Ghost Song

by Mark L'Estrange

  “But where was my Jenifer? Was she trapped upstairs, being kept prisoner by Amy’s malevolent spirit? I needed to get past her so that I could reach my wife, and at that moment I did not care what she had in store for me. My only concern was to reach Jenifer and protect her as best I could.

  “As I rounded the bottom of the staircase, I paused for a moment to catch my breath before facing Amy. But as I looked up, it was not Amy, but Jenifer standing there. I could not believe my eyes. My lovely wife was wearing one of Amy’s dresses.

  “There were far too many questions in my mind to wait for answers. As I watched, Jenifer began to saunter down the stairs towards me, holding out the hem of Amy’s dress with one hand and turning slightly as if she were in some bizarre fashion parade. It was grotesque! The sight of my beautiful wife in Amy’s dress was utterly hideous to me.”

  “What do you think, pretty nice, huh. There’s a whole trunk full of gorgeous dresses up there, real period stuff, why didn’t you tell me over the phone, I might have come down sooner.”

  “All I could think of at that moment was that only a couple of nights ago Amy’s ghostly figure had drifted down those very stairs, wearing that same dress, as I lay helpless on the stone floor, unable to move. I felt a wave of dizziness waft over me, and I blinked my eyes to clear the awful vision from my head. But when I opened them again, I saw Amy standing at the top of the stairs, wearing the same dress that my wife was presently parading for my entertainment. The look in Amy’s eyes as she stared down at my beautiful Jenifer was filled with pure evil, as if she were somehow furious with her for daring to borrow her clothes.

  “I acted instinctively. Lunging forward I grabbed hold of Jenifer’s hand and half-pulled her down the remaining steps. I knew that she was oblivious to the menacing apparition which loomed behind her, and I wanted her to remain in ignorance. My only thought was to take her as far away from the manor as I could, as quickly as possible.

  “As we made for the open front door, I could hear Jenifer’s protests. My actions must have seemed quite inexplicable to her considering we hadn’t seen each other for a week, and now that we had, instead of taking her in my arms and holding her as I wanted to, I was dragging her out into the storm, with her wearing nothing but a thin summer dress which was not even hers.

  “I desperately wanted to explain my actions, to make Jenifer see my reasoning behind them. But to do so would mean telling her all about my experiences in the manor since my arrival, and not only was there insufficient time at that present moment, ideally, I would rather keep all knowledge of the darker side of the manor to myself. There was no tangible reason to involve my Jenifer in anything to do with that accursed place.

  “Jenifer continued to offer justifiable objections as well as a token resistance as I led her down the stone steps to the car. A massive streak of lightening lit up the night sky, causing it to resemble daylight for a split second, before plunging it back into darkness. As we reached the car I kept hold of Jenifer’s wrist with one hand, and searched for my car keys with the other. I was too afraid to let go of her in case she was somehow sucked back into the manor, and the door slammed shut behind her, trapping her inside forever.

  “The rain was hammering down on both of us, and Amy’s dress was starting to cling to Jenifer’s slim frame like a second skin. There wasn’t time for me to take my coat off to cover her shoulders at that precise moment, as again, it would involve me letting go of her arm, and I needed to keep her close to me as my fear of some kind of spectral intervention was too strong to be ignored.

  “When I finally managed to open the door I ushered Jenifer inside, with her protesting all the way. As I slammed her door shut, the look she gave me through the window told me all I needed to know about how much I trouble I was in. But that was the least of my concerns. I ran around to my side of the car, and for some reason I cannot fathom, I took one last look at the manor.

  “The front door slammed shut. Doubtless as the result of a strong gust of wind, but in my mind, it was almost as if the house was telling me to get out! That my presence was no longer required or desired. Then my eye caught a glimpse of something at one of the upper windows. I knew what it was before I even looked up, and, when I did, sure enough there was Amy glaring down at me. Her hands placed firmly on her hips, and, although I could not see them from this distance, her eyes conveying that same malevolence I had witnessed back on the staircase.

