The Haunting of Shadow Hill House

by Caroline Clark

  Mason let out a big breath of relief.

  "I know where she is buried," he said. "We found the grave in the trees, Abby found the grave in the woodland. She believes that Victoria led her to it, wanted her to join her there."

  "We have to hurry," Luke said. "I believe the spirit is looking for somebody, anybody to keep her company. She will try to persuade your wife to join her. We must move her before she can do that."

  Mason nodded and turned to run towards the woods. He didn't bother looking back to see if the priest was following him but grabbed a shovel from behind the house and ran as fast as he could. As he entered the woods the trees seemed to be whipped into a frenzy by the wind. The branches lashed out at him, slashing at his face and knocking into his shoulders. It didn't stop him and barely slowed him down as he raced along the path towards the sad little grave all alone in the woods.

  They came out into the clearing and for a second, he saw Victoria. Her arms were crossed before her, her head was held back and the look on her face was defiant. Luke came up behind him and he heard him let out a gasp.

  "You can see her?" Mason asked.

  "Yes, I see her. Now hurry."

  Luke walked past the spirit and towards the little grave and started to dig. Mason expected Victoria to attack him but then he heard Jenny, she was singing. It was a nursery rhyme about little Miss Moffat. She was calling Victoria back to share tea with her.

  "Keep her busy, my love," Mason whispered. "But stay with me, please don't go. Just hold on, Jenny, for we are working on this. Just hold on a little longer."

  As he watched Victoria faded and then she was gone.

  The priest was on his knees digging at the grave. Mason got down to join him and he just hoped that this was the right call. That they would be in time to save Jenny.

  Chapter 25

  Jenny was sat on the floor in the small room pretending to serve tea. In her mind's eye she was wearing a pretty pink dress and in front of her was a table with two teacups and saucers. There was also a jug of milk and a dish with sugar cubes and a pair of silver tongs. Each of the saucers also had a silver spoon.

  Smiling across at Victoria she poured the pretend teapot and heard the dark liquid dribble into the pretend cups. It was such fun and she loved to see the smile on her friend’s face. Once both cups were filled she put down the teapot and picked up the tongs.

  "How many sugars? I like three."

  Quickly, she picked up a pretend cube and watched it splash into the pretend tea. Victoria’s smile had slipped and her own hand began to shake as she lifted another pretend cube and then another. Only her friend was angry now and she didn't know why. The pale cheeks had turned red, her dark brows had narrowed beneath the bounce of her blonde ringlets.

  "You should have done mine first," Victoria snapped. "I'm the guest. I should have been first. If you don't want to stay with me I will bring someone else and they will have to stay forever."

  Jenny knew the words were a threat and inside, she was terrified and yet she did not understand why. For some reason, she knew that it had to be her who played with Victoria, forever, but she could not understand why. Her hand was shaking now and she was unsure what to do. If she upset the girl too much then maybe she would be sent away. Who would replace her? The question nagged at the back of Jenny's mind and she wanted to find the answer. Somehow, she knew it was important and yet she was so tired. Whenever she tried to escape from the game she felt so tired and so lethargic that she just wanted to run back to it.

  Then Victoria smiled and everything was okay again.

  "I want six cubes of sugar," Victoria said. "You must do them for me and don't forget to stir!"

  Once more, Jenny found her hand was shaking but she put on the best smile she could and picked up a sugar lump. The tongs were slippery in her hand and she was so afraid that she would drop it but she managed to get it to the tea and let it drop with a small splash. She repeated the task five more times and with each one she gained confidence for she could see her friend starting to smile. This was how it was meant to be, it was fun and this was what would happen for the rest of her days. As she had that thought she felt afraid. There was something else she should be doing and yet she couldn't remember what it was.

  "I'm not sure if I should be here," she said before she could stop the words.

  The air in the room cooled and she rubbed her arms to keep warm. Victoria's face was angry again and she knew she had said the wrong thing.

  "Maybe I should go and find Abby," Victoria said, and she turned and began to fade.

  Jenny remembered, Abby was her daughter and she had to keep her safe. Somehow, she had to keep Victoria here until she could find out a way to get rid of her. Only how could she do that?

  "Don't go before you've had your tea, it will go cold." Quickly she picked up her own pretend cup and took a pretend drink. "Mmmmm, this is such good tea. I can get out the biscuits and cakes if you want?"

  Victoria turned and sat back down.

  "I like bourbons, and Victoria sponge cake," she said as she picked up a cup.

  Feeling suddenly strange, as if she was in a dream world, Jenny picked up a pretend tin and opened it, then she got a pretend plate and piled on some pretend biscuits. What had just a few minutes ago been really fun was now the most frightening thing she had ever done. She was starting to remember, to understand what was going on. That she had to keep this child here. Had to keep it away from her own baby, how was she going to do that for any length of time?"

  Victoria reached out and picked up a biscuit.

  "I don't think you can have any," Victoria said, her voice thick with spite. "You've been having mean thoughts and until you're a good girl you can't have anything else to eat."

