Anna Darling

by Angela Hall-Averre

  “If it’s going to be open all month I could help you with it. We could always get someone to look after it on Samhain. Wait, we have to collapse the well at exactly midnight. What are the haunted house hours going to be?”

  “It will be open from seven to ten o’clock every night. And open to eleven o’clock on Halloween.”

  He smiled, “Then there is no reason not to be in charge.”

  “I guess you’re right, on that issue, anyway. But, I’m serious; I don’t know what it is that I’m supposed to do for this magic circle thing. I mean I have no idea what a High Priestess does.”

  “It will come to you in your dreams Anna. Listen with your heart and you will know.”

  “I have been having some strange dreams.”

  They left the store and when they reached Anna’s house she invited Mark in but he declined and said he needed to go study. They said their goodbyes and when Anna walked into her house she saw that there were five people she had never seen before sitting in the living room. “Uh, where’s my mom?” she asked. Just then her mom walked in carrying a tray filled with finger sandwiches. “Hi sweetheart, come in and meet the group.”

  “What kind of group is this Mom?”

  “This is my book group. Did I forget to mention it?”

  “Hi everybody, I’m Anna and I hope you all are enjoying your books.”

  They all laughed, said hi and Anna left and went to her room. As soon as she changed into her yoga pants and sweatshirt her cellphone chirped, “Hello,” she answered. It was Nadine.

  “You are never going to believe this Anna, your neighbor came in and wants to buy Old Stuff That Dazzles.”

  “Are you going to sell?”

  “I told her I would think about it. If I sell my business, I may be leaving Briar Glen. I can afford to go the Europe. I’ve wanted to go visit all my life. I plan to take a ferry from the North Sea to Scotland and then onto Ireland. Where I will be staying in an awesome Bed and Breakfast.”

  “That would be awesome Nadine. Of course, Mom and I would miss you.”

  “I’m still thinking about it. I have a lot to consider. I told Mrs. Sökmen I would have an answer by the end of the week.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Haunted Design

  O nce again the volunteers met at the Manchester Manor to discuss and start the Haunted Manor design.

  “One thing I know about is drama. And I know that things that pop out, jump, or fall are always good for a scare. A well-timed scream will amplify the terror,” said Jennifer from the high school drama class.

  “We have to appeal to all the senses: sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste,” added Ronny. He was the special effects guy for all the high school plays.

  Anna did a quick count of the people in the room. “I think since this is a big house and there are only fifteen of us working on this right now. We will need to plan for a mixture of automated devices and real humans playing roles. I also think that will add to the fear factor.”

  “Great idea, I went to Williamsburg, Virginia last year and there was this shop that had amazing automated Halloween decor,” said Rita.

  “The guests probably won't even know which is which. If we do a good job,” added Patrick.

  Rick pulled out his tablet from his backpack and started taking notes. “What about having a tour guide?” he asked. “If you're planning on having a tour guide walking guests through, we need to spend some time writing a really great script. A scary story can make the props even more horrifying.”

  “I agree,” answered Anna with a grin from ear to ear. We all need to recruit people to help us.”

  “What about having auditions? We could audition for zombies, clowns, ghosts or whatever,” added Patrick.

  “What makes clowns so scary?” asked Steve

  “Maybe it is the wild colors or overemphasized features. Throughout history clowns have been associated with jokers, court jesters, pranksters or scary killers,” said Patrick.

  “What about Ronald McDonald, I remember him all my life, ” someone from the back piped in.

  “Seriously, don’t you remember last year when killer clowns were spotted across the United States? Don’t you remember hearing that on the news?” Patrick was still pleading his case. “Am I the only one who is not afraid of clowns? People are much scarier than clowns. I wanted to be a clown when I was little and went to the Barnum and Baily’s Circus. I thought they were awesome,” said Sam.

  “Yeah, well clowns are people too. They got a bad name when people turned them into killers,” again, a voice piped in from the back of the small crowd.