  “Another clap of thunder roared overhead, followed almost immediately by a further streak of lightening. At that moment the lights inside the manor flickered and went out, plunging the entire façade into darkness. I slid behind the wheel, my clothes soaked by the rain, and wiped the back of my hand across my face to try and clear the excess water from my eyes. Instinctively I snapped my safety belt into its buckle, before turning the key in the ignition. I looked over at Jenifer who was staring back at me, with an expression that appeared to be a cross between infuriation and incredulousness.”

  “Are you going to tell me exactly what is going on Jonathan, or am I meant to just sit here and guess?”

  “I could hear the understandable undertone of anger in her voice, but at the same time, she also sounded as if she were concerned for my sanity, and who could blame her? My actions thus far that evening had not been those of a sane man, and I made a promise to myself that once I had her safely away from that place that I would do my best to rationalise my actions without mentioning Amy.

  “The car started on the first turn, and I slipped it into gear and pulled away slowly to allow the tyres to gain maximum purchase on the waterlogged ground. I could hear Jenifer speaking to me, or more precisely, at me, as I pulled away. I checked my rear-view mirror, and felt the weight start to lift from my heart as I watched the manor diminish.

  “As I turned out of the drive, I took the bend too sharply and I could feel the tyres skidding beneath the vehicle. Jenifer grabbed hold of the dashboard in front of her to prevent herself from slamming into the window. Once I had the car back under control, I apologised, and told her to secure her seatbelt, but she was obviously too miffed to take note of my instruction. I could hear her complaining about her suitcase which we had left back at the manor, and the fact that she was soaked through to the skin, and not even wearing her own clothes. But I kept my focus on the road ahead and muttered something about buying her something to wear in town the next day.

  “Once we had cleared the trees which now masked the manor from sight, I pressed a little harder on the accelerator. I think that subconsciously I just wanted to put as much distance between us and Denby in as short a time as possible. I had the wipers on full speed as the rain lashed the windscreen mercilessly. Above us the thunder and lightning roared and flashed, respectively, almost as if they were chastising us in unison for having left the manor. Even with my headlights on full beam, the weather was making it increasingly difficult for me to see more than a couple of feet ahead.

  “With my concentration completely focused on the road, I did not notice Jenifer as she lifted her bottom to remove something sharp which she complained was digging into her. Nor did I observe her removing the cassette from its plastic box before slipping it into the player in front of her.

  “As we approached the blind bend of the Widow-Maker I began to slow down, and was just about to hit the horn when I happened to glance in the rear-view mirror. There was Amy staring back at me, her face contorted into a scowl of pure malice, her eyes burning with hatred and animosity.

  “As Amy’s sweet, dulcet voice started to emanate from the speakers, my foot slipped off the brake pedal and rammed against the accelerator. The car shot forward, and in that split-second I glimpsed the lights from the oncoming lorry as it swung around the blind bend.

  “I spun the wheel to avoid a collision, but it was too late. I heard the wail of the lorry’s horn, mingled with the screech from both sets of brakes, as my back wheels lost traction on the road and pulled us back over the side of the sheer drop.
As our car began to tumble down the bank I reached over to try and protect Jenifer from the force of the impact, but the stupid seat belt locked in place, and kept me tight against my seat.”

  “I rushed through the darkened manor with my heart in my mouth, frantically calling for Jenifer. I tried the switch in every room, but the lights refused to come on. I surmised that the generator needed restarting, yet again, and I shouted out to Jarrow to start it up for me. But he made some excuse about having to pick his wife up from work, and left, slamming the front door behind him.

  “I screamed after him, but it did no good. Outside, I could hear the rain slamming against the outside of the manor. I reached out along the mantlepiece in the back parlour and found my torch. But as I shoved the button forward the bulb did not light. I shock the holder several times and slapped it against the palm of my hand, but it was all to no avail.

