The Charm of Lost Chances

by Lucia N Davis

  Not that it got her any closer to understanding what had happened at the river. Maybe touching it again would give her more information? She was safe here in the cabin—the worst that could happen was her falling off a chair. Hesitantly, she reached out and placed her index fingertip on the heart pendant and waited.

  Nothing.

  She picked up the bracelet and put it in her open hand.

  Nothing.

  Letting out a sigh, she set the bracelet back on the table. Maybe she had imagined whatever had happened in the water.

  She thought back to dinner, where she’d had to sit through David and Taylor reminiscing about their youth and all the adventures they had taken together. She’d felt left out, and very much like the third wheel. She sighed again. Probably better just to go to bed and forget about this day. Smiling sadly, she vacated her chair and headed for the bedroom. Turning in was possibly the best idea she’d had all day.

  Mist. It’s all Sara can see. The air is filled with the scent of pine trees…

  “Charlene!” The young girl’s voice is high-pitched and loud. “Charlene! Not so fast. I can’t keep up.”

  “Well, for pity’s sake, girl. You want to go to the waterfall, right? Then we need to keep moving.” The older girl’s voice is snippy. Grumpy, even.

  “Yes, I do want to see the falls. You promised we would. But I didn’t know it was this far. Can we rest?”

  “It really isn’t that far. It just feels that way, since we’re going up.” The older girl’s tone is more patient now. “Here, hold my hand. We’ll walk more slowly. Let’s sing a song. Would you like that? It’ll help, I’m sure. You can pick the song.”

  “All right. Let me think.” After a short pause, the little girl starts singing a church hymn Sara doesn’t recognize. The older girl joins in. The singing slowly grows more distant, like the girls are moving away.

  Sara wishes the mist would go away; she desperately wants to have a look. She concentrates, willing herself to see. Slowly, very slowly, a breeze picks up and the mist begins wafting away.

  She is standing in a forest. Ahead of her on a path are two girls in pretty dresses, walking hand in hand. One tall, one small. The little girl has a doll in her free hand, swaying to the rhythm of her steps. Sara watches them until they walk out of view and their voices die away.

  She is alone.

  Sara woke up with a jolt. It had been one of those dreams—so real and clear, like a window to the past. She’d had such dreams back in the spring, after she’d first started living in Dunnhill. Before then, those kinds of dreams had never troubled her. At least, not as far as she could remember.

  In the spring, she’d thought it was all related to the cabin—with its history and all. But maybe she was wrong. This dream seemed completely unrelated.

  The thought that she might keep having these kinds of dreams made her uneasy, and yet strangely excited. At least this one wasn’t disturbing like the others. But who were those girls?

  The morning dragged on. Sara had been trying to work on a writing assignment, but it was hard to stay focused. Her thoughts drifted, again and again, to the two girls in the dream. And the bracelet on the table was yet another distraction. It was rather confusing to have both happen on the same day. Was simply being in Dunnhill the trigger for all these strange occurrences? If living here meant a mind full of visions from the past, then there was no question: she would have to leave.

  Just after lunchtime, a knock on the door relieved Sara of the struggle to be productive. It was David, and he was alone.

  It took a few seconds for Sara to find her voice. “Oh, hey! I... didn’t expect to see you so soon. You seemed busy, with your clients and all.”

  David gave her an amused smile. “I can leave, if you like. Come back in a few days…”

  “No, no. Come in. Sorry. You’re always welcome, of course. I was just surprised, that’s all. I thought you and Taylor might have plans for today.”

  “We do. She’s in the car.”

  “Oh…”

  “She wanted me to ask if you’d like to come along. But I wanted to talk to you first.” He looked down.

  Uh oh. That can’t be good. Feeling awkward, she pointed to a chair. “Want to sit down?”

