Ghostly Asylum

by Lily Harper Hart

  “What do you want in your omelet, Harp?”

  “What?” Harper, lost in her own head, jerked her chin up and found Zander staring at her. “What did you say?”

  “I asked what you want in your omelet.”

  “Oh, well … .” Harper’s stomach writhed with nerves at the prospect of eating. “I think I’ll just stick with coffee this morning.”

  “No, you won’t,” Jared argued, appearing at her side. “You need to eat. It’s going to be a long day and you need fuel.”

  “I don’t feel all that well.” Harper pressed a hand to her stomach. “Maybe in a little bit I will feel better.”

  “In an hour we’re going to be inside the asylum,” Michael pointed out. “Now is the time to eat.”

  “And you’re eating,” Jared added. “You need to at least try.”

  Harper blew out a sigh as she bundled the black hoodie she wore more tightly around her. “Fine. Just mushrooms and cheese.”

  “That doesn’t sound like much of an omelet,” Zander complained.

  “I’m afraid if you add anything else I’ll hurl.” She forced a smile. “And no one wants that. If I hurl, I won’t get any kisses.”

  “Yes, you will.” Jared stroked the back of her head. “I brought gum.”

  “Oh, nice.” Zander winked at Jared, their gazes briefly locking and something unsaid passing between them. Zander broke the eye contact first and turned to the rest of the group. “I’m taking orders.”

  “I want whatever you have,” Trey said, pouring a mug of coffee as he scanned Harper’s profile. “I’m not picky.”

  “You get Pop-Tarts,” Zander shot back. “I don’t like you much after last night.”

  “Aw, come on.” Trey made a sheepish face. “I didn’t mean to upset you or anything. I was just joking around.”

  “Perhaps you should read some topical books on humor,” Zander suggested. “It doesn’t matter, though. No omelet for you. If you adjust your attitude, I might allow you to have some of the homemade fried chicken I’m making for dinner tonight.”

  “Oh, come on.” Jared was dumbfounded. “How are you going to make fried chicken out here?”

  “I’m not sure you should get an omelet either,” Zander chirped. “If you doubt my abilities after last night … .”

  “Make him an omelet,” Shawn prodded. “He needs his strength, too.”

  Zander let loose with a long-suffering sigh. “Fine.”

  Jared shot Shawn a thumbs-up before turning his attention to Michael. “What’s the plan for this morning?”

  Michael’s expression was blank. “What do you mean? We’re going into the asylum.”

  Jared bit back his temper. “I know that. Do you have an internal map or anything?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Michael brightened as he dug in his files, returning with a building map. “Here it is.”

  Jared took the map as he sat next to Harper, pressing his leg against hers in a show of solidarity. She was unnaturally quiet – something he didn’t like – and he wanted to make sure she didn’t feel abandoned or alone for the duration of their stay.

  “So we’re going in here.” Jared rested the map on his knees, ignoring the irritation that bubbled up when John and Steve meandered over to look over his shoulder. “It seems the first room is a lobby of sorts. The kitchen and dining facilities look to be off to the right – and I’m sure they’re picturesque after decades of abandonment – and there’s another big room over here.”

  Harper followed Jared’s finger as he traced the map. “That’s the common room.”

  Jared cocked an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”

  “I’ve looked over the internal maps numerous times.” Harper collected the map. “The main floor is essentially kitchen and dining areas and the common room. There’s also a set of classrooms toward the back, but I’m not sure how much learning ever got done out here.”

  “Okay.” Jared was happy she decided to engage in the conversation. “You said the crematorium was in the basement but suggested it was shut down at one point.” He narrowed his eyes as he flipped pages. “That’s this map. Do you know what all of these little rooms were for?”

  Harper nodded, her expression morose. “They were treatment rooms.”

  Jared moved his hands to the back of Harper’s neck, finding the muscles tight and bunched. She was a huge bundle of coiled energy and he worried she would blow before it was all said and done. “We won’t go into those.”

