The Ghosts of RedRise House

by Caroline Clark

  Nick felt the light dulling, the peace receding and he fought to hold onto it. Though he had no form, no body, it was as if he clenched his fist onto the light and clung for all he was worth. It was no use — his mind searched for the voice. Like an addict he needed to help, needed the danger, and needed to know that he had left the world a safer place.

  “It’s RedRise, it’s starting again,” came a voice he now recognized as that of a young woman.

  Nick was falling down and down a dark tunnel. The air whooshed as he tumbled and turned, his stomach heaving and his head spinning. Then with an almighty bone-shattering crash he landed on the ground behind RedRise House and there before him was Stacey.

  Overwhelmed with sound, sights, feelings, Nick reeled for a moment. Just for a second he had a body, skin. The wind caressed his hair and tickled his arm and yet the leaves were so loud that he wanted to clasp his hands over his ears and never let go. It hurt to breathe, and yet it felt good to feel the air in his lungs. He was back and filled with both despair and delight and it was so overwhelming. Light seared into his eyes. It was not pure peace as he was used to, but glaring and painful. He was aware of the ground beneath him. Could feel each blade of grass and he reveled in the sensation at the same time as he wanted to cry at the injustice of being here.

  Then he was a spirit again. The transition had been rough, but it was more familiar. He held out his hands. They were translucent, fading. He tried to stand, but fell back to the ground and smiled up at a young girl with long brown hair, brown eyes, and a sweet smile that was brighter than the last time he saw the ghost.

  Stacey reached out a hand, it went straight through his and she shrugged.

  He tried to stand once more, and this time he staggered to his feet. It drained his energy and he knew he was fading.

  “There are children missing, a family in danger, I need your help,” Stacey said.

  Nick nodded his head but his spirit was still weak and not yet acclimatized to being back on this plane. The movement was too much and he faded and returned to the void. The cold empty place in-between. He was thrust from peace, to earth, and then into purgatory and behind him something screamed.

  “Would you like some tea?” Paula asked.

  Jesse and Gail shared a glance. This was a difficult case and they were not used to dealing with parents. Especially ones that didn’t seem to be able to accept what was going on.

  “No thank you,” Jesse called as he picked up a wooden chair and scoured the room for any clues. It was a small living room very pink and full of pictures, all of which were of Fern, the woman who was possessed. The one they had to find.

  In front of the sofa was an old-fashioned, large backed, television. As they were about to leave the room the TV flicked on and tuned to a news report.

  Jesse and Gail froze and walked to the TV.

  A suited and somber newscaster stared into the camera. “Two children are missing and a woman is dead at the ruins of an old house on the Yorkshire Moors.”

  The picture switched to the countryside and the camera panned across woodland and then on to rubble that was once a house.

  Gail let out a gasp. “Is that?”

  “It’s RedRise House,” Jesse said, feeling his chest tighten and cold slide down his back.”

  The newscaster continued. “In a bizarre set of events two children were lost, their father was found unconscious and their mother dead. It appears a freak storm brought down branches causing the injuries. Police think that the children must have run to hide and become lost in the woods.”

  As the camera returned to RedRise Jesse and Gail came together and held hands.

  “Could this be spirit activity?” Gail asked.

  Jesse knew it was. After all, the TV had just switched on by itself, but it was a long way away and the fate of the world could be resting in their hands.

  “It could be... but they could just have got lost or the father... there are bad people out there as well as spirits.”

  Gail nodded. “I guess you’re right... we can’t leave to check... can we?”

  Jesse shook his head. It could even be the spirit trying to fool us. Trying to distract us and draw us away.

  Jesse felt bile rise in his throat as Gail accepted what he had said. In his heart he knew that RedRise was still evil and that it had somehow brought death back to the Yorkshire Moors.

  Paula came into the room, her bird-like hands clasping in front of her chest. “I’m worried about Fern, should we go look for her?”

  Gail walked to the elderly lady and took her hands, gently leading her from the room and the sound of more heartache and destroyed lives.

  Jesse watched Gail go and turned off the TV. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and concentrated. He knew it would be much easier if Gail did this, but he hoped that whichever spirit had sent the message was listening.

  Breathing deeply he called out to his spirit guides and was surprised when Sylvia appeared before his eyes. His grandmother was elusive, though she was supposed to help him, she rarely showed herself. Tonight her kind and wise eyes were drawn tight causing wrinkles that showed her worry.

  “Did you send the message?” he asked the words in his mind and the answer came back the same way.

  “I did, via Stacey, but I didn’t want to.”

  “Explain.” Jesse knew that word was about more than just these people, this haunting, but Sylvia shook her head making her grey hair shine in the light. He would get nothing as usual.

  “You can’t go,” Sylvia said.

  “Will people die?”

  Sylvia faded a little as if the thought weakened her, and for a moment, Jesse could see pictures of Fern on the wall through her.

  “I have helped Stacey. I added my power to hers and called back an old friend.”

  Jesse had a vision of the grinning man. An old man with a constant grin and spiky grey hair. He was another of his spirit guides but he could never tell if the man was helping or hindering.

