recordings?"
You should leave, Stacey said. You both need to leave before they come back. The spirits are powerful... they are angry. They do not want you here.
"Stacey, I love seeing you, but this is my call. We didn't get hurt. I know how to handle them now. I can help those poor, desperate children."
For a moment Stacey's eyes turned black. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes as if she were fighting back a demon. Fury crossed her features and stayed there, mocking them for a few seconds. Then it was gone, and she looked tired, drawn, and lost. She turned to Jack and pleaded with her eyes, begging him to agree with her, to listen to reason.
Jack shook his head. "I agree with Shelly. She can handle this - she can handle anything."
The temperature in the room dropped 20°. Jack's breathe streamed out before him.
Shelly strolled confidently up to her sister.
"Stop doing this. Why could you never help me, never support me?" She waved a finger in front of the ghost’s face.
I have been helping you all this time. When you called me, I was there, I have always been there.
“Then help me do this. Help me make a difference.”
I don't want you to join me.
Hot tears flooded Shelly’s eyes, and she didn't know what to say. Part of her trusted her sister with her life. To join me... for a long time she had wanted to do just that. To let go of this harsh, cruel world and be united with the one person who had always understood her. But though that pain had passed, it still hurt, still caused her gut-wrenching guilt, but she wanted to live. Wanted to have a life with Jack, helping people, and this was an amazing opportunity for her to do just that. Why couldn’t Stacey see it?
Maybe she was jealous. Maybe she resented that Shelly had pulled her life back together. Part of her didn't believe she could be so mean. But then, she had been dead six years — who knew how much that changed you? She wanted to ask her why she was doing this, to ask for her support again, but the kettle whistled behind them. Relieved, she whipped around to make the drinks.
Shelly placed three hot coffees on the table and didn’t notice the sadness that the third cup caused her sister.
"We should make a plan," Shelly said as she sipped at the scalding drink.
The only plan we need to make is how quickly we can get out of here, Stacey said.
"Oh, Stacey, stop being such an old stick-in-the-mud." Shelly rolled her eyes at her sister and turned to Jack. "She was like this as a child. Always a worrywart, always thinking we would be in trouble if we didn't do the right thing. She would never have any fun unless I pushed her into it."
This is different, Stacey said. I fear for you both... I fear for your lives.
Shelly laughed. "Yes, I remember. Remember that time when we went to the fair? Dad said we couldn't go until we'd finished our homework, but that would mean it would have been too late to go. So, I pretended we'd done it and we snuck out. You told us Dad would ground us for a year. It didn’t happen. Can you remember the fun we had?”
Shelly waited until Stacey gave the smallest of nods.
With laughter in her eyes, she turned to Jack. “Candy floss got stuck in our hair when we went on the Ferris wheel."
She couldn't help but think of the memory. The two of them had been laughing so much and throwing their heads back, but as the wheel jerked, suddenly the gondola had tipped back and jerked their hands. The candy floss was sent flying over the back of them, but before it dropped, it caught in their hair.
Shelly's had just held there for a moment and then dropped down onto the person below. Stacey's had caught in her long brown tresses and covered it in pink cotton. They had spent the rest of the night trying to pick the sticky mess out of their hair, but it had been fun. They had laughed so much that by the time they got home their sides ached from the effort. It had been one of her favorite memories and as it came back, tears swarmed into her eyes."
That was different. There is danger here. You need to leave. I beg of you, please go now.
Shelly sipped her coffee and tried to ignore the bad feeling in her gut. Stacey seemed genuinely concerned. It had been pretty scary, but that was over now. She had it under control. They had a chance to do some good. She was going to follow it through.
The main thing she had to do was make sure she didn't look scared. If she put out a front of confidence, the ghosts would know and they would respect her. That was what she had to do.
"Let's just drink our drink and then we can set some cameras up and help these poor children go to peace. Then I promise you, I will leave."
Stacey nodded, but she seemed to fade for a moment, and then she was back, now smiling.
"Do you have a plan... which child to release first?" Jack asked.
Shelly hesitated. How would she decide? "I think the children will decide for us."
It's not the children you need to worry about, Stacey said.
Shelly flashed her eyes angrily and was pleased with the look of shock that crossed Stacey's face. Then her sister was gone. One moment she was there the next she wore a look of panic, and she just faded... and was gone.
For a moment, Shelly was devastated. Had she driven her away? She hoped not, but it was too late to worry about that now.
"Hey Stacey, come back. I miss you." It was the nearest she could think of to an apology and she hoped Stacey would take it.
"Those ghost hunters will no doubt be here any minute." Jack finished his coffee and placed his mug smartly down on the table. "Why don't we set up the cameras and get things started before they can steal all our thunder?"
Shelly nodded and took a big drink of her own coffee. It was so hot it scalded her throat, causing her to choke. How on earth could Jack drink it so quickly?
They gathered up
the cameras from around the house and set them all up in the kitchen. There was the camcorder, four webcams, and her phone surrounding the table. Shelly was sure that they would capture anything that happened.
Stacey still hadn't returned, and she was worried. Where had she gone? Was she just angry or was it something else?
Since her sister had blinked out of existence, Shelly had been left with a cold, empty feeling inside. It was much like the one she had when Stacey first died. She had learned to cope with that death, learned to carry on, but she had never really recovered. How could she recover from such a thing? Her counselor had told her she had to let go and move on. And in many ways, she had... she had never given up hope of seeing Stacey again. Now to see her for such a short time, and to lose her after something so trivial... it all seemed too much. Maybe that was why her stomach felt like the bottom had dropped out of the world.
Jack finished adjusting the cameras and indicated that he was ready.
Shelly sat at the table, and in front of her were three candles and a plate with a small cake. She lit the candles and nodded to Jack.
Behind him, hiding in the doorway, was a young girl, Alice. She looked around eight with long brown hair and a clean white dress. Furtive eyes flashed back and forth as if she feared being caught. It had been just a short time since she’d left this house. Since she’d put it behind her for hopefully the last time... and here she was, back again. Fear crushed her chest, even though she knew she did not breathe. Jack moved, and she slunk back into the shadows.
Jack switched off the lights. The room was plunged into semi-darkness.
It was like going into a different dimension. There was nothing but shadows and so many places for evil to hide. Shelly shook her head. Why was she thinking like this?
The Ghosts of RedRise House Page 40