  “Anyway, is there going to be an age limit?” asked Rita, purposely changing the topic.

  “Good question, I’ll ask Tom when he contacts me for an update,” said Anna.

  “I just figured it was something else to consider. For very young guests, some kinds of scary might be too much.”

  “We could designate a children’s room and have something not so scary. Would you like to work on that Rita?”

  “Sure, I think it would be fun. I’ll brainstorm and come up with some ideas and get back to you.”

  “Anna, what do you think of these animated wall-mount mummy hands I dug out of our attic? Do you think they would be good for the children’s room? Or maybe by the door to that room?” asked Rita.

  “They certainly are realistic mummy hands.”

  “I thought they would be a good addition because of the moving fingers and lights inside, they really reach out to grab you!”

  “I think they are perfect.” Anna stated approvingly.

  “Last night I was searching online for ideas. What do you think of placing Jack-o-lanterns everywhere and having a tub of cold water with fake snakes slithering in them? I want to place coins on the bottom. And tell the little children that they can’t move on until they reached down and find a coin.” Rita cracked a thin smirk.

  “I think that is a great idea. You could also let them bob for apples.” Said Anna.

  “I was thinking along with the mummy hands maybe have the children play the mummy game.”

  “Oh yeah, I was reading a teachers blog about this very thing. Depending on how many little kids there are, of course. She divided her room into four teams with four or five kids on each team. Then they drew straws to see who the mummy will be. All of the others each get a roll of toilet paper. When the bell rings they start wrapping their mummy.”

  “Excellent, thank you for bringing the little ones up. I would hate to frighten the little buggers.” Anna replied.

  When Patrick’s phone rang out with a screeching guitar chorus of a heavy metal riff as a ring tone. Everyone jumped. Laughter followed Patrick as he stood up and lumbered off to talk. “Man, I’m glad you called. Well, what did he say? Do we get to borrow the hearse if no one dies?”

  A voice answered on the other end of the phone. “Better dude, he said we could park the hearse next to the graveyard and use Dracula’s coffin that he made in college. He said to come on over and help him load it up in the back of the hearse.”

  “Charlie, you rock man. Thank you so much. I just know this will be the best haunted house this town has ever seen.”

  “Mr. Fredrick said to get there before seven o’clock. He has a dinner date.”

  “Okay, I’ll go on in and tell Anna that I need to leave now.”

  “I’ll be waiting. Just stop by and pick me up.”

  “See you in a few.” Patrick hit the end call button. He waltzed in with a grin from ear to ear plastered on his face. Everyone stopped what they were doing and just waited for him to tell them what was happening.

  His eyes gleamed when he spoke, “I got some great news people. Dracula has entered the house.”

  “What?” said Anna, “We have not even assigned characters yet.”

  “Well, I got us a hearse and Dracula’s coffin. So, since I’m responsible for the coffin, I will be Dracula.”

  “Really, that’s great!�
� exclaimed Anna.

  “You guys know Brandon Frederick right? Well, he’s my neighbor and if you didn’t know, his Dad is also the county coroner,“ said Patrick.

  “Are you talking about Brandon Fredrick’s dad?”

  “The one and the same. It sure is nice of him to loan us the use of his hearse and the Dracula coffin he made in college.”

  “Indeed, this is perfect. Patrick, I am so proud of you. Going above and beyond what I expected. As a matter of fact,” she stopped and gazed around the room, “I am so thrilled to have each and every one of you here. I think it best that this haunted house is divided up into several zones, each with their own zone manager. I need each group to appoint a manager. Zombies, clowns, vampires and ghosts and the rest of you come up with your design and choose your manager. Once the manager has a documented plan to submit, get it to me as soon as possible. We have only a couple weeks to get this show going.”

  “Anna, all I can say is, it’s how we roll. We are the drama class after all. This is a great opportunity to put our acting skills to the test,” said Ronny.

  She gave him the thumbs up. “Right you are,” answered Anna. She cocked her head to the side and peered at Patrick. “When will the hearse and coffin be here?”