  David scratched his head. “Sure, why not…”

  “It’s good you came by, actually,” Sara said, almost too cheerfully. “I wanted to ask you something about the area.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “There’s this thing in the kitchen—it’s called a phone. You dial my number and then you get to speak to me. If I pick up, that is. It’s quite magical.” His serious expression broke into a teasing smile.

  Sara’s heart missed a beat. This was the David she remembered.

  She kept a straight face. “Yes, I know... But talking to people is so old fashioned. I prefer texting, really.”

  He chuckled. “Not here, you won’t.”

  “Pity. Maybe I should find a cabin that actually has reception.”

  “You could. But it would take away from the true outdoor experience you were looking for, remember?”

  “Yes, I suppose. Okay. I could’ve called you. But it wasn’t that important. I figured I’d get around to it at some point.”

  “Fair enough. So, what is it?”

  “I thought you wanted to talk to me?”

  “Your question first.”

  Sara shrugged. “Okay. Are there any waterfalls around here you can walk to? Like a short walk? Like a walk through a forest?”

  David stared at her, his expression inscrutable.

  “I didn’t think it was such a weird question,” she said, blushing.

  “No, it’s not. Not by itself. But you did phrase it rather oddly. And it is weird, actually, considering what I came to talk to you about.”

  She shrugged. “It was just a question.”

  David shook his head. “I’m not sure I believe you,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “You puzzle me, Sara. You have some unusual talents—for getting into trouble, for starters—but also for experiencing unexplainable events. Those dreams you were having last spring… It’s intriguing, don’t get me wrong, but disturbing as well. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about this since you left. I’m just not sure what to make of it.”

  Sara nodded. “Me neither, to be honest. I’m not sure it helps you, but I can’t stop them. The dreams, I mean. They come and go as they please. I don’t think they’re dangerous. And I hope you don’t think I’m a freak. Believe me, I was a very boring person in San Francisco. It all changed when I started living in this cabin. Your family’s cabin, actually—so now that I think of it, it might just be all your fault…” She gave him a coy smile.

  David looked puzzled. “Right. Of course.”

  “What did you want to talk about?”

  “Yes, well. Taylor wants to look at a property. It’s not for sale, but she would love to purchase it. It’s been unoccupied for as long as I can remember. It’s a small house, neglected—almost in shambles, to tell you the truth—about thirty minutes walking distance from Dunnhill. There’s no real road, mind you, just a trail. But here’s the kicker: it’s situated at the base of a waterfall. Not a huge one, but it’s a waterfall.”

  Excitement built in Sara’s chest. “And the trail, does it go through a forest?”

  “Initially, yes. Should I ask why you’re so fixated on that detail?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “Okay. Well, the reason I wanted to talk to you is that the house used to be known in the village as kind of a spooky place. Some people say it’s haunted. I don’t know all the details, but I remember that when I was a kid, my friends and I would dare each other to climb the fence and go inside the house. We never saw anything out of the ordinary. But we’d get each other all worked up—you know how that goes. These days, though, it’s just a ramshackle house that most people seem to have forgotten about. I suspect most of the people who are old enough to know the history of the house have pro
bably died by now.

  “That said, since you seem to be sensitive to these things, I thought I should warn you before asking you to come along. I don’t want to frighten you—like I said, I never saw anything strange there. It’s quite pretty, actually, the property.”

  Sara could hardly contain herself. David hadn’t said he didn’t want her to come along—on the contrary, he offered to take her to the falls. She gave him a bright smile. “Thank you. It’s very sweet of you to think of me, and to be concerned. You could be right. But I can’t keep avoiding living my life out of fear, can I? Besides, it’s not like I’m going alone. And I really want to see that waterfall. I’d love to come. Are you okay with that?”

  “Absolutely. But I’m still going to keep an eye on you.”

  Sara smiled. No argument from me. “Great. I’ll go find my shoes.”

  They parked at the small white-painted wooden church in Dunnhill. Behind the church was a trail that went up the hill and disappeared into the forest. Taylor seemed genuinely pleased that Sara had wanted to join them, and had carried the conversation for most of the car ride. It was impossible not to like Taylor, but why wouldn’t Sara like her? Taylor had done her no wrong.