  Just as she said that the candle blew out and the small room was plunged into darkness.

  Luke and Mason were digging as fast as they could but the ground was hard and tree roots crisscrossed through it making it a slow and laborious process. Once more they came to a thick root blocking their path.

  "Stand up," Mason said.

  As soon as the priest had done so he took the spade he was holding and slammed it down as hard as he could on the root. The spade stopped so quickly that the force bounced back up the handle and into his shoulder. The pain through his wound was incredible and for a moment the world went black. Mason knew he was swaying and he started to fall. In a last desperate effort he put out an arm to save himself but then there was nothing but blackness.

  Mason woke in a world of pain looking up at the face of the priest. It was lined with worry and maybe a little fear.

  "Are you okay?" Luke asked.

  "What happened?"

  "You collapsed, my friend. Luckily, I managed to catch you. If you had been another minute I was going to run back and call for an ambulance. As it is, looking at the blood on your shoulder, I guess you weren't released from the hospital?"

  Luke sat up and put a hand on his shoulder. It came away covered in blood but the pain was less than he expected.

  "My wound was not too bad. I was only in for observation… I guess you can observe?" He didn’t mention the blood loss and the possible concussion, why complicate things?

  Luke looked at him for a few moments and Mason wondered if he was going to go back for that ambulance after all.

  "We don't have time, Jenny doesn't have time."

  Luke nodded and knelt down beside him.

  "Take off your shirt," he said as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and then his belt from around his waist.

  Mason did as he was told and hoped the wound did not look too bad. It was still bandaged; however, the bandage was soaked with blood.

  Luke took his handkerchief and bundled it into a ball before pressing it hard into the wound.

  Mason breathed in. "Sheeesh," he whistled through his teeth.

  "It's gonna hurt more when I strap it up," Luke said as he wrapped his belt around the shoulder and over the handkerchief.
"Are you ready?"

  Mason nodded. He was as ready as he would ever be and he wanted the man to hurry.

  Luke pulled the belt tight and, ignoring the cursing that streamed from Mason, he pulled even tighter. Then he wrapped it around and around again then pulled it tight and fastened it.

  "That should stop the bleeding for now. But no more digging for you, you can sit and watch but that's it for now."

  Mason nodded and watched as the priest began to dig once more.

  "How did you learn how to do that?" Mason asked.

  "I did a couple of years in Africa, I saw a lot worse than that... I think I found something."

  Mason looked down into the hole in the ground and felt a sudden sadness. This was the grave of a child. He couldn't believe how any parent could do something quite so inhuman. Yet here they were, digging her up once more with the intent of driving her from this realm.

  "Is it her?"

  Luke scraped a shovel across the wood.

  "I think so."

  "We have to hurry," Mason said. "Don't ask me why but I just feel we have to hurry."

  Luke nodded.

  Mason closed his eyes tight and sent out a thought to Jenny. Stay strong, my love, I’m coming for you, just stay strong.

  Chapter 26

  The tea was nearly finished and Jenny felt nervous once more. There was a look in Victoria's eyes and a sneer on her face. Something was about to happen.

  The blonde girl took a long sip of pretend tea, closed her eyes and sighed in contentment. Jenny giggled and did the same.

  "Oh, this tea is so good." Jenny put down her cup and then wished she hadn't.

  Victoria's eyebrows rose and she put down her own cup. There was something smug about her gaze.

  "You were right, it is time," Victoria said and from behind her back she pulled out a rope.

  Jenny felt a lump in her throat as she recognized it as the noose. How could she get out of this?

  "I don't want to play this game, why don’t we play cards? We can play snap, I don't mind if you win."

  "The cards are in the kitchen," Victoria said. "We can play them soon but as we are going down we may as well get this over with." She shook the noose in front of Jenny.

  Jenny wanted to say no, she wanted to get up and run from that place and yet she felt strangely lethargic. She could hear Victoria talking but the words were like the wind. They whispered in her ear, they lulled her and she felt herself giving in to them. Fatigue was like a soft, warm blanket. It weighed her down and drew her in and she wanted to say yes. She couldn't remember what it was she would be saying yes to, but as Victoria spoke she wanted to agree with her. Wanted to go with her and do as she was told.

  Suddenly, she thought of Mason. It was almost as if she could hear him telling her to be strong and it was like a slap to her face. It brought her back to her senses and she was afraid. The rope was in her hands and she knew she had been ready to slip it over her head. How could she have given into this child? How could she have forgotten her own family and that they needed her? Somehow, she knew that Mason was out there and that he was working to save her. All she had to do was give him a little more time but how could she do that?

  Victoria was looking angry again and the pressure in the room was growing. Jenny found it hard to breathe and she knew she had to slow things down. But she had to take control, she had to be careful, Victoria must never know. Somehow, she had to stop herself from falling under the spirit's influence once more but how could she do it? Would pain help? Thinking that maybe it would, she screwed up her left fist digging her long nails into her palm until she could feel blood. It hurt but it also made her feel a little more awake. It was not much but it would have to do for now.