  “Not that one. A man is helping, but like me there are rules, and worries about what we reveal.”

  Jesse nodded. He knew Sylvia would never hurt him and thought that she kept herself scarce to protect him.

  “Though he is not the one I called. I felt that RedRise was asking for its old custodian and so it is him that I have called back.”

  “Nick!?” Jesse felt a wave of guilt and worry flood his stomach with acid. Nick had been tied to the house as a ghost for centuries. At first, and then again later, he forgot that he had died, and that was dangerous. Most ghosts that stayed too long turned angry and destructive. They sought revenge though most of them didn’t know why. Nick had been a priest and felt a responsibility for his flock so when he was killed he stayed... only he stayed for too long. Always trying to defeat the Old Hag who had taken over the place. It was a long battle and many died. Nick had suffered years, generations of torment, but in the end, he had helped them send the spirit back.

  For that, Jesse and Gail had given him peace. Being dragged from that place... from... heaven to come back here must have been the most unimaginable torment you could give to anyone.

  “You have to let him go,” Jesse said, stepping closer to Sylvia.

  There was a gust of cold air and she was gone. Jesse turned to see her behind him. Her smile was no longer evident and her eyes were tired and sad.

  “I can’t.” She spread her hands to indicate the room. “This is more important and you have to let this one pass. Nick could not have been called back if it was not meant to be.”

  “What do you mean?” Jesse asked. “Was a higher power involved?”

  There was no answer and the room was empty. For now he would have to hope that Nick could cope. Once they had dealt with this case with the Dybbuk Box then they would rush to RedRise. Of course, that was if they survived, a cold feeling settled in Jesse’s stomach, until this was over there was nothing they could do. He just had to hope that Nick could cope. That his old friend
was strong enough to come back and fight once more.

  84

  “Where did the light go?” Sophia’s voice trembled in the darkness and Noah could tell she was close to tears.

  “I don’t know, stand still, I’m coming to find you.”

  It didn’t make sense. Sophia had seen a pink balloon at the edge of the trees. Before Noah could stop her she was racing across the grass giggling and laughing. Arms held out in front of her, reaching out for the cord that trailed behind it. Only as they ran the balloon drifted into the trees.

  Noah was laughing with her. It was harmless and they wouldn’t go far. Pushing forward into a sprint he overtook his sister and raced into the trees closing on the floating prize.

  The balloon had been there so close and yet he was never able to grasp hold of that string. So they ran further and further without realizing it and then the balloon stopped.

  Noah looked back and could see Sophia catching up with him. Her arms were pumping in her pink jacket and her cheeks were bright red with effort.

  “Here it is,” he said but when he turned back the balloon had gone.

  Sophia pulled up beside him. “Where is it?”

  “I... I don’t know. It was here a moment ago.”

  Then he realized he was cold and his breath was misting before him. It must be the shade from the trees for it was a nice sunny day. Though part of him knew that didn’t make sense it was all he could think and suddenly he was frightened.

  The last thing he wanted to do was let Sophia know he was scared. It would cause her great pleasure to tease him about it and he would never live it down.

  “It must have blown away, come on we’d better get out of here.”

  “It can’t have gotten far... can it?”

  The pleading tone was one he always struggled to ignore as was the way she stopped and sucked on her bottom pink lip.

  Pushing past the fear he peered into the trees but there was no sign of the balloon. Its bright pink color would be easy to spot and now he thought it was getting darker.

  “We should go.”

  “I want my balloon!”

  Sophia stamped her feet and put her hands on her hips. Noah laughed and watched the anger color her cheeks. His sister could be a real firecracker when she was angry and he knew she wanted that balloon. Only, something told him they had to go. Once more, it seemed darker and then he saw a shadow cross just out of the corner of his eye. It was something dark.

  What was it? Who was it?

  Fear set his pulse racing and made his legs feel like jelly. It was after them, the thing from his dreams. All he wanted to do was sit down and scream. To cover his head and make it go away. But that only worked in his room. He wasn’t safe here and he had to get Sophia out of these woods.

  Turning, he searched the trees. Only now he could only see about 6 feet in front of him. That was much less than just a moment ago, he was sure of it.

  “I think I just saw it,” he said, hoping the little lie wouldn’t get him into too much trouble. “Come on it’s this way.”

  Not waiting for her to answer he grabbed her hand and pulled her back the way they had come. But as they walked the woods became darker, and darker. The trees rustled and whispered and murmured. What had once been a background noise was suddenly threatening and Noah turned around expecting something behind him.

  There was nothing there and he let out a breath of relief. It misted before him and formed water crystals in the air. Now he could hardly see Sophia right next to him and his heart pounded in his chest so hard that he thought he was dying.

  “We have to go,” he said, and wasn’t ashamed that his voice was shaking.

  “It’s dark and cold, I don’t care about the balloon now I just want to see mommy.”

  “Me too.” Noah grabbed her hand again and began walking in the direction he thought they had come. Only by now he was disorientated. The trees were all dark sentinels. Watching, waiting, all the same that he was no longer sure in which direction he was going. It was so dark that they had to slow right down and he could feel Sophia’s tiny hand shaking in his.