  They walked up the trail, and soon the forest enveloped them. The trees softened the bright light, creating playful shadows along the path. It was quiet, aside from the assiduous hammering of a woodpecker that seemed to follow them as they climbed up the trail.

  Up ahead, the path went around a corner, behind some big rocks that obscured the view. Sara halted. This was where she had seen the girls, following the bend and walking out of sight.

  She regained her composure and caught up with David and Taylor, feeling a certain sense of pride. She was headed the right way, toward the same waterfall the girls had been talking about. The waterfall where the abandoned house stood. Walking close to Taylor, she struck up conversation again.

  “Taylor, why are you so interested in this property? I mean, David said it wasn’t for sale.”

  “It’s not. David will try to contact the owner and see if they are willing to sell. I mean, it’s not like they’re using it for anything—it’s been empty for years. They bought it from my aunt many years ago. Not that she did anything with it, either. Such a waste. It’s a beautiful place.”

  “So it was your aunt’s place originally?” Sara was panting heavily now. She looked over at Taylor with a sting of jealousy; the woman was walking and breathing with the ease of a mountain goat. David was already farther ahead. There’s no denying it. I’m horribly out of shape.

  Taylor seemed to notice Sara’s discomfort and slowed her pace a little. “No,” she answered. “My aunt inherited it when my uncle died. It came from his family, apparently, my father’s side. My parents were divorced, and I never had much contact with my dad, so I don’t know much about his family history. My uncle wasn’t much of a talker either. My aunt lived close by, in the next village over. She visited the property only once as far as I know, after my uncle’s death. She took me with her. I was still a young girl. Can you believe it? She never even knew he owned it until he died. I’ve always thought that was very odd. Anyway, she sold it soon after. I remember seeing it for the first time and just falling in love with it. I was bummed when it was sold. I told myself that one day, I’d try to buy it back. So we’ll see if it works out.”

  “I see. But you haven’t looked into the history of the house?”

  “Why? Because of the haunted house stories?” Taylor snorted. “That’s just stupid talk. I don’t believe in that sort of thing. It’s a house. Someone lived in it, then died, and then it was passed on to someone else. Any abandoned house, in the dark, all by itself, can look scary. If it had been occupied over the years, it would have been a whole different tale.”

  “Right. I was just curious.”

  “Well, feel free to do some research on my behalf. That’s not really my thing. But I’d be interested to see what you find.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  While talking, they had passed through the forest and were now walking across a grassy field. Up ahead, David waited to lead them around the hillside.

  Sara stopped to take in the breathtaking scenery. A river rapidly carved its way downhill through a rocky bed. All the way upstream was a partially collapsed house, looking small and forlorn against the landscape. Behind it towered an imposing cliff about forty feet tall, making the house look even more insignificant. From the cliff rushed a perfectly curved waterfall that sparkled in the sunlight, gracefully pouring its contents down in a continuous effort to feed the river. Behind the cliff, the dominating mountains appeared almost tangible.

  “Wow.” Sara exhaled.

  “Exactly.” Taylor nodded. “And in springtime the waterfall is just shooting off that cliff. The increased water volume creates all this splash and spray. And the river—the river is so full.”

  “It’s beautiful.” David agreed. “But it’s also a very solitary location. The person who built this very much wanted his privacy. I’m not sure I could live out here. And then that fence…”

  Sara had been so taken in by the view, she didn’t see the fence. But yes, there it was, quite ugly as it circled the property from the side of the river to the cliff. Whoever owned the property did not want anyone hanging around. A few No Trespassing signs even adorned the fence.

  The trail did not lead directly to the house, but up the cliff; Taylor suggested they go there first. The path was steep, but to Sara’s surprise, it was not very difficult to navigate, and it didn’t take long before they reached the top. The view was worth every bead of sweat.