  “As I was about to say, I’m actually leaving right now to pick up your dad so I can take him to the funeral home. I need to help him load the coffin too. Then I’ll just follow him here.”

  “Okay, by the time you are back we will decide where Dracula’s room will be.”

  Patrick turned tail and quickly walked out to his Toyota Camry. He started the engine and turned up the music. He was rocking out to some heavy metal when he pulled up in front of Charlie's house and honked his horn.

  Charlie saw him through the window when he stopped on the street. He yelled at his wife Hanna that he would be late and hustled out the door. He hopped in the passenger seat.

  They headed on down the road. By the time they got to the Funeral Home, Mr. Fredrick was standing next to the door puffing away on a cigarette.

  “Don’t you know those things will kill you,” said Charlie as he was getting out of the car.

  “I guess it’s one more nail in the coffin for me,” he replied wryly.

  “Mr. Fredrick,” said Patrick “I just want to thank you from the entire drama class and Miss Anna. We are just thrilled with being able to use the hearse and coffin.”

  Mr. Fredrick nodded acknowledgment to Patrick’s statement. “I just want you guys to know. I am holding the two of you responsible for the hearse and the coffin. If any damage is done then you’ll owe me big time. Understood?” he looked from one to the other.

  “Yes, we understand,” said Patrick. “I promise to take extra special care and you can count on me to inform the rest of the haunted house volunteers to take care also.”

  “I figured as much, now if you’ll both follow me into the parlor I’ll help you load the coffin.”

  He stopped, opened the back door on the hearse, and opened both doors wide. He rechecked the doors were propped open and walked into the parlor. There it was, Dracula’s coffin. Patrick was first to its side. He noticed the Dracula family crest flanked by silver vampire bats hanging on the edges of the coffin lid first. “So, Charlie told me you made this when the two of you were in college. It’s beautiful. You did a great job.”

  “Thank you. You can open it if you’d like.”

  Patrick opened the lid to peer inside the coffin. It was lined with red and black velvet. He gently caressed the velvet. He looked over his shoulder at Mr. Fredrick and said, “Looks comfortable.”

  “That was my intent when I made it in college. The theater program on campus truly made me grow as a person and as an actor.”

  “I didn’t know you were an actor. Why did you become a coroner and mortician?” asked Patrick.

  Mr. Fredrick chuckled, “Its like this son. People are always dying. I’ll always have a job with a good income. Now actors are a dime a dozen. Few and far between ever make it big in life.”

  “I believe you. I myself love acting. I’m excited to play Dracula at the Haunted Manor this year. Do you miss acting?”

  “I go to the theater a couple times a year, I have to admit. When Charlie called me up and told me about the haunted house I felt a yearning to be a part of it.”

  “I’m sure that can be arranged, if you really mean it?” stated Patrick.

  “I’ll write my number down and you can give it to the person in charge. If I’m needed I sure will try my dandiest to make it.”

  Loading the coffin was rather a straightforward procedure. The guys carried the coffin from the parlor to the back of the hearse. Then Patrick took the head end, furthest from the hearse. Next Charlie took the foot end of the coffin. They lifted the foot end and slid the coffin in, and as it started to slide in, Patrick lifted the head end.

  Mr. Fredrick watched to make sure it was straight. “Here let me show you how to lock the coffin down.”

  “Sure, thanks,” said the guys. Mr. Fredrick locked it into place with the gooseneck at the end. Patrick and Charlie thanked the coroner again in unison and set out for the Manor.

  The first thing they did when they got back to the manor was locate Anna, and gave her the paper with Mr. Fredrick’s number on it.

  “Anna, I bet you never knew that Mr. Fredrick was an actor when we went to college. He said he would like to help out with this haunted adventure,” divulged her Dad.

  “Oh my goodness, that is great,” said Anna. I’m going to give him a call right now.”