  “Chilllldddrreeeeen,” a sibilant hiss called from behind them.

  It was so close that Noah was sure he could almost feel the monster's breath on the back of his neck. Surely that slippery and dark voice could not come from something human.

  “I’mmmm coming for yooooou.”

  This time it came from the right and Noah turned so sharply that Sophia’s hand was yanked from his.

  “Noah?” her voice was little more than a sob.

  “I’m here,” he said. “I just slipped.” As he lay on the damp earth he could hear the wheeze of the wind and the leaves. Maybe he hadn’t heard a voice? For as he lay there, the leaves seem to be talking. Maybe this was just like his dad said. Maybe he imagined things. He could almost hear his dad’s voice now.

  “If you will read horror stories... then you’re going to see monsters. But let me tell you something son, there are no monsters. You’re safe and I will always keep you safe, now go to sleep.”

  There was what his father had told him just last week and right now it made sense. It was dark, he was cold and frightened, of course he was hearing things.

  “Noah, I’m scared.”

  Picking himself off the ground he tried to work out where her voice was coming from.

  “There’s nothing to be scared of,” he said, and was surprised that his voice sounded even.

  “Where did the light go?” Sophia’s voice trembled in the darkness and Noah could tell she was close to tears.

  “I don’t know, stand still I’m coming to find you.”

  She was just in front of him, he was sure of it. So with his hands out in front of him he took small steps until he felt her coat in his fingers.

  Sophia shrieked.

  “It’s only me. Now take my hand and come on let’s find a way out of here.”

  Though he sounded confident the fear was building up inside. If they didn’t get to light soon it would take hold, just like the monster.

  85

  A cough erupted from him and he gasped in a breath as if it was his very last. His lungs seared and burned and yet still the air was sweet. Taking in another breath Jacob tried to sit up. For a moment, the world spun around him and he dropped, face first, back down into the dirt. Being careful to make sure that he could still breathe.

  With his left cheek in the damp and musty earth he pulled breath after sweet breath into his lungs and each one revitalizing just a little bit.

  Now the panic of suffocation was passed he tried to work out where he was, what had happened, but confusion clouded his mind. Though his eyes were open and he could see a little, everything was a blur. He tried to remember where he was, what he was doing.

  Nothing came.

  His surroundings were unfamiliar. There were trees, or at least he thought they were trees and he was lying on damp, dank smelling earth. It was dusk, or close to it, for he could hardly see more than a few feet in front of him and it was cold.

  Then it came back to him and panic pulled him into a sit.

  “Sophia, Noah, where are you?” he shouted into the gloom.

  Trying to calm his breathing he listened but there was nothing. Not even the rustling of the trees or a whisper of the wind. The air was still and dead he couldn’t hear a thing.

  “Emily, Emily, where are you?”

  Once again, there was no reply, but his breathing was easy and now he pulled himself to his feet. The world spun once more and a dirty, mud-encrusted hand went up to his forehead. It was damp and sticky with something warm and hurt when he touched it.

  Maybe he had fallen and hit his head, maybe he had been asleep a while and that’s why it was dark. Only why would they leave him here? It made no sense. He had been running to the woods looking for the children and Emily was close behind him. If something had happened she would have got him help. Or at least she would have stayed with him... wouldn�
��t she?

  Maybe they got separated and she was looking for the children. That made more sense, she probably didn’t even know that he was injured. So with any luck, once he found the car, he would find his family.

  Without him realizing, tears were streaming down his face and he dropped to his knees and sobbed. Maybe Emily was right, maybe he had neglected them. It didn’t matter, he was going to do better. If that fool Mr. Martins wouldn’t give him a promotion, then he would get a job somewhere else. He was good at what he did, he was experienced, he was professional, and he could do much better. With a better paying job he could do less hours and spend more time with his family. Why hadn’t he thought of this before? Why did it always take a disaster to make you change?

  Feeling less dizzy he got back to his feet and started walking.

  At first it felt as if he was walking and walking and getting nowhere. How big could these woods be? Was he even going in the right direction?

  The problem was he didn’t know and he figured if he kept walking in a straight line that eventually he had to hit the road or something. This was England after all, how big could the woods be?

  Though his confidence began to slip as he walked and walked and walked and nothing changed. Just as he was about to give in he saw something light to his left. Turning quickly he felt the air cool around him and the apparition or whatever it was, was gone.

  Jacob found his breath coming thick and fast once more as he stared into the darkness.

  “Emily, Noah, Sophia.”

  The words seem to stop as they left his mouth. It was as if they were going nowhere and it was the strangest feeling he had ever had. It wasn’t going to stop him, he would shout as he walked and hope that they heard him.

  “Emily, Noah, Sophia.”

  Then he saw it again, just a flash of light in front of him, only this time he could make more of it out. It was like a flash of material, like silk so fine he could see right through it.

  “Emily, Noah, Sophia.”

  As he shouted he walked in the direction that he had seen the light, always hoping for another glimpse of anything other than this terrible darkness.