  “Hey!” Michael made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “We’re definitely going in those rooms. Do you have any idea how creepy the footage from those rooms will be?”

  “I don’t care what you do,” Jared fired back. “You can do whatever you want. If Harper doesn’t want to go to any particular spots, she doesn’t have to. If you try to make her – or manipulate her, for that matter – I will shut this down.”

  “We have signed contracts.”

  “And I’m a police officer who can deem this excursion unsafe for everyone.” Jared narrowed his eyes to dangerous slits. “Don’t push me.”

  “You keep saying that, man,” Trey noted. “I’m confused. Are we supposed to be afraid of you?”

  “And no fried chicken for you either,” Zander muttered, causing Trey to scowl.

  “I take it back,” Trey muttered, his expression matching Harper’s. “I was just joking.”

  “I wasn’t,” Jared said. “Harper is an adult and can do whatever she wants. I’m not her keeper. If I feel that a room is unsafe – and this entire building could very well be unsafe – then I will step in. I’m not risking her for anything.”

  “No one wants that,” Michael said hurriedly. “We all want this to be a safe trip.”

  Jared wasn’t so sure. “We’ll hit the main floor this morning and then discuss future plans over lunch. I want Harper to get a feeling for the building before we make any big decisions.”

  Michael didn’t look happy with the announcement, but he didn’t put up a fight. “That sounds like a workable plan.”

  “Great.” Jared shifted to find Harper staring at the basement plans. “What is it, Heart?”

  “I don’t know,” Harper replied after a beat. “Everything just feels … heavy.”

  “Yeah? If things get too heavy, I will place a call and get Mel out here to collect us,” Jared said. “Don’t be afraid to put a stop to this if it gets to be too much.”

  For the first time since waking up, Harper flashed a genuine grin. “That won’t make Mel happy.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “I don’t either,” Zander said. “I’m his favorite nephew. He has to ride to the rescue if we need it. It’s in the Good Uncle Handbook.”

  “No one is going to need a rescue,” Michael argued. “It’s a simple ghost shoot. We’ve done hundreds of these before.”

  “You’ve never done one like this before,” Harper said. “I guarantee that.”

  HARPER CHOKED DOWN the bulk of her breakfast, actually feeling better for the effort once Jared gathered her plate. She excused herself for a quick bathroom break with Molly, moving to a spot behind some sad-looking trees before washing her hands in the lake and focusing her full attention on the asylum.

  It didn’t take everyone long to collect themselves, and by the time they were moving in that direction Harper had managed to tuck away the bulk of her fear. She was excited to see inside of the structure – it was something she wished for a long time ago and it was finally coming to fruition, after all – but she remained a bit nervous.

  Jared stood close, constantly finding a reason to touch her in an effort to offer small bouts of reassurance. Michael had official permission to be on the island from the state and the key he dug from his pocket and pointed toward the lock looked fresh and new.

  “Someone has been out here,” Jared noted, eying the lock with some interest. “That chain and lock are new.”

  “I believe they come out once a season to check
on the property,” Michael explained. “When I first broached the subject of filming out here they weren’t happy with the suggestion. They changed their minds after a little bit, though, and allowed scouting and one weekend’s worth of filming. I think they’re hoping they might be able to sell the island.”

  “Sell it?” Eric made a face as he tilted his head and took in the imposing façade. “Why would anyone want this island?”

  “They could tear down the asylum,” Molly suggested, sticking close to Eric despite the fact that they appeared to barely be on speaking terms. “They could put something else out here.”

  “Like what?”

  “They could put a refreshment stand or something out here,” Zander offered. “I mean, think about it. This lake is full of boaters in the summer. It could be a destination for them if they want to drop anchor and enjoy the island.”

  “That’s a fun idea,” Shawn enthused. “Someone who likes isolation might be interested in buying a house out here, too. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the Harsens Island dock.”

