Jessica

by Laura DeLuca

at Stockman, hoping to someday make a difference in the world.

  “Only three women were accepted into the school that first year. They were probably the most intelligent women in the state. Even though many men were accepted with grades well below average, women had to be stellar students to even be considered. They were more than deserving of their places here, yet still, both their classmates and their male professors were hard on them. Two of the girls dropped out after only one semester because they were tired of dealing with the constant jeering and blatant sexual harassment. But there was one woman who was determined to make it through the four years, and then move onto medical school. She knew the boys didn’t like her, but she refused to let them scare her away. She kept to herself and spent most of her nights locked away in her room, studying. Her one indulgence was an occasional walk in the woods. She especially loved to come and sit right here, on the bank of the river we now know as Lake Fred, and look out over the water. It was during one of these walks, that the men finally came for her.”

  Jessica shifted on the bench, and her long skirts rustled beneath her feet. Her breathing had become more labored, and Wilbur swore he could hear her heart pounding, as if she took the story to heart. Eventually, she took a deep breath, twirled a loose strand of raven colored hair around her finger, which seemed to be nervous habit, and continued.

  “There were five of them—five big men against one lone woman. Doesn’t that tell you something about them?” Jessica’s fingers clenched into fists as she spoke, turning her knuckles white. Wilbur wanted to take her hand and comfort her, but he was just too shy. “The leader of the lynch mob was a man named Phillip Houston. He came from a very rich family, and he was used to getting his way. He was cunning and extremely intelligent. He would have been first in the class; if not for that damn woman who he believed had made a fool of him, both with her superior class ranking and her constant rejections of his advances. But Phillip was going to get his revenge.

  “The poor girl never saw it coming. She was staring out into the water, watching the rays of the full moon dance like fairies in the moonlight as she dreamed of her future. She was going to earn the respect her male colleagues. She was going to become a doctor and help people in any way she could. But when she heard the sarcastic snickers behind her, and turned to face the intoxicated mob, she knew those dreams would never become a reality. She knew she was going to die.”

  Jessica trembled. Wilbur wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the horror of the story, but he took off his vampire cape, and wrapped it around her shoulders. She gave him a grateful smile before she continued.

  “Slowly the group broke up. They formed a circle around her, blocking the path back to the school, and even the chance of swimming to freedom. Although she was terrified, she was determined to keep her dignity.

  “ ‘Excuse me,’ she said, and tried to push her way past the men. They only laughed at her, and pulled their circle tighter, so that she scarcely had room to move. Despite her protests, Phillip, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her hard. She could taste the stale whiskey and pipe smoke on his breath. She struggled, and slammed her fists against his chest, but he only pulled her closer. He reached beneath the white satin of her gown, to lay an icy cold hand upon her bare breasts.

  “ ‘I am going to show you a woman’s true place,’ Philip told her. ‘And it is not behind a desk or in a doctor’s coat.’

  “Frantically, the girl twisted and turned, desperate to be free from his rough grasp. She was sure she got in at least a few good scratches and kicks, but Phillip only cursed and barked at his friends to assist him. Soon two of them were holding her down while the others tore at her stockings and petticoats. One by one, they each took their turns with her. Every time she tried to scream, a hand whipped across her face in protest, bringing tears of pain to her eyes and even loosening a few of her teeth. Finally, they grew tired of her pleading and forced her to silence by shoving a collar tie into her mouth. When they had each had their turn, she curled up into a ball, beaten, violated, and sobbing from terror, pain and fatigue. That poor woman endured the trespass of not just her body, but her soul. Yet still, they hadn’t finished with her.”

  Jessica’s voice trembled with emotion as she told the tale. Wilbur wondered if she had a similar experience in her past that made her relate to the heroine of her story. He finally worked up the nerve to squeeze her hand in reassurance. She returned the gesture with the smallest of smiles, as she continued on with the tale.