  The river had eroded a path through the rocks and was rushing by several feet below, between the craggy, abrupt edges of the stone surface, before tumbling down the waterfall. Sara crept toward the edge of the cliff, lying on her belly, watching the water take its plunge into a small pool below before it was whisked away down the river. It was mesmerizing.

  “Hey, city girl.” David sat down next to her. “You might not want to get too close to the edge. You don’t want to fall down.”

  “I don’t, you’re right. It seems pretty safe, though.”

  “Just be careful,” David grumbled. “I don’t want to have to take you to the doctor again.”

  Sara looked skeptical. “I don’t think I’ll need a doctor if I fall down here,” she retorted. “An undertaker, more likely.”

  “Well, that would be unfortunate.”

  “It would.” Sara pointed to the small house below, which, now that she had a better view, looked more like a simple cabin. It was in a sad state, with its roof caved in and one of the walls partially absent. “Looks like it needs a lot of work.”

  “You can say that again. I think it’s madness, to be honest. But once Taylor has her mind set on something, it’s hard to convince her otherwise. Fortunately, I don’t think the owner will sell. I know the village council tried to buy it years ago, and they were unsuccessful. They wanted to make this an official trail, with this spot as the destination—you know, like a little picnic area where you could eat lunch. Not a bad idea. I wouldn’t be surprised if Taylor has the same objective.”

  “Oh, you don’t think she wants to live here?”

  “I doubt it.” He grinned. “She likes being around people too much. I don’t think she’d last a week.” He got up. “Let’s go back down and look at the house.”

  They walked back toward the fence. It was not very high, but there was no need to climb over it, since it was broken in various spots.

  “Ladies first,” David said cheerfully.

  “Such a hero.” Taylor commented, stepping through a gap in the fence.

  “I doubt this is legal,” Sara said.

  “It isn’t.” Taylor shrugged. “But there’s nobody here. And we’re not going to destroy anything, are we? We’re just looking around.”

  “I’ve trespassed here many times before.” David followed them in. “One more won’t
make a difference.”

  They walked up to the little house. In spite of the beautiful landscape and the warm, sunny weather, a chill ran down Sara’s spine. The house looked grim and somber up close—not at all like a happy place. In fact, it gave her the creeps.

  She hesitated at the doorway. The others had already gone inside, and she heard Taylor complaining about the smell. Not wanting them to notice her hesitation, she took a deep breath and entered.

  The place was in dire straits. Taylor was right: the stench was horrible. Even though the house was off-limits to visitors, it was clear the local animal population had not been concerned with the warnings—and there were plenty of ways for them to get in. The smell was a mix of rotten wood, fecal matter, and death. Apparently, not all of the critters had made it back out.

  The caved-in roof provided plenty of light for Sara to look around. The cabin basically consisted of one big room. There was still some old furniture lying around—a few wooden chairs, and a table. On one side of the room there had been some kind of loft, perhaps a sleeping area, but over years of neglect it had collapsed.

  The wall to Sara’s right was in particularly bad shape. She walked closer to investigate. There had once been a kitchen area, with a fireplace. Lots of big stones had spilled out of the chimney wall, leaving a large hole.

  Sara shivered. It was far too cold in here considering the warm weather. Not only that, but the cold had a strange, uncomfortable quality to it—it felt unfriendly. She stared at the big hole in the wall again. Taylor and David were talking, but their voices sounded far away.

  Before Sara’s eyes, the hole disappeared, and a rough stone wall materialized above the fireplace, forming a mantle. She stared, hypnotized, as big white letters appeared, as though someone she couldn’t see had taken a paintbrush and was slowly writing. First an M, then a U. The letters came faster now: R… D… E… R… E… R…

  Murderer.

  Sara felt like she’d lost control of her body. Murderer? Who was a murderer? She sure wasn’t. And as far as she could judge, Taylor and David didn’t seem to belong in that category either.