  “You couldn’t pay me to live out here,” Jared said, flicking his eyes to Michael when he heard the lock snick.

  “I’ve got it,” Michael crowed. “It’s open.”

  “Congratulations,” Steve said dryly. “Perhaps you’ll get a trophy when you get back home.”

  Michael ignored the sarcasm. “Is everybody ready? Cameras ready?”

  “We’re ready,” Finn said, hoisting his camera to his shoulder. “You should open the doors and let us get a couple of shots before anyone goes inside.”

  “Good idea.”

  Harper moved out of the way, her eyes keen as Michael dramatically threw open the door. Finn and Trey immediately stepped up to film, their movements slow and deliberate. For her part, Harper leaned forward in an attempt to see through the murk. The building was so dark that it was virtually impossible to see more than a few feet inside, though.

  “I was afraid of this,” Michael lamented after a beat. “I brought flashlights just in case.” He bent over and dug in the duffel bag at his feet. “I have one for everyone and included a few extras, too. I also have a ton of batteries, so don’t be afraid to use them.”

  Harper wordlessly accepted a flashlight, immediately flicking it on. She felt a bit silly at the relief coursing through her – it was a simple flashlight, after all – but she kept the emotion to herself.

  “Are we ready to go in?” Michael looked beyond excited. “You should go first, Harper. You’re the star.”

  Harper didn’t feel like much of a star, but she squeezed Jared’s hand before moving to the opening. He immediately started to follow, but Trey stilled him with a shake of his head.

  “If you don’t want to be on camera then you can’t crowd her,” Trey chastised. “Make a decision.”

  Jared frowned. “Listen … .”

  “It’s fine,” Harper said hurriedly, placing her hand on Jared’s arm. “Just stay close. I won’t be far away.”

  “I’ll definitely stay close,” Jared muttered, although he was grateful when Zander immediately moved to Harper’s side so he could walk through the door with her. Of course, Zander was wearing a man purse – something he unveiled right after breakfast – and it supposedly contained numerous items that might come in handy during their search. Jared had a feeling Zander was going to regret wearing the purse on camera, but it was hardly a big concern for the distracted police officer.

  Shawn shifted so he walked next to Jared. “He’ll take care of her. Plus, well, he wants to be on camera. It’s the best of both worlds.”

  Jared remained dubious. “What about you? Don’t you want to be on camera?”

  “Not even remotely,” Shawn replied. “This whole thing freaks me out.”

  Jared was loath to admit it, but he felt the same way. “I can’t wait until this weekend is over. I’m going to spend an entire day in bed with Harper – no visitors allowed – and just freaking relax.”

  “I’m sure we can make that happen.” Shawn offered a sallow smile, his kind heart coming out to play. “She’s going to be okay. I can see that you’re worried but … she’s going to be okay.”

  Jared fervently wanted to believe that. “I’ll make sure she is.”

  “You will.”

  The duo lapsed into companionable silence as they slid into the asylum. The building, although old, sagging, and missing windows, felt oppressive and closed in.

  “Do you feel that?” Lucy whispered. “I think we’re surrounded by ghosts.” She seemed the excitable sort, so Jared brushed off her reaction until he scanned Harper’s face. She was whiter than any ghost he’d ever imagined.

  “Heart.” Jared stepped forward, ignoring the dirty look Trey shot in his direction. “Are you okay?”

  Harper pressed her lips together and nodded, her eyes wide as they bounced to every corner of the room. “I saw photographs from when it was in operation,” she whispered. “It’s the same. I mean, it’s dirty, gross, and there’s probably something creepy and crawly living in here, but otherwise it’s still the same. It’s as if time hasn’t touched this building.”

  Jared gently slipped a strand of Harper’s hair behind her ear. “Where do you want to go first?” He was determined to make sure she had control of the situation, whether Michael and his crew liked it or not.

  “I think we should go to the basement,” Michael said.

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” Jared growled. “And that’s not happening. We’ve already talked about it.”