  “I threw the recalcitrant object in the air and heard the glass front smash against the stone floor. Just then, I heard voices coming from the next room. I manoeuvred my way around the furniture and edged along the hallway until was at the entrance of the next room. I stared inside, and through the gloom I could see Peterson and Jefferies sitting at the table, discussing land rights and leases. I had no idea why they were there, as I certainly did not remember inviting them. But for the moment I didn’t care. I needed to find my wife, and nothing else mattered at that moment.

  “I stood in the darkness in the middle of the hallway and called for Jenifer, once more. Suddenly, I heard her reply from upstairs. I ran up the stairs, two at a time, and followed the sound of her voice as it led me to the attic room at the farthest corner.

  “With the moonlight shafting in through the tiny skylight window, I could see her standing beside the trunk which was full of Amy’s clothes. As I entered the room, she held Amy’s floral-print dress against her and asked me what I thought. I was so relieved that she had not actually put the garment on that I grabbed it from her and threw it back into the chest. Before she had a chance to rebuke me, I wrapped my arms around her and held her so tightly that she began to complain of not being able to breathe.

  “I reluctantly released my hold slightly, but still kept her close, and asked her how long she had been at the manor, waiting for me.”

  “Forever, you took so long to get here that I fell asleep and died.”

  “Still hugging her close to me, I laughed over her shoulder at her clumsy phrasing, and corrected her that what she meant to say was probably that she had fallen into a dead sleep. I closed my eyes and kissed the top of her head, entwining her lustrous golden hair around my fingers. When I opened my eyes, I could see that her hair had changed colour, and that it was now of a much darker hue. I wondered if she had dyed it during the week that we were apart and released my hold on her so that I could take in the full effect of her new transition.

  “But it was Amy’s eyes that stared back at me with that same, sweet, pleading gaze that she always wore whenever I was summoned by her to the scullery door. She held on to me, tightly, clasping me to her waif-like frame.”

  “Please help me, they’re trying to take my baby!”

  “I turned and ran down the stairs and out of the house. As I reached the path I saw my aunt sitting on her chair, in the middle of the driveway, reading. I ran over to her and asked her what she was doing there and invited her to come in out of the cold and rain. But she just looked at me as if she was irritated by my offer and turned her attention back to her book. I wondered how it was possible that she could even see the words clearly with no light, but she appeared to be having no trouble, and looked totally wrapped up in the novel.

  “I wanted to grab her by the arm and force her into the house to save her catching her death, but she seemed completely unperturbed by my presence. I crouched down next to her to supplicate with her to move, but she merely turned her head to look at me once more and, with a look of genuine concern etched across her face, she demanded that I run away and leave the manor, before it was too late!”

  “I pleaded with her to tell me what she meant but she refused to elaborate further, and continued with her reading. When I turned back around, there was hag-Amy, floating down the stone steps towards me, her arms outstretched as if in anticipation of another embrace. I turned back to warn my aunt, but she was gone!

  “I ran for the trees, not daring to look behind me for fear of realising how close hag-Amy might be. My legs felt as if they were made of lead. Each step took more effort than the previous one until finally, I could no longer lift them off the floor. I compelled myself to keep moving, but in the end, unable to take another step, I fell forward. I tensed my body in anticipation as the floor accelerated towards me. But I did not hit the ground as I expected to; instead I kept on falling into a bottomless pit of blackness.

  “Eventually, through the blackness, I could hear voices. My sister Jane’s was the only one that I recognised, the others were completely unfamiliar to me. The voices seemed to drift in and out of my subconscious and I never fully understood what it was that they were saying. I could feel myself drifting in and out of wakefulness. On several occasions I saw Jenifer’s face, hovering above me. She would smile her loving smile, and wink at me, cheekily, and tell me that everything was going to be alright, and that I should go back to sleep.

  “But I also saw Amy’s face, uncomfortably close to mine, with me unable to move or turn away. Even though she looked tranquil and sad, with that familiar longing gaze of hers, there was always an underlying feeling of terror that would course through me whenever she appeared.