  Victoria was holding the rope out before her and expecting her to what… to jump from the balcony? That was something she would never do, at least not if she had the choice.

  Plastering a smile on her face she looked up at Victoria.

  "I want to know your story first.” She pouted a little. “You promised you would tell me and I want to know what happened."

  The pressure increased in the room and the temperature dropped to below freezing. Even though it was dark her eyes had grown accustomed and she could see quite well. Certainly well enough to see the anger that had pinked the spirits cheeks.

  "I will tell you all about my life and how I got here," Jenny said. "After all, if we are going to be friends forever, it's only fair that we take a bit of time to understand first."

  That seemed to have worked and Victoria's smile returned. It was easier to breathe and the room warmed, even if just a little bit.

  "I will show you, but then it’s time."

  Jenny nodded and could see that Victoria was holding out her hand. Somehow, the thought of taking it filled her with dread. Yet the alternative was the rope. She could feel the coarse hemp across her lap and holding the child’s hand had to be better than that... didn’t it?

  Luke kept digging until he had fully uncovered the wooden box. It looked so small, so pitifully small and he hesitated as his hand reached down to touch it. Mason came to his side and touched his shoulder.

  "You want me to do it?" Mason asked.

  The priest shook his head and reached down. Using the spade he levered it into the side of the box and applied some pressure. The wood and nails cracked alarmingly in the still woodland but the lid lifted a little. Pulling the spade out he moved it further down and did the same thing. Once more the crack ricocheted around the clearing.

  Mason swallowed, what would they find inside the box?

  Luke looked at him quickly and then moved the spade down to the bottom end and this time, as he pried the board, the lid sprang free. It lifted slightly and then dropped back into place.

  Luke threw the spade aside and crossed himself before reaching down to remove the lid.

  Inside the box was bare wood. Small, yellowed, old bones lay in the shape of a child. It was a sad and pitiful sight and Mason felt his breath catch. He could see the skull, the empty eyes accused him and he had to look away. Letting his gaze drift down the skeleton, he noticed the nightdress. There were only tatters of it left and yet he could recognize it. Complete with splatters of blood it was the one that Victoria was wearing the last time he had seen her.

  "This is her," he said. "Now what do we do?"

  Mason was worried. They had taken so long and from what he could gather, Jenny had left the hospital before midnight. That meant she had been alone with the spirit for getting on for 12 hours. How much longer would she survive?

  "I have a grave prepared back in the churchyard," Luke said. "If we can get this coffin out, back to your house, and then transport it from there, this will soon be over."

  "Do you think it will hold?" Mason asked as he eyed the wood suspiciously.

  Luke shrugged his shoulders. It had been down here a long while and was unlikely to survive the journey. Already in places it was crumbling away to nothing. The thought of lifting it out and the little girl’s bones scattering back into the grave was too much to bear.

  Only Luke had come prepared. From his pocket he pulled out an old sheet. Quickly, he unfolded it and laid it on the ground. Then he knelt beside it, crossed himself once more, and blessed the sheet.

  "Let's lift her onto this and transport her that way," he said.

  Luke was in the hole and passed the bones up. Mason wanted to rush him. He was treating the body with reverence and respect but it was taking too long. He understood what the priest was doing but their priority should be to the living and every moment they took, Jenny was in more danger. Even so, when he felt the first bone in his hands he almost dropped it.

  Luke had passed him an ulna. It was smooth and light and cold in his fingers. His first instinct was to drop it and yet he could see the priest watching him, judging him. So he slowly lowered it down to the sheet and then leaned forward for another one. They carried on this slow process for the next 20 or 30 minutes. Wi
th each bone, Mason felt a sense of dread and weakness. It was as if moving the body was draining him of his life and yet he knew that was silly, that it was foolish.

  Most of the bones were moved now and the last one was the skull. All the time they had been doing this the empty, cold eyes had been watching him and they seemed to hold his gaze as the priest passed the bone up.

  Mason swallowed and rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans before he could reach out and take the skull. It felt slippery in his hands and for one awful moment he thought he would drop it. Taking a breath, he lowered it gently onto the sheet and then folded the edges of the material over to cover the bones. Only then did he feel like he could relax. As if at last they were getting somewhere.

  Reaching out, he offered Mason a hand and helped pull him from the small grave. The priest knelt before the bones and whispered a prayer.

  "We have to go," Mason said. "Jenny is in danger, we have to go!"

  Luke nodded and stood, grabbing hold of the sheet, he made sure that all the ends were together and then he lifted up the bones. They rattled like dry old logs and Mason felt his stomach turn.

  "Lead the way."

  Together they walked out of the woodland as quick as they could. Mason just hoped that they would be in time.

  Jenny took hold of the child's cold and insubstantial hands. Instantly she took them, she felt weak and as if she was drifting. It was as if Victoria was pulling her in, pulling her away from the world and into the darkness. Quickly, she bit down on her lip, drawing blood until the pain leveled her once more.

  The hands she held were firmer now. It was as if her very life was powering the spirit’s body.