  “We don’t want to get to the big stuff right away,” Zander added, tightening his grip on his man purse. His expression was bright, but his eyes flashed with trepidation. “Don’t we want to build up to the big stuff?”

  “He has a point,” Lucy said. “We should start small and build bigger.”

  “That means we need to stick to this floor until after lunch,” Jared stressed. “I want to make sure this building is safe – er, at least mildly safe – before we consider going up or down.”

  “I agree with him,” Steve added. “This building is old and … aside from being unsanitary, we need to check floorboards and stairs before anyone moves across them.”

  “Fine.” Michael said the words, but he didn’t appear happy. “Whatever you want, Harper.”

  Harper ignored the chilly cast of his tone and fixed her eyes to the left. “The common room is over there. If you look closely, you can see some natural light spilling in. I’m pretty sure those are the broken-out windows we saw during our walk yesterday.”

  “Which means there’s probably critters living in there,” Trey said.

  “There’s also natural light and it should look good for the cameras,” Harper noted. “We’re going to look in multiple rooms. There’s no reason we can’t start there.”

  “None that I can see,” Jared agreed, kissing her cheek before taking a step back. “Lead the way, Heart.”

  “Yeah, Heart,” Trey mimicked.

  “No fresh cookies for you either,” Zander hissed, linking his arm with Harper’s as they walked ahead.

  Harper was glad for the contact, and her eyes were busy as they walked toward the expansive doorway. Even though the floor felt solid despite years of abandonment, she was careful with each step. She didn’t want to accidentally fall through some errant hole in the floor – that was a reoccurring nightmare she suffered from as a kid – and by the time they hit the large wooden doors that separated the main foyer from the common room she was entranced with the ornate setting.

  “The woodwork is very expensive,” Harper said, running her hand over the doorframe. “They went top of the line when they built this place.”

  “It’s too bad it was all for naught,” Michael said.

  “Yeah, but it left a pretty mark behind.”

  Zander released Harper’s arm at Finn’s silent prodding and took a step back, moving closer to Shawn, so the cameraman could get a good shot of his best friend. Harper, lost
in her own little world, didn’t notice as she stepped over the threshold. She was too busy gazing at the faded wallpaper and overbearing light fixtures.

  “They must have spent thousands of dollars on the chandeliers alone,” Harper mused. She didn’t realize she was significantly ahead of the rest of the group because she was too caught up in the ambiance. “This clearly wasn’t a normal state hospital.”

  Jared was almost to the door before he realized how far Harper had gotten ahead of them. “Heart … .” He didn’t get a chance to finish, because at that exact moment a chilly blast of air whooshed through the room – despite the fact that it couldn’t have originated from the direction it came given the walls standing in the way – and blew back the group members.

  Jared fought against the wind, his only thought of getting to Harper. If he pushed through, he thought he would be by her side within seconds.

  That didn’t happen, though, because the wind was so strong it managed to blow shut the door, separating a surprised Harper from the rest of the group. The wind died as quickly as it stirred, and all that was left was silence … and fear.

  “Harper!”

  7

  Seven

  Jared clawed at the door, twisting the handle and growling in frustration when it broke off in his hand.

  “Harper!” He beat on the door, desperate.

  “Chill out.” Steve cast Jared a wary look as he used his hip to nudge the panicked police detective to the side. “It’s probably just stuck.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel any better.” Jared viciously kicked the door before giving Steve room to operate. “Get it open.”

  “Okay.” Steve exchanged an amused look with John, clearly enjoying himself, and pressed on the solid panel. “Hmm. This thing is freaking oak. I can’t believe it’s in this good of condition given how long it’s been exposed to … just about everything … out here.”

  “Yes, we can all marvel at the craftsmanship later,” Jared barked. “Open it!”

  “Harper?” Zander moved to the hinges and tried to peer through the small opening between the door and the jamb. It was too dark to see anything, but that didn’t stop him from trying. “Answer us right now, Harp.”