  “They beat her.” She sighed. “It was brutal. They used walking sticks, broken branches, or just their bare hands. The more she cried and begged for them to let her be, the more blows rained down, until finally, the girl had no strength left to fight. Her body was broken, her beauty was gone, and her innocence taken. The life simply seeped out of her. She died right here on the bank of Lake Fred.”

  “That’s awful,” Wilbur whispered.

  Despite himself, he was becoming enthralled with the story. Maybe it was just because of the passion with which Jessica shared it. He was actually amazed the urban legend wasn’t more popular amongst his peers. Then again, maybe it was, and he just didn’t socialize enough to have heard it. He was looking forward to hearing the rest, but beside him, Jessica’s eyes had clouded over. It was several minutes before she finally continued. Wilbur assumed the long pause was for dramatic emphasis as she got to the best part of the story.

  “It took the men awhile to notice that her whimpers had ceased. To notice that she was dead. When they finally looked down at her mutilated body and realized what they had done, they panicked. They were murderers. If anyone found out, their lives would be ruined. Not only would they be expelled, they would go to the prison. They may even be executed.

  “They made a pact never to tell anyone what had happened. They threw the body into Lake Fred, and for months, the secret remained with them. No one questioned the girl’s hasty departure. Hadn’t the other two women fled without notice as well? In truth, no one really cared what happened to her. At least not until one of the boys vanished. There was no note. No explanation. One day his rooms were found empty and he was never heard from again. And it didn’t end there. One by one, each member of the group disappeared, until only Phillip was left. No one made the connection, because no one knew they had raped and murdered the girl, but both the professors and the other students noticed when Phillip started acting strangely. He had become paranoid. Always looking over his shoulder, and hearing voices that weren’t there. He had taken to bolting shut his doors and windows, and never leaving his room. It was rumored that right before he disappeared, he confessed to his roommate about the murder. He claimed the girl had come back for her revenge. He swore that her ghost was after him.

  “Of course, everyone thought his guilt had driven him to insanity. When they found his body beside Lake Fred on Halloween night, they assumed it was a suicide—until they dragged the lake and uncovered five more bodies. Four of them were the other missing men, and the oldest corpse belonged to the woman who had disappeared months earlier. All the missing students had been found.

  “When the story got out, rumors of a White Lady wondering the campus spread like wild fire. She’s most commonly seen in the area of Lake Fred, looking sadly out at the water, thinking of dreams that will never come true. Sometimes, she wails for the life that was so brutally taken away from her. For over a hundred years, she’s walked between worlds. People still claim to see her today—a beautiful nineteenth century woman, in a long flowing white gown. She seems so innocent, but she is eternally searching for revenge.”

  “She sounds like you,” Wilbur said, and gestured to her gown. “Except for the revenge part of course,” he added quickly.

  “Wilbur, you’re so perceptive!” Jessica chirped. Whatever sadness had cast shadows over her pretty face had vanished. “The White Lady is exactly who I’m dressed as. I’ve always been obsessed with ghosts and I wanted an original costume. I figured the White La
dy would be the perfect choice, even though not many people remember her. She’s kind of a dying legend. But maybe tonight she’ll pay us a special visit. After all, it is Halloween.”

  “Well, I don’t know about the White Lady showing up,” Wilbur said. “But you certainly look beautiful.”

  “Thanks!” She blushed. “You look nice too. Vampires are almost as exciting as ghosts.”

  They both laughed, and Wilbur was surprised when he realized he was still holding her hand. He shocked himself even more when he worked up the courage to put his arms around her. He half expected her to push him away in disgust, but instead, she sighed, and laid her head on his shoulder.

  “Oh Wilbur,” she said. “I’ve been so lonely. But I think you may be the answer to my prayers. I didn’t think there were any good men left.”

  They sat there on the bench by the water for what seemed like hours. In many ways, it was one of the most romantic evenings of Wilbur’s life. However, he still felt a chill go down his spine which had nothing to do with his surrendered vampire cape. Even in the moonlight, the lily pads were visible, marking the water like the forgotten tombstones of the missing students. Of