  SHE WAS BEGINNING to have her doubts about everything when her dad handed her the paper with Mr. Fredrick’s name and number. She punched the numbers into the phone. He answered right away. “Hello, Mr. Fredrick, this is Anna Hall and we would be honored to have you working with us. And I must say thank you so much for allowing us to use the hearse and coffin.”

  “No problem,” he said, “I’ve been wanting to be involved in something special for awhile.”

  “We are here at the old Manchester Manor. You are welcome to come and join us. We’re just brainstorming right now. We honestly need to recruit a bunch of people. There are only eleven of us now, well twelve, counting you.”

  “I’ll be right over,” he said.

  When Anna got off the phone she was feeling much better. It didn’t long until he pulled up and parked right in front. He stepped out of his car. When he entered the foyer he was motioned into the sitting room on the left.

  Anna was discussing the graveyard design. When she looked up and saw him she glowed and a smile spread across her face. “Ah, yes, Mr. Fredrick we are so pleased to have you. We need all the help we can get. Come on over and take a seat.”

  He strolled over and stood straighter and straightened his tie and stated, “First off, I want to thank you for having me. You can call me Dean. Mr. Fredrick seems so formal. I prefer Mr. Fredrick at my funeral home but I would much prefer Dean for my theater peers if you all will.” He sat down.

  “Not a problem,” Anna beamed. “My dad tells me you acted in college together.”

  “Yes, we most certainly did. I loved it too. I have done most everything in the theater. What is it that I can do for this Haunted attraction?”

  “What type of roles did you play when you were acting?”

  “I’ve worked several haunted houses in my day, from the vampire to the zombie. I’ve also set up and run the special effects.” He looked around the room. Everyone was staring at him. “Is everyone here?” he asked.

  “Yes, this is it so far,” replied Anna. “I know we will be needing several more volunteers for concession and ticket sales for this to run smoothly. I was thinking about advertising in the paper,”

  “If you want professional actors and actresses you are going to have to pay people,” said Dean.

  “That’s just it. This is a non-profit and all proceeds will be going to the local animal shelter.”

  “Anna, if
you don’t mind me saying this, you will get more customers if you pay for actors, especially if you can get someone even semi-famous and put their name on the posters and promotions. Why not make it 50/50. Fifty percent of the profits go to the shelter and fifty percent goes to the actors.

  “I guess we could do that. Honestly I have been very nervous about being in charge here. I’m a newbie.”

  “I have produced seven haunted attractions in my day,” stated Dean, “I’m willing to help you in anyway you need.”

  “Get out, of here!” Anna exclaimed, “This must be my lucky day. It sounds like I should just put you in charge.”

  Dean shook his head no and responded, “No, I don’t want to be in charge. I will, however, help you in any way I can. Just name it.”

  Patrick spoke up, “All of us here will be getting credit at school. Most of us are in drama class…well, all except for those guys,” he pointed to the guys in back, “they are on the football team. But if you want to pay us, I for one could use the cash.”

  Anna was beyond thrilled with Dean joining the group. “Dean, when you produced your haunted houses how did you get actors?”

  I placed an ad in the county paper and also on the local TV and radio stations. Would you like me to come up with something?”

  “Yes, That’s great. Oh I’m so happy. Thank you.”

  “No problem,” he said, “I just need the information, and you know dates, time, attractions. What concessions are you planning?

  “I hadn’t really thought about it. What would you suggest?”

  “At all the many haunted attractions I have produced, we always carried burgers, hot dogs, nachos, chili, soft drinks, coffee and hot chocolate. Just the typical stuff.”

  “Okay, I was wondering if you would like to be in charge of the scare auditions?”

  ‘Yes, I’d like that,” answered Dean as he rolled his sleeves up and rubbed his hands together. “I have been the interviewer in the past. The biggest thing we ask at the end of the interview is can you scare me? It's an audition; we want to see what you are made of. Think if it as actual theater. Think of the screams of your audience as your applause. We may even try to scare you. I have worked with several actors that were often easily scared by the other actors.” He was grinning and there was a sparkle to his grey eyes as he reminisced.