  “There were other, unfamiliar faces, which would appear to me from time to time. I could hear questions being asked of me, and sometimes I would try and answer, but it was as if the strange faces could not hear me, so in the end I stopped trying to communicate with them altogether. That’s when Jenifer would appear to me again. I would reach out to embrace her, but she would always usher me away, and tell me in her sternest voice not to try and follow her, but to go back, and if I refused, she would get angry with me and refuse to come to me again for ages, so in the end I learned not to try and go after her.

  “Eventually, much to my relief, Amy stopped visiting me altogether. I was so grateful, for although on the last few occasions she had not tried to cause me any alarm, I was never fully confident that she no longer wished to harm me. I was sure that it was Jenifer who sent her away. The next time Jenifer appeared to me, with her beautiful golden hair flowing around her shoulders, I could see that she was cradling something in her arms. I tried to lift myself up for a better look, but I could feel invisible hands holding me down.

  “Seeing my plight, Jenifer came closer and showed me that she was in fact holding a new-born baby. The child was fast asleep in her arms, and I desperately wanted to ask her whose baby it was, but the words refused to come out of my mouth. I watched Jenifer as she gently rocked the sleeping infant, holding it slightly higher so that I could see its face.

  “After a while, Jenifer kissed the child lovingly on its forehead, and looked up at me and smiled, before mouthing what looked like the words ‘I love you’ before she and the baby faded away from sight. This time I tried to follow, but again, it was to no avail. Something was holding me back, so I closed my eyes and strained with every ounce of energy I could muster to try and break free.

  Twenty-Six

  “When I opened my eyes again, I could see several unfamiliar faces staring down at me. As my eyes began to focus on my surroundings, I realised that I was in a hospital bed. As I tried to move, one of the doctors placed a hand on my shoulder and told me to remain still. I could see all manner of tubes and wires emanating from machines placed around my bed, all leading directly to me. When I tried to speak, I realised that there was a plastic tube in my mouth, which seemed to pass right down into my throat. A smaller one was inserted inside one of my nostrils, which hampered my breathing.

  “Before I had another chance to try and protest, I blacked
out. When I came back around, my sister Jane was sitting by my bedside, and most of the tubes had been removed, except for one still attached to my arm. As soon as she saw that my eyes were open, Jane leaned over and kissed my cheek, and stroked it, tenderly. I asked her what was going on, and what I was doing there, and she explained to me that I had been in a coma for nearly three months.

  “I tried to fathom the meaning of her words, but they made no sense to me. The last thing I remembered was driving away from the manor in the dark of night, with Jenifer beside me, complaining about her soaking wet dress, and then...I looked at Jane and asked her where Jenifer was. Immediately I noticed her eyes clouding over and, before she could reply, tears began to stream down her cheeks.

  “What she told me next made me wish that I had died before ever opening my eyes! Jane informed me that after the crash that night on the Bodlin road, Jenifer and I had been air-lifted to a hospital in London. Apparently, the drive of the other vehicle had died at the scene. Jane fought back the tears as she explained that, due to our injuries, Jenifer and I were both induced into a coma, but that Jenifer succumbed to her injuries and died a couple of days later.

  “As she spoke those words, my eyes too began to blur with tears. I could not believe that my darling wife was gone. The thought of never being able to hold her, or kiss her again, made me feel as if my life was already over. Jane held me as best she could with the restrictions placed on us by the apparatus which was attached to my various body-parts. We both cried long, hot tears, until there were none left to cry.

  “After a while, Jane squeezed my hand and asked me if there was anything she could get for me. I shook my head. My throat was extremely parched, but right at that moment, I did not care. My gorgeous Jenifer was dead, nothing else mattered, nor would it ever again. Eventually, I found the courage to ask Jane to let me know where Jenifer’s body was. It stood to reason that if I had been in a coma for almost three months after she had died, she must already have been buried or cremated somewhere, and I desperately needed to know where.